Revised 4/22/14
Mission Statement
The City of Massillon Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to creating positive experiences by providing quality parks;
facilities, services and programs. Our parks, greenways, fairways and recreational facilities represent safe and positive community
developments, which support first-rate leisure activities. Our programs, services and events operate under the highest standards of
integrity, morals and equality. Our department will further its success by working with the community to continually advance the
quality of life for all.
League Schedules, Standings and Rain-Out information can be found at:
http://www.massillonparks.com/parks/softball.html
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MEN’S & WOMEN’S SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL LEAGUES
ADMINISTRATION

All Leagues affiliated with the Massillon Parks & Recreation Department will be governed by
current ASA Rules. Any exceptions to these Rules will be explained in the following. IT’S
THE DUTY OF EACH TEAM TO ENFORCE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS as adopted
by the majority of team representatives in their respective Leagues and all policies of the
Massillon Parks & Recreation Department pertaining to League organization.

There shall be one umpire from the sanctioned organization assigned to all League games.
Should an umpire fail to appear for a scheduled League game, this game shall be postponed,
and the Parks & Recreation Department notified within 24 hours, unless both teams agree to
play.

The Massillon Parks & Recreation Department will employ a Softball League Director that will
be present for all games at Genshaft Park. It will be his/her duty to inform all managers in
their League when postponed games are being made up.

The League Director has the authority to make decisions regarding any issues needing
immediate attention.

The Sports Supervisor & the Assistant Director have the authority to establish rules and
policies regarding ongoing or continuous issues. The decision will be final. Changes to the
rules will be posted at Genshaft and the team managers will be notified.
Leagues:
The following are the available leagues that the Massillon Parks and Recreation offer during the summer and fall seasons.
The Massillon Parks & Recreation Department retains the right to change the leagues or move teams into different leagues
in the best interest of the program.
Summer
Men’s Competitive Leagues
Recreational Leagues
Women’s Competitive Leagues
Double Header Monday
Church
Women’s
Double Header Tuesday
CO-ED
Double Header Thursday
Double Header Friday
Fall
Men’s “A”
Men’s “B”
CO-ED
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ELIGIBILITY
Resident Rule
A full-time resident living within the Massillon City limits.
If not a resident, then a full-time employee within the Massillon City limits or spouse (residing in the
same household as player) is employed in a full-time position within the City limits of Massillon.
For each non-resident player on a roster, a non-resident fee of $1.00 per scheduled, regular season
game will be assessed. (No limit on the number of non-residents.) This fee is for the season,
not games played.
Any player found falsely stating their residency status will be suspended from the League
immediately, the remainder of the season, and the three (3) succeeding years. The manager of
that team will be suspended immediately, the remainder of the season, and five (5) succeeding
years.
Playing in Leagues
Men’s Leagues
1. A player may participate on only two teams, not within the same division/league.

Example: A Player may not play for a World League “A” team and a World League “B” Team

Example: A Player(s) may play for a World League team and a Double Header Team
2. If a player would like to participate for an additional team, they may only play one division/league up
from the league they played last season. (Summer Only)

