Lincoln Hills Senior Softball League (LHSSL)
Philosophies and Playing Rules
Finalized & Approved 6/28/2017
PHILOSOPHIES
Our league was established to keep our senior softball sports population in SCLH active and social. We play the game for fun and the intent is to keep the Lincoln Hills version of the game exactly that, FUN. We promote good sportsmanship, fair play and above all, safety when playing. We try not and overburden our play with a lot of unnecessary rules that just confuse more than clarify.
We have certain philosophies regarding how the game should be played. The rules LHSSL play by are governed by the ASA Rules of Play with certain exceptions compiled by the LHSSL Rules Committee with review and final approval by the LHSSL Board of Directors. The committee’s first priority, because we have a very wide age disparity in players, is player safety when developing the rules we play by. While safety cannot be addressed in every rule, the basis for our play is safety first and it is expected that each member of the LHSSL adheres to basic safety whenever they play.
Some examples are: We have bat safety rules and high performance 100% composite bats are not allowed for League play. Dented or cracked bats are also not allowed. We allow courtesy runners for player’s whose running skills have dwindled or have leg/foot issues that running would exacerbate.
We have a substitute system that allows for a team that might be shorthanded a player or two on a given day to pick up players and still play the game. Our Commissioner or his designee will determine the rules regarding selecting players from the Can. The system works and it’s designed to keep folks playing. We also have a minimum of three (3) innings of defensive playing time for everyone that plays.
In the end, we have a FAIR-PLAY philosophy that allows managers and umpires to agree to play a game the way everyone agrees to play a game. Rules don’t cover everything and when they don’t we are accommodating and put in force our Fair-Play philosophy to keep folks playing. It’s simply a “gamesmanship agreement” reached at the start or during a game that that’s the way we’ll play that particular game.
The Lincoln Hills Senior Softball League (LHSSL) is governed by
the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) rules and regulations
(current edition) with the following exceptions:
LOCAL RULES
· THE PLAYING FIELD
o Batter’s Box
§ The batter’s box consists of a practice batting mat. The edge of the batting mat is the outermost edge of the batter’s box. If a batter steps completely off the mat and hits a pitched ball, fair or foul, the batter is out.
o Scoring Line:
§ In lieu of a second plate at home, a line shall be drawn perpendicular to the third base foul line beginning 8 feet from the front left corner of home plate and extending to the left field fence. Players attempting to score must touch the ground on or beyond the scoring line before a defensive player in possession of the ball touches any part of home plate.
o Outfield Limit Line:
§ An arcing line, 165 feet from home plate running foul line to foul line will be used. It’s marked by strategically placed cones. Outfielders cannot cross the line until the ball is hit to make a play. If they do, the batter is awarded first base and all other runners are advanced one base from the base last occupied.
o Run Past Line:
§ There is a 3 foot perpendicular line drawn in foul territory approximately 50 feet down the first base line. This line is a Limit Line the batter cannot run beyond when they have a courtesy runner running for them from the plate. If the batter runs and crosses the Limit Line, they are out and the courtesy runner is removed from the bases.
o Commit Line:
§ A line shall be drawn perpendicular to the third base foul line and approximately 20 feet from the first base foul line. A runner coming from third base who touches the ground on or beyond the line may not return to third base, and must proceed to the scoring line. If the runner retreats toward third and crosses the Commit Line, the runner is out. However, a runner who has crossed the Commit Line cannot be tagged out in the area between the Commit Line and the Scoring Line. If tagged, the runner is NOT out, and the run scores whether or not the runner touches or crosses the Scoring Line.
· EQUIPMENT
o Pitching Screen:
§ The LHSSL shall use a pitching screen for the safety and protection of pitchers during play. The dimensions of the screen will be determined by the Commissioner and approved by the Board. The screen shall be placed approximately seven (7) feet from the pitching rubber and with either the right or the left vertical edge in line with the middle of the rubber. The pitcher may choose to pitch from either side of the screen, however, for safety reasons the wheels must be on the opposite side from their delivery side. Regardless of the side chosen for pitching, the placement of the screen may not be affected. Any pitcher refusing to abide by the placement or use of the screen shall be removed as a pitcher but not from the game.
Also for safety reasons, the pitcher should retreat behind the screen until the ball is hit, however it is not mandatory. The pitcher may choose to come out from behind the screen to field any balls hit in his direction. The use of the screen, a mask and shin guards are MANDATORY for all pitchers. Failure or refusal to wear both mask and shin guards will result in the pitcher being removed from the pitching position but not from the game.
§ The batted ball hitting the screen will be a strike unless there are already two strikes, then and thereafter it will be a dead ball. If a thrown ball hits the screen it is a live ball and still playable.
· PLAYERS AND MANAGERS
o Non Playing Managers:
§ A non-playing manager is a manager that does not play in games. They may coach bases, instruct players, make lineup cards and otherwise represent their team in all LHSSL business.
o Lineup Card
§ All players will bat. The manager will list all players present. In order to bat the player must play both defense and offense, with a minimum of 3 innings of defense.
o Starting a Game:
§ A team must have eight (8) roster players to start a game or they forfeit.
o Substitutes (aka CAN Players):
§ A Can Player is defined as any player joining a team on a temporary basis who is not on the roster for that team. They can wear whatever appropriate softball clothing they like but should NOT be given a team jersey for the team with which they will be playing. All substitutes must bat last in the order. They may NOT act as courtesy runners.
§ When, at any time, a team is short-handed (less than 10 players), one or two substitute players can be picked up to play depending upon substitute availability from the CAN. If no substitutes are available the manager may choose to forfeit or play short-handed. If a team requires one substitute the substitute must catch or play 1st base. If two substitutes are needed they must play 1st base, catcher or right field. In cases when a team is without a pitcher, a pitcher may be selected by mutual agreement of all the managers involved (including the manager of the team for whom the pitcher plays, if available), even if the team is not short-handed. Other than position, a substitute pitcher is under the same restrictions as any other Can Player.
