General 2010 MCSSA Softball Rules
Clarifications/Changes for 2010 (below)
2010 Rules at a
Glance click
here
2010 MCSSA Softball Rules click
here
Addenda—League-Specific Rules
Clarifications/Changes for 2010
Rule 3.1. A base runner crossing the commitment line will be declared out
if he/she re-crosses the line. This includes re-crossing on a caught fly
ball. If a runner re-crosses the line, he/she will be declared out and the
ball will remain alive.
Rule 3.3. A pitch striking any portion of home plate, including the black
edge, or the mat shall be called a strike.
Rule 4.6. Notification of ineligible player should be reported to the
umpire prior to umpire’s departure from the field.
Rule 5.2. The minimum number of players required to avoid forfeit is 8
for some leagues.
Rule 5.3. Substitutions in evening leagues are permissible with one
re-entry per game.
6 Rule 5.6.3. In all draft leagues, all players present are entitled to be
in the batting lineup.
7. Rule 6.2. Umpire should notify team managers in evening leagues when
probable that next inning will be the last and unlimited inning.
8. Rule 8.2. Run-By rule eliminated for all leagues.
2010 Rules
Comparison at a Glance
|
Rule |
Mon. Evening Women |
Tue. Evening Men 50+ |
Wed Evening Men 60+ |
Thur. Evening Men 55+ |
Fri. Evening Men 50+ |
Mon. Morning Co-Rec |
Tue./Thur. Morning Men 60+ |
Wed. Morning Co-Rec |
|
Number of Innings |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
|
Infield Fly Rule |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Minimum to avoid forfeit
(Rule 5.2) |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
|
Lineup Substitutions (Rule 5.3) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Home Run Limit (Rule 5.6) |
None |
3 (1+ after 3, then out) |
3 (1+ after 3, then out) |
3 (1+ after 3, then single) |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Defensive Players (Rule 5.6) |
11 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
|
Mercy Rule After 5th (Rule 6.5) |
12 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
None |
15 |
None |
|
Starting count
(Rule 7.2) |
1,1 |
1,1 |
1,1 |
1,1 |
1,1 |
0,0 |
1,1 |
0,0 |
|
Courtesy Foul
(Rule 7.2) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
|
Sliding or Diving
(Rule 8.2) NOTE:NO RUN-BY |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Courtesy Runners (Rule 8.5) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
2010 MCSSA Softball Rules
The Montgomery County Recreation Department (MCRD), through the league
director, reserves the right to amend rules and schedules. See attached addenda
for league-specific rules.
1. Playing Rules.
1.1. Unless modified herein, all games shall be played in accordance with
current MCRD rules and those of the Amateur Softball Association or the National
Softball Association (hereinafter, "the Association"), whichever
association's services MCRD has retained for MCSSA the current year. Individual
leagues may further modify these rules by agreement among team managers/coaches
(hereinafter, "managers") and the Montgomery County Senior Sports
Association (MCSSA) league commissioner.
2. Equipment.
2.1. SHOES. Metal and screw-on cleats shall be illegal in all league games.
2.2. BALLS. The home team shall provide two league-approved balls for each
game. Additional balls, if needed, shall be provided by the team causing the
previous ball to go out of play.
2.3. BATS. Titanium bats shall be illegal. Other bats approved by the ASA
shall be legal. MCRD shall provide managers with a list of illegal bats as shown
in Appendix A. League commissioners may, with consent of a majority of managers,
add bats to, but not remove bats from, the illegal bat list.
2.3.1. A batter using an illegal bat shall be called out either at the
umpire's initiative or upon appeal by the defensive team.
3. Playing Field.
3.1. A COMMITMENT LINE, three-feet long, shall be marked, halfway between
third base and home plate and perpendicular to the foul line. A base runner,
advancing beyond this line, who re-crosses to return to third is automatically
declared out—this includes re-crossing on a caught fly ball. If a runner
re-crosses the line, he will be declared out and the ball will remain alive.
