March 06, 2017
CERA SOFTBALL RULES
Revision Date 3/06/2017
1. LEAGUE RULES
1.1.
All USSSA rules will govern league play except as follows:
1.2.
Tournaments could negate certain league rules.
2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1.
Men and coed league play are open to Associate members of CERA and/or
League members of CERA. All softball players must acquire a membership
card from the CERA Front Desk prior to participation. The membership card
is your access onto CERA property. If a roster check is made during a game,
this card will be required for identification.
2.2.
All players must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
2.3.
A player cannot participate on two teams in the same league. If a player is
playing on more than one team, the player must choose one team to play for
in the CERA Championship Tournament.
2.4.
To play with a team in the CERA Championship Tournament, a player must
have competed in at least one regular season game with that team.

Exception: Each team may add up to three players to their roster for
the CERA Championship Tournament who did not participate in any
league games for that team. However, the roster may at no time exceed
the twenty player maximum (Rule 3.6).
*** Violation of Sections 2.1 through 2.4 will result in one or more of the
following actions:
2.5.
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Probation of player(s)
Suspension of player(s)
Forfeiture of game(s)
Loss of eligibility
3. ROSTER SHEETS
3.1.
All team rosters will be managed through the ActiveNet software and each
team member must be on that roster. Rosters will be limited to 20 team
members
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March 06, 2017
3.2.
Players can be dropped and/or added to the roster during the season.
Players changing from one team to another team of the same league will be
removed from the old team roster and added to the new team
3.3.
It will be the coach/managers responsibility to make sure the roster turned in
for that team contains only eligible players.
3.4.
Rosters are limited to twenty (20) players.
3.5.
*** Violation of Section 3.1 through 3.5 will result in one or more of the
following actions:




Probation of player(s)
Suspension of player(s)
Forfeiture of game(s)
Loss of eligibility
4. THE GAME
4.1.
USSSA Specifics - Each batter will come to bat with a count of 1 ball and 1
strike. Once the batter reaches 2 strikes, any foul balls is ruled an out and is a
dead ball situation. The Pitched Ball must arc at least 3 feet, after leaving the
Pitcher's hand and before it passes any part of Home Plate. The Pitched Ball
shall not rise higher than ten feet above the ground.
4.2.
Line ups are to be turned in immediately upon request by the umpire.
4.3.
Regulation time is 55 minutes for all games. In case of a tie game after 7
innings or time has expired, each batter will receive only one pitch for all
following innings.
4.4.
Any player sliding into any base must be in contact with the ground before
contact is made with an opposing player. If a player sliding into any base,
either feet first or head first, is on the ground and then makes contact with an
opposing player, it will be considered as part of the game. However, if any
player sliding into any base makes contact with an opposing player while still
in the air, either feet or head first, that player will be subject to immediate
ejection from the game, by the umpire.
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4.5.
A team must have at least 8 players to start or continue a game for men and
coed league play.
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If a team starts with 8 players, the following rules apply:
A 9th and/or 10th player may be added at any time during the game, but
the team cannot go from 8 or 9 to 11 or more players. The 9th and/or
10th player shall occupy the 9th and/or 10th spots in the batting order.
A team may not drop below 8 players for injury or any other reason.
Once a team starts with 8 or 9 players, adds its' 9th and/or 10th player
during the game, it can drop below 9 or 10 players at that point due to
injury only.
For Coed League play, a team starting with 8 players must have 4
females and 4 males, a team starting with 9 must have 5 females and 4
males.

A team may drop down to a minimum of 8 players due to an injury. Once
that team resumes legal play with one less player, they can continue the
game with that number of players. A team may not at any time drop
below 8 players. When a team drops players due to an injury, the vacant
spot(s) in the lineup is NOT an automatic out.

A team may not go from 10 to 11 or more players during a game.
(Additional Hitters must be announced at the beginning of play).

