MEN'S 12" SUMMER SOFTBALL 2016 LEAGUE RULES
A. GENERAL
1. Team manager's are responsible for the conduct of their players. Only managers
may confer with the umpires and league officials.
2. All league fees must be paid by Tuesday, May 23. Rosters must be completed
and turned in before May 23.
3. No refunds will be given for any league fees.
4. All league fines must be paid to the Batavia Park District before the teams next
scheduled game.
5. Insurance is not provided by the Batavia Park District. Players are participating at
at their own risk.
6. A team will be dropped from the league tournament after forfeiting three
games during the course of the season.
7. Both teams are encouraged to keep a scorebook. The home team will be the
official scorebook in a scoring discrepancy.
B. ROSTER/PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
1. Roster limit is 25 players. All players must be high school graduates or 18 years old.
2. Roster changes may be made until June 7. After June 7 the rosters are final unless
a special exemption is made for injury by the Athletic Supervisor. Any changes in the
roster after June 7 must be in writing and given to the Athletic Supervisor before
a player may play in a game.
3. Players may play on multiple nights in the Batavia Park District Men's summer softball
league. Teams using non- roster players will forfeit all games in question.
4. Rosters are not complete unless all addresses and phone numbers have been
included. New players may play once they have been added to the roster.
C. TEAM CONDUCT
1. The Batavia Park District softball leagues are designed to promote fitness and
Recreation. Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated. Umpires may eject
any player for such behavior. The Athletic Supervisor may suspend any player or
team for conduct detrimental to the league.
2. Ejected players must leave the game site within one minute. If the player refuses
to leave on a timely basis the game will be forfeited.
3. Players or teams drinking or under the influence of alcohol before, during or after
the game will be suspended for that doubleheader.
4. Only a team manager may discuss a call or rule with the umpire. Other team
members attempting to confer or argue with the umpire will risk ejection from the
game.
5. Smoking is not allowed on the playing field or the dugouts!! If someone has to smoke, it
must be 100 feet away from the field and all butts must be thrown in the trash.
6. Managers are responsible and will be held accountable for the actions of their
players and spectators who attend the games.
7. No player shall be considered justified who takes the offense in a fight under the
pretext of defending himself. Fighting will carry a one year suspension from the
league.
8. Drinking is not allowed in the park....... This includes the parking lots. No
tailgating. If a player or team spectator is caught drinking, a warning will ensue first
and any after that will result in the captain being ejected.
D. INCLEMENT WEATHER/MAKE-UPS
1. Games may be canceled due to inclement weather or the effects.
2. Rainout information is available after 4:30 PM. at 761-8325 and on the Quickscores site.
3. If a game is halted due to rain, the umpire will decide if the teams should wait
or the game is officially rained out.
4. A game called due to rain is official after 4 innings have been completed. (3 1/2
innings if the home team is ahead). If the game is called before the game becomes
official the game will be made up from the start.
5. Umpires may call a game at anytime due to darkness, rain, lightning or other unsafe
conditions.
6. Teams leaving the game site before the umpire has officially called the game will
forfeit the game if play can be continued.
7. Games will be rescheduled on designated make-up day (Monday/Thursday)
if numerous nights are rained out during the season.
8. Games in which the umpire does not show will be treated as a rainout.
9. Suspended games will be continued from the point they were stopped.
E. EQUIPMENT
1. A new 12" softball will be provided for each game. The home team will
keep the ball after each game.
2. All bats must be stamped "Official Softball" by the manufacturer. Each bat must be
ASA certified.
3. A mat measuring 19" by 25" will be placed behind the plate.
4. Players must wear molded softball cleats. NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED!
5. ILLEGAL BATS - Teams will forfeit any games that illegal bats are used. The
responsibility is the manager’s to monitor the bats being used. Manager’s have been
supplied an illegal bat list they must follow. If bats in question are later determined to be
illegal teams will forfeit that game when discovered.
F. PROTESTS
1. Umpires shall have complete authority over a game once the first ball is pitched
and their decision is final.
2. No protests on rule interpretations by the umpire. Protests will only be allowed
on player eligibility. Any problems that arise on the field must be settled before
the next pitch is thrown.
3. Umpires must be notified of a protest on player eligibility before the first pitch of
the game. The umpire should be notified of the intent to protest and the player in
question. The official written protest by the team must be made by 5:00 PM. the
next working day to the Athletic Supervisor.
4. All protests must be accompanied by a $50.00 protest fee. If the protest is upheld
the money will be returned and the game will be forfeited. If the protest is denied
the money will be forfeited. All protests will be settled by the Athletic Supervisor
Director of Community Recreation and the umpire.
G. TROPHIES/STANDINGS/TOURNAMENTS
1. Cash Awards will be given to the first place team for each league ($250)
and first ($75) and second place ($50) finish in the league playoffs.
2. The post-season tournament will be held for the Men's Summer softball leagues at
the conclusion of the regular season. The tournament format will be decided by the
final league standings.
3. In the event of a tie for first place the following tie breaker will be used in this
order. Head/head competition, run differential. A tie for second place and below
will be decided in this order. Head/head competition, runs scored/runs allowed
differential of teams that are tied, and coin flip.
