club sport COED SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT RULES (revised 10/10)

CITY OF CLEARWATER PROHIBITS DOGS, SMOKING, & ALCOHOL IN THE EDDIE C MOORE SOFTBALL COMPLEX!!

LINEUPS

1. Players must sign the WAIVER/ROSTER to become eligible to play in any game and must be listed on a team roster by the start of that team's second game and signed in by the start of the team's 3rd game. Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by TBCS staff.  It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their line-up card are eligible players for all games.

2. Batting lineup cards must be presented to the umpire by game time. All substitutions must be given to the umpire as being made. It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their line-up card are eligible players for all games.

3. Batting order can be random with no specific sex order as long as you follow your over all ratio. Ratio of male to female players for batting line-up:  6-7guys & 4girls, 8guys & 5girls, 9guys & 6girls, or 10guys & 6girls.  If a team has less than 4 girls, they can still bat 7 guys. Designated hitters are allowed.

4. 6 men and 4 women is the standard line up. You may never have more than 6 men on the field. NOTE: A minimum of 6 players from the team's roster must be present or the team will forfeit the game. Teams with less then four women batting will take automatic outs for those spots, but will count as women in the batting lineup (walk rules still apply) . The pitcher may not intentionally walk a player to get to an automatic 3rd out (also includes if the umpire feels a walk with intentionally unhitable pitches was thrown) then then the automatic out is waived.

GAME PLAY

1. Time Limit is 50 minutes with a maximum of 7 innings. The inning in progress at the end of 50 minutes will be the last inning and completed. (An inning starts once the third out of the previous inning is called.) The ump will enforce this rule and will keep teams informed of time remaining. DIVISION games MAY in a tie.

2. 3/2 SOFTBALL. We will be playing 3/2 softball, meaning each batter starts the count with 1 ball & 1 strike.

3. Walks. If a guy is walked and the next scheduled batter is a girl, she must bat unless the team has two outs - in which case she will have the option of hitting or taking a walk. Regardless of the number of outs, the guy will advance to second if walked with a girl as the next scheduled batter. If the next batter is a "missing" girl and the team is forced to take an out, the guy automatically advances to second base (with all other runners advancing accordingly) before the automatic out is recorded.  No limit on runs walked in.

4. Courtesy Runners: No courtesy runners will be allowed unless BOTH captains agree to the substitution. NOTE: TBCS staff can overrule decision to ensure fair play. Substitutions will be the same sex/last out (or furthest in lineup card if no out).

5. There is a 10 run inning rule. When a team brings in the 10th run, it is counted and is also the 3rd out. The 10 run rule does not apply in the last 10 minutes of the game (unless the team scoring is up 20+ runs) .  This DOES NOT apply during championship game).

6. Mercy Rule. There is a 15 run rule after 5 innings for all games.

7. Late Players: Any players arriving after the first pitch of the game (not already placed on the line-up card) must be placed at the end of the batting order. If the player bats in any other spot, it is considered an automatic out. If a girl shows up late, they may go into the automatic out spots on the line-up card. Captains must notify umpire of any changes to line-up cards.

8. Injured Players: If a player is injured during a game, captain must notify umpire to remove injured player from line-up card with no additional penalty (unless the injured player is a female and her removal falls behind the required ratio -- then becomes an automatic out). An injured player that has been removed from line-up cannot return to the game.

9. Intentional walks: Only one intentional walk may be given per game. No pitches have to be thrown.

10. Batting & Fouls: A foul ball will be called a strike at your first swing at bat. If you hit a foul at your first swing, you can hit another foul and not be called out. After you have obtained your second strike (remember you started your count with one) you may still hit one foul ball and not be called out. The next foul ball will be considered an out. 

11. Runners: No stealing bases. SLIDING IS PERMITTED.  Charging defensive players is not allowed and may result in an out and/or ejection.

12. Positioning of outfielders: When a female is batting, all outfielders must stay outside of the outfield line until the ball is hit. If this rule is violated, the following procedure will take place: If the player hits the ball, the ball remains alive until the umpire calls time out. The umpire will then decide which is more advantageous to the batting team, the hit ball or an automatic pass to first base. If the ball is not hit, an automatic pass to first base is given.

13. Home runs. Each team may hit a total of 3 out of the park home runs, every home run after that will be an out. If both teams reach the 3 home run limit, each team will be allowed to hit 2 more, beginning with the visiting team's NEXT BATTER.  Each team is responsible for retrieving their homerun balls. On an over the fence home run, players do not need to advance any bases (hit and sit).

14. Disputes and protests: In a disputed play, only the team captain may discuss the play with the umpire. If a protest is made by the team captain, the captain must notify the umpire and opposing team captain before the start of the next inning.

15. No jewelry can be worn during the games, for the safety of all players.

16. No fake tag outs will be allowed. Faking a tag MAY result in a player's ejection.

17. In games where an orange "extra base" is being used at first base (ASA rule) players must step on the orange base when overrunning first base, or when there is a legitimate play at first base (ball still in the infield).  Players stepping on the white base in these instances may be called out.  Balls that have gotten past the infielders and have reached the outfield will allow the runner to touch the white base in an attempt to advance to second base.  When in doubt runners should touch the orange base to avoid being called out.

18. Intentionally throwing the bat in anger or frustration after your turn up to bat will result in an automatic out, upon umpire's discretion. 

19. FORFEITS: Forfeit time is game time. Umpire calls game time. A forfeit will be counted as a 7-0 win.

Equipment

1. Bats: Legal bats are as defined by ASA rules. Bats not following these rules may not be used for Club Sport play. This information can be found at http://www.softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp. The first time a batter comes to the plate with an illegal bat (including doctored bats), they are considered out.   The second time, they are out and ejected with possible tournament suspension.  Each individual is responsible for using legal bats.

2. Gloves: Players may use any type of softball glove.  

3. Cleats: NO METAL SPIKES ALLOWED, playing with metal cleats is an ejectionable offense (umpire discretion).

Player Conduct

1. Players ejected from any game may be ejected from the tournament all together pending league review. Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and will result in an ejection from the tournament all together. Verbal abuse of officials or players, fighting, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections. Any player or fan is encouraged to root for their own team but rooting against teams or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissals of fans. Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff. Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.

Playoffs

1. Playoff time: There will be extra innings during tournament playoff games (NOT pool play) where play ends in a tie. Extra innings will start with a runner on second base (base runner is the one who made the last out in the previous inning). CHAMPIONSHIP GAME will be  50 minutes with a maximum of 7 innings (same as all tournament games).

2. Players eligible to play in PLAYOFF games must have signed the team roster and played in at least one pool play game.

3. Playoffs are single elimination with seeding based on division standings.

4. PLAYOFF SEEDING will be based on the following criteria (based on won-lost-tie percentage where applicable): 1) overall record, 2) head-to-head play, 3) run differential, 4) coin flip.

5. If you are having difficulty interpreting the rules, please ASK! If a rule is not stated above, please refer to ASA Softball Rules, and seek out an umpire or staff member to clarify any rules.