THERE ARE SOME CHANGES FOR THE SPRING SEASON
LEAGUE RULES
*** SUNDAY ** MONDAY **
NEW RULES FOR 2024
LEAGUE RULES
There is A NO GLASS CONTAINER ordinance in all county parks, including Bee Ridge Park. The consumption of alcoholic beverages on any athletic fields or in any dugouts at any time is prohibited. YOU MAY DRINK FROM CANS AWAY FROM THE FIELDS. Each manager is responsible for the actions of their team and visitors. At the conclusion of each game, clean up your dug out and surrounding area.
A season consists of 12 games on Sunday and 12 games on Monday. Holidays where there will be no games scheduled: Super Bowl, Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial day (Both Sunday & Monday)
Game Times
1. Game times will be 7:00 and 8:15 per field – Sunday and Monday.
2. Game times will be 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00 when there are 3 games per field on Sunday.
3. Games start precisely on time. It is both teams’ responsibility to be ready to play by game time. The clock is ticking and the umpire will stop the game at 75 minutes so the next game can start on time. If there are only a few minutes left of game time, the umpire has the discretion to stop the game after the home team has finished an inning since there will not be enough time for both teams to start and finish another whole inning. Once time has expired, if the home team is up and is in the lead, there is no need to complete the inning. If time expires when the away team is batting, the score at the end of the last inning will apply. The game will not be extended if the score is tied at the completion of 75 minutes.
Line Up Of Players
Each team consists of 10 players;
- 6 men and 4 women.**
- 4 men and 6 women without an automatic out.
- 5 men and 4 women or 5 women and 4 men.
- 6 men and 5 women or 7 men and 5 women.
- 6 women and 5 men.
- 6 men and 3 women without any penalty.
- A team CANNOT play with 7 men and 3 women. If you cannot find a 4th woman, you must play 6 men and 3 women, NO EXCEPTIONS.
- A team can have a maximum of 12 players on their roster for each game.
- Both teams can play a game with 8 players without any automatic outs, as long as there are at least 2 women on each team. This applies only in a situation to avoid a forfeit if regular team players do not show up for the game. This is not for a regular thing to occur because your team roster does not include enough women.
- **The batting order must BE MALE, MALE, FEMALE, MALE, MALE, FEMALE, MALE, FEMALE, MALE, FEMALE or similar combination as long as 3 males do not bat consecutively.
- All players must be at least 16 yrs. old.
- All teams and players agree to play at their own risk. Each season, all players are required to sign their team’s liability roster for each team they play on. Sarasota Co-ed Softball assumes no liability for any injury whatsoever.
ALL BATTERS START WITH ONE BALL AND ONE STRIKE.
Balls We use 12″, yellow, .44 core, 375 compression balls. Teams may also supply an 11″ version for female team members. A female batter may request to use the larger ball, instead, though. Each team supplies their own balls to hit but the umpires will determine if the balls are legal and in good enough condition to use.
Bats
Any bat can be used by all women along with men at 50 years of age or over. Male players under 50 years of age cannot use Ultra II, a Senior bat, or any bat prohibited from Men’s Softball Leagues.
Uniforms & shoes Uniforms are not mandatory but it’s advisable to have matching shirts. No steel spikes.
Home Team
The home team bats second. The schedules of games are available on this website and the HOME TEAM IS LISTED LAST on all schedules.
Scoring
Each team should use a scoring book and each team must verify the score at the end of each half inning. If there is a discrepancy, it must be cleared up at that time.
Umpires
Umpires have the authority to call the games and eject players. If a problem arises with a player or team, the umpire will give a warning first but has the authority to eject a player immediately if he feels the infraction is severe. Failure to comply with the umpire’s warning may result in an ejection or team forfeiture. If a player is ejected from the game, they are also prohibited from playing in their next game as well. There will be no fighting tolerated. 1st time, the player is out for one game plus one game. The 2nd time, the player is out for the rest of that season and any playoff games. The 3rd time, the player is banned from this league. Any player swearing and using the F-word can be ejected from the game by the umpire. Any player that throws anything at an umpire will be ejected for that game, plus 2 games.