If a team has a player ejected from the game for any reason, the team
with the ejected player may continue to play as long as they have 8 or
more remaining players. The ejected player is removed from play for the
rest of the night and a minimum of one additional game. In the event of
an ejected player, an out will be recorded in the slot of the batting order
of the ejected player unless a legal substitute is placed in that slot of the
batting order.

A team may have up to 16 batters in the batting order but a maximum of
10 players may take defensive positions in the field. Any player in the
batting order may rotate in and out of the defensive alignment throughout
the game. For coed only, lineups with extra hitters must have an equal
number of girls and guys. (e.g. 6 females and 6 males, or 7 females and
7 males, or 8 females and 8 males)

For league play only, a player shall be considered a legal member of a
team for a game once they have completed their initial at bat in that
game and a legal pitch has been delivered to the next batter in the
lineup.

At no time may a team have more than three individuals in the batting
order who are listed on the roster of a team that plays in a higher level
league.

Example: A team playing in a “C” league may not have more than three
individuals in the batting order at one time during a game who are listed
on the roster of an “A” and/or “B” league team
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4.6.
Game time is forfeit time!!! Both teams involved must agree in order for a
game to be started earlier than the scheduled start time. Scheduled start
times for weekday games are normally either 6:45, 7:30, 8:30 or 9:30 PM.
4.7.
CERA Softball Run Rules are as Follows:
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20 runs after 2 innings
15 runs after 3 innings
12 runs after 4 innings
10 runs after 5 innings
4.8.
CERA Home Run Rules are as follows:

Any Leagues labeled Raptor are 3 HRs with 1 Up Rule
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Any Leagues labeled Lightning are 2 HRs with 1 Up Rule

Any Leagues labeled Falcon are 1 HR with 1 Up Rule
4.9.
Metal cleats are not allowed.
4.10.
Men's league play will use a 12" ball with both USSSA Classic M and CERA
stamped on the ball. These balls must be purchased from CERA.
4.11.
Mixed league play will use a 12" ball with both USSSA Classic M and CERA
stamped on the ball for all men batting and an 11" ball with both USSSA
Classic W and CERA stamped on the ball for all women batting. These balls
must be purchased from CERA.
In coed play, it is each team’s responsibility to exchange balls during the
game, not the umpires. It is the responsibility of both teams to know whether
or not the wrong ball is in the game. An appeal may be made by either team if
the incorrect ball is hit prior to the next pitch to the next batter only.
4.12.
The batter may request an out from the umpire after presenting himself and
taking one pitch at his time at bat.
4.13.
In the event of inclement weather, power outage, etc., a complete game may
be ruled after 4 innings, 3-1/2 innings if the home team is ahead.
4.14.
Once a batter reaches any base and time has been called by the umpire, he/she
may request a courtesy runner. Only one (1) courtesy runner may be used per
inning and can be anyone in the lineup. In the Mixed program, the courtesy
runner shall be a male for a male and a female for a female. Also, in the event
the courtesy runner is on base and his/her turn comes to bat, he/she will be an
out. The player will remain on base as the courtesy runner and the next batter in
the lineup will come to the plate.
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4.15.
Protection Of The Pitcher
A batted ball that is hit directly back at the pitcher that strikes the pitcher on
the body or glove before hitting the ground will cause the batter who hit the
line drive to be called out if in the judgement of the umpire the pitcher was
defenseless. This penalty is an out each time it occurs. Ejection of players will
NOT happen. Confiscation of bats will NOT happen.
4.16.
Bat Clarification Rule

Refer to the USSSA rule book Rule 2 Section 2 regarding bats.
USSSA Rules may be found at http://web.usssa.com/usssa/usssageneral/USSSA_SPRB_17.pdf

CERA Softball League Legal Bats
All bats utilized within the CERA league must have the following
stamp. These are the only bats that will be legal to use for 2017

