IPSWICH OVER-30 MEN’S SOFTBALL
(revised 03/15/09)(link to ms word document)
1. Foul or abusive language in no way will be permitted and can mean ejection from the game and or possible suspension from the league.
2. Fighting on Doyon School property will result in expulsion from the league and the player(s) may not return. Any other altercations involving league members outside of Doyon property will be suspended for the remainder of the season. Reinstatement will be considered by the executive committee.
3. Please use the trash bags that are available to you. Recycled cans are kept separate for redemption.
4. The entire area must be clean after every day’s activity. Each team is responsible for their own bench.
5. All players must wear a game (sponsored) jersey of their team when playing. If the shirt is lost the player is responsible for purchasing his replacement shirt. A one-week mulligan is20allowed, other than that one week no player is eligible for play without a sponsored shirt.
6. We play a slow to modified pitch rule with ASA restricted fight softballs and ASA approved softball bats which the league provides. Anyone choosing to bring their personal bats must be of ASA regulation and all bats must be made available to all players by storing them behind the back stops during games.
7. Shoes with metal spike are not allowed. We suggest you not wear sneakers.
8. The executive committee will enforce all league rules. Any member refusing to obey these rules may be subject to disciplinary action by the league officers.
9. Players arguing with an umpire will, at the discretion of the umpire be asked to leave the game an d/or the grounds. Fighting will remove the player from the grounds!
10. If, in the opinion of the umpire a player intentionally tries to injure another person, the player will be suspended for the day. You will be ineligible to play your next scheduled games (one week of league play). League officers may review and alter the length of suspension at their discretion.
11. When games are in progress only the team MANAGER(S) will discuss rules or the situation with the umpire, not the players. An umpire may stop play and ask for assistance on a ruling from another umpire or league officer.
12. No sliding or base stealing is allowed in this league. A player must go back into20a base foot first and standing, if a slip or fall occurs. If he does not, the umpire will declare him out and the ball is declared dead. Upon the event of an over run of the base and you fall, you cannot dive back with your hand.
A. A double bag system at first base. The white bag for the fielder inside the line – the orange bag to the right of the foul line for the runner. This will be a judgment call by the umpire and treated like any other call made by the umpire.
B. Any intentional slide to alter play may be considered intent to injure (see rule 10#). If the slide was to “break up” a double play or alter play of another runner (e.g.: runner trying to score), both runners are declared out and ball is dead. Any other base runners must return to the base they occupied at the start of the play.
13. Pinch-hitting is not allowed. A player must enter the game as a defensive player before coming to bat, except in case of injury. If the E.H player (extra hitter) has been removed from the E.H. spot to replace a player on the field, that team does not lose the E.H for the remainder of that game.
A. The EH rule allows an extra player, when available, to bat. The batting order does not change if a injured player comes out. If an EH (extra hitter) arrives, he assumes the injured player’s position in the batting order. (no switching line-ups)
B. A player must play seven innings each week, it does not have to be in one game (splitting games is permitted). If used as the E.H a player must play the field in one of the games. (See Bylaw rule 5B.)
14.
A manager has the right to select player(s) from the other field who are not playing, to field a team and begin play. If the other field does not have available players the manager may utilize other players on the sidelines (see by-law 6A) to begin play. If not possible to field ten, a team can begin play with nine or eight players; but eight must be from their own roster. If a team has less than eight players, the game(s) is forfeited.
B. The opposing manager has the right to approve of the players selected from the other field.
15. The scheduled weeks of play do not change due to weather. All players are expected to show up regardless of weather and the President (with advice form the officers) has the final word to call the game or not.A All games will start at 9 A.M. with a 15 minute grace period. Games may be delayed due to rain but no game may start after 10 A.M. B. All rainouts are declared splits and the score will be recorded as 1 – 0 . The decision will be made during a game by at least one officer and one umpire at the field to ensure safety for all.
