South East Fall Classic Softball League Rules

A. Registration

  1. Teams must submit a registration form and a registration fee of $100 by July 15. Complete team rosters are due by opening day. Update rosters if players add during the season.
  2. Jerseys or T-shirts are recommended. Contact David Chappius.

B. Dates for 2007

  1. Aug 4: Opening day for all teams. Team rosters are due at this time.
  2. Oct 13 Tournament Conclusion and Festival

C. Umpires, Scorekeeping

  1. Teams are expected to provide an umpire for 4 Saturday games during the season. Assignments will be made when the schedule is set. If no umpire is available, the teams will mutally settle on a person or persons to serve as umpire.
  2. The umpire is in charge of all matters relating to the game while on the field. If there is a disputed matter of a rule interpretation, team captains may discuss it with the umpire, however, the interpretation and application rules by the umpire is final.
  3. The umpire is the determiner of the adequacy of adherence to the slow pitch delivery and speed rules. His/her determination is final.
  4. Remember that this league is meant to be fun! Do not abuse the umpire!
  5. The scorebook of the home team is the official scorebook for the game. The umpire and both teams should confirm the game score at the end of each half inning.
  6. Each team shall maintain a scorebook during the half inning when they are at bat.
  7. Only simple scorekeeping is required since statistics are not maintained by the league. Here is a primer on simple scorekeepng.
  8. The home team shall report the box scores at the completion of each game by leaving a message for Vern at 244-1217 or at vern.lindberg@rit.edu.
  9. Current standings will available on the website.

D. Field and Equipment

  1. Games will be played at Marie Daley Park (between South and Gregory Streets, bordering Ashland) and at School 35 (194 Field Street, off of South Clinton Ave).
  2. The home team shall be responsible for picking up and returning the bases. Pick-up sites will be announced shortly. In the case of a double header, the home team for the first game shall pick up the equipment and the home team for the second game shall return the equipment.
  3. The only official ball is the Easton Incrediball (12") Each team shall be issued 3 balls at the start of the season and is responsible for providing the game balls when it is the home team.
  4. All bats must be marked "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" by the manufacturer. If the words "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" cannot be read due to wear and tear on the bat, the bat will be declared legal by the umpire if it is legal in all other aspects.
  5. In addition to the balls, each team shall be provided with an equipment bag containing a scorebook, bats and extra gloves.

E. Ground Rules

  1. Marie Daley Park
    1. Balls bouncing off the big tree in center field are live. If the ball gets stuck in the tree, it is a home run! If the fielder catches the ball after it hits the trunk and before it hits the ground, it is an out.
    2. If a hit ball rolls under or bounces over the left-field fence, a ground rule double will be awarded.
    3. If the ball flies into or bounces into the playground or the picnic area in center and right field, a ground rule double will be awarded. This is to keep kids using the playground safe.
  2. Field Street
    1. If a hit ball rolls under or bounces over the left-field fence, a ground rule double will be awarded.
    2. A ball hit over the playground fence will be a home run.

F. Players

  1. It is recommended that each team have from 12 to 16 players in order to assure a full roster for each game. Do your best to fill your roster before the season, though players may be added during the season.
  2. Only players who have played in two league games (or in the case of injury, attended two league games) will be allowed to play in the tournament.
  3. All players (including pitchers) may enter and re-enter the game freely.
  4. The batting order shall include all players on a given day who will bat in order regardless of whether they played in the field in the previous inning.
  5. Borrowing players – Teams will not be allowed to borrow players. Once a person plays a game or a part of a game for a team, he or she will be allowed to play only for that team for the rest of the season.
  6. Players in the field – Each team shall have at most 10 players in the field. There is no minimum number of players, so a team can try to win their game even if they do not have enough players.
  7. Gender rules – Teams are required to have least 2 members of each sex in the batting order and in the field for the first 3 innings. Teams that do not meet this requirement are penalized by:
    1. At bat, they will be charged 1 out at the beginning of their offensive inning for the first 3 innings of the game.
    2. In the field, the team will not be able to field defensive players in place of the missing players for the first 3 innings. (EXAMPLE If Reservoir has 11 women and 1 man, they may field only 9 defenders during the first 3 innings. After the first 3 innings a full team may be placed in the field regardless of gender.

G. Duration of Game

  1. Games last 7 innings, unless there is a tie, however ...
  2. Game length will be 1 1/2 hours maximum, unless there is a tie. No innings may begin after the 1 1/2 hour time limit. At the umpire's discretion, games may be shortened, with the score at the close of the previous inning being recorded.
  3. The maximum a team can score in one inning is 12 runs.
  4. In the event a game is suspended or terminated by the umpire, four innings shall constitute a complete game. Three and one half innings shall constitute a complete game if the home team is leading at that time AND time has expired.
  5. Any game suspended prior to being a completed game will be re-scheduled and finished at a later date.

H. Rules of Conduct

  1. The league is meant to be fun for all--compete hard but fairly.
  2. Two foul balls are allowed after the second strike. The third foul ball after the second strike (i.e. Strike 5) shall be a strikeout.
  3. Throwing of the bat is prohibited.
    1. A first offense by either team will result in a warning to both teams. Subsequent violations will result in an automatic out for the batter or batter-runner.
    2. Deliberate throwing of the bat at another person is grounds for ejection from the game. (Obviously!)
  4. No bunting, but a full swing hit that is unintentionally short will be a fair ball. The umpire has the final judgment on whether the short hit was intentional. A bunt is a less than full swing hit that does not make it to the pitcher’s mound. Additionally, balls cannot be intentionally chop-bunted (striking the ball with a downward motion) again, the umpire has the final judgment on whether the chop was intentional.
  5. No lead offs. The runner can leave the base when the ball passes over the plate or is hit, whichever occurs first.
  6. No stealing.
  7. No take-out slides. Players may slide at their own risk. Defensive players may not obstruct any base in an attempt to prevent the runner from reaching base safely, unless they have the ball and are making a tag. The Umpire will be free to call a runner safe if that runner was denied access to the base.
  8. If significant injury prevents a player from normal base running, a pinch runner may be used. The batter must reach first base safely before the pinch runner can be used. A different pinch runner should be used for each at-bat of the injured player.

I. Tournament Rules

  1. The tournament will be double elimination.
  2. Seeding for the tournament will be based on the standings in the regular season.
  3. Tie breakers for two teams with the same record
    1. Record in head-to-head competition.
    2. Total runs allowed in head-to-head competition.
    3. Total runs allowed in games against common opponents.
    4. Coin toss.
  4. If, after the playoff game between the winner's bracket and the loser's bracket, the two teams each have one loss, a final game shall determine the champion.
  5. At the conclusion of the game between the winner's bracket and the loser's bracket, the Festival will start. Non-participants are encouraged to enjoy the game.