Rules

 

Revised December 2023    

       LAKELAND SENIOR SOFTBALL

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

 

These are the playing rules for ALL games played by Lakeland Senior Softball. 

 

 

 

Governing Authority:

Current ASA Senior Softball rules will govern all games, except as modified by the Lakeland Senior Softball language that follows:

 

Umpiring:

For all league games involving two teams, the batting team will provide umpires behind home plate as well as at first base (first base coach) and third base (third base coach). If the batting team fails to provide umpires on the bases, the runner will be out if there is disagreement on the call. For three-team games, the sitting team shall provide one umpire at home plate, and umpires at first base and third base. The call of the umpire is final.

 

Players:

Games will be played with 10 or 11 defensive players as the number of players dictate. All players will be in the batting order as made by the team manager. For games played on days after the league season ends, with 26 or fewer players, two teams will be selected; with 27 to 39 players, three teams will be selected; with 40 or more players, a minimum of four teams will be selected.

If there are enough players, and the visiting team and the home team managers agree, a 12th player can be added to the outfield. The 5 outfielders must play behind the outfield line and cannot throw a runner out at first base

 

Double Bag:

A double bag shall be used at first base. The inside bag, which is in fair territory, shall be for the use of the defensive player. The offensive player may use the inside bag only if a play at first base is not imminent, such as a base hit or an extra base hit. The defensive player may use the outside bag to avoid contact.

 

Alternate home plate:

An alternate home plate shall be placed eight feet in foul territory, directly in line with the first base foul line, but on the third base side of the normal home plate. All plays at home are force plays. The defensive player needs only catch and/or be in possession of the ball while in contact with any part of home plate before the runner makes contact with the alternate home plate to record an out on the runner. If the defensive player merely tags the runner after the runner has passed the “commitment line,” it is not recorded as an out on that runner and the runner is deemed safe at home plate. A runner who touches the “regular home plate” rather than, or before, the alternate home plate is automatically OUT. No appeal is necessary.

 

Commitment Line:

A line shall be drawn twenty (20) feet from the normal home plate across the third base foul line extending to the fence. When a runner crosses this commitment line, he must continue on to the alternate home plate or be recorded as an out if he attempts to return back across the commitment line toward third base.

 

Pitching Regulations:

To be legal, the ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of six (6) feet from the ground, while not exceeding a height of twelve (12) feet from the ground. Legal pitches [pitches striking any portion of the home plate Mat] shall be called a strike.

The umpire shall call ILLEGAL PITCH on a pitch above or below the require height and said pitch must be called a ball. However, if a batter swings at, or makes contact with, any “illegal” pitch, said call is nullified and all play stands.

 

The “Four-Ball-Three-Strikes” format will be followed.

The beginning count will be one ball and one strike when each batter comes up to bat. After two strikes on the batter any swing by the batter without making contact with the ball shall be recorded as a strikeout. If after a two strike count the batter fouls a pitch, the batter will be granted a courtesy foul. Then any swing and miss, foul ball, or hitting the pitcher screen will be recorded as an out.

 

Pitchers Screen:

The screen is provided for the pitchers’ safety. The screen must be located with one edge of the screen bisecting the pitcher’s rubber. Pitcher must stay behind the screen after delivering every pitch. A batted ball with one strike on the batter that hits the screen, or any part of the screen frame or legs, is a strike and the ball is dead. A batted ball with two strikes on the batter is not a strike but it is a dead ball. A thrown ball hitting the screen or any part of the frame or legs is in play.

 

Defensive Placement of Players:

Effective Oct. 01, 2018, all infielders can play any place on the field.  There will be an outfield line and all outfielders must play behind the line.

No batter may be thrown out at first base if the batted ball is first fielded by an outfielder.

 

Courtesy Runner: 

Any runner on base may request a courtesy runner. He cannot be asked if he wants a runner.

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An individual chosen to be a courtesy runner may only run once per inning.

A courtesy runner may not be replaced by another runner courtesy runner, except for in jury causing removal of the original courtesy runner permanently from the game.

 

A courtesy runner on base when it is their turn to bat will be declared out. The runner will be removed from the base and a second courtesy runner cannot be substituted. Substitution for the original player will not prevent this out. The courtesy runner called out does not lose their turn at bat. EFFECT: The out occurs at the base the courtesy runner abandoned to take their turn at bat.

 

A courtesy runner is officially in the game when they touch the base. If a courtesy runner is determined illegal, they will be called out upon touching the base and no other courtesy runner is allowed. The original runner may not now return as the runner.

 

Players needing a courtesy runner will be designated at the beginning of the game.

