OAK LAWN PARK DISTRICT
COMMUNITY PAVILION
9401 S. OAK PARK AVE.
OAK LAWN, IL 60453
(708) 857-2420
ADULT SOFTBALL RULES SUMMER 2011
GENERAL LEAGUE RULES
1. The Oak Lawn Park District reserves the right to change, alter and/or revise any and all rules as deemed
necessary in order to effectively manage this program in the best interest of the district, and its participants.
2. All House rules supersede NSA rules. If a rule is not mentioned in the House rules, the NSA rulebook is in
effect. If you are in question of any rule, review with the game umpire before the game for their
interpretation.
3. The Oak Lawn Park District will not schedule any changes in games in order to accommodate other league
commitments for teams and your players participating in this league!
4. All issues related to the management of the league should be addressed by each team captain to the league
supervisor. The team captain is your designated spokesman for your team. It is a team captain’s
responsibility to review the league rules with their team players. Ignorance to a legal rule will be
inexcusable.
5. No alcoholic beverages allowed by players and/or fans! Teams are responsible for their fans. An umpire
and or any Park District representative may end a game due to a violation of this rule. The offending team
forfeits the game. Anyone violating this rule risks individual and or team expulsion from the league for at
least one year
6. SPORTSMANSHIP: Un-sportsmanlike conduct may result in ejection from the game and possible forfeiture
of the game. If a person is ejected from a game they risk suspension for the next night of play or for the
duration of the season. If a person engages in fighting he or she will be ejected from the game and possibly
from the league. If a team engages in a fight the team forfeits the game played that day and risks being
kicked out of the league. If a team is kicked out of a league they will not be able to register for any adult
leagues for one year from the date of the suspension. No refund will be given.
TEAM CAPTAINS RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Team captains are required to identify members of their team who assault an umpire. Assault on an umpire
means touching an umpire in any manner; resulting in a player being ejected from the game. Any person
that assaults an umpire will be barred from participating in Oak Lawn Park District adult softball and adult
leagues for one year from the date of the incident. Any physical contact with the umpire’s person, will
result in a minimum of one year suspension of the assaulter from any N.S.A. officiated ball game.
2. Captains are responsible for making sure they receive schedules, revised schedules, standings, and
tournament information. Call the Pavilion front desk at 708-857-2420 for information.
3. STANDINGS: will be posted each week on the bulletin board located in the Pavilions front lobby. Revised
standings will not be available until the following week. As captain, if you are aware of any error in scoring
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in the standings please contact the league supervisor immediately. A correction will only be made, due to
clerical error by the Oak Lawn Park District staff.
4. SCORECARDS: it is the responsibility of each team's captain to sign the scorecard following the
completion of the game, and verify the final score. It is the winning team’s responsibility to have the
umpire sign the scorecard, and turn it into the field supervisor. Any error may result in forfeiture of the win.
The score sheet is official. If a score sheet is later determined to be incorrect; it will not be changed, nor
will standings.
ROSTERS & FORFEITS
1. Roster limit is 20. The roster should be filled out completely. The contact person or team captain should
have a number that can be reached during the day and night. A player not on the roster will disqualify the
team for any game they participated in if protested against.
2. A completed, signed roster must be turned in to the Pavilion office or field supervisor before the first game.
If the roster is not turned in on time, that team will loose its right to protest and that team will automatically
loose any protest brought against it. If the roster is not turned in the first game that team will not be allowed
to play and will forfeit that game and all games after until the roster/waiver is turned in. No changes will be
allowed after the first game. The only exception to this is if a player is injured and is unable to return for the
rest of the season. A medical excuse must be presented to the league supervisor at the Pavilion before roster
change can be made.
3. You may play in more than one softball league however; you may not play on two teams in the same league.
4. This league is designed for adults; therefore, all players must be at least 18 years of age or older.
5. Forfeit: Game time is forfeit time. Only the first game of the night will be allowed a 15-minute grace
period. After 15 minutes, the team with less than 9 players forfeits. If both teams have less than 9 players a
double Umpire designates the official clock.
6. Any team forfeiting 4 games in one season may be ejected from the league without a refund. Any team
forfeiting 2 games in on season will not be allowed to pre-register next season.
THE GAME
1. Home team, second team on the schedule, keeps the game ball and will occupy the bench on the third base
line. Only balls supplied by the Park District may be used.
2. At least 9 players must be present to begin a game. You may not play with less than 9 players at any time.
12 INCH ONLY If beginning with 9 players one out will be assessed to that team. If both teams do not
have enough players at game time, a double forfeit will be called. A team should have 10 fielders with an
optional 1 or 2 EP’s in the batting order. In Co-Ed if the EP is used, a team must use two (2) extra players,
one male and one female.
3. SLAUGHTER RULE is in effect: CO-REC & 16”, if a team has a 15 run lead at anytime after 4 ½ or (5)
innings, the games if officially over. If behind the home team always has the opportunity to reduce the
deficit to less than 15 runs and extend the game to the next inning. 11” & 12” If a team has a 12 run lead at
anytime after 4 ½ or (5) innings, the game is officially over. If behind the home team always has the
opportunity to reduce the deficit to less than 15 runs and extend the game to the next inning.
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4. Each team must have male/female pitcher and catcher.
5. Outfields may not be on the infield surface until the pitch is released.
6. A game is complete after 7 innings or by time limit. No inning may start after 60 minutes for all leagues.
The only exception is if the game is tied; the game will be played until one-team wins by one run at the
completion of a full inning. If a game is called because of rain, fire, lightning, hail, snow, locusts or other
causes that places the patrons or players in peril, if 4 full innings are completed that is considered a
complete game.
