Wednesday, July 30, 2008

6:00 p.m.

Minutes

Registration Payment/Official Fees/Scorekeeper Fees: All teams are required to pay the $335or $385 entry fee and the $104 forfeit fee prior to the start of league play on August 25.

Each game will have 1 umpire. Each team must also pay $15/game for the umpires (cash at the field) and $11/game (cash at the field) for the scorekeepers. If a game starts and ends before being completed (i.e.- weather) the umpire is guaranteed $10 and scorekeeper gets $5.

Final Roster Due/Eligibility for Playoffs: The final roster is due by September 19. Players can only occupy one roster. You can either bring it in to the Civic Center or you can fax it in to (440)461-2231. Each team may carry a maximum of 20 players on their roster.

Each team will play at least 9 regular season (depends on amount of teams) games plus 2 playoff games. A player must be on the roster and play in four regular season games in order to be eligible for playoffs. The playoffs will be double elimination.

Rain Out Procedure/Cancellation/Hotline: The weather/activity hotline (440-954-4114) will be programmed by approximately 5:30 p.m. on game days. If games are rained out, you will hear a cancellation message on the recording.

If games need to be made up, then they will be made up on Mondays/Wednesdays during available times (depending upon number of teams in league).

Equipment/Uniforms/Shoes :

· All teams required to have same color shirts with numbers on the back.

· Game balls will be provided each night at the field. The ball will be a 12” softball, 375/44.

· Strong Box- First aid kit, rules and the illegal bat list

· No metal spikes. If a player is found using metal spikes they will be automatically ejected from the game, no changing shoes. This is your only warning.

Bats:

All teams are required to bring their own bats. The league will follow the ASA Illegal Bat List. All managers will be given this list with the Minutes.

– ASA Legal Bats only PLUS no Miken or Titanium bats AND No bats with a Composite Barrel. Meaning, ASA Legal Bats with a 50/50 composite handle are allowed.
Players should check with the umpire before stepping into the box to determine if bat is “illegal” or not.
Anyone who brings an illegal bat (see list) to the plate and uses it will be suspended that game plus the next two games. The game is then considered a forfeit. Managers can agree to keep playing “for fun” or not to continue playing.

Awards

Regular season

· Champions will receive a trophy/plaque for their sponsor.

Playoffs

· Playoff champions and runner-ups will receive a trophy for sponsor

· Champions receive individual awards

(over)

Rules reviewed:

Number of Players/Batting Order/Players in Field/Number of Innings Required/Courtesy Runner

Teams start with even amount of males and females (5 and 5, 6 and 6, etc.)
The only exception will be for teams starting 9 players. Teams may start with 5 men and 4 women or 5 women and 4 men. If starting with 5 men, a male must begin the batting order and the 10^th spot will be an out. If starting with 5 women, a female must begin the batting order with two consecutive females batting 9^th and 10^th therefore no automatic out. If the fifth member of the opposite gender arrives after the game begins, he/she must be inserted in the tenth spot in the batting order.
There will be a continuous batting order alternating between males and females (everyone bats, if playing in the field then you must bat). Males will alternate between hitting strong and weak handed. If a manager thinks that a player is batting their strong hand, the manager can ask the player to bat with his other hand at the next bat. It is asked that in 1^st inning, players will tell other team if batting strong or weak handed first time up. If a male sub comes into the game, he must bat the same way as the person he is subbing for.
Manager must notify the other manager if they are not playing or if there is a person on the bench not playing. Person sitting on the bench can substitute & take a person’s spot in the batting order.
Each player must play 2 innings in the field
If a player is injured during the game, he/she will be skipped over in the batting order without it being an out. (if there are more than 9 players on your team). However if a player is injured and can’t bat and your team is down to 8 players it’s a forfeit.
Outfielders may not move in past the grass and Infielders cannot move in past the bases.
Teams are allowed to have 2 females next to each other, but can’t have 2 males next to each other out in the outfield. Males can play next to each other only at 3^rd base and short stop but 1^st and 2^nd base must be females.
Courtesy Runner: Last out male for male and last out female for female, if it’s the 1^st inning and there are no outs use last male or female in the line-up.

