FARMINGTON
PARKS AND RECREATION
MEN’S SOFTBALL
MANAGERS HANDBOOK
The organizational meeting for all team managers will be held at the Rambling River Center on
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm. All new managers or a team representative are expected
to attend this meeting.
What’s New?
The following rules have been added or changed as a result of National, State or Farmington
Softball decisions:
Fees
 Team fees for the 2017 season are $690 and are due prior to the season beginning.
RostersSFEES
 All rosters are due no later than Friday, April 21, 2017 at 4:30 pm in the Farmington City
Hall. Rosters may also be faxed to 651-280-6898.

The roster minimum is 10 players and the maximum is 20 players. Both names and
addresses must be included on the roster.

To play on a softball team you MUST be on the roster. No “subbing of players”.

Any roster changes must be made to Farmington Parks and Recreation, Monday through
Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faxed to Ryan Hayes at 651-280-6898 or emailed to
[email protected]. In order to be eligible, players must be on the roster before
participating in league play.

Players may be rostered on more than one team provided that those teams participate on
different evenings. Players rostered on more than one team may only play on one team
during post season play including League Tournament, Regions, State, and Nationals.

Roster changes may be made until Friday, June 9. After this date, the roster becomes
final. It is your responsibility to make sure the league director has received your changes
Manager’s Duties
 Read everything. Please ask questions if something is unclear.

Make sure the Parks and Recreation Office has your correct mailing address and phone
numbers.

Know the elgibility requirements and conequences for use of an ineligible player.

Know and understand the playing rules and inform members of your team.

Meet with the umpire at home plate before the game starts. If you have any questions,
ask them at this time. Exchange lineups with your opponent. Inform your players of the
ground rules. The person representing your team at the pregame meeting will be the
“designated manager” for the game.

Any dispute must be handled by the “designated manager”. Do not let one of your
players face ejection by arguing over a call.

You are responsible for your team and your spectators’ conduct at and around the park.
Abusive language, improper drinking, litter and other irresponsible acts will not be
tolerated by the City of Farmington.

Any schedule information, changes or other pertinent league information will be sent to
you. It is your responsibility to pass this information on to your players.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the players’ bench is occupied only by players and
the scorekeeper. Please no children or spectators on the player’s bench.
League Play– April 27, 2016 – July 6, 2016.

Games will be played at Rambling River Park Feely Fields (Akin Road and Hwy. 50).
Game times will be 6:15 pm, 7:15 pm, 8:15 pm and 9:15 pm.

All leagues will have a maximum of 8 teams and be “D” classified.

All leagues will follow USSSA Softball Rules with the exceptions in the Farmington
Parks and Recreations Manager’s Handbook.
Important Dates to Remember
Friday, April 21
Thursday, April 27
Friday, June 9
Thursday, July 6
Thursday, July 13
Thursday, July 20
August 5-6
All rosters due
League Starts
Last chance to roster players for the League
NO Thursday night league games
Last game – Thursday Night League
Make ups
USSSA State Tournament – Brooklyn Park
Inclement Weather
 If weather is severe, please call the Parks & Recreation Information Line at 651-2806870 after 4:30 pm for information on cancellations. If there is no message on the
recorder, assume the games are on as scheduled and will be called at the field by the
umpire, if necessary. Rainouts will be rescheduled by the Parks and Recreation Office.
General League Rules
 All players listed on the team roster must live or work full-time (35-40 hours per week)
within the State of Minnesota as of January 1, 2016 and continue to live or work in
Minnesota through the season. To be eligible to play in the league, a player must be at
least 18 years of age before participating in a game and be listed on their teams
respective roster. All teams shall have a maximum of 20 players including the manager
and a minimum of 10 players.

Both high school and college students (ages 18 and older) are eligible to participate in
MRPA/USSSA adult sports programs. It is recommended that if they participate in
interscholastic/intercollegiate athletics, they check with their athletic director to make
sure their eligibility is not being placed in jeopardy.

The first game of the evening has a 10-minute grace period which, if used, is taken off
the game time. All other games will not have a grace period. Each game will last 1 hr
with no new innings after 55-minutes of play.

A team can start with 8 players and can finish with 8 players. The ninth and tenth players
may be added at any time.

