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PHILADELPHIA
ADVERTISING CLUB SOFTBALL LEAGUE
2008 RULES AND
CLARIFICATIONS
1.
Games will begin at 6:15 p.m. during April. After
April, games will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Forfeit time is fifteen (15) minutes after starting
time. This rule will be enforced.
2.
HOME
TEAM SUPPLIES:
A.
TWO
(2) ASA Certified Slow Pitch 12 inch SOFTBALLS
B.
HOME
PLATE, PITCHING RUBBER. BASES and CONES
C.
UMPIRE MAY CALL FORFEIT IF HOME TEAM IS NOT
PREPARED.
3.
Official game.
A game going four (4) complete innings (3.5 if the
home team is ahead), and is stopped because of rain,
darkness, etc., shall be considered a complete
game. In the case of darkness, the umpire will give
a warning before the last inning.
Exception
- During the playoffs, all games must be completed.
If a game is stopped by rain, darkness, etc., before
the fourth inning, it will be re-played from the
beginning. If it is called past the fourth inning,
it will continue from the spot where it ended.
4.
Fourteen Run Rule:
If a team is ahead by fourteen (14) runs after five
(5) complete innings (4-1/2 if the home team is
ahead), the game is OVER. There is no option.
After 5 complete innings, if either team goes ahead
by 14 runs, the game is over immediately. Home team
does not get another chance to hit.
5.
Players must play at least six (6) league games
during the regular season in order to be eligible
for the playoff roster.
A.
New employees are the
exception, but they may be required to show proof of
employment.
B.
Team
Rosters are due by the first game and must be
updated as new employees are added during the
season.
C.
Game
Rosters of yours & opposing teams are due via email
to commissioner before your next game. Failure to
do so will result in a forfeit.
D.
The minimum age for
league participation is 18 years old. This
will be strictly adhered to.
6.
Interns.
When interns join the softball team, they will be
counted as new employees and not as ringers.
7.
Three (3) women must be in the lineup at all times.
A.
If a team only has two
(2) women, then they can only field nine (9)
players.
B.
The missing woman is
placed in the first slot in the batting
order, and an automatic out will be recorded
whenever this slot in the batting order appears.
C.
The missing woman can
be placed into the game as soon as she arrives.
D.
In case of an injury
and no available substitute, the team can continue
playing with one less player. The missing player
will be counted as an out when it is their time to
bat.
No
team can play with less than nine players--it
becomes a forfeit.
E.
The penalized team
may not use an Extra Hitter at any time,
even after the missing player arrives.
8.
Women cannot bat back-to-back,
unless there are more than three (3) women in the
lineup. Then only two (2) women can bat
back-to-back.
9.
Teams may have no more than five (5) ringers
(non-employees) in the lineup at any one time.
Teams may check on the validity of the player, and
the team using more ringers is subject to a
forfeit.
Protests:
Teams will be able to protest a roster violation at
any time to the umpire, or after the game to the
commissioner. The protest will be reviewed in a
timely manner. All other rule enforcement is
subject to the umpire’s final discretion in
accordance with ASA and the rules listed herein.
10.
The
ASA substitution rules apply.
If you substitute for a starter, the starter may
return only once. Once a starter has returned, the
substitute is eliminated from the game. The starter
must return to his/her original position in the
batting order.
11.
Reporting changes.
All changes relating to substitutions MUST
be reported to the umpire AND to the
opposing team. Moving defensive players around on
the field does not have to be reported to anyone.
Penalty will imposed under the Illegal Substitute
rule.
12.
Extra Hitter.
Each team has the option (without permission from
the opposing team) of using an 11th batter (EH) at
the start of the game. An EH cannot
be added during the game. The only player who can be
added during the game is the third woman.
13.
Courtesy Runner.
Courtesy runners are permitted for an injured
player. The courtesy runner will be a roster player
of the same sex who has made the last out in the
lineup. Only one injured player from each team may
request a courtesy runner during a game.
This should be discussed between both
teams and the umpire prior to the start of
the game.
14.
Trash talk.
Abusive on continuous "trash talk” will not be
tolerated. If the umpire believes this talk has
gone too far, both teams will receive a warning to
stop. In the umpire's judgment, if anyone continues
to be abusive, the offender(s) will be ejected.
Any additional abuse by the offender will result in
a forfeit.
15.
Ejections.
An ejection by an umpire will carry a one-game
suspension for players involved. A second ejection
to the same player carries a three-game suspension.
16.
Third strike rule.
Contrary to ASA rules, a foul after two (2) strikes
will not be an out.
17.
Stepping on or across home plate.
When swinging the bat and making contact on a fair
or foul ball, the batter is out if his/her foot
touches any part of home plate, or his/her entire
foot lands in front of or behind home plate. This
will be enforced.
18.
Thrown bat warning.
If a batter throws a bat in a dangerous manner, the
umpire will issue a warning to his/her team.
A second warning to that team will be declared
out. This pertains to balls hit fair or foul,
or on a missed swing.
19.
ASA
has designated a BPF (Bat Performance Factor) number
of 1.20
on bats for tournament play. We will adhere to that
policy of keeping the BPF number at 1.20 or lower.
This is for the safety of our players, so any bat
over this number, whether single or double walled,
must conform to this 1.20 policy. Any defaced
(painted, scratched) bats, or bats over the 1.20
limit, will not be permitted.
20.
Slide or avoid rule.
A.
No player can block the
plate or a base without the ball. This is
obstruction, and the umpire will call it.
B.
When a defensive player
has the ball, and the runner remains on his/her feet
and crashes into the defensive player, the runner is
out. NOTE: If the act is determined to be
flagrant, the offender shall be ejected. An
errant throw drawing the defensive player into the
path of the runner is not interference.
C.
This rule does not eliminate
accidental contact with a fielder, as long as the
runner is attempting to avoid the fielder while
trying to get to the base. The umpire will be the
final judge on whether or not the runner was trying
to avoid the fielder.
21.
Sliding base rule.
If when sliding, a base becomes dislodged, the
player must stay in the original spot of the base to
be considered safe. If the runner runs for the
dislodged base and is tagged with the ball by the
defensive player, the player is out.
22.
Bases are 65 feet.
Unless a tape measure is available, the umpire will
the set bases and will be the final judge
as to the 65 foot distance.
23.
Cones
will be placed on each foul line approximately 140
feet from home plate. When
a woman is batting, three outfielders must remain
behind the cones. If, the defensive team is in
violation, the umpire will issue a warning. A
second violation during the same at bat, will result
in awarding first base to the female batter. |
