CENTRAL PA MODIFIED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
BY-LAWS

The Central PA Modified Softball League uses rules defined in the 2006 ASA Official Rules of Softball book, with certain exceptions. The rules listed below override the rules listed in the book. These rules are the same as last year.
Note: Protest rule has been added for the 2006 season....see #17 below.)
RULES


1. General: The official rules of modified pitch softball as defined in the current year’s ASA Rule Book will apply except as stipulated below.

2. Teams: A team will consist of 10 fielders. There is the optional use of 1 or 2 Extra Players (see Rule 13) resulting in a team batting 11 or 12 players. Also, a Designated Player (DP) can bat in place of one of the fielders (See Rule 14). Teams must have at least 8 players to start a game. If
team begins with less than 10 players and additional players arrive late to the game, the player(s) can be inserted at the bottom of batting order at any time throughout the game. However, after the team bats around once (lead-off hitter makes second plate appearance) players can only
be inserted if it does not give the team an advantage in the # of fielders. For example, if
both teams are playing short-handed with 9 players.....a team can add a player up to the time the team bats around once, but not after that.


3. Starting Time: Games will start at 6:30 p.m. sharp according to the schedule unless arrangements have been made to begin at a different time. If a team fails to have at least 8 players by 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time, the game is considered a forfeit. The team having at least 8 players will receive credit for the victory. Forfeiting teams are required to pay both umpires.


4. Pitching: Per A.S.A Rulebook, Rule 6 (Modified)


5. Stealing: Per A.S.A. Rulebook


6. Equipment: Teams will be responsible for providing their own equipment. The home team is responsible for putting down three bases that are stored, if necessary. Baseball bats or double-walled softball bats are not permitted. Only softball bats including the metallic types, may be used in accordance with ASA rules and CPMSL rules. Metal spikes are not permitted. The home team will be
responsible for providing the balls for each game. This will include at least one new one and one in very good condition to start the games.
Other balls put into the game need not be new, but must be approved by both team managers and the plate umpire. The catcher must wear a protective mask. Batters and runners must wear helmets. Other protective equipment is optional.


7. Roster: Rosters are “open” roster. This means teams can add players to team at anytime without notifying the league or other teams. There is no waiting period for changes and additions to rosters, nor is there a maximum limit to players on the team. Players cannot play on more than one team in the league in the same season unless special permission is granted by the CPMSL Board. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PLAY-OFFS A PLAYER MUST HAVE MADE AN APPEARANCE IN AT LEAST 6 REGULAR SEASON GAMES. AN APPEARANCE IS DEFINED AS BATTING ONCE AND/OR PLAYING ONE INNING IN THE FIELD. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS RULE MAY RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF PLAYOFF GAME(S).


8. Postponements and Rainouts: Postponements must be agreed to prior to the start of the game by both team managers, except where the Field Owner cancels events on the field due to weather (or any other reason). In case of rain or wet grounds and both managers cannot come to an agreement, it will be the home team manager’s responsibility to decide whether or not the game game is to be played. If it is decided that the field is in playable condition and the visiting team refuses to play, it shall be considered a forfeit.

9. Forfeits: If a team forfeits three games during the regular season from lack of players, a meeting by the Board Council shall determine the
reason for the lack of players and if the situation can be remedied or if they shall be ejected from the league and all of their games for the season to be void.


10. Suspension: Any league member found guilty of hitting or pushing an umpire or league official by the league advisory committee will result in
the automatic suspension of said Individual for five years. Any unnecessary public abuse of any of the above mentioned may be considered for appropriate action with the President of the league
deciding the outcome. This decision is final.


11. Field Obstructions: To be clarified and agreed to by both team managers and umpires at the start of the game.


12. League Final Standing Ties: If ties arise in the final standings to determine 1st place, there shall be a one game playoff. If there is a tie for any other place, the result of the head-to-head meetings during the season will be the determining factor. If each team won the same amount of games head-to-head, the run differential in those head-to-head games will be the tie-breaker.


13. Extra Player (EP) Rule: Teams have the option of using 1 or 2 Extra Players. That is play 10 in field and bat 11 or 12. At the start of every game each team shall declare his option if he will use an Extra Player(s).


14. Designated Player (DP) Rule: Per ASA Rule Book


15. Mercy Run Rule: Must go 4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead by 10 or more runs and 5 innings if the visiting team is ahead. The home team always has the chance to break the 10 run deficit during the inning they fall behind by 10 runs. (Note: The ASA has a 20 run rule after 3 innings and a 15 run rule after 4 innings which do not apply to the CPMSL....unless both managers agree to end the game before the 5th inning).


16. Playoffs: The end-of-season playoff tournament will be a
double-elimination tournament for which all teams qualify. Standard
ASA double-elimination brackets will be used with seedings based on
Regular season finish. If the number of teams in the league exceed eight, the league may decide to have a single-elimination play-in round to determine the final eight teams that advance to the double-elimination portion of the playoffs.

17. Protest: To Protest an umpire's ruling the team must inform the umpires at the exact time the disputed ruling was made. If another pitch is thrown there cannot be a protest. Protests cannot be of judgement calls....only rule interpretations can be protested. After the Protest is made known the game will continue. The Executive Board will hear the protest within 5 days and make a decision. If the protest is accepted the game will be made up from the time the game was protested (with ruling reversed). If protest is rejected, the protesting team must pay the league $20.