Modified Official Rules Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA)

Home Team: Home team will be determined by a coin toss.

Bats: will be randomly tested at directors or umpire’s desecration.  Failure to comply will result in a 3-month suspension. USSSA Bats – Must have the thumbprint stamp.

ASA Bats – Must not be on the ASA banned list. (A printout of the ASA banned bat list will be available at the fields) All bats must be approved by the umpire. No SR Bats, no Ultra’s and no bat on any unapproved list.   Each individual and captain is responsible for using legal bats. If a batter steps into the box with an illegal bat, the batter is out, even if the bat has not been used. RIVERVIEW SOFTBALL and the umpires reserve the right to disallow a bat should it be thought the bat may be doctored.  If any injury occurs from a batted ball, RSL staff has the right to seize the bat to determine if the bat was altered.

Balls: .52 core, 300 compression balls. 12inch. The league will provide 2 game balls each week. Each team will be provided 4 game balls for the season and is responsible for their own game balls during the game. If a team runs out of balls, they can purchase them from the league for $6/ea.

Home Run Rule:

Rec division: 4 home runs, 1 up

Hit and Sit: Batter does not have to touch bases with an over the fence home run.

Players: Absolutely NO ALCOHOL allowed on the premises, as per county ordinance. Any player considered to be intoxicated WILL be removed from the game and not allowed to continue to play for the remainder of the day. Must be at least 18 years of age and signed roster with liability waiver prior to the start of any game. 16 and 17-year-old players may play with a signed release by a legal guardian. If the legal guardian is not present at the field for us to witness the signing, a notarized waiver can be signed off sight and brought to the field.

A player found not to be listed on roster and/or not signed liability waiver WILL be ejected from the game until the roster is signed.

Teams: A team may bat up to 13 players.

A team may start with 8 players. A ghost player may be on the lineup card and replaced with a player as they arrive. A ghost player will be an out until the actual player arrives. Once a team has batted thru the line-up card, they cannot add players. They can only replace the ghost player with an actual player.

The roster can be up to 20 but ONLY 13 prizes will be awarded. In order to add a player on the batting lineup after the game as started (and if already batted thru the order) you must have a ghost batter in that spot, then remove ghost batter and add name of batter when they arrive or switch out players.   (this means you can add players as they arrive BUT if your team has batted thru the lineup, you CANNOT add unless you had a ghost player on the lineup card and replace the ghost player with an actual player)……If you have to forfeit, it will count as a 7-0 win.

A Player must play 1 reg season game and be signed on the team’s roster in order to be eligible to play in the playoffs. (This means a team can NOT pick up players during bracket play and championship game)

Fielder’s position: A defensive player may not impede a runner’s progress by standing in the baseline, unless the defensive player is fielding a batted ball…. Blocking of the bag without the ball shall result in an obstruction call, a warning to the offending player, and the runner will be awarded the base. The catcher may not interfere with the batter’s ability to swing, this means the catcher must remain behind the batter’s box for their safety, any catcher who interferes with the batter by reaching into the batter’s box, 1st offense warning, 2nd offense the batter will be awarded 1st base.

Courtesy runners:  designated or pinch runners will be allowed when requested, and the DR must be listed on the lineup card, if not listed on the card no DR will be allowed.  The DR does not have to be in the batting order or play the field. If the DR is in the lineup and is on base, when his turn comes to bat, the player remains on the base and takes an out at the plate.

No designated fielders, any and all fielders must be placed in the batting order and bat.

Injured players: MUST report the injury immediately to the umpire and complete an incident report. If the injured player requires medical attention, the player will be removed from the line up for the day. If the player is transported to the hospital or the team roster drops below the ratio the team may pick up a replacement as long as the new player is “same like player” in ranking. If a replacement player is not available, the injured player’s team may condense the lineup without taking an out.

If your injured player is also your designated runner you can declare a new designated runner. Note* this is the only way you can redeclare a runner mid game.

PROFANITY: Profanity will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected at the discretion of the umpire.  Absolutely no F word directed at anyone.  The umpire will give one warning to the individual, then take action as deemed necessary to control the situation.  Please be considerate and respect our children and not play music containing explicit lyrics.

Ejection from game: Once ejected a player remains ejected for that game. It will be the umpire’s discretion, if the player will be allowed to play any remainder games.  Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in multi-game suspensions or ejection from the league all together.  NO warning will be given for the throwing of equipment (even if equipment belongs to the individual). This includes bats, gloves or any equipment. Verbal abuse of officials or players, fighting, foul language, spitting, kicking of dirt and continued rough play could result in player ejections. If a player is ejected, the team may not replace that player with another player. Meaning, if you have a 13 person line up and one player is ejected you continue to play with 12 and take an out for that 13 player.