16. The runner always and under any circumstance has unimpeded access to any bag or home plate. The defensive player cannot in any way “block” or hinder the runner’s reasonable access to any bag or home plate. If in the umpire’s judgment the base was “blocked” the runner will be safe, the play will be called dead and all base runners shall be awarded one base from the position they had when the play was called. If in the umpire’s judgment there was an attempt to injure see rule #10.
A. A safe zone circle around home plate will allow the runner a safe area to touch in the event of a slippery plate due to rain. (Umpire’s judgment call.)
B. No runner is allowed to purposely knock the ball out of the glove of any fielder. This condition is with in the umpire’s judgment and the runner shall be called out and play will be called dead at the spot.
17. Courtesy Runners are allowed and should only be used in the case of injury or medical reasons. This “courtesy” is not meant to create a competitive advantage. The manager before each game will select 5 E2courtesy runners” from his team. He must first start with players who are not active in the current game. The opposing manager will then select three of those players to become that team’s courtesy runners for that game.
18. Overthrows & Out of bounds:
1. Any throw going out of bounds and originating from the infield shall award all base runners one extra base from the base.
2. Any throw going out of bounds and originating from the outfield shall award all base runners two extra bases from the base.
3. If a fielder looses possession of a ball (example a tag or sweep tag), and the ball goes out of bounds all runners are awarded one base.
4. 4. Out of bounds markers determine the dead ball ares.
19. Pick-off Plays:
1. The fielder may tag the runner or the bag (same rule as a force play).
2. In the event of an overthrow the runner must go back and tag the bag, then advance at his own discretion.
It is assumed by the league that all players have a basic understanding of general baseball or softball rules, such as force plays, infield fly rule, etc. All of those rules apply unless otherwise covered here which are rules particular to the Over 30 Softball League.
(REVISED 03-15-09)
SUB SECTION…………BASIC GROUND RULES
For the Doyon Playing Fields
I. For identification: Doyon One (D1) is the skin infield.
For Identification: Doyon Two (D2) is the Stephen Grimes Memorial Field
1. The foul lines shall be set by the foul poles and out of play by cones.
2. First and foremost everyone needs to remember that any live ball entering Doyon 2 (D2) is considered to be live and all you can get unless otherwise ruled dead by D2’s umpire. Basic rule is “play the whistle”, it is up to the judgement of D2’s umpire. However, if it effects any play (on D2) it should be ruled dead upon entering D2’s playing area.
2a. Any ball hit into or thru the outfield (in any field) is all you can get. If a ball goes into D2’s playing field it shall be played as all you can get, (see rule 2). This will be determined by the umpire on D2. If the umpire determines the ball from D1 in no way effected play on his field he will rule accordingly. This will effect both the ball hit into his field as well as any ongoing play on D2.
2b. Some possible examples: If a ball enters the playing area of D2 during a dead ball period. We don’t want to penalize the D1 hitter by deeming it a ground rule double if it in no way effected play on that field.
Also, if a ball enters the=2 0playing area of D2 during a routine fly ball out hit on D2 (perhaps it was the 3rd out of the inning) the ball from D1 is not effecting that play and at the umpire’s discretion may be called to play on.
Lastly, if a ball is hit into D2 as a hitter on D2 has hit a homerun and is rounding second base. We don’t want to penalize that player/team by deeming that hit a ground rule double.
3. A ball caught beyond the out of bounds cone is out of play.
4. Any ball caught in play, which carries the fielder out of play, will remain live and runners advance at their own risk.
II. Please, No smoking on school grounds. Smoking are is ok behind wooded area.
III All beverages must be in a plastic cup on school grounds. Do not dispose of and garbage on school grounds or in barrels around the children areas.
IV. No parking on the grass behind the school or in the private road.
V. Only one emergency vehicle allowed behind Doyon School during games. Others authorized by a league officer.
(REVISED 03/15/09)
