 |
WILSHIRE CHURCH & MAJOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL SUPPLEMENTAL LEAGUE RULES All league games in the Wilshire Church Adult Softball Program shall be played in accordance with the current S.C.M.A.F. Official Softball Rule Book except as noted herein. |
 |
click here to print: LINEUP CARD EXAMPLE
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To offer a
wholesome competitive program that is primarily concerned with safety,
fair play and sportsmanship and recognizes the various skill levels of
participants.
2.0 ADMINISTRATION
The
administrative duties and final authority shall be vested in Major
League Softball, Inc. and Wilshire Church representatives who will be
responsible to set forth and maintain such rules and regulations as are
necessary to govern competitive leagues.
3.0 LIABILITY
1. As
participants in the Adult Softball League, and in consideration of the
value received as participants in the league, each participant agrees to
exonerate, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless both Major League
Softball, Inc. and the Wilshire Church Representatives from all claims
and actions, based upon or arising out of any damage or injury, to
persons or property caused by or sustained in connection with their
participation in the Adult Softball League.
2. All participants understand and accept the fact that neither Major League Softball, Inc. or the Wilshire Church respective agents, employees, contractors or insurers provide any form of medical or accident insurance for bodily injury or death sustained while participating in the Adult Softball League. All participants should thoroughly investigate the terms and conditions of their personal health insurance policies to verify that they will receive coverage for any claims arising out of or connected with their participation in this program.
4. All players must sign an individual Hold Harmless agreement prior to participating in each game.
5. Player's Medical Benefit Fund (PMBF) coverage is available through the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation (S.C.M.A.F.). PMBF provides a maximum benefit of $500.00 per calendar year for each rostered player. PMBF coverage is extended for one season only. It must be understood that the PMBF is NOT a health or accident insurance policy and must be purchased separately by writing a check in the amount of $42.00, made payable to SCMAF. Such payments may be submitted to Major League Softball, Inc. and MLS will forward the payment and PMBF registration paperwork to S.C.M.A.F. PMBF coverage will not be in effect until payment is received and processed. PMBF claims that occur prior to payment and processing will not be forwarded to S.C.M.A.F.
4.0 TEAM ROSTER
1. Each
team shall be allowed to roster a maximum of 20 players. All players
participating in the Wilshire Church League must be at least 16 years of
age no exceptions.
2. No additions may be made to the roster after your scheduled 5th game. In the event that you desire to add a player after the roster addition deadline, you must gain approval in writing from the administrative office of Major league Softball. To obtain this approval, please call 714-289-1983 ext.2 or email customerservice.oc@mlsoftball.com
3. Roster additions may be made on the field. All roster additions must be approved by the League Director. Major League Softball reserves the right to deny any roster addition in the interest of keeping the league(s) competitive.
5.0 COED LEAGUE RULES
1. A standard
team configuration shall consist of five (5) women and five (5) men
However, a game may be played with nine legally rostered players, with
four (4) women and five (5) men in the game at all times. A team may
play with no more than five (5) men on the field defensively. You may
play defensively with six (6) women and four (4) men. A team may play
with no fewer than four (4) women on the field defensively. A team may
bat any number of legally rostered players as long as there are no fewer
than four members of each sex in the lineup at all times. If a team
cannot field at least four (4) members of each sex at game time, the
game will be forfeited. As in men's or women's games, a team may start
and finish a game with a total of eight (8) players (four men and four
women).
2. Batting Order: Two separate batting line-ups will be used, one for females and the other for males. The manager shall indicate which sex will lead off the game and the sexes shall alternate from that point. Two players of the same sex may never bat in consecutive order.
3. A male that is walked on a count of four (4) balls and no strikes shall be awarded second base. (See S.C.M.A.F. rule book.)
4. A minimum of three (3) outfielders must remain behind the outfield restriction line (180 feet from home plate) until the batter hits the pitch while a female is batting - with four outfielders your rover can come in front of the line (rover may be male or female). If this rule is violated, the female batter will be awarded first base unless her batted ball results in her safe advance past first base. (See S.C.M.A.F. rule book.)
