September Games Sports » Softball (Men's)

ENTRY REGULATIONS:

1. Teams must provide their own bats, gloves and practice balls.
2. Team rosters shall be limited to 18 persons, including non-playing coaches, non-playing captains and non-playing bench personnel. No more than 15 of these persons may be players.
3. All rules apply to non-playing coaches, non-playing captains and non-playing bench personnel.
4. Athletes may compete with only one team per sport.
5. Age divisions for all team competition will be determined by the age of the youngest team player as of December 31, 2011.

 MISC.    

1. Registration deadline is Sept. 2, 2011.
2. Awards will be presented for 1st through 3rd place within each age division.
3. Line up cards and balls will be furnished by the umpire in chief.
4. NO GLASS CONTAINERS, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, OR TOBACCO SUBSTANCE ARE ALLOWED.
5. Seating stands and Medical Staff on-site.
6. PARK AT YOUR OWN RISK. Parking provide just north of the Ball Fields, under the Solar Panels.

 SPORT RULES:

 This tournament will be conducted in accordance with Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) rules except as modified herein.

 GAME TIMES/LIMITS:

1. All games shall be 7 innings.
2. If the game is in the 6^TH inning or less at the completion of 65 minutes of play umpires will notify teams that the current inning will be completed followed by a final inning played with the unlimited run rule in effect.

RUNNING/SLIDING:

1. No sliding at any base or home plate. (Runner is automatically out).
2. Base runners are permitted to over run 2^nd & 3^rd base without risk of being retired. Runners making a motion “with intent to advance” to the next base (umpires judgment) are subject to being tagged out by the defensive player. No re-tag of base is required by runner to advance.
3. The burden is on the base runner to avoid contact with the fielder, the ball or obstructing the view of a thrown ball to the fielder. Umpires judgment – can be declared out.

COURTESY RUNNERS:

1. A courtesy runner can only run once per inning. Anyone in the batting order may act as a courtesy runner. A courtesy runner may not be replaced by a courtesy runner. Any courtesy runner running more than once per inning will be declared out. Courtesy runners caught on base when it is their turn at bat will be declared out then take their turn at bat. In an inning anyone who used a courtesy runner may not be a courtesy runner.

 FOUL BALLS:

1. A foul ball after two strikes will result in the batter being called out.
2. A caught foul ball on the third strike is a dead ball. The batter is out and runners cannot advance.

 STRIKES:

1. The ‘strike zone mat’ will be used in all games. Pitches striking the mat are strikes. The arc height of the pitch must be 6-12 feet. The umpire shall call and signal an illegal pitch at its height prior to its reaching the batter.

TIE GAMES:

1. Any game with the score tied after the time limit or 7 innings will play one (1) extra inning using the International Tie-Breaker Rule.

 MERCY RULE:

1. A mercy rule will be in effect for all games. The rule shall be 20 runs after four innings and 15 runs after five innings, ending the game.

UMPIRE KEEPS SCORE:

1. After every ½ inning the umpire shall announce runs scored in that ½ inning. Home team keeps the official scorebook. Umpire will report final score and turn in score cards to the Commissioner’s booth.

 LINEUP CARDS AND BALLS FURNISHED BY UMPIRE IN CHIEF:

Team lineup cards must be submitted to the opposing manager before each game.

There will be unlimited substitution.

 50 – 54 TEAMS: The batting order will consist of all players.

1. Teams will play 10 defensive positions.
2. Teams must have a minimum of 9 players at the beginning and end of a game.
3. Teams playing with 9 will record an out when the 10^th position in the batting order appears.
4. A 10th player may be added to the bottom of the batting order when he arrives.

55 and UP TEAMS: The batting order will consist of all players.

1. Teams will play 11 defensive positions.
2. Teams must have a minimum of 10 players at the beginning and end of a game.
3. Teams playing with 11 will record an out when the 11^th position in the batting order appears.
4. An 11th player may be added to the bottom of the batting order when he arrives.

INFIELD PRACTICE:

1. No infield practice after the first inning.
2. Pitchers are allowed five (5) pitches in the first inning and one warm up pitch per inning thereafter.

 PROTEST:

1. All protests shall be submitted to the Umpire in Chief for final decisions.

 FORFEIT TIME:

1. Forfeit time is ten (10) minutes after a games scheduled start time. Teams must have the minimum number of players on the field. To prevent ‘schedule impact’ (losing minutes) to following game schedules, delay minutes will be deducted from current time allotment

 CONDUCT:

1. Please observe good sportsmanship and conduct.
2. Games Commissioner/tournament staff reserve the right to disqualify any competitor or team based on poor sportsmanship or disorderly conduct.

 SAFETY and BATS:

1. All bats marked “1.21 BPF” or below are approved for use. Any bat displaying the label “Exceeds 1.21 BPF” is not approved. The rating must be clearly visible on the bat, or it must be obvious to the inspector that the bat is of an age to make it not High-Tech.
2. Metal cleats: Metal cleats will not be permitted.

Enjoy the games, play safe and good luck.

Gary Greenhut, Games Comissioner
John Paulette, Umpire-in-Chief