Fielding a Team...
Profanity will NOT be tolerated.
NO Alcohol allowed on the field or in the parking lot during or after the game.
The game should start on time [6:00 (in May) or 6:30 as listed on schedule] if enough players are on site. NO WAITING FOR A SPECIFIC PLAYER if there is a complete team ready to play. Late players can be added to the batting order when they arrive. If a team is waiting for enough players, they have 15 minutes. At that time, the short-handed team must start batting, or forfeit. When that team has three outs, they must put a minimum of eight players on the field or forfeit the game. Each team must have a minimum of eight players to field a team.
A maximum of ten players - with no more than eight women or eight men - will be allowed on the field in any inning.
There is no maximum limit for the batting order; all players may bat. BUT, the batting order cannot change during the game, unless a player stays out for the remainder of the game. Players that come late may be added into the order.
The minimum age for a player is fifteen years old.
NO Alcohol allowed on the field or in the parking lot during or after the game.
The game should start on time [6:00 (in May) or 6:30 as listed on schedule] if enough players are on site. NO WAITING FOR A SPECIFIC PLAYER if there is a complete team ready to play. Late players can be added to the batting order when they arrive. If a team is waiting for enough players, they have 15 minutes. At that time, the short-handed team must start batting, or forfeit. When that team has three outs, they must put a minimum of eight players on the field or forfeit the game. Each team must have a minimum of eight players to field a team.
A maximum of ten players - with no more than eight women or eight men - will be allowed on the field in any inning.
There is no maximum limit for the batting order; all players may bat. BUT, the batting order cannot change during the game, unless a player stays out for the remainder of the game. Players that come late may be added into the order.
The minimum age for a player is fifteen years old.
Playing Rules...
Metal cleats are NOT allowed for safety reasons.
Each batter will start with one ball and one strike before any pitches are thrown.
Pitches must have an arc between 6 and 15 feet. A mat will be used behind home plate. A strike is any pitch that hits the plate or the mat, as well as any swing.
Three foul balls hit by one batter in any at bat will be considered a strikeout.
Each team must have a minimum of one woman and one man in the batting order. Failure to comply will result in an automatic OUT in the last batter's spot during the game, as if a person were written in and then made an out.
If there is a play on any runner heading for a base, that runner is required to slide, or avoid a collision. They are automatically called OUT if there is a standing collision. Defensive player must leave room for runner to reach the base.
The plate AND the strike mat are allowed to be touched by a runner coming home.
On a play at first base, the fielder must tag the base, and the runner must tag the safety base on their way down the line. The runner may be called OUT if they touch the regular base on a play at first. The runner should touch the regular base if turning to head to second base.
A pinch runner may be requested after a batter safely reaches a base and the play is over. The team should send out the player who made the last out.
If a batter steps onto the plate in order to hit the ball, that player can be called OUT by the umpire.
All balls that go under the fence will be ruled a double.
Each batter will start with one ball and one strike before any pitches are thrown.
Pitches must have an arc between 6 and 15 feet. A mat will be used behind home plate. A strike is any pitch that hits the plate or the mat, as well as any swing.
Three foul balls hit by one batter in any at bat will be considered a strikeout.
Each team must have a minimum of one woman and one man in the batting order. Failure to comply will result in an automatic OUT in the last batter's spot during the game, as if a person were written in and then made an out.
If there is a play on any runner heading for a base, that runner is required to slide, or avoid a collision. They are automatically called OUT if there is a standing collision. Defensive player must leave room for runner to reach the base.
The plate AND the strike mat are allowed to be touched by a runner coming home.
On a play at first base, the fielder must tag the base, and the runner must tag the safety base on their way down the line. The runner may be called OUT if they touch the regular base on a play at first. The runner should touch the regular base if turning to head to second base.
A pinch runner may be requested after a batter safely reaches a base and the play is over. The team should send out the player who made the last out.
If a batter steps onto the plate in order to hit the ball, that player can be called OUT by the umpire.
All balls that go under the fence will be ruled a double.
Special Rules...
Church attendance rule: A player does not have to attend the church to represent them on the field. However, there should be an open invitation for them to visit your church.
Pitcher safety: It will be legal for a team to move the pitching rubber back up to 5 feet. This is an option per team; not a requirement. Use at your own discretion.
Legal bat rule:
We follow the USA softball rules for bats.
Please see the following website:
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Certified-Equipment/Equipment-Bats
If your team is caught using an illegal bat, your team will forfeit the season!
Mercy Rule: If one team is ahead by 15 or more runs at the end of 5 or 6 or 7 FULL innings, the game will be considered a win for that team. Each team must have an equal chance to bat.
There will be NO Mercy Rule in the playoffs.
Playoff eligibility rule: A player must play in 50% of the teams regular games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
Playoff Seeding & Tie-breakers:
1. Overall Record.
2. Head-to-head game(s).
3. Average margin of victory.
4. Coin Toss.
Pitcher safety: It will be legal for a team to move the pitching rubber back up to 5 feet. This is an option per team; not a requirement. Use at your own discretion.
Legal bat rule:
We follow the USA softball rules for bats.
Please see the following website:
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Certified-Equipment/Equipment-Bats
If your team is caught using an illegal bat, your team will forfeit the season!
Mercy Rule: If one team is ahead by 15 or more runs at the end of 5 or 6 or 7 FULL innings, the game will be considered a win for that team. Each team must have an equal chance to bat.
There will be NO Mercy Rule in the playoffs.
Playoff eligibility rule: A player must play in 50% of the teams regular games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
Playoff Seeding & Tie-breakers:
1. Overall Record.
2. Head-to-head game(s).
3. Average margin of victory.
4. Coin Toss.