RULES

Golden Rule

This league is intended to be FUN first. We welcome players of ALL SKILL LEVELS to our fields, and therefore set rules that ensure the safety and enjoyment of our skilled players and our novices equally.

Be supportive of one another. Fighting, excessive verbal abuse, and poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. League organizers reserve the right to dismiss any player from the event without refund.

Fighting / Arguing / Poor Sportsmanship

If teams are beginning to get disgruntled and tempers are flaring, the umpires will issue a full warning to both dugouts.  After that point, no loud negative yelling or loud negative verbal communication may occur from one team directed at the other team.  Any such communication will result in an immediate ejection from the game from the offending party.  For purposes of clarification, players on opposing teams can continue to and are encouraged to chat with each other on an individual basis (i.e. congratulating a nice play/hit, having a polite convo while standing on 1st base, complimenting a nice pitch, etc) but no "Smack talk", disagreements about rules, or yelling will be permitted.  Coaches of both teams may continue speaking with one another as needed, but must do so with a tone of civility in the presence of the umpire.

Games

Length: All games will run for 50 minutes or the completion of 7 innings, whichever comes first. If there is any time left on the clock after the last out of an inning is made, a new inning will begin.

Run Rules: Games will be declared over by "run rule" if the winning team is ahead by 20 runs at the conclusion of the 3rd inning, 15 runs at the conclusion of the 4th inning, or 10 runs at the conclusion of the 5th inning or later.

Extra Innings: Games tied at the conclusion of the time limit or 7th inning will go into extra innings. During extra innings play, the batting team will have a runner automatically placed on second (must be the last batter from the previous inning and cannot utilize a pinch runner until one batter has completed their at bat) and all batters will face a 3-ball, 2-strike pitch count, with no courtesy foul, when they approach the plate. During the regular season, only one extra inning will be allowed. A tie will occur if neither team scores in that extra inning.

Substitute Players: If a team will not have at least 10 players for a game, the coach shall contact admin to request substitute players to reach a total of 10 players (11 if injuries require an additional player). The coach will provide the names of the missing players and admin will average out the salary of the missing players and provide substitutes based on the average. No outside or unapproved players shall be allowed. If an unapproved player is found in the lineup, they shall be removed with no replacement substitute and their spot in the lineup will be an automatic out. In the playoffs, no substitutes will be allowed, but a non-defensive catcher will be provided by a team that is not currently playing or by the opposing team.

Umpires: Excessive arguing and/or abusive language will never be tolerated. Umpires may issue warnings and dismiss players, coaches, and fans from a game if they are found to be abusive. League officials reserve the right to ban players from the league with no refund if abusive behavior continues. There is zero tolerance for bat throwing. Throwing the bat will result in an immediate dismissal.

Safety

Pitching: All pitchers will be required to use either a provided safety screen or self-provided safety helmet with mask. Shin guards are highly recommended, but not required.

Unsafe Throws: Outfielders are not allowed to complete force out throws to first base. Any throw from outfield to first base for the intention of a force out will be ruled a dead ball and the runner will be awarded the base. Infielders brought into the outfield grass through defensive actions are allowed to complete the throw for a force out at first base. The runner can be thrown out at first through the use of a relay.

Hitting Middle: It's not illegal, but it is dangerous and some of our novice players may not be able to control it. But for those of you that can - don't do it. If you feel the other team is hitting middle a lot, don't take revenge.

Injury Exceptions: In the cases of injury, some rules may be bent to avoid placing players in harm's way. Coaches facing a situation that they believe requires an adjustment must discuss with the opposing coach a recommended solution. Opposing coach must approve the solution, and such approval should not be unreasonably withheld.

Injured Player / Can Not Continue: If a player is significantly injured in the course of play and cannot continue, they shall be removed from the lineup. When their batting position comes up, it shall be skipped and not counted as an automatic out. The player is unable to return to play for that game and, at a minimum, the following game if in the same day.

Safety Base: Any batter running to first base will tag the safety bag to the right of the first base bag. If no safety bag is in place, then the batter should run as though there is a bag there and the umpire will determine the call based on their judgment.

