RULES

FHFB CO-ED SOFTBALL RULES - 2011

INTRODUCTION

This publication provides standard softball rules and regulations for the FHFB Co-Ed Softball League. The league will be conducted according to American Softball Association Rules except as specified herein.

The purpose of this league is to provide enjoyment, as well as promoting physical and social engagement by the players and spectators. The FHFB Co-Ed Softball League strongly urges all participating teams and managers to embrace the "spirit of the game" while maintaining excellent sportsmanship.

ADMINISTRATION
The league will be operated by a council of the teams’ captains and a league commissioner. The league’s council will rule on a basis of one vote per team. Votes that end in a tie will be decided by the commissioner.

GAME REGULATIONS

1. In all games, the starting time is the scheduled starting time on the schedule.
2. All Games will be seven (7) innings, no time limit. If a game is tied after seven (7) innings, extra innings will be played until tie is broken or both teams mutually agree to end game in tie.
3. The home team will use the first base dugout. The visiting team will use the third base dugout.
4. Mercy Rule: If one team is ahead by twelve (12) runs after five (5) complete innings the game can be ended by decision of the trailing team. If the trailing team wants to continue play the game will end at the conclusion of seven (7) innings. An inning is over when a team scores 10 (10) runs or has three (3) outs.
5. Teams that do not have eight (8) players to start the game will get a fifteen (15) minute grace period before the forfeit is called.
6. Managers must turn in their lineup cards to the opposing manager 5 minutes prior to game time. The lineup card will identify each player by first name, last name, and uniform number. Eligible players not in the starting lineup will be listed at the bottom or on the back of the lineup card.
7. The umpire is the official scorekeeper.
8. Each team will maintain its own scorebook.
9. The umpire will confirm the score with the managers at the end of each half inning. Disputes will be settled before the next half inning begins.

FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

Standings will be calculated in the following manner; 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. In the situation of a forfeit, the team in favor shall be given a 7-0 victory and two points; the team at fault will be given a 0-7 defeat and 0 points.

PLAYOFF SEEDING

In the event that teams are tied at the conclusion of league play, the following tiebreaker system will be used for playoff seeding:

1. Record in head-to-head competition
2. Run differential in head-to-head competition
3. Record against teams above the tie
4. Run differential against the entire league
5. Coin Flip

PLAYOFFS

The playoffs will consist of a single game elimination format. All league rules will be enforced except there will be no ties.

A player must have participated in two (2) league games to be eligible for playoffs

PROTEST PROCEDURES

1. Protests on Umpire’s Decisions

The team manager must notify the head umpire and opposing team captain of his/her intent to protest an umpire’s decision. The manager must then complete an "Intent to Protest" form. The protest will be reviewed by the league council and either upheld or dismissed by majority vote. The two teams involved in the dispute will not be allowed to vote. In the event of a tie, the league commissioner will have the final say. Note: Judgment calls cannot be protested.

2. Protest on Player Eligibility:

Protests must be stated before the final out of the game by notifying the head umpire and opposing captain. The team’s captain must complete an "Intent to Protest" form. The league commissioner will verify the status of the player(s) in question.

3. Protest on Official Score:

The team manager must protest the game prior to leaving the field at the end of the game. 3

CANCELLATIONS

1. A game may be postponed upon agreement of the participating teams’ captains.
2. Games cancelled because of weather or playing conditions before 2 innings and/or 20 minutes have been completed will be replayed in its entirety. Games cancelled after 5 innings and/or 50 minutes have been completed will be considered complete games (provided the home team has its last at bat if necessary). Any games falling between these two periods shall be continued from the point the game was postponed.

FORFEITS

1. In games forfeited for any reason, the score for the forfeiting team will be zero (0). The score for the non-forfeited team will be seven (7) runs or the existing run differential at the time of the forfeit, whichever is the highest.
2. Any team forfeiting two (2) games Will have its status in the league evaluated by the league council and may be dropped from the league.

PLAYER & ROSTER RULES

1. All players must be at least age 18 and must be SSA employees or employed at an SSA facility (such as security or cafeteria staff) with the exception of two players. Each team may have two players who do not work for SSA or at an SSA facility. The two outside players per team may be one man and one woman or two women.
2. A player may participate in the league only if that player's name and signature appear on the official team roster, as filed with the Richmond Recreation Department. Each player's signature must be authentic and cannot be signed in proxy by any other person.
3. If a player participates in games without being on the official roster, the team will forfeit those games.
4. The players of each team must wear jerseys or tee shirts of matching color(s) with a number on the back.

EQUIPMENT

1. Men will hit 12 inch softballs. Women will hit 11 inch softballs. All softballs will be .44 .COR with 375 lb. compression.
2. Any player entering the batter’s box with a bat that does not have an ASA 2000 or 2004 certification mark or a bat that is listed on the ASA Illegal Bat List will be ejected from the game.
3. No metal cleats. A player wearing metal cleats will be ejected from the game.

DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

1. A defensive team shall consist of ten players, with a maximum of five men in the game defensively at all times. A defensive team may consist of more women than men but not more men than women.
2. There will be no positional restrictions based on gender. (There need not be two men and two women in the outfield, two men and two women in the infield, nor one woman and one man between pitcher and catcher.)
3. A game may be played with a minimum of eight players but with no less than four women.
4. A team can start a game with eight players but must have a minimum of four women. If no additional players arrive, and the team loses a player for any reason, the game is over at that point with the shorthanded team losing by forfeit.
5. A courtesy catcher is provided to teams fielding eight players. The catcher will be responsible only for returning pitched balls to the pitcher and will not be eligible to field batted or thrown balls in play.

