2006 Rutgers Softball League Rul

							2007 Rutgers Softball League Rules
Player Eligibility
To be eligible to play on a team, a player must meet the following requirements:

       1) All Players must be listed on the team roster. The team roster must be
completed and turned in to the league commissioner. All changes to the team roster must
be completed before the third game of the regular season. A player must be a current
student (either full-time or part-time) of Rutgers Law School – Camden.

        2) Teams may have guests play during any regular season game. Guests are
players not listed on the team’s roster. During the playoffs, guests will not be allowed to
play, only those players listed on the team roster will be allowed to play.

          3) All players must have a signed waiver on record with the commissioner of the
league.

Rules of Play

Fielding
        a. Each team may field up to 10 players.
        b. Each team must field a minimum of 3 female players. If a team cannot field
           the minimum required female players, then they must leave a position open.
           For example, if a team can field only two female players, then the maximum
           number of players allowed on the field is 9 (7 male, 2 female). If a team can
           field only 1 female player, the opposing team will provide a catcher who is
           only responsible for throwing the ball back to the pitcher.
        c. Pitching is standard slow-pitch. The pitcher must throw underhand and may
           not wind-up to pitch. A pitch must be between 6 feet (minimum) to 12 feet
           (maximum) in height. The umpire will call any pitched ball outside of this
           area a ball as soon as possible. If the ball is outside the area but the batter
           swings, it will be called a strike.
        d. The strike zone is home plate plus a mat that extends back from the plate. If
           the pitched ball hits the plate or the mat, it is called a strike.
        e. Free substitution is allowed, however all substitutes must remain in the game
           for one full inning before being replaced.
        f. When a female is batting, ALL outfielders must play a minimum of 10 yards
           behind the baseline.
Batting
        a. At the start of the game, each team is encouraged to supply the opposing team
           a copy of the batting order, complete with the names of all the players. Late
           arrivals can be added to the batting order, but must be added at the end of the
           order.
        b. All fielders must hit.
        c. All players on the team can hit as long as they are in the batting order.
       d. A minimum of 3 female players must be in the batting order. Each team must
          have a female in the top 3 of their batting order. If a team cannot supply the
          minimum number of female player in the batting order, they must leave an
          open position in the batting order. When it is that spot’s turn at bat, the team
          will receive an automatic out. The automatic out shall reoccur throughout the
          entire game.
       e. A team that plays at least three women may bat an unlimited number of
          batters in the lineup. During the playoffs teams are limited to 13 batters.
       f. There are no pinch runners except for injuries
       g. There is a one-strike rule. Every batter will start their turn at bat with one
          strike.
       h. Following six balls, a batter will walk.
       i. If a male walks in front of a female, the female has the option of taking an
          automatic walk. However, if the female spot is vacant because of an absent
          female, the female’s spot is still an automatic out.
       j. Bunting is not allowed.
       k. Sliding is allowed, except into first base.
       l. Base runners cannot run into the fielder, or the runner is out.
       m. The Mat is NOT the plate for the purpose of scoring runs.
       n. A runner cannot leave the bag prior to the ball being hit.

Game Length/Standings
  1) Each team will play 7 games. This is subject to change due to unforeseen
     circumstances.
  2) Game length is seven complete innings or an hour and fifteen minutes whichever
     comes first. The umpire is responsible for keeping track of time. The inning
     started will be completed if time expires. Ties are allowed.
  3) If due to rain, darkness, or other reasons as determined by both team captains and
     umpire, the game is called before seven innings, the score at the end of the last
     complete inning will be used.
  4) Games called before the end of 5 innings are ruled incomplete and will be
     rescheduled. Rescheduling of the game is the responsibility of both team captains
     in cooperation with the commissioner. By the end of the season, if a team has an
     incomplete game still on their schedule it will be ruled as a loss.

Equipment
  1) The commissioner shall provide game balls and bases for each game.
  2) No bat is permitted to be used that appears on the ASA Non Approved Bat List. A
     player caught using a Non Approved bat will be called out by the umpire and the
     team’s Coach shall remove the bat from play.
     http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp

Game Rules
  1) Teams are required to keep a scorebook, lineup card or batting chart with their
     lineup for each game.
   2) Official score is kept by the umpire who will confirm the score with each team
      after each half-inning.
   3) Each game must have at least one umpire. In addition to calling balls and strikes,
      umpires must call fair and foul balls and all other plays as the game requires. An
      umpire’s rule is final.
   4) It is the responsibility of the team captains and the umpire to ensure that games
      start promptly as scheduled. There will be no grace period at the start of the game,
      no exceptions. Game forfeiture will result when a team cannot field at least 8
      players with a minimum of 1 female player.
   5) All other rules not mentioned shall follow Major League Baseball rules (i.e.
      infield fly, etc.).
   6) Prior to the game, captains and umpires are required to go over grounds rules. For
      example what will be considered a ground-rule double, where foul territory ends,
      etc.

Playoffs
   1) In case of a tie for positioning at the end of the regular season, the following will
       be considered, in order listed, to break the tie:
           a. The record of play between the teams, then
           b. Run differential between the teams, then
           c. Run differential in League play, then
           d. A coin toss.
   2) The playoff tournament will follow ranking for placing or tie breaking.

Conflicts
  1) Any conflict over the rules or results and/or actions in any game shall be brought
       to the attention of the Commissioner immediately for review.