GOLD COUNTRY SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION

  2008 LEAGUE RULES OF PLAY

 

Rules changes made August 12, 2008 in sections II C 4 and II C 5 to specify the Playoff Procedure and Tournament for 2008.   

There are Rule changes effective June 23, 2008  in section II A 8 on home plate outs, and in section II D 1 on game times.

There are Rule changes effective June 9, 2008 in section II E 1 on starting count, and in section II B 1 on bats.

  I.        Rules of Play

A.         The American Softball Association (ASA) official rules will govern all GCSSA league play.

B.         Where applicable, GCSSA league rules will supercede ASA rules.

C.         If ASA rules are changed during the season, the GCSSA Board of Directors and Rules and Safety Committee will take those changes under consideration as to making changes or not until the end of the season, keeping in mind that safety is our priority.

 

  II.       GCSSA League Rules

A.        The Playing Field

1.    Field preparation and line chalking is the responsibility of the team designated as the HOME TEAM for the first scheduled game.  If in the opinion of the umpire the field has not been properly prepared in accordance with GCSSA league standards by the time the game has been scheduled to start, the umpire shall inform the Home Team manager of the field’s deficiencies.  The Home Team shall be given a reasonable amount of time to correct such deficiencies before the start of play.  If the Home Team refuses or is otherwise unable or unwilling to make the necessary corrections, the umpire may instruct the scorekeeper to record the game as a forfeit by the Home Team.

2.    Dragging of the playing fields is the responsibility of GCSSA.  (The Park District is no longer responsible for this task.)

3.    At the conclusion of the final game, it is the responsibility of the VISITING TEAM to remove the bases and restore the plugs, home plate, scoreboard, and pitcher screen from the field and secure them in the equipment shed.,

4.    A strike zone mat will be used in all games.  A pitched ball which lands on home plate or the mat, is a strike.  The mat must be 17" wide by 24" long.

5.    The pitcher’s area will extend up to 6' behind the existing pitchers rubber and 6" on each side of the rubber.  A pitching screen may be used.  If used, a batted ball hitting the screen will be treated as a "no pitch".   A thrown ball hitting the screen will be declared "dead" and all runners will advance 1 base. 

6.    There will be a run through line at 2^nd and 3^rd base.  The line will extend 3 feet on each side of the bag and for the advancing runner is considered part of the bag.

7.   Only the front line of the batter's box will be chalked and enforced.  If the batter has either foot entirely over the line at the time of hitting the ball, the batter will be called "out".

8.    Home plate outs will be recorded only on the white part of the plate mat.

B.               Equipment

1.    Bat

a.  Players seventy (70) years and older and women of any age will be allowed to use any bat.

b.  Players less than sixty-five years old (ages 50-64) may use only bats which meet the current ASA bat requirements. 

c.  Players of ages 65-69 may use only bats which meet the current ASA bat requirements, or the Miken Ultra 2 (starting June 9).

 

2.    Ball

 The ball used by GCSSA will be a restricted flight softball chosen from a list of  legal softballs certified by ASA.

3.    Uniform

a.  The uniform as issued to each player should be worn at all times while on the playing field.  Hats are optional.

C.               Players and Substitutes

1.    Player Eligibility 

            Players must be fifty (50) years old by December 31^st of the current calendar year to be eligible to play.  For the application of special age rules for league play, each player’s age is the age he will be on or before December 31^st.

2.    Minimum/Maximum Number of Players

a.  A minimum of six (6) players of the rostered team must be present to constitute a legal line-up.  Less than 6 forces the team to forfeit the game.  Teams with fewer than ten (10)  may obtain substitutes off the sub list, subject to the substitute rule.

b.  If an injury occurs during the game and a player leaves the game, the game may continue with less than the 10 players (minimum of 9) at the reduced team’s election or they may substitute, subject to the substitution rule.

c.  Ejected players will not be replaced.  An out will be recorded whenever that player is due to bat.

3. Substitute Players (May 2007 update)

          a. A team which has 10 or more roster players available at game time is not entitled to obtain a substitute player.

          b. For purposes of this rule the following interpretive language shall apply:  Where the rule applies to “Higher Ranked Player” this shall mean a player possessing a higher skill level and lower numerical player rank.  For example, a player who is ranked as “2” shall be considered as player possessing higher skill level than a player ranked as a “3” even though the “3” player has a higher numerical ranking.  These player rankings are based upon the round in which the player was selected in the player draft or the ranking assigned by the board to a player who joins the league after the draft.

          c. A team which has only 9 roster players available at game time may, through its manager, designate or select a substitute player.  The player so-designated by the team manager may not be of a higher ranking than the roster player whom he is replacing

          d. If, after selecting a designated player pursuant to rule 3. c. above,  at game time a team still has between 6 and 8 roster players available, the following shall apply:

                   1)  The manager will first determine the ranking of the roster players not available at game time prior to obtaining substitutes.

