LEAGUE RULES (Updated 9-May-11)

 

1.      Each team must have a representative at the spring meeting and at the all-star meeting to remain in the league.

 

2.      Prior to that week's games: each player must attend at least one service of the church they are playing for.  If a player is attending a church in the league, they must play for that team.  It is the coach’s responsibility to make sure players do attend.  Services include church services, youth services, Sunday School, Awana, etc.

 

3.      A. S. A. rules for modified/fast pitch apply, except for our own league rules.

 

4.      League Rules: 

  1. No stealing home unless a play is being made elsewhere. 
  2. Player must slide if a play is being made and is close.  A close play is determined by the umpire only. 
  3. Automatic out if a player turns to bunt and then takes a swing at the ball; contact is not needed to be an out. 
  4. All players at the game must play except in the tournament. 
  5. No titanium bats or multi wall bats (no space between layers). Any team using an illegal bat will forfeit all games in which the bat was used. Changes resulting from the Coaches meeting from 9-May-11 are as follows.  2011 will be the last year that 2000 stamped bats can be used.  2011 will be the last year that composite bats will be used.

 

  1. Teams can play 10 men on the field even if the other team doesn’t have enough to do so.  A team must have 8 players to start a game.  (an amendment should be made here to address the 9th player as an out rule… 2007) (2009 amendment… start of the game takes place w/ 8 players be it as home team or away team… If batting first for example and you get to where the 9th player, who has yet to show up, the team short a player will incur an out at that spot in the order… should there already be two outs it would end the inning… zero or one outs then they will have an additional out for the 9th missing batter… once the player shows up they can enter the game at any point however that team must continue play w/ only 9 players for all remaining innings of play and only substitutions can occur ie no batting 10th or 11th batters etc)
  2. We will be listed a CLASS B league. 
  3. Players 55 and over will receive a free runner if they wish.  The runner will be the person who made the last out.  (2008) If umpires award extra bases on the at bat then a runner can still be utilized… If the batter chooses to stretch the hit for an extra base then NO runner will be awarded.
  4.  No steel spikes allowed. 
  5. Players must be 15 years old to play (or have an above average ability if younger).

 

1.      Players must have played in at least half the games during the season to play in the tournament.  Pastors are exempt from this rule.

 

2.      If A. S. A. umpires are not used, the home team is responsible for the home plate umpire and the visitors are to supply the base umpire.  These people must be able to do the job.  If you umpire a game it is the same credit as if you played a game.

 

3.      No smoking at the games by players at all.  This includes people on the benches such as bookkeepers, fans and coaches.  It is the coach’s job to enforce this.  Also no alcohol, chewing tobacco, or drugs at the games.

 

4.      NO UNGODLY ATTITUDES WILL BE TOLERATED.  This includes swearing, taunting other players, or making gestures.

 

5.      All new teams must be voted in by the existing coaches.  Each team will be on a one-year probation and will have to be voted on the next year.

 

6.      Dues will be $300.00.  $150 is due at the last coaches meeting before the season starts and balance at the all-star break.  If not paid at this time you will play no more games till paid.

 

7.      Canceling a game:

  1. Teams are required to give 72 hours notice when canceling a game unless for weather.
  2. When a game is postponed, it must be made up at the earliest date, not to exceed 2 weeks.   (2007 Perhaps a re-write of this needs to be proposed at the next coaches meeting to amend this 2 week statement… ie it may make more sense for this game to be made up if a doubleheader could  be played on a Saturday past 2 weeks that they are already opposing one another on a Saturday for example or if both teams are at the fields opposing other teams but could play earlier or latter against one another on this particular Saturday…)
  3. The team that cancels a game is the team that gets the forfeit.  Example:  Team A calls team B to postpone a game.  They try to reschedule a game for 2 weeks and that night it rains.  It’s team A’s responsibility to reschedule that game.  It comes 24 hours before that game and team B calls team A to postpone.  They can’t find an open place in the schedule to play.  This would be team B’s forfeit even thought it was team A’s postponement first.
  4. Scheduler has noted great pains 8^) at attempting to squeeze late season make-ups at the end of the season and recommends that teams that are ALREADYscheduled in REGULAR SEASON play on this last weekend prior to the tournament weekend that those teams involved have first refusal on any doubleheader desires.  Those teams not regularly scheduled during this last weekend prior should make all attempts at using the weekend that is two weeks prior to tournament weekend and the scheduler perhaps should leave this “two weekends” prior to the tournament weekend entirely free as this was the case in 2007 and none of those slots were capitalized on at all.  This is the experience of the Scheduler in hindsight! 8^) (iv. Added in 2007)  This notes intention is to pass on advice to other teams so that they not make the same mistake as the Scheduler 8^).

 

8.      A team coach must be a member of the church they represent.

 

9.      Mercy rule for regular season games is a lead of 12 runs or greater after 5 or more completed innings.  10 runs for playoffs. (Noted 2006)