Running to first base (orange base) “extra base” is being used at first base, players must step on the orange base when overrunning first base, or when there is a legitimate play at first base (ball still in the infield).  Players stepping on the white base when the ball is in play in the infield may be called out.  Balls that have reached the outfield will allow the runner to touch the white base in an attempt to advance to second base.  When in doubt runners should touch the orange base to avoid being called out.  .  Runner may overrun first base, any aggressive attempt towards second base the fielder may make a play on the runner. There MUST be aggression and it umpires discretion.

Home plate and bases: All plays at home plate and or a base where the fielder is in possession of the ball, the runner MUST slide to avoid any injury. The player MUST slide or give up, any un-sportsman like conduct will not be tolerated.

IF the fields are damaged due to standing water, a 2nd home plate will be used, all runners will be required to touch the 2nd plate and not the original plate, which is now unsafe to use. It will be a force play if the ball is thrown to the original home plate and reaches that plate prior to the runner touching the 2nd home plate.  For any questions, please ask the umpire.

Taking a base on a walk: The runner MUST touch each base.

Stealing: There is no stealing.

DEFENSELESS PITCHER:  At coin toss a decision will be made if the pitcher is using a mask or a net. If pitchers do not agree, the pitcher who selects the net will be responsible for rolling the net on and off the field to be used each inning.  If the pitcher does not want to use the net they must have full head protection (helmet).   If the pitcher uses the net, they have to get behind the net immediately after release of the ball but may come out from behind the net after contact with the ball is made.   Any pitcher hit with a batted ball, the batter is out, second offense is ejection. (bat will be removed from the game) If a pitcher not using head protection fields a batted ball, the batter will be awarded one base.

Any batted ball that hits the net on the first hit is a strike, if there are 2 strikes on the batter, the batter will be out. If the batter hits the net a second time at the same at bat, the batter will be out.  If the batted ball hits the pitcher or any player, the bat will be tested. If failed the bat will be removed for the day and tagged on RSL list of illegal bats. If caught using the illegal bat, the player will be suspended.

Game time: 55 minute game time, games will start on time.  

If a team has played 5 innings and game is stopped due to rain or any reason, game is official at the end of the 5th inning.

THROWING BATS: Intentionally throwing the bat in anger or frustration after your turn up to bat is not tolerated and will result in an automatic out for the batter  (when up to bat again) if the bat hits another player, the batter will be ejected.  If the bat is thrown in anger directed @ a player or official, will result in player’s immediate ejection.

Run Rule: If a team is winning by 15 runs after 4 innings or 10 after 5, the game will cease and winner declared. This rule also applies to Championship game.  There is a 10 run per inning limit. If a team hits a HR that results in more than 10 runs, only the 10^th run will be awarded. That HR will count towards the overall HR total of the team.

Fake tags: They are prohibited.  A fake tag will result in the base runner being awarded one additional base (the base they were running to, plus one) The fielder faking the tag will be warned. The 2^nd offense from any player on the team faking a tag will be ejected.

Any batted ball that strikes a baserunner while advancing to another base is out, dead ball is called.

Any batted ball that strikes a baserunner while standing on or has any contact with any base, is a live ball.

Intentional ball drop: If any fielder who catches a ball and intentionally drops it, in an attempt to force a double play, the batter is out, ball is DEAD and runners may not advance. Fielder will be given a warning, 2nd offense ejection. Dropping of the ball is umpire’s discretion.

Appeal play or protest:  Appeal play must be made after the play has ceased and before the next pitch. Protest can only be done by the team captain. Protest must happen prior to the last out of the game.

Pitcher’s mound: All pitches are thrown underhand. (No side arm pitching) The pitcher may pitch starting up to 3ft behind the rubber mound marker before throwing a pitch. (The pitcher must make sure they are not more than 3 feet behind the rubber) The pitch must be one continuous motion, no ball shall be pitched in a motion to distract the batter. (NO PUMP FAKING).  NO pitch shall be made or release in front of the pitcher’s mound or net.

Strike zone:   Front of the plate to the back of the strikemat.

Batter: Any batter standing in the batter’s box MUST be ready to bat or ask for time out. A verbal request to the umpire is sufficient.

Arch of Pitch: not less than six (6), not greater than ten (10)

NO metal cleats.  It is up to the team captain to make sure no metal cleats are worn prior to start time. All players must have proper footing attire.