GLENCOE PARK DISTRICT 2015 SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES

I. LEAGUE PLAYING RULES A. All softball games will be played in accordance with A.S.A. and 12" Slow rules, with the exception of any changes specifically stated in these rules as pertaining to local situations.

B. There shall be a definite starting time established by the league director. Any team that is not ready to play within 10 minutes of the first game shall have the game forfeited to the other team by the umpire. A 10-MINUTE GRACE PERIOD ONLY FOR FIRST GAME. NO GRACE PERIOD FOR MAKEUP GAMES. Makeup games will play a minimum 7 (unless slaughter rule). After 7 innings, regular time limit rules will apply.

C. No will start if there are 10 minutes or less left to play before either the start of the next game or lights (10:10 p.m.). 1. An inning in progress will continue until completed. An inning in progress will not be suspended or stopped unless it has carried over into the first five minutes of the next scheduled game. Once a game carries into the first five minutes of the next scheduled game, the game will be over. The score will revert back to the last complete inning unless the home team is ahead at the time the game is halted or if the home team tied the game in the inning in which the game was halted. The umpire reserves the right and judgment to speed up any inning in order to keep following games or lights out on as close to schedule as possible. In such cases rule I-E will be strictly enforced. If there is no scheduled game to follow, the game will play until it's completed, or see rule I-D.

D. The last game scheduled for the evening (usually the 8:50 or 9:00 p.m. game), may not continue past 10:10 p.m. Even if the games were to start late due to previous games ending late.

E. The curfew rule will be enforced as follows: No game will continue after 10:10 p.m. *Lights MUST be out by 10:15 p.m. weekdays.

F. Teams stalling on the field or in an effort to invoke the Time Limit Rule shall be first warned by the umpire, and then may forfeit the game.

G. Rain, Darkness or Power Outages: If a game is halted before 4 1/2 or 5 innings (4 1/2 if home team is winning), the game will resume at the start of the last complete inning (not at the point of interruption, but back to the beginning of the full inning). After 4 1/2 or 5 innings, the game will be considered a complete game. H. In the event that a regular league umpire does not appear, the two managers have the privilege of agreeing upon officials selected at random; these selected umpires shall be considered official and the result of the game shall stand as played. In the event that an umpire, agreeable to both managers, cannot be secured, the game shall be declared postponed. In the event the chosen umpire, for some reason, refuses to complete the game and no agreeable substitute can be found, the game is postponed unless five (5) complete or 4 1/2 innings by the losing side have been played, in which case, the game shall stand. The game may be considered a forfeit if the umpire leaves due to harassment or abuse.

I. All leagues will play regulation seven (7) inning games.

J. The Athletic Program Manager shall arrange all schedules including makeups and assign all umpires where necessary.

K. Scorebooks will be properly completed for each game by each team. The team at bat will keep their teams score. Full proper last names and first initials of all players and substitutes must be legibly shown. In the case of a protest over an ineligible player, any recognizable alterations will be construed as a decision against the offending team. If a scorebook is not legible, the decision will be against the offending team. (See Protest Rule also.)

L. If a team fails to keep its score during an inning in which runs were scored, all runs in that inning not marked in the scorebook will be forfeited. The lead off hitter for the following inning will still be the hitter due up after the last out of the previous inning.

M. A first base will be used where available. The fielder must touch the white base, the runner must touch the orange base. If the fielder misses the white base and touches the orange before the runner, the runner is . If the runner misses the orange base and touches the white before the fielder, the runner is out. If a hits the white base, it is fair; if it hits the orange, it is foul. Once on base, the runner tags the white base.

N. The home team for each game will keep the game ball.

O. A player is only allowed to be on one roster for each Glencoe Park District league.

P. All players must be 18 years of age or older or a graduate of high school in order to play in the Men's Leagues. A player must have a picture ID on his person at all games. Failure to produce an ID can result in forfeiture (see Roster Protest rule).

Q. Roster Limit is 20 players NOTE: Roster additions/changes can be made on site. New players must sign the roster form before they will be allowed to participate. Rosters are now located in the equipment box behind the backstop.

R. Rosters will be frozen after a team’s fourth game. No additions may be made for the Post Season Tournament.

S. No team will be allowed to take the field with less than eight (8) players. If a team starts the game with eight (8) players and a ninth or tenth shows up, he/they may be inserted into the game. A team may play with ten (10) players if, and only if, all ten players are on the roster. The late arriving player(s) must bat last in the line up.

T. If a player leaves after the start of a game and there is no other rostered player available as a replacement, an out will be assessed each time his turn at bat comes up. If the player had to leave due to an injury, an out will not be assessed.