LINEUP

1. Men and women must alternate in the batting order unless the team is playing with more women than men. Men may not bat consecutively.
2. If a player is listed in the lineup, he/she (or a pinch hitter) must bat when it is his/her turn. If a player cannot bat (for whatever reason) when it is his/her turn, an out will be credited against the "ghost batter" until he/she shows up to assume his/her spot in the batting order.
3. Substitutions into the batting order must be reported to the umpire and opposing captain either by the manager or the batter before that at bat.
4. A team may use the extra hitter position (EH) in addition to the ten defensive players in the lineup. If the EH is employed, there must be a female EH for each male EH. A team may choose not to use the EH at all (lineup of ten players), or one male and female EH (lineup of twelve players) or two male and female EHs (lineup of fourteen players), etc.
5. EHs are allowed free substitution defensively (an EH may switch to a position in the field and a fielder may switch to EH), but the batting order must remain the same.

PITCHING RULES

1. The pitch shall be released with an underhand motion.
2. For the protection of the pitcher, he/she has the option to start his/her delivery from behind the pitching rubber up to 6’.
3. The "Mat & Plate" will be used to call balls and strikes. Any legal pitch delivered within the height of six feet to twelve feet from the ground that hits either the mat or the plate will be declared a strike. A pitch that is taken by the batter and does not hit the plate or mat will be declared a ball.
4. The pitcher must be set before delivering the pitch to the batter.
5. If a male batter is walked on four balls with no strikes pitched to him or with two outs no matter the count, he receives two bases. When there are two outs, the following female batter may elect to receive a walk (one base) instead of batting.

BASERUNNING RULES

1. One courtesy runner is allowed per inning per team. The courtesy runner will be the last batter/runner to make an out. 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. The courtesy runner must be the same gender as the runner he/she is replacing.
2. A "commit" line will be drawn perpendicular to the third base line approximately 22 feet from home plate. Once the runner crosses the line he/she is committed to score and may not return to 3rd base. Exception: If the runner fails to tag up on a fly ball and crosses the commit line he/she may return to 3rd base to tag up.
3. A home plate veer line will be used. Runners MAY NOT touch home plate or the mat. Instead they must cross the veer line. All plays at home plate will be by force; no sliding and no tag plays are allowed. A runner will be determined safe if the runner’s foot or other body part crosses the veer line before a defender in possession of the ball touches home plate. The veer line shall be an extension of the first base line from home plate to the backstop.
4. When an infielder is at second or third base attempting to obtain a force out, the runner must slide directly to the bag, or stop, or veer out of the way to avoid bowling over the fielder. If the runner goes into the bag standing up and collides with the fielder, the runner will be declared out and ejected from the game. The umpire has the discretion to rule interference and call the batter out at first base for a double play. The runner will not be ejected nor called for interference if an errant throw pulls the fielder off the base and into the path of the runner who is making an effort to avoid a collision.

FIELDING RULES

1. Fake tags applied to decoy a runner are considered "interference". The runner will be awarded an extra base and the fielder will be ejected from the game.
2. A fielder may not at any time block a base without having possession of the ball. Base blocking will result in an obstruction call.

RULES OF PLAY

1. 3-2-1 Count Rule. Each batter enters the box with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. Three pitched balls will entitle the batter to a base on balls. Two pitched strikes and a batter is out. Each batter will receive one courtesy foul ball. If a batter has two strikes and hits the ball foul, the batter is given one extra strike. Any foul ball hit with two strikes on the batter, after a courtesy foul, is an out.
2. Double First Base. Only runners advancing to 2nd base may use the inside (white) base unless the throw pulls the defensive player off of the base or the throw comes from foul territory. Otherwise, a batter/runner running through first base on an infielder grounder must use the outside (orange) base.
3. Home Runs. There is a two home run rule. (This rule only pertains to over the fence home runs per game.) After the first two home runs are hit, the equalizer rule will be in effect. Ex: If team "A" hits two home runs and team "B" does not hit a home run; team "A" may not hit any home runs until team "B" hits two. Once both teams reach two home runs, they are allowed to go up by one home run and must wait until the other team equals or goes ahead by one home run to be allowed another. Violation: The batter is out.

MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY

Managers are responsible:

1. To see that all schedule and schedule changes reach their players.
2. To inform all players of proper player conduct, league and game rules.
3. To demonstrate cooperation with umpires and other league officials
4. For the actions of their players both on and off the field, as well as any actions of spectators affiliated with their team

CONDUCT INFORMATION

Note: Spectators will be held to the same conduct standards as players.

1. The managers are responsible to see that all players know and abide by the conduct rules. PENALTY: If a manager cannot or will not control his/her players and spectators, he/she may face disciplinary action, which can range from probation to suspension from the league.
2. The manager shall be the official representative of the team and spectators unless he designates one of the players as a team captain prior to the game. The manager or designated team captain is responsible for having the team cooperate with the scorekeeper, umpires or league officials. PENALTY: Warning, then ejection.
3. Casual Profanity: Foul or abusive language are not permitted on or around the playing field by any player at any time. Players using profanity or abusive language 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.
4. Officials will not allow players to direct any comments to or about another team, its players (and officials) that are, in the officials judgment, inflammatory or unsportsmanlike in nature. PENALTY: Warning to both teams, then ejection(s).
5. If a player is ejected and the team falls below the minimum number of players allowed, the team will forfeit.
6. Any participant who is ejected from a game is automatically suspended for the next game. A player ejected from a second game will automatically be suspended for the remainder of the season.