CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP LEAGUE
CO-ED SOFTBALL
1. REQUIREMENTS TO PLAY
1:1 All players must “actively attend” the church they play for, with the following exception : (League By-Law states this to be at least two times a month)
1:1 a If your home church is not able to field a team you may have players from another church not having a team in the league . So long as the combined church’s verify the players are actively attending church.
1:2 Players should be at least 14 years old: this is optional and is up to the church and team manager.
1:3 Teams submit a “Certificate of Insurance” prior to the start of the season.
1:4 Each team must submit an annual membership fee prior to the start of the season. ( See season attachment for present season.)
1:5 Each Team is to turn in a Roster prior to the start of the season.
1:5a there is to be NO additions to rosters in the last two weeks of the season.
2. EQUIPMENT
2:1 12” softball. To be approved by league and meet USSSA standards. ( Home team to supply new game ball)
2:2 Official USSSA stamped wooden or aluminum bats.
2:3 Teams playing the first game of the day are to make sure field is ready for play.
2:4 Teams playing the last game of the day are to put away bases and make sure area is clean.
3. TEAMS
3:1 Maximum of ten players on the field.
3:2 Minimum of 7 players on the field.
3:3 No more than 7 men may play at one time.
3:4 Minimum of 1 female must play on the field or the game forfeited. ( See Section 9 Ladies, For more information)
3:5 Teams unable to field 7 players (6 male,1 female) will forfeit with a score of 1-0.
4. GAME PLAY
4:1 No wind-up is allowed by the pitcher. The is to be within 2 feet of the pitching rubber when ball is released. Delivery must be palm up and under hand and below the waist.
4:2 Official USSSA rules will apply with the following exception, No intentional alteration of the flight of the ball to release palm down spin or throwing the knuckle ball.
4:3 Minimum arc is to be no less than the “ height of the batter”. Any ball less than that height is called a ball. (provided the batter does not swing.) Maximum arc is 12 feet and the same rule applies. The arc is a judgment call of the home plate umpire.
4:4 No pitching warms after the first inning with the exception of a new pitcher or infielder who will then be given UP to 5 practice throws.
4:5 A mat measuring 30” long and 20” wider than each side of plate will be used to determine the strike zone. The mat will be placed over the rear point of the plate.
4:6 Each batter will start with one(1) strike when they step into the batters box, to discourage walking. The batter will only walk after 4 called balls.
4:7 If a batter hits two foul balls after the second called strike, the batter is out.
4:8 The league will not enforce the sliding rule, but it is encouraged. The umpire will decide if unnecessary contact/roughness or no attempt to avoid the defensive player was made by the runner. In a close play the runner has to make an attempt to avoid defensive player by sliding, slowing or
falling.
4:9 All over throws to first or third base will allow the runner to advance a limit of one base Only if the ball goes out of the playable area designated by the ground rules. A runner ( at his/her own risk) is free to run as long as ball is alive and in the playable area set by ground rules.
4:10 No stealing or leading off the bases are allowed. Leaving a base too soon is an automatic out to the runner. ( based on umpire judgment) The runner may not leave the base until the ball has crossed the home plate.
4:11 NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED!!
Anyone wearing metal spikes will be given and out and ejected from game.
4:12 Pinch hitter: a male may not bat for a female, but a female may bat for a male.
4:13 Pinch runner: with the following conditions:
A) Should only take place for a physical disability and not because of a person’s age or otherwise slow.
B) Only a runner that may suffer because of health when running more than one base may have a runner to replace them.
C) The pinch runner who will take the hitter’s spot after he/she makes it to first base will be the person who made the last out.
4:14 Games will be seven innings.
4:15 A game must go five innings to be a complete game and count in the standings. (4 ½ innings if home team is leading)
4:16 If a team is leading by 15 runs after 5 innings of play, the game is officially over. No new innings shall start after the scheduled 1hr 15min time limit.
A) When the following two conditions have been met:
1)the game has ended in a tie. AND 2) The time limit is up, The tiebreaker/sudden death rule will be in effect.
B) The team at bat & the start of the inning will place the person who made the last out in the previous inning on second base. The first batter and each batter following will come to bat with a full count (3 balls and 2 strikes) will receive one pitch. Play will continue for 3 innings or until tie is broken.
