club sport COED SOFTBALL RULES  Revised 10/12 -- New rules are listed in RED. 

NO ALCOHOL ON THE FIELDS OR IN THE DUGOUT. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE CITY RULES REGARDING THE SPECIFIC FIELD YOU ARE PLAYING ON!!

 LINEUPS

1. BATTING LINEUPS: Lineups must be presented to the umpire before each game by game time.  Once the lineup cards have been submitted to the umpire, they become official and you may add players to the bottom only. All substitutions must be given to the umpire as being made. 
2. BATTING RATIOS: batting order can be random with no specific sex order as long as you follow your over all ratio. When batting 4 women you may bat up to 7 men, when batting 5 women you may bat up to 8 men, when batting 6 women you may bat up to 10 men.  You may always bat more women then these ratios, but not more men.  To allow "extra" men to bat you are allowed to put a "phantom" woman (or more) in your batting lineup to allow the ratio to include these extra male batters.  These "phantom" women will be counted as automatic outs when they are scheduled to bat.  Keep in mind there must be a  minimum of 4 women in the batting line-up (this may include "phantom" women if a team has less then 4 women at their game).
3. MINIMUM PLAYERS: A minimum of 6 players from the team's roster must be present at game time or the team will forfeit the game. When the women who are not there would normally be up to bat they are automatic outs. The pitcher may not intentionally walk a player to get to an automatic out (if umpire feels the walk was intentional then the automatic out is waived).
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. PICKUP PLAYERS: Pickup players are NOT allowed during the playoffs. Any pickup players during the regular season must be signed on a TBCS roster for another team for that particular night/location. Failure to do so, even if discovered after the fact, may result in a forfeit. Pickups must be brought to the attention of the umpire BEFORE the game or may be assessed a 4 run per pick-up player penalty. Teams may pickup up to one player at no penalty in order to field a minimum team number (10 fielding players, example: 5 men and 5 women does NOT allow a free pickup, the exception is you may add a "ghost" 5th female out to allow an 8th male batter to bat). Any pickups in addition to this or any over the minimum team number will result in a 2 run penalty per player. All pick up player run penalties are added at the completion of the inning (teams may score 10 runs AND be given pick up runs after).  If more players from your team show up to allow subs, the free pickup player must be removed.  If you fail to report pickup players after the start of the game and it is reported or caught before the end of the game it will become a 4 run penalty for EVERY PLAYER picked up (included what would have been a free one), so please remember to report your pickup players to the scoring umpire. If illegal players are discovered during the game they will be immediately removed and the other team will have the option of taking a forfeit win, or collecting 4 runs per illegal player (players will still be removed from the game)
7. FORFEITS: Forfeit time is game time. Umpire calls game time. If a team forfeits twice within the season they may not be allowed to play in the playoffs. A forfeit will be counted as a 7-0 win.

GAME PLAY

1. 3/2 SOFTBALL. We will be playing 3/2 softball, meaning each batter starts the count with 1 ball & 1 strike.
2. TIME LIMIT: Games are 55 minutes with a maximum of 7 innings. The inning in progress at the end of 55 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.  NOTE: due to differing circumstances in each and every game, some games will finish short on an hour in length, while others might run over the hour mark. Please respect your ump's call in this matter, as they must keep all games on time in fairness to teams playing later hours and due to facility permit restrictions.  Regular season games may end in a tie. In the case of rain or other event, the league has the right to call a game as official if more than 30 minutes has elapsed. In this instance, the final score will be counted at the end of the last completed inning.
3. FIELDING RATIOS: Teams may not have more then 6 men in the field defensively.  A full defense of ten players would be 6 men and 4 women (or more women with less men).
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. NO DESIGNATED FIELDERS: Any player playing the field must bat at some point during the game and must be on the batting line up card while in the field (may share a spot). 2 players sharing a spot in the batting line up MAY play the field at the same time regardless of who is in the batting line up at the time.
6. INTENTIONAL WALKS: Only one intentional walk may be given per game. No pitches have to be thrown. Attempts to walk a player by "intentionally" throwing unhittable pitches (as judged by umpire) will result in a walk with the next batter (male or female) being given the option to hit or walk. If the next spot in the lineup is an automatic out, that out will be waived.
7. 10 RUN RULE:. When a team brings in the 10th run of the inning, it is counted and is also the 3rd out. In the final 10 minutes of the game (or the 7th inning), the 10 run per inning rule does not apply (unless the team that has scored 10 runs is up by 20 or more runs). This DOES NOT apply during playoffs (see below).).
8. FOUL BALLS: Once the batter has 2 strikes, they are allowed one courtesy foul. The next foul ball will be considered an out. 
9. RUNNERS: Stealing bases and "leading" is not allowed (will result in an out). SLIDING IS PERMITTED.  If the ball beats a runner to a forced out base in time to peel off, the runner must do so or both runners may be called out.
10. 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.
11. 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,  base runners and batter do not need to advance any bases. HYDE PARK only: Balls hit over the right field fence will be considered a foul ball.
12. RETRIEVING BALLS OUT OF PLAY: If all available softballs are hit out of play, the umpires are given the right to call balls and strikes on the offending teams if balls are not brought back into play on a timely manner causing a delay in the game.
13. WALKS: If a guy is walked and the next scheduled batter is a woman, 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 woman as the next scheduled batter. If the next batter is a "missing" woman 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.  There is no limit on runs walked in.
14. ORANGE BAG: While running to first base if there is a possible play at first (e.g. ball is still in the infield) the runner must touch the orange (outside bag) or will be called out by the umpire (defense must touch only the white bag). Once the runner has touched the orange bag the entire bag is considered ONE bag for both offense and defense and can be used for the runner to stand on or tag up, as well as the defense to tag the bag on runners returning to first base.
15. POSITION OF FIELDERS: A defensive player may not impede a runner’s progress by standing in the baseline, unless the defensive player is fielding a batted ball. In this instance the defensive player has the right to field it and the runner must avoid contact with the fielder.  A defensive player may not block a base unless they have possession of the ball. Defensive players must catch the ball, block the base, then make the tag- in this order. Blocking of the bag without the ball shall result in an obstruction call, a warning to the offending player, and the runner will be awarded the base. In games where an orange "extra base" is being used at first base 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.