5. EQUIPMENT RULES:
(a) SHOES: Metal cleats and open toed shoes are never allowed in adult softball.
(b) UNIFORMS are not required to participate in MLS adult softball programs.
(c) BATS:
FIRST: ALL BATS MUST HAVE AN ASA STAMP to be eligible for use. NO STAMP - NO PLAY. Before purchasing a new bat please look for one of these ASA stamps:
SECOND: The
ASA periodically and randomly tests samples of bat models bearing the
ASA approved certification mark to verify compliance with the ASA bat
performance standards. Meaning occasionally even a stamped bat may be
deemed ILLEGAL. To verify legality of a bat, please refer to the ASA Website's LIST OF APPROVED BATS:
(as of FEB 2009, ASA no longer offers a listing of
NON-approved bats, you must research APPROVED bats). Purchase bats at
your own risk!
THIRD: All
bats must comply with the S.C.M.A.F. rule book, Rule 1, Sec. 27. If a
make or model cannot be determined due to wear & tear OR if
the Umpire or League Director suspects modification of any kind
(sanding, filing, shaving, lengthening, shortening, weight-altering,
heating and cooling, etc.) he/she WILL remove it from play. NO BASEBALL, YOUTH or LITTLE LEAGUE BATS ALLOWED
POLICY CONCERNING USE OF "HIGH-END" BATS IN COED PLAY: MEN SHALL NOT USE THE FOLLOWING BATS:
6.0 PROTESTS
1. All protests must be handled in strict accordance with Rule No. 9 of the S.C.M.A.F. rule book.
2. Any manager filing a protest must notify the umpire at the time of the dispute, before the next pitch is made. A protest form and a $30 protest fee must be submitted to Major League Softball within 48 hours after the game. The protest fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld.
7.0 PLAYER EJECTIONS
1. All grievances shall be conducted by the team manager.
Any player who is ejected from a game will be automatically suspended
for a minimum of one additional game (byes do not constitute a game). If
a player is ejected twice during a season he/she will be suspended for
the remainder of season, including playoff games. Ejected or suspended
players will not be allowed at the park while serving his/her
suspension.
2. In the event that a player is ejected anytime after the conclusion of a game, he/she will be automatically suspended for the next two (2) games, including playoff games.
3. Any player or manager who physically abuses an official, a player, a park supervisor or scorer will be subject to criminal prosecution as per the State of California Penal Code.
4. Immediately following player ejections, the umpire will be responsible for suspending play in order to notify the scorekeeper that the one minute countdown has begun so it is clear that the offending team is in jeopardy of forfeiting the game. In the event that an ejected player chooses to use any or all of the countdown period to heap verbal abuse or profanity upon the umpire, opposing players and or spectators, MLS reserves the right to rule the game a forfeit and or suspend or expel such players from the league.
(a) It is MLS's expressed intent to provide ejected players with sufficient time to collect their personal belongings and leave the premises prior to ruling a game a forfeit. However, MLS will look to discipline severely any player who elects to use the one minute countdown period as an opportunity to degrade or abuse anyone.
5. In cases of spectator harassment the umpire will use the following course of action:
(a) First Warning - manager will be asked to take care of the problem spectator.
(b) Second Warning - spectator will asked to leave the park. If the spectator refuses to heed the umpire's request, the manager will be subject to ejection from the game if the umpire determines that the spectator is associated with one of the two teams.
(c) Final Solution - in the event that neither the spectator nor the manager leave the field within 60 seconds after the umpire's request the umpire will declare the game a forfeit.
8.0 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
1. Each
player is required to personally sign the lineup card/hold harmless
form before they are eligible to play.
2. A player may not play on more than one team in a league.
3. In the event that a team changes its manager at any time during the season, the new manager must notify the Major League Softball Headquarters at (951) 358-2800 ext 2 immediately.
