2015CCSL CO-ED SOFTBALL RULES

(Standard ASA Co-ed softball rules apply with the following CCSL exceptions)

  1. CCSL Co-ed softball teams may play with a full line-up that consist of (6) men and (4) women;or (7) and (5) with AHs.All teams must have a minimum of 3 women present at the “scheduled game start time” (6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 pm) to begin play.There will be NO GRACE PERIOD. Failure to do so constitutes a forfeit for that team. At no time will a team be allowed to have more than (6) men on the field. Yes, you may play with more than 4 women at any time, and you must play aminimum of (2) woman in the infield at all times.You must have a MINIMUM of “9” players, with aMINIMUM of“3” women presentto start any game.

1a. ATTENDANCE Requirements – All players are to be “members” or “regularly attend” your church and meet or surpass the league’s minimum attendance requirement of (two times a month) and must be 15 years of age before April 11, 2015 to be eligible to play. Any player found to be ineligible during the regular season will be removed from the roster and banned from further playin both regular and post season games. Plus, all wins accumulated up to that point will be forfeited and your seasonal W-L record will be adjusted accordingly.

1b. New Members: (By Definition: New Member; a person or persons that have “joined” your church

“after” CCSL rosters have been filed and the regular season hasbegun) - Not someone you left off your

roster! Upon completion and submission of a CCSL “New Member” form, a new player may be added to

your roster and will be eligible to play in your next scheduled game.Deadline to add: Monday, May 11th

2015at 6:30 pm. After this date and time, no one will be added.

1c. Yes, a team will be allowed to begin play with only (3) women, but will be charged with an out each time the fourth woman’s position comes up in the batting order. The“out” may be placed anywhere in the lineup as long as the alternate, man/woman rule applies-(Rule #2).Exception: In the event that a team “walks” the man in the lineup in front of the absent woman’s position, (which is normally an out);no out is charged.The man is awarded first base, and the next male batter comes to the plate.At any time during the game should the fourth woman arrive, she may be insertedinto the line-up in theposition of the “out”….At any other time during the game, when a man is walkedin front of a woman batter, the woman has the option to take first base or hit.

2. The batting order must alternate man and woman throughout the line-up and a woman must occupy thefirst or second position. (Example: With 10 players, 6 men & 4 women, you may not bat 3 men,back to back in the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd positions of the lineup without a woman in the 1st or 2nd position.)

3. You are allowed to have (2) AH (Additional Hitters) in a 12 player line-up, (1) man and (1) woman.They may be placedanywherein the lineup as long as you abide by the alternate gender rule.You must have both a male and female, to use AHs.An AH is allowed to play any position in the field, but must keep their original spot in the batting order. A player in the field will be allowed to switch to an AH, but also must keep their original spot in the batting order.(In the event that one of the starting male or female players identified as an“AH” is unable to finish the game due to injuryand you do not have a bench player to replace them;an “out” will be taken by the team, whether it is male or female when the injured player’s position comes to bat in the lineup.(Exception: you may play any number of women in your lineup. See below) (Start with 12 batting positions, end with 12 batting positions)

4. Substitution:A playermay be taken outof a game and lineup, and re-entered into the game and lineupat any time; as long as they go back into their original position in the batting order. However, you may only re-enter the game, one time.Exception:(Note AH exception above.)All substitutions must be gender based; male for male, female for female. (Exception: Women only) You may substitute a female player for a male player, only;if you cannot field a male player to complete a 6 man lineup to end a game. Again, you may play more than 4 women at any time, but if you should loose your “third” woman to injury during the game; the game is called and a forfeit will be imposed.(No more than 6 men on the field at any time)

5. Games will consist of (6) innings and will begin with home team devotions at the beginning of each game.First game devotions are at 6:25 pm. The game starting time is at 6:30. Devotions for the 7:30 and 8:30 pm games will be held “immediately” following the preceding game. All warm-ups for games 2 and 3 games are to be done outside the fence and BEFORE devotions begin.There will be no time limit on games and extra innings will be played if needed to decide a winner. Teams are encouraged to hustle in and out between innings to help keep games on schedule.On occasion, teams may be asked to hold pre-game devotions in the parking lot, prior to their scheduled start time in order to keep waiting time to a minimum. Games that follow other games that run over, or go into extra innings; will start immediately after the before mentioned game is completed.

6. A (12) run rule will be in affect for the regular season and post season tournament. If a team has a (12)run lead at the end of the 4th inning, the game is called.

7. Speed up rules will be in effect as all players will come to the plate with a pre-established count of 1 ball and 1 strike.

8.It is mandatory that all catchers must wear protective masks while behind the plate. Masks will be furnished by the CCSL or you are welcome to use your own.Bare feet, “Flip – Flops”, steel or metal cleatsare NOT ALLOWED. Tennis shoes or rubber cleats only!Any player found to have illegal shoes on at any time during the game, will be asked to change shoes or sit out the remainder of the game.

9. There is a “courtesy/competition” line marked across the outfield 200 feetfrom home plate that all outfielders must stay behind until contact is made by the batter.This applies to both maleand femalebatters.If an outfielder crosses the line prior to when contact is made with the ball andit is called by either of the game umpires, or CCSL official in the press box;after completion of the play, the batting team has the option to let the play stand or the batter is awarded first base and all runnerson base(if any), will advance one base.One warning per team for the entire season will be given.All infielders must have one footon the infield dirt until contact is made by the batter. This applies to both men and women batters. Same consequences apply as for a “Courtesy/Competition Line” infraction. ALL teams will play a “standard” defensive set of 3/4 outfielders, 6 infielders.