3.2. A SCORING PLATE shall be placed eight feet from the rear point of home
plate on an extended line from first base. (See Rules 8.4-8.5.) If a scoring
plate is not available or if weather or field conditions would make its use
unsafe, a scoring line extended from the first base line shall be marked.
3.3. A STRIKE ZONE MAT, 17 inches wide and 24 inches long (measured from
either side point of home plate to the end of the mat), shall be placed behind
and touching home plate. Legal pitches striking any portion of home plate,
including the black edge, or the mat shall be called strikes.
3.4. A DOUBLE BAG or mat of equal size shall be used at first base in
addition to the normal bag. The double bag/mat shall be placed in foul territory
abutting the normal first base bag.
3.5. HOME RUN LIMITS. For the purpose of this section, a home run is defined
as an unassisted fair ball hit over the fence. If a batter hitting such a ball
does not score due to the 5-RUN LIMIT, the hit shall not count against the home
run limit.
3.5.1. In all evening leagues and divisions, except as provided in Rule
3.5.2., the limit shall be 3 per team with a "one plus" provision.
Specifically, a team may hit more than 3 home runs, as long as the total number
of home runs hit by the team is the same or just one more than the total hit by
the opposing team. Beyond this limit, any fair ball hit over the fence will
count as a dead ball out.
3.5.2. In the Friday evening men's 50+ league, all women's leagues and all
morning leagues, there shall be no home run limit.
3.6. OUTFIELD ARC. In morning leagues, an arc shall be marked in the outfield
140 feet from the rear point of home plate.
3.7. BATTING PRACTICE. Any pre-game batting practice shall occur with the
batter standing at least six (6) feet behind the established batter's box and
the pitcher releasing from at least 6 feet in front of the pitcher's plate.
4. Rosters and Eligibility.
4.1. MCSSA leagues include both team leagues and draft leagues. Team leagues
are those composed of teams that enter by MCRD rules and regulations. Draft
leagues are those for which individuals sign up to be constituted into teams by
the individual league’s processes and procedures.
4.2. For all team leagues, each manager shall submit a preliminary roster to
the MCRD league director and to the relevant MCSSA league commissioner prior to
the first scheduled game. Changes to the preliminary rosters must be made in
writing prior to any added player’s participation. Final rosters are due the
first Monday in June; if not submitted by that date, the preliminary roster
shall become the final roster, and subsequent changes can be made only with the
approval of the MCRD league director
4.2.1. Team rosters shall be submitted on the official MCRD form or
electronic equivalent and include each player's full name, address, phone
number, date of birth and, if provided by the player, e-mail address. Player
signatures are not required.
4.3. For all draft leagues, commissioners and managers shall compose teams
that are balanced and aim at achieving parity in team capability.
4.4. Team rosters shall not exceed 20 players at any time, except for the
Monday evening women's league, whose limit shall be 24 players.
4.5. Each player shall, to be eligible, meet the league age requirement and
be listed on the team roster.
4.6. Any team using an ineligible player shall forfeit each game in which the
player participated. The ineligible player should be reported to the umpire
anytime prior to the umpire’s departure following the game.
5. Players and Substitutes.
5.1. Playing age is the age a player will have reached at the end of the
current calendar year.
5.2. A team may start and continue with at least nine (9) eligible players (8
in some leagues—SEE attached addenda). A team with fewer than 9 eligible
players to start or continue forfeits the game. Except in the women’s leagues,
a team shall not loan players to the other team in order to play an official
game. Players arriving any time after the game begins may be inserted at the end
of the lineup in order of arrival. The batting order for a game, once
established, shall not be otherwise altered. There shall be no limit on lineup
size.
5.3. In the evening leagues, all players present at the start of the game are
not required to be in the batting lineup. A manager may insert any player not in
the starting lineup at any time during the game. Any starting or substitute
player who has been removed from the game may re-enter the game once, but must
re-enter in the same batting position. A player not in the batting order may not
play a defensive position unless re-entering as a legal substitute. A player not
in the batting order may serve as a courtesy runner.
5.3.1. As an exception to the re-entry conditions in Rule 5.3, a team unable
to field the maximum number of players permitted (10 or 11) because of an injury
may replace the injured player with a player not in the lineup at the time of
the injury. The injured player may not participate in the game from which he was
removed (or the following game of a double header if removed in the first game).
