Modified Official Rules Amateur Softball Association of America
With the following exceptions: Batters only get One Pitch. If a ball is pitched the batter will walk, a strike the batter must hit the ball or be called out. A mat will be Located behind home plate, if the ball lands on any portion of this mat it is considered a strike. Additional pitches can be purchased at time of registration or by any official staff member during the day.
USE IT OR LOSE IT
The batter while in the batter’s box may submit to the umpire the ticket for an additional pitch, prior to any pitch. If the first pitch is a strike, the ticket for the additional pitch may be used. Any ball that has been hit, fielded for the out, caught for an out, the batter is out and cannot use the additional ticket.
PLAYERS:
Players: A team may bat 7 guys and 4 girls / 8 guys and 5 girls
A team may start with 6 players, if all 6 players are male, the team may take an out for each female player, for the required ratio. no more than 13 to a lineup card and no more than 2 guys batting in a row. The roster can be up to 20 but only 13 prizes will be awarded. Batting order can be random but no more than 2 guys in a row. If you have to forfeit it will count as a 7-0 win.
ALL PLAYERS MUST SIGN THE ROSTER PRIOR TO PLAYING!!!!!!!!!!! No player will be allowed to play if they have been drinking and considered to be intoxicated. Open division unless enough teams have registered to have divisions. Only one (1) C player allowed per team in open division, unless other teams approved player.
Players: A team may play 12 PLAYERS. (bat 12) The roster can be up to 20 but ONLY 12 prizes will be awarded. a player must have played one (1) game and be on the roster, to qualify to play in Championship game.
Pool player: a player who has signed a roster and has played other games during that day. A pool player may be picked up for seed games and playoff games, a player MUST have played at least one game and be on the roster to qualify to play the championship game and have already been eliminated from a championship game.
You may captain 2 teams but can only play on one, unless one of your teams has been eliminated from the playoff. As a courtesy to the captain, the captain will be allowed to play, not to exceed the 13 man roster.
AT NO TIME CAN YOU HAVE MORE THAN 13 PLAYERS. If you remove a player from the roster and add a replacement, that replacement CANNOT play until they have signed the roster. If at anytime the umpire observes an illegal player the umpire will terminate the game and a forfeit will go to the team with the illegal player.
NO PICK UP See above. Each player is required to sign in front of a Tampabay Softball staff member
- Foul Balls: Caught foul ball is an out. Another pitch cannot be purchased.
Fielders position: A defensive player may not impede a runner’s progress by standing in the baseline, unless the defensive player is fielding a batted ball…. 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. There are no set positions for fielders. Meaning, you may play male or female in any fielding position. However, no infielder may play on the grass/infield while a female is batting.
Outfielders position: There will not be an outfield line to remain behind when a girl is hitting due to girls hitting he 11” ball.
Courtesy runners designated or pinch runners will be allowed when requested, and the DR must be listed on the line up card.
No designated fielders, any and all fielders must be placed in the batting order and bat.
Injured players: MUST report the injury immediately to the umpire. The injured player will be removed from the batting order and will not be allowed to field. If the injured player is a female being the 4th female her batting position on the line up card will result in an automatic out so the team does not have to forfeit. The injured player will not be allowed to continue to play at any time during the day unless the umpire has been provided with evidence the injured player is capable of playing and no substantial injury occurred.
PROFANITY: Profanity will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected at the discretion of the umpire. Absolutely no F word. If a player is not playing on the field but is in the dugout or near the playing field and is using profanity toward the team or teams playing, the umpire WILL start calling an out for every F bomb used against that individuals team, regardless if that team is batting. If that team is not batting the outs will apply when they come up to bat. If there is a spectator supporting a team who becomes abusive verbally towards any player, spectator or umpire, the umpire shall warn the spectator and the team, if the spectator continues, the umpire will start calling outs for the team, the spectator was supporting until the spectator ceases the abuse, regardless if the team is batting or not. If the team is not batting the outs will apply when they come up to bat.
Ejection from game Once ejected a player cannot play in that game. It will be the umpire’s discretion, if the player will be allowed to play any remainder games. 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, spitting, kicking of dirt and continued rough play could result in player ejections. If a player is ejected, the team may not replace that player with another player. Meaning, if you have a 13 person line up and one player is ejected you continue to play with 12 and take an out for that 13 player.
Two out rule: DOES NOT APPLY, EVERYONE MUST BAT.
Running to first base (orange base) “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 when the ball is in play in the infield may be called out. Balls that 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. Runner may overrun first base, any aggressive attempt towards second base the fielder may make a play on the runner. There MUST be aggression and it umpires discretion.
Home plate and bases: All plays at home plate and or a base where the fielder is in possession of the ball, the runner MUST slide to avoid any injury. The player MUST slide or give up, any un-sportsman like conduct will not be tolerated.
Stealing: NOT ALLOWED
Game time: 40 MINUTES game time, games will start on time. A team consisting of less than 4 girls will forfeit or take outs for each phantom girl on the lineup card.. THERE IS NO MAX OR MINIMUM GAME TIME FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
THROWING BATS: Intentionally throwing the bat in anger or frustration after your turn up to bat is not tolerated and will result in an automatic out for the batter and may result in player’s ejection, upon umpire’s discretion
Run rule: If a team is winning by 20 runs after 3 innings, the game will cease and winner declared, 15 after 4 and 12 after 5. This rule also applies to Championship game but no time limit and no Texas tie breaker.
PLAYERS: Must be at least 20 years of age unless accompany by parent and signed roster with liability waiver prior to the start of any game. A player found not to be listed on roster and/or not signed liability waiver WILL be ejected from the game.
Fake tags: are prohibited. A fake tag will result in the base runner being awarded one additional base (the base they were running to, plus one) The fielder faking the tag will be warned. The 2nd offense from any player on the team faking a tag will be ejected.
Appeal play or protest: Appeal play must be made after the play has ceased and before the next pitch. Protest can only be done by the team captain.
Home Run Rule: 1 and done.
Over the fence home run, base runners and batter do not need to advance any bases
Pitchers mound: Any hit deemed to be intentional up the middle toward the pitcher, with intent to cause injury will result in an out with an ejection warning to the batter that next offense will result in his/her ejection for that game. (of course this is at the umpires discretion)
Guaranteed games: Sometimes a team may have more than the 3 games due to the number of teams entered in the tournament. All teams are only guaranteed 3 games. Seed positions will be determined by the first 3 games played if there is an unequal amount of games played per team.
EQUIPMENT:
Each team will be responsible for their own game ball and backup ball. ASA approved 12” ball.
Females will use the 11” ball.
Forfeit time is game time. Games are 40 MINUTES unless teams are tied. A Texas tie breaker will be enforced to break the tie. If the game is tied, play continues until a decision is reached, by using the Texas (or international) tie-breaker rule. Starting in the top of the inning, the batting team starts with a base runner on second base, which is the player who is the last available to bat (in other words, the batter who last took their position in the batter’s box; regardless whether they were the last out or another runner was put out).
Arch of Pitch: no less than six (6), not greater than twelve (12)
BATS: Legal bats are as defined by ASA rules. 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. TAMPABAY SOFTBALL and the umpires reserve the right to disallow a bat should it be thought the bat may have been doctored.
NO Metal cleats. A player caught playing with metal cleats WILL be ejected. It is up to the team captain to make sure no metal cleats are worn prior to start time.
REFUNDS: once a team has paid there are NO refunds.