COVE CREEK PARK

Softball Rules
 
 

1.  PITCHING

      A.  There are no pitching limits.

      B.  Only five warm up pitches per inning per pitcher are

            allowed.

      C.  During an intentional, the pitcher shall be required

            to throw all four balls.  No automatic passes will be

            allowed.

      D.  A player who is pitching must keep one foot in contact

with the pitching rubber at all times while in the act of pitching but may step back with the other foot behind the rubber as long as this foot remains within the width of the rubber.

 

2.  GAME LENGTH

      A.  Six innings per game. 

      B.  A game is considered complete and final if four full

            innings have been completed or if three and a half

            innings are completed and the home team has the lead

            and is at bat.

C.  If less than four innings have been completed and the        
      game is called, then the game shall be suspended and played at
      a later date starting exactly where the game left off. 
      Scorekeepers for both teams should compare books at the end of
      the suspended game to confirm the score, inning, batting  
      lineup, and substitutes used and left.

 

3.  COURTESY RUNNERS

      A.  A courtesy runner may be used with two outs only and             
            only for the catcher.

      B.  The use of a courtesy runner is optional.

      C.  The courtesy runner must be a substitute player who is 
            not in the game.

      D.  If only eight or nine team members are present, a

            courtesy runner can not be used.

 

4.  TIME LIMITS

      A.  The umpire has sole discretion to determine when a game

          is to be called for darkness.

B.  No time limits will be used for weekday games (Monday thru Friday).  A 1 hour and 45 minute time limit will be imposed on Saturday games. This means no new inning may begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes has elapsed. If an inning begins before 1 hour and 45 minutes has expired, that inning alone may be completed.  A game may not be called by the umpire for time if both teams have not completed their at bat (assuming the home team needs to bat) and the inning began before 1 hour and 45 minutes.  The umpire will declare the start time at the beginning of the game and is considered the official time keeper.

      C.  If a game is called for time on Saturday regardless of the          
          number of innings played, the game is considered an official game.

 

5.  DUGOUT CONTROL

A.  Only the manager, two assistant coaches, and the        
    official team scorekeeper are allowed in the dugout during a  game.

            -These names are to be listed on the line-up card and

             checked by the umpire before the start of the game.

      B.  No food, sunflower seeds, tobacco products, or drinks

          are allowed in the dugout during games.

             -Only water provided by the park is to be present in the dugouts during games.

      C.  Players must obtain permission of the manager or an

          assistant coach to leave the dugout during a game.

 

6.  INCLEMENT WEATHER

      A.  Upon the first sound of thunder of first sight of

          lightning during a game, the umpire will stop the game

          immediately and start timing for 20 minutes.  Every

          instance of lightning or thunder thereafter restarts the 20 minute wait.

      B.  This same rule will be enforced by managers and/or

          assistant coaches during practices.

 

7.  MANDATORY PLAY

      A.  Every player shall play a minimum of two innings on

          defense (six outs), and shall bat at least one time in each game.

B.  If this rule is violated for any reason, the player will        
    start the next game she is present and play a minimum of
    three innings on defense and bat at least one time.

      C.  If this rule is violated, the offending manager is

          responsible for reporting the violation to the league.

 

8.  SLAUGHTER RULE

      A.  If one team is ahead by 15 runs after 4 innings, the

          game will be called if the losing team has batted four times.

 

9.  DESIGNATED HITTERS

      A.  No DH’s will be used

 

10.  PLAYERS

      A.  If eight players are present, a game will start at the

          designated time.

B.  If less than eight players are present, there will be a fifteen minute delay. 
If after fifteen minutes an eighth player has not arrived the offending team
will forfeit that game.

      C.  Any player who arrives after a game has started must

          go to the bottom of the lineup for that team.

      D.  A team with only eight players available for a game may              

          notify the League in advance and request the use of an     

          additional player for the game.  The League will use its   

          discretion in locating the additional player.

E.  If a team starts a game with only nine players, and one        
    is forced to leave the game for any reason, the team may        
    continue to play with the remaining eight. The vacancy
    in the batting lineup caused by the absence of the ninth
    player shall not be considered an out during the hitting rotation.

 

11.  STEALING

      A.  Stealing is allowed and encouraged.

B.  A runner is not allowed to leave the bag to steal until        
    the ball has been released from the pitchers hand. 
    If the runner leaves the bag early she will be called out.

 

12.  SLIDING

A.  No head first sliding is allowed.  Once a runner has advanced to
    a base, she may dive head first back into the base to avoid a tag.

      B.  When a play at the plate is imminent, the runner shall

          slide feet first.  This is required to avoid a collision with the catcher. 
          A runner who does not slide at all in a close play at the plate shall be

          called out.  A runner who slides head first, or in any manner which causes
          or attempts to cause a collision with the catcher, shall be called out, and
          ejected from the game.

