GOLD COUNTRY SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
2012 LEAGUE RULES OF PLAY
I. RULES OF PLAY
A. The
Official Senior Softball-USA rulebook is the official document used by GCSSA.
B.
Unless modified by these League rule changes,
the Senior Softball-USA rules shall apply. In some cases the Senior
Softball-USA rules are repeated here for clarity.
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.
a)
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.
b)
The Home Team shall be given a reasonable amount
of time to correct such deficiencies before the start of play.
EFFECT:
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. Grooming of the playing fields and turf
mowing is done by GCSSA volunteers.
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 conform to Senior Softball dimensions
which as of 2008 is 19" wide by 34 ½” 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) 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 2nd and 3rd base. The line will extend 3 feet on each side of the bag and for the
advancing runner the line is considered part of the bag. The primary
purpose of this extended area is to avoid
injury.
a)
It is the primary responsibility of the
base runner to avoid a collision. Any attempt of the runner to avoid a
collision and causes the runner to miss the line will not be cause for the
umpire to call an out.
7. Starting in 2009
there will be a run through line at home plate located per the dimensions of the
Senior Softball-USA Rulebook. To satisfy reaching home, the runner need
only touch the line or a point past the line.
8. Only the front line of the
batter's box will be chalked and enforced.
a)
Beginning in 2011 the front line will be
extended to intersect with the foul lines.
EFFECT:
If the batter has either foot entirely over the
line at the time of hitting the ball, the batter will be called "out".
9. The
defense must have some part of the body on the strike zone mat (any portion of
the 19” X 34 1/2 “ mat) before the runner crosses the run through line to record
an out.
a)
The defense is not allowed to
tag the runner on plays at home plate.
B.
Equipment
1.
BAT
Approved bats for use by male players less than 65 years
old are governed by ASA rules as specified in the current ASA rule book. The
current ASA rule book, as amended here, is the sole determining factor in
questions of bat legality for male players under 65 years old.
Further, ASA bats must:
a. Have an ASA
certification mark and NOT be on an ASA non-approved bat list.
b. Without an ASA
certification mark, must be on a list of approved bat models published by the
ASA
c. Bats manufactured before certification markings were required, or are so old
and used as to have the markings worn off, will be allowed if they present no
obvious undue advantage to the batter or danger to the fielders. This is the
sole discretion of the umpire if mutual agreement of the managers cannot be met.
Additional GCSSA rules are:
a.
Male players
seventy (70) years and older and women of any age will be allowed to use any
bat.
b.
Players 65 to 69
may not use the original grey Miken or the yellow Rip-It.bats.
2. Ball
The ball used by GCSSA will be as
specified in the Senior Softball –USA rulebook and is currently a 12 inch ball
with a cor rating of 0.44 and a compression of no more than 375 psi
3. Uniform
a. The uniform as issued to each
player should be worn at all times while on the playing field.
1. Hats
are optional.
2. In
the event a player is not issued a uniform, any shirt (preferably with a number
and closely matching the team color) selected by the team manager will be
acceptable.
b. A 65 or 70 year
old player who fails to wear the team shirt will lose the specified privileges
if they do not report that information to the umpire.
C.
Players and Substitutes
1.
Player eligibility
Players must be fifty (50) years old by December
31st 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 or she will be on or before December 31st. There is no
upper age limit.
2.
Minimum/Maximum Number
of Players
a.
A minimum of
six (6) roster players of the team must be present and able to
play to constitute a legal line-up.
EFFECT: Less
than
six (6)
roster players will constitute a forfeit.
b.
If a team starts a game with
six (6) roster players and an
injury prevents a roster player from continuing, the team may elect to forfeit or
continue with a reduced number.
c.
An out will be recorded for any player
who is ejected when that player is due to bat. If the ejected player
reduces the number of roster players to less than
six (6), the team will forfeit the
game.
3.
Female Players
Any female player will play under the same rules
as for a seventy (70) year old male player.
4.
Substitute Players
a.
A substitute list will be kept at the
scorer’s table. Players from other teams who want to substitute should
sign in well before game time if possible.
b.
Managers who are short players may recruit
players or choose from the substitute list. Substitute players should be
selected at least five minutes before game time.
c.
In the event that more than one manager
is seeking a substitute of the same rank, the first pick will be awarded to the
manager who wins a coin toss.
d.
A team may select up to
three (3)
substitutes from players on other teams.
e.
The substitute players come with the
ranking they received in the draft.
f.
For clarity a higher ranked player has a
lower draft numerical number.
g.
The manager may select substitute
players to match the ranking of his missing players, but not better.
EFFECT: A
forfeit will be declared.
h. The manager determines when the roster player enters a
game, but he must be in the game on or before the next inning is started.
(Example: A roster player arrives at the beginning of the
2nd
inning. The manager may insert the player immediately or wait until the
beginning of the 3rd inning.)
When a roster player enters a game, the substitute for that player must leave
the game.
i.
Never will there be a situation that
will allow a team to have a substitute from another team when ten (10) or more
roster players are present and able to play.
j
If qualified
substitute players are available
at the start of the
game, a team does not have the right to reject the
player(s) and to play with fewer than 10
players.
EFFECT: Such rejection shall be deemed a “forfeit” and
entered into the scorebooks accordingly.
k.
If no substitutes are
available at the start of the game, the team may start with less than 10
players. After the game has started with less than 10 players, the manager
may insert a substitute up to a total of 10 players.
EFFECT:
if a manager rejects an arriving qualified substitute, he may not
accept any future available substitute after the rejection.