§ Substitutes selected from “The CAN” do not have to be signed up to play recreational softball but they MUST have paid the minimum player dues. The Commissioner or his designee draws the names from “The CAN”. Managers must take whoever is drawn from the CAN and approved by the Commissioner or his designee as their substitute. No refusals allowed. Substitute players when batting are limited to a single only (including a ball hit over the fence) and any runners on base can only advance one (1) base if forced. Runners cannot advance on throwing errors or by tagging up on fly balls. After the Can Player has safely reached first base, there are no restrictions on running on hits by subsequent batters.
o Players leaving the game:
§ Injured Players or players with medical issues such as heat problems or exhaustion may leave the game at any time with no penalty. If the player leaving the game does not reduce the team to less than 10 players, then the vacant batter's position is eliminated and skipped with no penalty. If the player leaving leaves the team short-handed, the manager may request a player from the Can, following the same restrictions as above. The clock is stopped for an injured player, but not during the time required to select a Can Player (unless they occur simultaneously).
§ Any player or manager found to be using the injury rule for any reason other than as stated above (eg, to remove a weak player from the line-up in a close game or to circumvent the rule) shall be suspended by the Board for 2 games.
§ Players may need to leave a game early for a variety of reasons other than injury (appointments, work, etc). The opposing manager and the home plate umpire must be advised prior to the game if it is a planned event. If the player leaving creates a short-handed situation, the team must play short-handed for the remainder of the game. Whether the player leaving creates a short-handed situation or not, the vacant batter’s position in the order is skipped and an out is taken.
· THE GAME
o Game Duration:
§ The time limit for a game is sixty-five (65) minutes. When 65 minutes are up the umpire notifies both teams that the current inning, if it’s not the open inning, will be completed and the following inning will be the open inning. Tied games are allowed during recreation league.
o Temperature Rule:
§ If a game has started and the temperature measured in the shade at DWF reaches 96 degrees, the Commissioner or their designee shall inform the home plate umpire, who will stop the game immediately, regardless of circumstances. Once a game has been stopped, any further games are canceled.
o Starting Count:
§ The batter starts with a 0-0 count (ASA rules start with 1-1 count).
o Home Runs:
§ Any ball hit leaving the field in fair territory shall be declared a home run. Unlimited home runs are allowed.
o Scoring:
§ A runner shall score a run only if they touch the ground on or beyond the Scoring Line before a defensive player in possession of the ball touches home plate. If the runner touches home plate or in any way interferes with a defensive player trying to make a play, they are out.
§ A runner who has crossed the Commit Line cannot be tagged. If tagged, the runner is NOT out, and the run scores whether or not the runner touches or crosses the Scoring Line.
o Run Ahead Rule:
§ At the end of 5 innings, if a team is trailing by ten (10) or more runs the 6th inning shall be declared the open inning. Clock time does not matter. The Flip/Flop rule will be enforced whenever possible. It’s not a choice between managers. Simply put, the flip/flop rule comes into effect when the home team is behind by ten or more runs at the end of five innings. The home team becomes the visiting team in the sixth inning. If they tie or go ahead, their opponents will bat as home team in the bottom half of the sixth in order to give them their final at bat of the game. When the inning is over the game is over.
o Mercy Rule:
§ If either team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of the 6th inning, the game is over.
· PITCHING
o Pitchers should move behind the screen. But because it is optional, it is MANDATORY that ALL pitchers wear a mask and shin guards. Pitchers may pitch from either side of the screen. See “Pitching Screen,” above, for placement of the screen.
· BATTER-RUNNER AND RUNNER
o Running To Bases:
§ Running through second and third bases is NOT allowed.
§ Sliding IS allowed (but NOT RECOMMENDED) when the runner is going TO 2nd or 3rd base, but NOT if going TO 1st or home. Sliding is also allowed when returning to any base.
§ If a player runs through 2nd or 3rd, they are out if TAGGED before they return to the base or before they reach the next base to which they are entitled. NOTE TO UMPIRES: A runner can return to the previous base if not forced, and so an out is not called unless the runner is tagged.
§ Any runner on base who advances beyond the base to which they are entitled is treated like any runner who runs through a base, and is subject to being tagged out. The runner who rounds third base and crosses the commit line when they are not entitled to advance is automatically out and may not return to third base. However, if the home plate umpire calls time BEFORE the runner is tagged, the runner cannot be tagged out and is returned to the correct base. Umpires should not hurry to call time. They should give the defense an opportunity to tag the runner.
§ Interference and obstruction will be strictly enforced by umpires.
o Courtesy runners:
§ There is no limit to the number of courtesy runners a team can use provided each one only runs once per inning or 3 times per game. Courtesy runners are allowed when a runner tells the manager they would like to be run for. A violation of this rule will result in a warning to the manager and the next offense will result in the manager being ejected from the game.
§ When using a courtesy runner the player used as a courtesy runner must be in the batting order. A courtesy runner can request a time out from the home plate umpire and after it is granted can come into the game at any time provided it is in a timely fashion. No courtesy runner can run more than once per inning or 3 times per game. A courtesy runner cannot replace another courtesy runner except in the case of injury. If a courtesy runner becomes injured another courtesy runner may run provided they haven’t already run in that inning. A CAN player or a roster player not officially in the game cannot be used as a courtesy runner. A courtesy runner is officially in the game as a runner when they touch the bag they are running from, including the starting point behind home plate. A non-playing manager cannot be used as a courtesy runner. All violations of the courtesy runner rules MUST be properly APPEALED by the defensive team manager.