** - Indicates new or modified rule for the 2005 Spring
season.
Section
I - Rules of the Game:
Introduction:
The rules of a regulation game of
the Hillcrest Softball League will be the same rules as a standard regulation
softball game, unless the rule is in conflict with, or supplemented by this
document.
Requirements for the Game:
Article I - Number of Players:
i) All teams will play with either nine or
ten fielders with the option of adding a designated and/or extra hitter.
ii) Should a
team have only nine players, then that team is still eligible to play, although
that team will play without their tenth fielder (short center).
iii) Should a
team have only eight players, then that team is still eligible to play,
although that team will play without their ninth fielder (catcher). The other team
will then supply a catcher, who is there for the sole purpose of returning
balls to the pitcher. He many not be
involved on any play in the game where there is a live ball.
iv) Should a
team have only seven players, then that team will play also without their eighth
fielder (either in the infield or in the outfield).
iv) Once the
eighth/ninth/tenth player of a team arrives, he may immediately enter the game
and will be automatically inserted into the lineup at the end.
v) ** If a team
fails to produce at least seven players from their team during a game, then
that team forfeits that game one quarter hour after the official game time. The
umpire (or Commissioner) will determine when one quarter hour has passed.
Article II - Eligible Players: **
i) ** There is no
distinction between a regular and an alternate player at any game.
ii) ** Only a player
who is on the team's official team roster may play. If a non roster player
plays in any game, then that team shall automatically forfeit that game. Only
the Commissioner may override this rule. Captains may not internally agree to
override this rule.
Article III - Game Length and Forfeiting:
i) Games shall
be nine innings long.
ii) No team is
allowed to forfeit a game unless they have batted for six innings (unless they
do not have enough players to play).
iii) Only the
captain of a team may decide to forfeit a game.
iv) If a team is
leading by 12 or more runs after the other team has batted in any inning in the
7th inning or later, then that team wins the game. This rule only applies to
the regular season.
v) ** A team may
forfeit a game in advance. Only the
captain may choose to forfeit the game, and he must do so before the previous
Wednesday at
vi) ** If a team
forfeits a game, but not in advance (before the previous Wednesday at
Batting:
Article IV - Strike Zone:
i) The
league's proscribed strike zone shall be between the batter's shoulders and
knees, and the two sides of home plate. The ball must cross the plate on a fly
to be a strike.
ii) If the ball
hits the plate, it is an automatic ball.
iii) Note: Should
a batter try to shorten the strike zone by squatting or crowd the plate, etc.,
this will have no bearing on the size of the strike zone. The strike zone will be as if the batter did
not squat.
Article V - Caught Foul Ball:
Should a ball be hit into foul
territory and is caught, then it must reach six feet in height above ground to
count as an out.
Article VI - Third Strike:
i) Should a batter foul tip a third strike
into the catcher's glove, the batter is out. (The ball need not reach six feet
above ground.)
ii) Should a
batter swing and miss at a third strike, the batter is out regardless of
whether or not the ball was caught by the catcher.
Article VII - Bunting:
i) Should a
batter bunt a ball, then it counts as a strike.
ii) Should a
batter with two strikes bunt a ball, then it counts as the third strike and
that batter is out.
Article VIII - Delay of Game:
Should a batter intentionally or
unintentionally delay the game, then that batters team may be penalized one out
(at most) at the umpire's discretion.
Article IX - Thrown Bat:
i) Should a
batter throw his bat after swinging or checking his swing either intentionally
or unintentionally, then that batter receives an automatic out, which counts as
a strikeout.
ii) Should a batter be called out for a second
time in a game for throwing his bat, then that player will be automatically
ejected from the game.
Base Running:
Article X - Base Leading 1:
The league's position regarding
leading off any base is that it is NOT allowed. (We don't care if you can't run)
Should a batter from any team be leading from any base (except home plate,
wisenheimer!) then the umpire either may give that runner's team a warning, or
he may call that runner out, at his discretion.
Article XI - Base Leading 2:
Runners are allowed to run on the
SWING, not on the pitch. If at any time a runner is off the base (because he
ran on the swing etc.) The batter must return to the base which he left. If the
ball arrives at that base before he does, the runner is out. There is a force
to the base. (The fielder need only step on the base.) If the catcher
overthrows the ball to a base, the play is considered live. The runner,
however, must step back on the bag before running to the next base. If the
catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher (not to a base), then the play is dead.
Article XII - Base Running: **
If a runner moves any part of his
body in order to interfere with a throw of a fielder making a play at another
base (the fielder is either in the act of throwing the ball, or has already
thrown the ball), then unless the interference was unavoidable :
1) The runner who has interfered
with the play is automatically out.
