Modified Official Rules Amateur Softball Association of America
Rules are in the process of being updated for our new ladies league season.
With the following exceptions: 3/2 Softball. Each batter starts with a ball and a strike.
IF IT IS A MIXED DIVISION, THE HIGHER DIVISION WILL GIVE 7 RUNS TO ANY TEAM IN THE LOWER DIVISION.
PLAYERS:
Players: A team may consist of 20 players on the roster but may only bat 13 and field 10.
A team may start with 8 players. If the team is up to bat, the team may enter ghost players on the line up card so that when the late arriving player arrives, the player may replace a ghost player on the card. If there is no ghost player and a player arrives, after all 10 players have batted, the late arriving player may NOT be placed on the card or play the field. (10 player rule)
A guy may be designated pitcher (he cannot field or bat) You can bat 12 girls and field 9, when a guy is pitching.
A Player must played 1 reg season game and be signed on the team’s roster and CANNOT be on another’s team roster, to qualify to play in the playoff’s. (this means a team can NOT pick up players during bracket play and championship game)
ELIGIBLE PLAYOFF PLAYERS: All players, including added players, must sign their team’s roster/waiver BEFORE the Start of their first game. Any player found not have signed in, will be an illegal player. Playing with ineligible players will result in a forfeit. It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their line-up card are eligible players for all games. If a team has won in league and has 60% of the same players, that team will need to move up one division for their next league. If that team needs to be moved back down, if run ruled, they will go back down the following league.
PICK UP players allowed, you may pick up a “POOL PLAYER” , approved by the umpire, during reg. games. (pool player meaning that player is currently on a roster with another team, in your division ). A team may pick up players, (same like player) Pick up players CANNOT replace a roster player when fielding or batting. A roster player has priority, meaning a roster player cannot sit out while a pick-up player plays. A player can only be on one roster. IF you have 10 roster players you cannot pick up pool players, roster players MUST play. (Oldsmar league may pick up players and not give runs up)
Foul Balls: after 2 strikes the batter may have ONE courtesy foul.
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. The catcher may not interfere with the batters ability to swing, this means the catcher must remain behind the batters box for their safety, any catcher who interfere’s with the batter by reaching into the batter’s box, 1st offense warning, 2nd offense the batter will be awarded 1st base.
Outfielders position: At players choice.
Courtesy runners: Designated or pinch runners MUST BE indicated on the line up card. (Unlimited) Runner may be anyone,does not have to play the field, must be signed on the roster, if runner is on base, when time up to bat an out will go towards the turn at bat. (unlimited) OLDSMAR League: anyone can run at any time, does not have to be on 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. At the umpire’s discretion will the player be allowed to continue to play. If the team drops below 10 players a replacement player may enter (must be same like player) or the team may condense the line up WITHOUT taking an out for the injured player.
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 directed at anyone. The umpire will give one warning to the individual, then take action as deemed necessary to control the situation. Please be considerate and respect our children and not play music containing explicit lyrics. Tampabay Softball will require all loud, explicit music to be turned down low or turned off. TBS staff will take any action as deemed necessary for failure to comply. OLDSMAR league: Oldsmar does not allow foul language, alcohol and/or smoking at any time. You will be ejected and asked to leave the park.
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.
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 or attempt made and it’s 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.
Taking a base on a walk: The runner MUST touch each base.
Stealing: Baserunners may attempt to advance once the ball has crossed the back corners of home plate, when pitched to batter or the pitched ball has landed on the ground behind home plate. The ball is dead if the batter has swung and missed, foul tips, and if the ball lands in front of home plate or lands on home plate, any fake swing in an attempt to distract the catcher. Runners are allowed to steal home on a live ball. OLDSMAR league: No stealing
NO BATTER shall impede the catcher when throwing the ball to a fielder while a base runner is attempting a steal.
A baserunner must be watching the ball at all times. If the pitcher has presented the ball, the ball becomes live, the baserunner must be on a base during a pitch, or will be called out.
