Carver Women’s Softball League

2007 Rules and Regulations

 

1.             All rules and regulations will be according to the 2007 USSSA rules unless specified below. 

2.             All rules and regulations apply to both regular season and playoffs, with the exception of rule #8 (Run Rule).

3.             Team uniform colors must be approved by the CWSL board members.

4.             Players must be 18 years of age by April 1, 2007.

5.             Preliminary rosters (maximum 15 players) and registration must be turned in no later than May 10, 2007 to either the league secretary (Lorraine Rooney) or league treasurer (Roberta DiRado). Any player added to the roster after May 10, 2007 must have their name and registration money turned into the President or Treasurer at least one day prior to their first game.

6.             Registration refunds: Any player paying her registration and playing at least one game will not be entitled to any refund should she become unable to complete the season. Said player will be entitled to any player benefits (banquet discount, etc).

7.             Any cancellation due to weather conditions will be done no later than 4:30 pm on game day. If the game is not cancelled prior to 4:30, teams must show up at the designated field and the umpire will determine whether or not the game will be played.

If the game is cancelled prior to 4:30, the league President or Vice-President will contact the team representatives and Umpire Coordinator.

Cancelled games must be made up by the first Thursday neither team already has a make-up gam, and there’s an umpire available.

8.             There will be a 12 Run Rule which awards a win to the team that is ahead in a game after 4-1/2 innings if the home team is ahead or after 5 or more completed innings.

This rule does NOT apply during playoffs.

9.             Game times: all games played Mon – Fri will begin at 6:15, with a 15 minute grace period. A team that cannot field enough players by the end of the grace period shall forfeit the game.

Any team having three or more forfeits is not eligible for a playoff position. Also, any team adding players after the roster deadline of June 24th will not be eligible for a playoff position.

10.         Automatic forfeit if any player or coach is caught drinking, using drugs or smoking on the field or in the dugout area during a game.

11.         Free substitution for any player in any positions with one exception: two mound conferences by the coach to the pitcher in one inning will result in the pitcher being removed from the mound. She may later re-enter the game in any other position.

12.         Player must enter into defensive field of play by bottom ˝ of 4th inning and play a mimimum of at least 3 defensive innings per game (unless home team wins the game in 6 ˝ innings then the player will have only played 2 defensive innings).

13.         Courtesy runner: A maximum of two players per game shall be allowed a courtesy runner. The courtesy runner shall be the last recorded out.  If it is the first inning and there are no outs, the courtesy runner will be the player in the last position of the batting order, unless a run as scored, then the courtesy runner shall be the player who scored the last run.

A courtesy runner will not be allowed for a batter/runner that has advanced beyond first base.  Once a batter/runner has been allowed a courtesy runner, they must not pass first base and must have a courtesy runner each subsequent time they reach 1st base for the duration of the game.

No player can be a courtesy runner more than once per inning.

14.  Slide Rule:  In order to prevent unnecessary and serious injury, all runners must slide into home plate whenever there will be a close play at the plate.  “Close play” will be determined by umpires judgement.  A runner who does not slide on a close play at home will be called out.

  1.  In the case of injury, the following rules shall apply:

If the player is injured while playing defense, a substitution may be made. If the player is unable to take her next turn at bat, she will be removed from the lineup.

If the player is injured while running the bases, she will be given 5 minutes to resume play. If, after this time, she is unable to play, she will be removed from the lineup. The player who made the last out will be the replacement runner.

Any bleeding must be stopped and covered. If bleeding cannot be stopped in a reasonable amount of time (determined by the umpire), the player must leave the game, but can re-enter once the bleeding has been stopped.

16.   The pitch will be slow-pitch with an arc of 5 – 10 feet from the ground.

17.   Ejection rule: Any player or coach ejected from a game must immediately leave the game and playing area.

First offence: one game suspension, beginning with next official game

Second offence: three game suspension, beginning with next three official games

Third offence: suspended from the league for the remainder of the season

If a suspension occurs at the end of the regular season it will be carried over into the playoffs. A maximum of a two game suspension will be served at the beginning of the next season if the team is not in the playoffs, or if the suspension occurs during the playoffs.