CERA Softball League Policy regarding bats
Any bat utilized in a CERA Softball League game must be legal for
USSSA play as defined in rule 2.2 of the USSSA rule book. Any use of
illegal or altered bats within a league at CERA will be subject to the
following penalties.
 Use of an illegal bat will be penalized by the player using the illegal bat
will be called out upon hitting the ball with the illegal bat.
 Use of an altered bat will be penalized by the player being called out
and ejected from the league for the remainder of the current league.
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
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Also, the coach of the team involved in using an altered bat will be
ejected from the game as well and incur the same suspension for the
remainder of the 2017 league (spring, summer, fall).
Anyone that repeats this offense of using an altered bat will be
suspended for 1 year from the date of the second infraction.
Players and coaches responsibilities are as follows:
Coaches have the responsibility to make sure all bats being utilized by
your team are legal and meet the USSSA specifications. The list of
approved
USSSA
equipment
may
be
found
on
the
http://www.usssa.com/slowpitch/Announcements/#/?gdSport=17&AA=51
website. It is also your responsibility to fully pursue with the umpires if you
believe that an illegal or altered bat is being utilized. This can be raised at
any time by any player. If the umpire will not address the request, please
contact the CERA Softball commissioner immediately. The commissioner
can be reached at (817)980-9993.

Umpires Responsibilities are as follows:
The umpires will fully address any request by any player regarding the
legality of a bat. The umpires have the right to remove any bat at any time
that they deem questionable for that game.
Umpires may at any time remove a bat from play for the remainder of that
game or night in the case of double headers.
5. SECTION 5 - PROTEST
5.1.
All protests must be reported to the home plate umpire by the Coach/Manager
prior to the next pitch.
5.2.
All protests must be submitted in writing to the commissioner within 48 hours
of game termination, and shall be accompanied by a $50 fee. The fee will be
returned if the protest is upheld, otherwise it will be forfeited.
5.3.
Submittal of protest should be directly to the CERA Softball Commissioner or
other CERA Softball League Representative.
5.4.
Protest will be decided by the CERA Softball Committee. The CERA Softball
Committee will consist of the following representatives: CERA Softball
commissioner, All CERA Softball coordinators (Men’s and Co-Ed), and 1
league coach not involved in the protested game.
5.5.
Decisions made by the CERA Softball committee will be sent to the teams
within seven (7) days of submittal.
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6. RAINOUTS/MAKE-UPS
6.1.
Condition of the fields is determined by the groundskeeper and the CERA
Manager with the decision submitted to the Softball Commissioner for
consideration.
6.2.
Questions concerning league play on wet fields will be answered at the CERA
Main Office (phone number 732-7731, extension 117) after 3 PM on the day
games are scheduled for. It is the team’s responsibility to find out if they will
play on any given day.
6.3.
No game shall be started and any game in progress shall be immediately
suspended when lightning is observed in the area by league officials.
6.4.
No game shall be started and any game in progress shall be immediately
suspended when severe weather warning sirens are audible from the CERA
softball fields.
6.5.
Games postponed due to inclement weather will be rescheduled at a later
date and could result in an extension of the season schedule. A reasonable
attempt will be made to play all games scheduled. However, persistent
weather related issues may cause some games to be cancelled outright and
the season shortened. In this event, final standings will be based on games
actually played and teams will receive a refund of a portion of their team
registration fee.
6.6.
The coach/manager of each team is responsible for acquiring dates and start
times for rained out games.
6.7.
Games that are not considered regulation shall be replayed from the
beginning.
7. COACHES/MANAGERS
7.1.
Coach/Managers are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans.
Any request made by the umpire to the coach concerning a player should be
dealt with immediately.
7.2.
This responsibility shall extend to team behavior off the field but within the
confines of the CERA facility. All teams will be held responsible for any
actions of their members off the field and within the CERA facility that result
from events which occurred during a game.
7.3.
Any question/discussion concerning the action of the game will come from the
coach/manager only - no one else.
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7.4.
Coach/Managers shall prohibit children and non-participants from entering the
dugout.
7.5.
Coach/Managers are responsible for explaining these rules to their players
before the season starts.
7.6.
*** Violation of Section 7.1 and 7.2 will result in one or more of the following
actions:
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
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Ejection of player(s)
Suspension of players(s)
Forfeiture of game(s)
Loss of eligibility
8. GENERAL INFORMATION
8.1.
Alcoholic beverages will be allowed to be consumed during play subject to the
following:
8.2.
No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the dugout or on the playing field.
Any player that brings alcohol into the dugout area or on the playing field will
be subject to being ejected from the game.
8.3.
Anytime a player is on the playing field and in the judgment of the umpire is
considered to be in jeopardy of their safety, as well as the safety of the others,
they will be requested to leave the game and/or park facilities. This request
will be made to the coach/manager by the umpire or league representative.
8.4.
New for 2017, USSSA national rules prohibit electronic equipment with
photo/video/audio capabilities from being on the field of play. CERA rules on
this matter are as follows:
8.5.
No electronic equipment is allowed on the field of play. Audio equipment used
to play music during games will be allowed as long as the music being played
does not contain profanity. In the event, music is played with foul language,
the offending team will lose music privileges.
8.6.
Any person initiating or participating in a fight will be considered in violation of
these rules and dealt with accordingly.
8.7.
Any person displaying irrational or unsportsmanlike behavior will be
considered in violation of these rules. Excessive profanity will be considered a
violation.
8.8.
Any person who verbally abuses or harasses an umpire or a league
representative will be considered in violation of these rules.
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8.9.
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*** Violation of Sections 8.1 through 8.6 will result in one or more of the
following actions:
Ejection of player(s)
Suspension of players(s)
Probation of players(s)
Forfeiture of game(s)
Loss of eligibility
8.10.
*** Note: Any instance that the commissioner deems severe and/or
unwarranted will be forwarded to the CERA Council for appropriate
disciplinary action.
8.11.
Any player or manager ejected from a game due to violating one or more of
the Section 8.1 through 8.6 rules will automatically be suspended from CERA
League play for the remainder of that day and for the next seven days. At a
minimum, should there be rained out games, the individual is suspended for
the next game that he/she is scheduled to play with their team.
8.12.
No glass bottles or containers will be allowed in any of the softball
areas, especially on concrete areas. Please protect our children from
broken glass by cooperating with this rule.
9. FIELD RESERVATIONS
9.1.
Field reservations can be made by calling Samar Mashni at CERA at 7327731 Extension 102 during office hours. Identify your team as a CERA
League team.
9.2.
CERA League teams must pay for use of the lights at the rate of $22 per hour.
Light charges begin at published sundown for that day.
9.3.
Only the coach/managers are allowed to make reservations for one field per
week/per team.
9.4.
The CERA front office can request proof of identity if there is a question
concerning the time reserved.
9.5.
*** Violation of Section 9.1 through 9.4 can result in forfeiture of privilege.
10. TOURNAMENTS
10.1.