DEFENSELESS PITCHER: At coin toss a decision will be made if the pitcher is using a mask or a net. Pitchers do not have to agree, the pitcher may select the net and will be responsible for rolling the net on and off the field to be used each inning. If the pitcher does not want to use the net they must have full head protection (helmet). If a pitcher uses the net ONLY, they may not make any contact with the ball as a fielder until after the ball has been touched by another fielder. If the pitcher uses the net and a mask or helmet , they have to get behind the net immediately after release of the ball but may come out from behind the net after contact with the ball is made. The net must be on the side of the pitcher’s glove hand, otherwise it is considered an extra fielder. Batted ball hits net first time is considered foul ball, 2nd time is an out. Any pitcher hit with a batted ball, the batter is out, second offense is ejection. (bat will be removed from the game). A pitcher fielding a batted ball with no face/head protection, the batter is awarded 2 bases, pitcher is warned, 2nd offense pitcher will be removed from pitching position. Pitching screens are to be place approx. 3′ in front of the rubber and must cover at least 1/2 of the area in front of the rubber. Male pitcher: Ladies are allowed a male pitcher, he must use a net and CANNOT field the ball. If he intentionally fields a ball, he will be removed from the game, THE BATTER IS AWARDED 2 BASES.
Rainouts: If you have played less than 4 innings, a new game will be scheduled. More than 4 innings the game is considered to be final.
Tie breaker: No game shall end in a tie. The TBS tie breaker will be utilized using a 1 pitch format. Once time limit has expired and game is tied, the remainder of the game will be texas tie breaker format
Game time: 55 minute game time, games will start on time. A 10 minute grace period will be granted upon the first game if requested. . CHAMPIONSHIP GAME max time ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.
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
10 Run rule: A 10 run rule will apply per inning, after 5 innings, a 10 run rule will cease the game. In the final 10 minutes of the game the 10 run rule DOES NOT apply. This rule does not apply to the championship game.
PLAYERS: Must be at least 18 years of age 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.
Intentional ball drop: If any fielder who catches a ball and intentionally drops it, in an attempt to force a double play, the batter is out, ball is DEAD and runners may not advance. Fielder will be given a warning, 2nd offense ejection. Dropping of the ball is umpire’s discretion.
When the ball is in the air and the umpire signals that he is invoking the rule, the batter is out (and all force plays removed) regardless of whether the ball is caught.
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.
(Recreational) Our lowest rec division, beginners division, formally known as E division
2 drops allowed
(Intermediate) Designed for tournament/intermediate ball players
2 drops allowed
(GOLD) Designed for competitive tournament ball players
2 drops allowed
DIVISIONS:
If not enough teams register for divisions: The home run rule will be based on the most teams in one division. Meaning, if there are more teams are REC we use the Rec. division home run rule. If more teams are Intermediate, we use the home run rule for intermediate
Home Run Rule:
REC (old bronze) 2 home runs and 1 up, illegal HR will be I.E.
INT (old silver) 4 homes runs and 1 up, illegal HR will be I.E.
ADV (old gold) 8 home runs, illegal HR will be I.E
Divisions will be based on skill level of teams to determine the division
If there is not enough teams for divisions, the home run rule will be based on the highest # of teams that would be in a division. Example: 3 teams intermediate and 4 teams Recreational, then HR rule would be based on Rec. rules.
Batter does not have to touch bases with an over the fence home run. ALL HOME RUNS COUNT!!!!! example: runners on base, 9 runs already scored 10th run standing on 3rd, another runner on 2nd, once that home run is hit the runner on 3rd scores and the homerun counts.
BATTERS BOX AND PITCHER: Any batter standing in the batter’s box MUST be ready to bat or ask for time out.
Any pitch by the pitcher when NO batter is in the batter’s box is a dead ball. Any ball pitched while batter is in the box and has not called for time is a live ball. Any batter standing in the box with the intent to swing an illegal bat will be called out, no matter if the batter has swung.
EQUIPMENT:
Each team may purchase the game balls AT THE FIELD. A team may bring balls but the ball must be approved by the umpire prior to the start of the game.
44/375 ball 11” ball. Each team is responsible for their own ball and a back up ball. Girls may use the 12″ ball when requested.
Home team will be determined by a coin toss.
Forfeit time is game time unless it’s the first game and a 10 minute wait will be granted which will be deducted from the game time. Games are 55 MINUTES unless teams are tied.
Arch of Pitch: no less than six (6), not greater than twelve (10)
BATS: All bats must be approved by the umpire. First offense caught with an illegal bat, the batter is considered out. The second offense, the batter is out and ejected with possible league suspension. The batter does not have to swing, if standing in the batters box with the intent to swing using an illegal bat. No Sr bats, No Ultra’s, no bat on any non approved list or considered to be altered. Each individual and captain 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.