DIVISION_3_2012_softball_rules

							                       DIVISION 3
     BOSTON BUREAUCRATIC SOFTBALL LEAGUE OFFICIAL
                          RULES
                    (As of March 2012)

1. It is the responsibility of the HOME team to provide a playing field, bases, foul line markers, at
least one new game ball, and one marker pad (see rule 5). The visiting team must provide one
new game ball to be used as a replacement if needed. Teams participating in the league
Championship Series are required to provide 3 new game balls to be used as replacements if
needed.

2. A team must field no fewer than eight or no more than ten players. When fielding 10 players, at
least two of the fielders must be women. To begin play, a team must field 8 players (one of which
must be a woman). In the event that teams can only field eight players, the opposing team can
provide a catcher for the purpose of moving the game along but cannot make defensive plays. If
a team has only one woman there can only be a total of 9 players on the field and the 10th spot in
the batting order will be an automatic out.

3. All games must start at 6 p.m. (or 7 p.m. for lighted fields) and continue for seven innings. If a
team cannot field the minimum number of players (see rule 2) to start the game by 6:15 (or 7:15
p.m.) that team will forfeit the game. A regular season game is considered official after four and
one half innings. Playoff games are considered official only after seven complete innings are
played. If nightfall or weather causes the postponement of a playoff game, the rescheduled game
will resume at the point following the last completed inning, including the score at the end of the
last completed inning. Any runs scored during unfinished innings will not count.

4. The pitcher must pitch from the mound/rubber, or in the absence of either, from a spot an
equivalent distance from home plate. The pitcher may take one step off the mound while
delivering the pitch. A pitcher must be able to throw consistent strikes or the opposing team’s
captain may request a substitute.

5. The pitcher must throw strikes and MUST deliver the ball with his/her palm facing the batter.
There is no spinning of the ball allowed. The pitch must be thrown slowly, with a small arc. THE
HIGHEST POINT OF THE ARC CANNOT EXCEED TEN FEET AND CANNOT BE LESS
THAN SIX FEET. Pitches that do not have the proper arc are illegal and will be called a ball. If a
batter swings at an illegal pitch, the ball is then in play, and the pitch cannot be called illegal.
Marker pads (18" wide and 36" deep) must be placed behind home plate. All pitches that strike
any part of the pad and have the proper arc are considered strikes. The catcher must call outs and
keep track of balls and strikes. Marker pads can be made of any material. (Plywood works well).

6. Unless waived by both coaches prior to the start of the game, each team’s batting order must
include two women within the first 10 batters. In the event that a team cannot include a second
woman in the batting order, that team must take an out in the tenth spot of the batting order. In the
event that a team cannot field two, that team can only place nine players in the field, including
one woman.

6B. For the last two innings of the scheduled game (6th and 7th for a 7 inning game/4th and 5th for a
5 inning game) and for any extra innings thereafter, if a pitcher issues either an intentional or
unintentional walk to a male batter who is immediately followed in the order by a female batter,
the female may choose to either automatically walk or bat. The female player must make this
decision prior to the pitcher's first pitch or she forfeits her opportunity to accept the automatic
walk. Additional note for the 2010 season going forward: This opportunity is only granted to
the first female batter following the male batter. If there happens to be two female batters in a
row, the second batter will not be eligible for the automatic walk.

7. There is no restriction on switching field positions, however, unless substituting (see below),
players cannot switch positions in the batting order. Players added to the batting order after the
start of the game must be added to the bottom of the order (in the case of a player arriving late.)
Coaches cannot just add substitute players to the batting order halfway through the game
without replacing another player already in the lineup. If the new player is replacing another
player, they must be inserted into the same slot in the batting order and bat at least once before
being substituted out again. The only exceptions to Rule 7 would be the replacement of injured
players, or mutually agreed to modifications prior to the start of the game. Batting orders must be
exchanged prior to the start of the game. The batting order cannot exceed 15 batters.

8. The batter must take a full swing. Bunting is not allowed. NO half swings.

9. No pinch runners are permitted except for injured players. The opposing team’s captain must
approve all pinch runners. The last person up who is not on the base paths will be able to pinch
run in the case of an injury.

10. A base runner cannot leave the base until the batter hits the ball. Runners who leave the base
early will be called out.

11. Sliding is permitted, provided the intent is not harmful to the fielder. Contact with an
opposing player that is deemed malicious is reason for ejection from the game, and possible
expulsion from the league.