5. Unforeseen Events
The substitution rules may not provide for
unanticipated events that will occur. If a team experiences short or long
term losses of several roster players, to the point where a full team cannot be
assembled, a remedy will be provided by the League Board of Directors.
6.
After-Season Events
a.
Generally, the league will not have a
playoff for the league championship. The results of the full season will
determine the League Champion.
b.
Tournaments or extended season play will
be determined by the Board on an annual basis. The goal will be to provide
the league with a schedule for after season events prior to the scheduled All
Star game.
D. The Game
1. The
game is scheduled for a minimum of 60 minutes (except as noted). When more
than one game is scheduled for a field, the time for the first game shall start
at 5:30 P. M. Exception: the game time may start later if through no fault
of the teams and at the discretion of the Umpire. At the 60 minute point
(or scheduled end time) the Umpire will announce that “we will finish this
inning and play one more.” No extra innings will be played except if
10 or more minutes of game time are available. If 10 or more minutes are
available, the tie breaker rule will be used. For double games scheduled
before April 26 or after August 16, the game time will be 55 minutes.
2. Game time is forfeit time.
3. Weeknight game times are
5:30 P.M. and 6:45 P.M. For double games scheduled before April 26 or after August 16, the
second game will start at 6:40 P.M.
For double games scheduled from June 11 to August 9, the second game will start
at 7:00 p.m.
4.
Saturday game times are 9:00 A.M., 10:30 A.M. and 12:00 noon.
Saturday games will play at least seven innings with one tie breaker, if needed.
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. Players are not allowed to volunteer to sit out and must play the
required number of innings.
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 1st base.
11. All infielders must remain on the
infield and off the grass until the ball is hit. This applies to all
fields. Note that field one is a baseball diamond configuration and the
softball infield is subject to interpretation by the umpire only.
12. Definition of infield.
Beginning in 2011, subtle markers will be
placed on the infield on field one to similar dimensions of field two. During
the infield preparation for field one, chalk shall be placed over the markers
using a one or two foot long stripe. The purpose of these stripes will be to
provide a visual guide for players and officials
13. Managers may not mutually agree to
waive any league rule.
EFFECT: A double forfeit will be recorded.
14. Smoking is not allowed on the playing
field or in the dugout.
Smokers are encouraged to avoid smoking in the near (25
feet) vicinity of players and fans.
15.
Players are not permitted to consume alcohol during their game for safety and
ethical concerns. Any player who appears to be under the influence during a game
may be ejected by the umpire. Any GCSSA member, who witnesses a player consuming
alcohol during the player’s game, may advise the umpire and the umpire may eject
that player from the game.
16. 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, if forced.
Example: The visiting team hits a home run in
the top of the
1st
inning. In the bottom of the
1st
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 (if forced),
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 in 2012, all weeknight and
Saturday batters will start with 0-0 ball/strike count.
2. The ball must be delivered
with an arc of between six and 12 feet as measured from the ground.
3.
Pitches which are too low or too high will be verbally announced “illegal”
by the umpire while the ball is near the highest arc. If illegal is
not called in flight, the call will be the result of the pitch.
4. The pitcher
has the option of using the Protective Screen. Once that option is
exercised, he may not change his option.
F.
Batting
Any batter knowingly and/or intentionally using a
non-approved bat will be called out and removed from the game immediately.
The player’s team will not be able to substitute for the removed player and
an out will be called whenever the removed player’s turn at bat comes up.
Stepping into the batter’s box with a non-approved bat constitutes use of
the bat. This is either an appeal play from the opposing team manager or a
call made at the umpire’s discretion.
G.
Base Running
1. Courtesy Runner
a. Courtesy runners are allowed for any base
runner 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 c-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 1st
base. On an imminent throw to 1st base, the runner must use the
orange bag only. If the runner uses the white bag on an eminent throw to 1st
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 1st 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 a and c. Violations results in
the runner being called out.
d. An eight-foot commitment line
will be placed 20 feet from home plate. A base runner touching or crossing
this commitment line must continue toward home plate; he cannot return to
3rd
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 the strike plate mat
prior to the runner touching the home plate run through line. Tagging the
runner is not allowed.
f. Starting in 2009 there will be a run through
line at home plate located per the dimensions of the Senior Softball-USA
Rulebook. To satisfy reaching home the runner need only touch the line or
a point past the line to reach home.
g. A batter who is defined as being 70 years old
under GCSSA league rules may not be thrown out at
1st
base by a throw made by a defensive player from
the grass. This rule applies on all fields equally. On field one it
will be a judgment call by the umpire.
EFFECT: Once the ball hits the grass area, the
70-year-old batter is considered safe at 1st base and receives a
base hit.
3. Run by Rule
a. Base runners when advancing to a base may
overrun 2nd and 3rd base without being in jeopardy of
being called 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.
e. In
order to be safe on a run through, the runner’s foot must be down on or past the
base or run through line before the ball reaches the defender.
H.
Delays
Starting in 2009, teams will have one (1) minute
after each half inning to get ready for the game to continue.
EFFECT:
If the offense is not ready, the umpire
will add a strike to the count. If the defense is not ready, the umpire
will add a ball to the count.
I.
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. Any violation may
be protested, even if an “effect” is not stated.
2. To protest a game:
a. Only the 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. Any action to protest a game must be done before the end of
the game.
b. Protesting manager must deposit fifteen
dollars ($15) with the league within 24 hours or there is no protest.
c. The 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 or the board chairman.
(2) One
person from the Rules and Safety Committee selected by the highest ranking board
member.
(3)
Protesting manager will select one person drawn from a pool of five (5) names
chosen by the league president.
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 is 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.
Rules dated
December 25, 2011
