MIDDLESEX COUNTY
OVER 50 SOFTBALL LEAGUE, INC.
LEAGUE RULES
2017
December
11, 2017
PREAMBLE
The name of the organization
shall be Middlesex County Over 50 Softball League Inc. The League shall be a non-profit corporation
pursuant to Title 15A: 2-8 of the New Jersey Domestic Non Profit Corporation
Act (The Act), whose purpose is to organize scheduled softball games for member
teams. Each team in the League shall be
considered a member pursuant to the Act and shall have equal rights and
limitations. If any assets are at any
time to be distributed, such distribution shall be equally among active
members. All officers and only officers
of the League shall be deemed Trustees under the Act. The League hereby indemnifies
Trustees/Officers to the maximum extent permitted under Title 15A: 3-4 of the
Act against expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding. Any provisions of these By-Laws (sometimes
referred to as a "Constitution") which are not in accordance with the
Act are to be considered null and void.
The intention of the League is to operate as a corporation under the Act
to limit any personal liabilities of Trustees/ Officers.
ARTICLE I
BY-LAWS
MEMBERSHIP/TEAMS
A. Each player must be at least fifty (50) years old in the calendar year that he joins the League. If a player is found to be ineligible due to age, his team forfeits all games for which he was on the roster (current season only) and the player is ineligible for future play in the League unless reinstated by the Board.
B. Prior to April 1, any new team can be awarded membership by the League Board in unanimous agreement. Any new team wishing to gain entry into the league must first be in compliance with Section D below in regards to the number of existing players that can be included for it to be considered “New.” New teams will be accepted singly or in pairs as needed, and will be entered into the League's A, B or C Division at the discretion of the League Board.
C. Team rosters with a minimum of sixteen (16) and a maximum of twenty-five (25) players must be submitted no later than April 1. Photocopies of players' driver’s licenses and signed liability release forms must also be submitted along with the team rosters. Teams forfeit all games until rosters are submitted. Team rosters are frozen after the completion of the third regular season playing date. Any player officially removed from the roster is ineligible to play for any team that year.
D. Prior to the first game of the season, no more than two (2) players can be picked up by any team from other existing teams in the League. A player shall be considered as an existing player (i.e. part of an existing team in the league) if he was on an official Player Roster for any team for any period of time (including partial seasons) during the preceding season (they need not have played in a game, just appear on a roster). Therefore, a new player would be anyone who never played in our league or appeared on any rosters at any time in the preceding year.
E. Among the Division A teams, players may only move from a higher-ranking team to a lower ranking team (based on the final standings from the previous year). Division B and C players may move freely to a Division A team, and Division A players may move freely to a Division B or C team. Players can move freely among the Division B and C teams. However, no more than three (3) players can be picked up by an existing B team, and no more than four (4) players can be picked up by an existing C team, from other existing teams in the League. Therefore, any “new” team cannot consist of more than 2 existing A Division players, 3 existing B Division players and 4 existing C Division players. In all cases, managers wishing to move players must submit their plan to the Board for approval. No existing players may be moved to other existing teams during the season.
ARTICLE II
YEARLY
OBLIGATIONS
All teams must pay League fees of $1200 by April 1st
of this year. Fees are required to purchase softballs and
also include insurance coverage, which the League will supply to the teams and
to pay umpires. Umpires will be paid in
cash at the start of all league season or playoff games. Teams in arrears forfeit all games while in
arrears.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
OF THE BOARD
The League Executive Board will
be comprised of three (3) to five (5) members, each with specific
responsibilities. The Board will be charged with all League administrative
decisions and duties, including enforcing League Rule revisions and additions
which will be determined by the managers.
The League Board will decide
all appeals, grievances and protests lodged during the season.
ARTICLE IV
NOMINATIONS
AND ELECTIONS
All shall be held at a formal
meeting called for at any time by the Executive Board or by a simple majority
of team Managers and will be governed by the following:
A. Nominations
1. Any designated team can make a nomination representative.
2. Only one nomination or second will be accepted from any
designated team representative for each Board position.
B. Elections
1. Requirements for voting.
Each team has one vote to be cast by the designated team representative.
2. There will be no absentee ballots.
3. Any candidate shall be elected when the balloting yields a
majority of the votes cast.
ARTICLE V
RULES
OF PLAY
The League shall adhere to the
current ASA rules and regulations for all playing matters, except as provided
in the League rules of play. League
rules take precedence over ASA rules.
Before the start of each softball
season, the League Managers will review and decide on playing rules that shall
be in the best interest of the League.
The Board shall also adopt a schedule for the regular season. Subsequent suggested revisions to individual
regular season game dates, times, and fields may be made with the approval of
the Executive Board .
The
current League rules of play are as follows:
1. Team field strength will be a
maximum of eleven (11) players and a minimum of eight (8).
