Section 1. The Softball Commissioner

A. Team registration shall take place from January 15 through March 31 at the O’Brien Parks and Recreation Office during regular business hours – 8:30 am through 4:00 pm (574-299-4765). Teams will be accepted on a first come first served basis as they pay their league fees. When all league/division openings are filled, or at 4:00 p.m. March 31 team registration shall be closed. Any team whose registration is rejected shall be entitled to a full refund.

B. Teams shall not submit a team roster as such. Team rosters shall be comprised of all “2009 Official Waiver & Release of Liability & Indemnification” forms, which are completely and correctly filled out, initialed and signed, and submitted for your team. Please note that “Shirt Size” is requested for team award ordering. All participants must complete and submit the waiver form for each team they chose to participate with before playing! Failure to comply may result, at the discretion of the Softball Commissioner, in forfeiting games, suspension of participants and managers and potentially individual or team expulsion from further participation in the South Bend Parks & Recreation programs.

Section 3. Player Registration

A. Player registration shall take place from April 1 through July 3 at the Belleville Softball Complex office during regular business hours (574-282-1449).

B. To be eligible to participate in our adult leagues, persons must be a high school graduate or at least eighteen (18) years of age, or approved by the Softball Commissioner.

C. Individuals may participate on as many teams as they wish (in different leagues/divisions) so long as they follow this registration procedure completely and register with each team before participating.

D. Participants may change teams within a league with the approval of the Softball Commissioner provided they are released by the first team’s manager and picked up by the second team’s manager.

E. There is no limit to the number of participants who may register per team.

F. Men’s teams shall include male only participants and Women’s teams shall include only female participants.

G. Any individual found participating on a team illegally shall be suspended from all participation in our leagues until a $25 fine has been paid. Any/all games that the illegal individual participated in shall be forfeited.

Section 4. Scheduling Considerations

A. The official schedule for all games will be posted on the league website. The league website can be found at: http://www.sbpark.org/. All information pertaining to your team and league including schedules, rainouts, standings and special announcements shall be posted on the web site. The website shall be updated daily, so be certain to check it frequently. It shall be the managers’ responsibility to know when, where and whom his/her team is scheduled to play. Games may be rescheduled for many reasons, which include but shall not limited to rain outs. It is very important that team managers check playing schedules early and often for the latest information. Whenever games are rescheduled less than five (5) days before they were scheduled the manager shall be notified by telephone giving as much notice as is possible.

B. Scheduled game times shall normally be:

(Note: All times are EDT)

C. In the event the previous game runs over, the succeeding game shall start five (5) minutes after the conclusion of the preceding game.

D. In the event of inclement weather, at the Belleville Softball Complex the supervisor and at City Parks the umpire shall have the authority to postpone a game(s). The decision about field playability will be made at the posted starting time of the first game of the day. If the first game is not played because of rain, all other games are rained out. For games scheduled at the Belleville Softball Complex, rainout information will be available one hour before the first scheduled game (normally by 5:30 pm, except Sunday normally by 3:00 pm). For games scheduled at other city parks, the umpire will make a decision at the first scheduled game time. In case of a stopped by inclement weather, five innings will be an official game. When the game is suspended because of rain, it will resume at the same spot where it was suspended. Note: Keep good records! In the event of inclement weather the Softball Commissioner shall have the discretion to reschedule or declare games final as stopped based upon the games bearing on league/division standings and awards.

Section 5. Awards

A. It shall be the team manager’s responsibility to make claim to awards earned in a timely fashion. At the conclusion of the playing season unclaimed awards shall be recycled and therefore forfeited. All awards must be claimed before end of business August 27, 2009.

B. Sponsor/team trophies will be awarded to the first and second place teams in all leagues of at-least six teams that do not have divisions. In leagues that have divisions of at-least six teams, sponsor/team trophies will be given to the division winners.

C. Individual t-shirts will be given to the first place team in all leagues that do not have divisions. In cases of leagues that have divisions, individual t-shirts will be given to the two (2) teams with the best records. Fifteen (15) t-shirts will be the limit for all teams with the opportunity to purchase additional shirts as needed. Please answer the “Shirt Size” question on the Player Waiver so that we can order proper sizes.

D. In calculating the league standings 10-0-0 shall be better than 9-0-1 and 9-0-1 shall be better than 9-1-0.

E. In cases of ties for league awards, the following tie breaking criteria will apply:

1. Team won-loss record.

2. Head-to-head competition.

3. In the posting of league standings runs scored and runs allowed may be included, but will not be used in breaking ties.

The Softball Commissioner shall, at his discretion, schedule a playoff game(s) or declare a tie and award multiple sets of awards.