II. ADDITIONAL HITTER * This rule is not mandatory. A. A team may insert an additional hitter into its line-up. The order must remain constant; however, any 10 of the 11 players can take a defensive position throughout the game. If the additional hitter is used, the team must finish with an eleven (11)-player line-up. It is not mandatory that a team uses an additional hitter, but failure to declare such a hitter prior to the game, precludes the use of an additional hitter in that game. Only in the case of an injury may a team finish with less than 11 players and only if there are no subs on the bench. If a team finishes with less than 11 players, an out will be assessed to that team whenever that player's turn at bat occurs. If a player leaves due to injury, an out will not be assessed. The Additional Hitter Rule will be used in all Park District Leagues.

III. TEAM PLAYING REGULATIONS A. There will be a maximum of two (2) warm-up pitches after the first inning and each pitcher will receive five (5) in the first inning.

B. Managers and umpires will discuss prior to the start of all games and the umpires' decision will be final.

C. If a team is leading by ten (10) or more runs at the end of five (5) innings or any inning thereafter, the game will be terminated and the team with the most runs declared the winner. The rule only applies at the end of an inning (or half inning if the home team is winning). This rule WILL apply to tournament games.

D. INTENTIONAL WALK: If a team wishes to intentionally award a batter 1st base, the pitcher must tell the umpire to "walk the batter". No pitches need to be thrown.

E. : After the play is over the defensive team must call time out. Defensive team captain must then inform the umpire; "Appeal" 1st base, 2nd base, etc. The umpire will then render a final decision. Appeal only needs to be verbal. Only one appeal is allowed per play.

F. The captain, coach, players on the roster, scorekeeper, and the batboy are the only ones allowed in the designated bench area. It is the responsibility of the captain to keep all other persons from this area.

G. No smoking on the playing field. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED ON PARK DISTRICT PROPERTY AT ANY TIME. Rules will be strictly enforced.

H. Men’s Leagues will start with a 1 ball, 1 strike .

I. First after two (2) strikes is an out. A foul ball with two strikes is an automatic . If the fielder catches it, runners may NOT advance.

J. A batted ball that strikes any tree or shrubbery in foul or fair territory on a fly is a dead ball. The only exception is the "home " area in the . Any ball in this wooded area is in play. If a fence is installed in the outfield, any ball hit over the fence on a fly is a . If a ball bounces over or rolls under the fence, it is a ground rule .

K. No metal spikes will be allowed in any Glencoe Park District Softball Leagues.

L. Courtesy runners will be allowed. The runner will be the person who made the last out at bat or on the bases, whichever happened last.

IV. BASE A. A fielder is not allowed to be blocking a base without the ball. If this occurs and the runner is tagged out trying to go around the fielder, interference will be called and the runner declared safe. At no time is the runner allowed to barrel into a fielder with or without the ball. If the fielder has the ball and is blocking the plate, the runner must either , try to go around, or give him or herself up.

There is no "SLIDE RULE" in effect for Glencoe Park District Softball. This means a player is not required to slide at any time. However, a player IS REQUIRED to avoid contact at ALL TIMES. Any player ejected for making contact with any opposing player will receive a minimum 2 game suspensions. Further suspension is possible depending on the severity of the offense. It is the judgment of the umpire to determine whether contact is incidental, unavoidable, or intentional.

B. A fielder who fakes a tag without having possession of the ball will automatically be ejected from the game.

V. LEAD OFF RULE A. Lead-offs will be permitted after the ball crosses the plate. A player caught leading off prior to the ball crossing the plate will be called out.

VI. PITCHING RULE A. Pitcher must begin with 1 or 2 feet on the pitcher's plate. Pivot foot must remain in contact with the rubber. If a step is taken, it can be forward or backward, but must be simultaneous with the release of the ball.

B. The ball must be delivered slowly.

C. A strike mat will be used to determine balls and strikes. If a legal pitched ball hits any part of the strike mat the pitch will be called a strike.

D. Home plate and any black part of home plate will NOT be called a strike.

E. A pitch must reach an arc of at least 6 feet and no more than 12 feet to be legal. Pitches will be verbally identified as illegal in the air.

VII. PROTEST A. A protest must be submitted in writing within 24 hours after the end of the game to the Park District office. All protests must be accompanied by a $20.00 protest fee, which will be fully refunded if the protest is upheld. A Protest Committee consisting of at least two (2) of the following will decide on protests: Athletic Program Manager, Chief Umpire, Field Supervisor and Director of Recreation.

B. When playing a game under protest, both the opposing team and the umpire must be notified before the next pitch. Please notify the field supervisor as well before leaving the park.

C. Protests are allowed only on plays that involve rule interpretation. Protests will be considered only when the play in question had a "Significant Effect" on the outcome of the game. Protests will not be accepted during league tournament games.

