Tournament Rules

EQUIPMENT

1)     BATS: Legal bats are as defined by USA Softball. Bats must have an ASA or USA 2004 or 2013 stamp and not be on the banned bat list. Bats not following these rules may not be used for Club Sport play. NO Fast Pitch or Senior bats allowed in slow-pitch league. This information can be found at https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/certified-equipment.

a)      The first time a team comes to the plate with an illegal bat, the batter is considered out. The second time the team uses an illegal bat, the batter is out and ejected with possible league suspension.  

b)     Each individual is responsible for using legal bats.

c)      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.

2)     BALLS: Only league provided softballs may be used for game play (.52cor 300).

3)     GLOVES: Players may use any type of softball/baseball glove.  

4)     ATTIRE: Shirts and closed toed shoes/cleats must be worn at all times while playing. No metal spikes are allowed. Wearing metal cleats will result in an ejection.

5)     JEWELRY: No jewelry can be worn during the games, for the safety of all players.

6)     PITCHING SCREENS: When pitching screens are available, they are considered mandatory.

a)      The screen may not be more than 3 feet in front of the pitching rubber and must be within the width of the pitching rubber.

b)     The pitcher may release the ball from either side of the screen, but must have at least one foot in contact with the pitching rubber.

c)      If a batter hits the screen, it is a foul ball the first time (courtesy foul rules apply), and an out the second time per at bat.

d)     If the screen is hit with a thrown ball, it will be considered a live ball. The Halo Rule will not apply when a pitching screen is used.

e)     If a pitching screen is not used, the Halo Rule will be in effect, and a pitching mask will be mandatory.

PLAYER CONDUCT 

1)     Players ejected from any game may be ejected from the tournament altogether pending league review. Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and will result in an ejection from the tournament altogether. Verbal abuse of officials or players, fighting, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.

2)     Any player or fan is encouraged to root for their own team but rooting against teams or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissals of fans. Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff. Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.

LINEUPS

1)     Players must sign the WAIVER/ROSTER to become eligible to play in any game and must be listed on a team roster. Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by RSL staff.  It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their lineup card are eligible players for all games.

2)     Batting lineup cards must be presented to the umpire by game time. All substitutions must be given to the umpire as being made. It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their lineup card are eligible players for all games.

3)      Batting order can be random with no specific sex order as long as you follow your overall ratio. When batting 4 women you may bat up to 8 men, when batting 5 women you may bat up to 9 men, when batting 6 women you may bat up to 10 men.  

4)     Keep in mind there must be a minimum of 3 women in the batting line-up (this may include "phantom" women if a team has less than 3 women at their game).

5)      The pitcher may not intentionally walk a player to get to an automatic 3rd out (also includes if the umpire feels a walk with intentionally unhittable pitches was thrown) then the automatic out is waived.

6)     7 men and 3 women is the standard line up. You may never have more than 7 men on the field. NOTE: A minimum of 6 players from the team's roster must be present or the team will forfeit the game.

GAME PLAY

1)     Time Limit is 55 minutes with a maximum of 7 innings. The inning in progress at the end of 55 minutes will be the last inning and completed. (An inning starts once the third out of the previous inning is called.) The ump will enforce this rule and will keep teams informed of time remaining. In the event of a tie Texas Tie breaker rules will be utilized.

2)      HOME AND AWAY: Higher seed gets choice.

3)      3/2 SOFTBALL. We will be playing 3/2 softball, meaning each batter starts the count with 1 ball & 1 strike.

4)      Walks. If a guy is walked and the next scheduled batter is a girl, she must bat unless the team has two outs - in which case she will have the option of hitting or taking a walk. Regardless of the number of outs, the guy will advance to second if walked with a girl as the next scheduled batter. If the next batter is a "missing" girl and the team is forced to take an out, the guy automatically advances to second base (with all other runners advancing accordingly) before the automatic out is recorded.  No limit on runs walked in.