2) The runner who was approaching
the intended target base of the throw of the fielder is automatically out,
unless he has already touched or nearly touched the base safely at the time of the
interference.
This rule is intended as a safety
rule, in order to prevent runners from raising their arms, or moving their body
in order to break up a play. Note that if a runner simply stands, runs, or
slides in the normal base path, this does not constitute interference.
Article XIII - Sliding:
i) At Grass/Dirt
Fields:
For any close play at a base other
than first base, a base runner should slide into the base. If the runner does not, and he noticeably
interferes with the fielder's ability to make the play, then the runner is out. What constitutes as interference will be
determined by the umpire.
ii) At all
other Fields:
Sliding is optional, although not
recommended. For safety, we recommend that a fielder should not 'block' the
base, thereby avoiding a potentially dangerous collision.
Article XIV - Time Out:
i) Time out
before or during a play can only be called by an umpire. A player can only
request that time out be called out.
ii) During a
play, time out should only be called only if the ball is in the possession of a
fielder either in or approaching the infield, and is approaching the pitcher's
mound, and all base runners are relatively close to their respective bases, and
do not appear to be advancing.
iii) It is an umpire’s
job to call time out at the proper time. If however, an umpire fails to call
time out at the proper time, he may return the base runners back to where they
were when time out should have been called.
Fielding:
Article XV - Infield Fly Rule:
The infield fly rule IS in effect
in all games, although whether or not this rule has been violated shall be
determined by the umpire. (The umpire shall call "Infield Fly.")
Article XVI - Interference by a Tree:
i) Should a
ball hit a tree in foul territory, that ball shall be rendered foul and
unplayable.
ii) Should a ball hit a tree over-hanging the
homerun fence, and bounce back onto the field (foul or fair territory), then
that ball will be played as if it had hit the homerun fence.
iii) Note: If
the ball hits the homerun fence, then that ball is still in play, even if a
fielder catches it on a bounce off the fence.
Pitching:
Article XVII - Automatic Balls:
i) A pitcher
must release the ball having one foot either on or behind the pitching rubber. Failure to do so will result in an automatic
ball.
ii) A pitcher
must release the ball with an underhand motion. That means that a pitcher may
not dramatically spin the ball, pitch overhand or pitch sidearm. Failure to do so will result in an automatic
ball.
iii) A pitcher
may not use a windmill windup to pitch the ball. Failure to do so will result
in an automatic ball.
Article XVIII - Hit Batsman:
i) A hit
batter will not be awarded first base automatically. If the ball was in the strike zone, then it
will count as a strike, and if not it will count as a ball.
ii) A hit
batter in the head will be automatically awarded first base.
iii) If a
pitcher intentionally hits a batter, then that batter will be awarded first
base, and that pitcher will be automatically ejected from the game.
Lineup Changes:
Article XIX - Relief Pitchers:
If a
captain makes the decision to replace his pitcher, that same pitcher may not at
any time re-enter the game as a pitcher. The relief pitcher is allowed ten
pitches to warm up and then the game must resume.
Article XX - Pinch Hitters and Runners 1:
i) A captain
may only use pinch hitters or runners, if he has an available player on his bench
that is not in the lineup. i.e., If a
player is already in the lineup, then he cannot pinch hit or pinch run for
another player in the game.
ii) In an
emergency, the last player to bat (who is not currently on base), may pinch run
for another player, provided that there is no alternative solution.
iii) ** An emergency
must be a moderate to serious injury. Pulled muscles or back aches or cramps,
etc. do not constitute as emergencies.
iv) ** If a player comes out of a game due to injury, then
he may not return to the game for at least two innings for any reason. This rule is intended as a safety rule.
Article XXI - Pinch Hitters and Runners 2:
i) A pinch hitter/runner may be used to
pinch hit/run twice in a game. After the
half inning in which a player has pinch hit/run, either he or the original
player in the lineup will remain on the bench, and the other will stay in the
game.
ii) The player who remains on the bench will be
allowed to pinch hit/run one more time during the game. After the second in which he pinch hits/runs,
the pinch hitter must remain in the game, and the player in which he
substitutes for will be out of the game for good.
Article XXII - Emergency Situations:
i) If a player
must leave the game due to an emergency and there are no players present on the
bench, then that players spot in the lineup will be skipped.
Ground Rules:
Article XXII - Ground Rule Changes:
i) If both captains agree to a ground rule
change, then they may change any ground rule which they both desire to change. They must notify the umpire of any such
change.