Persons may reserve the fields for tournaments according to the following fee
schedule
$175 per day for one field.
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
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$300 per day for two fields.
$10 for field preparation (raked and lined, any number of fields)

A request form shall be submitted to CERA with the following information:
10.2.
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If the lights for the softball fields are used, an additional $20/hour per
field will be charged.
Date(s) requested
Number of fields
Tournament Director
Phone Number
10.3.
A deposit of $200 will be required at the time of submittal.
10.4.
The deposit will be refunded in case of a rainout only.
11. LEAGUE STANDINGS
11.1.
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11.2.
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In case of a tie for team standing at the end of the regular season, the
following tie-breakers will go into effect in the order listed:
Head-to-head series
Number of runs scored/scored upon in head-to-head series
Number of runs scored/scored upon for entire season
Single elimination game
League Prizes

If a league has at least 6 teams, prizes will be awarded to the first and
second place teams. If a league has five teams or less, then only the first
place team will receive prizes.

Prize winning teams will have a choice of 1 of the following prizes.
T-shirts (limit 16 per team)
$60 credit to use toward another CERA league or tournament
1 Dozen softballs
Requests for credit or softballs must be put in writing (email) to commissioner.
The request will be handled by the commissioner delivering softballs or by an
email response sent for teams use in working with CERA on applying credit
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