Dugout: Only the batter, on-deck batter, and base coaches (of the offensive team) shall  be allowed on the field. The remaining offensive players, coaches, fans, etc must remain outside of the field of play, i.e. in the dugout or outside of the fence.

Equipment

Metal Cleats: Metal cleats are prohibited. Please use soft or hard rubber cleats, or turf shoes only.

Equipment (Bats): Any USSSA, NSA, ISA, or USA stamped bat may be used in this league (senior bats are not allowed). Bats must be in good condition, and not modified in any substantial way (i.e. shaved). We use 44/400 balls in play and do not recommend the use of USA/ASA bats, but they are allowed if desired.  League not responsible for any broken bats.

Equipment (Balls): Each team will be supplied with two 12" balls and one 11" ball. Each team is responsible for providing the opponent with one 12" ball for male batters and one 11" ball for female batters. Non-binary players will declare to the umpire ahead of the game whether they will play "Big Ball" or "Small Ball" rules and will maintain that status for the duration of the game. Balls must be .44 COR 400 compression balls.

Coed Specific Rules

Legal Rosters: All teams have been drafted with a minimum number of women (2) on their team (determination made on a per league basis), and rules are set based on this expectation. Should injuries or missing players create a roster imbalance, the director shall be consulted on an appropriate course of balancing to allow teams to continue play.

Defense: A minimum number of female players (1) must be on defense at all times, determination made on a per league basis.

Walks: If a male batter is walked with a female batter on deck , the male batter is awarded second base and the female batter is given the option to choose an automatic walk or to hit as normal. The decision to walk is up to the sole discretion of the batter and coaches shall not force a walk on any player who wishes to hit. The female batter must be in the on deck circle or announced for the extra base and automatic walk to be allowed.

Offense

Pitch Count: All batters start with a count of one ball and one strike. A courtesy foul is granted for the first foul batted after accumulating a second strike. An additional foul after the courtesy foul will be an out. For extra innings or games quickened due to weather/scheduling issues, all batters start with a full count.

Home Runs: Home runs are limited in this league. Each team is allotted FIVE home runs without penalty. All home runs hit over the fence that are higher than the allotted total of home runs are automatically counted as an "out".

Pinch Runners: One unrestricted runner, per gender each inning. Any additional runners required over the allotted one due to injury or runner request must be supplied as the last out. Runners have the right to reject a coach's suggestion for a runner.

Batting: The batter must take position in the batter's box within five seconds of the pitcher receiving the ball after the previous at bat has completed. If the batter fails to enter the batter's box in the allotted time, the umpire shall call a strike.

Defense

Pitching: The ball must be pitched in a definite underhanded motion at slow speed. No pump faking is allowed for this league. The pitcher’s box is two feet wide and ten feet deep. The pitcher must have at least one foot in contact with the pitcher’s box at the start of the pitch. The pitcher may take one step while the pivot foot maintains contact with the pitcher's box. The pitched ball must arc to six feet above the ground before it passes any part of home plate. The pitched ball shall not rise higher than twelve feet above the ground. The ball must be released within five seconds of the batter entering the batter's box.

Strikes: Any ball that lands within the strike zone, this includes the mat and the plate, while matching the height and speed pitching requirements shall be called a strike.

Pitching Screens: These screens are intended for safety, not to create an extra defensive player on the field. Screen must be positioned no more than three feet ahead of the pitching rubber. One of the pitching screen support legs must be lined up within the width of the pitching rubber and cannot be set to the side of the rubber. Pitchers using the screen must stay near the screen and cannot extend their defense away from it to create an extra fielder advantage; i.e. the pitcher must retreat behind the net before the batter makes contact. After retreating behind the net, a pitcher may field any batted ball. If the pitcher fields a ball without retreating behind the net, it shall be a single base advancing dead ball. A ball batted into a pitcher's screen will be ruled as a foul ball. If the net is hit by a ball during a throw, the ball is still considered live. There's no multiple swapping between screen and helmet during an inning. If a pitcher uses protective equipment rather than a net, they may field the ball as normal.

Minimum Innings on Defense: Each rostered player must be given the opportunity to play relatively equal defensive innings in the field.