The Franklin Senior Softball League is a recreational League founded in 2006 to promote co-ed softball. The goal of the league is to provide its players with a safe and friendly environment to play softball with an emphasis on participation and sportsmanship. Team managers are responsible for promoting a healthy balance between fun and competition and a fair allocation of playing time throughout the season. They are also responsible for following all league rules and for the proper conduct of their team’s players and fans.
USA (ASA) rules apply to any situation not covered by league rules.
In these rules, the word “he” is gender neutral.
1. Game Days- Games are traditionally played on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. Games scheduled for Fridays shall be scheduled to start at 6:15 p.m. before May 15 and 6:30 thereafter. Games to be played on Sundays shall be scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Make up games may be scheduled as part of a Friday or Sunday doubleheader. In all cases, forfeit time shall be 15 minutes after the scheduled start time.
2.
Players-A maximum of eleven fielders may be
positioned in the field. One of the
extra fielders must be in the outfield.
The minimum number of fielders shall be nine. A team with only nine
players at the scheduled start time must start the game on time. Late arriving
players can be added at any time provided they either replace someone else in
the batting order or are added at the end of the original batting
order.
3.
Borrowing players-During the regular season, a team
with only 9 players can borrow one or two players from the opposing team. The
shorthanded team can either (1) borrow them for the duration of the game
whereas they can play the field and bat with that team at the bottom of the
batting order or (2) borrow any available player or players each inning to fill
a position in the field. However, the borrowed player(s) remain in their team's
batting order.
4.
Playing time-There are no league rules for
mandatory individual playing time either for innings in the field or times at
bat. However, team managers should make every effort to be fair and give
sufficient playing team to all team members. Every player attending a game is
expected to be given the opportunity to play and get to bat. Complaints about
playing time can be directed to the league commissioner.
5.
Forfeits-A forfeit can be declared by the umpire
in favor of the team not at fault in the case of insufficient players (9) to
either start a game or continue a game or in the case of gross violation of
league or Township park rules. Teams have a 15 minute "grace period"
from game time to have sufficient players to start.
6. Players leaving a game-Before the start of a game, a team manager must inform the opposing team of any players planning to leave the game early. No penalty will then be imposed. Any player removed from a batting order during the game whether from an injury or other circumstance will result in an automatic out for their next scheduled at bat unless a pinch hitter is available and used. There is no further penalty for their subsequent missed at bats.
7. Batting
Order- Each team may establish its own number of batters in the order up to the
maximum of 22, so long as all fielders appear in the batting order. If an
injured player’s turn comes up in the batting order, he must bat in that slot
unless a pinch hitter is used as provided for in Rule 24 or an out shall be
recorded. However, the opposing Manager may agree that the injured player’s
turn in the batting order can be skipped for the remainder of the game with no
out recorded, in which case the injured player cannot re-enter the game in any
capacity. Late arriving players or players left out of the original batting
order can be added to the end of the batting order at any time or they can take
the place of someone else.
8. Legal
Pitching-Pitches shall be underhand of any speed, bowling style – slow, lob or
fast. However, no wind mill, slingshot or whip pitching is allowed. The
backswing of a pitcher's arm shall not rise more than 90 degrees to his torso
(arm-hip-shoulder). The ball may be brought behind the back on the backswing
but the shoulders and hip must be square to the batter upon release. The ball
can be released away from the body as long as the palm is facing forward or
towards the body, it cannot be released while outside of the wrist. “Arc ball”
pitching is not allowed. A legal pitch will not rise over the batter’s head.
The pitcher’s rubber shall be no closer than 45 feet from home plate. In
delivering his pitch the pitcher shall begin the pitching motion with a pivot
foot being in contact with the pitching rubber within two feet on either side
of an imaginary straight line determined by the umpire that runs between home
plate and second base. Illegal pitches will be called ‘balls’ by the umpire.
Pitchers will be allowed 8 warm up pitches before the start of the game and 4
warm up pitches between innings. New pitchers will be allowed 4 warm up
pitches.
9. Umpires-All
umpires will be made available by the League. Teams cannot request a certain
umpire or request that a certain umpire be removed from a game. They can
however, complain to the Commissioner who can investigate.
10. Umpires/Safety-An
umpire can call off any game or end a game at any time if he feels that the
actions of participants or weather and field conditions warrant it. In the
course of applying any rule or generally managing the conduct of a game, the
umpire shall be mindful at all times of safety considerations and act at all
times to avoid or minimize the risk of injury to any player.