PLAYER CONDUCT

1. 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 next pitch.
2. EJECTIONS:  Players ejected from any league may be required to serve a one game suspension pending league review (this may included a 2nd game of a night if a team has a doubleheader and is the call of TBCS field staff). Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in multi-game suspensions or ejection from the league all together. Verbal abuse of officials or players, fighting, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.
3. FAKE TAGS AND VERBAL/PHYSICAL DISTRACTIONS: No fake tag outs or yelling at a defensive player as they are making a play will be allowed. Doing so MAY result in the runner being called safe (fake tags) or out (verbal distraction) and possible ejection of the offending player.
4. THROWING BATS: Intentionally throwing the bat in anger or frustration after your turn up to bat will result in an automatic out for the batter and  the following batter and may result in player’s ejection, upon umpire's discretion. 
5. PROFANITY: Profanity will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected on the discretion of the umpire.

PLAYOFFS

1. FORMAT: Tournament is single elimination with seeding based on regular season standings. All teams make the tournament.
2. SEEDING: Tournament seeding will be based on the following criteria (based on won-lost percentage where applicable): 1) winning percentage, 2) head-to-head play (if 3 or more teams are tied this means head to head record amongst all tied teams),  3) Overall Run Differential for the season 4)  Overall runs scored  5) coin flip.
3. EXTRA INNINGS: There will be extra innings during tournament games 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).
4. UNLIMITED RUNS: There is no 10 run per inning rule.  A team may score an unlimited number of runs per inning.
5. MERCY RULE: There is a 10 run mercy rule after 5 innings.
6. TIMED GAMES: All games (including Finals) will be 55 minutes in length (or 7 innings).  Games will still be subject to the rainout rule.
7. ELIGIBLE PLAYERS: All players, including added players, must sign their team's roster/waiver BEFORE the end of their team's final regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament. If a player is not signed in on the roster by then, they are not eligible for the tournament. 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.
8. REGULAR SEASON 8th GAME: sometimes a team may play more then the 7 regular season games due to an odd number of teams.  If the team plays an 8th game the score stats and win/loss for the 8th game will not count toward standings for that team (just the team with 7 games) but will be counted if as a head-to-head tiebreaker.

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. More info can be found here too: Graphics/bannedbats.pdf The first time a team comes to the plate with an illegal bat, the batter is considered out. The second time the team uses an illegal bat, the batter is out and ejected with possible league suspension.  Each individual is responsible for using legal bats. TBCS and the umpires reserve the right to disallow a bat should it be thought the bat may have been doctored.  If a bat is used and proven to be doctored (i.e. painted over, "corked", shaved, etc) this will result in the immediate ejection of the person using the bat and the owner of the bat, and the owner/user may possibly be suspended for the remainder of the season or longer, as this is a safety issue.
2. GLOVES: Players may use any type of softball/baseball glove.  
3. CLEATS: No metal spikes are allowed. Wearing metal cleats is an ejectable offense.
4. JEWELRY: No jewelry can be worn during the games, for the safety of all players.

ROSTER MANAGEMENT

1. ADDING PLAYERS TO ROSTERS (individually paid teams): Club Sport has the right to add to your team until you reach the advertised minimum number of players. If you wish to have less you may pay the TEAM price or buy extra roster spots at the membership rate. You may have more than the roster minimum, you just need to advise the TBCS office prior to league payment to reserve spots.  If you need to add players to your roster during the season you may do so at a prorated rate, contact the TBCS office for details.  You may also replace injured or no-show players, contact the TBCS office for details.
2. ADDING PLAYERS TO ROSTERS (team paid teams): If your team is making a team payment, after the first week members may only add to the team for no charge by contacting the Club Sport office prior to game day. Any additions made at the field to rosters with team payments will be $10 a player, regardless of membership status.
3. REFUNDS: TBCS is not responsible for any refunds at any time during the season. If a party cannot continue the season, it is the responsibility of that party to replace themselves on the roster if they so choose. Also they must notify the TBCS office of the change.

If you are having difficulty interpreting the rules, please ASK! 

If a rule is not stated above, please refer to ASA Softball Rules.