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Midwest Sports Complex - Softball - Free Agents - Tuesdays Mens - Spring 2018This event has completed. This information has been preserved for archival purposes.
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More InfoThese are the most common and/or most unique rules being used for this event. Please see "Official Rulebook" for exhaustive list of playing rules. When in conflict, rules written here shall supercede those in the official rulebook.
As a player, you are responsible for knowing all official rules of the game. By participating in the event, you are agreeing that you are aware of all rules associated with the league and the sport, and agree to abide by them at all times.
This event is intended to be FUN first. We welcome players of ALL SKILL LEVELS to our fields, and therefore set rules that ensure the safety and enjoyment of our skilled players and our novices equally. Be supportive of one another. Event organizers reserve the rights to dismiss any player from the event without refund.
Length: 50 minutes, and finish the inning. The Championship game will be played to a full 7 innings, with the exception of run rule.
Run Rules: Games will be declared over by "run rule" if the winning team is ahead by 20 runs at the conclusion of the 3rd inning, 15 runs at the conclusion of the 4th inning, or 10 runs at the conclusion of the 5th inning or later.
Extra Innings: Games tied at the conclusion of the time limit will go into extra innings. During extra innings play, the batting team will have a runner automatically placed on second (must be the last out from the previous inning) and all batters will face a 3-ball, 2-strike pitch count when they approach the plate. Pool play games in tournament play may end in a tie and do not go into extra innings if both teams are tied in regulation.
Home/Away: The coaches will meet the umpire at home plate ahead of the game, and the game timer will start. During pool play, the umpire will flip a coin to determine home team. During tourney play Top Bracket, the higher seed has the option of selecting home or away. During tourney play Bottom Bracket, home team is determined by coin flip.
Umpires: Excessive arguing and/or abusive language towards the Umpires will never be tolerated. Umpires may issue warnings and dismiss players from a game if they are found to be abusive. Event officials reserve the right to ban players from the event with no refund if abusive behavior continues.
Fighting / Arguing / Poor Sportsmanship
If teams are beginning to get chippy and tempers are flaring, the umpires will issue a full warning to both dugouts - regardless of "who started it". After that point, there is no negative verbal communication that may occur from one team directed at the other team or any specific members of the other team. Any such communication will result in an immediate ejection from the game from the offending party. For purposes of clarification, players on opposing teams can continue to and are encouraged to chat with each other on an individual basis (i.e. congratulating a nice play/hit, having a polite convo while standing on 1st base, complimenting a nice pitch, etc) but no "Smack talk", rules disagreements, or yelling will be permitted. Coaches of both teams may continue speaking with one another as needed, but must do so with a tone of civility in the presence of the umpire. Any player removed for disciplinary reasons shall have their place in the lineup treated as an automatic "out".
Pitching: All pitchers will be required to use either a provided safety net (if available) or helmet safety protectors. Shin guards are highly recommended, but not required. A pitcher is allowed and encouraged to use both.
Unsafe Throws: No batter may be thrown at first following a ball hit into the outfield unless by an infielder brought into the outfield through defensive actions.
Hitting Middle: It's not illegal, but it is dangerous and some of our novice players may not be able to control it. But for those of you that can - don't be a jerk. If you feel the other team is hitting middle a lot, don't take revenge and escalate... it's not that kind of event.
Pitching Screens: These screens are intended for safety, not to create an extra defensive player on the field. Screen must be positioned no more than three feet ahead of the pitching rubber. One of the pitching screen support legs must be lined up within the width of the pitching rubber and cannot be set to the side of the rubber. There's no multiple swapping between screen and helmet during an inning.
