IOOF/SLV SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES
GAME FORMAT
All games will be seventy (70) minutes, or seven innings (whichever comes first) unless the game is tied after 7 innings then extra innings should  be played if the time limit has not expired or is the last played game of the day. If an inning starts with 10 minutes or less before the game time expires then that inning will be declared by the umpire to be the last inning and will be an open inning for scoring for the Co/Rec's and Women's Leagues. Unless the game ends in a tie then no other inning will be played after the previous inning was declared by the umpire to be the last inning which is an open inning also, even if time is left on the game time clock.

Any inning that begins before time expires shall be completed unless the home team is at bat and ahead, or if the previous rule has been declared by the umpire.

PLAYOFF TIE BREAKER RULES:  1- Head to head play    2- Most runs scored against team(s) that are tied   3- Least amount of runs scored against team(s) that are tied     4- Most runs scored in all the regular season games      5- Least amount of runs scored against in all regular season games.

 ADDING/DROPPING PLAYERS:   Players may be added to the roster up until before their fourth scheduled game and each team must turn in their roster before they play their 4th game or that team will not be eligible for the playoffs. Managers that lose players due to injury or relocation may petition the League Director to replace the player. If that player returns, that player may return to the roster only if the replacement player is dropped. Managers are responsible for the submission of all additional waiver/roster lists to the League Director.

TEAM AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
(1) Players must be 18 years or older.
(2) A maximum of 20 players are allowed on the roster.
(3) All players must sign USA waiver/roster form before participating in league games.
(4) Players must play in at least 3 regular season games to be eligible for playoffs.
(5) Once a player signs the roster with a team, he/she must be released by his/her
manager prior to playing any league games. After release, that player may sign
with another team. Once a player has played in a league game, he/she cannot
sign with another team.
(6) Protests regarding ineligible players must be submitted to the League Director
within 24 hours of the protested game.
(7) Teams using ineligible players in the playoffs will automatically forfeit their games
(8) The League Director has the authority to make special exceptions regarding
eligibility roster procedures.
(9) In playoff situations player picture IDs will be checked against team liability roster.

FORFEITS/CANCELLATIONS
The umpire’s watch is official time. If a team is not ready to start ten minutes after scheduled game time, with at least 8 eligible players, the game will be forfeited to the opposing team. A forfeit is recorded as a loss.
A $25.00 forfeit fee may be charged for forfeits. Forfeit fees must be paid prior to the next game.
Postponement of games are not allowed. A team that foresees a conflict with a game and notifies the Umpire Coordinator at least 24 hours in advance will be credited with a loss and no forfeit fee will be charged.

PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT (Refer to SANCRA Player Code of Conduct Link)
The manager shall be the official representative of his/her team unless he/she designates one of the players as team captain prior to a game. All managers will be held responsible for all rules as stated here and for all rules in the USA rulebook. This league is a recreation league, which emphasizes fun and sportsmanship. Foul language, display of temper, or other unsportsmanlike conduct voiced at an official or a player will result in
ejection from that game with the possibility of further penalty at the discretion of the League Director. ALCOHOL: THERE WILL BE NO ALCOHOL PERMITTED ON THE FIELD OR IN THE DUGOUT! AFTER THE 1ST TIME A TEAM IS CAUGHT BY A BOARD MEMBER OR AN UMPIRE WITH ALCOHOL DURING A SEASON THEY WILL RECEIVE A WARNING, THE 2ND TIME A TEAM IS CAUGHT WITH ALCOHOL DURING THE SAME SEASON THEIR CURRENT GAME WILL BE A FORFEIT AND THE 3RD TIME A TEAM IS CAUGHT WITH ALCOHOL DURING THE SAME SEASON THEIR CURRENT GAME WILL BE A FORFEIT AND THAT TEAM WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM THE LEAGUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT SEASON INCLUDING THE PLAYOFFS.

PRE-GAME RULES: The official supplies lineup cards at least 15 minutes prior to game time. Team managers must complete the lineup cards (batting order, first and last names) and return them to the official before game time.

First Game: Each team is given infield practice in equal time allotments, if time allows.
Second Game: When ten minutes are left before game time, each team is given five minutes infield, otherwise, no infield practice is permitted.LEAGUE RULES

The leagues are governed by the rules of the United Softball Association (USA) with the following exceptions:

(1) A game may be started or continued with eight players. If a team starts with less than 10 players, and additional players arrive, they may be added to the end of the batting order upon arrival. If a player is injured and has to leave the game, and no substitute is available, the batting order will be compressed without penalty provided there are at least 8 players still available.