                   2)  The manager will refer to the league substitute sign-up sheet maintained at the scorer’s table.

                   3)  Players who wish to play as substitutes shall sign the substitute sheet indicating their player ranking.

                   4)  In obtaining replacement players the manager shall utilize a “reverse draft”.  The manager must accept the lowest ranked substitute available.  If the manager needs two or more substitutes he must draw from the lowest ranked (highest numerical) players available at game time.

                    5)  If substitute players, qualified to play pursuant to these rules, are available to play a team does not have the right to reject the player(s) and to play with fewer than 10 players.  Such rejection shall be deemed a “forfeit” and entered into the scorebooks accordingly.

                    6)  If two teams need substitutes from the substitute list selection of the required players shall be done under the supervision of the umpire and done by chance by either a roll of the dice or toss of the coin.

                   7)  A team may not improve its line-up by adding players of a higher ranking than the missing roster player(s)

          e. The start of a league game shall be when the umpire calls “Play Ball!”.  A substitute player, whether designated/selected or obtained from the substitute list, must thereafter, remain in the game for at least two defensive innings and for one at-bat.  Both conditions must be met before the substitute player can be replaced with a roster player.

          f. Roster players who are available to play after the start of the game shall be handled as follows:

                   1)  If, after the start of a game, a roster player becomes available he shall be inserted into the game in place of a substitute player regardless of whether the substitute player is deemed to be a designated/selected player or a substitute obtained from the substitute list.  However, such replacement may occur only when and if rule 3. e. above has been satisfied.      

          If a roster player becomes available after the start of a game and a team already has two substitute players, other than a Designated/Selected substitute,  the team manager may select the substitute who will leave the game to permit the insertion of the roster player into the substitute’s place in the batting order. 

                   2)  However, if a team has Designated/Selected player in its line-up that player MUST be the first player removed for a roster player

          Such substitution(s) may occur only when rule 3. c. above, has been complied with.  This rule shall apply until all substitute players have been replaced by roster players.

          SIMPLY STATED, EACH TIME A ROSTER PLAYER IS INSERTED INTO THE LINE-UP DURING THE GAME A SUBSTITUTE PLAYER MUST LEAVE THE GAME (Subject to Rule 3.c.)

3)    If additional roster players arrive after the start of the game and all substitutes have been removed from the game pursuant to rule 3. c. such late arriving roster players shall be added to the bottom of the batting order.

g. It shall be the team managers’ responsibility to insure that these rules are adhered to.  In the spirit of Good Sportsmanship each manager is expected to advise the Umpire, Scorekeeper and opposing team manager of such line-up changes during the games. 

 

4.    Playoff Procedure

There will be no season playoffs.  GCSSA champion will be the team with the best won-lost season record.

 

                                 5.   Tournament

          There will be a Double Elimination Tournament in 2008. All regular season rules apply to the tournament.  This includes using the same substitution rules. The tournament schedule will be posted on the GCSSA web site and at the field #2 information board at the end of regular season play.

D.        The Game

1.   Game time will be as follows. At 50 minutes the umpire will announce that we will finish this inning and play one more.  In case of a tie at the end of the last inning, the game will be declared a tie.        

Starting June 23, games to be extended from 50 to 60 minutes. Open inning to start following the 60 minute time, if  needed. Game clock will start at 5:30 pm, regardless of the teams being ready. 6:45 games can be started a few minutes late if previous game runs long, as there is ample light remaining.

2.    Game time is forfeit time..

3.    Weeknight game times are 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

4.    Saturday game times are 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

5.    If a team scores five (5) runs in any inning except the last inning, play will be stopped and the hitting team will take the field.

6.    In the final inning, as designated by the umpire, each team may score an unlimited amount of runs.

7.    Designated score keepers will be provided for all league games.

8.    Only team managers or acting managers may consult with the umpire about interpretation of rules.

9.   Teams must bat all players and rotate defensive positions to insure each player has at least three (3) innings of play.

10.  An outfielder may not encroach inside the 160' arc until contact with the ball has been made by the batter.  This applies to all batters.

EFFECT: Umpire calls dead ball and batter is awarded 1^st base.

11.  All infielders must remain on the infield and inside the grass until the ball is hit.  This applies to all fields.

12.  Managers may not mutually agree to waive any league rule.

                               EFFECT: A double forfeit will be recorded.

13.  Smoking is not allowed on the playing field or in the dugout.

14.  Alcohol is not permitted during a game.  If in the opinion of the umpire a player appears to be under the influence, that player will not be allowed to continue to play.

                        15.  Home Run Rule

 Home runs over the fence will fall under the "walk off" concept; whereas the batter and all runners may walk off and not be required to run the bases.

The home run rule in effect will be known as the ONE-UP RULE. Either team is allowed to hit a home run to go one home run ahead of the opposing team.   The rule applies only to over-the-fence home runs.