12. Rubber or plastic cleats are allowed; steel cleats are prohibited. Aluminum bats must have the
words “Official Softball” and “ASA Approved”. Balls can be of any manufacturer but must be
ASA certified, .44 COR 12-in, slow-pitch softballs; Yellow and white balls are both permitted.
All other softballs are NOT permitted.

13. CHANGE FOR 2007 Season Markers (cones) should be used to delineate the foul lines in
the outfield. Division III will utilize a new 90 foot distance rule instead of a freeze rule when
a woman is batting. All four outfielders (including the short fielder) must move behind the
markers which will be placed at 90 feet from the 1st and 3rd base bags. In addition, the home
team will place some type of bag or cloth to identify 90 feet from the 2nd base bag.
Note: Division II will continue to utilize a “Freeze Rule” as follows: Outfielders, (including the short fielder) cannot move in for
women batters. This means that they must be positioned at least the same distance from the infield that they were for the prior batter
even if there is a woman leading off an inning. The outfielder must play as deep as they were on the last out of the previous inning.

14. The offensive team must provide first and third base coaches. The first base coach makes all
umpiring calls at home plate, first base and down the first base line (foul & out of play balls). The
third base coach makes all umpiring calls at second base, third base and down the third base line
(foul & out of play balls). The umpire’s call is final unless BOTH team captains decide to
overrule. The team captains, who are responsible for the adherence of their team members to the
rules, must resolve all disputes. If two teams decide to have umpires during the regular season or
during divisional playoffs, they must share the cost equally. Umpires should be ASA certified.
15. CHANGE FOR 2009 Season The captain of the home team must confirm the game with the
visiting team’s captain on the Tuesday prior to the game. In cases of inclement weather or poor
field conditions on game day, the home team captain must initiate contact regarding
postponement or replay by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the game. It is the decision of the home team
captain to postpone a game for this reason. If the game is not postponed by 2:30 p.m., both teams
are obligated to report to the field, unless otherwise agreed upon by both teams. All rescheduled
games must be agreed to by both teams. Games postponed in the first half of the season must be
replayed as two five-inning games when the teams meet for the second time. The home team’s
captain must notify the division commissioner of any rescheduled games no later than the day
after the cancellation.

16. Any team that forfeits four games in one season, may not be allowed to participate in post-
season play. This rule is not intended to disqualify teams who forfeit games due to unanticipated
work/family/school business etc.

17. Players must compete in at least 5 games during the regular season in order to compete in the
playoffs. Again, eligibility problems should be discussed with the division commissioner. This
rule is not intended to disqualify players who miss games due to unanticipated
work/family/school business, etc.

18. The captain of the winning team must call or email the division commissioner the day after a
game to record the score.

19. The first round of the division playoffs are single elimination. The Division Semifinals and
Championship are best 2 out of 3. The format of the League Championship Series will be decided
prior to the regular season by the Division Commissioners. The format will be geared towards the
number of divisions each year.

20. Division III exceptions will NOT apply during League Championship play. However, the
Freeze Rule will be in effect during the League Championship play unless otherwise agreed upon
by the participating coaches.

21. The “Slaughter rule” is in effect for the regular season. If a team is winning by 15 or more
runs at the end of the fifth inning, the game can be called. The game can continue, only if both
coaches agree to continue.

22. CHANGE FOR 2009 Season: All games for the Division III championship and the
Interleague Championship series which follows will be played at Ebersol field regardless of
which teams are playing. Participating teams will split any lights and prorated permit charges
TBD.

23. ADDITIONAL RULE FOR 2010 Season: If a game must be moved to a neutral field not
regularly used by the league, it is the responsibility of both teams coaches to come to a consensus
in establishing suitable ground rules prior to their game.

24. ADDITIONAL RULE FOR 2010 Season: Any violence threatened upon a player by
another player will call for an ejection of that player from the game and a possible expulsion of
that player from the league. Coaches will have to police this and they must make clear to their
respective teams that this type of behavior WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!
25. ADDITIONAL RULE FOR 2012 Season: The “overthrow rule” – On an overthrow where
the ball ends up out of play (such as to 1B or 3B for example) the player will automatically be
awarded the base he/she is running to plus an additional base. For instance, a player running to
1B when the ball is overthrown will get 1B and 2B. Example #2 - A player on 1B gets in a pickle
and while running back to 1B the thrown ball gets by the first baseman. The runner will get the
base he/she is going to (1B) and one additional base (2B). Example #3 – A runner has rounded
and is two steps past 2B when the ball is overthrown. That runner will get 3B (the base he/she
was headed to) and will be awarded home plate.