(2) Batting Order: Teams may use either a continuous batting order or a regular USA lineup with substitutions. All players that bat have to play at least 1 full inning in the field. Once your batting order is declared and submitted to the umpire, it may not change. EXCEPTION: Teams may add late arriving players to the end of their lineup. CO/REC EXCEPTION: If a female player leaves the game for any reason, and as long as her vacancy does not affect the batting order of no more than two men in a row can bat, there will be no penalty.

(3) Ball/Strike Count: Count is 4 balls and 3 strikes and will start with a 1-1 count, with the batter getting 1 extra foul ball. Example: The batter fouls off the first pitch, count is 1-2. The batter fouls off another pitch, count is still 1-2. If the batter takes a strike or fouls off again, the batter is out.

(4) A 6’ to 12’ pitching arch will be in effect for all leagues.

(5) Courtesy runners are allowed. The player who was last out (of the same sex) must be used as a courtesy runner.

 (7) FOR THE CO/REC'S AND WOMEN'S LEAGUES ONLY: When 7 runs are scored by the offense in an inning, teams will change positions on the field. The last inning will be an open inning where unlimited runs are allowed. If the game clock is 10 minutes are less at the start of an inning then the umpire will declare that inning to be the last inning. MERCY RULE: If a team is ahead by 12 runs at the completion of 5 or 6 innings , the game is over.

(8) USA Tie Breaker Rule will be implemented for Playoff games only

(9) No time limit or Mercy Rule for Championship games only

CO/REC RULES

 (1) No more than 2 men may bat in a row.

(2) A team fielding the full number of players must have a minimum of 4 women; 2 women in the outfield and 2 women in the infield.If a team is short men players but have 4 or more women then the team must play with a minimum of 2 women in the outfield & 2 women in the infield. EXCEPTION: If only 3 women are present at game time and your team reaches the 4th women batting position, the umpire will issue an out and another 2 men may bat. This is the only time that 4 men in a row may bat. A late arriving woman may enter that vacancy within the batting order without penalty.
When only 3 women are present the following rules apply:
(a) Only nine players are allowed on the field.
(b) If only 1 woman is in the infield, she may not play the catcher's position.
(c) If a woman is injured and cannot continue to play, the game will be designated as a forfeit.
(d) Should a woman arrive late, she may join the team and original rules apply.

(3) When 7 runs are scored by the offense in an inning, teams will change positions on the field. The last inning will be an open inning where unlimited runs are allowed. If the game clock is 10 minutes are less at the start of an inning then the umpire will declare that inning to be the last inning. MERCY RULE: If a team is ahead by 12 runs at the completion of 5 or 6 innings , the game is over.

(4) There is no rover position while a woman is at bat. The 10th position is an outfield position (behind the encroachment line or cones in left, left center, right center and right field positions).

(5) When a woman is at bat, all outfielders must stay behind the encroachment line or cones placed in the outfield at approximately 175’ from home plate until the batter makes contact with the ball. All infielders must stay within the infield portion of the field until the batter makes contact with the ball.

(6)  Encroachment: No man may take a play, planned or unplanned, that is clearly the female's defensive play. Encroachment calls are made at the discretion of the umpires at the conclusion of the play. Penalty: Runners are awarded the bases they would have reached, in the umpire’s judgment, had there been no encroachment.

(8) Female catcher/pitcher is allowed.

(9) There will be no MERCY RULE or TIME LIMIT in effect for all Championship games but will be in effect during Playoff games.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
(1) Teams are responsible for their own first aid supplies, including ice.
(2) Team captains and players are responsible for reporting any injuries to the official or other league representatives present at the game.

INSURANCE

Participants are not covered in any manner for personal liability or property damage by IOOF/SLV Softball League. Players are competing in this program at their own risk.

GROUND RULES
Highlands Park Field A:
• A foul ball hit to left field (up the hill) is a dead ball and may not be caught. Catch-N-Carry Rule: If the fielder makes the catch and his/her momentum takes him/her up the hill into dead ball area, an out will be called and all runners advance one base.

• A fair ball hit in right field that rolls into the bushes at the end of right field is a ground rule homerun. A fair ball hit in left field that rolls through the trees at the end of left field is a ground rule homerun.

Highlands Park Field B:
• A fair ball hit in left field that rolls into the bushes at the end of left field is a ground rule homerun.

• A fair ball that hits the trees down the left field line is a ground rule double.

Michael Gray:
• One over the fence homerun per inning, per team, per gender is allowed. Any additional over the fence homeruns will be called out.

• If a fair ball hits the top of the overhang of the outfield fence & bounces over the fence the batter will be awarded a homerun. If a fair ball hits the top of the overhang of the outfield fence & bounces back into the field of play the batter will be awarded a ground rule double.