SKSA Softball Park Rules

SKSA ADULT SOFTBALL PARK RULES – 2010

1. Alcohol is prohibited in both the parking lot and the park. This is a County regulation and violators will be cited.

2. Coolers, scooters, bicycles and pets are not permitted in the dugouts, spectator stands, concession stand area or the general area of our playing fields and field complex.

3. Warming‑up between Fields 6 and 7 is prohibited. Teams wishing to warm‑up before a game may do so between any other fields.

4. Physical and/or verbal abuse of any kind will not be tolerated.

5. Please pick up the trash in your dugout before leaving the field. Remember, we are a non-profit organization and the County does not pick up the trash for us. It is our responsibility to clean up.

6. ASA team insurance is available. Call Debbie Gibson 281‑655‑9031 for more information.

7. Steel cleats or open-toed shoes of any kind will not be allowed on the field.

8. Tie‑Break Procedure:  (1) Head‑to‑Head Competition; (2)  Run Differential between tying teams (Team that lost by the least number of runs); (3) Coin Flip

9. League Awards: Team t‑shirts for 1st and 2nd places (This is based on 8 teams in a division ‑ Less than 8 teams, only 1st place award will be given).

10. No hitting or throwing balls into the field fencing for practice or otherwise.  Anyone doing this will be ejected from the ballpark for that day/night and will be asked to leave.

11. All batters begin with a 1‑1 count (one ball and one strike). One extra foul on the third strike will be allowed. 2nd foul is an out.

12. Game time will be 50 minutes or 7 innings, whichever occurs first. The first game will have a 10‑minute grace period. However, the game clock will start to run at the scheduled start time. All other games will be started on schedule or they will be forfeited.  In the event a game is not finished due to weather or other circumstances, completion of 4-innings or (3-1/2 innings if the home team is ahead) of said game will be considered an official game and the score will stand.  Otherwise, if rescheduled for makeup, the game will start all over as a new game and will not be picked up where left off.

13. Run Rule:    15 run rule after 3 innings     12 run rule after 4 innings      10 run rule after 5 innings

14. Only ASA approved red‑stitched, cor .44 or less, 375 compression, balls allowed.  (Men's League will use 12" balls; Co‑Ed League will use 12" for men and 11" for women.)

15. A team may begin play with 8 players and must finish the game with at least 8 players. Players arriving late may join the game at anytime as soon as they are ready. Co‑Ed teams must have 8 players to start so long as there are no more than 4 men. Co‑Ed teams may also play with 9 players so long as there are no more than 5 men. An out will occur if two men bat back‑to‑back. Women may bat back‑to‑back without an out in between. (If teams have less than above number of players, both teams may agree at flip to allow the short team to play. If agreed, the game is official and will count in standings!!!!!)  Any player arriving after the game has started must go to the bottom of the batting order.

16. Rosters must be completed and signed by all players and managers and turned into the umpires before the end of the first inning of the first game of the league. Rosters are to be filled out for each league.

17. Players must remain in the dugout except for a 3rd base coach, a 1st base coach and 1 on‑deck batter.

18. Players must be at least 18 years to play. Players under 18 may play if their parents sign duplicate waivers that are notarized. However, minors must be at least 16 years of age to play. One waiver must be carried with that player at any time he/she is on the field and one waiver must be turned into the league. Proper picture identification is required.  With the exception of a minor waived player, absolutely no children under the age of 18 allowed on the fields, not even with parental supervision.

19. If a team forfeits a game, the non‑forfeiting team is responsible for paying one umpire in order to secure the 7‑0 win. Failure to do so will result in a double forfeit. When a team has exhausted their forfeit deposit, they must redeposit an additional $30.00 forfeiture fee. If at the end of the year, a team has not exhausted their forfeit money, it will be carried over to the following year and that team will not be required to pay a forfeit fee until it has been exhausted. Forfeit deposit is non‑refundable.

20. From time to time, due to teams not showing up or forfeiting, the schedule may be adjusted and your game time may change or the team you are playing may change.  This can be done at the SKSA Adult Softball President's discretion and the game will be official.  Also, games may be moved up or down in time in the event of forfeits.  In that event, teams must get off the field so that these games can be played as directed by the league president or the umpires.

21. Rainout number is 281‑257‑2963. Rainout makeup times are given on rainout message. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL RAINOUT NUMBER FOR MAKEUP! Rainouts will be made up during the week off between leagues or on your league night if space is permitted. However, if excessive rainouts occur, they may be made up on Saturdays or other days of the week as field availability exist. Please note that if the rainout message has not been changed from a previous date, it means games will be played as scheduled.

22. The balance of league fees are due in full on the first night of each league. Failure to pay your balance in full on the first night results in a $25.00 LATE CHARGE PER WEEK UNTIL PAID! $25.00 fee on returned checks. Also, discounts will not apply if league fees are not paid in full by the first night of each league.  Please remember that we are a non‑profit league and we are volunteers. Therefore, your assistance and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

23. Home Runs:  "C" Class ‑ 3 homeruns per team per game/"D" Class ‑ 1 homerun per team per game (all others are outs).  You do not have to run around the bases on a homerun hit. Whether the batter runs the bases or not, there are absolutely no appeals on any base runners.

24. Dead Ball Territory: Any ball thrown into the netting above the fence shall be considered dead. All runners will advance (from the time of the throw) two bases.  A straight imaginary line is assumed along any open fence line. Any ball thrown past this imaginary line shall be considered dead. All runners will advance (from the time of the throw) one base plus one more base.

25. Complaints regarding umpires should be directed to the Umpire In Chief, Bernard Bancroft at 281‑353‑9154.

26. In Co‑Ed play, an outfield player may not throw a female out running to first base on a hit ball by that female. In the event, a player throws the ball from the outfield to first base when a female has hit that ball and is running to first, the female player is automatically safe and the team who threw the ball will be warned. Upon the second warning of the same act by the same team, the player who threw the ball will be ejected from the game. And so forth if it happens a third, fourth...time.

27. No base stealing.

28. Co-ed Line.  The line in the outfield is a coed line.  When a female is up to bat, all outfield players must remain behind the line until after the ball is hit.

29. When teams are warming up before a game on the playing field, the players must line up so that when throwing the ball, you are throwing in a direction from either 3rd base to 2nd base or 1st base to 2nd base.  There will be no warm-up throwing in the direction from home plate to 3rd base or home plate to 1st base.  This will ensure the safety of the umpires and players who are standing at the plate doing the coin toss.

30. For a team who is currently playing a league, the deadline to register for the next league will be the 5th week of the league.  Therefore, a confirmation must be received by the Adult Softball President by the 5th week of the current league playing as to whether or not a team is playing the next league.  To insure a spot in the next league, a team must meet this deadline.  Otherwise, their spot will be forfeited and it will be given to the next team on the waiting list, if any.

31. If a team is scheduled to start a game of play and some of their players are playing a previous game with another team and that game has not been completed, making their players not available at the official start time, and they don't have enough to start the game, then that team will automatically be given "visitor" status in order that the game may be started timely and to prevent games running late, as that team can bat first and put their players at the end of their batting lineup when they enter the game.