2021 ECC FALL BALL COED RULES: 

The umpire's line up card is to be retrieved by the winning team and handed in immediately following each game. (Unless playing back to back). Please ensure the umpire has signed it and verified the score (only umpire signed line up cards will be deemed to be official). If line up cards with umpire signatures and scores are not handed in, the game will be deemed as a loss for the team and a win will be given to the losing team.

Home team will be decided by a coin toss ,until the first game of each divisional championship, at which time the undefeated team will have the choice of home or visitor status. If a second game in the championship is required, the team with dlb life will get the opposite of what they choose at the first game. (Example dlb life team chooses home game for first game and loses. The team will have to take away the second game)

 Each game has been allocated 75 minute time limits on the schedule. No inning to start with less than 10 minutes remaining in scheduled time. Time limits will be enforced as per the umpire and/or the Tournament Committee's judgement. If an umpire feels a team is being slow or holding up a game on purpose the umpire has the right to call the first batter of the next inning out.

IT IS MANDATORY FOR TEAMS TO BE AT DIAMONDS 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THEIR ASSIGNED START TIMES, READY TO PLAY. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO GRACE PERIODS FOR ANY GAME.** This means if your scheduled start time is 10:00AM, you must be at the diamond by 9:30AM and ready to play. If your team is not there and ready to play 30 minutes early, you may be considered as late and at risk of defaulting game.

Males must hit a 12" softball and females have the option to hit 11" or 12” once they decide they have to use it for the entire at bat. . It is the defensive team's responsibility to ensure that the right ball has been pitched and only the offensive team will be allowed to appeal to the umpire in this regard. If the offensive team uses an appeal the batter will bat again with the proper ball and all runners will return to the base they had before the appeal.

A scoring line and commitment line will be used at home. U CAN TAG A PLAYER BETWEEN THE LINES. If a runner steps on the mat or plate, the runner is out. Your foot has to be down across the line to be considered a run before the ball gets to the catcher on the plate or before you are tagged by the catcher between lines.

A maximum of ten (10) players are allowed on the field, four (4) of which must be female. Games may NOT begin or end with less than ten (10) players, unless approved by the Tournament Committee.

The batting order must consist of four (4) females and six (6) males. If teams wish to utilize EPs in their batting order, they must have both a male and female EP, bringing the batting order to twelve (12) batters, seven (7) males and five (5) females. 

Teams that start a game with EPs must finish the game with them or be penalized as follows: If no legal substitute remains to replace any player or EP who is removed, injured, or ejected from a game, an out will be declared each time that vacated spot comes up to bat. 14 (8 men) (6 female) is the max allowed. No set line up. (You can bat 4 women then 6 men or 6 men then 4 women)

If a male batter is walked (regardless of intention) when followed by a female batter, the male batter will be awarded second base and the female will have the option of taking first base or to bat.

HOME RUN RULE: The one up home run rule is in effect. Once both teams have reached their respective home run limits (5) five per game, either team may hit an additional home run. However, teams may not go more than one home run ahead of the other team. A home run over and above one up will be declared an out. Teams must retrieve their foul or home run balls before their next offensive inning or their first batter of that inning will be declared out. (Make the effort please folks) balls are not cheap and we are not asking u to bring any lol. 

Mercy Rule: 20 after the 3rd, 15 after the 4th, 12 after the 5th. If a team is 20 or more runs ahead after the third complete inning, 15 or more after the fourth complete inning, or 10 or more runs ahead after the fifth complete inning, that team will be declared the winner and the game deemed complete.  7 RUN INNINGS IS MAX ALLOWED.

Each team must have a male/female pitcher/Catcher combo or Male/Male cannot be female/female 

Courtesy runners 3 a game Male for Male and Female for Female. 

In the event an accident to a runner during the course of a game prevents him/her from proceeding to a base to which he/she is entitled, a legal substitution must be made. Courtesy runners are NOT allowed.

PROTEST: Protests will not be considered if the sole issue in contention is a judgement decision made by the umpire. Protests will be received and considered under the following circumstances: Misinterpretation of a rule in the given situation;Failure by an umpire to apply the correct rule in the given situation; or Failure by an umpire to impose the correct penalty for a violation in the given situation.

Notification of intent to protest must be made prior to the next pitch after the given situation. There is a protest fee of $175.00 cash to be paid at the time of protest to the Tournament Director and/or the umpire for that game.

For additional information on proper procedures for protest, refer to SPN Rule Book. The ECC Committee reserves the right to change game times and tournament format without notice to ensure the safety of the participants and the completion of the tournament.

WALK THE HOME RUN OFF. NO NEED TO RUN BASES.

Rules for the 2021 EAST COAST CLASSIC Mens/Womens

HOME RUN:

1) All games have a 7-over the fence homerun limit. Inside the park is not considered in the home run total.

2)Any additional ball hit as a homerun will be considered a single out for the batting team..