The umpires shall rule the games at all times. If an umpire does not show for a game, the
game will be treated as a rainout game unless both managers agree to play the game with
a stand-in umpire. If both managers agree to a stand-in umpire, the result of the game
becomes final. The stand-in umpire will be paid by the City of Farmington.
General League Rules Continued
 Absolutely no arguing ball and strike calls by an umpire. The umpire will give one
warning per team then offending player(s) will be ejected! No warning for foul or abusive
language.

Official game length is 7 innings. A game stopped by an umpire is complete if 4 innings
are in the books (3 ½ if the home team has the lead).

The official ball will be the Dudley Optic Yellow Elite 12” Composite .40 core 325
compression.

As of Jan. 16, 2015, the MN USSSA office is requiring that all bats must have a logo on
it like the one found here. This logo is often referred to as the USSSA "fingerprint". The
old "grandfathered" bats are no longer permitted “new” USSSA logo must appear on its
tapered end. Approved bats can be found at
http://www.usssa.com/sports/Ammouncements.asp?Sport=17&AA=517 .

Umpires have the right to confiscate “old” bats on sight if they are used in a game.

3-2 count. Courtesy foul is eliminated.

NEW for 2016 - Only one courtesy Runner per inning may be used. The courtesy
Runner will be the last recorded out. If it is the first inning of the game, no
courtesy runner may be used until an out is recorded. If the courtesy runner is still
on base when his/her tum to bat comes up, the original baserunner can take the
place on base with no penalty. For Mixed games, only the last male out can run
for a male and only the last female out can run for a female.

Three (3) warm-up pitches permitted between each inning. The umpire has the authority
to restrict this rule if the game is running late.

The pitcher has five (5) seconds to present and deliver a legal pitch. The five (5) seconds
starts once the pitcher is in contact with the pitching rubber. The batter may not request
time once this process has begun.

Five (5) home runs per game (state rule is 0 with an out). Any ball hit
over the fence, between the foul lines, except when touched by a fielder after the limit is
reached, shall be declared an out. During USSSA tournaments,
any untouched Home Run that exceeds the limit will be an inning ending out.

Any inning that starts before the hour and continues past the hour will be completed, but
that will be the last inning of play regardless of the score (ties included). No new inning
will start after 55-minutes!

Fifteen (15) run rule after 5 innings of play or 20 runs or more after 4 completed innings.

Flip flop rule will be used.

Optional: Everyone bats.

Alcoholic beverages are allowed at the Rambling River Feely Fields. While alcoholic
beverages are allowed at the fields, it is not allowed on the playing field or on the
player’s bench. Under-age alcohol consumption will not be tolerated. Teams who do
not comply with this rule will be suspended from the league. Please place all trash in
the proper trash or recycling barrels

Smoking is not allowed on the field or on the player’s bench.

Only players, managers or coaches listed on the team roster will be allowed in the team
bench area or on the field of play. Absolutely No Children are allowed in the team
bench area or on the field of play. No Exceptions!

Home team is responsible for keeping the official scorebook. This is important when
protests occur, score disputes arise or when batting line-ups are questioned. Visiting
team is also encouraged to keep score.

If there is a tie in the standings between teams, head-to-head competition will be the first
tie breaker, run differential in the games played between the tied teams will be the next
tie breaker and total run differential for all league games will be the final tiebreaker.

USSSA rules shall govern in all instances where local league rules do not apply. Be
aware that USSSA rules will be used exclusively during playoffs. The purpose of
switching to straight USSSA rules is to prepare the teams who advance to regional
tournament play for the rules they will encounter in those tournaments.

Any teams submitting bad checks will be subject to disbarment of all play and reported to
USSSA and MRPA.

Most importantly: HAVE FUN!

If you have any questions regarding the league, contact Farmington Parks and Recreation
League Director, Ryan Hayes at 651-280-6854 weekdays from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or
through email at [email protected]. Please note that the Parks and Recreation
Department reserves the right to make rule changes when needed.
Contact Info. for the Farmington Recreation Department
Mailing Address:
City of Farmington
Parks and Recreation Department
430 Third Street
Farmington, MN 55024
Phone Numbers:
Recreation Office – 651-280-6850
League Director – 651-280-6854 or 651-755-5942
Information Line – 651-280-6870
Fax:
651-280-6899
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Website:
www.ci.farmington.mn.us