7. Each team must keep their own score, and inform the umpire of the score between innings.
8. BATTERS COUNT: 11’’& 12 “ will start with a 1-1 count. 16” will have a 0-0 count.
9. COURTESY RUNNER RULE: For 16inch men’s the courtesy runner is only allowed to be used for a
runner on first base and the captain must ask for a courtesy runner before the first pitch is made to the next
batter. The only exception is a result of a player getting injured while running the bases. Teams are allowed
to have a courtesy runner, provided the opposing captains consents. The team requesting the use of a
courtesy runner must notify the umpire, and opposing team captain. The courtesy runner must be the last
out. In all other leagues refer to the NSA Rule book.
10. The EP (Extra Player) is optional. If an EP is going to be used, it must be made known before the start of
the game. The EP must remain in the same position of the batting order for the entire game. Any 10 of the
12 may play defense, but the batting order must remain the same. The EP may be substituted for at any time
but the substitute must not be a player that has already been in the game. If the EP is ejected or injured and
there are no substitutes, that position in the batting order will be given an automatic out. If playing with 9
players the 10th batter is an out.
11. RE-ENTRY RULE: will be in effect according to the current NSA Rule Book.
12. Any non-player who is not yet considered an adult, may not be between the fences or boundaries that are
considered the playing field without a NOCSAE approved helmet with a NOCSAE approved facemask
properly attached.
13. RAINOUTS: A decision will be made based on the field and weather conditions at 4:00pm. From 4:00pm
until game time, the Park District will update rain out information as conditions change. The rain out
hotline number is 708-398-6314. Please do not leave messages at this number because they will not be read.
After the start of the games, the umpire will call rainouts. Rain out games will be added to the end of the
schedule in chronological order.
14. SCHEDULING: The Oak Lawn Park District reserves the right to change or alter game play as necessary in
order to complete the schedule due to excessive rainouts.
15. CO-ED LEAGUE: At least 9 players must be present to begin a game. You may not play with less than 9
players at any time. Co-Ed league can play with 5 men & 4 women or 5 women & 4 men. If both teams do
not have enough players at game time, a double forfeit will be called. Co-Ed teams can play with 5 men & 5
women on the field and an even number of men and women in the batting order. Batting order should
alternate. A team should have 10 fielders with an optional 1 or 2 EP’s in the batting order if using the EP a
team must use two (2) extra players, one male and one female. . If a team plays with 9 people the 10th
players batting position will be given an automatic out.
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EQUIPMENT
1. GLOVES: You must wear a glove for 11”&12” softball. No fielding gloves may be used for 16” softball.
EXCEPTION: FEMALES PLAYING 1ST BASE MAY USE A GLOVE IN CO-REC.
2. NO STEEL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED
3. BATS: 11” & 12” leagues bats may not be more than 2-1/4 inches in diameter and must be stamped
“Official softball bat” only. Bats in the 16” league can be any length and weight but must have at least 10”
of tape not to exceed 15”. For all 16” leagues any bat may be used for league play.
4. Bat weights are illegal and will not be allowed.
PROTESTS
1. A written protest and a $50.00 cash fee must be submitted to the Community Pavilion within 48 hours of the
protest. Protests must be indicated on the back of the scorecard with the Umpire and both team captains’
signatures. The back of the scorecard must indicate a brief summary of the protest and the inning, outs, runs
and base runners at that time. The protest must be made immediately before the next pitch. A written
protest must also be submitted within 48 hours describing in full detail the protest. The protest will then be
brought up to the “Protest Committee” and a ruling will be made within 1 week of reception of the protest.
The game will be continued and completed under protest. The $50.00 cash fee will be refunded if the
protest is upheld. If the protest is upheld, the game will be replayed from the point of the protest.
PLAYOFFS & AWARDS
1. PLAYOFFS: Only the top four teams in each league will compete in a single elimination tournament.
Playoffs will begin immediately after the regular season. Team captains will be notified of games dates and
times. All playoffs will be completed in one night unless otherwise noted.
2. TIE BREAKING PROCEDURES: In case of a tie, the following procedures will be used to resolve the tie.
a) Forfeits – If one of the teams has a forfeit they will assume lower position.
b) Head to head competition between tied teams.
c) Run differential in games played among tied teams. (+/- system)
d) Total runs scored in regular season games. (Runs for forfeited games will be
determined by taking average of runs for games played.)
e) Run differential in all games played among tied teams. (+/- system)
f) The Park District and League Supervisor reserve the right to implement any tie
breaking procedure as necessary, (Coin flip) with both captains present.
3. LEAGUE AWARDS: THERE ARE NO TROPHIES!
1st Place for Season $395.00
2nd Place for Season $200.00
Playoff Champion $200.00
Playoff Runner-up $ 50.00
4. AWARD REDEMPTION POLICY: Team captains will receive a League Award Voucher form to be
completed and returned to the League Supervisor within 30 days or the award will be void. Awards may be
granted in check or applied to next season’s fee. Any and all unclaimed awards will be donated to the Oak
Lawn Parks Foundation.
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5. REGISTRATION: The following procedures will be implemented for teams currently playing in this
season’s league, regarding next year’s registration. Registration information packets will be mailed to the
address as provided in this year’s current registration. The Oak Lawn Park District is not responsible for
undelivered mail. Registration dates will be advertised in the winter and spring brochures and through local
newspapers. It is each teams responsibility to gain access to this information. Information packets will be
available by mid February.
The Oak Lawn Park District reserves the right to change, alter, delete, and or revise any and all rules as deemed
necessary in order to effectively manage this program in the best interest of the District, and its participants.
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