Jeffersonville Parks & Recreation

Jeffersonville Parks & Recreation Vissing Park Softball Leagues 2016 Fall League Rules and Guidelines

**No alcoholic beverages or smoking allowed on the field or in the dugouts** **Teams will be subject to a forfeit if failing to adhere to these rules**

General Vissing Park Rules (We use standard NSA rules unless listed below)

1. Three homerun limit per team, per game. After 3, homeruns will be ruled outs. 2. One ball and one strike pitch count to start each at bat; there is no free foul ball. 3. No run rule; the clock will be set to 55 minutes and no new inning will start when the clock reaches zero. 4. Tournament championship games will have no time limit but will have a 15 run rule after 5 innings. 5. One umpire per game except for tournament championship game, when two umpires will be used. 6. One courtesy runner allowed per inning, as indicated by NSA rules. 7. There is a 5 minute grace period for the first game only. Lineups are due 5 minutes before the scheduled game times with full names and numbers (if applicable) on the lineup card. 8. Two or more forfeits may result in a team being suspended or expelled from the league with no refunds. 9. Softballs used will be a 52 core with a 275 compression. The officials will be responsible for beginning each game with one new ball. Teams are responsible for returning all balls that go out of play. 10. Players cannot participate in any game unless roster/waiver/liability form has been signed in advance. No exceptions! 11. Minimum age to participate on a team is 18. 12. Limit of 25 players on the roster. No players may be added to the roster after the 5th game. 13. Individuals must be on the official roster to be eligible to play in the tournament. 14. Pitcher cannot use any motions to attempt to confuse the batter. No faking, no behind the back or between the leg pitches. The pitcher must present the ball in front of their body to start the pitching motion. 15. Pitching arc is 6’ to 10’ 16. Jeffersonville Parks Department will give awards to league and tournament champions. Award options will be discussed with each champion. 17. Rain Outs: If more than two weeks are rained out, games may need to be played on the weekends or another weeknight for makeup purposes. We’ll do everything we can to minimize rain outs but we can’t control Mother Nature! Be prepared to play on a different day. All team captains will be informed on rainouts via phone, text and/or email. 18. In the event of rain or unforeseen circumstances, games will be considered complete if 5 full innings have been played or if the home team is leading after 4 ½ innings. Games will be suspended in tournament play only. 19. Protests can only be made concerning the legal use of players involved in a game. Protests can occur before or after the game only. If it is found that a player(s) is ineligible after the game has been played, then the contest will be ruled a forfeit. All rule interpretations by the umpire are final! 20. Tie breaker scenario as follows: A. Won-Loss record, B. Head to Head, C. Total Runs Allowed, D. Total Runs Scored, E. Coin Toss 21. Pickup rule is no longer in affect. You must use players on your official roster during the season and tournament play in order to play an official contest. Failure to use players on your official roster will result in a forfeit. Players are not allowed to be on two different rosters at any time. Special Men’s League Rules 1. A team can start with 9 players. If the tenth player is running late to the game, that player can be added prior to the start of the game, but his spot in the order will be ruled an out until that player shows up. If using an EH/AH, 12 batters can be used in the men’s leagues. The 11th and 12th players follow the same guidelines as the 10th player. This must be shown on the official batting order that is turned in prior to the game. 2. If choosing to start with the minimum amount of players, you must finish with the minimum amount of players. 3. If a batter can’t bat for any reason, and there is no sub available, that batter will be ruled out. 4. All official game substitution rules do apply and you must announce the substitutions to the umpire and scorekeepers before making such changes.

Special Co-Ed Only League Rules 1. Teams must have at least 8 players to start the game. If the ninth and tenth players are running late to the game, those players can be added prior to the start of the game, but their spot in the order will be ruled an out until that player(s) shows up. 2. If choosing to start with the minimum amount of players, you must finish with the minimum amount of players. 3. If a batter can’t bat for any reason, and there is no sub available, that batter will be ruled out. 4. Teams must start and finish each game with a minimum of 4 women in the lineup. 5. The batting order must be staggered with a male and female batter alternating through the first 8 batters. 6. You can bat up to 12 players, but only 10 may play defense at any time. Men must bat using their weak hand. The defense can choose to switch the male batter’s hitting side one time during a game. If switched, the male player must remain that way the rest of the game. 7. Men must slide head first to all bases at all times. Any intentional contact with a fielder will be ruled an out. 8. The hog rule will be enforced in the field of play but it is at the discretion of the umpire. Any player can cover home plate. 9. All official game substitution rules do apply and you must announce the substitutions to the umpire and scorekeepers before making such changes. League Regulations

1. It is the team manager’s/captain’s responsibility to go over with and inform every player of all league rules and regulations before play begins.

