CHAMPAIGN SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE

RULES AND REGULATIONS

(Updated 05/24/2019)

Board:  Harry Rakers, Dan Hughes, Joe Mattingly, Larry Crews, Richard Riggs

Amateur Softball Association rules will be in effect except where modified below. It is the team manager’s responsibility to inform his/her players of league rules and regulations. Senior softball is a recreational program, and unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

Section 1 - The Game

1a. Game time is forfeit time. Each team must have at least eight (8) players (including any 65+pick-ups) to begin the game. 6 of these 8 must be roster players to avoid a forfeit. You may not bench players on your roster for players you have picked up who are over 65.

1b. B Division teams will be limited in the number of A Division players that can be used as 65+ pickups.  Order for up to 5 pickup players will be:  B - A - B - A - B.  If there is just one pickup player, it must be a B player.  If two or three pickup players are needed, there may be no more than one A player.  If four or five pickup players needed, there may be no more than two A players.

2.   Managers must submit lineups (including name and jersey number) to the opposing team at least ten (10) minutes prior to game time.

3.  Teams may play with 8 to 11 players on defense. Teams must bat all of these defensive players. Managers may bat any or all of their other players.

4.  Games will consist of 7 innings and a 45-minute clock. Once the clock expires, teams will finish that inning and then play one more inning.

5.  Scoring in the first 6 innings is limited to five runs per team per inning.  In the final inning runs are unlimited.  If the clock expires before the 7th inning, the next inning is unlimited runs.

6.  We will play 16 games (four round robins) and then a double elimination tournament to end the season.

7.  The international tie breaker rule will be used. The last batter of the previous inning will start on second base.

8.  A board 19 inches by 34 inches will be placed on home plate, lined up with front of plate. If the ball hits the board it is a strike.

9.  Progressive Homerun Rule: Each team will be allowed one home run over the fence. 
Either team may go one home run up as long as the other team has hit its allowed number of home runs.  Any home run over the limit will result in a one-base advance for each baserunner, and the hit will be ruled a single.

10.  ASA rules governing pitching delivery will be used, with a 6’ to 12’ arc.  The pitcher may pitch from up to 10 feet behind the pitching plate.

11.  The count on the batter will begin with one ball and one strike.  A third-strike foul is out.

12.  Unlimited courtesy runners are allowed each inning, but a player may be a courtesy runner just once per inning. A courtesy runner is in the game when announced by the offensive team manager.

a.  A courtesy runner may not run for an existing courtesy runner except for an injury. An injured courtesy runner may play only an infield position.

b.  Any courtesy runner who is still on base when scheduled to bat will be declared out.

c.  Batters 65 or older may have a courtesy runner from home plate. The courtesy runner from home plate will start with both feet behind a line that is 5 feet behind the extended 3rd base line. The runner can start when the ball is batted. If the runner leaves early on a batted fair ball, the batter is out.

13.  The “avoid contact” rule is in effect. If a defensive player has the ball, the runner must slide or make an obvious attempt to avoid contact with the defensive player.

a.  If the runner remains on his feet and makes contact with the defensive player, the runner is out. The runner will be ejected if the act is considered flagrant.

b.  Defensive players obstructing a base without possession of the ball will be issued a verbal warning for the first offense. If the player continues to obstruct the base, the defensive player will be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct and the runner will be called safe.

14.  There are no tag plays at home. Once the base runner crosses the commitment line 20 feet from home plate, he cannot return to third base, and the force at home is in effect. The runner will be called out if he attempts to return to third base. Runners must use the scoring plate. A runner who touches home plate will be called out.

15.  Re-entry rule: Any substituted player may re-enter the game providing he bats in the same position in the batting order.

16.  If there is an injury to a player in the line-up and no subs are available, the injured player may be removed and his place in the batting order will not be considered an out.

17.  The site supervisor will determine if the game is stopped due to weather.  If lightning is seen, teams will leave the playing area for 30 minutes.  If the lightning disappears after 30 minutes, the game will continue.  If the lightning continues after 30 minutes, the game will continue to be postponed until the area is lightning-free for 30 minutes.

18.  Any game terminated because of weather will be completed at a later date from the exact point where the game was stopped.  If a game reaches 5 innings (or 4 ½ innings with the home team ahead), the game is a complete game.

19.  There will be a mandatory flip in the last inning if the visitors are ahead by 7 runs or more.

20.  Mercy Rule:  If one team leads by 15 runs after 4 innings, or 10 runs after 5 innings, the game is over.

21.  If a paid umpire is not used, the games will be umpired by the teams in the game.  The team at bat will provide 2 umpires-one for the plate, and one base umpire.  The umpires will agree on who will cover 3rd base.  The umpires could change at the beginning of each new inning or even during the inning.  It is also permissible to use a volunteer umpire who is a league player.

22.  The League will be divided into 2 divisions, A and B.  A teams:  Body N Sole, Old Time Meat and Deli,  6 Hound Saloon, Fat City, and Pia’s.  B Teams: Loman Ray, Owens 65ers, CASA, Esquire, and Lazer’s Edge.  Pia’s will give 5 runs to each team it plays at the start of the game. 

23.  On any foul tip or foul ball the batter is out if the catcher catches the ball.

24.  If either umpire calls “infield fly, if fair”, and the ball lands in fair territory, the batter is out and the ball is live and runners may advance at their own risk.  Infield fly can be called with less than 2 outs and with runners on 1^st and 2^nd or bases loaded.  An umpire should make this call, if there is a fly ball (not line drive) on the infield, which could be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher. 

25.  If a batted fly ball is foul but in playable territory, the batter is out if caught and the ball remains live. 

26.  When using the double first base:  The batter-runner must touch the colored base if a play is being made and the defensive man must use the white portion. 