Section 6. Umpires

A. The Softball Commissioner or his/her designee shall assign umpires as necessary to cover all league games.

B. League umpires shall be private contractors with the City of South Bend, Park and Recreation Department and therefore must meet all such requirements as prescribed.

C. The umpires are the representatives of the league and, as such, are required to impartially enforce each section of these rules. The umpire shall have authority to make common sense decisions on any situation not specifically covered in these rules.

D. The umpire shall conduct a pre-game conference with the team managers at which time lineup cards shall be exchanged and official league softballs submitted.

E. The umpire shall inspect all bats and equipment before the game begins.

F. No appeal or protest will be allowed on any decision of any umpire on the grounds that the umpire was incorrect in as to whether a batted ball was fair or foul, a runner safe or out, a pitched ball is a ball or strike, or any play involving accuracy of judgment.

Rule 2 - Playing Rules, Regulations, Modifications and Points of Emphasis

The most current playing rules of the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA/USA) shall govern play except as modified, noted or deleted herein.

Section 1. Pre-Game Considerations

A. Uniform Requirements

1. All participants on all teams must have matching shirts. Furthermore all participants, on all teams must have an Arabic whole number (0-99) of contrasting color, or outlined in contrasting color, visible on their uniform. At no point may two players from the same team wear identical numbers in a game.

a. Violations (1, 2 and 3) shall result in the game being played with the best result the violating team can achieve is a “tie”.

b. Violation (4 and more) shall result in forfeit without the game being played.

2. All participants shall wear athletic (softball) shoes. Steel cleats are not allowed for league play.

3. Wearing of hats is optional for league play. However, if hats are worn, they must be worn in the traditional (bill forward) manner. Absolutely no exposed bandannas are allowed.

B. Supplies/Equipment

1. Before the season starts, team managers must pickup their team supplies at the Belleville Softball Complex office. Team supplies shall include, but not be limited to:

a. The official “2009 Adult Summer City Softball Rules” for all games shall be posted on our web site: http://www.sbpark.org/.

b. The official schedule for all games shall be posted on our web site: http://www.sbpark.org/.

c. Official Dudley and/or Worth synthetic optic yellow cover softballs. The Men’s – 12” softballs shall be .40 COR, 375 maximum compression, while the Women’s – 11” softballs shall be .44 COR, 375 maximum compression. These softballs meet all official specifications and have been approved for league play by ASA/USA Softball.

d. A packet of twenty-five (25) “Official Lineup Cards”.

e. The “2009 Official Rules of Softball” as published by ASA/USA Softball.

f. An ASA softball scorebook to record game results in.

g. A team membership card indicating that the team is registered/sanctioned with ASA/USA Softball for the 2009-playing season.

2. Each team shall provide a new softball (as previously supplied) at game time or risk forfeiting the game. If the umpire approves the use of a “used” ball, the game will be played. Since a limited supply of used softballs is available, it is necessary for teams to retrieve home run and foul balls in a timely manner. For safety and liability reasons all softballs must be of the same COR, compression, color and manufacturer as originally supplied by the league for that division of play. In coed games the home team shall provide the small 11” women’s softball. If you forget your new ball and are playing at the Belleville Softball Complex additional new softballs may be purchased for $5 each.

3. Only bats legal for ASA/USA Championship play shall be allowed for league play. In case of dispute the bat in question shall be ruled illegal and be confiscated by the supervisor/umpire on behalf of the league for further examination. Only official, ASA/USA approved, weighted softball warm-up bats may be used (no donuts, lead pipes, etc.). Note: Any participant caught using an illegal or altered bat shall be ejected, the bat confiscated and the participant may be banned for up to one (1) year from further participation in the South Bend Leagues!

4. It is strongly recommended that all teams obtain and maintain a first aid kit for all games. A limited amount of first aid supplies are available at the Belleville Softball Complex, however no supplies are available at city parks. First aid supplies for your team are your responsibility!

C. Warm Up

1. Participants may warm up (run, play catch, stretch) in the outfield grass area only.

2. There will be no infield or batting practice before the games. Exception: In the case of a forfeit, practice time may be allowed at the discretion of the supervisor and/or umpire.

Section 2. The Game

A. In order to start a game at least nine (9) players must be present and available. Teams starting with nine (9) players shall not take an automatic out in the vacant spot in the batting order. A team may bat as many players as they like in their order. However, they must have at least nine (9) players to finish the game. Teams starting with ten (10) or more players who lose a player shall take an automatic out whenever a vacant spot in the batting order is due to bat. EXCEPTION: (1) In all coed games whenever two male players bat back-to-back an automatic out shall be declared; (2) Coed games also require a minimum of four (4) males and a minimum of four (4) females.

