Baltimore City Rec and Parks
Co-Ed ASA Softball Leagues
2017 Rules And Procedures
(ASA rules apply where not noted)
http://www.mddcasa.org
www.asasoftball.com
Program Concierge: John Kirk
443-324-6510 or [email protected]
Patterson Park Ice Rink
200 S. Linwood Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21224
Rainout number: 410-396-7078
Schedules/ Weather/Prior to the Game
1. Forfeits – All forfeits must be called or e-mailed in to league administrator at least 24 hours prior to a
scheduled game or forfeiting team will be responsible for umpire’s fees for both teams ($30 for single
game, $60 for a doubleheader). Please try to avoid forfeits – teams pay to play, subs will be allowed on a
limited basis in order to avoid forfeit for regular season games.
Forfeiting team must pay umpire fee for both teams in cash to the Umpire before their next scheduled
game. If a team provides 24-hour forfeit notice, the fine will not be assessed.
2. Forfeit time – There shall be a 15-minute forfeit time for 6:00 p.m. games; however those games still
must be completed by 7 p.m. Start time is forfeit time for any game scheduled after 6p.m. Teams must have
eight players (at least two of which are women) to start. If a team wants to give an opponent a player to get
games in that is OK; however, they should work out before the game whether it is already a forfeit or not.
Umpires still must be paid.
3. Home team – Team listed first on the schedule is responsible for providing bases, including a double
first base with safety bag. Bases must be soft foam, no flat bases. In doubleheader leagues, first team
listed is home the first game; second team listed is home the second game.
4. Umpire fees – Each team is responsible for paying umpire $15 cash on the field per game ($30 per
doubleheader).
5. Time limit – There is a one-hour time limit per game. Time starts at the first pitch. Umpire should announce
the time at the first pitch. If the time limit is reached during the middle of an inning, the score will revert to the
last completed inning. Minimum of four innings (three and a half if home team leads), to count as a completed
game. Exception: Playoff games may be played with a time limit that is longer than an hour. Any adjustment
will be announced at the time playoff schedule is released. Playoff games cannot end in a tie, even if one hour
has elapsed. International Tiebreaker (last batter of previous inning to start next inning on second base) shall be
used beginning in eighth inning.
6. Mid-game postponement – If a regular season game is postponed prior to a complete game (as defined in
Rule #5) being played, then the results of that game shall be voided and the league will attempt to schedule a
new game. Umpire will have to be paid for make-up game. If it is a doubleheader and the second game has not
begun play, then any money given to the umpire for the game not played should be returned. If a postseason/tournament game is canceled at any point, the score, outs, runners on base, time elapsed etc. should be
noted and the game will be completed at a later date. At the completed games, line-up must remain the same
and substitutes may be used for a player at the original contest but not the make-up game.
Playing Field
1. Bases – Umpire shall place bases 65’ apart prior to the game.
2. Fences – All city leagues are played with a limit of three “over the fence” home runs on fenced fields. Out
of play areas, ground-rule doubles, etc. on individual fields should be announced by umpire to coaches prior to
the game.
3. No team may bring glass bottles into the park or to the field.
Equipment
1. Game Balls – Both teams are responsible for providing one new game ball at the beginning of each game.
Teams should also have backup ball ready in case original game ball is lost during the course of the game.
Game balls must be 12”, yellow, with .52 cor rating and 275 or 300 lb compression
2. Bats – Any bat used must have a manufacturer’s stamp on the bat noting that it has passed ASA
standards AND it may not appear on the ASA’s non-approved bat list. The only exception to this is if
an umpire judges that a bat was manufactured prior to 2000 and would meet ASA standards if tested.
Any batter using an illegal bat will be called out. If any batter using a bat found to have been altered,
then that player will be ejected.
3. Shoes – No metal spikes are allowed. A player found wearing metal spikes will be ejected and subject to
additional suspension.
Line-ups/Substitutions
1. Line-ups/Batting order – There is no maximum number of players in the batting order but teams must stay in
the original batting order. If a player arrives late and the lineup has not yet batted through the order he or she
may be added to the bottom of the batting order.
2. Line-ups/Gender rotation – No more than two men may bat consecutively. If a team has more than a 2:1
ratio of men to women (i.e. 7 men, 3 women) then one of the women should bat twice in the lineup to keep
the batting order the same. Alternatively, if both teams agree to it before the game, a team may rotate
their women every third batter as long as the women stay in the same order. Either way, no man may bat
twice before a woman bats once. No automatic outs.
3. Line-ups/Defense -- Maximum number of defensive players is 10; no more than seven men may play defense
at one time. Teams are allowed unlimited defensive substitutions.
4. Courtesy runners – Teams may use a courtesy runner for an injured player at umpire’s discretion; the
player of the same sex as the runner who was last recorded out shall be the courtesy runner. If the last recorded
out is also unable to run; then the previous recorded out of the same sex shall be the courtesy runner. Being
slow is not an injury; once a pitch has been thrown to the next batter, teams may no longer use a courtesy runner
during that batter.
Game Rules
1. Scorekeeping – Both teams are responsible to keep score and should check score with umpire between each
half inning. In case of a dispute, umpire on the field shall make final ruling.
2. Run limits – There is a nine run limit per inning except in the final inning. Mercy rule is 10 runs after
five innings. No game shall be declared mercy rule prior to the fifth inning.
3. Batter’s count – Batters start with a 1-1 count. Foul ball with two strikes is an out; no courtesy fouls.
4. Automatic walks/Bases empty – If a male batter walks immediately prior to a female batter with no runners
on base he (the batter) shall advance to second base regardless of the number of outs.
5. Automatic walks/Two outs – If a male batter walks immediately prior to a female batter and there are
two outs, regardless of where runners are on base, the female batter then has the option to immediately
proceed to first base or to bat as scheduled. If she decides to bat, the walked male batter advances to
second and any runners forced ahead of him advance.
6. Automatic walks/Runners on base, less than two outs – If a male batter walks immediately prior to a female
batter and there are less than two outs and runners already on base, she shall bat as scheduled and the batter who
walked shall be awarded first base and no farther.
7. Defensive positioning – Outfielders must play at least 15 yards (45 feet) past the baseline of the infield bases.
If a defensive players starts in front of that line and makes a play on a batted ball, then the batter shall have the
option to take the result of the play or a one base award.
8. Fake tags – Any player who tags a runner without being in possession of the ball is subject to being called for
defensive obstruction, ejection and subsequent suspension.
9. Sliding – No intentional contact in base paths or at the bases. Players who do so are subject to ejection and
additional suspension. Players must avoid contact when deemed necessary by the umpire or may be called out.
Sliding is highly recommended in order to avoid contact.
Player Conduct and Eligibility
1. All players must maintain a courteous and appropriately respectful demeanor to the umpires, fellow
teammates, and their opponents during their time in the park and on the field. Any player behaving poorly,
using threatening, inappropriate or aggressive language, or demonstrating similarly aggressive physical actions,
will be immediately ejected from the game.
2. Ejected players – Any player ejected from a game must leave the park in a timely matter (two minutes) or
that player’s team will be assessed a forfeit. Any ejected player is ineligible to play in any subsequent game
that night and is also subject to additional suspension.
3. Rosters – Rosters are due prior to the third game of the season. There is no maximum number of players on a
roster and teams may add players to their roster up to the final two weeks of the regular season. However, any
team that uses a player not on its roster is subject to forfeiting the game in which the non-roster player
played, and if caught during playoffs, will have to forfeit all games and be banned from the league.
(at the start of the fourth week all teams will be subject to random roster checks)