The Rules

To keep the amount of time wasted squabbling over the rules during our games to a minimum, I want to cover some of them here. Not that I anticipate any funny business with the Mod Squad as they typically display a high level of sportsmanship. Still, it's always good to know the rules. First, in the discipline department, we have this: Casual Profanity: Foul language is not permitted on or around the playing field by any player at anytime. Players using profanity will be warned by the official after the first offense and will be ejected after the second offense. NOTE: Officials may eject a player without first giving a warning depending on the nature of the remark. So watch your language. And should you find yourself ejected and you want to play again in the next game, it will cost you $50.00: Any participant who is ejected from a game is automatically suspended for the next game and will be required to pay a $50.00 (CASH) ejection fee before they will be allowed to continue playing in the league. A player ejected from a second game will automatically be suspended from all current AND future City of Richmond sponsored leagues until further notice. Getting into the game play, here's the strike zone rule. The “Mat & Plate” will be used to call balls and strike. Any legal pitch (fairly delivered within the height of six (6) feet to twelve (12) feet from the ground that hits either the mat or the plate will be declared a strike. Dimension of the mat 23” width and 24” length with the home plate cut out. In other words, so long as the pitch is delievered at least six feet high but no more than twelve feet high and it hits the plate or the mat, it's a strike. The traditional letters to knees strike zone in baseball does not apply here. And here's the controversial two-base rule for walks to male batters: On a walk to a male batter (intentional or not) the batter is awarded two (2) bases. The next batter, a female, must bat with less than two (2) outs. If there are two (2) outs she has her choice of hitting or taking a walk. Last year, a male batter who walked got two bases only if he was thrown four straight balls without a strike. The rule has been changed this year. Any walk to any male batter is two bases. The female batter who follows him can take a walk to first base only if there are two outs. The pitcher has the option to start his/her delivery up to 6 inches in front of the rubber. The pitcher will need to be set before delivering the pitch to the batter. Pitcher flexibility is a must to prevent injury consider pitcher helmet. What Sammy was doing last week was illegal. He started nearly a foot in front of the rubber and took three steps to deliver the ball. Our local rule provides only a six inch allowance in front of the pitching rubber. Other than that, the pitcher has to conform to the ASA rule rule that provides that at part of one foot remain in contact with the pitching rubber until the ball leaves his/her hand (Rule 6, Section 3.A). So if he's starting six inches in front of the rubber, his pivot foot has to remain in contact with that spot six inches in front. He can't stroll a quarter of the way to the plate before delievering the ball. Here's another rule that's likely to come up often: Courtesy Runner: One courtesy runner is allowed per inning in all leagues. The courtesy runner must be the same sex as the batter. If the courtesy runner’s turn to bat comes up while on base, the runner will be called out and the player will come to bat. You can't get much clearer than that. Each team gets only one courtesy runner per inning. Choose wisely. Here's another big one that's a drastic change from last year: 2. Fielding: A) Outfielders (including rovers / buck shorts) must remain behind the restraint line and infielders must remain in the infield until the pitch reaches the plate or is hit (The restraint line is a line of cones in the outfield at an arch 150’ from home plate). PENALTY: Failure to abide by this rule will result in fielder’s interference. A delayed dead ball will be called by the official. If the batter reaches the base safely, the play will stand. If an out was made, the batter will be placed on base safely. 1.) Must have at least two women in the outfield. In essence, the rover position has been eliminated. You have to play four outfielders behind the markers. You can still call your fourth outfielder a rover if you wish but what's the point? He/She can't do any roving. And don't forget that last point. Every team must have at least two women in the outfield. That's it for now. If I can identify any others that are likely to cause confusion or controversy, I'll try to cover them here later. Everyone on the team should become familiar with the local rules. I have posted them on the Rules page of our website.