11. Strike
Zone-The strike zone shall extend from the top of the batter’s shoulders to the
bottom of his knees when he takes his normal batting stance. The initial count
on each batter shall start at 0-0. No “plate extender” shall be used. If a
batter is hit by the pitch, it shall be called a ball. A maximum of 3 walks per
inning shall be allowed. After the third walk, strikes only shall be called.
Intentional walks are allowed, but the pitcher must throw four pitches that are
out of the strike zone.
12. Foul
Balls-In all cases: A foul tip that does not rise higher than the batter’s head
and is caught by the catcher with less than two strikes on the batter shall
count as a strike only. A foul on any count that rises higher than the batter’s
head and is caught by the catcher is an out. If the batter hits a foul ball on
the third strike (unless it is a foul tip caught by the catcher, thereby
resulting in an out), the batter gets one more strike only (called or foul).
13. Equipment:
The home team must supply regulation bases, stuffed not plastic, plus two home
plates and one stuffed orange colored auxiliary first base. Also, a pitching
rubber is optional. If not provided the game is forfeited to the visiting
team. Teams should also have a First Aid
Kit at every game including cold packs.
14. Bases-Bases
shall be 65 feet apart and not tied down (unless the field being used has
permanent bases in which case the permanent bases shall be used regardless of
the distance between bases). For
safety reasons, an auxiliary home plate and an orange-colored stuffed auxiliary
first base for the runner shall be used.
15. Commitment
Line- A commitment line shall be established halfway between third base and the
regular home plate. If the runner passes that line they must proceed to the
auxiliary plate. If the runner advances to the regular home plate, the umpire
will call him out.
16. Force
at any base rule-For safety reasons, a fielder does not need to tag a runner at
any base. An out shall be recorded if the ball arrives in possession of the
fielder while he is touching any base including the regular first base or home
plate before the runner touches the auxiliary first base, auxiliary home plate
or regular second and third base. However, a fielder
still has the option to tag a passing runner or in a traditional run down play
and any fielder covering a throw to any base except home maintains the option
of tagging the runner. On a ball hit into the
outfield, a runner may touch the regular first base when running to second on a
continuous play.
17. Collisions-In
the interests of safety, a runner is out if he intentionally slides into
a base or intentionally collides with a fielder; an obvious trip shall not be
considered an intentional slide. A decision by the umpire that a collision was
incidental or unintentional shall be final and not appealable. If a collision
is deemed flagrant by the umpire or both Managers, the runner shall also be
ejected from the game. No tagging of a runner coming from third is allowed if
he has crossed the commitment line; to record an out the regular home plate must
be tagged. If a runner touches the regular home plate before or without
touching the auxiliary home plate, the runner is out automatically.
18. Interference-Verbal
interference by the team at bat or anything that distracts or deters a team or
player from making a play will result in a warning and subsequently in an
ejection. Umpire may also call a batter out. In the umpire’s judgement if an
injury results from any interference then an immediate ejection will result.
Also, obstruction may be called on the defense based on a fake tag or any
verbal interference and base runners awarded bases.
19. Over
Running Bases Rule-For reasons of safety, “overrunning” of bases (either going
toward or returning to a base) is allowed; provided,
however, that if a fielder completely blocks the base, the runner must pull up
or go around the base even if the fielder is technically at fault, and the
umpire shall make sure this rule is strictly enforced. In such situations, the
umpire shall have the discretion to call the runner safe or to award the runner
an extra base if he feels the runner would have advanced safely had he not been
required to avoid a collision. Decisions made by the umpire in accordance with
the preceding sentence shall be final and not appealable. While overrunning
a base, the runner can be tagged out if he makes an obvious commitment to
attempt an advance to the next base. If the runner chooses to advance to
second base after an overrun of first base, he need not retag first base. A
runner who overruns second or third must retag the base he overran before
proceeding to the next base. If a runner is advancing to a base that has been
moved for any reason, to be safe the runner must tag the spot where the base
was originally located, such spot to be determined in the sole judgment of the
umpire.
20. Baserunners-No
bunting or base stealing is allowed. Runners may not take a lead off any base
and may only leave a base when the pitched ball arrives at the plate. If the umpire catches a runner leaving early,
he shall call “no pitch” and call the runner out; if the batter hits the pitch
anyway, it does not count. Runners may not advance on a passed ball, wild pitch
or errant return throw from the catcher that is dropped or missed by the
pitcher. A batter is automatically out if a third strike is dropped by the
catcher; no throw to first base is required. Overthrows to first, third or home
that go out of play: runners can proceed to the base to which they are
advancing, plus one more. The infield fly rule shall be applicable. If in the
discretion of the umpire, a fielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball that
can be caught with normal effort when a base is occupied by a runner, he may
call the batter “out” automatically and the runner(s) shall be allowed to
safely return to the base occupied before the play began.
