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(Revised 1-14-08) ( Click here for the Word document version) ( Click here for the Excel Comparison Chart for Divisions 6, 8, 10 and 12 ) I. General Provisions The following North Shore Girls Softball League (“NSGSL”) league rules supplement and augment the Amateur Softball Association of America (“ASA”) rules as amended year-to-year. If there is a conflict between league rule(s) and ASA rule(s), the league rule(s) shall be controlling. If a situation is not covered by the league rules, the ASA rules are controlling. Although the league rules and the ASA rules are meant to cover as many situations as possible, they do not cover all. In the rare circumstance where a situation is not covered by the league or ASA rules, the judgment of the umpire will be upheld. NSGSL Rules Committee will later consider the situation so that future rules can be clarified. All parties concerned will be provided with a fair opportunity to be heard. However, no protests are allowed. Teams should not deviate from or alter these rules during the course of any regular season or post-season game, even by mutual agreement. II.Team Rules 1 . Player Evaluation : Players for this division are selected on teams by way of a draft. In order to properly evaluate the skill level of the players, a player preview will be held prior to the draft and each player will be given a numerical score. These scores will be used by the league and coaches in an attempt to maintain parity among the teams. 2. Scheduling : It is the responsibility of the team manager to ensure that his or her team is available to play at the times scheduled. 3. Rescheduling : Only games postponed because of rain or field unavailability, or due to umpire issues, may be rescheduled. 4. Minimum Number of Players : Unless there is a league recognized postponement (rain, field playability, umpire no-show), a forfeit will be declared if a team is unable to field at least seven (7) players within ten minutes after the scheduled start of the game. This rule may not be waived or altered by any one. 5. Call ups : Managers may use players from Division 10 to fill vacancies for particular games. Managers may use as many Division 10 players as is necessary to have nine (9) players present for a particular game. Call-up players must play outfield positions for at least the first two innings. After the second inning, call-up players may play any defensive position except pitcher. Call-up players must bat at the bottom of the batting order. Under no circumstances will a call-up player be allowed to pitch in a Division 12 Game. 6. Play ups : A player wishing to play up to the next highest level must be evaluated at both the correct age level as well as the next level up. Play up requests will be evaluated and determined by the Executive Board. There are no play downs allowed. 7. Team Vacancies : If a vacancy occurs, the manager is to contact the Player Agent who will assign an appropriate player from the waiting list on a first-come first-served basis. If there is no waiting list, the vacancy will be filled on a case-by-case basis. 8. Home Team Responsibilities : The home team is responsible for field set up before the game and field clean-up after the game. This includes setting the bases for the game, and putting the bases away at the end of the game if this is the last game of the day. The home team supplies a new ball for the start of the game and is responsible for the pitching rubber. The home team will keep the official score book and report the final score of the completed game to the division coordinator. 9. Away Team Responsibilities : The away team supplies a good back up ball. 10. Team Dugout Position : The home team is assigned the first base side of the field. 11 . Pre-game Warm-up : Time permitting, the home team may warm up on the infield 15 minutes before the start of the game and the away team may use the infield the previous 15 minutes. III. Equipment 12. Equipment Generally : All players must wear proper softball equipment. Proper equipment will include, but is not limited to; a NOCSAE approved batting helmet and face mask, with chin strap. 13. Catcher Equipment : Catchers will wear an ASA approved catcher helmet and mask, chest protector and shin guards. If the catcher’s helmet/mask does not cover the throat area, then a throat guard must also be worn. 14. Helmet : The helmet must be worn at all times when batting, running the bases, coaching a base, or when in the on-deck circle. 15. Cleats : Optional, rubber cleats only. 16. Ball Size : A size 12” ball is used. 17. Jewelry : Jewelry may not be worn. Medical alert bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry and may be worn. If worn, medical alert bracelets or necklaces must be taped to the body so that the alert tag is clearly visible. IV. Game Rules 18. Game Length (Regulation) : A regulation game shall consist of six (6) innings or the completion of the inning in progress at the time the one hour fifteen minute time limit (1:15) expires, whichever comes first. 19. Game Start : Just before the start of the game, the umpire is responsible for informing the home scorekeeper of the exact start time of the game. 20. Last Inning : Under this time limitation, an inning may not start after 1:15 (one hour fifteen minutes) from the start of the game. 21. Start of Inning (for timing purposes) : An inning starts immediately after the final out of the previous inning. 22. “Drop Dead” Time (Game must end) : None; inning in progress after 1:15 will be completed – game ends following visitors at-bat if home team is ahead or following home team at bat. A game may end in a tie. 23. Complete Game : In the case of a game called because of darkness or weather, a game is deemed complete after 50 minutes, or after four (4) complete innings, or after 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. The game will be scored as of the end of the last completed inning. The game score will revert back to the last complete inning if the visitors are leading or the end of the last complete half inning if the home team is leading. 24. Game Called : A game may be called at any time, at the discretion of the umpire, due to darkness, rain, or any other condition threatening the players, coaches or spectators. The game is scored as of the last complete inning, as long as a complete game has been played per Rule # 23. 25. International Tie Break Rules : The team that is batting at the top of the inning places a player (whoever made the last out in the inning before) on second base to begin the inning. The inning then proceeds as normal. The team that is batting at the bottom of the inning does the same. 26. Tie Game : If the score is tied at the end of regulation, and there is time available before 1:15 is reached, then at umpire discretion, ONE additional inning will be played under international tiebreak rules. 