3)Any ball touched by a defensive player that then goes over the fence will be considered a 4-base error and not count in the HR total.

Should a defensive player touch a ball that is already over the fence, or, in the umpire’s judgement, would have been a HR anyway, it will be counted as a HR.

BATTER

1) All batters take their turn at bat with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike.

2) All foul balls are strikes.

3) A caught foul tip to the catcher is a caught foul ball regardless of height.

4) No base stealing on the pitcher. Runners must remain in contact with the base until the ball is swung at or until it reaches the mat.

BATS

All Bats are to be tested and sticker placed on bats from the person doing the test.

If at anytime a sticker falls off the bat, the bat is to be tested again. If an umpire notices that a sticker is missing during a game the bat is removed from game. And can be retested after game.

All teams are expected to have 20 bats presented at the bat testing. If any of the 20 bats fail, they will be able to replace failed bat with another passing bat.

When the bats are placed against fence before the game Ump will check for stickers. If a sticker looks to be modified the bat is taken out of the game until retested can occur.

At no time can a player take a bat off the fence and replace it with a bat in his or her bag. The 20 bats you start with are the 20 you begin with. If the Ump or coach from the opposing team sees that a player has switched a bat out. The bat is removed.

PITCHING

1) Pitching arc is 5 – 10 ft

2) Once the ball has been released, he may move side to side or back, to prepare defensively.  They may not charge the batter.

3) Should a ball touch a legally discarded piece of protective equipment (ex. face mask), the ball is alive and in play. 

4) When the pitcher becomes a runner and there are 2 outs, he may be replaced by the second out of the inning. This is to permit him to don his protective equipment and not delay the game. This will not apply if the pitcher is only wearing a facemask.

5) Juking is allowed.

6) PITCHING MASK ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

* All other rules follow the SPN guidelines.

GAME:

ALL GAMES ARE SUBJECT TO A 1HR TIME LIMIT. with. Home team if losing getting there last at bat.  (so 4th inning and the home team is down 5 and they hit the 1hr mark during the inning the home team gets to bat their turn after they get the 3 outs of visiting team) this inning is not open inning.  Unless the Ump calls last inning prior to both teams taking the field.

All games will be 7 innings (unless 1hr limit is before the 7th) with a mercy rule of 12 runs being enforced after 4 1/2 -5 innings.

7 run innings max unless open inning.

3 courtesy runners allowed. Cannot be the same runner.

Tie breaker rule – refer to SPN guidelines.

Double substitutions are allowed.

Any game halted for safety reasons, before being a legal game, will be continued at the first opportunity with the exact same game conditions as were in force at the time of game stoppage, if possible.

The management of the East Coast Classic are the sole arbiters of the event and may make any and all changes as required for the safe completion of the event.

Standing – SPN TIE Breaker rule will be used during ties in round robin standings

PLAYERS

10 players defensively at all times. Should a team decide to use an extra hitter, failure to finish the game with the extra hitter is an out, each time it is his turn to bat.

No D.H.

Any player suspended by a Nationally recognized Softball Association may not participate.

BASES:

Men’s bases are set at 70 feet

Ladies’ bases are set at 65 feet.

HOME PLATE:

A mat will serve as home plate. Every inch of the mat is available to pitch a strike.

Any legally pitched ball that touches any part of the mat is a strike.

On a force play all the mat is good for an out.

Scoring line will be used.

Commitment line will be used.

“A” BALL LEVEL (MENS) Live Plate. If a Catcher blocks the plate from a player scoring, the play will be interference and run is allowed.

SHOES:

All forms of metal cleats are prohibited.
Should a player be found wearing metal cleats, they will  be ejected at the moment of discovery.

EJECTIONS:

Anyone ejected from a game has 2 minutes to leave the area. Should he not do so, his team could forfeit the game.

Anyone who is ejected is automatically suspended for the following game, minimum.

Any deliberate contact with an official, the player is suspended for the remainder of the tournament and is immediately referred to the police for legal action.

PROMOTION:

 If your team wins a division of the tournament, they will be moved up to a higher division for the following year. For example, if you win the c/d/e men’s tournament (c champions, you will be moving up to A the following year). This rule is in affect if higher divisions are offered. If they are not offered the following year you will continue to play in the mixed pool. Another example is the winner of women’s rec will be moved up to comp/ open the following year. If the separation for round robin play is offered.

PLAYER QUALIFICATION:

A player must play 1 inning of play or substitute or run in at least 1 inning of RR play to play in any playoff games. At any time, a team can ask if a person is on your roster during a game. This would fall under Protest. If a team is caught with a un rostered player or players game is over 7-0 win is awarded to opposition.

 DISCLOSURE:

*Photo and video media will be recorded throughout the tournament – as participants you agree to have such media shared on digital and print platforms – such as social media, websites etc.

If you have any issues with this please reach out to organizing committee for resolution.