4. For all tournament games the home team will be the higher seeded team.
Tournament seeds are determined by the place your team finishes in the regular season.
All tournament games will be played to completion. If a game is called due to rain, darkness,
lightning or any other unsafe condition the game will be picked up where it was called.
H. PLAYING RULES
1. ASA rules will be used except when otherwise noted. Team captains are expected
to inform the players on their team of the rules and regulations prior to the first
game.
2. A team must have nine players to avoid a forfeit. The team may start the game with 8
players but must bat first. If after their half of the inning the 9th player has not showed
up, the game will be forfeited.
3. Game time is forfeit time. Forfeit time for the second game of a doubleheader is
30 minutes after the original starting time of the game.
4. Infield practice is not allowed on the field and batting practice is not allowed in the
batter's box.
5. Two courtesy runner's will be allowed. The player making the last out will become
the courtesy runner.(does not have to be batted out).
6. RUN RULE - If a team goes up by 20 runs after 3 innings, 15 runs after
4 innings, or 10 runs after 5 innings the game is over. If the visiting team goes up by
10 runs the home team will be allowed to bat in the bottom of the inning.
7. A fielder may not block a base if a play isn't taking place at that base. Fielder's may
not fake a tag at a base in order to deceive a runner. Obstruction will be called
and all base runners will be awarded one base.
8. FOUL BALL – When a player in the field catches the ball, runner's may tag up and
advance at their own risk. If a live ball is carried out of play the ball
becomes dead. Base runners will be awarded one base.
9. BATTING RULES - Batter will have a one and one count on him when he
steps into the batter's box.
A strike mat will be placed behind the plate. Any legal pitch that hits the mat or the
plate (this includes the black part of plate) will be called a strike.
Foul ball third strike will be an out.
Batter must have both feet in batter’s box prior to each pitch.
10. EXTRA PLAYER/DH RULE - Two extra players (EP) may be used each
game. Both players need to be indicated in the book. If the EP players arrive
after the first pitch is thrown he must bat at the end of the lineup.
1. The extra players (EP) must remain in the same spot in the batting order the
entire game.
2. The extra players (EP) may be added to the lineup whenever he arrives at the game.
3. The extra players (EP) may rotate into the field at anytime.
4. The extra players (EP) may be replaced by a substitute but may not re-enter
in the game.
11. BASE RUNNING RULES - Base runners may not lead-off the base until the
ball crosses home plate. A runner leaving early will be called out.
A base runner deliberately running into or over and opposing player who is
attempting to tag him out will be declared out and could be ejected from the
game if the action is considered flagrant. Sliding is not mandatory, but if a
base runner goes into a base standing up, he must avoid collision under any/all
situations.
12. If a pitcher plays on a runner the runner may not advance. If the
catcher/fielders play on a base runner he may not advance. No
stealing, the ball is dead on all appeal plays.
13.OVERTHROWS - When the ball is in play and is overthrown beyond the
boundary lines, all runners will be awarded two bases, and the award will be
governed by the position of the runners when the ball left the fielders hand.
14.PITCHING RULES - The ball must be delivered underhand with a minimum
of a six to twelve ft. arc from the ground.
Pitches judged to be too high or too low will be called a ball by
by the umpire after the pitch has landed on the ground.
Pitchers may not use a hesitation pitch. A ball will be called if the pitcher hesitates.
Pitcher need only notify the umpire if he wants to walk a batter.
Quick pitches or illegal pitches will be called a ball.
Pitching distance will be 50 ft. from home plate.
Pitchers may pitch up to 5 ft. directly behind the mound.
15. GAME TIME - There is a 1 hour time limit on all games. No new inning may
start after 1 hour unless the game is tied. Extra innings will be played until a
winner has been determined the second game of a doubleheader will begin
immediately after the first game has concluded.
16. BAT THROWING - A player throwing his bat for any reason will carry a two
out penalty. The player throwing the bat will be declared out along with the
next batter in the lineup. If there are two outs the next inning the team will start the
new inning with one out.
17. UNIFORMS - Teams are encouraged to have matching shirts in color. Players
must wear shirts at all times.
18. GENERAL INFORMATION - Home teams are designated on the schedule.
The Park District is not responsible for communicating with any team who's manager
has changed address, email or phone number without notifying the Park District in writing
of the change.
19. GLOVES - First baseman gloves may be used at any position.
20. HOME RUN HITTING RULE - Six home runs per game will be allowed.
If the ball is deflected over the fence or intentionally hit over the fence
this will not be considered a home run, but a triple with an error.
It is not necessary for runners to run the bases on a home run.
21. RAINOUTS – 4:30-5:30 PM. - Batavia Park District sports phone 761-8325 &
the Quickscores home page.
5:30-6 PM. - You will be contacted if possible if game is canceled.
After 6:00 PM- The umpires will make the decision at the game site.
SUSPENSIONS AND FINES Any player or manager involved in the following:
Threatening and umpire or supervisor - Any player or manager who argues
excessively, pushes, strikes or threatens an umpire or supervisor will automatically
be suspended for one calendar year.
Under the Influence of Alcohol - 2 game suspension
FIGHTING - 1 CALENDAR YEAR SUSPENSION