9.0 GAME TIME AND LEAGUE RULES
1. A game shall consist
of seven (7) innings or one (1) hour and ten (10) minutes (See
S.C.M.A.F. rule book). The official scorer shall be responsible for
keeping the game time on the computer clock. ALL QUESTIONS RELATED TO TIME REMAINING OR TIME ELAPSED SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE OFFICIAL SCORER, NOT THE UMPIRE.
2. No new inning will begin after the time limit has elapsed. Games tied after seven (7) innings will only be continued if no fewer than five (5) minutes remain on the computer clock.
3. A team that does not submit its line up card to the official scorer at least ten (10) minutes before game time will be subject to forfeiting the game.
4. There will be a ten (10) minute grace period for all games, however any time used for the grace period will be subtracted from the official game clock.
5. Any team that is unable to start a game with a minimum of eight (8) legally rostered players will forfeit the game. A team may start and finish a game with eight (8) legally rostered players. UMPIRES AND SCORERS WILL NOT WORK FORFEITED GAMES.
7. No infield practice or batting practice will allowed prior to game time.
8. The mercy rule will be as follows:
? 20 runs or more after 3 ? innings if the home team is ahead or 4 complete innings if the visiting team is ahead.
? OR 15 runs or more after 4 ? innings if the home team is ahead or 5 complete innings if the visiting team is ahead.
9. All players must be able to produce some form of positive picture identification at each game. In the event a manager wants to protest a game because he believes the opposing team is fielding a player or players that are not legally rostered, he may request an Identification Check as follows:
(a) Either before or during a player's first time at bat, a manager must notify the umpire that he/she wants an I.D. Check.
(b) The manager must clearly specify to the umpire which player's I.D. he/she would like to have checked. A manager may request to have any number of I.D.'s checked.
(c) The umpire only will conduct the I.D. check by requesting positive picture I.D. from each player specified by the protesting manager. The umpire only will verify that the picture I.D. matches the specified player or players and then the umpire will consult the official scorer to determine if the player or players are on the roster. Players who cannot produce a positive picture I.D., or whose names are not on the computer roster, will be disqualified from play by the umpire only.
(d) In the event that a player or players arrive after the start of a game, the official scorer will announce the arrival of such players and the opposing manager may request an I.D. Check prior to the conclusion of such players' first time at bat. Once a late arriving player has completed his/her first turn at bat there can be no I.D. Check request.
(e) The umpire and/or scorekeeper/league director may request ID at any point in the game if either official believes that a player(s) is/are not who they represent themselves to be.
Failure to follow the above procedures will make any protests related to a player's roster status null and void. The purpose and intent of this procedure is to ensure that all protests involving player eligibility are resolved on the field. No protests related to player eligibility will be accepted after a game is played.
10. Pitch height will be standard S.C.M.A.F. 16 foot limit.
11. Each batter will start their plate appearance with a 1 Ball 1 Strike count.
12. The four (4) strike rule is in effect for all leagues (see S.C.M.A.F. rule book).
13. Pitchers box, a box is drawn, extending back from the pitchers plate, along the width of the pitchers plate, for six (6) feet. The dimensions of the pitchers box are twenty four (24) inches wide, by six (6) feet long, with the front line fifty (50) feet from the outside corner of home plate, and the rear line fifty (56) feet from the outside corner of home plate. The pitcher may deliver the pitch from any point inside the pitchers box, and for the purpose of rule enforcement, the pitchers box is treated the same as the pitchers plate.
14. The Flip-Flop rule is not allowed.
15. There will be NO ENTRY FEE REFUNDS after the first scheduled league game.
16. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE NOT ALLOWED AT ANY PARK.In the event that any program participant (or any spectator who is associated with a team) is discovered to be in possession of an alcoholic beverage(s) either on or around the park facilities, the follow action will result:
a) The team whose players(s) and/or spectator(s) is/are found to be in violation of this rule will automatically forfeit the game that is scheduled on the day of the infraction.
b) The team whose player(s) and/or spectator(s) is/are found to be in violation of this rule will automatically forfeit its next scheduled game as well.