 

Base runners:

A runner on first base or third base may, for safety reasons, be off the base in foul territory before the ball is hit. However, that runner must re-touch the base before advancing after the ball is hit.

 

Sliding:

Sliding or safely diving back toward a base is permitted only at second and third base, or at first base only if returning to the base. Sliding into alternate home plate is not permitted. Any runner who slides into the alternate home plate is out.

 

Tagging:

If a runner overruns a base, other than first base, he is in jeopardy of being tagged out before he returns to the base.

The base runner must be tagged for an out to occur if the play is not a force-out.

The runner must be tagged before he crosses the “commitment line” if he is not forced toward home plate. After the runner crosses the “commitment line” the defensive player must tag home plate before the runner touches the “alternate home plate” for the runner to be declared out.

 

Verbal Abuse:

This rule will be enforced according to ASA rules

 

Fielder Interference:

A defensive player may not be situated in the path of a base runner when the defensive player is not fielding the ball. If the defensive player does block the runner, the runner shall be awarded the base to which he is headed.

An interference call will be enforced when a fielder is stationed on the base thereby causing the base runner to alter his path if the fielder is not being thrown the ball. The base runner will be awarded that base and the next base if he has not achieved those bases after the play has concluded.

If a runner is forced out, he is required to get out of the way of any play the fielder may attempt to make after making the force out.

 

Time Limit/Tiebreakers:

There is no time limit. All two-team games are nine innings and three-team games are seven innings. There are no tiebreakers.

 

Batting out of order:

This rule will be enforced according to ASA rules.

 

Discipline:

It is expected that all Lakeland Senior Softball members will conduct themselves at all times in accordance with the highest standards of courtesy, integrity and sportsmanship. Players who are ejected from a game or violate these standards of conduct are subject to disciplinary action by the Board. Any player who is ejected from a game will be suspended from playing in the next scheduled game. If a player is ejected a second time within the same year, he will go before the Board which will determine the period of suspension. The Board will have the authority to ban a player from participation in any Lakeland Senior Softball game or activities. Any player ejected from a game must immediately leave the park complex and may not return until his suspension has been served in full.

When a player has not been ejected from a softball game, but has otherwise displayed inappropriate conduct, he will receive a “verbal” warning for the first incident. A “written” warning will be issued for the second incident. A third incident will result in dismissal from Lakeland Senior Softball. Such actions will be carried out in a manner to be determined by the Board upon review of each incident. In the event the misconduct warrants more severe action in the sole opinion of the Board, the Board reserves the right to determine and carry out appropriate disciplinary action regarding the player.

A letter shall be sent to the Lakeland Parks and Recreation Department regarding any board suspensions.

 

Miscellaneous Rules:

1. No smoking or alcoholic beverages are allowed on the softball complex premises during any game.

2. Unsportsmanlike conduct, profane language, immoral gestures, racial or ethnic slurs, disputes on umpire decisions or verbal abuse of an umpire or player will not be tolerated. Penalty for such misconduct may result in ejection or suspension.

3. All bats must be in the dugout during the game. Gloves and warm-up balls may be outside the dugout but must be near the fence.

4. A team may only score five (5) runs in an inning except in its last at bat when it may score an unlimited number of runs. Prior to the last inning, a team that is behind by more than five (5) runs may score as many runs as needed to tie the score with the leading team.

5. A batter will be declared out if he carries his bat to first base.

6. Players must wear official team shirts and caps during the official league season (January-March).

7. All league games will begin at 9:00 a.m. All participants must be signed in by 8:30 a.m.

8. A foul tip (that does not go over the batter’s head) that is caught by the catcher is not an out.

9. Each player can only be walked once per game. In the last inning of a close game, the hitter can refuse a walk.

10. Games will not be played if the game time temperature is 40 degrees F. or less.

11. If, going into the last inning, the visiting team is 10 or more runs ahead, with the approval of the visiting team and home team managers, a flip-flop rule can be invoked in which at the top of the last inning, the home team remains at bat for their last 3 outs (effectively giving the home team 6 consecutive outs) instead of batting at the bottom of the inning. If the home team ties the score, or goes ahead in the score, the visiting team then bats at the bottom of the inning to complete the game.

 

 

 

 

The Lakeland Senior Softball League provides a protective screen to protect pitchers from batted balls.

 

The League rule requires all pitchers to step behind the screen after releasing the ball and until the ball is contacted or past the batter.

 

A pitcher will receive (2) two warning per game after the second warning he may no longer continue pitching.

 

He may play another position for the rest of the game.

 

Players who leave a game before it’s completion will be called out the first at bat after leaving. 

 

The only exception will be in the case of injury to a player.

 

Umpires will now be placed at Home, First and Third only.