5.4. No out shall occur for any lineup vacancy unless due to ejection for
unsportsmanlike conduct, in which case an out shall occur for the ejected
player's lineup spot regardless of additional players being available. However,
an ejected player may be replaced on defense.
5.5. BORROWED PLAYERS.
5.5.1. In men’s evening leagues, when a team begins the game with only 9 (8
in the Thursday night league—SEE attached addendum) players available, the
opposing team shall provide a player positioned behind home plate to retrieve
pitched balls. This retriever shall not otherwise be involved in defensive
plays, and must leave the vicinity of home plate when the ball is live or be
subject to an interference call. The team with 9 players may, for tactical
reasons, waive the use of a retriever at any time, but shall also retain the
right to reinstate the retriever at any time. The retriever rule shall be
canceled when the 10th player arrives.
5.5.2. For the women's Monday league, a team with more than 11 players
available shall lend, to an opponent with fewer than 9 players available, enough
players to prevent a forfeit. As players from the short-handed team arrive,
borrowed players shall return to their original team. Because of liability
issues, the borrowing team may not borrow players from any team other than the
opposing team.
5.5.3. In all morning leagues, when a team begins the game with only 8, 9 or
10 players available, the opposing team shall provide a catcher, if requested.
The players to serve as loaned catchers shall be chosen by the lending team and
shall remain on the lending team's roster for other defensive play and for
batting. No other playing position may be filled with a loaned player from the
team that is not short of players, except in the Monday morning league(SEE
attached addendum).
5.6. DEFENSIVE PLAYERS. The maximum number of defensive players at any time
shall be 10 in men's 50+ Tuesday and 55+ Thursday, 12 in co-rec Monday morning,
and 11 in all other leagues. In all leagues, any player in the batting order may
play any defensive position at any time.
5.6.1. A team with 9 defensive players shall be considered to have 3
outfielders; with 10 (including a retriever) or 11, 4 outfielders; with 12, 5
outfielders.
5.6.2. In all morning leagues, outfielders shall remain in position beyond
the outfield arc until the pitch crosses the plate.
5.6.3. In all draft leagues, any roster player present on any day is entitled
to play a defensive position at least half of the number of innings played on
that day. All players present are entitled to be in the batting lineup.
5.7. CONTINUOUS BATTING. In all morning leagues, continuous batting is
required, that is, the batting order shall remain the same for the second game
of a doubleheader, and shall begin with the player following the last person to
bat in the first game. Players arriving for or during the second game of a
doubleheader shall be placed at the end of the batting order for the second
game.
5.7.1. A corollary of continuous batting is that no pinch hitting shall be
permitted at any time.
6. The Game.
6.1. STARTING TIME. A team with fewer than 9 (8 in some leagues-SEE attached
addenda) players at the scheduled time of the start of the first game on a given
field shall be permitted a 10-minute grace period. The game shall begin as soon
as a 9th player arrives. The game time limit shall be calculated from the
scheduled starting time. Managers and the umpire may agree to start prior to the
scheduled time.
6.2. TIME LIMITS. For evening league games, an inning begun after 55 minutes
from the starting time will be declared the last inning. If the umpire thinks it’s
probable that the next inning will be the last, he/she should notify each team
manager during that inning that the next inning might be the final &
unlimited inning even if the game is tied after that inning (see Rule 6.4). In
the last game on a lighted field, because of the 10:45 PM curfew, the last
inning must be declared for an inning started after 10:35 PM if the 55-minute
threshold has not been reached.
6.2.1. There shall be no time limit for morning league games; however, teams
are expected to complete the second game by 12:00 noon to allow for field
maintenance.
6.3. TIE GAME. In evening league games, if the score is tied when the inning
declared to be the last has been played, the game shall be recorded as a tie.
Tie games shall not continue beyond the inning declared to be the last, nor
shall a tie game be replayed.
