BALTIMORE ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Bringing Community Together One Hit At A Time!
Summer 2019 Baltimore Adult Softball League Rules
Rule 1 GAME DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS
Game delays and cancellations will be posted on the Baltimore Adult Softball League Facebook page as soon as possible after determination. A text message will be sent to all affected Team Managers as soon as possible after determination.
Rule 2 MAKEUP GAMES
A. Every attempt will be made to reschedule rainouts. Both team’s Team Managers must agree to game makeup time. No more than 2 rain makeup dates.
B. Managers are responsible for contacting the Baltimore Adult Softball League for rescheduled game times.
C. A game will be considered official and not made up if 4 innings have been completed (3 ½ if home team is ahead) and weather causes the game to end.
Rule 3 USE OF ALT PARK AND VILLAGE OF BALTIMORE FACILITIES
Alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, reckless driving, parking cars out of designated areas, littering and unbecoming conduct are prohibited upon the grounds. Violations of this rule may result in ejection, indefinite suspension, forfeit or loss of team franchise.
Rule 4 FORFEITS
A. If a team must forfeit, the Baltimore Adult Softball League must be notified 24 hours prior to game time.
B. Failure to contact the Baltimore Adult Softball League may result in future game penalties.
C. Teams will be given a 10-minute grace period, which will be deducted from game time if 8 players haven’t arrived.
D. Any team that forfeits 3 games will be dropped from the league. All games on that team’s schedule will be forfeited to their opponents.
Rule 5 ROSTERS AND ELIGIBILITY
A. Registration forms must be filled out COMPLETELY online by 5/26/19 at 5:00PM EST. Rosters must include all players’ first and last names, home address, and phone number. If Team Managers are players, they must be listed as a player. Team rosters will be emailed to Team Managers after registration period ends.
B. All players must be 18 or older by first game.
C. Any player classified by the USSSA as a C, B, A, AA, or Major player is ineligible to play in the Baltimore Adult Softball League, unless the player is a Baltimore resident.
D. Roster may have 20 players maximum. All players in excess will be ruled ineligible.
E. A player can be a member of only one team in the same league. A player is considered a member of the team with whom they first participate.
F. Additions or deletions to rosters must be made in writing and signed by the Team Manager. No players will be eligible to participate in a game unless their name has been legally added to the team’s roster by 5:00pm the day before they are to participate. No roster updates will be permitted the day of the game or on-site. Roster changes will be accepted through the third game of the season. The only exception will be due to season-ending injury or pregnancy and must be accompanied by a written doctor’s statement and approved by the Baltimore Adult Softball League.
G. Players may request a transfer to another team prior to their present team’s third game. Transfer request must be approved by the Baltimore Adult Softball League and will be considered for legitimate reasons, only. A player may be required to secure a signed release from the Team Manager.
H. A player must have played in at least three regular season games to be eligible for a post-season league tournament. (Note: Managers should list the first initial and last name of players on the scorecard.)
I. Playing an ineligible player is considered a serious infraction of league rules. Managers and players are subject to suspension if they resort to such unsportsmanlike conduct. Penalty: First Offense – two game suspension; Second Offense – one year suspension from all Baltimore Adult Softball League sports leagues.
Rule 5 GENERAL PLAYING RULES
*USSSA rules will be used except where noted herein.
A. No warm-up time will be permitted on the field. (Exception: the first baseman may use a ball to warm up the infield as the pitcher warms up in the first inning only.)
B. If the Baltimore Adult Softball League scheduled umpire is not present for a game, an individual acceptable to both managers may be chosen who shall have the same authority as the scheduled umpire. Acceptance of the individual (whether verbal or in writing) is binding after the first pitch of the game.
C. Lineup cards must be properly filled out (first initial and last name) prior to the start of the game.
D. A team may insert one or two Additional Hitter(s) into its starting lineup prior to the game. The batting order must remain constant; however, any 10 of the 11 or 12 players can take a defensive position throughout the game.
*Note Co-Ed Rule 5 T: 1-4.
E. Re-Entry: A starter and their substitute may re-enter the game an unlimited number of times for each other. The starter and substitute must occupy the same batting position and may not be in the lineup at the same time.