21. Regulation Game-A regulation game will last 7 innings unless sooner cancelled by the umpire or both Managers due to weather, darkness or other unsafe playing condition. An official game in the regular season shall be any game where the losing team has had at least 5 at bats; a game that has not become official that is called for any reason shall be replayed in its entirety from the beginning. Rule for playoffs: A game that must be called before it is complete shall be resumed at the point at which it was stopped as soon as conveniently possible thereafter and played to completion. In the event of a tie game after regulation play, play shall continue into extra innings until one team is ahead at the completion of an inning. A game that has become official that remains tied but then is called for any reason, and any incomplete playoff game that is resumed as provided above, shall resume at a later date from the exact point where the game was called, using the same players, position in the batting order then at bat, base runners, etc. as closely as possible as they were in effect when the game was called, any disagreement about which is to be determined by the Managers in a good faith, cooperative manner upon consultation with the umpire if necessary.
22. Mercy Rule-There will be a mandatory 15 run “mercy rule,” that is, if one team leads the other by 15 runs or more at any time after five complete innings have been played, the game is over.
23. Five Run Rule-In any inning, except the last inning or extra innings: A team tied or in the lead can score no more than 5 runs in that inning; a team that is losing can score as many runs as possible but cannot take the lead by more than 5 runs. In the last inning or extra innings, there is no limitation on the number of runs that can be scored.
24. Scorekeeper-Each
team shall designate a scorekeeper. The scorekeepers shall compare scores after
each half inning. Any discrepancy in the score between scorekeepers shall be
resolved by the Managers before the next half inning begins.
Scorekeepers/managers are responsible for reporting game results to the League
Secretary/Commissioner within 24 hours.
25. Free
substitution of fielders-Changes in the field shall be made by the managers on
the honor system, there is no need to advise the other team's scorekeeper when
a change is made. This is permitted so long as the batting order is maintained.
Players removed from the field to 'sit out' may return so long as they keep
their same place in the batting order and may do so any number of times.
26. Pinch
Hitter-At any point a Manager may, with notice to the other Manager and the
umpire, insert a player who has not yet entered the game into the batting order
as a designated pinch hitter for another batter, such player to be permanently
removed from the game after he bats and runs the bases.
27. Courtesy
Runners-A courtesy base runner is permitted to substitute for any batter
(whether or not injured) who has reached base safely, but only may be
inserted immediately after the batter safely reaches base. Managers need not
designate which batters will have courtesy runners beforehand. As a courtesy
base runner, a player may run any number of times per game but can only run
once per inning. A player used as a courtesy base runner may also run for
himself as a batter in the same inning. However, if a courtesy runner's regular
slot in the batting order comes up while he is on base, the manager must choose
either to lose the runner and no out recorded or the courtesy base runner can
remain on base and an out is recorded. A player may be used once per inning as
a courtesy runner or combination designated runner or courtesy runner.
Designated runners and courtesy runner must be players who are in the batting
order.
28. Runners
from Home-One batter from each team below age 75 so
designated before the start of the game in the discretion of the manager and (b)
any other designated batter who has reached or will reach age 75 in 2018, may
have a courtesy base runner from home plate, such runner to start from a point
behind the regular home plate chosen by the umpire. A courtesy runner
for each such “designated batter” must be used each time that batter is up.
To avoid confusion on the part of the fielders, if a batter who has a courtesy
runner from home plate nevertheless begins to run to first base after a pitch
is struck, the umpire shall call the batter “out.” As a courtesy base
runner, a player may run any number of times per game but can only run
once per inning.
29. Injured
Baserunner-If a courtesy base runner, or a batter who is no longer eligible for
a courtesy base runner becomes injured while on base or advancing to a base, he
either must remain there or he may be removed from the base with no out
recorded (in which case he may not re-enter the game in any capacity provided
his team can still field a minimum of eleven fielders without him). In this
situation no courtesy base runner for the injured runner is permitted.
