Rules and Regulations
Rules adopted for the 2010 Men's season:----------------
NOTES: .................red = new since Aug 23, 2010
ASA Rule 6 [Pitching Regulations (Slow Pitch)], Section 3 [Legal Delivery] H: The ball must be delivered with perciptible arc and reach a height of at least six (6) feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of ten (10) feet from the ground.
ASA Rule 8 [Batter and Base-Runner], Section 7 [Runner is out...] Q: When a defensive player has the ball and the runner remains upright and crashes into the defensive player. EFFECT - The ball is dead. The runner is out. All runners must return to the last base touched. If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall be ejected.
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We are playing ASA Official Slowpitch Rules with these local exeptions:
* A player roster document (25 players maximum) for each team must be submitted at the first regular season game. That document is to be executed on the form provided at the YMCA, the Dockrey Park concession stand or printable from clicking on Waiver of Liability/Team Roster on this website. The Waiver of Liability should be printed on one side of the paper and the team Roster/Signature on the other. Players signing this roster are signing the Waiver of Liability. A team may add players to its roster page throughout the regular season, until the day the team has four remaining games left in the regular season. Changes to a roster may only be approved by league officials, but in no case after the day of four remaining regular games passes.
* Players must sign the Waiver of Liability/Team Roster document prior to playing a regular season game for a team. Failure to do so may result in forfeit or suspension. The original document of a team's Waiver of Liability/Team Roster will be maintained at the Dockrey Park concession stand with a copy on file at the YMCA.
* No Player Cards any more. The Waiver of Liability/Team Roster form replaces them.
* No player may be on more than one team's roster within a league. The team a player first plays for in the league is the team he must stay with unless he is released by the league director. A player wanting to be released must have written permission from the coach of the team from which he wants to be released. Only one release in a year will be permitted unless a team disbands. There is no waiting period.
* Fifteen (15) players maximum on the line-up card for a game.
* Fifteen (15) players per team maximum will be given t-shirt awards if the team wins the regular season division title or tournament championship.
* Batter will start with a ball one-strike one count (1-1). Third strike foul ball is a foul ball. Subsequent foul ball is a strike-out.
* Three over-the-fence home runs may be hit in any one game by a team. A fouth over-the-fence home run will be ruled a dead ball single. Batter is credited with a hit. Only forced runners advance one base.
* 7 inning games or 55 minute game time limit. Time begins at first pitch. A regulation game shall consist of seven (7) innings or the completion of the inning in progress at the time the fifty-five minute time limit (0:55) expires, whichever comes first. Time will stop if a serious injury occurs; judgment of the umpire is final. The official start time is noted in the scorebook and established by the umpire's watch.
* There is a 15 minute grace period for the 6:30 game only. You must start when you have 8 players. You must have a minimum of seven (7) males. One (1) female can be added to avoid a forfeit. At the end of the fifteen minutes if you do not have 8 players the game is a forfeit. Games other than the 6:30pm game will start on time or be considered a forfeit with no grace period. As late male players arrive in the dugout, the females must be substituted out of the game.
* In the event a team is short players that would make the team either forfeit, or take one/two automatic out[s], up to three (3) female players may be used. Females must play in the outfield on defense. As late male players arrive in the dugout, the females must be substituted out of the game.
* Forfeits: If a team forfeits a game, the recorded losing score will be 0-7. The other team wins 7-0. The two teams involved may have use of the field for practice during their allotted game period, unless asked to leave by the umpire. No umpires or scorekeeper will be available for the allotted period.
* Run rule: If, at the end of an inning, the score differential is at the following or greater- 15 after 3 innings, 12 after 4 innings, 10 after 5 innings- the ball game is over, and that game score recorded. (note: 20-run mercy rule deleted)
* [Steal rule is still in effect- once the ball reaches home plate you may leave the base and steal.]
* Softball must be 12", .44 COR or lower, 375lb compression or lower.
* Use of an illegal bat- if in the event an illegal bat is used, the player will be out and ejected for the game. If multiple violations occur by a player further actions may result per a decision by the church league.
----Click Here to Search for ASA-approved bats ("bats" - GO)
----Click Here for list of ASA non-approved bat list
* Uniforms: All players on a team must wear uniform shirts that are like in base color. All shirts must have numbers (permanently affixed- no masking tape or marks-a-lot numbers) visible at least six (6) inches high and no duplications will be allowed. If an illegal jersey is discovered, player may have an opportunity to change jerseys without penalty. Failure to comply with this rule will result in the offending player being removed from the game. Each team will have a two (2) week "grace period" to obtain their jerseys. After the second week, players with non-approved jerseys may be ruled ineligible. Obscene, profane ore vulgar team names or logos as deemed by the YMCA are prohibited and may not be allowed.
Once a number has been used in a game, no other player can switch and use it again. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a forfeit of the game.
* Rain-outs: In case of inclement weather, the team manager only should contact the YMCA at 405-273-4386 after 4:00 p.m. on the day of the game to see if the games have been canceled. If the games are canceled, makeup schedules will be distributed at a later game, and will be posted online. The managers must call if there is any question about rainouts. The YMCA will not call the each manager. If you are unable to reach anyone by phone, arrive at the Dockrey Complex ready to play. The www.shawneechurchsoftball.com website will be updated no later than 5:00 p.m. on the "Weather" page.
* Metal cleats or cleats with exposed metal are not allowed.
* Jewelry- Exposed jewelry, which is judged by an official to be dangerous, may not be worn during the game. NOTE: Players will be asked to remove jewelry if judged to be dangerous. If they fail to do so, the player may be disqualified from the game. Medical alert bracelets and necklaces worn under the uniform are not considered jewelry.
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- WALKS: If a pitcher walks any male batter: male batter is awarded first base. The offense manager shall have the option to have female either bat or take an automatic walk to first base. This Rule is in effect whether the pitcher walks batter intentionally or unintentially.
- STEALING: No stealing.
- LINE-UP: A team may have as many as 25 people in the line-up. The line-up may contain more males than females, but if two men bat in a row, the team must take an out. In the field, there may not be more males than females defensively, when 8, 9, or 10 people are in the field. Only players in the batting line-up may play in field.
- SOFTBALL: Men's must be 12", .44 COR or lower, 375lb compression or lower; Women's must be 11", .44 COR or lower, 375lb compression or lower.
- Players must be 16 years of age. They must have turned 16 by August 31, 2010.
- If a team has declared to bat their entire roster and a player arrives late, whether male or female, that player must be inserted into the lineup at the end of the batting order provided that the team has not batted through their entire roster. If the team has batted through their entire roster, the player who has arrived late may only be a substitute. If two men bat in a row, the team must take an out.