First Base/Sliding/Base Blocking/Extra Home Plate

If a play is at first base, the runner must use the green safety base and the defense must use the white regular base. If there is no play at first base, the runner can use either the green or the white base.
No base blocking at any base or home plate. If a situation arises where one team thinks the other team is base blocking, the umpire will use his/her discretion to make a ruling
If a male is walked, then the next female has the option of walking or batting (decided before entering the batter’s box)
Extra Home Plate: Located about 8 ft outside of regular home plate is there to avoid collisions. The runner must always go to the Extra Home Plate. If the runner goes to the regular home plate, it is an out. The play at home is always a force. The catcher must touch home plate and CANNOT tag the runner.

Time

There will be a 5 minute grace period for first game only (cuts into 66 minutes allowed for game)
No inning will start after 65 minutes (may be adjusted depending on amount of games per night.
If a game is in the middle of an inning at the 65-minute limit, teams will play through the inning.
During Playoffs: the time limit and mercy rule is in effect. The higher seed is awarded the home team advantage during playoffs. For the championship game, it will be a coin toss. Time limit and mercy rule will be waived during championship game.

Field Specifications/Safety Line

There will be a safety line perpendicular to the third base line halfway between third base and home plate. Once the runner crosses the line, they must continue running to home or it is an out.
Bases will be at 65 feet, pitching rubber at 50 feet

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Ties

Games that end in a tie will be left in a tie during the regular season. During the playoffs, if a game is tied, it will go into extra innings if it is within the time limit. If time does not allow extra innings then the Sudden Death Rule will be used. This rule states that going into the 8^th inning, a runner (last out from previous inning) starts out on 2^nd base with no outs. After three outs, the other team receives the same opportunity. If it goes into 9 innings, runners start out on 2^nd & 3^rd base. The other team receives the same opportunity. If the game is still tied, teams will follow the above process but they will start with one out with a runner on second base. If it goes into the next inning then there will be runners on 2^nd & 3^rd with one out.
Tie Breaker Rule-to determine playoff seeding: If two teams are tied for a seed after the regular season, then we look at head to head competition. If the tie still exists then we will look at the run spread between the two teams. If a tie still exists, then a coin toss will be used.

Official Game/Mercy Rule/Home Run Rule

An official game is complete after 4 ½ innings if the home team is leading thus giving the visiting team last ups or four times to bat. If home team is behind, they will bat the 5^th time.
Mercy Rule: If one team is winning by 12 runs, the game will be called (after 4 ½ innings so that visiting team gets last ups or four times to bat).

12. Miscellaneous Items

a. Bathrooms are located at the field behind concessions stand.

b. If one team is ready to play and the other team forfeits, the team that is ready to play (as long as it has nine players at the field) will receive credit for that game. The non-forfeiting team needs to turn in their line-up to the scorekeeper so that he/she can record it and give credit.

c. If a team doesn’t show up for their game and forfeits, they will be responsible for paying both umpire/scorekeeper fees. If the game starts and then becomes a forfeit (i.e.- ejections) then both teams will still pay the fees.

d. If both teams forfeit, it is a double forfeit.

e. Balls that bounce out of play will be considered a ground rule double

f. Start with 1 & 1 count allowing 1 extra foul

g. Smoking allowed only at designated area. Teams will be warned at beginning of season, then after that it will be automatic forfeit for teams caught smoking at benches.

h. If a player is ejected from a game the umpire will use his/her discretion as to say if the player can wait next to the field (team benches, bleachers, etc.) or if the player must leave all together.

i. Mayfield Village Parks and Recreation has the authority to eject players or teams from the league based upon improper behaviors and/or any other situation that arises which Mayfield Village feels is inappropriate. If a player or team is ejected, then they will not receive any refund from Mayfield Village Parks and Recreation.