Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Softball Rulebook 2008 Table of Contents
Table of Contents………………………………… 1 I. General League Information…………………… 2 A. Registration…………………………… 2 B. Age Divisions………………………… 2 C. Roster Limits…………………………. 2 D. Line Up Cards………………………… 2 E. Age Eligibility Date………………….. 2 F. Equipment…………………………….. 2 G. Forfeits………………………………… 2 II. Players & Uniforms…………….…………… 3 A. Injuries to Players……………………. 3 III. The Game & Playing Rules………………….. 3 A. Jr. Division………………….…………. 3-4 B. Sr. Division. …………………………… 4-5 IV. Ejections Players and Coaches ……………….. 5-6 V. Protest …………………………………………. 6
CORAL GABLES PARKS & RECREATION The mission of the City of Coral Gables Parks and Recreation department is to provide recreational opportunities and services for residents and others that create memorable life experiences through exceptional customer service, programming, facilities, and leadership that exceeds community expectations. The game atmosphere should remain good-natured at all times. Participants shall maintain good sportsmanship throughout their participation in all facets of the program.
I.
GENERAL LEAGUE INFORMATION A. Registration Registration will be done at the Coral Gables Youth Center. Registration times will be Monday-Friday (8:00am-8:00pm) and Saturday (8:00am12:00pm). B. Age Divisions Offered 1. Jr. Division 9-11 Girls 2. Sr. Division 12-15 Girls *Players may play up an age division, but will not be allowed to play down.* C. Roster Limits Team Rosters will be limited to no more than Thirteen (13) players. D. Line Up Cards Each coach will complete a line up card prior to each game. This card will have player names and their numbers. E. Age Eligibility Date The eligibility date for players is as of the registration start date (February 4, 2008). The child’s age at that time will determine in which age division they will participate. F. Equipment (Game Balls): Official game softballs will be sized as follows: Jr. Divisions will use the 11inch softballs. The Sr. Division will use the 12 inch softball.
G. Forfeits A ten (10) minute grace period will be allowed for the first scheduled game only. The following games will be allotted a (5) minute grace period. If this is not possible the game will be forfeited.
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II.
PLAYERS & UNIFORMS 1.) Complete Uniform: jersey, pants, hat and cleats. These must be worn by all players. 2.) Shirts will be tucked in at all times. 3.) No metal cleats are allowed. 4.) Shirts with numbers must be worn at all times during league play. 5.) Mouth Guards are recommended in order to play. 6.) No Jewelry of any kind will be permitted. Coral Gables Jerseys will be issued only to those team members who are registered. Jerseys from other outside leagues are not permitted. Each player must wear the jersey while participating. A. Injuries to Players: When an umpire recognizes an injury, it is an OFFICIAL TIME OUT and a CGYC staff member shall determine if the player may be allowed to continue play (if physically able to do so).
III.
THE GAME & PLAYING RULES: It is Coral Gables Parks and Recreation’s objective to have every child to participate during a game. This is mandatory for all coaches in all divisions.
JR. DIVISION • Games will be seven innings in length or 1 hour 20 minutes, whichever occurs first. If an inning begins before the time limit expires, the inning should be completed. If the score is tied after 7 innings time limit the game ends at that point. Ties will not be broken. Pitching is done by the coaches, distance is 25 feet. The coaches will be pitching. Each batter will receive six pitches. The batter can swing at all pitches but does not have to. If the batter does not hit the ball in six pitches the batter is out. If the batter fouls the sixth pitch the batter will receive and extra pitch. There are no more then six pitches with no exceptions!!!!! Teams must have nine players to start game. All substitutes must enter the field in the following inning. Example: first inning a team has three players sitting out – all three players must go in the next (second) inning. The three coming out and sitting the second inning go back in for the third inning. This alternating continues throughout the game. Each team fields 10 players and bats all players in their batting order. If a team is ten or more runs ahead at any time after the fifth inning, the game is officially over. The home team, if losing, always gets their bat to complete the inning. The home team should not bat after the fourth inning, if after the visiting team bats; the home team is ten or more runs ahead. A team may only score a maximum of eight (8) runs an inning. Base runners may not steal. A coach my take one visit to one batter per inning. 3
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On a tag play, if in the judgment of the umpire the runner intentionally runs into the fielders to jar the ball loose, she will be ejected from the game. In this situation, a runner should slide or simply “give herself up.” Bunting is not allowed. The batting team may not conduct themselves in any manner with the intention of rattling the opposing team players. The umpire will issue a warning to the coach for the first offense and the second offense will result in the batting team taking the field - ending that half of the inning. A pre-game meeting should be held at home plate between both head coaches and the home plate umpire to discuss the ground rules of the field being played on. The umpire should also mention what time it is and when the time limit will expire. Speed up rule – When a team has two outs and their catcher is on base, they can choose to substitute the catcher with the last out. This gives the catcher a head start to put on their gear for the next inning. The Infield – Fly rule is not in effect for this division. Time called by the umpire when one of the following occurs: The ball is held in front of the lead runner. When the infielder has control of the ball in the infield. The ball is thrown to the umpire on the mound. When the cut- off runs the ball back in to the clay infield.
