WILLAMALANE PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT
TASK FORCE DECISIONS
COED LEAGUES
1. No steel cleats allowed. Please note that any player found wearing illegal cleats during
a coed game will be ejected from the game and suspended for two games.
2. A team may start with no fewer than eight players and must play with an even number
of men and women, (i.e. four men, four women). Teams bat using a man, woman
alternating batting line up. Teams may also start and play with nine players with either
combination of five and four. A phantom tenth player is entered in the scorebook in the
tenth batting position and an out is recorded every time the phantom player bats. Should
a player of the appropriate gender arrive, she/he may assume that tenth batting position.
3. Unlimited substitution...if the rule is not taken advantage of (this ruling could change
during the season). Players cannot sub in-and-out during the middle of an inning unless
it’s due to an injury. Also, a pitcher may reenter as a pitcher. Players must also assume
the same spot in the batting order when reentering.
4. Players may position themselves anywhere in the field, but may not switch after each
batter. A rover is illegal. Teams must play with four outfielders unless playing with less
than ten players.
5. No overplays! No player shall field balls on another player’s defensive-position
territory that the player could have played him/herself. If the umpire determines an
overplay has occurred, the team batting may choose the result of the play or the
advancement of the batter and all base runners one base. EXCEPTION: Any player may
overplay the catcher at home plate.
6. Walk Rule: Any male batter who walks on four consecutive pitches
(3 balls, 0 strikes) will be awarded second base whether intentional or not. All baserunners advance accordingly. The next batter (female) must bat (no free base option). If a
male batter is pitched one or more strikes and is walked, it will be treated as a normal
walk with the batter being awarded first base and the base runners advancing if forced.
The next batter (female) must bat.
7. A creep line, 175 feet from home plate will be used in all coed leagues. All four
outfielders must stand behind the creep line until the pitched ball crosses the plate. If the
outfielders are in violation, the umpire will signal a delayed dead ball. The batter is
guaranteed a single if called out at first base (all runners advance one base if forced), but
may advance further at his/her own risk.
8. A third-strike foul ball will be called a foul. A fourth-strike foul ball is an out.
9. A team, which forfeits two games during the season, will be expelled from the league.
10. Teams may option to bat 10 players or use an unlimited batting order the whole game.
See Rule #2 for line-up rules. Should teams elect to bat more than ten in an uneven order
(unequal number of men and women), the phantom batter rule would apply.
11. All teams are allowed a courtesy runner for one designated man and one designated
woman on their team. The courtesy runner would be the teams last recorded out of the
same sex.
A courtesy runner may also be used in case of an injury with the team having no
substitutes. The last recorded out of the same sex becomes the courtesy runner. Once
replaced by a courtesy runner the injured player may not return to the game.
a. The batter directly before or directly after the replaced player must also sit out
to insure a proper batting order. This is the decision of that team’s manager.
b. No outs will be recorded whenever these spots are reached in subsequent
innings. They will just be skipped over.
c. Teams may opt for the nine-player option as well.
12. A 12-inch ball will be used for men and an 11-inch ball for women batters.
13. A double first base will be used for all games. If there is a play at first base, the
batter/runner must touch the orange portion of the base, and the defensive player must use
the white portion. If there is a play made at first base and the runner touches the white
portion, the runner will be ruled out. (Exception: If a play draws the fielder to the orange
base, the runner must try to adjust and touch the white base.) If there is no play at first
base, the runner may touch either the orange or white portion.
14. HOME RUN RULE: Each team is allowed 1 over the fence home run per gender
more than the opposing team. Example: If the visiting team hits a home run in the 1st
inning they cannot hit another one until the home team hits at least 1. As long as teams
are within 1 home run of each other there is no cap to the number that can be hit. Any
over the fence home run that is more than +1 over their opponent will be an out.
15. ELIGIBILITY: All players should be advised to have photo ID present at all games.
If a player cannot produce proper ID, they may not participate until they do so.
Players arriving late may be challenged after the game has begun. The opposing coach
needs to notify the umpire and the player’s coach of the challenge at the time the player
first enters the game. The player then needs to produce proper ID at the end of the game.
No ID equals game forfeiture if the player in question participated.
Team managers may inquire about opposing player’s eligibility prior to the game by
approaching the umpire and requesting proper ID as proof. The umpire will note down
the player’s name and call it in after the game to verify eligibility.