B. A lineup card listing the legibly printed first and last names of the starting lineup and substitutes must be turned in to the umpire at game time. Players who show up late may be added to a lineup card upon arrival. Lineup cards shall be submitted for follow-up checking to determine player eligibility. Failure to have an official lineup card can result in forfeiture.

C. All participants must carry photo identification at all times. At any point of any game a supervisor and/or umpire may request to see a participants’ photo identification in order to verify the participants’ identity. Failure to immediately supply required photo identification shall cause the player(s) to be ejected from further participation in the game. Any team caught using players participating under a false identity shall forfeit any/all games in question.

D. The home team is the official scorer of all games. It is the responsibility of both teams to know the correct score. In case of protest, the umpire will take the home team’s book and note the circumstances. Under special circumstances the supervisor/umpire may declare the visiting team the official scorekeeper.

E. Game time is forfeit time. However, the umpire will wait ten (10) minutes before starting a game. The result will be that the game will be a six (6) inning official game; with the best result the violating team(s) can achieve a “tie”. Under no circumstances will an umpire start a game after more than ten (10) minutes. In case of a time limit game (see the next rule); no new inning can start after fifty-five (55) minutes. Forfeited games can quickly ruin the spirit of a recreation program. Forfeits harm both the team that is short-handed and the team that showed up on time, ready to play. In an effort to encourage teams to show-up on time and ready to play we will charge forfeiting teams a $25 fee which must be paid at the Belleville Softball Complex before the teams next game. This fee may be waived, at the discretion of the Softball Commissioner, if sufficient notice is given.

F. A time limit shall be used for all Women’s and Coed games. No new inning shall begin more than sixty-five (65) -minutes from when the umpire announces, “play ball”.

G. In order to maintain a safe, level home plate area batters shall be allowed to position their feet, but shall not be allowed to “dig in” in the hitting area. Violation: Out!

H. All leagues will use a one (1) ball, one (1) strike count (no extra foul balls).

I. A ten (10) run rule after five (5) innings and a fifteen (15) run rule after four (4) innings equal at-bats shall be in effect for all league games.

J. Base stealing shall not be allowed at any level of league play.

K. Any use of profane, obscene, vulgar or taunting language shall result in the assessment of an automatic out for that team’s next official batter. This will not replace the possibility of an ejection of that participant for his/her behavior.

L. Over the fence, un-tipped, fair-batted home run limits shall be:

Note: Any home run in excess of the limit shall be an out!

M. On any fair-batted ball hit over the fence for a home run, or a four base award, the batter and all runners are credited with a score. The batter and any runners on base shall not run the bases.

N. Any thrown bat directed toward the catcher, umpire, screen or surrounding area will result in an automatic ejection. All play is immediately dead and the batter is awarded an out.

O. Any man causing a woman to be knocked to the ground or jarred severely when she is, in the judgment of the umpire, in an appropriate fielding position is automatically out and ejected from the game. Note: The intent of the runner (man) is not a factor in this ruling.

Section 3. Park Participant Code of Conduct

A. The supervisor/umpire may eject any participant, coach, manager or fan that interferes with the progress of the game. In case of any ejection, the party involved must vacate the participating area within one (1) minute or the game shall be forfeited.

B. Any person ejected from the game and written up to the Softball Commissioner is automatically suspended from further action in all City Leagues. The Softball Commissioner will meet with the officers of the umpires association to determine if a hearing is needed for reinstatement. If after this meeting it is deemed necessary to have a hearing, a hearing board will be appointed by the Softball Commissioner to hear the case. If a hearing is not required, the Softball Commissioner has the authority to reinstate the person after a minimum suspension of two (2) games in the league suspended. While serving the suspension, the participant, coach or manager is ineligible to participate in any league games in the City of South Bend. Anyone suspended from play that participates on another team will be suspended for a minimum of one (1) year.

C. A person written-up on two (2) or more occasions can be suspended from all participation for a minimum of one (1) year. The person has the right to request a reinstatement hearing on the first year anniversary of the second write-up.

D. Any participant seen drinking or smelling of alcohol is ineligible to participate in the game and shall be required to leave the park immediately.

E. Smoking shall not be allowed on park property (St. Joseph County Ordinance).

Section 4. Protests

A. Protests must be made in accordance with ASA/USA Championship rules.

B. A written report must be turned in at the Belleville Softball Complex office by 5:30 pm the next business day. The Softball Commissioner may rule on participant eligibility protests at any time.

1/19/2009 11:05 AM