The Old Lion Softball LEAGUE

“THE OLD LION SOFTBALL LEAGUE IS A

C – DIVISION…ADULT…RECREATIONAL…

MODIFIED PITCH…DOUBLEHEADER SUNDAY… SOFTBALL LEAGUE.”

WELCOME MANAGERS AND PLAYERS!!!

Welcome to The Old Lion Softball League. This is a “C-Division, Adult Recreational, Doubleheader Sunday, Modified Pitch, Softball League.”

I. LEAGUE POLICY OF SCHEDULED GAME TIME & FORFEITURES.

ALL GAMES are scheduled to start at 9 am. However, a league policy of a five-minute grace period will be instituted…but with the following consequences…

1.    Teams that show up after game time but before 9:05 am will be the visiting team for both games. Remember, 8 PLAYERS FROM YOUR OWN ROSTERED TEAM are needed to start.  

Also, please note that ALL PLAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE NYS IDs/PASSPORTS TO VERIFY ROSTERED NAMES BY SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2024. (IF THERE IS AN ISSUE REGARDING THIS POLICY…PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMISSIONER IMMEDIATELY). …AGAIN, I WILL REITERATE…NO RINGERS!!! 

2.    Teams that show up after 9:05 am but before 9:20 am, will start the game in the bottom of the fourth inning down by a score of 7-0.

3. 9:20 am is the forfeit time for game 1.

4.    Game 2 will start at 9:30 am if game 1 is forfeited. If a team is unprepared or is a no-show at 9:30 am, Game 2 will be forfeited.

5.    All teams are still responsible for the $70 designated Umpire fee in forfeitures. The team present receives the two wins therefore monies are due as if it were a played series. The forfeiting team was aware of the designated schedule before signing up and therefore is responsible for the designated $70 Umpire fee.

Please note that the above league policies will be in effect as of Opening day, APRIL 7, 2024. MOREOVER, LEAGUE POLICIES CANNOT BE MODIFIED BY A MANAGER OR UMPIRE; AND, ALL UMPIRES ARE INSTRUCTED TO ENFORCE ALL DESIGNATED LEAGUE POLICIES AND BE RELIEVED OF SCHEDULED DUTY BASED ON THE LEAGUE POLICY OF FORFEIT TIME. ANY MANAGER/PLAYER WHO CONTRIVES AGAINST LEAGUE POLICY WILL FACE SUSPENSION AND/OR EXPULSION FROM The Old Lion Softball League.

II.    BALLS, BASES, BATS, RINGERS, CONDUCT, & PITCHING

A.   SOFTBALLS - The Old Lion Softball League uses the official clincher 12” softball and Managers are responsible for providing two of these to the Umpire.

B.    BASES - The home team is responsible for providing bases however, ALL MANAGERS MUST HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF BASES AVAILABLE FOR PLAY EACH WEEK. IF A “HOME” MANAGER (DETERMINED BY COIN TOSS) FAILS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH BASES, THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY CONVERT TO THE VISITING TEAM FOR BOTH GAMES.

C.    BATS - All bats must be stamped USA/ASA with the only exception of “pre-stamp era” alloy bats (i.e. DeMarini Fatboy, etc.).

D. SENIOR-STAMPED BATS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN GAMEPLAY.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ILLEGAL/BANNED BATS, AS WELL AS SHAVED, ROLLED, AND/OR ANY OTHER ILLEGAL MODIFICATION/ALTERING OF THE BAT ARE NOT ALLOWED AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!! VIOLATORS WILL SWIFTLY BE SUSPENDED FROM LEAGUE PLAY AND FORFEITURE OF GAME(S) WILL BE AWARDED TO THE OPPOSING TEAM AFTER THE COMMISSIONER'S INVESTIGATION!

E.    RINGERS & CONDUCT - This league DOES NOT TOLERATE RINGERS OR ANY OTHER UNETHICAL CONDUCT!!! The Commissioner will have sole discretion in this area and all participants defined will immediately be removed from our league, and Managers will be suspended from play with all forfeitures and monetary fees at play.

F.      If you have any questions about a pitcher(s) meeting C-Division merits, please contact the Commissioner immediately so that an evaluation can be executed.

G.   CONDUCT – FIGHTING IS AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION AND/OR EXPULSION FROM The Old Lion Softball League.

ALSO, UMPIRE/COMMISSIONER BASHING AND DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR TOWARD THE OPERATING OFFICIALS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND CONSEQUENCES WILL BE HARSH AND IMMEDIATE. THUS, IF A MANAGER IS IN INTEREST OF PROTESTING, PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING PROTEST PROTOCOL: ...ON YOUR SCOREBOOK, PLEASE WRITE UNDER PROTEST, NOTIFY THE UMPIRE OF PROTESTING THE GAME, AND HAVE THE UMPIRE SIGN BY THE STATEMENT. AND PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMISSIONER WITH ALL DETAILS AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR PREMISE FOR PROTEST.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMMISSIONER LAYS THE FINAL VERDICT ON ALL PROTESTS, AND, FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE ABOVE-LISTED PROTEST PROTOCOL DOES NOT COUNTER A CLAIM OF PROTEST.  