Batters Warm Up Area Batters warming up may not block either entrance into the dugout.
Women’s Defensive Positions
One woman must play in the outfield and one woman must play in the infield. Both the pitcher position and the catcher position are considered infield positions and can be occupied by women at the same time. The other women can play in any position.
White Line
There will be a white line drawn in the outfield approximately 205 feet from home plate. When a woman is at bat, all outfielders must remain behind the line until the ball hits the bat. After the ball is hit, the outfielders may move in front of the line to field the ball. When a woman is at bat, all infielders must remain in the infield. When a man is at bat, they can play anywhere defensively.
Substitutions Substitutions of players are allowed. The player coming out can re-enter the game but must stay in his/her original position in the batting order.
Pitching Arch
The pitched ball must arch at least 6 feet after leaving the pitcher’s hand but not higher than 12′ above ground. The pitcher may pitch from the pitching plate or from the pitching area: an area the width of the pitcher’s plate and up to 5 ft. behind it.
Pitcher Protection Net – The League will purchase a net for each field and will be the umpire’s responsibility to bring to each game. The net must be slightly offset toward the glove-hand side of the pitcher, because the net cannot be used as a middle blocker or an 11th defensive player. One leg of the net has to be within the pitcher’s rubber. The net can only be moved at the start of each inning. Once it’s moved and the inning has started, it stays there.
The pitcher can field any ball including rollers in front of the net provided he is fully behind the net when the batter hits the ball. While in play, if the ball hits the net after a defensive player throws or even just touches the ball, it is still a live ball.
Walk Rule
If a man is walked, the woman batter who is up next has the option of batting or taking a walk. Once the female steps into the batter box, she must bat. If she walks, the first batter walks to second base. This free walk can only occur one time per inning per team. The pitcher may intentionally walk any batter without throwing a pitch.
Ball & Strikes Each batter starts with 1 ball & 1 strike. 4 balls constitute a WALK. 3 strikes constitute an OUT. If a batted ball hits any part of the pitcher’s net in the air or after a bounce it is a STRIKE. There is a courtesy foul allowed. If the batter has a foul after getting a 2nd a strike or a foul, they are allowed to bat one final time.
Bunting and Stealing Bases These are not allowed and the player will be OUT without warning. A runner must be touching the bag until the ball is hit by a batter.
Dugout Gates Rule ALL DUGOUT GATES MUST BE CLOSED AT ALL TIMES DURING PLAY. If the defensive team in the field leaves their gates open and a live ball enters their dugout through those gates, all runners advance one base. If the offensive team that is batting leaves a gate open and a live ball enters their dugout, the offensive team is charged with an out.
First Base Double Bag
A double bag will be used at 1st base. On all initial plays at 1st, the runner must use the outside (orange) bag ONLY and the defensive player the inside (white) bag ONLY. The runner may use the inside (white) bag if rounding to advance or returning to the base or if the outside (orange) bag is blocked by the fielder.
When running to 1st base, if the runner turns left towards 2nd base, they can be tagged out. To avoid this out, the runner must go straight or turn to the right.
Throw To First Base From The Outfield
An outfielder may not attempt to throw out a batter at first base for the player’s safety. If an outfielder throws the ball to first base, the runner is awarded second base.
For the Players Safety
When a base runner is on first base and/or third base, the base runner has the option of standing anywhere out of bounds to avoid being hit by a batted ball. However, the base runner MUST touch that base before advancing to second base or home plate. If the base runner does not touch first or third base, and if the umpire sees the play, the base runner will be called out. It is the manager’s responsibility to advise the base runner of their options. The team in the field should remind the umpire to watch the base runners. AGGRESSIVE BATTING AT PITCHERS IS PROHIBITED. UMPIRES WILL USE THEIR DISCRETION IF AN AGGRESSIVE BATTER NEEDS TO BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME.
