Rowlett USSSA Softball

ROWLETT USSSA SOFTBALL
2024 RULES AND GUIDELINES

1. RULES - The 2024 USSSA rulebook will govern all games unless otherwise noted.

 2. ELIGIBILITY - Players that have reached the age of 18 are eligible for play. Players can play on multiple Men’s, Mixed and Women’s teams as long as they are not in the same league. Any player protested and found to be playing illegally will be suspended from all league play for the remainder of the current season. All teams and participants in Rowlett USSSA Softball must sign an official team roster provided in your schedule pack. Players must have picture identification with them at all times in the park. Team rosters must be filled out completely and submitted to the commissioner by the conclusion of the first scheduled week of league play. Failure to do so will result in an automatic forfeit until the team roster is submitted. Team rosters are frozen after that date. Only players 18 years and older are allowed on the playing field/dugouts before, during or after games.

3. GAME TIME/GRACE PERIOD - There is a 5-minute grace period at the beginning of each game if either team does not have the required number of players at game time. If during the grace period, player(s) from the team (s) in question arrives, the game will continue with the team(s) in question losing their first turn at bat. If after the grace period and the team (s) in question still does not have the required number of players, the team in question will forfeit the game.  To keep time flowing, teams/players are to be in the dugout and ready to play as soon as the dugout is clear from the previous game. Failure will be the loss of their first turn at bat and the 4^th batter will begin the 2^nd inning.

4. LINE UPS - Line up cards are available in front of the concession stand at no cost. Coaches will be asked to submit a line up to the umpire when requested at or soon before game time. Failure to do so will result in the loss of their first turn at bat. Men’s teams must have at least 9 team players present to start a game.  Mixed teams must have at least 8 team players (4 men/4 female).  Batting positions not occupied will be an automatic out. Men's teams are allowed 1 or 2 AH's and Mixed teams are allowed 2 AH’s as long as they are present at game time.  All others will be considered substitutions.

5. BALL AND STRIKE COUNT - Batters will start with a 1-1 count.  Batters will walk on the 3rd ball and will strike out on the 2nd strike call.  Batters that foul off the second strike will be declared out.

6. MIXED TEAMS – Mixed teams can play 5/5, 6/6, 5/4, 4/5 or 4/4 men/female players.  If a Mixed team has 5 females and 4 males, females must bat 1st, 3rd, 5th 7th and 9th.  Men must bat 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th. Batting positions not occupied will be an automatic out.  Offensively; teams must alternate the batting line up according to gender. If a players leaves the game for any reason, their substitute must be of the same gender. Defensively, there are no position requirements. Any male batter that is walked will be awarded first and second base. The next female batter is awarded first base or may choose to bat.

7. COURTESY RUNNER - One courtesy runner is allowed per inning.  Any player in thecurrent roster can be the courtesy runner.  In Mixed games, one courtesy runner per inning per gender is allowed and the courtesy runner must be the same gender.  In the event the next scheduled batter is on base as the courtesy runner, an out will be registered.  

8. UNIFORMS - Matching shirts or number requirements are not required. Players are allowed to where any shirt they choose. No metal baseball spikes are allowed at any time.  We highly recommend pitchers and infielders wear some kind on headgear with a protective mask.

9. TIME LIMIT - All games shall consist of 7 innings or 50 minute time limit. No inning will begin after the time limit has expired unless tied. If tied, the game will continue as 1 pitch.

10. RUN RULES - 15 after 3 innings, 12 after 4 innings and 10 after 5 innings.

11. FLIP FLOP RULE - In the inning prior to when the run rule is exceed (after the second inning) and the home team is losing, the home team will remain at bat and become the visiting team. If the team (new visiting team) does not score enough runs to reduce the run difference below the run rule, the game is over. If they reduce the fun difference below the run rule then the “new” home team will bat. If they subsequently score enough runs to reach the run rule, the game will be over. If they do not, the game will continue under the same format. If the situation reverses, the teams would Flip Flop again.

12. HOMERUN RULE - Unobstructed homeruns will be limited to 3 per gender for each game. All other balls hit over the fence will be inning ending outs. The batter who hit’s the homerun and any runners on base do not have to run the bases. They are hit and sit.  All runners on base as well as the batter are not required to run the bases on 4 base errors.  4 base errors are also hit and sit.

13. SOFTBALLS - Men will hit the 12” and women will hit the 11” optic yellow softball. Only USSSA softballs with the Rowlett USSSA Softball logo pre-printed from the manufacturer can be used. They can be purchased at the concession stand. The Rowlett USSSA Softball logo must be readable or the ball cannot be used.