5)      COURTESY RUNNERS: There will be run courtesy runner per inning. If a courtesy runner is requested and the batter is walked the batter does NOT need to touch 1st base. They may walk straight to the dugout and the courtesy runner can take 1st base. If the courtesy runner is still on base when it is their turn to bat, an out will be assessed in their spot and the next batter will bat.

a)       Umpires and/or RSL staff can overrule courtesy runners to ensure fair play. Runners will be the same sex/last out (or furthest in lineup card if no out).

6)      There is a 10 run inning rule. When a team brings in the 10th run, it is counted and is also the 3rd out. The 10 run rule does not apply in the last announced inning of the game, this will be considered an open inning.

7)     Mercy Rule. There is a 15 run rule after 4 innings or 10 after 5 for all games.

8)      Late Players: Any players arriving after the first pitch of the game (not already placed on the line-up card) must be placed at the end of the batting order. If the player bats in any other spot, it is considered an automatic out. If a girl shows up late, they may go into the automatic out spots on the line-up card. Captains must notify umpire of any changes to line-up cards.

9)     Injured Players: If a player is injured during a game, captain must notify umpire to remove injured player from lineup card with no additional penalty (unless the injured player is a female and her removal falls behind the required ratio -- then becomes an automatic out). An injured player that has been removed from lineup cannot return to the game.

10)   WALKS: If a guy is walked and the next scheduled batter is a woman, she must bat unless the team has two outs - in which case she will have the option of hitting or taking a walk. Regardless of the number of outs, the guy will advance to second if walked with a woman as the next scheduled batter. The Women has until the 1st pitch is thrown to make this decision.

a)      If the next batter is a "missing" woman and the team is forced to take an out, the guy automatically advances to second base (with all other runners advancing accordingly) before the automatic out is recorded.  There is no limit on runs walked in.

b)      To allow for more play time, runners awarded a base for any reason (walk, overthrow, home run, 4-base award, etc.) can go directly to the awarded base without touching any previous bases after being directed by an umpire. If home plate is awarded, the batter/runner may go directly to the dugout.

11)   Batting & Fouls: A foul ball will be called a strike at your first swing at bat. If you hit a foul at your first swing, you can hit another foul and not be called out. After you have obtained your second strike (remember you started your count with one) you may still hit one foul ball and not be called out. The next foul ball will be considered an out. Foul Tip: Catchers may attempt to make the catch on a foul tip. If the catch is made, the batter is out and the ball is live. The height of the ball over the batter’s head no longer applies.

12)   Runners: No stealing bases. SLIDING IS PERMITTED.  Charging defensive players is not allowed and may result in an out and/or ejection.

13)   HOME RUNS. Each team may hit a total of 5 out of the park home runs, every home run after that will be an out (including any homeruns that would result in a team going over 10 runs/inning)

a)      Women can hit unlimited home runs.

b)     If an over the fence home run puts a team at the 10 run rule limit, the home run will count towards the team total of home runs (max of 5) and only the 10th run will count.

14)   Disputes and protests: In a disputed play, only the team captain may discuss the play with the umpire. If a protest is made by the team captain, the captain must notify the umpire and opposing team captain before the start of the next inning.

15)   FAKE TAGS AND VERBAL/PHYSICAL DISTRACTIONS: Fake tag outs or yelling at a defensive player as they are making a play will not be allowed. Doing so MAY result in the runner being called safe (fake tags) or out (verbal distraction) and possible ejection of the offending player. Both sides should abide by this.

16)   Players must step on the safety 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 in these instances may be called out.  Balls that have gotten past the infielders and 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.  Defensive player must step on white base only.  If defensive player steps on the orange base (causing the runner to slow down to avoid contact) the runner may be called safe.

17)   Intentionally throwing the bat in anger or frustration after your turn up to bat will result in an automatic out, upon umpire's discretion.

18)  FORFEITS: Forfeit time is game time. Umpire and/or staff calls game time. A forfeit win will be counted as a 7-0 win. If a team forfeits any pool play games after their first game, ALL games that team was scheduled for (including games previously played), will be recorded as a 7-0 loss.

19)   RAINOUTS: If all teams have completed pool play games at the time of a rainout, the champion will be determined by record and run differential.  Should less than two games be completed by all teams, a makeup date may be scheduled to replay or finish the tournament.