Be aware that violations may be discovered by either City Staff or MLS game officials (including the score keepers and league director). There will be no exceptions granted for any failure to comply with this rule.
CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE MLS ALCOHOL POLICY
10.0 PLAYOFFS
1. Generally,
playoff games will be scheduled the week following the conclusion of the
regular league games. All teams involved in playoffs must be ready at
the time and location decided by Major League Softball, Inc. NO
EXCEPTIONS WILL BE GRANTED.
2. Playoff format will be as follows: END OF SEASON DOUBLE-ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT. (Championship Game Home Team Determined by Coin Flip)
3. There will be a time limit of one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes for the championship game ONLY. All regular "Playoff Tournament" games will have a time limit of one (1) hour and ten (10) minutes. Mercy rule will be in effect for all playoff and championship games.
5. To be eligible to play in your teams Playoff games, each player must have a minimum of 10 at bats in the current season.
11.0 MAKE-UP GAMES
1.
It is our intention to play all scheduled games. Every effort will be
made to reschedule games that are missed due to inclement weather, field
unavailability, or any other issues that arise. Make up schedules will
not be issued until the regular schedule is nearly exhausted. Major
League Softball reserves the right to reschedule games in any order that
we determine optimal. 2.
Any game that ends before the time or inning limit that is called
because of light failure or malfunction of equipment or a mechanical
field device under control of hosting agency shall be a Regulation Game
in accordance of S.C.M.A.F. rule 1, sections 7, 8, 9 and 10.
12.0 PLAYER'S CODE OF CONDUCT
The
Official's jurisdiction to enforce the Player's Code of Conduct shall
extend prior to, during, and after the ballgame. Said jurisdiction
exists from the Official's arrival at the game site to his/her departure
from the game site.
♦ Sec. 1. NO PLAYER SHALL: At any time lay a hand upon, push, shove, strike, or threaten to strike an official.
♦ Sec. 2. NO PLAYER SHALL: Refuse to abide by official's decision.
♦ Sec. 3. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations by throwing gloves, bats, or any other forceful action.
♦ Sec. 4. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of heaping personal, verbal abuse upon any official for any real or imaginary wrong decision or judgment.
♦ Sec. 5. NO PLAYER SHALL: Discuss with an official in any manner the decision reached by such official except the manager or captain.
♦ Sec. 6. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of using unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body and person of any opposing player.
♦ Sec. 7. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor, upon any player, official, or spectator.
♦ Sec. 8. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of abusive verbal attack upon any player, official, or spectator.
♦ Sec. 9. NO PLAYER SHALL: Use profane, obscene, or vulgar language in any manner, or at any time.
♦ Sec. 10. NO PLAYER SHALL: Appear on the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition.
♦ Sec. 11. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of gambling upon any play or the outcome of the game with any spectator, player or opponent.
♦ Sec. 12. NO PLAYER SHALL: Smoke while going on or coming off the field of play, or while on the field of play.
♦ Sec.
13. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of discussing publicly with the
spectators in a derogatory or abusive manner any play, decision, or
personal opinion of other players, during the game. Players shall not
mingle of fraternize with spectators during the course of the game, but
shall remain on the player's bench or on the field of play.
♦ Sec. 14. NO PLAYER SHALL: Permit anyone to remain in the dugout or on the player's bench during the game who is not a playing member of the team.
♦ Sec. 15. NO PLAYER SHALL: Permit the use of any equipment or device which, in the sole judgment of the umpire, compromises the safety of the participants. This includes the use of radios or similar devices on the person of a player, in the dugout, or in the spectator viewing area, which might inhibit the ability of players to hear verbal calls and/or instructions by the umpire.
♦ Sec.
16. NO PLAYER SHALL: Be guilty of using a bat that has been altered in
any way. Altering includes, but is not limited to: sanding, filing,
shaving, lengthening, shortening, weight-altering, heating and cooling.