MSA ADULT CO-ED SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES FOR 2017
This league operates under the rules of the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association. Some of the following rules may vary from those stated by USSSA. Where this occurs the MSA Adult Co-Ed Softball rules will govern.
1. League
1.1 – League will start play the week of July 16th For Tuesday and Thursday league.
2. Team Entry Fee
2.1 – Each team will play 28 games on Tuesday and Thrusday at a cost of $500.
Teams will receive schedules and rosters when the fee is paid. Make checks out to Madison Softball Association.
2.2 – The fee will cover the cost of balls, field maintenance, field marker, and
insurance.
3. Schedules
3.1 – Teams will play double games as well as back to back doubleheaders.
3.2 – Tuesday and Thrusday teams will play each team three (12) times.
3.3 – Postponements or games played in advance can be requested only if your team
is playing in a tournament. A schedule change request form is required and
must be filled in properly at least one week prior to the rescheduled game.
Managers from both teams must sign the form as well as a league officer. Proof of entry in that tournament is required. Only one (1) postponement and one (1) play in advance can be requested during the season. If it is not approved, it is still considered to be the one (1) request. Requests for either a play in advance or postponement must be made a week in advance of the scheduled game to the league director, and the opposing team. Due to possible conflicts in the schedule, there will be no postponements or plays in advance granted after August 16th, 2017. Rain outs are not considered a postponement.
4. Field Conditions
4.1 – This field drains exceptionally well and is playable in most any conditions. We
will do everything in our power to ensure that games will be played as
scheduled however, rain outs due occur. We will try to make a decision as
quickly as possible. Please also understand that a rain out in the morning does
not mean the afternoon games will be rained out. Managers are responsible for
checking to see if the field is playable and must come to the field to find out.
4.2 – The field crew has requested that players refrain from taking batting or infield
practice while they are setting up the field.
4.3 – Phone # or app to check on rain outs
5. Eligibility
5.1 – Players age fifteen (15) sixteen(16) and seventeen(17) must have a signed
parental release form, on file attached to the team roster prior to playing in
any league game. All players’ eighteen (18) and older are eligible to play.
5.2 – Players cannot play on more than one (1) team in the same league.
6. Uniform
6.1 – All players on each team must wear identical jerseys that are matching in color
and have a permanently affixed non-duplicated six inch (6”) or larger number on the back. Jackets and sweatshirts are permitted to be worn over the jersey if both managers agree.
6.2 – Jerseys without numerals or jerseys with taped, pinned, or handwritten
numerals will not be allowed.
6.3 – If players choose to where a ball cap. Bandannas will not be permitted.
7. Equipment
7.1 – No steel cleats will be permitted. If a player is found to be wearing steel cleats
the player will be ineligible to play until the infraction is corrected.
7.2 – Any bat with a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.20 or less is considered legal
and can be used. The (BPF) must be clearly marked by the manufacturer on the bat. No dented or altered bats will be permitted. Bats without any stamp can be used, provided the manages and the umpires agree, prior to the game starting that there will be no challenging the use of said bat. USSSA thump printed are acceptable.
7.3 – Double and triple wall bats are considered legal if and only if they are stamped
with a (BPF) rating of 1.20 or less. Bats exceeding this rating or titanium, double / triple wall bats that do not have a BPF 1.20 rating will not be considered a legal bat.
7.4 – A team may request that the umpire check a bat at anytime in the game. When
a player steps into the box and the umpire asks for a pitch the bat is then considered to be used in the game. If the bat is found to be in violation of Rule 9 section 9.2 the player using the bat and the manager of record will be suspended from the remainder of the game in which the bat was used.
7.5 – All jewelry, or other items, judged dangerous by the umpires will not be worn
during the game.
8. Playing Rules
8.1 – Lineups MUST be giving to the scorekeeper a least five (5) minutes prior to
scheduled game time.
. 8.2 – Lineups must include players last name, jersey number, position playing and
the manager’s signature.
8.3 – Teams can start a game with no less than nine (9) players and can add a tenth
(10), eleventh (11) or twelfth (12) player only if, the 1st batter has not batted twice in the game or the 3rd out in the bottom of the second inning has not be recorded. Must have 5 guys and 5 girls.
8.4 – Teams can finish a game with fewer players then they started, but cannot go
below a total on nine players in the lineup. If a player leaves the lineup, for whatever the reason, that position in the lineup will become an automatic out. The inning cannot end on the automatic out if the batter prior to the automatic out is walked. If the batter prior to the automatic out is walked the automatic out is skipped and the next batter in the lineup is up. The inning can however begin with an automatic out.
