RULES FOR ADULT SOFTBALL
LEAGUES
(414) 773-2910;
Recording – (414) 773-2950; Fax –
(414) 773-2920
E’mail – beattiri@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us Website – www.tosarec.com
1.
Only players who
are signed and on your roster are eligible to play.
2.
Players can play
on multiple teams as long as the teams are not in the same league.
3.
Managers are held
responsible for playing only registered players. Playing players that are not
registered will result in the forfeiture of game(s) in which the player
played.
4.
New players may be
added to a team’s roster through the 4th game of the season.
1.
The 2008 Official
Rules of Softball which are published and distributed by the Amateur Softball
Association of America (ASA) will be used for all leagues.
2.
An attempt has
been made to adhere to the ASA rules as stipulated in the official rulebook,
thereby reducing the number of local “adaptations” to the official rules. For
the most part the changes are subtle, and shouldn’t be a cause of concern to
managers or players.
1.
The ball must be
delivered with an arc that passes above the head of the batter’s normal height.
The maximum height of the arc is unlimited.
2.
2 called strikes
or one swinging strike or foul ball shall be an out. Women playing in the coed
league will receive 2 swinging strikes or foul balls.
3.
3 called balls
constitute a walk.
4.
Coed games-prior
to the pitch, outfielders must take a position at least 30 feet from the edge
of the infield until after the batter swings at the ball. Penalty-called ball
at the batters discretion.
5.
Mat-strikes – the
ball must hit only the mat to be called a strike. If the ball hits any of the
white part of the plate it is a ball.
1.
The official ball
for the 2008 Men’s and Coed leagues will be the Worth Gray Dot, 40 core, 375
compression ball. Balls are available for purchase at Riedel Sports, 8700
Watertown Plank Rd., Ph 414-607-6584 or e-mail scott@riedelsports.com. Store
hours are Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00, special deliveries by appointment. The balls are
priced at $3.75 each.
2.
For men’s league
games each team is responsible for providing 1 new ball per game. In the coed
leagues the home team is responsible for a new ball, the opposing team should
provide a used ball.
3.
Uniforms are
optional, but recommended.
4.
Catcher’s masks
are optional. Teams are responsible for providing their own masks.
5.
Coed leagues-men
are required to use the 29/30 inch bats provided by the Rec. Dept.
6.
Metal spikes are
not permitted.
7.
The
SEPRC Softball Committee voted in January that member departments (incl.
Wauwatosa) will utilize the banned bat list developed by ASA in its
entirety. The ASA list incorporates both an approved bat list and a
non-approved bat list that will dictate what will be allowed for play. You
may access this list by visiting their website at www.softball.org and checking their
certified equipment page. Umpires will have this information. If you have
questions please give me a call or email.
1.
A lineup will
consist of 11 players, including an EP (extra player). The re-entry rule will
be used. Coed teams will use a continuous batting order, alternating
male-female. The number of males in the lineup cannot exceed the number of
female players.
For coed league games, a team may borrow players from their opponent to avoid
forfeit. If borrowing from your opponent is not possible you may use a
registered player from another team. In this case the game will be played with
an umpire, however the score will be recorded as a forfeit, 7-0.
A courtesy runner may be used in all leagues once the batter/runner reaches
first base. The courtesy runner is to be the individual that made the last out.
In the coed league it’s the last out of the same gender. The umpire must be
notified before the substitution is made. The intent of this rule is to allow
for participation by players that would otherwise not be capable of playing,
not to gain a competitive advantage by substituting a faster runner. Umpires
will not allow the courtesy runner if the intent is clearly to gain a competitive
advantage.
Note: This is
what our umps will be told-We want to prevent teams from using the runner rule
to get a competitive advantage. If a player is hurt, give the batter a runner.
If the player asks for a runner the whole game because he says he is hurt, give
him a runner. If a player didn't use a runner and then tries to get one in the
last inning with the game on the line, don't give him a runner. Always consider
the best interest of the player and error on the side of caution with regard to
injuries.
2.
Games that are not
considered “regulation” by ASA rule will be re-played in their entirety.
3.
The 2nd
team listed is the home team and should occupy the 1st base side.
4.
Managers will be
given lineup sheets that are to be filled out prior to the start of the game
and given to the umpire.
5.
If questions
concerning the identity of a player arise, that player will be asked to provide
a driver’s license. If they don’t have their license they will be asked to sign
the lineup sheet so that the signature can be compared to the one on file at
the Recreation Department.
6.
A 5 minute grace
period from the scheduled starting time of the game will be allowed if a team
does not have the minimum number of players, (8), to start the game. Any time
that is used from the grace period is deducted from the 50 minutes allowed for
the game.
7.
A 50-minute time
limit will be used for all games. No new innings will begin after 50 minutes
have elapsed. Games that are tied at the conclusion of 7 innings will
continue for 1 additional inning if the 50 minute time limit has not elapsed.
To avoid misunderstandings, managers should verify the start time of the game
with the umpire.
8.
Ties will be
recorded in the standings as ½ win, ½ loss.
1.
The Director of
Recreation will review all reports of inappropriate behavior by players and
managers. Player suspensions of 1 or more games are the likely penalty for
inappropriate behavior resulting in a player being removed from a game. Serious
cases, especially those in which the safety of players or the umpire are
involved, will be reported to Southeast Park and Recreation Council (SEPRC)
member departments. Offending players will lose the right to participate in
leagues sponsored by SEPRC member departments.
2.
Alcoholic
beverages are strictly prohibited at Hart Park by city ordinance and at Whitman
are prohibited by School District policy.
1. Whitman North Field
·
Any ball bouncing
over the outfield fence will be a ground-rule double.
·
A ball rolling
under the fence in either right or left is a ground-rule double.
·
Over the fence on
a fly is a homerun.
·
Looking out
towards left field-
o
The left side is
the fence. If the play goes into the wooden box area its dead. The fence is in
play and if the ball is thrown past that fence its dead.
o
On the right side
it is the backstop line extended. NOT the fence. Once the ball passes the
invisible backstop fence line its dead. the wooden box is dead also.
2. Hart Park
·
The light poles on
the 1st and 3rd base sides will be used to indicate the dead ball areas.
·
Anything beyond
the pole in left field will enable runners to advance as many bases as they can
get.
·
A throw going on
or across the sidewalk in right field will be considered a dead ball.
·
A ball bouncing
over or rolling under the outfield fence in left field will be considered a
ground rule double.
·
Over the fence on
a fly is a homerun.
·
If the gate is
open in left center and the ball goes beyond the fence, it will be considered
live and still in play.
1.
The Recreation
Department will cancel games up to 5:00 p.m. A recorded message – (414)
773-2950 will be updated as to the status of games up to 5:00 p.m.
2.
After 5:00 p.m.
teams should show up for the game. If conditions worsen, the umpire will decide
if games can be played. Once games are called for the evening, later games will
not be played.
3.
Regular season
suspended games will be rescheduled and played from the start.
4.
As a general rule
games will be re-scheduled through mid-August. After this point only games
having a bearing on 1st or 2nd place will be played.
5.
Ties will be
broken using the following rules:
·
Head to head
competition
·
Score difference
in head to head competition
·
Record vs. the 1st
place team, 2nd place, etc. until the tie is broken
Sbrule08 (revised: April,
2008)