10. The CCSL will supply ALL 12” ASA, NSA, or USSSA approved softballs for game play (With my signature)exclusively for the entire CCSL regular season and tournament.Each individual team is responsiblefor their team’s warm-up and infield balls. (NO INDIVIDUALLY OWNED SOFTBALLS WILL BE PUT INTO GAME PLAY). If an illegal ball is found to have been put into play, duringthe game, by either team;the ball will be removed,(4)runs will be deducted from both team scores,and the game will resume“from that point.”(Inning and number of outs will remain the same, but we will clear thebases). If there are less than (4) runs on the board, we will restart 0-0. There is “nothing” I can do if an illegal ball is found “after” a game is completed. (Confront the Umpires with any questions BEFORE the game is completed)

11.Also,the CCSL will supply ALL “league eligible” bats(With official CCSL marker)tobe used by the participating teams exclusively for the entire CCSL regular seasonand tournament.(NO INDIVIDUALLY OWNED BATS WILL BE PUT INTO GAME PLAY). If an illegal bat is found to have been put into play during the game by either team;the bat will be removed, (4) runs will be deducted from bothteam scores and the game will resume “from that point.”(Inning and number of outs will remain the same, but we will clear the bases).If there are less than (4) runs on the board, we will restart 0-0.There is “nothing” I can do if an illegal bat is found “after” a game is completed. (Confront the Umpires with any questions BEFORE the game is completed)

12. In order to maintain a constant safe environment on the field for ALL players, by ASA rule; fake tags or verbal remarks indicating that there is a tag when there is not one, will result in the runner being awarded the base they were going to, plus one. (Umpire’s Discretion)

13. Any player may be granted a courtesy runner upon request,ONE TIME during the gameonce they have batted and reached base successfully. However, the courtesy runner must be of the same gender andmust have made the last out. In the event that an injury takes place and there is no “last out” recorded, the courtesy runner will be the last woman or man in the starting lineup. (NO EXCEPTIONS) This will now be allowed only (1) time during the entire game.(records will be kept in press box)…..Or,youmay substitute a bench player for ‘saidinjured player’, in that position in the lineupand on the field and ‘said injured player’mustsit out a minimum of (2) “complete” innings and then may re-enter.

14. We will always conduct ourselves in a Christ-like manor, remembering that it is Christ, along with our family, and our church that we represent while playing and/or being present on the grounds of First Baptist church and the CCSL. Please consider our league verse as your guide for a successful season; I John 2:6 “If we say we are His, then we must follow the example of Christ.” Unsportsmanlike behavior, foul language and excessive mouthing (arguing) are strictly prohibited.We will not tolerate unacceptablebehavior. If inappropriate behavior by anyplayer or fanwarrants an ejection from any game or from the stands;then said player or fan is required to leave the field and will be a given a (1) game, mandatory suspension. A second ejection by any player or fanduring the remainder of the season carries a season ending suspension and a “possible” CCSL league expulsion. Coaches are responsible for their “fans”as well as their teams. You are asked to make sure that team membersand fans fully understand their roles as representatives of the churches and families that sponsor them.

15. Home teams will be responsible for the 3-5 minute pre-game devotion and closing prayer.All players and coaches are expected to be present on the field during devotions. Devotions may be conducted by any team or church member and pastors are especially urged to participate. All devotions are to be aimed at the entire crowd and will be carried over the public address system.Personal testimonies, shared readings, and humor are all welcome. Please remember that music in any form is enjoyed as well. Solos, duets, trios, quartets, and groups are all appreciated by the fans and players plus, you will have access to our sound system for anydevotional presentation.There will be a (3 run) penalty imposed on the home team that fails to complete their devotional obligation.

16.(Revised for 2014)Forfeits – Three strikes and you’re OUT!.....Any team may forfeit a maximum of 2 games during the regular season without penalty. But if said team is forced to forfeit a third game; that team is banned from post season play and the remainder of the regular season. I will then “redo” the regular season schedule for the remaining teams and reward them with a win over the exiting team…..ALL (W-L) records prior to that, will remain the same….Again, the remainder of the regular season schedule will be re-done once a team has been removed…..I’m sorry, but Entry Fees WILL NOT be refunded.

17. In case of rain or bad weather, always check the official CCSL website and Facebook page(below) for cancellations or delayinformation first. All game decisions will be made and posted on the web by 5:00 pm if at all possible. All games must always be considered to be ONunless otherwise stated on the CCSL website or Facebook page.Coaches will only be called if bad weather occurs after 5:00 pm

18.I must have a copy of the Declaration page of your church’s“current” insurance policy on file before play begins on opening day, or thename of the company, policy number, and current renewal and expirationdates.

18a. - Due to a revision in the current insurance policy of FirstBaptistChurch and the CCSL, (No one under the age of (15) is allowed inside the ball field gates or on the field during warm-ups, or during a game in progress.)

19.In order to be eligible to play in the CCSL post season tournament, ALL players must have “PLAYED” in a MINIMUM of (2) regular season games. (The word “Played” is interpreted to mean; entered the game, batted at least (1) time and played the field.) That information will be kept in the press box and all teams will continue to be reminded during the last three weeks of the regular season in order to make sure all players are legal for post season play.

20. (New for 2014) A homerun limit of (3) homeruns per game, per team, is in effect throughout all pre-season, regular, and post season play. All homeruns “after” the (3) per game limit will be considered “singles” and baserunners will advance accordingly.

Be sure to check out our official CCSL website at: and click on the “Sports”link, then CCSL; for scores, standings, highlights, and photos, and rainout information. Also, please send us a friend request for FACEBOOK….. You may reach me, Mike Caldwell – CCSL Commissioner, anytime at 704-263-4783 Ext. 222 or .

On behalf of the Community Christian Sports League and First Baptist Church - Stanley, we wish for you good luck, and a safe, enjoyable, memorable season!

PLAY BALL!