4:17 (this rule is on hold for this 2009 season)
Since this is a Christian Fellowship League: each team may freely sub players Without changing the batting order. The exception being that no substitution will be allowed in the seventh inning, unless an injury to a player has occurred and the umpire feels it necessary to sub the player.
4:17 T ( 2009 Season trial)
DH Rule: A team may use a DH for a fielder with the following conditions:
1) the two players are joined as one.
2) player must bat in the 10th position in the batting order
3) If Fielder comes out of game so does the DH
4) DH is to male for male, female for female or female for male. IT CAN NOT BE MALE FOR FEMALE
4:18 Infield Fly Rule: We will follow USSSA rules with the following addition: An obvious attempt to not catch the ball in order to get a double play, Both runners will be safe.
4:19 In respect to the batters on all teams, to include first time players and younger, NO outfielder may play so far in as to be right behind the infielders. They must show a definite distinction between infield and outfield.
A) An outfielder may advance into the infield to make a play on the ball. However said outfielder may NOT make a play to 1st base to put out the batter once outfielder enters the infield.
5 UMPIRES
5:1 Umpires should be at least 16 years old and have good knowledge of rules.
5:2 Our Umpires are NOT paid. They are not professionals and do their best. Let’s help by being good Christians and not allow our tempers or competitiveness get the best of us.
5:3 The umps have control of the game. They are responsible for keeping the game moving.
5:4 Each team will need to supply umpires through out the season.
5:5 If at any time you feel the umpire’s call is not correct by the rules, The coaches, and only the coaches should discuss and adjust the call.
If this does not correct the call then the coaches are then to file a protest on the game and play on.
If the first two do not work then the is to be stopped and the director is to be called to report game stop. And a meeting with both coaches and the board will be set and reviewed.
6 HOME TEAM
6:1 the home team listed on the schedule will supply the game ball.
7 PROTESTS
7:1 A protest can only be on rule interpretation and not on a judgment call by an umpire
7:2 In order to file a protest you must furnish the following information:
A) State your protest
B) At what point in the game did you notify the umpire and the other team that you were playing the game under protest.
7:3 If the governing committee feels the protest is valid, the game will be reschedule and begin at the point where the protest was filed.
Caution) If the governing committee feels the protest is valid, the game will be rescheduled and replayed Regardless of the outcome of the protested game. Should you win the protested game and lose the new game the new game will be the official game.
8 FORFEITING GAMES
8:1 The Home team Manager will be responsible for calling the opposing team at least 2hours before game time for any cancellations due to weather or change in playing location. Failure to do so may result in the home team forfeiting the game.
8:2 Any Games not made up before the start of the post season tournament will be counted as a loss for both teams unless one of the teams has made reasonable attempts to reschedule game then it will constitute a forfeit. The governing committee determines this.
8:3 Any Teams Forfeiting three or more games will be ineligible to play in the post season tournament, unless the governing committee gives approval.
9 LADIES
This League was formed as a mixed or family league to promote fellowship within the community and your church. To bring new people as well as other church families. In order to promote this concept the following rules will apply.
9:1 You should have 3 females on the field: only one is required to play. The following will apply when less than 3 ladies are playing.
9:2 If you are short one lady on the field you will be charged with an automatic out every time the 10th batting position comes up.
9:2 If you are (2) ladies short on the field you will be charged with an automatic out each time the 9th and 10th batters come up.
9:3 If you are 3 ladies short you will have to forfeit.
10 BALL UNDER FENCE
10:1 At any field that a ball is hit fair and goes under the outfield, a ground rule double fence will be called.
10:2 The fielder is to stop and raise his/her hand to show that the ball has gone passed the fence.
11 HOME RUN RULE
11:1 Each team will be allowed two (2) out of the park home runs per game.
11:2 All out of the park home runs after a team reaches the limit of two ( 2), The batter will be held to a single.
12 THE ULTIMATE RULE
The Christian Attitude should always be first.
2009 Season Officers
President……………………Bob Walker
Vice President………………Rich Bradley
Secretary……………………Deb Jasper
Treasurer……………………Jeff Urban