27. Run Limit : Each team can score a maximum of five (5) runs per inning. 28. Mercy Rule : The game will be called if (a) the visiting team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of 4 innings or (b) if the home team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of 3 ½ innings. The mercy rule will be employed during all regular season and league tournament games. 29. Umpires : There will be one NSGSL umpire per game. No one may argue a judgment call by the umpire. Clarification of a call may be requested. 30. Scoring : Score will be kept. 31. Protests : There will be no protests. 32. Defensive Players : Up to nine (9) players may take defensive positions on the field. If there are nine defensive players, three players must play an outfield position. All outfielders must begin play on the outfield grass. Teams need not have an equal number of players playing defensive positions i.e. one team may have nine defensive players and the other team may only have seven. 33. Defensive Infield : There is a limit of six players playing infield positions, including the pitcher and the catcher. If playing 9 players, six must play the infield. 34. Defensive Coaches : No defensive coaches are allowed on the field. 35. Rotation : Rotation is not required. 36. Playing Time : A player may not sit out two innings defensively until all players, present from the start of the game, have sat out at least one inning defensively. Violations of this rule include forfeiture of the game, one game suspension, or season suspension for repeated violations. 37. Catcher : A player must be the catcher. 38. Pitching : The pitching distance is 40’ from the point of home plate closest to the catcher. A pitcher may not pitch more than 4 innings per game. One pitch in an inning is equal to an inning pitched. If the pitcher is pulled, she can reenter the game if she has any innings left. The pitcher must be a player. 39. Maximum Number of Pitches: There is no maximum number of pitches. 40. ChargeD Conference Rule : Follow ASA Rule 5-7. 41. Circle Violation Rule : When a runner is legitimately off her base after a pitch or as the result of a batter completing her turn at bat, and while the pitcher has possession of the ball with both feet in the pitching circle (an eight (8) foot [2.44m] radius of the pitcher’s plate), she must immediately return to her base or attempt to advance to the next base. Failure to immediately return to her base or proceed to the next base once the pitcher has the ball in the pitching circle will result in the runner being declared out. Once the runner returns to a base for any reason, she will be declared out if she leaves the base, unless a play is made on her or another runner (a fake throw is considered a play), the pitcher no longer has possession of the ball within the pitching circle, or the pitcher releases the ball on a pitch to the batter. NOTE: A base on balls or dropped third strike on which any runner is entitled to run past any base is treated the same as a batted ball. The batter/runner may continue past any base and is entitled to run as long as she does not stop. If she stops after she rounds any base, she then must comply with Rule #41, Circle Violation Rule. 42. Bunting : Bunting is allowed. 43. Fair Ball Arc (from back of home plate, 15’ sweep from foul line to foul line): Not applicable 44. Balls and Strikes : Balls and strikes will be called. 45. Batting Order : The Manager will determine a batting order for ALL members of his or her team (whether or not playing a defensive position) before the game begins and will place this order on the lineup card. The players will bat in this order throughout the game. If a player is late to the game (arrives after first pitch) she must be placed in the last position in the batting order and will bat when this position comes up in the order. 46. Defensive Substitutions : The coach is free to make as many defensive substitutions as is necessary to equalize playing time. 47. Injury Substitutions : A coach may substitute for a runner using the next available player in the line-up ahead of the injured player. An injured player may re-enter the game defensively unless the player has missed her next at bat. If missed, she is removed from the game. 48. Injury/Absence Rule : If a player, prior to her next at bat, is injured and cannot return to the game, or must leave at a parent’s request, the manager must inform the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager. Such a player cannot re-enter the game. The player’s at bat is skipped. If a player violates this rule, the player is called out. The game may continue if the team has at least 7 players remaining. A player absent from the field for any other reason is called out if not back by her next at bat. 49. Duration of Team-at-bat : A team is up for 3 outs. See Rule 27 (Run Limit) 50. Outs : Outs are recorded. 51. Stopped Play : See Rule 41, Circle Violation Rule. 52. Base Running : 53. Dropped 3 rd Strike : The dropped third strike rule is in effect for the entire season. The batter becomes a runner when the catcher fails to catch the third strike 1) and there are fewer than two outs and first base is unoccupied, or 2) anytime there are two outs. 54. Leading Off : 55. Stealing Base : Stealing is permitted. If a runner leaves a base before the pitcher releases the ball, she will be declared out. The Batter/Runner can steal as many bases on a play as is physically possible. Stealing home base on a pitched ball or the return of a pitched ball to the pitcher is permitted. 56. Sliding : Sliding is permitted. In order to prevent injury and protect the defensive player attempting to make a play on a runner, the runner must be called out if she remains on her feet and collides with a defensive player holding the ball and waiting to apply a tag. In order to prevent a “collision” ruling, the runner can slide, jump over the top of the defender holding the ball, go around the defender (if outside the three-foot lane, the runner would be called out), or return to the previous base touched. NOTE: If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender will be ejected. A runner may slide into the fielder. 57. Infield Fly Rule : The infield fly rule IS in effect. 58. Overthrow : 59. Batter Hit by Pitch : A base will be awarded to a batter who has been hit by a pitched ball, even if the pitched ball first hits the ground, provided she attempts to avoid the ball. If the pitched ball she was hit by was in the strike zone and would have been called a strike, the umpire will not award a base and the pitch will be called a strike 60. Playoffs : These rules shall also apply to all playoff and championship games except that there will be no time limit for the championship game.
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