Coed Rules
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CO-ED SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE/GAME RULES (ASA Modified)
Rubin Padgett Park
Coed: 6 Men/4 Women
12pm-5pm Game Times
As of 09/10/22
Game Times:
● 55min time limit
● No new inning will start with less than 5 minutes left on the game clock. If the home team is batting with less than 5 minutes on the clock the game can be called after the 3rd out is made and time still remains.
● If a game is tied at the end of regulation, untimed extras innings will take place. International tiebreaker rules apply. The last batter out will start on 2nd base and a new inning will occur until there is a winner.
● HOME AND AWAY: Will be determined by the schedule.
Game Play:
● Fielding:
o 8 player minimum to field. 10 player maximum to field with a minimum of 4 female players.
● Defense:
o When there is a female batter, all infielders must be in DIRT. If a field player is in the grass when the ball is hit, it’s a DEAD BALL, female batter advances to 1B.
● Hitting
o 1 and 1 count with a courtesy foul.
o Open bat rule. Bats may not be on banned bat list. All bats not being used must remain inside the dugout at all times. If a bat is hit during play that was not used by a batter or on deck hitter, all base runners will be awarded the next base from the last based touched. (Only seniors will be permitted to swing a senior bat).
o The first time a team comes to the plate with a banned bat, the batter is considered out. The second time the team uses an illegal bat, the batter is out and ejected for the game. Each individual is responsible for using legal bats.
o If the batter steps across the plate before making contact with the ball it’s a DEAD BALL, batter is out. If a better steps on the plate while swinging the batter is out.
o 1 person on deck batter at a time.
o RSL and the umpires reserve the right to disallow a bat should it be thought the bat may have been doctored. If a bat is used and proven to be doctored (i.e. painted over, "corked", shaved, etc.) this will result in the immediate ejection of the person using the bat and the owner of the bat, and the owner/user may possibly be suspended for the remainder of the season or longer, as this is a safety issue.
o No stealing or leading off the bases, will result in a dead ball, and the runner will be called out.
BATTING:
● Lineups must be presented to the umpire before each game-by-game time. All substitutions must be given to the umpire as being made.
● If a team is up to bat with LESS THAN 4 female players then outs will be called. If a team has 3 females there will be one out assessed for the missing players turn in the lineup. If a team is missing 2 females there will be an out for each of the batters turns in the lineup. If a team has less than 2 females the game will be forfeit. If a team has 9 overall players there will be an out assessed for the missing player. The missing player(s) must be batted at the bottom of the lineup.
● Batting Ratios:
o Batting order- you can’t bat more than 3 men in a row. When batting 4 women you can up to have 7 men, when batting 6 women you can have up to 9 men. You may always bat more women than these ratios, but not more men.
o 15 PLAYER MAXIMUM BATTING LINEUP. When a player who’s not there who would normally be up to bat, they are recorded as automatic outs (GHOST batter).
● Any players arriving after the first pitch of the game must be placed at the end of the batting order.
● Courtesy Runners:
o One courtesy runner per inning per sex. It must the last batter out.
o A courtesy runner does not have to be declared until the batter as reached base. They do not have to declare it before they bat, though that is an option.
o A courtesy runner is in the game once the base is touched.
o A Player can be a courtesy runner only once an inning.
o A runner may not replace a courtesy runner unless there is an injury
● The injured Player must be removed from the line-up and cannot return to the game.
o Any Player replaced by a courtesy runner may not become a courtesy runner in the same inning.
o Penalty for use of an ineligible courtesy runner shall be removal of the runner from the base and an out is recorded against the base runner for which the courtesy runner is used.
o If a Player is on base as a courtesy runner when it is their time to bat, they shall be declared out.
● If this is the first or second out of the inning, the Player will bat in their regular spot.
● If this is the third out of the inning, the Player will be the first batter in the next inning.
● Infield Fly Rule- An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not a line drive or bunt) that the umpire considers can be caught by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher when there are runners on 1B and 2B or bases loaded and less than two outs.
● Ball-out-of-play - If a ball is thrown out of the field by the defense, the player(s) advance 1 base.
● Dead Ball - If a ball is thrown infield and it hits the offense's gear, equipment sitting outside the dugout (not including the on-deck batter), it's considered a dead ball, and the player closest to HOME is automatically out.
o A thrown ball enters a dugout through an open gate:
● If it enters the offense's dugout the players will return to the last based touched.
● If it enters the defense’s dugout all runners will be awarded one base from the last base touched.
● WALKING - If the pitcher walks a guy and a girl is behind him, he automatically advances two bases. If the pitcher walks a guy with a girl behind him with two outs the female batter has the option to take the walk or hit. If she walks into the batters' box, she can no longer take the walk.
SCORING
● Runner must touch the OUTSIDE HOME PLATE. If the runner touches the home base (not the outside plate), it’s an automatic out and no run is scored. All plays at home are force outs. The catcher must touch the home plate and not the strike mat for it to be an out.
o If a runner passes the commitment line they must continue to the outside plate. If a runner tries to return back after crossing the line it will be a dead ball, runner is automatically out.
● MERCY RULE: Rule in effect if a team is up by 15 runs after 4 innings and 10 runs after 5 innings.
o Example: If the HOME TEAM is losing by 15 runs after 4 FULL innings, the game is over. If the away team is down by 15 after the top of the 4th inning the game is over.
● Home Runs: Men: 5 homerun limit then an out for each homerun hit after that. Women's HRs do not go against team count. In the park HRs do not count against the team count.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RUN THE BASES ON A HOME RUN.
o WALKOFF HOME RUN: IF A TEAM IS DOWN BY 1 RUN AND THE BATTER HITS A HOME RUN, THEN EACH PLAYER MUST TOUCH THE NEXT BAG TO DECLARE THE WIN.