Pitcher Defense: If the screen is on the field, the pitcher must use it for partial protection whether or not they are also wearing safety gear. After pitching the ball, the pitcher must obtain at least partial cover behind the net and must have at least a shoulder behind the screen when the ball is struck by the batter. If the pitcher is not using a safety helmet, their head/face must be positioned behind the screen upon contact. Once the ball is struck by the batter, the pitcher is allowed to move from behind the screen to attempt to field the ball if they can do so safely. A pitcher may field a slow moving ground ball in front of the screen if they can get to it before it hits the screen. If the ball contacts any portion of the screen, it is immediately ruled a foul ball. If the umpire sees the pitcher extending away from the net prior to the ball being struck, they may call "no pitch" and issue a warning to the pitcher to get at least partial cover behind the screen. Subsequent violations may result in automatic balls or awarding of first base, subject to umpire discretion.
Injury Exceptions: In the cases of significant injury, some rules may be bent to avoid placing players in harm's way. Coaches facing a situation that they believe requires an adjustment must discuss with the opposing coach a recommended solution. Opposing coach must approve the solution, and such approval should not be unreasonably withheld.
Injured Player / Can Not Continue: If a player is significantly injured in the course of play and cannot continue, they shall be removed from the lineup. When their batting position comes up, it shall be skipped and not counted as an automatic out. Player is unable to return to play for that game and, at a minimum, the game following. Exceptions for this rule may be made for extended breaks between games (i.e. a player injured Saturday night can play their first game Sunday if they can safely do so).
Metal Cleats: Metal cleats are prohibited. Please use soft or hard rubber cleats, or turf shoes only.
Equipment (Bats): 240 USSSA stamped non-banned bats. Where approved in tournament play, Seniors (males: 50+, females: 45+) with a senior wrist band may swing senior bats.
Equipment (Balls): All balls will be supplied for this event, external balls are not allowed. Each team is responsible for providing the opponent with 1 12" ball for male batters and 1 11" ball for female batters. Non-binary players will play under the rules of the gender found on their official state ID.
Healthy Sits: Each player drafted to a team has had their relative skill level used to balance the team. A healthy player should never volunteer to or be coerced to sit in order to provide a competitive advantage on the field.
9-Players: Teams with fewer than 10 players due to injuries, quits, and/or other unforeseen events can continue to play with nine players. In these cases, the opposing team must provide a "Ball Returner" while they are at bat. The Ball Returner is only there to throw the ball back to the pitcher and is otherwise not obligated to play defense or assist in getting "Outs" in any way, shape or form (i.e. they are not obligated to catch a pop up foul ball). Once the ball is in play, the Ball Returner should step away from the field towards the fence to not give any impression of being involved in the play.
Emergency Subs: In cases of catastrophic injury that results in a team having an illegal lineup to continue play, the coaches may consult with one another and agree upon a reasonable sub from the spectating audience in order to complete the game. The selected sub should not be perceived to give the team any advantage and opposing coach has the full right to approve or deny a specific sub. Whatever the coaches agree to must be declared in front of the umpire as a witness, and play will resume.
Players Removed for Ejections: Players who are removed for ejection are not given the same leniency as situations involving injury. A player spot in the lineup shall count as an "out" for each subsequent at-ball following the ejection, and the opposing coach has no obligation to provide a Ball Returner or Emergency Sub to replace an ejected player.
Females on Defense: No more than one female may sit defensively per inning. If a team has less females than the opposing team, they must play all of their females defensively throughout the entire game.
Walks: If a male batter is walked with a female batter coming up to bat, the male batter is awarded second base and the female batter is given the option to choose an automatic walk or to hit as normal. The decision to walk is up to the sole discretion of the batter and coaches shall not force a walk on any player who wishes to hit. There are stipulations to this rule, check the rule book for specifics.
Pitch Count: All batters start with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. For extra innings or games quickened due to weather/scheduling issues, all batters start with a full count.
Courtesy Foul: No courtesy foul.
Home Runs: Three and One Up. Three homeruns and then you can hit more as long as you don't hit more than one more than the opposing team.
Courtesy Runners: Three courtesy runners per inning. Each runner may only run for one person per inning, but may run for that same person multiple times in the inning. Runners who wish to run should not be forced/pressured to take a runner in all situations.