      C.  No defensive player, with emphasis on the catcher, shall

          block the runner’s path in route to a base unless

          the defensive player has possession of the ball.

      D.  When a defensive player has possession of the ball

          and is attempting to tag out a runner, the runner

          shall either slide feet first into the base being

          protected by the defensive player, or the runner

          shall attempt to return to the previous base.  This

          rule is designed to avoid head first collisions

          between runners and defensive players.  A runner

          who causes or attempts to cause a collision with a

          defensive player shall be called out and ejected from the game.

      E.  Runners are strongly encouraged to slide into any base

          at any time a play may be imminent.

 

13.  HELMETS

      A.  All bat boys/girls are required to wear helmets while

          retrieving bats from the field.

      B.  All batters and runners must keep helmets on when:

          (1) in the batters box, (2) on the bases and basepaths,

          (3) the ball is in play, (4) after crossing home plate and returning to the dugout.

C.  Any player who throws a helmet, bat, glove, or ball to          
    show anger or disapproval with the call of an umpire,              
    performance of his/her teammates or coaches, will                
    automatically by ejected from the game. Such player may
    be subjected to further disciplinary action by the League.

      D.  A player may wear a cap under a helmet.

 

14.  RE-ENTRY RULE

      A.  Each of the nine starting players may be withdrawn from

          the game and re-entered once.

      B.  When re-entered, a player must occupy the same batting

          position as she occupied when starting the game - the

          starter and her substitute cannot be in the game at the same time.

      C.  A substitute withdrawn from the game cannot re-enter.

      D.  A starting player withdrawn from the game more than

          once cannot re-enter.

E.  If all substitutes have been used, and an injury occurs,

    the opposing manager shall select from the players not

      F.  A pitcher may not re-enter the game as a pitcher.

      G.  A pitcher may be removed from the mound, remain in the

          game, and return to the mound to pitch.  A non-starting

          pitcher may not return to the mound.

 

15.  PROTEST

      A.  Protest shall be considered only when based on the

          interpretation or violation of a playing rule or the

          use of an ineligible player.  No protest shall be

          allowed based on the decision of an umpire’s judgment.

      B.  Only the acting head coach or manager shall have the              
          right to protest a game.

      C.  The protesting manager or head coach shall immediately,

          and before the next pitch is thrown, notify the chief

          umpire that the game is being played under protest.

      D.  Following the notice of protest, the chief umpire shall

consult with the associate umpires, and if it is determined that the decision is in conflict with the rules, then the decision  shall be overturned.  If, however, after consultation, the chief umpire is convinced the decision is not in conflict with the rules, then the decision shall stand and the chief umpire shall announce that the game is being played under protest.

E.  Within 24 hours, a written report of the protest shall be filed by both the protesting manager or head coach, and the chief    umpire, with the League office.

      F.  A Protest Committee shall consider the protest and issue

          a prompt decision.

 

16.  EJECTIONS

      A.  All ejections should be reported to a league official              

          immediately.

      B.  Any player or coach ejected from a game may serve a next game suspension
          after the Board reviews the offense.

      C.  Players and/or coaches may be subject to further game              

          suspensions if the Board deems necessary. 

 

17.  MISCELLANEOUS

      A.  Managers and assistant coaches are encouraged to warm-up              

          their pitchers between innings if the catcher is not ready.

      B.  Between pitches, every player shall keep one foot in

          the box.

      C.  A manager may call time and walk to the pitcher’s

          circle to talk to his/her pitcher.  On the second

          trip to the mound in a game to the same pitcher, the

          pitcher must be pulled.

      D.  A ball is considered dead after a play when the pitcher is        

          inside the circle and has control of the ball.

      E.  All protective equipment not issued by the park must be      

          approved by the League before it can be used in games and/or  

          practices.  This change in policy is due to new insurance         

          regulations.  This includes any catching equipment and batting
          helmets.

F.  No jewelry may be worn by players during games or practices. 
    This includes earrings, necklaces, rings, and watches. It
    should not be up to the umpire to inspect for jewelry. 
    Check your players before games and practices.  This rule has
    been implemented for the safety of the players.

G.  Only uniforms (shirts, caps, pants, and socks) issued by the park
    may be worn during games.  If a player forgets a piece of
    his/her uniform the park will try to issue a substitute for
    that one game only.  If the park can not provide something for
    the player, he/she should borrow the item from a teammate when
    possible, but the player is expected to be in proper uniform
    for the next game.  A player who willfully violates this rule
    will not be permitted to play.

 

18.  NINE RUN RULE:

      A.  No more than nine runs may score in any one inning.

B.  Number of outs does not take precedence.  If nine runs score
    with zero, one, or two outs the inning will be considered over.

C.  This rule is not to be confused with the ninth batter rule. 
    An unlimited number of batters may hit in any one inning as long
    as no more than nine runs are scored.

      D.  The intention of this rule is to speed games up.