Smoke Rise Adult Softball Rules

As of March 11, 2008

Time Limit:
One-hour time limit, no new inning after 55 minutes. If the home team is winning & batting at the 55 minute mark, the game will be over. Clock begins after the devotion/prayer. Please be at all games at least ten minutes before the game ready to participate in the prayer so that the games can start on time.

Grace Period:
There is a 10-minute grace period for the first game only.

Forfeit:
The schedule for the season will be posted on the Smoke Rise website (www.smokeriseministries.org) Teams will be responsible for knowing their schedule. All “no-shows” will result in a forfeit.

Balls:
Each team must provide one new 12’’ core .44 balls (375 compression) with an ASA certification stamp at the beginning of each game. The other balls that replace the new ball during the game do not need to be new, but must meet the above requirements.

Home Runs:
Thursday/Friday Nights: Equalizer Rule – Team A hits one home run, the next home run Team A hits before Team B hits a home run is an out. When Team B comes up to bat, (understanding that Team A has hit a home run) they are eligible to hit two home runs that inning, making them one up. No team may be more than one up.*

* When you are short players, the players that you pick up are NOT allowed to be home run hitters.

Bats:
All bats marked “softball” are allowed except what is ASA illegal. ( see attached) No baseball bats are allowed.

Cleats:
Metal cleats are NOT allowed.

Jerseys:
All team jerseys must be the same color. For the sake of the umpires, please try to have a number on the back of your jersey. If a substitute player is used in game, it is requested that they wear the same color shirt, if at all possible.

Count:
The batter will start with a 1-1 count and a foul hit on the third strike is an out.

Catchers:
The catcher’s body must be behind the rear batter’s box line while the ball is being pitched (the catcher’s glove may be in front of the line). Every ball is pitched with the catcher in front of the line will be called a ball unless the ball is hit.

Fake Tags:
Fake Tags are NOT tolerated. Umpires will use their discretion as to warn or eject a player. The second offense will result in an automatic ejection.

Jewelry:
Jewelry is NOT ALLOWED to be worn. This includes body piercing that might accidentally be pulled out during the course of play.

Courtesy Runner:
A courtesy runner (CR) may be used for a player who cannot run free of injury. The CR will be the last player who made an out.

Injured Player:
An injured player should come out of the game right away. If there is not a replacement player for the injured player, the batting position is skipped over and play continues. No outs are charged for injured players, but the injured player may not re-enter the game if his batting position has been skipped over. The game can continue as long as there are 7 or more players left on the injured player’s team.

Short Handed:
A game may start with 7 players. The 8th, 9th, and 10th players must enter the game as soon as they arrive at the field.

Run Rule:
Men and co-ed league: 20 after 3, 15 after 4, and 10 after 5.

Tied Games:
Games that are tied after reaching the time limit will be played one additional inning. If the game is still tied, the game ends in a tie. If time has not expired, games that are tied after reaching 7 innings will play one additional inning. If time has not expired after the 8th inning and the score is still tied, the 9th inning will be the final inning.

Ejections:
Any player who is ejected from a game will be ineligible for her or his team’s next game. Any player ejected twice in one season is suspended for the duration of the season. An ejected player has 1 minute to leave the field and 10 minutes to leave the park after ejection. Failure to leave within the time limits will result in a team forfeit.

Protested Games:
This is a recreational league for fun, so protests are strongly discouraged. If a team wishes to protest a game for any reason, the team must:
1. Submit protest in writing to the league office within 24 hours of the game being protested.
2. For a protest to be considered a $75 fee must accompany the protest.
No judgment calls may be protested.