Courtesy Runner
A player can request a courtesy runner prior to entering the batter’s box. The batter cannot advance past 1st base. If the runner turns to the left advancing towards 2nd base, he/she can be tagged out. When a courtesy runner is needed, it should be the person who made the last out (man for man & woman for woman) or who is the last man/woman in the lineup. If a player is injured running the bases and needs to be replaced by another player, then that injured player must use a courtesy runner the rest of the game. At any time, once a batter requests a courtesy runner, that batter must use a courtesy runner the rest of the game. (We do not use an “injury runner”.)
Switch Hitting When up to bat, there is no switch hitting allowed once the batter starts as a lefty or righty.
Second Home Plate: For player safety, there is a second plate off to the side at home. The runner must touch that plate for the run to count. If the runner touches the original home plate, they are OUT. For the defense to make an out, the catcher or other defensive player must have their foot on the real home plate and the have the ball in their possession before the runner touches the 2nd home plate. A defensive player cannot physically touch a runner with the ball for an out once they’ve crossed the commitment line.
Commitment Line This is line approximately half-way between 3rd base and home. If a runner passes 3rd, they have until the commitment line to go back to 3rd. Once they hit or go beyond the line, they must go for home.
Home Runs – Field #1 safety netting above the fence is to prevent balls from hitting people outside the field. Obviously, if the netting was not there it would be a home run so it is also a home run if the ball hits the netting. For balls hit over the fence for a home run, the batter and any base runners do not need to touch the next base. In other words…hit and sit. EACH TEAM MAY HIT 3 HOME RUNS BY THE MEN, THEN THEY ARE OUTS. Women have no limit on home runs. THE TEAM THAT HITS THE BALL OVER ANY FENCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RETRIEVING THE BALL.
Over Thrown Ball If the ball is thrown into the dugout* or any area that is out-of-bounds, the runner advances 1 base, plus 1 base. * *If the ball enters the dugout through a gate left open, the Dugout Gates Rule applies.
Infield Fly Rule
The umpire must announce when the infield fly rule is in effect. For an Infield Fly, the batter is called out on an easily caught pop fly to any defensive player near or in the infield when there are runners on first and second or the bases are loaded and there are less than two outs. The batter is called out and all base runners advance at their own risk once the fly ball has been touched.
Pitcher Time out When the pitcher has the ball at the end of a play there is an automatic time out.
Mercy Rule New Mercy Rules; Each team will have a maximum of 7 runs per inning, except the 7th inning where there is no limit but game time of 75 mins. still applies. If there is a HOME RUN, all runs that come in will count even though it will give them more than 7 runs.
Over Thrown Ball If the ball is thrown into the dugout* or any area that is out-of-bounds, the runner advances 1 base, plus 1 base. * If the ball enters the dugout through a gate left open, the Dugout Gates Rule applies.
Throwing of Equipment If a player’s glove leaves their hand in an attempt to catch a ball, the runners can advance one extra base.
Trees Any batted ball in fair territory hitting a tree will be called a dead ball – no pitch.
Comments
Check the website for players looking for a team www.coedball.com PROFANITY BY PLAYERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Umpires will warn the team manager once. The 2nd time that player will be ejected from that game. Nobody wants to hear it especially kids who come to the game. This applies to rowdy fans, also.
If there is an issue between player(s) and umpire, the team manager can notify the night representative and have the situation reviewed.
Each team should have player commitments to be available to play every game which will help eliminate forfeits. If a team manager is aware of a forfeit, it is their responsibility to contact the other team manager and your night representative who can notify the umpire.
Please remember that this is a recreational league for players of all abilities. We are all out there to have fun. Please use courtesy and respect toward each other and the umpires. If you have a problem or disagreement with the umpire or other players, notify your night rep. immediately. They will address the issue. Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated.
It is agreed and understood that all teams will adhere to our rules and procedures. Failure to do so may result in elimination from any future participation in our league.
The use and publication of this information is prohibited without the express written permission from the Sarasota Co-ed Softball League.