F. A minimum of 8 players can start or continue a game. Additional players may be added to the batting lineup any time before the end of the game, as long as required batting order rules are maintained. Any team that starts a game with 10, 11 or 12 players may drop to the minimum of 8 players to finish the game. All vacant spot(s) in the lineup will be declared an out every time that batting position is due to bat; however, no out shall be declared if a team starts and continues with 8 or 9 players.
G. METAL CLEATS ARE PROHIBITED. Penalty: Player is ejected from the game and batter/runner wearing metal cleats is declared out.
H. One courtesy runner per inning will be permitted of the hitter's same gender.
I. Three over-the-fence home runs per team, per game are permitted. All fair, untouched, fly balls over-the-fence in excess of the limit will be ruled an out – ball is dead and no runners can advance.
J. All batters will start with a one ball/one strike count. If a batter hits a foul ball with two strikes, the batter is out.
K. The run rule awards a win to a team that has a 15 run lead after 4 completed innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead, or a 10 run lead after 5 or more completed innings or 4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead.
L. Base Running – Collision: It is the greater responsibility of the runner to avoid collision. Intent is not a factor.
1. The collision rule does not apply when the base runner is sliding.
2. When a player avoids a fielder who is illegally blocking the runner, the runner will be declared safe. Even though he/she may not have reached the base.
3. The penalty for colliding with another player is:
• Runner is out.
• Runner is ejected.
• Ball is dead.
• All other runners must return to the base last touched at the time of the collision.
M. Base Running – Courtesy Runner: One courtesy runner per inning (one time) may be used. The courtesy runner can be any player in the lineup. If the courtesy runner is on base at the time of his/her turn at bat comes up, that spot in the batting order will be an out. Any male player in the lineup can run for any males and any female player in the lineup can run for any female.
N. No new inning in a scheduled game will start after 70 minutes of game time has been played unless the game is the last scheduled game on that diamond that day.
O. Tie-Breaker Rule: If, after seven (7) complete innings or the completion of any inning affected by the time limit rule, the score is tied, the following tie-breaker rule will go into effect:
1. Starting with the top of the next inning, and each inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning being placed on second base. (For instance; if the number five batter is up to bat, the number four batter will be placed on second base.) All other game rules remain in effect.
P. Profanity Rule: The umpire shall assess one profanity out against the offending team (both offense and defense) for the use of loud profanity. The umpire may eject the offender for serious violations. The profanity out is assessed on the batter, who is to receive the next pitch. If the profanity occurs after the third out of an inning, the out will be assessed on the offending team’s next at bat. There can be only one profanity out assessed against a team per play.
Q. Any person that willfully destroys park property will be required to pay for damages and may be suspended indefinitely.
R. A player may only be on one roster.
S. League Play: There will only be 1 Division, single round robin. Teams will be seeded in the tournament based on regular season records. There will be no more than 2 rain make-up dates.
T. Co-Ed Rules:
1. Legal lineup combinations:
• 4 males and 4 females
• 5 males and 4 females
• 5 females and 4 males
• 5 males and 5 females
• 6 males and 5 females
• 6 females and 5 males
• 6 males and 6 females
• Other possible combinations where teams may have more females than males are permitted.
If Additional Hitters are used the batting order must remain constant; however, any five of the six males, and any five of the six females may take a defensive position throughout the game.
2. Male and female players must alternate in the batting order, regardless of the number of males and females in the batting order (i.e. if there are fewer females, than males, the females will bat more frequently to ensure alternating gender batting order).
3. A 12-inch softball will be used throughout the game.
4. When a male batter receives a base on balls or intentional walk, he will be awarded first and second base with the next female batter having the option to walk or bat.
Rule 6 UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
A. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated before, during or after a game and may result in ejection from the game and indefinite suspension from the activities conducted by the Baltimore Adult Softball League. Penalties imposed at the end of the season will carry over to the following season.
B. A game ejection followed up by an umpire’s report may result in further disciplinary action being taken by the Baltimore Adult Softball League.
C. Players and managers will be suspended for one year from all Baltimore Adult Softball League sports leagues for participating in a game while under suspension.
Rule 9 WAIVER OF RULES
Experience has proven that it is impossible to anticipate all problems, which may arise when rules are formulated and adopted. Therefore, the Baltimore Adult Softball League reserves the right to waive any rule governing play in any league or tournament when in its judgment the application of said rule will result in gross unfairness or unreasonable hardship.