Double Header Tuesdays

Double Header Leagues

CO-ED, Church
3. Fall Softball: A player may play on 2 different teams, not within the same division.
4. The highest team the players plays with will be the classification that player receives, regardless of
date of play.
5. Any player caught playing for a team who is not listed on the team’s official roster will be ejected and
serve a 14 day suspension, the team will forfeit the game and the team manager will also serve a 14
day suspension.
6.
Double Header Tuesday players will NOT be permitted to play in the Church or CO-ED leagues.
7. Any team that has 5 players from a winning League Championship or Tournament team will be
required to move up one league. If that team’s next year’s record is below 500, they may drop back
down one league.
Players must be at least 16 years of age, on or before, the start of the season.
Women’s Leagues
1. Players may play in both the Women’s “A” League and the Women’s “B” League. Any Women’s team
that has 5 or more “A” Players will be classified as a Women's “A” team
2. Players may play on one woman’s Competitive League team and one Recreational League team.
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Bat Rule
To provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants within the Massillon Parks &
Recreation Departments Softball leagues the following bat restrictions will be enforced.
All Men’s & Women’s League will be allowed to use all ASA certified bats.
CO-ED (summer & fall): ASA approved bats & No 100% Composite Bats.
An ASA Non-Certified bat list will be available on the field and can be found on
http://www.massillonparks.com/parks/softball.html
http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp
Any player, knowingly or unknowingly, found using a restricted bat during a Massillon Parks &
Recreation League or Tournament game will be ejected as will the team manager.
Ejection rules apply.
The team’s manager is responsible for making sure all bats used by their team are
legal and approved for play!
Rules of Play
1. A complete game will be considered complete with 7 innings.
a.
All batters will start with a 1 and 1 count.
2. All players on a team must be wearing a consistent uniform by the start of the teams 3rd
game. Consistent uniform being, the same color tops with number printed on the back. Any
player not in uniform will not be allowed to participate in that game. NO EXCEPTIONS
3. No smoking on field/dugout. Penalty-EJECTION. (See Ejection Rule.)
4. No player shall dig in the batter’s box. Penalty-OUT
5. NO METAL SPIKES will be allowed in any of the Leagues. Penalty-EJECTION for
unsportsmanlike conduct. (See Ejection Rule.)
6. Courtesy runner Rule: Each team may choose two (2) individuals before the start of the
game that will need courtesy runners. These two (2) players will always have a courtesy
runner. The courtesy runner will be the player who has made the last out. (If that player is
one of the designated players that gets a courtesy runner, then it will be the out before that
player.)
7. If teams choose not to have any courtesy runners before the game, then they will not be
allowed to change that decision after the first pitch has been thrown. (An injured player may
have a courtesy runner. The last player to make an out.)
8. Any player using profanity on or off the field will be ejected from the game and removed
from Park property. (See Ejection rule )
9. Line-up cards MUST be used each game. (Last name, 1st initial, position and uniform
number). Not having a line-up to umpire at ground rules meeting will result in the 1st batter
being an out. Managers are required to immediately report to pre-game meeting without
delay when called.
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10. Teams will be notified 24 hours in advance for make-up games. If field availability becomes
tight, make-up games may be scheduled on any available night.
11. Games may be moved from one field to another at the discretion of the League Director.
12. Players must be on the field or in the dugout at start time of the game. NO GRACE
PERIOD. The parking lot and walkway do not count. This includes players playing on
different fields that are on your team.
13. Second team on the schedule is the HOME team and will be responsible for scoreboard
operations.
14. Each day new games will be issued at the discretion of the league coordinator.
15. In case of a tie for a spot when a trophy is involved, each team involved must pay a game
fee of $17.00 before the start of the game.
16. All teams are in the playoffs.
17. Players are eligible for the playoffs as long as their names are on the roster, even if they
have not played in any games.
18. Players must take communicable disease precautions. No player shall play with blood on
his/her body, clothes, etc. Reasonable time and accommodations will be allowed so blood
may be washed, covered, or removed.
19. The League Director may not be a manager/coach, player or sponsor of a team within the
league he/she is supervising.
20. Rosters are limited to 20 players and must be turned in prior to the first game played.
21. Player participant sheet must be completed, signed by the team manager and given to the
League Director before the start of the first game. Any Roster NOT turned in by the end of
night of your first scheduled game will result in forfeit for that game and all other games
following until the team roster is turned in.
22. Teams may ADD two (2) new players and REPLACE two (2) new players, for a total of 4
possible player changes until midway point in the season. NO CHANGES will be allowed
after the midway point (1/2 of regular season games played) of the season.
23. Players on the roster who do not show up for games anymore or asked to leave the team for
whatever reason by the team manager, will not be allowed to be replaced or taken off the
roster after the Midway deadline.
24. Any team with a 10 run lead after an official game will be declared the winner. (4.5 or 5
innings, after home team has batted) or 20 runs after 3rd inning, 15 after the 4th inning or 10
after the 5 inning (ASA Rule 5, Section 9)
25. All Slow Pitch Leagues have a 70 minute time limit. No new inning can start after the limit
unless game is tied.
26. All Church League rosters must be signed by the Minister, Priest or Leading official of that
congregation
27. No games will be started after 10:15pm (Umpire’s discretion)
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Home Run Rule
The Massillon Parks & Recreation Department had set forth the following Homerun Rules to allow
the flow of the game to be more consistent. Each league will be allowed to hit a certain number of
Homeruns per game; every homerun hit after the limit has been reached will count as an OUT.
Double Header Tuesdays, (Men’s A (Fall)) (1 for 1 after limit is reached)
5 Homeruns per game
Double Header Mondays and Thursdays (1 for 1 after limit is reached)
3 Homerun per game
All other leagues (1 and 1 after limit is reached)
1 Homerun per game
PROTESTS/APPEALS