▪ EXAMPLE: HR HITTER TOUCHES 1ST, 2B TOUCHES 3RD, 3B TOUCHES THE DESIGNATED HOME PLATE.
▪ IF AT LEAST ONE OF THE BASE PLAYERS DOESN’T TOUCH THE NEXT BASE, AND THEY WALKOFF THE FIELD, INTO THE DUGOUT, IT’S AN AUTOMATIC OUT FOR THE DEFENDING TEAM AND THE GAME IS OVER.
● Pitching height is 6ft to 10ft from the ground.
● Net is optional. If there is no net a Pitcher must wear a mask. If a net is used, a mask is optional. Net is used for safety purposes.
● The pitchers must remain behind the net until the ball is in play, if the pitcher doesn’t get behind the net after they release the ball before the batter makes contact, and the ball is fielded by the pitcher, it’s a dead ball and the batter advances to 1B. The pitcher may also pitch from behind the net.
● If the batter hits the ball into the net, it’s a foul ball. If the batter does not have a courtesy foul left the batter is out.
● If the ball lands on the plate or strike mat it is a strike.
● If the pitching net is hit with a thrown ball, it’s still considered a live ball.
● If a pitching screen is not available, the Halo Rule will be in effect. (A ball hit back up the middle in the pitchers vicinity will be a dead ball out.)
INJURED PLAYERS
● If a player is injured during a game, the captain must notify the umpire to remove the injured player from the line-up card with no additional penalty (unless the injured player is a female and her removal falls behind the required ratio -- then it becomes an automatic out). An injured player that has been removed from line-up cannot return to the game. A player can be subbed for by a player currently
PICKUP PLAYERS (REGULAR SEASON GAMES)
● Pickups must be brought to the attention of the umpire BEFORE they enter the game. 1st pick up player is free, ANY number of pickups after that you give up 2 runs max. Meaning if you pick up 4 people, you still only give up 2 runs total. Team must have at least a minimum of 6 of their own players.
NO PICKUP PLAYERS ALLOWED DURING PLAYOFFS
● Teams can only play with their initially SIGNED ROSTER PLAYERS. Playing with an illegal player, even if discovered after the fact, will result in a forfeit. Example: The winning team CANNOT use a sub from the losing team once they’ve been eliminated in the playoffs.
ROSTER CHECKS
● Rosters will be printed prior to game 1. Each team member must sign the roster in order to play in the playoffs. Playoff rosters and lineup cards will be verified against it. Players have the right to ask for a roster check of the opposing team after the start of the game and before the end of the game. These requests must be made with the coordinator during game play, and if it is found that the opposing team is playing with an “illegal player” (i.e. not on that team’s roster or not signed) then staff reserves the right to remove the player or forfeit the game if it is found out after the game is concluded. There will be no sign ups at the field.
LEAGUE BALLS
● Only league provided softballs may be used for game play. League officials will provide them. Men’s 12inch, ladies 11inch – “52 .300-core
CLEATS
● No metal spikes are allowed. No open toed shoes or non-athletic shoes. A player will have one minute to change shoes or will be considered out for that at bat.
PLAYER CONDUCT
● EJECTIONS: The umpire has the right to eject a player based on conduct, verbal or unruly behavior. Players ejected from any league may be required to serve a one game suspension pending league review. Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in multi-game suspensions or ejection from the league altogether. Verbal abuse of officials or players, fighting, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.
● THROWING BATS: Intentionally throwing the bat in anger or frustration after your turn up to bat will result in an automatic out for the batter and the following batter and may result in player’s ejection, upon umpire's discretion.
● PROFANITY: Profanity will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected on the discretion of the umpire (this includes playing music that is offensive).
The Riverview Adult Softball League is committed to an all-inclusive, fun, and competitive experience for all players, coaches, and fans. There will be no bullying, foul language, expressions of hatred or violent behavior tolerated. We believe that everyone deserves to enjoy their time playing and watching and any players or spectators who do not abide by these rules will be asked to leave.
UMPIRES
● There will be one umpire per game supplied by the league, 2 during the end of the season tournament. The umpire has the right to eject a player anytime during the game if the player becomes violent, the extreme use of profanity after a call, or makes subsequent threats. During the REGULAR SEASON once, the umpire makes a call, there is no challenge. During PLAYOFFS, a team has the right to challenge a call, time will be called, both umpires will discuss amongst themselves and agree upon if the call stands or is reversed. The game clock will continue to run during this meeting.
NO ALCOHOL OR PETS ALLOWED
● There is NO alcohol allowed at any time on Hillsborough County grounds. Anyone who is seen drinking alcohol on premises will be asked to exit the fields and not allowed to return until the following game day. After the first infraction, the player will be disbarred from the league with no refund provided. Pets are not allowed inside the parks unless they are observed/licensed SERVICE ANIMALS.
RAINOUTS/MAKEUP GAMES
● We will update the Facebook group and website with updates as received. Any called game because of weather will be rescheduled and added onto the end of the season. The umpire is empowered to call a game at any time because of darkness, rain, lightning, fire, panic, or any other cause that places the patrons or players in peril.
● If a full 4 innings have been played – WINNER DECLARED
● If anything less than 4 full innings – DECLARED A MAKEUP GAME
● Games that are not considered regulation shall be resumed at the exact point where they were stopped, if rescheduled.
● A time limit of 10 minutes during a rain delay will be observed. After 10 minutes, the umpire is required to either call the game or continue playing.