14. SOFTBALL BATS - Bats must be on the USSSA list of approved bats with the new BPF 1.20 thumbprint logo on the bat. Graphics, including BPF of 1.20 or less markings, must be legible and permanent from the manufacturer. Any bat with decals or any other insignia or stamp that was added to the bat cannot be used until removed. Approved wood bats they say softball on the bat can be used as long as they have a taped handle. Senior bats are not allowed in all league play.  The use of altered bats is prohibited. The penalty for using an altered bat is a minimum two (2) year suspension from ALL Rowlett USSSA Softball and USSSA play nationally. Rowlett now has a bat compression machine and will test bats when needed.  All bats must have some form of handle no less than 10” long.

15. PLAYOFFS/TIES - There are no playoff games. All teams tied for 1st place at the end of league play will received 1st place awards. Ties for 2nd and 3rd place will be decided by (1) head to head games, (2) run differential within tied teams, (3) total runs scored within tied teams and (4) coin flip.

16. DECIPLINE - The entire team is responsible for each player’s actions. Any player ejected from a game will be ejected for the remainder of that game and suspended for the next game. If ejected after a game, the player will be suspended for the next two games. Any player threatening an umpire or league official will be suspended for the remainder of the league. Fighting will not be tolerated and will draw a minimum one year suspension from all Rowlett league and tournament play. Depending on the severity of the situation, a player, coach or entire team could be suspended for a longer period of time and can face USSSA suspensions as well. All ejections and suspensions can be appealed to the commissioner.

17. DEROGATORY LANGUAGE - Foul or derogatory language in any form is not permitted. Anyone that says the “F” word or demeans an umpire will be automatically ejected.

18. NO SHOW/FORFEITS - If a team No Shows or Forfeits two (2) consecutive weeks without notice, that team will forfeit the remaining games of the season unless discussed with the commissioner. No makeup games will be scheduled and no refund will be given for games forfeited.

19. WARMING UP - For safety reasons, please do not warm up between Fields 1 and 4 (main gate entrance). There is plenty of room between the other fields to accommodate everybody.  We want players and fans safe as they enter and leave the complex.

20. INFIELD/BATTING PRACTICE - Infield/batting practice or pepper is not allowed before or during scheduled games. You are welcome to use the outfield or any open field if no games are scheduled.

21. JEWELRY - Wedding rings, medical alert bracelets or necklaces, necklaces kept under the shirt and stud earrings are allowed. No watches, hoop earrings or facial jewelry (pierced body parts that contain jewelry) are allowed on the playing field. Players will be asked to remove or cover them for their own safety.

22. PROTESTS - An umpire’s judgment cannot be protested, only rule interpretations. All rule interpretation and ineligible player protests will be conducted in the following manner.
a) The protesting coach will call a time out and inform the umpire or commissioner they want to lodge a protest.
b) The umpire will stop the game clock. The protesting coach must submit the protest fee of $50.00 and then will discuss in detail the nature of the protest with the commissioner
c) The commissioner and/or umpires will make an immediate ruling on a rule interpretation and continue the game accordingly. On ineligible player protests, the commissioner will ask the accused player to present pictured identification immediately. The ID will be checked against the team roster. If the protest is upheld, the protest fee of $50.00 will be refunded and the game will be forfeited to the protesting team, otherwise the fee will be retained and the game will continue.

23. ALCOHOL - No alcoholic beverage or glass containers are allowed inside the complex or on City of Rowlett property.

24. PETS – Per City of Rowlett ordinance, no pets (leased or unleashed) are allowed in the fenced complex area. Service pets with proper service identification are allowed but must be with their owner at all times.  Players or fans will be asked to remove their pets from the complex area immediately. Failure to do so can result in the forfeiture of the game.

25. SMOKING - Smoking is NOT allowed on the playing field or in the dugouts. There is plenty of open areas inside the complex area if you must smoke. If caught, the player(s) and their coach will be ejected from the game.

26. RAINOUTS/RAINOUT LINE - In case of bad weather, field conditions will NOT be determined until 5:00 p.m. on weekday games and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday games. Coaches/players are responsible for calling the rainout number at 972-475-9988 to determine field conditions. Rainouts are usually scheduled at the end of the regularly scheduled season or when fields become available on the corresponding game day.

Rules highlighted in yellow are new for 2024.