2. A game will be forfeited if a
team cannot field a minimum of eight (8) players fifteen (15) minutes after the
pre-arranged starting time or during play.
If both teams cannot field eight (8) men, then both teams forfeit the
game. Teams will supply a catcher for eight (8) players only and will not participate in any defensive plays.
As long
as a Team contacts League/Board by Wednesday of that week the Team will not
Forfeit and can reschedule if possible future
date.
3.
A
team may bat all players. However, a
minimum of twelve (12) players, if available, must be batted. Any player playing the field must bat.
4.
There are no rules governing individual
playing time in the field; however, team Managers should make every effort to
give sufficient playing time to all players who desire it. Player complaints about inadequate playing
time in the field will be addressed to and ruled on by the League Board.
5.
There
is free substitution with players in the batting order (i.e., a player may be
removed from the field of play and reinstated at any time thereafter without
liability, including pitchers).
6.
Each
team may field eleven (11) players.
7.
Base
runners may not leave base until pitched ball is hit. If the runner leaves early, the runner is out
and the pitch counts for the batter.
8.
Pinch
runners are allowed freely except any one player may be used as a pinch runner
no more than one time per inning from the batting order. All players on the bench
are eligible to run even if not currently in the lineup. Once pinch runner touches the base
replacing runner, they cannot be replaced by another runner. Pinch runners can
enter the game at any base at any time.
9.
If a player is removed from the game, an
automatic out will be recorded (only) for the removed player's next scheduled
turn at bat. (No additional outs will be
recorded for subsequent scheduled turns at bat). Before the start of the game, players
planning to leave a game before its conclusion must inform the umpire and
opposing manager of their intended departure time; no penalty will then be
imposed. Note that the team is still
subject to (non-monetary) forfeiture of the game if it is unable to field eight
(8) players as a result of (a) player(s) leaving or having been removed from
the game.
10.
Players
arriving at any time subsequent to the start of the game will be inserted at
the bottom of the lineup.
11.
This
is a slow pitch league with a minimum arc of six (6) feet and a maximum arc of
ten (10) feet above the ground. All pitchers must pitch from behind the screen.
Batted balls that hit the screen will be a strike. Hitting the screen with 2
strikes on the batter is a 3rd strike out. All other balls that
contact the screen are in play as live balls. However, if a thrown ball becomes
lodged in the screen and for safety reasons, it will be a dead ball and (1) one
base awarded to all runners.
12.
The pitcher’s box shall
be three (3) feet wide to match the width of the pitching screen and five (5)
feet deep. The pitcher can pitch from any spot in the box, as long as he has
one foot in the box. The pivot foot must remain in the pitcher’s box throughout
the delivery. Consistent with current regulations, the pitcher must pause at least one (1) second
before the start of delivery i.e. he cannot run up while in the box.
13.
The pitching screen will
be placed at forty-eight (48) feet centered in front of the pitching rubber.
The managers will decide what team’s pitching screen will be used.
14.
A
league approved strike zone mat (22” x 36”) will be used in all League
games. The plate and the mat shall
constitute the strike zone.
15.
If
the umpire calls a pitch illegal and the batter swings, the ball is in
play. If the pitch is taken, it is an
automatic called Ball.
16.
A
third strike foul (i.e., a foul hit when the count is already strike two) is an
automatic out. If such a third strike
foul out is caught by a fielder, the ball is in play and runners may attempt to
advance at their own discretion.
17.
All
base paths are sixty-five (65) feet between bases and the pitching rubber is
fifty (50) feet from home plate except where otherwise agreed due to field
limitations.
18.
A
commitment line will be designated halfway (32½ ft) between third and
home. This line should be made by the umpire.
19.
No
base stealing, bunting or slap hitting/chopping are allowed.
20.
All
games will be seven (7) innings. Five
(5) innings must be completed (4-1/2 if the home team is winning) for a game to
be official.
21.
In
the first inning, the maximum amount of runs scored will be 5 per team. After the first inning, the even plus five
(5) run rule will be in effect, with no restrictions
in the last inning or extra innings.
22.
There is a limit of three (3) “over the fence” home runs plus one
(1) up in a game per team. All home runs hit exceeding the maximum
number of team home runs is an out.
23.
Mercy Rule: The is no
mercy rule if one team leads the other by fifteen (15) runs after five (5)
innings of play have been completed (or 4-1/2 innings if the home team is in the
lead), however, the losing team may elect to terminate the game.
24.
All
bats must be slow-pitch officially approved by ASA. Bats
with altered [original manufacturer] markings are prohibited. All bats must be equal to the
1.20 BPF standard. Every player will be required to sign a
written statement attesting to the fact that his bat does not exceed the 1.20
BPF standard.
(If a player is in doubt about the specifications of his bat, it cannot
be used.) A
batter using a bat prohibited by these rules
will be declared out and ejected from the game.
25.
Metal
spikes are not allowed.
