TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN FASTPITCH LEAGUES

TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN -FASTPITCH SOFTBALL RULES 2023

Section XI Rules will be followed. Any exceptions will be listed below.(Umpires and Town Officials will make the final decision on all rules)

******SAFETY - COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE******

METAL SPIKES ARE NOT PERMITTED (if a player wears metal spikes when they step up to bat, they will be ejected along with the head coach) NO EXCEPTIONS. 

Only turf shoes or sneakers on turf fields.

No hanging earrings allowed (only post earrings)

All batting helmets must have a cage/face mask

Helmets must be worn if a player is swinging a bat

All base coaches must wear a helmet 

Only one player should be in the on deck circle

ONLY registered coaches and assistants may be in the dugout (bench area) with the players. If there is a parent/scorekeeper in the dugout, they MUST complete a registration card online; all managers/coaches etc must be at least 18 years old. 

NO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ETC SHOULD BE IN THE DUGOUT OR ON DECK AREA

NO SEEDS OR GUM ON TURF SURFACES

GENERAL RULES:

All games will be played at Town of Brookhaven fields. All games will have a scorekeeper and bases and balls will be provided. 

Lineups & Game Play

All coaches are required to present a lineup card to the scorekeeper prior to the start of the game; first and last name of each player is required

A player must be registered with the Town (online) prior to playing in a game 

There will be NO FLEX or DP used

Intentional walks may be verbal

18U-Varsity League can bat 10 players; any nine may play the field. 

12U & 14U teams may have a batting lineup of no more than 14; any nine can play the field.

12U will have a “relaxed” pitching rule.

Pregame warmups are allowed in the outfield or on any empty field, prior to the game, time permitting.

If a team has only eight players present, they may play the game with these eight and not be penalized with an out if the ninth spot comes up to bat. If a player is ejected and there is no replacement, an out will be recorded when the ejected players’ spot in the order comes up. If a player is injured and cannot continue and there is not a replacement available, if that players’ spot in the order comes up, it is NOT an out, and that spot is skipped over. Once the game begins, you cannot add additional players unless they are the ninth player.

All starters and substitutes may re-enter the game one time(14 & 18U). Any player re-entering the game may only re-enter in the same spot in the batting lineup they originally occupied.

Regulation games will be 6 1/2 or 7 innings.

Shortened games, due to bad weather, will be considered official after 4 1/2 innings (14 & 18U-Varsity) and 3 1/2 innings, (12U)

TIME LIMIT: All games will have a 1 hr 45 minute time limit. The scorer will log the official time. No new inning may begin after 1 hr 45 minutes. An inning may be completed if it started prior to time expiring.

RUN RULE-GAME TERMINATION: All 18U-Varsity & 14U games will end when there is a run differential of 10 or more runs after the contest becomes legal (four and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, five full innings if the visiting team is ahead). 12U games will end when there is run differential of 10 or more runs after the contest becomes legal (three and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, four full innings if the visiting team is ahead). 

It’s not a “drop dead” rule. The losing team gets a chance to cut it down to under 10 runs.

Tie games at the end of regulation can go extra innings if time permits; if time expires and the game is tied, the game ends in a tie.

Protests must be made prior to the next pitch to the umpire and to the scorekeeper as well the site supervisor. Only a rules interpretation may be protested, not a judgment call.  A call must be made to the Softball Office (631)451-6156 immediately after the game by the coach, explaining their protest.

CONDUCT 

A player will receive an automatic ejection from the game if;  equipment is thrown or kicked; metal spikes are worn on the field; excessive arguing or cursing at the umpire. Cursing and rude behavior will not be tolerated by anyone. If a player is ejected, they cannot play in the next game. If a player gets ejected a second time, they cannot play for the remainder of the year. 

If a coach is ejected, they cannot coach/participate in the next TWO games. If the coach is ejected a second time, they cannot coach/participate for the remainder of the year.

If a player is deemed ineligible (older player playing in a younger league), they cannot play for the remainder of the year. The coach of the ineligible player also cannot coach/participate for the remainder of the year. Games the player played in, will be forfeited.

FORFEITS

If a team does not have eight players, 5 minutes after the designated start time, the game is a forfeit. If it’s a doubleheader, both games are forfeited 15 minutes after the designated start time.

If you are unable to make a game and are going to forfeit, please call the office, 

(631)451-6156 and email, ljfaber@brookhavenny.gov ASAP

WEATHER

When thunder is heard and/or when lightning is seen, the following procedures should be adhered to:

- Play will be suspended and participants will go to shelter or their car for 30 minutes

- After 30 minutes if the thunder/lightning is gone, play will resume if the field is playable.

- If the weather conditions do not improve after 30 minutes, the game can be canceled by the umpires and Town site supervisor.

- The umpire and Town site supervisor will decide if the field is playable after a delay or continued rain.

- If the game cannot continue and it is official, it will be considered a completed game; if it’s not official, we will resume the game, where it left off, at a later date.

Games canceled due to bad weather (prior to their start) will be rescheduled.

For game cancellations due to weather call (631) 451–6237 or go to

www.leaguelineup.com/tobfastpitch

ETC

Playoffs will be single elimination. All teams will make the Playoffs. Seeding is determined by total points(2 pts for a win; 1 for a tie); then head to head; and then runs allowed(against the team you are tied with). Playoffs will begin immediately following the completion of the seasons’ schedule. Playoff games may not be played on your “designated night” due to end of summer constraints. A player must be registered and played in at least one game to be playoff eligible.

There will be t-shirt or trophy awards for the league champion & playoff champion. 

We will not tolerate yelling, cursing, taunting or any poor behavior. It is at the discretion of the umpire(s) and Town Official to remove anyone from the field area due to rude behavior.

There is no smoking permitted at all Town facilities(this includes vaping)

WEBSITE:www.LeagueLineup.com/tobfastpitch Schedules, messages etc are posted