All protests or appeals regarding ejection or team rosters must be accompanied by a $25
cash fee.

When protesting a team roster, each team’s manager must be present. The player(s) in
question must show proof of identification during the roster protest. Failure to produce a
picture ID will result in an illegal player. ASA Rules on illegal players follow.

Protests must be made immediately (during the game) and in writing after the game.
Protest papers are in the announcer’s booth. Please refer to ASA Rule #9 on
protests.

An appeal regarding ejection must be made in writing within 24 hours.

All protests or appeals regarding ejection will be decided by a Board of Governors
consisting an Administrative Staff Member, three (3) Umpires, League Director, and three
players from the League.

Protests or appeals regarding ejection, which are denied will cause $25 fee to be lost,
and manager and/or player may be subject to additional game penalty.
SUSPENSIONS & EJECTION

Any player ejected from a game will be suspended for 7 days from all league play and
the ball park. Rainouts do not count. If appealed, and the call is not reversed, then
player may be subject to additional game penalty. Once ejected, the player must leave
park property, this includes parking lot. Suspension subject to further games pending
actions leaving the park.

Example: A player ejected from a Tuesday evening game will not be eligible to play again until the
following Wednesday. (Wed=Day 1, Thurs=Day 2, Fri=Day 3, Sat=Day 4, Sun=Day 5, Mon=Day 6,
Tues=Day 7)

If appealed, the player may play in any game up until the appeal meeting. By doing so
the player subjects those games to forfeits if the call is not overturned.

Any and all players involved in a fight will be suspended indefinitely and must apply to
the Massillon Parks & Recreation Department for reinstatement.

Any players hitting or intimidating an Umpire or League official before, during, or after a
game will be suspended indefinitely and must apply to the Massillon Parks & Recreation
Department for reinstatement.
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
Any person that throws a bat, that goes over, under or through the fence will be
suspended indefinitely and must apply to the Massillon Parks & Recreation Department
for reinstatement.
ORDINANCE
Please note the following section of The Codified Ordinance of the City of Massillon, Ohio:
Section 961.13 Liquor, Drugs Prohibited
No person shall use any intoxicating liquor, beer, illegal drugs,
or controlled substances of any form whatsoever on Park property in the City.
RESTRICTED ACTIVITY
At no time, shall any players, coaches or managers be allowed to
drink alcoholic beverages or smoke on the field or in the dugout.
PRACTICE PERMITS
(Summer Leagues Only)
Maximum of two practices per team per week. One practice may be scheduled two weeks in
advance. The second practice may only be schedules one week in advance. Call the Massillon
Parks & Recreation office at 330-832-1621 to reserve a field.
Practice Times Begin:
5:00 PM Weekdays
GAME CANCELLATION
If adverse weather exists and you want to know if games are going to be played,
coaches may call the Massillon Recreation Center’s Program hotline at 330-832-1621
ext. 4, after 4:30 PM on your game day. A recording will tell you if games are
cancelled.
Teams may also visit http://www.massillonparks.com/parks/softball.html for game updates.
If no message is heard regarding cancellation, games may be called at the field.