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THE UMPIRE/COMMISSIONER HAS THE POWER TO EJECT A PLAYER(S)/MANAGER FROM THE GAME FOR POOR/UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT, WHICH INCLUDES THE VIOLATION OF OUR PERMIT USE FOR... INDULGING IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, AND DRUGS, UTILIZING AMPLIFIED SOUND AND UNSPORTSPERSON-LIKE BEHAVIOR (THROWING BATS), INSTIGATING/THREATENING/PARTAKING IN VIOLENCE, AND/OR BEING ARGUMENTIVE, ETC.

MOREOVER, IF A PLAYER IS SUSPENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER BASED ON CONDUCT, THERE WILL BE A $50 FEE THAT MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE PLAYER’S RETURN, WHILE A TEAM SUSPENSION IS A $250 FEE.

PLEASE ALSO BE AWARE THAT MANAGERS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR TEAM VISITORS AND WILL BE SUSPENDED/FACE DISCIPLINARY CHARGES BASED ON POOR AND/OR UNRULY CONDUCT OF A VISITOR. THE UMPIRE WILL USE PERSONAL DISCRETION DURING THE ENCOUNTER HOWEVER THE COMMISSIONER WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY AND ULTIMATELY PRESCRIBE THE FINAL CONSEQUENCE FOR ALL SUSPENSIONS AND CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF ALL...INCLUDING VISITORS.

IN ADDITION, I MUST DECLARE THAT LANGUAGE BE CLOSELY CONSIDERED BEFORE BLURTING OUT WHILE ON OUR FIELD PERMIT SPACE. DISRESPECTFUL AND/OR OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE, BE IT AGAINST A FELLOW TEAMMATE, OPPOSING PLAYER, AND/OR ANYONE ELSE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER, ONCE THE INFORMATION IS IN HAND. 

THIS LEAGUE DOES NOT HAVE ANY ROOM FOR THAT TYPE OF VIBE AND IF CERTAIN WORDS ARE PART OF ONE'S SOCIAL LANGUAGE...PLEASE LEAVE IT AT YOUR DWELLING OR FIND ANOTHER LEAGUE BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE Old Lion Softball League!

LASTLY, PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT ALL PARTICIPANTS AND VISITORS ARE REFLECTIVE OF The Old Lion Softball League's BRAND AND ARE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING THEMSELVES IN A POSITIVE, RESPECTFUL, AND MATURE MANNER… NOTHING ELSE WILL BE TOLERATED…MOREOVER, PLAYOFF AND/OR CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY DOES NOT EXCUSE POOR CONDUCT!

III. HOUSE RULES

The Old Lion Softball League uses a 13 Player across the plate scenario (Manager option)…either 1 DH (Designated Hitter) and 2 EH (Extra Hitter) or 3 EHs making a maximum total team appearance at the plate of 13 players. Please note that the DH takes “at bat” for a defensive player who does not hit. The EH can be substituted in and out of the game so that more players are allowed to play. Please note that there is no reentry for a Pitcher. Once a Pitcher is removed from the mound…the Pitcher can NOT return to the mound for that day.  

Also, please note that ALL Pitchers must adhere to and adapt to the

C-Division pitching style of underhand pitching without a windup, without coming from behind the back, and consists of no windmill, no slingshot, no fastpitch, no high arc, no crow hopping and/or leaping of any sort and the first step is forward. In addition, Pitchers can only occupy the mound for 1 complete game which is a maximum of 7 innings per Sunday unless the game the Pitcher is pitching in (must be the starting Pitcher) results in extra innings while on the mound. Please note that it is the Manager’s responsibility to utilize the free agent pool for additional pitching if the team is limited at that position. A league policy exception will occur if a fielding team has a maximum of 10 players present. However, the Commissioner will listen to all protests where this exception occurs.

On another note, the Catcher is NOT allowed to cover the entire plate when a runner is at play toward home. A catcher can only cover a portion of the plate once the catcher has the ball. If a catcher willfully fails to abide by this policy, the catcher and Manager will be ejected from the game. And if a runner gets injured from a contact scenario, the catcher will be suspended indefinitely and may not return until the injured party returns to the opposing team’s lineup. If the injured party is out for the season a meeting must occur between the Managers and the Commissioner.