27.  Since we will have no official score keeper, it is up to the 2 managers of the teams to track the score and agree with the opposing team on the game’s score at the end of each inning and the final game score.

Section 2 - The Uniform

1.  Only basketball shoes, tennis shoes, and plastic or rubber cleat shoes will be allowed. Golf shoes, track shoes, steel cleats, or similar type spiked shoes will not be allowed.

2.  Jewelry is not permitted and must be removed, with the exceptions of Medic Alert bracelets and necklaces and finger rings that cannot be removed. Jewelry that cannot be removed must be concealed to the umpire’s satisfaction.

3.  Teams are not required to have matching uniforms. However, each player is required to have a shirt with a permanently affixed 6” number.

Section 3 - The Equipment

1.  Only ASA-approved softball bats will be used, and the handles must be taped to regulation.  The list of non-approved bats is available on the Champaign Park District’s website www.champaignparkdistrict.com, and also on ASA’s website www.softball.org.

2.  For any ball that is hit to the wall or over the wall, the defensive team has the right to examine the bat to verify that it is an ASA approved bat.  If the batter has used a bat that is not approved by ASA, the player will be suspended from the league for 8 games and the game will be forfeited by the hitter’s team. 

3.  The League will furnish 2 restricted-flight softballs provided by the home team of the 6:00 game.  The first game of each night will start with 2 new softballs. Each game after that will start with those same balls. One used ball will be given to each team at the end of the last game.

4.  The League will not replace balls hit out of play. A team that hits a ball out of play is responsible for retrieving that ball and if necessary throwing another ball into play. If the ball is not retrieved or the game is delayed, the team will be subject to a forfeiture declared by the umpire or coaches agreement.

Section 4 - Roster and Player Status

1.  Any person turning fifty-five (55) on or before December 31st of the current season is eligible to be on the roster. Any player caught falsifying their date of birth on the roster/waiver form, and found to be ineligible, will be suspended for the remainder of the season and their first year of eligibility. Additionally, the team manager will be suspended for 6 weeks to one year, as determined by the board. A copy of a current driver license will be required for each new player at the beginning of the initial season and for any new players added thereafter.  All players on any team added beyond the original 9 charter teams must provide current driver license. 

2.  At least 5 defensive players must be 60 or over.  Substitutions may be freely made as long as 5 defensive players are 60 or over at all times.  However, no more than 6 players UNDER 60 may be in a game at any one time. 

3.  Team rosters will consist of no more than 20 players.

4.  Any player from a B division team, who will be at least 65 by December 31, may play on the 65ers team. Only two players from an A division team, who will be at least 65 by December 31, may play for the 65ers team. The Board may make exceptions for some older players from A division teams.  65ers may not play against their own team.

5.  Players added to the roster must sign a roster addition form on site before their game starts. Proof of age in the form of a current driver license must be reviewed by a Board member or the opposing team manager, on site. 

6.  Players eligible for the post-season tournament must be on the roster when the second half of the season begins. After this deadline players may be added to a roster, but they may not play in the post season tournament.

7.  Players must present a picture I.D. if identification is requested by an umpire or Board Member. If the player does not have one, the I.D. must be brought to a Board member within forty-eight hours or the game will be forfeited and the player will be suspended from league play until the I.D. has been reviewed.

8.  If a team knows in advance it will have to forfeit, a Board member must be notified 3 days in advance of the game.  If there are 2 or more forfeits without advance notice, the league may drop that team from the league for the following season. 

Section 5 - Sportsmanship/Player Behavior

1.  Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, drugs, and drug paraphernalia, or being in an intoxicated condition by any participant or spectator will not be tolerated. This rule applies to parking lots, spectator areas, dugouts, etc.  Offending teams may be subject to forfeiture, suspension, and/or expulsion from the league. 

2.  Behavior that threatens another player, coach, umpire, or Board member will result in immediate ejection from the facility (i.e. demonstratively throwing a bat, or protesting an umpire’s call or threatening another person).

3.  The umpire and both coaches, acting together, may eject any player for unsportsmanlike conduct.  The manager will be responsible for removing the player from the park. 

4.  Any player or manager ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct will face an automatic 7-calendar day suspension. 

5.  Any player who, after being ejected, continues to act in an offensive manner will be automatically suspended for at least 6 weeks, as determined by the Board. 

6.  Any player ejected twice during the year will automatically suspended for the remainder of the season. 

7.  In flagrant cases of unsportsmanlike conduct reviewed by the Board, an entire team could be held responsible for the actions of a team member. 

8.  A player or manager may appeal a suspension to the Board in writing.  The Board will meet with all involved persons to further discuss the situation.

Section 6 - Protests

1.  Only a team manager may discuss a protest with umpire and opposing coach. 

2.  There will be no protests for judgment calls.

3.  Protests must be called immediately and before the next pitch.  If the two coaches can’t reach a resolution, further discussion after the game should take place. If no resolution is agreed to, a written protest must be submitted to the Board.  The Board has 48 hours to act upon the protest.  

Section 7 - Miscellaneous

1.  The League or the CPD will not be responsible in cases of injury to players or spectators or for loss of property. 

2.  In case of inclement weather, players and managers should check the CPD Rainout Line to receive game status.  A call of the game could be made as late as 5:00p.m.  After 5:00 the call will be made by the on-site staff of CPD. 

3.  Team managers are responsible for behavior of teams’ fans.

4.  Home team will use third base dugout and visitors will use first base dugout.

5.  Board will do its best to schedule 65ers games at 7:00 pm except in tournament play. 

6.  The Board of the Champaign Senior Softball League is the final deciding authority for all matters regarding the League.  The Board may consult with the remaining coaches in extreme situations.