EFFECT: For any in excess, the ball will be ruled dead, the batter receives a single, and all runners advance one (1) base.

Example: The visiting team hits a home run in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning the home team could hit two home runs to go one-up. In the top of the 2nd inning the visitors could hit two more to go one-up. If they hit a third, it becomes a single and advances the runners one base, remaining one-up. This can continue throughout the entire game.

The home team may not go one-up in the last inning.

 

E.               Pitching

            1.     Starting June 9, 2008 the starting count for each batter will be the 0-0 count.

2.    The ball must be delivered with an arc of between six and 12 feet.

 3.    Pitches which are too low and too high, will be verbally announced “illegal.”

 4.    The pitcher has the option of using the Protective Screen.  Once that option is exercised, he may not change his option.    

F.               Batting

1.    A batter deliberately erasing any portion of the batter’s box will be called out.  This is an umpire’s judgment call.

G.               Base Running

1.    Courtesy Runner

a.  Unlimited courtesy runners are allowed each inning.

b.  A courtesy runner is in the game when he touches the base.

c.  A courtesy runner whose turn at bat comes while he is on base will be called out.  He will be removed from the base and will then be allowed to bat in his normal batting order.  A second courtesy runner cannot be substituted at this time.

d.  A player may be a courtesy runner only once per inning.

e.  A runner who is replaced for a courtesy runner may not be used as a courtesy runner for the remainder of the inning.

   EFFECT: Section 1b-e.  If a runner violates any of these conditions, he will be called out and removed from the base.

2.    Running

a.  A double white/orange base will be used at 1^st base.  On an imminent throw to 1^st base, the runner must use the orange bag only.  If the runner uses the white bag on an eminent throw to 1^st base, the runner is out.  This is not an appeal play.

b.  A runner may use either base in all other situations where there is no play at 1^st base.

c.  Sliding when advancing to an upcoming base will not be permitted.  If returning to the previously occupied base, sliding is allowed.

EFFECT: Section 2a, c.  Violations results in the runner being called out.

d.  An eight-foot commitment line will be placed twenty feet from home plate.  A base runner touching or crossing this commitment line must continue toward home plate; he cannot return to third base.

EFFECT: Base runner is called out.  Other runners may advance at their own risk.

e.  A base runner will be retired at home plate on non-force situations without a tag.  It is only necessary for the defensive player to catch and hold the ball while touching home plate prior to the runner touching the second home plate.  Tagging the runner is not allowed.

f.  A second home plate will be added.  A runner must touch the second home plate located adjacent to the right-hand batter’s box only.

g.  A batter who is defined as being 70 years old under GCSSA league rules may not be thrown out at first base by a throw made by a defensive player from the grass. This rule applies on all fields equally.

3.    Run by Rule

a.  Base runners when advancing to a base may overrun 2^nd and 3^rd base without being in jeopardy of being put out. 

b.  If the base runner decides to advance after running through, he must re-tag the base before advancing.

EFFECT: This is an appeal play.  Violation results in the runner being called out.

c.  A base runner must avoid collisions or the runner will be called out, at the discretion of the umpire. 

d.  If a base runner misses touching a base to avoid a collision, the runner will not be called out, at the discretion of the umpire.

H.               Protest

1.    A game may be played under protest if the protesting team feels the umpire misinterpreted the rules.  Judgment calls by the umpire are not subject to protest.

2.    To protest a game:

a.  Team manager or acting manager must advise the umpire at the time of the action being protested.  The umpire must then advise the opposing team manager that a protest has been made.  The umpire will proceed to the scorekeeper’s location and instruct the scorekeeper to note the protest in the score book adjacent to the at-bat person’s name.  No discussion will take place after such protest declaration.

b.  Protesting manager must deposit fifteen dollars ($15) with the league within 24 hours or there is no protest.

c.  Manager will complete a protest sheet, which should then be given to the Rules and Safety Committee chairman.

d.  If the protest is won, the $15 will be returned.  If the protest is lost, the league treasury will retain the $15 protest fee.

3.    Hearing Procedure

a.  A protest hearing will be called within one week of the protest and a decision of the hearing body will be final.

b.  The hearing body will consist of three (3) people as follows:

(1)       Chief umpire.

(2)       One person from the Rules and Safety Committee selected by the highest ranking board member.

(3)        One person drawn from a pool of five (5) names chosen by the protesting manager.  The league president will select the five people for the pool.

c.  The hearing body after reviewing the factual basis for the protest may authorize the following:

(1)        Deny the protest.

(2)        Grant the protest and:

(a)    Rule the game be replayed in its entirety.

(b)    Rule the inning be replayed.

(c)     Issue any other ruling consistent with good sportsmanship and fair play that provides appropriate relief to the team having made the protest.

 

  (May 2008)

 

 

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