8.5 – Any starting player may be withdrawn and reenter twice, provided such player
returns to the same position in the batting order.
8.6 – One (1) courtesy runner can be used for only one (1) player per inning.
The courtesy runner will be the player who made the last out. The courtesy runner can be used provided the next batter in line up has not received a pitch from the pitcher.
8.7 – An official game will consist of seven (7) innings, or the “Run Rule,” or one (1)
Hour and fifteen (15) minutes, whichever comes first.
8.8 – Run Rule is twelve (12) runs 5 innings depending on the status
of the home team, or fifteen (15) runs after 4 innings, or twenty (20) runs after 3 innings depending on the status of the home team.
8.9 – The home team must complete its turn at bat in the 5th, 6th, or 7th inning if they
are losing by twelve (12) or more runs in the 5th inning by fifteen (15) or more runs in the 4th inning or by twenty (20) runs in the 3rd inning.
8.10 – Each batter steps into the batter’s box with a one and one count. The batter is
allowed a second strike and one (1) additional foul ball. A second foul ball will be considered an out and scored as a strikeout. The ball is dead and the runners may not advance.
8.11 – Forfeit time is ten minutes after the scheduled game times, however a team
with nine (9) of its players present must start the game. The umpire’s time
clock shall be the official game time. Any game forfeited will be recorded as a 12-0 in favor of the team receiving the forfeit win.
8.13 – Pitching are shall be a minimum of three feet (3’) from the point of release
and a maximum of arc of not more than ten feet (10’) from the ground.
8.14 – A “Safety Bag” is used at first base to prevent injury to both the base runner
and the defensive player. The base runner must step on the orange part of the bag if and only if the ball is in the infield. If the ball goes into the outfield the player may step on any part of the bag (white or orange). If a defensive player touches any part of the orange bag the runner is awarded the base. If an offensive player steps on any part of the white bag while a ball is being fielded in the infield the offensive player will be considered out.
8.15 – Batters are not allowed to round first base while carrying there bat Batters
doing so will be considered out at the end of the play.
8.16 – The home run rule will be 5 with 1 up. A team is allowed a maximum of 5
home runs in a game unless the other team reaches 4 home runs also, than either team can hit 1 more. After the 5th home run any subsequent home runs are walks, if the other team has less than 5 home runs. If the other team has 4 home runs and your team hits a 6th home run it is also a walk and so on.
9. Conduct / Discipline
9.1 – No person shall drink, sell, posses or offeror sale any intoxicating liquor or
alcoholic beverage while on park grounds.
9.2 – Smoking on the playing field is prohibited.
9.3 – Any player, coach or manager ejected from any league game will be
suspended for the next scheduled game and placed on probation for there remainder of the season. A player, coach or manager that is ejected a second time in a season will be suspended for a minimum of four (4) games.. The third ejection in a season of a player, coach or manager will result in suspension for one year from the time of suspension.
9.4 – Players, coaches, and managers who have been suspended may not sit in the
dugout, coach the bases, or in any way assist the team during the game.
9.5 – Suspensions may carry over from season to season.
9.6 – Any attacks on umpires before, during or after a game will result in a one (1)
year automatic suspension.
9.7 – The umpires have the authority to remove a player, coach or manager from the
game and/or forfeit the game due to unsportsmanlike conduct. Unsportsmanlike conduct shall include but not be limited to, profanity, threats of any kind towards the umpire, scorekeeper or opposing players, fighting (before, during or after the game), any intoxicating condition detected by the umpire before or during the game, or any flagrant violation as determined by the umpire.
9.8 – There are no warnings for foul language before each game. Foul language
directed at a player, umpire, or fan will be cause for immediate ejection from the current game being played. In cases of incidental foul language the umpires discretion will be used if any disciplinary action shall be taken.
9.9 – Misconduct on or off the field that may cause harm to the leagues reputation
will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with disciplinary action from the league.
10. Protests
10.1 – Rules protest must be made immediately before the next pitch. If not the paly
resumes no protest will be permitted.
10.2 – Player eligibility protests must be made before the umpires and all infielders
including the pitcher have left the field at the end of the game.
10.3 – See that the umpire notifies the scorekeeper and opposing manager and that
the protest is recorded in the official scorebook.
10.4 – Judgement calls cannot be protested.