Also, please note that at season’s end…games played may not be equal in total for all participants; therefore, standings will be determined by percentage points. And, in case of tiebreakers are necessary, they will be determined by:

1.    Most Total Runs Scored

2.    Coin Toss…if most total runs scored are equal. 

Now in an attempt to be more inclusive, we may have the dilemma of a poor ratio of teams to field permits and/or an odd number of teams may occur this season and if this plays true, we will use a “BYE WEEK” to incorporate all teams. The bye schedule is based on the last team entry rule, which is the last one in the first one with a bye.

In addition, 1 of our fields (Cunningham 11) is rudimentary in Centerfield size and requires specific house rules to address its limitations. Therefore, the first 2 fly balls for each team per game (must be hit before the 4th inning) that land in the centerfield dead “unplayable” zone will be awarded first base however all other balls hit on the fly without touching the ground that inning per team, will be deemed an automatic “dead ball out” without the possibility of base advancement.

Also, note that the hitting team is responsible for supplying all additional softballs for balls hit into the centerfield dead zone. Please also note that “brand new” balls are not necessary for replacement, however, the used replacement clincher softball must be of good quality.

Consequently, please be advised that early registering teams with full payment will have the option of being designated a specific field for the entire spring/summer 2024 regular season. And, in the tradition of the prior league's policy, if a team supplies the Commissioner with multiple field permits, that team will have the option of being designated a specific field for full regular season play.

IV. AWARDS & PRIZES

The Finalist of the C1 & C2 Championship Series will receive trophies. 

The C-Division Champions will receive custom jackets.

V.  NOTIFICATIONS & STANDINGS TO MEMBERS – will be based every week through the league website. Contact to MGRS will be via email, text, and traditional phone.

VI.  COURTESY RUNNERS

The Standard for Courtesy Runners is two however the Courtesy of 3 Runners is permissible, especially with our more mature teams.

In addition, injuries within gameplay can have the total amount of courtesy runners extended by one, if and only if the injured player stays in the game and is not utilizing a courtesy runner from the onset.

VII.  GAME LENGTH - GAMES ARE SEVEN INNINGS IN LENGTH AND IF TIED BY THE LAST OUT IN GAME 1 OF THE SEVENTH INNING…THE GAME IS RULED A TIE. IF A GAME IS TIED AFTER THE LAST OUT IN GAME 2, ONE EXTRA INNING IS ALLOWED BUT THE LEAGUE’S FIELD PERMIT OF A 1 PM EXIT SLOT DICTATES.

VIII.  LEAGUE FEES, TEAM ROSTER & UNIFORMS 

- LEAGUE FEES ARE DUE BASED ON THE DUE DATE OF THE TEAM APPLICATION/REGISTRATION, AND, IS INCLUSIVE OF TEAM ACCIDENTAL INSURANCE (Please reach out to the Commissioner immediately if you are having financial hardships or hurdles in compiling your league fees).

THE TEAM'S ROSTER WILL BE SUBMITTED WITH THE TEAM'S APPLICATION HOWEVER, MODIFICATIONS MAY BE MADE UP TO SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2024.

TEAM UNIFORMS, WHICH CONSIST OF A JERSEY/T-SHIRT, ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL PARTICIPATING PLAYERS ...INITIATING ON OPENING DAY, APRIL 7, 2024. HOWEVER, FREE AGENTS WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MONTH "COURTESY EXTENSION" IF NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH LEAGUE RULES; HOWEVER, ALL PLAYERS MUST BE IN COLOR UNISON. 

IX. RAIN – Rain delays may happen depending on weather conditions; therefore, all teams must report to the field unless GAMES ARE CANCELLED BY THE COMMISSIONER. IF A TEAM HAS AN INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PLAYERS…THE LEAGUE POLICY REGARDING LATENESS & FORFEITURE WILL SUPERCEDE HOWEVER, A 15-MINUTE EXTENSION WILL BE GIVEN ON RAIN CONDITIONS.

The Commissioner will make it paramount to call games if the prediction of heavy rain/early conditions is overwhelming. If weather conditions heavily reduce the amount of POSTSEASON playable games…the Commissioner reserves the right to restructure the model of the length of the game series. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PLAYOFF & CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES WILL BE WEATHER PERMITTING AND MODIFIED AT COMMISSIONER’S DISCRETION. The regular season is tentatively scheduled to initiate on Sunday, April 7 through Sunday, July 21. Playoffs will be on Sunday, July 28, and August 4. The playoff seeding will be divided into 2 tiers, in rank order of C1 & C2 and the Championship consists of the best of 3 series, which will be on Sunday, August 11.

Again, Welcome Managers to The Old Lion Softball League and I look forward to an exciting and enjoyable softball season.

Thank You.

Yours in Softball,

Andre Williams

Commissioner, The Old Lion Softball League