6.3.1. In morning league games, if the score is tied after seven innings have
been played, the batter who batted last in the previous inning shall be awarded
second base to start each extra inning. At the beginning of extra innings,
managers shall agree on the maximum number of extra innings that will be played,
allowing for the start of the second game or for field maintenance. If managers
cannot agree, one extra inning shall be played.
6.4. FIVE-RUN LIMIT. Three outs or five (5) runs, whichever occurs first,
shall end an inning. The 5-run limit shall not apply to the final scheduled
inning or to an inning, which shall be declared to be the last inning, that is
begun after 55 minutes from the starting time. Nor shall the 5-run limit apply
to the fifth or sixth inning of a game when one team is leading by the number of
runs required to win by the MERCY RULE. In order to ensure at least one
unlimited inning, the umpire shall declare removal of the 5-run limit also when
curtailment of the game is imminent due to weather or field conditions.
6.5. MERCY RULE. If a team leads by 15 or more runs (men's leagues) or 12 or
more runs (women's league) after the opposing team has batted in the 5th or 6th
inning, the game shall end. Co-rec leagues have no mercy rule.
7. Pitching Regulations.
7.1. The pitching arc shall be between 6 feet and 12 feet.
7.2. In all men’s and women’s leagues, the batter shall start with a 1-1
ball-strike count and be allowed one courtesy foul after 2 strikes. In all co-rec
leagues, the starting count shall be 0-0 and no courtesy foul shall be allowed.
7.3. An intentional walk may be issued at any time by pitcher's declaration.
7.4. A foul tip is a batted ball that goes directly from the bat, not
higher than the batter's head, to the catcher's hands or glove/mitt, and is
legally caught by the catcher. A foul tip is a strike; a batter with two
strikes who hits a foul tip shall be called out. Any foul ball reaching higher
than the batter's head and then caught shall be called an out. A foul ball that
is not caught is a dead ball, but shall also count as a strike, except in the
case of leagues using the 1-1 starting count, when a batter with two strikes is
allowed one courtesy foul without consequence.
8. Base Running.
8.1. REACHING FIRST BASE. The defensive player shall use the normal (inside)
bag. The batter-runner shall use the double (outside) bag or mat if there is a
play at first base and may use the inside bag only if the ball is not playable
at first base or to avoid colliding with a defensive player moving into the base
path. A batter-runner otherwise touching the inside bag shall be called out. A
defensive player may use the outside bag only if drawn by the throw to the foul
side of first base.
8.1.1. In all morning leagues, a batter-runner approaching first base shall
not be called out on a direct throw from an outfielder to another defensive
player touching first base or tagging the batter-runner
8.2. SLIDING AND DIVING. Advancing runners sliding or diving into first base
or the scoring plate shall be called out. Runners advancing to second or third
base and runners returning to any base may legally slide or dive. Runners
overrunning second or third base shall be in jeopardy of being tagged out. A
runner who overruns a base need not re-touch that base to advance to the next
base.
8.3. OUT BY TAG. A runner may be tagged out at any base other than home
plate.
8.4. ADVANCING TO HOME. A runner advancing from third base and crossing the
commitment line is:
8.4.1. safe at home if he/she is tagged by a defensive player, or touches the
scoring plate (or, if none, crosses the scoring line) before a defensive player
in possession of the ball touches home plate.
8.4.2. out if a defensive player in possession of the ball touches home plate
(not the mat) before the runner touches the scoring plate or crosses the scoring
line.
8.4.3. out if he/she re-crosses the commitment line or touches or crosses
over home plate or the strike zone mat. (No defensive appeal is required.)
8.5. COURTESY RUNNERS. A courtesy runner is a runner who replaces a runner
who has already reached base safely or runs for a batter from home plate.
8.5.1. In all men's evening leagues, except 60+ on Wednesday evening, use of
courtesy runners is restricted to replacing runners who have reached base safely
and shall be at the manager's discretion. For the 60+ men’s evening league,
each team may identify one player per game who is permitted to use a courtesy
runner from home.
8.5.2. In the women's league, unlimited courtesy running is permitted, once a
runner reaches first base. Courtesy runners from home plate may be used, by
agreement of the managers prior to the start of the game, only for specific
batters who have injuries. In all morning leagues, courtesy runners from home
plate are permitted.