SR. DIVISION • Games will be seven innings in length or 1 and ½ hours, whichever occurs first. If an inning begins before the time limit expires, the inning should be complete. If the score is tied after 7 innings or 1 and ½ hours the game ends at that point. Ties will not be broken. Pitching distance is 40ft. Once a player is removed from the pitching position she may re-enter “once” later in the game. A pitcher may only pitch four (4) innings a game. Teams fields up to nine players. All substitutions must enter the field in the following innings. Example: first inning a team has three players sitting out- all three must go in the next (second) inning. The three coming out and sitting the second inning go back in for the third inning. This alternating continues throughout the game. Each team bats 10 players, the substitutes are included from the bottom of the line-up. Example: A team has 15 players and only ten on the batting line-up, player number 15 alternates with player 10, player 14 alternates with player 9, player 13 alternates with player 8, player 12 alternates with player 7 and player 11 alternates with player 6. These players switch off every at bat. If a team is ten or more runs ahead at any time after the fifth inning, the game is officially over. The home team, if losing, always gets their last bat to complete the inning. The home team should not bat after the fourth inning, if after the visiting team bats; the home team is ten or more runs ahead. 4
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A team may only score a maximum of eight (8) runs an inning except for the seventh inning. Base runners may steal once the ball crosses the plate. However stealing home is not allowed. A batter may not be walked intentionally. A coach may take one visit to the mound per pitcher, per inning. On the second visit the pitcher must be removed. A coach may take one visit to the batter per inning. On a tag play, if in the judgment of the umpire the runner intentionally runs into the fielders to jar the ball loose, she will be ejected from the game. In this situation, a runner should slide or simply “give herself up.” A dropped third strike by the catcher the batter is out. Bunting is allowed. The batting team may not conduct themselves in any manner with the intentions of rattling the opposing pitcher or players. The umpire will issue a warning to the coach for the first offense and the second offense will result in the batting team taking the field and ending that half of the inning. A pre-game meeting should be held at home plate between both head coaches and home plate umpire to discuss the ground rules of the field being played on. The umpire should encourage both coaches to have their batters swinging – not waiting for a walk. The umpire should also mention what time it is and when the time limit will expire. Speed up rule – When a team has two outs and their catcher/ or pitcher is on base, they can choose to substitute the catcher with that last out. This gives the catcher a head start to put on his gear for the next inning and the pitcher a rest before the next inning. The Infield – Fly rule is in effect for this division. Tie Breakers for Playoffs: After the completion of seven (7) innings, (no Time limit) the score is still tied, the tie breaker procedure will begin. This involves the last batter of the previous inning, whose turn at bat had been completed, assuming a position on 2nd base. This would be done at the beginning of each half inning; until, at the conclusion of a full inning, a winner is determined.
IV.
EJECTIONS PLAYERS & COACHES
(1) All Age Divisions: Whenever a player receives a technical foul, the
player shall be benched for four (4) game clock minutes. If this occurs in the 1st half during the participation rule, a substitution will be allowed. A 1 shot penalty will be awarded to the opposing team. PLAYERS: ALL DIVISIONS EJECTION POLICY 1st = Suspension from next game 2nd= Suspension of Next Three Games 5
*Note: A player may be ejected from the game at the official’s discretion with out receiving any warning* *If a player or coaches receives 3 ejections in a season- he or she will be suspended from the league. Only unsportsmanlike acts will count toward this.*
(2) It is at the CGYC supervisors discretion to EJECT an unruly spectator.
If he or she fails to cooperate, law enforcement will be called. V. PROTESTS Protests will NOT be considered regarding judgment situations. Protests regarding rules will be considered: 1. Notice of intent to protest must be made to the official and Athletic supervisor immediately when the situation occurs before the next live ball. 2. A written protest MUST be in the site office or given to the league director within 24 hours. The Coral Gables Parks & Recreation Athletic Committee will rule on the protest and their decision will be final. The committee will be composed of the athletic program coordinator, assistant supervisor, and supervisor of the CGYC. 3. If the approved volunteer head coach does not attend the coaches meeting, they will forfeit the right to file a protest for any reason.
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