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This event has completed. This information has been preserved for archival purposes.
Looking to sign up for an event you heard about? You may be viewing last season's page. Go back to the leagues/tournaments pages to find your event.
All Leagues All Tournaments
At League Joe, we are doing our best to bring the fun back to the game of softball. As umpires, I don't need to tell you that our game has gotten too serious and too competitive - you are often the bearers of the brunt of an overly-competitive, me-first culture. What I do need to tell you and emphasize strongly is that we support you in doing what you need to do to make sure the fields are safe and fun for new players. Rules are great and all, but we all know that sometimes you're going to screw them up, or make a bad call, or a player is going to misinterpret something and create a scene. We will relentlessly drive into our coaches and players an attitude of "Let it go, it's just a game" and want to take some pressure off of your shoulders. We don't expect you to be perfect - we expect you to be human. And if players are treating you as anything less than, then you have my full blessing to remove players from the field or the entire league if you see and know that their presence is toxic.
The vast majority of the players you are going to see on the fields are new to the game of slowpitch. For some, that means they have literally never held a bat before. For others, that means they haven't played since their high school days, and they maybe have some of those bad habits. You're going to see a field with players who are 18 years old and 68 on the same team. That's the beauty of our style of play, and we ask you to be protective of that culture since many players will look to you first on the field as the leader of that diamond. We encourage you to engage with, laugh with, and enjoy a fun evening of ball with our players. If you see a brand new player who is super nervous against a tournament player who is dropping knuckle balls, we encourage you to NOT give the pitcher that strike 3 call that caught the corner and we encourage you to tell that pitcher to serve some meatballs to the new players. And if the knuckle heads don't get it through their skulls what kind of game they are playing - that's where you let us know and we'll take care of it.
One rotten apple spoils the bunch. You have our permission and encouragement to remove those apples.
Play the Game. We will preach to the coaches that they need to work with each other to be understanding of situations with subs and odd things with their lineups. Sometimes a team is going to show up and only have one girl instead of 3 and they couldn't find a sub. The coaches will be encouraged to negotiate how to make the field of play "even" and get the game in to respect the results. We try to avoid force forfeits - just get the game in!
These are the most common and/or most unique rules being used for this event. Please see "Official Rulebook" for exhaustive list of playing rules. When in conflict, rules written here shall supercede those in the official rulebook.
As a player, you are responsible for knowing all official rules of the game. By participating in the event, you are agreeing that you are aware of all rules associated with the league and the sport, and agree to abide by them at all times.
Rules Summary
This event 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. Event organizers reserve the right to dismiss any player from the event without a refund.
Length: ALL games will be played using a time limit.
Run Rules: Games will be declared over by "run rule" if the winning team is ahead by 20 runs after the 4th inning. If the visiting team is up by 10 or more going into the open inning the flip flop rule will be in effect.
Home/Away: The coaches will meet the umpire at home plate ahead of the game, and the game timer will start. A coin flip will be used to determine HOME/AWAY in ALL games except the Championship, where the undefeated team will be given a choice.
Umpires: Excessive arguing and/or abusive language will never be tolerated. Umpires may issue warnings and dismiss players from a game if they are found to be abusive. Event officials reserve the right to ban players from the event with no refund if abusive behavior continues. If a player is ejected, then an out shall be charged for ALL following at bats.
Unsafe Throws: Outfielders are not allowed to complete force out throws to first base. Any throw from outfield directly to first base for the intention of a force out will be ruled a dead ball and the runner will be awarded 2nd base. Infielders brought into the outfield grass through defensive actions are allowed to complete the throw for a force out at first base.
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 be a jerk. If you feel the other team is hitting the middle a lot, don't take revenge and escalate... it's not that kind of event. The Director reserves the right to amend this as necessary.
Injured Player / Can Not Continue: If a player is significantly injured in play and cannot continue, they shall be removed from the lineup. When their batting position comes up, the first-time following removal is an out. All subsequent times will just be skipped with no more penalty. The player is unable to return to play that game and, at a minimum, the game following. Exceptions to this rule may be made for extended breaks between games (i.e., a player injured Saturday night can play their first game on Sunday if they can safely do so).
Metal Cleats: Metal Cleats are prohibited. Please use soft or hard rubber cleats, or turf shoes only.
Equipment: USSSA Legal Senior Bats ONLY for 40+ Players. If there are any 35+ Players, they must use legal 240s only. Balls will be provided at the beginning of the tournament. Players will be expected to retrieve foul balls and HR balls as in a regular tournament. Additional balls will be available for sale if the team chooses to do so.
Legal Rosters: All teams have been drafted with a near-even number of women on their team, and rules are set based on this expectation. NO additions will be made to any roster unless the tournament director adds them. In the event a player drops before the event, the director will fill empty spot from someone on the official waiting list. If a player drops during tournament, that team will play less than 1 player. If a player is injured during the event, the team can choose to have player added by the director if one is available. Each team must bat all players.
Defense: One (1) Female EH allowed, all others must play defensively. The only exception is if the opposing team has 1 less female, then both teams can use that number. A minimum of 2 female players must be on defense at all times. If for some reason, there is only one female present on the field, she may NOT play catcher. If both teams have 4 females on their roster, the minimum number is 3 for that game. ALL infielders must have both feet on the infield at the time of the pitch. Each rostered player must complete a minimum of three defensive innings in the field.
Walks: If a male batter is walked with a female batter visibly 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 male MUST touch first before advancing to second. This is an appeal play. 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.
Pitch Count: All batters start with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. For extra innings or games quickened due to weather/scheduling issues, all batters start with a full count. There are no courtesy fouls.
Home Runs: Home runs are limited in this event. Each team is allotted FIVE home runs and one up without penalty. A team cannot go one up in the bottom of the last announced inning. All home runs hit over the limit will be considered a Dead Ball Out. Women home runs are unlimited and DO NOT count towards team totals. Hit & Sit – No need to run them out.
Courtesy Runners: We will use the National USSSA Senior Runner Rule.
Pitching: Pitching will follow USSSA pitching standards and regulations except on noted points. There are no pump fakes in this event. Pitchers can use a floating rubber for safety, unless they are using a pitching screen.
Alcohol Consumption: There are no open containers allowed in the park or parking lots. There will be patrolling of the area to ensure no open alcohol containers are on the premises. All coolers may be checked at the gates by park staff.
Weather/Acts of God – Tournament director reserves all rights to modify any game to a 1 pitch or eliminate play in games in the event of time constraints due to weather. In the event of bad weather or acts of God that are out of our hands that force a tournament cancellation, no refunds will be given as each player will have received a uniform package and a drawing for the tournament prize package will take place. Once play in games are completed, the tournament director reserves all rights to decide prize distribution in the event of tournament cancellation.
Official USSSA Senior Softball Rules can be found here: https://usssa.com/docs/slowpitch/Senior_Softball_Rules.pdf
These are guidelines and rules for the event that all coaches must acknowledge and follow. Please review all rules carefully.
The official rules for the sport, which may or may not be from a sanctioning body.
This league follows the USSSA rules for Slowpitch Softball. Please use the following link to download and read full rules.