Section II - Equipment, Dress Code, Injury
and Conduct:
Article I - Gloves and Safety Equipment:
All players are required to bring
their own softball/baseball glove to every game. Any safety equipment required
shall be provided by you! (The league will NOT provide any safety equipment)
Article II - Bats and Balls:
Bats shall be provided, however we
encourage that you bring your own. Only metal
bats are allowed, wooden and plastic ones are not. The league shall provide the game ball;
however, you shall provide any practice balls.
Article III - Captains and Equipment:
It is the captain’s job to ensure
that his team brings the necessary equipment to each game.
Article IV - Injury:
WARNING!!! The league is not
responsible for any injures! You are playing at your own risk! All safety
equipment you require should be brought by you, with you to all games. The
league will not be held liable for any and all injures.
Article V - Discrimination:
Should any player be unfairly
discriminated against regardless of ability or otherwise then that player may
address his/her complaints with the commissioner. Should that person's
complaints prove valid, then that person may accept the commissioner's address
and rectification of their problem, or accept a refund.
Article VI - Alcoholic Beverages
There will be NO alcoholic beverages
permitted at any field during a game by any player. Failure to adhere to this
article will result in an automatic suspension or expulsion from the league by
the Commissioner, effective immediately.
Section III - The Season Schedule:
Article I - Number of Games and Rain Outs:
i) Each team shall play ten games, two
against each of the other teams in the same division, and one against each of
the other teams not in the same division.
ii) Should
there be rain, and the game is unable to be played at all, the Commissioner
will decide if and when the game is made up.
There are rain dates in the schedule to account for rain outs. Since rain is an unexpected occurrence,
please check with you captain as to whether or not the game will be played on a
rainy day.
iii) On any
official week of the season or rain date, an official game can be scheduled during
that day.
Article II - Official Games
i) If an in progress game must be stopped,
either by rain, or some emergency, or an unavoidable situation, then:
a) If a
full 7 innings has been played, the game officially counts.
b) If a
full 5 innings has not been played, then the game will not officially count. The
game will be treated as if it were a rain out.
c) If a
full 5 innings have been played but not a full 7 innings, then it is up to the
Commissioner to decide as to how to count the game.
Article III - The Playoffs:
i) At the end
of the regular season, the two teams in first place in their divisions will be
declared "Regular Season Division Champions."
ii) The two
regular season division champions will automatically make the playoffs. These
two teams will also be assigned the top two seeds in the playoffs determined by
a better record (see below).
iii) The two
teams in second place in each division will automatically make the playoffs. These two teams will also be assigned the
third and fourth seeds in the playoffs determined by a better record (see below).
iv) The next two
teams with the best records will also make the playoffs (regardless of division). They will be assigned the fifth and sixth
seeds in the playoffs.
iv) The 3rd seed
will play the 6th seed, and the 4th seed will play the 5th seed, in the first
round of the playoffs, called the Wildcard playoffs. (1st and 2nd seeds get a
bye.) The winners of the games will move
on to the next round, and the losers will be out.
v) In the
second round of the playoffs, the League Semi-finals, the 1st seed will play the
lowest ranking team left in the playoffs, and the 2nd seed will play the other
team left. The two winners will then
play in the League Championship Game, to determine the League Champions.
vi) In all
playoff games, the higher seeded team has the home field advantage (bats last).
Article IV - Standings:
These are the rules for determining the order of the league
standings:
i) The overall
record (winning percentage) is the chief factor in determining the standings. A better record means a higher ranking.
ii) If two teams have the same record, then
the tie will be broken as follows:
The higher
ranking team shall be the team with the better statistic in (in order of tie
breaker):
1) Head-to-Head
record
2) Divisional
record
3) Head-to-Head
runs scored vs. runs allowed differential
4) Divisional
runs scored vs. runs allowed differential
5) Overall
runs scored vs. runs allowed differential
6) Head-to-Head
scoring differential against the highest already ranked team in the division. (If
tied, then next highest ranked team.)
7) Head-to-Head
scoring differential against the highest already ranked team in the league. (If
tied, then next highest ranked team.)
8) 3-7
replaced with runs scored alone
iii) If three or more teams have the same
record, then the tie will be broken as follows:
The highest
ranking team shall be the team with the better statistic in [If there is no
highest, then the lowest ranking team with shall be the team with the worse statistic
in] (in order of tie breaker):
1) Head-to-Head
record against the other two teams
2) Divisional
record
3) Scoring
differential among the tied teams
4) As above
(as 2 teams) with Head-to-Head being against the tied teams
Now, after
a ranked team is decided, then the same procedure is used to rank the other
remaining teams with the same record.
Section
IV - Final Note:
These rules absolve the league of
any liability and are subject to change at any time, and cannot be used in a
court of law or against commissioner Ariel Cohen and any of his not named conspirators
at any time, place, or event.
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