26.
The
safety base at first base will be placed eighteen (18”) inches from the regular
base.
27.
Sliding
is permitted into all bases, including (the scoring) home plate and (the
batter's) first base. At any base and regardless of the specific
circumstances of the play, a runner
who does not slide must veer out of the way of an infielder in order to avoid a
collision. (A player cannot break up a
force out, tag play or a double play by running into a fielder.) The umpire will declare (an) out(s) as
appropriate if this rule is violated.
If the runner runs into the fielder and, in the umpire's judgment, it
was a dangerous play, the runner will be ejected from
the game and may face suspension. The
player's action will be reviewed by the League Board to determine if further
disciplinary action should be taken. Any
decision made by the Committee will be strictly enforced. We are a "fun" League.
28.
On
a play at home plate, the catcher can record an out only by touching any
portion of the mat. This means that the
catcher cannot tag out a runner coming home or block him from crossing the
scoring plate, even if the incoming throw draws him toward the runner and/or
scoring plate. Correspondingly, the
runner who touches home plate or interferes with the incoming throw at home
plate shall be automatically called out.
29.
The
socring plate will be placed eight (8’) feet from the
mat on the first base line extended.
Where playing field design makes the use of a scoring plate potentially
dangerous, as agreed upon by the opposing managers and the umpire, a scoring
line (extension of the first base line into foul territory on the third base
side) may be used instead of a scoring plate.
30.
Both
teams shall provide one (1) new ball for each game.
31.
During
play, only team managers can discuss calls with the
umpire, or other items pertaining to the nature of play. Managers must make
this clear to their players.
32.
After
the umpire calls, "Play Ball"; a team has two (2) minutes to resume
play or the umpire can call a (non-monetary) forfeit.
33.
An
umpire may remove a player for verbal abuse or physical abuse. Physical abuse will result in being removed
from the League for the remainder of the year.
34.
A
player removed from the League for physical abuse will be subject to review by
the League Board regarding possible future reinstatement the following year.
35.
A
player removed from the game by an umpire must leave the vicinity of the
ballpark, or sit in his car for the remainder of that game. Failure to do so will result in his team's
(non-monetary) forfeiture of the game. A
player removed from game one can return for game two of the doubleheader.
36.
End
of season ties in the standings will be decided by the record of each team
against all teams with which it is tied.
If ties still exist, the tiebreaker is recorded against the least runs
allowed finishing team or group of teams in the division against the next
highest, etc., in descending order through all teams. Ties shall be settled from bottom of
standings to top in ascending order (ties for 3rd and 4th are
settled before ties for 1st and 2nd). In
case of ties still existing, a coin toss in the presence of representatives of
all affected teams shall decide.
Won/Lost percentage, rather than games ahead/behind, will be the
criterion for comparing records. A 0-1
record is better than 0-2 where neither team has at least one victory.
37.
Should
any Bumper Week games be scheduled in that year, this same tiebreaker procedure
will be used to determine competing team pairings for all Bumper Week games,. (That is, within
each Division, the team currently standing #1 plays team #2 and #3 plays #4-- with these
standings having been determined by the tie-breaker procedure, above.)
38.
For the playoffs with an odd number of
teams in that division, the top 1 seeds in each
division get byes while the last 2 teams play for the last position and the
remaining teams play each other. The
first round will be 2 plays 3 and 4 plays 5. The next round will be 1 plays winner of
4/5. The final round will be winner of
1&4/5 vs winner of 2&3. For even
team divisions, 1vs 4 and 2vs3 then winners play for championship.
39.
If
the umpire does not show up for a scheduled game, or leaves during the course
of the game, both managers must agree on a substitute or substitutes, who can
be from either or both teams (and can even play in the game when not serving as
an umpire), or a spectator. Once the
game begins, it cannot be terminated over dissatisfaction with the umpiring.
40.
While
it is preferred that all players wear uniforms, this provision shall not be
mandatory.
ARTICLE VI
DIVISIONS
A.
During
pre-season meetings, both the Division and cross-Division team alignment will
be reviewed and decided upon for the coming season. A majority vote will be
required for approval. Every effort should be made to maintain parity among
teams in any given Division.
B.
State
Championships
Teams from the league may
participate in the NJSSA State Championships.
These shall include teams from any Division. Application must be made the the NJSSA prior to team participation. Details are contained on the NJSSA.US website.
ARTICLE VII
RATIFICATION
New By
Laws are proposed and adopted for the League at the discretion of the League
Managers. If so designated by the Board,
a meeting of League Managers may be called at any time to consider and adopt By
Law revisions and/or additions. If such
a meeting is held, ratification shall require that at least a quorum must be in
attendance and at least two-thirds (66-2/3 per cent) of those present must vote
for the Article I (By-Laws) in the affirmative.
Changes in Article VI (Rules of Play), however, require only a simple
majority vote approval.