2. Team managers/captains are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans. Good Sportsmanship along with clean, fair play is expected by all.

3. This league has a zero tolerance policy for not adhering to the league regulations.

4. Physical contact or abuse of an umpire, game official, scorekeeper, player, spectator or Parks Department employee (pushing, shoving, hitting, throwing ball, glove, or bat, etc.) may result in a minimum one year suspension from all leagues. The player(s) may also be suspended from Clarksville, New Albany, and Georgetown leagues as well.

5. Verbal abuse of an umpire, game official, scorekeeper, player, spectator or Parks Department employee may result in a minimum two game suspension from all leagues. The player(s) may also be suspended from Clarksville, New Albany, and Georgetown leagues as well.

6. Swearing and other unnecessary actions of unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. If it cannot be determined who the player at fault is, the official can issue a team warning. Failure by an individual or a team to adhere to the warning could result in an ejection, suspension, or forfeiture of the game. The following behaviors are considered unsportsmanlike: Profanity; Derogatory remarks towards officials, scorekeepers, fans, or another player(s); any action considered unsportsmanlike in the Officials and/or the Director of Sports and Athletics judgment.

7. Bench personnel shall not: disrespectfully address an official, attempt to influence an official’s decision, use profanity, and rise from the bench in objection, or use words or gestures of a disconcerting nature. Bench personnel may not enter the playing field unless given permission by an official to do so, such as attending to an injured player. Violation of this rule will not be tolerated!

8. Game Ejection of an individual player, coach and/or fan results when that individual is dismissed from the game/facility by the umpire and/or the Director of Sports and Athletics. Any individual receiving an ejection must immediately, and without confrontation, leave the premises prior to the game resuming. Failure to do so will result in possible added suspensions or expulsion from the league and could also result in forfeiture of the game. Any ejection will also result in that individual being ineligible to participate in the next scheduled contest and they are not to be on the premises at any time during this time frame. Any individual that receives two ejections in one season will be suspended for the duration of the season.

9. If you participate in multiple leagues with the Jeffersonville Parks & Recreation, you will be ruled ineligible to play in any of our leagues until your suspension/ejection has been completely served. Ex. You play in both our basketball and softball league. If you get ejected in a basketball game, you will be ineligible to participate in the softball league until your suspension is over for the basketball league. This rule includes if you play in multiple softball leagues as well.

10. Game suspensions or other penalties will be carried over into the next season if necessary. 11. The Department of Parks and Recreation along with the Director of Sports and Athletics has the authority to take any disciplinary action deemed necessary in regards to unsportsmanlike conduct or consistent misbehavior. Suspensions and/or expulsions from the league are possibilities.

Officials/Scorekeepers

1. Officials must be in proper officiating attire.

2. Officials are expected to officiate the game to the best of their ability. They are expected to hustle to their appropriate positions so that they can be in the best position possible in order to make the proper calls.

3. At no time is an official to bait a player into misconduct. The job of the official is to officiate the game and refrain from any and all attempts to cause or add to hostility during the game.

4. The officials will have absolute authority during the game.

5. Complaining or arguing with officials/scorekeepers or making derogatory remarks of any kind will NOT be tolerated before, during, or after the game. The officials have the right to judge the forfeiture of a game or necessary ejections of a player(s) from a game.

6. Official’s decisions and interpretations will be final. No protests will be accepted, except for matters concerning ineligible players.

7. Scorekeepers are the official scorers and their score sheets are the official score books. Managers, team scorers, or team captains may check with the scorer anytime to obtain the official score.

Procedures in Handling Body Fluids/Injuries

1. Play is stopped immediately. Injured player has to come out of the game.

2. The player’s wound must be attended to and covered.

3. If there is any blood on clothing, the clothing has to be removed or disinfected.

4. If there is any blood on the playing surface, the surface must be disinfected before play can resume.

5. Contaminated towels and clothing must be properly disinfected or disposed of according to O.S.H.A. standards.

6. In the matter of a life or death situation, Dial 911 immediately.

All Rules and Regulations of the Jeffersonville Parks Department Adult Softball Leagues are subject to change. Every effort will be made to give advance notice to managers and officials/scorekeepers regarding such changes.