8.5.3. A courtesy runner shall replace a base runner only when the ball is
dead. A courtesy runner becomes official when he/she touches the appropriate
base.
8.5.4. A player may not be used as a courtesy runner more than once per
inning. A player shall be called out if he/she becomes a courtesy runner more
than once in an inning, or runs for a player who has not been permitted use of a
courtesy runner as in Rule 8.5.1.
8.5.5. A courtesy runner shall not replace another courtesy runner except in
case of injury, in which case the original courtesy runner shall be removed
from, and may not reenter, the game.
8.5.6. A courtesy runner on base when it is his/her turn to bat shall be
called out as the base runner, but shall take his/her turn at bat.
8.5.7. Courtesy runners who run for batters shall leave from a point behind a
line parallel to the third base line that is extended from the scoring plate to
the backstop,.
8.5.7.1. If a courtesy runner from home plate leaves before the ball is hit,
or the batter advances toward first base by more than ten feet, the batter shall
be called out. The ball shall be dead, and runners shall return to their bases
previously held.
8.5.7.2. A batter who has a courtesy runner from home plate may be called out
if he/she interferes with a defensive player trying to make a play near home
plate.
9. Umpires.
9.1. MCRD shall provide umpires for all evening leagues.
9.2. If the assigned umpire has not arrived by 10 minutes after the scheduled
start time, the game shall begin without an official umpire and shall be
completed. An assigned umpire arriving after the game has begun shall complete
it. The time limit is reckoned from the scheduled start time. MCRD shall not be
responsible for payment to volunteer or unauthorized umpires.
9.3. If the umpire does not arrive or arrives late, teams shall notify the
league commissioner within 24 hours.
10. Protests.
10.1. Protests pertaining to the playing of the game shall be submitted in
accordance with the Association rules within 48 hours.
10.2. Failure to present a specific league rule to an umpire allegedly
misapplying that rule at that moment shall invalidate the protest.
10.3. If protests are not resolved within MCSSA, the protest may be submitted
to MCRD and must include a protest fee of $25.00.
11. Score Reporting and League Standings.
11.1. The winning manager of a single game or of the second game of a
doubleheader shall report the game score(s) within 24 hours in the manner
prescribed by the MCSSA league commissioner.
11.2. League standings shall be determined, at the league's discretion, by
won-lost percentage or standings points. Standings points, if used, shall be
awarded as follows: win, 2 points; tie, 1 point; forfeit, -1 point.
11.3. A tie in league standings shall be broken using the following criteria:
a. Head-to-head record. b. Division record. c. Head-to-head run differential. d.
Fewer runs allowed in division games. e. Fewer runs allowed in all games.
12. Disciplinary Action.
12.1. RESPONSIBILITY. Team managers shall bear responsibility for the conduct
of their team and spectators.
12.2. EJECTION. A player, manager or coach ejected from a game shall be
suspended for the remainder of that game and the team's next game. MCRD shall
have the power to discipline further any individual ejected more than once
during a season.
12.3. TECHNICAL OUT. As a sanction against those teams or individuals whose
behavior is unacceptable, but the umpire judges that ejection is too severe a
penalty, the umpire may invoke a technical out against the offending team.
12.3.1. Offense: If the team at bat is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct, the
umpire may enforce an out against them. If this is the first or second out of
the inning, the game continues with the batter and base runners being
unaffected; an additional out is simply added to the team’s total. If the
technical out is the third of the inning, the next inning will resume with the
batter who would have batted had the out not been called. In this case the
batter will begin with a fresh count.
12.3.2. Defense: If the team in the field is guilty of unsportsmanlike
conduct, the umpire may invoke the technical out rule by reducing by one the
number of outs that the defense will have when they come to bat.
12.3.3. Two consecutive technical outs may not be assessed against the same
team. At least one pitch (legal or illegal) must intervene. An ejection for any
unsportsmanlike behavior must be accompanied by the charging of an out against
the offending team.
ADDENDA—LEAGUE-SPECIFIC RULES
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