18.   The home team dugouts for each field are as follows: Two main Carver fields – 3rd base side; Purchase Street and Upland Club – 1st base side.

19.   In the case of a tie record as the end of regular season play, the final standings shall be determined by using the least number of runs allowed between the two teams involved in the tie during head-to-head play during the regular season.

20.   For the playoffs, the team with the best record shall have home field advantage during the first and third games of the series.

21.   A player must participate in at least 1/3 of the regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs. 

22.   1st Place Prize of $500 will be awarded to the Championship Team.

 

Clarification on some existing USSSA rules

 Notes about the safety base in use at the two main Carver fields:

Any batted ball hitting the white portion should be fair and any ball hitting the red or orange portion should be foul.

On the initial throw to first base from the infield or outfield, the batter-runner MUST TOUCH the red or orange portion of the base but not the white. If legally appealed by the Defense during a live ball situation, the Runner will be called out.

The defensive player MUST always touch the white portion. This rule is in effect only on the initial play at First Base. This does not include:

1. Returning to the base after over running

2. Running on a base hit to the outfield (Runner may touch the red or white part)

3. Re-tag to advance on a fly ball.

EFFECT: If the Base-Runner uses the orange portion at any time after the first attempt at First Base and is not in contact with the white portion, then he is considered off the base.

SUSPENDED GAME is a game called before being completed which is to be completed at a later date. (suspended games apply to playoffs only)

Sec. 10. A SUSPENDED GAME can result in Tournament Play, if the Umpire stops play for any reason such as power failure of light, protested Game in accordance with these rules, or any act of God, etc. that precludes immediate continuance of the Game to the conclusion of the full seven innings, or as required. In all sanctioned Tournament Play, the Game must be played the complete 7 innings, or 6-1/2 innings with the home Team ahead.

EFFECT Sec. 10. When a Suspended Game is resumed, it must be resumed under the conditions that prevailed PRIOR to the interruption that caused the Suspended Game.A REGULATION GAME shall consist of seven innings, unless otherwise listed below.

A. Seven full innings are not played if the home team scores more runs in six innings or before the third out is made in their half of the seventh inning.

B. A Game that is TIED at the end of seven innings shall be continued, by playing additional innings until one team has scored more runs than the other at the end of a completed inning, or the home team scores more runs in their half of the uncompleted extra inning.

C. A Game called by the Umpire, during regular season play which can not be resumed within 30 minutes, may be regulation if four or more innings have been played, or if the home team has scored as many or more runs during the uncompleted fourth inning, or after three full innings, than the Team first at bat has scored in their four complete innings.

D. A regulation Game shall be declared if the score is TIED when the game is called, after four or more completed innings, or if the home team has equaled the score of the first Team at bat, while batting during any uncompleted inning.

EFFECT Sec. 3 C-D. The Umpire is empowered to call a Game at any time because of rain, darkness, panic, or for any other cause which puts the Umpire, Players, or the Patrons in peril.

EFFECT: Any game called by the umpire that is not deemed a regulation game must be played over in it’s entirety.

In a nutshell: a regulation game is 4 complete innings; or 3 ˝ innings if the home team is winning.

 

THE WINNER OF THE GAME shall be the Team that scores the most runs in a regulation Game.

A. The total number of runs scored legally when the Game is called at the end of any completed inning after four shall be the score.

B. When the home team has equaled or scored more runs during any uncompleted innings after four, the runs are all counted and the score is either tied or one Team wins.

C. If the home team has not scored more runs, or does not score as many or more runs in the half of the uncompleted inning to tie or win the Game, the Game reverts to the last inning that was fully completed.

 

Accepted the 8th day of May 2007.

 

President  ___________________________________ Treasurer___________________________________

Vice President______________________________

Secretary___________________________________