Pitching: 6'-10' from the ground. No pump faking. A ball batted into a pitcher's screen will be ruled as a dead ball, foul ball.
Minimum Innings on Defense: During Pool Play, each rostered player must complete a minimum of two defensive innings in the field by the end of the third inning. During bracket play, each rostered player must complete a minimum of one defensive innings in the field by the end of the third inning, two by the end of the fifth.
Only official, insured photographers may be on the field during play. Players are welcome to take their own personal photos from behind the fences.
These are guidelines and rules for the event that all coaches must acknowledge and follow. Please review all rules carefully.
Show Empathy for Your Players and Your Opponents
We are all adults who are playing a kid's game. None of us are going pro, and all of us paid the same amount of money to play the game. Make sure every player on your squad feels like they are included and have an opportunity to develop their game, and be understanding of your fellow coach when they're dealing with no shows and unexpected injuries.
The First Person to Discuss Problems With: The Opposing Coach
If you have issues that are difficult to overcome, your opposing coach is the first person you discuss those with. Whatever the two coaches on the field agree to ultimately trumps many of the rules found here. When odd situations come up - do what it takes to play the game, and do so by discussing terms with your opposing coach that make both teams feel like the game will be fair.
Do Not Let Your Players Speak for Your Team
All decisions for your team come down to you and you alone. You should not invite other players to participate in rule discussions, or allow them to participate in debates over rule disagreements. As coaches, we will at times disagree and may even sometimes get testy with one another, but it is important that we keep these discussions to the back of the house and do not allow rule issues to spill over to the general players. Keep it fun for everyone and don't let the inmates run the asylum!
Win on the field, not in the rulebook.
Rules are made to be enforced, but in our game - things happen. Players get hurt, or they disappear, or they are late, etc. Please always be flexible in dealing with unusual situations. It is much more important to complete a game than it is to take a cheap, easy, rule-forced win. You don't need to put your team at a disadvantage, but at least allow the game to be interesting.
Players
All players bat, and all players rotate in the field. Even your studs should see the bench from time to time, so make sure to deploy a proper rotation so all players are seeing time on defense.
Pool Play versus Tournament Play
All coaches will lock in during the tournaments, and the expectation is certainly that the best players will play more innings. With that in mind, spend extra time emphasizing play time for your weaker players during pool play / regular season play. If they get their innings when the games are lesser in intensity, they will be happy to yield time to the strong players during more clutch situations.
Do Not Stop a Player From Participating When They Want to Participate
If someone has joined this league to get exercise, they probably do not want to have a pinch runner even if there is a faster player available. If a woman is learning how to swing, she should get more swings to practice rather than taking an automatic walk just because it is a free base. Give your players the opportunity to play and don't take bats out of hands or runners off the base unnecessarily.
Lead by Example
If you come into the dugout with an intense drive to win the game at all costs, your players will follow you. If you come into the dugout singing songs and handing out shots, your players will follow you. Somewhere in the middle of those two is the right mix for League Joe, so remember that your players are following your lead. Remember to have fun and play for the love of the game!
Substitute players are allowed for a team ONLY when the total number of rostered players is less than 10. If you are expecting less than 10, you may use the League Joe alternates list to select a player of equal or lesser value to the average of all players missing from your roster. It is your responsibility to inform the opposing coach who your sub is and who they are replacing. When using a sub of appropriate value from the League Joe alternates list, you may play and bat them anywhere in the lineup you feel comfortable.
Emergency Substitutions
Occasionally, emergencies dictate non-LJ approved subs need to be used or a player of equivalent value is not available. In these case, the substitute players must bat at the bottom of the order and play "less-essential" positions in the field (catcher, right field, 2nd base - in that order)
Playing with 9 Players
If you only have 9 players, the opposing team will loan you a ball returner behind the plate to throw the ball back to the pitcher. If Ball Returner is in the batting lineup, Ball Returner will rotate out when their turn in the lineup comes up. Pitcher should attempt to cover home plate for any plays to home.
The official rules for the sport, which may or may not be from a sanctioning body.