30. Weather-Cancellation
of a game before it begins due to poor weather or playing field
conditions will be made by 4:00 PM on weekdays and 8 AM on weekends. If due to
unforeseen circumstances or poor field conditions, the umpire can also make the
decision to cancel the game and inform the Commissioner within 24 hours. The
Franklin Township Recreation Dept. shall have the final say in the use of
township fields. The League Commissioner shall schedule a makeup game
for a game cancelled either pre-game or before it becomes an official game, or
continuation of a tie game that has gone at least 5 innings, as soon as
possible thereafter.
31. Legal
bats- Only bats approved for play in Franklin Township Softball Leagues are
acceptable. Only bats stamped as ASA approved can be used. Bats manufactured
after 2013 will be clearly and permanently marked “Approved for ASA Use”. No
bats marked as 'Seniors' may be used. Inspection
of bats- Before every game each team must line up all bats so the umpire can
inspect them for legality. Additional bats brought to a game after the
grounds rule meeting between managers and umpires will not be allowed in that
game. The decision of the umpire as to the allowance of a bat for use in a game
shall be final and not appealable. A player who uses or attempts to use a bat
not approved by the umpire shall be called out. No altered bat will be allowed
on or near the field of play for any reason. Any violation of this rule against
altered bats by any player shall result in the player’s immediate suspension
for the rest of the season, including playoffs.
32. Softballs-Each
team shall supply one new ball for use at the start of each game. Game balls
are restricted to those provided by the league.
33. Uniforms-Uniforms
and softball spikes, while not required, are encouraged. Spikes shall not be
metal. Any type of glove may be used at any position.
34. Catcher’s
gear-protective gear is in the discretion of the catcher except that the
catcher shall always wear a protective mask.
35. Waiver
Form- No person shall be permitted to participate as a team member unless and
until he signs a waiver legally releasing all parties from liability in the
event of an injury. Team Managers shall be responsible for enforcing this rule
and should have all signed waivers available at all team activities for inspection
by other parties if asked.
36. Game results-All scores shall be promptly reported by the home team Manager to the League Commissioner and/or to his designee, who shall keep the official record of league standings updated and distributed weekly.
37. Playoffs
for the League Championship shall be held after the conclusion of the regular
season. All league
players must participate in at least six regular season games to be eligible
for the post season. A 5th place team shall play
a one game elimination round against the fourth place team. The 4th place team shall be the home team. Then to
follow will be two semifinal rounds, the first
38. place team will play the fourth place team and
the second place team will play the third place team, with the two winners advancing
to the final round. In a three team league the playoffs shall follow a round
robin format.
39. On a
trial basis for 2018, the regular season standings will be decided by a point
system awarding three points for a win, two points for a tie and one point for
a loss. At the end of the regular season in the case of a seeding tie, the
first tie breaker shall be the number of wins in head-to-head competition
between the two teams. The second tie-breaker shall be the number of runs
scored against the other teams that are tied. In case of a continued tie, the
managers of the teams involved shall decide the matter via one coin flip.
40. Each
playoff round shall be decided in a best two-out-of-three format in games
played on separate days (no doubleheaders). In each playoff round, the higher
seeded team shall be the home team in games one and three (if necessary); in
game two, the lower seeded team shall be the home team. Winner of the final
round shall be declared League Champions. All playoff games must be played until
a winner is decided, extra innings if necessary. All playoff games must be
played to completion. If called a game must be resumed at the point it was
stopped.
41. The throwing of a bat or losing a bat during a swing that hits the catcher and/or umpire is an immediate ejection from the game. If there is no replacement available that player may remain in the game to play the field but will be skipped in the batting order with no automatic out recorded. Intentional throwing of the bat will result in an immediate ejection from the game (no option to remain in the field if there is no replacement player available). Second ejection from an intentionally thrown bat at any time will result in an immediate ejection from the game and from league play for the remainder of the season.
42. No Gentleman Agreements-Managers cannot make a separate agreement between them to use rules different or altered from league rules for their games.
43. NO Home Run Limits-There will not be a home run limit for balls hit over the fence at Middlebush Field. However, teams hitting home runs or foul balls are responsible for retrieving the balls.
44. Protesting a call-The only call made by an umpire that can be protested is a misinterpretation of a rule. Judgement calls cannot be protested. All such protests must be made to the umpire and opposing scorekeeper before the next pitch after the incident.
45. Protesting player eligibility-All player eligibility protests must be made to the umpire and opposing scorekeeper before the end of the game. If the player in question does not have ID, they will have 48 hours to show a photo ID to the league commissioner.
46. All protests must be made to the league commissioner by the end of the next business day in writing, by text or email.