D. Roster Protest: No fee will be charged for roster protests. PROCEDURE: 1. Protest the player before the game ends. 2. Notify umpire, opposing team captain and field supervisor of the protest. 3. Player in question must sign the score sheet and also print his/her name and produce I.D. 4. The score sheet will be turned into the Park District office where the roster will then be checked.

E. The Athletic Program Manager's disposal of the matter is final! Roster protests may be accepted during league tournament games.

F. If the player in question is not listed on the team roster AND has not signed the roster, the player will be ruled ineligible and a forfeit will be ruled.

VIII. SUBSTITUTIONS A. A player may re-enter the game after being removed only after six (6) outs (1 full inning) have been registered in the game.

B. The substitution should be indicated in the scorebook with the inning and the number of outs marked.

C. A player re-entering the game may do so anywhere in the field or at bat.

IX. EQUIPMENT A. Every player must wear a shirt.

B. Shoes of some kind must be worn. Metal spikes are NOT allowed in any Park District leagues or tournaments.

C. All Glencoe Park District leagues are required to use an "Official Softball" bat and/or meet the ASA standards. If a batter is caught stepping into the batters box with an illegal bat, the umpire will declare the batter out. No warning is necessary nor will be given. X. RULES OF CONDUCT A. Each captain will be held responsible for the conduct of his/her team players and is responsible to see that all rules are observed. The captain must maintain complete control of himself and his team members at all times; this includes before, during or after a game and any other time involved with the softball program. The key to a successful program is in the hands of the captain and, in turn, his players. Good leadership will insure a good program.

B. Officials and their decisions will be respected and not interfered with at any time. Unsportsmanlike conduct, disrespect, vulgarity, or profanity will not be tolerated at any time. Any captain or player removed from a game will receive an automatic one (1) game suspension to be served in the next consecutive game. The Program Manager depending on the severity of the offense may give a longer suspension.

If requested by Official or Supervisor, ejected players must leave the park immediately. Failure to comply will result in extended individual suspension or team suspension. A report will be submitted to the Program Manager whose disposal of the matter is final.

C. A game will be forfeited in the event a team fails to respect the officials’ authority or decisions; one warning will be given prior to such action.

Personal harassment of officials (umpires, directors, scorers, supervisors) may be cause for either the team or individual to be suspended from league play and/or tournaments. A player does not have to be in the game for this rule to be in effect. He could be a spectator of a team.

D. In any discussion on the playing field with an official, only the captain will be permitted to enter the discussion.

1. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

2. The threatening of an official will have an automatic removal for the season, both league and tournament play.

E. Fighting will result in an automatic suspension from ALL Glencoe Park District Leagues for one (1) full calendar year.

F. Any player, captain or spectator guilty of physically striking an official or Glencoe Park District employee will be immediately suspended for the season and the team put on probation with possible suspension resulting. Suspension for such an infraction is a league suspension for one calendar year from the date of infraction.

In the event that a more serious battery takes place toward an official or supervisor, expulsion up to life can be directed after referral and review by the Director Recreation and Facilities and the Executive Director of the Glencoe Park District.

XI. ALCOHOL A. Any team who brings alcoholic beverages onto park district property will be subject to immediate suspension. Any player under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, risks immediate suspension from the league and forfeiture of the game. It is the responsibility of the team captain and the members of the team to control their own team and spectators.

XII. MISCELLANEOUS A. Tie for first place will be decided by Head-to-Head Competition. If the teams split in head-to- head competition, the winner will be determined by run differential against each other. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by runs scored during the season. If the teams have not played, a playoff will be held.

B. FORFEITS AND TIE BREAKERS: If two teams are tied in the league standings and are tied in head to head competition but one of the teams forfeited at some point in the season, the tie breaker will go in favor of the team without the forfeit. In all tiebreakers, after head to head competition, teams with a forfeit loss during the year will not receive any further consideration.

C. All teams will participate in a elimination post-season tournament.

D. All make-up games will be played at the end of regular season play. If there are no make-up games then the tournament will begin immediately after the regular season is over.

E. All league champions receive a $200 award and a trophy. All tournament champions receive a $100 award and a trophy. 2nd place for all leagues and tournaments receive a trophy.

F. Only two (2) forfeits by a single team will be tolerated. Following the first forfeit, a team will lose $25.00 of their $50.00 forfeit fee deposit. After a second forfeit, a team will lose the other $25.00 of the forfeit fee deposit and will be dropped from the league without any form of refund. Teams who are dropped from the league cannot re-enter the following year under returning team status.

NOTE: Any rule not listed in the above Glencoe Park District Softball League Rules, will be covered by the Amateur Softball Association 2015 Official Softball Rulebook.

PLEASE SIGN THE ATTACHED FORM. RECOGNIZING THAT YOU HAVE FAMILIARIZED YOURSELF WITH THE 2015 MEN’S SOFTBALL RULES