Wall Recreation Softball League 2013 Rules

                                      Updated May 17, 2013

Winning coaches are responsible for emailing scores within 24 hours.

Rainouts and rescheduled games will be posted on the news page as well as the schedule for your league.

This Slo-Pitch League now plays by ASA Softball Rules. The rules that follow are our modification rules.

First game starting time is listed unless otherwise noted. Failure to place nine players on the playing field with 15 minutes constitutes a forfeit.

THE 2013 WALL MEN'S & WOMAN'S SOFTBALL LEAGUES WILL NOW BE PLAYED UNDER ASA SOFTBALL RULES. ALL WALL MODIFICATIONS ARE LISTED BELOW. YOU CAN GET A LIST OF ALL SOFTBALL RULES ON THEIR WEBSITE.

NO DRINKING OR ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE IS ALLOWED IN THE DUGOUTS OR ON THE FIELD BEFORE OR DURING YOUR GAMES.  IF ONE OF YOUR PLAYERS IS CAUGHT BY A LEAGUE OFFICIAL OR AN UMPIRE OR GAME IS PROTESTED BY THE OTHER TEAM - YOUR TEAM WILL FORFEIT.

IN THE CASE OF BOTH TEAMS CAUGHT DRINKING - BOTH WILL FORFEIT.

IF DRINKING OCCURS A 2ND TIME THAT TEAM WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE LEAGUE.

HOME TEAM supplies bases and (Men's & Coed) one new Official Optic Yellow Tatoo cor. 52 /.300  league softball for the Sunday C or D league at the start of every game. Visiting team supplies one backup ball for every game. (note: Any Men's or Coed team can put a brand new Tatoo 52/300 softball in the game at any time, but all balls are divided equally between both teams after the game.) Home team is responsible for having the bases set and marked out by starting time. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOME TEAM TO PUT THE BASES IN THE DUGOUT AT RASH, OR IN THE BOX AT BRICE, AND PUT THE RUBBER PLUGS IN THE BASE HOLES AT THE END OF THE LAST GAME OF THE DAY.

Note: Women will be using an 11" 47 cor. softball instead.

UMPIRES cost $44.00 for one man per 6 or 7 inning game, and $36.00 per man  for two men per game. This will be split between each team, including all playoff & Championship games . Umpires must be paid in full before every game.

In the case of forfeit, the UMPIRES MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY THE FORFEITING TEAM. If a team forfeits, you will up until the start of your next game to pay the $44.00 forfeit fee for a single game and $60.00 for a double-header. If team is not paid, you will be dropped from the league. Failure to pay the umpire will result in forfeit of the game and suspension of the team from the league until the umpire is paid. If a team forfeits on 3 separate occasions throughout the course of the season, they will be dropped for the league and their entrance fee forfeited.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION:

Players can only play on one Sunday team (either the C Division or the D Division). No major or impact players are allowed. No major or impact player can play in the weeknight B or Sunday C/D League Playoffs. If you do not know if a player is on that list, you must contact Greg Kapalko to find out before that players play, and if an impact player is caught playing on an unauthorized team, that team will forfeit all playoff games that the impact player participated in. All players participating in any Wall Recreation Softball League agree to play at their own risk of injury. It is the responsibility of each manager to inform all his or her player of this stipulation.

TEAM ROSTERS are to be submitted by Opening Day. Each roster will be filled out prior to your team's first game and turned in or you will not receive your softballs. Each team is allowed no more than 20 players on their roster. . Players can be added or dropped by July 1st.
Fall league rosters are due by October 1st. For a player to be added to a roster.. If your team fails to turn in a final roster by July 1st / or October 1(for Fall) you will not be permitted to participate in the playoffs - NO EXCEPTIONS.

Note: In the event that a Team Drops or Forfeits out of the League after July 1st (Summer) / October 1st (Fall) - the League may choose to allow players from that Team to get on another Team that still has Roster Spots Available - NO MORE THAN 2 PLAYERS PER TEAM. Players must also play in the 2 games necessary on their new Team to be Playoff eligible.

RAIN-OUTS:

Sunday's & Weeknights: Team CAPTAINS will receive a Text regarding if the Games is cancelled; All players may check web site news page or get on to the League Twitter@wallmenssb

CANCELLATIONS will result in a forfeit. If you would like to try to reschedule a DH - you must contact me 2 Weeks Prior to the DH that you want to Re-schedule.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: A team needs eight players to start a game. The batting team must supply a courtesy catcher. If a team starts with ten players, once the batting order goes around once complete time, no extra players may be added to the lineup. Players will only be allowed to enter the game by substitution after this point. If a team starts with 8 players, they may add at any time of the game, regardless of how many times the batting order has gone around their 9th & or 10th player, but if the player is added, he must be put at the bottom of the batting order( in the 9th or 10th spots). If a player is injured or is ejected from the game by the umpire, and there are no substitutes, their spot in the batting order will declared an out when their turn comes up. If at any time during the game a team has only eight players, this will result in a forfeit.
Whenever a team starts with less than 9 Players, that team may take an automatic out each time the 9th  batter's position comes up in the batting order with the exception : that the defensive team can NOT walk either intentionally or unintentionally the batter that preceeds the automatic out. In that case the automatic out or outs are bypassed and the next scheduled hitter will bat.

Illegal Players: In the event that a team needs to add a player ( who plays on another team in the league) to avoid a Forfeit- he may participate as a Defensive player only - he may not bat- this can only be done with the approval of the opposing team- but remember then all spots in the batting order -7-8-9- will be declared automatic outs.

MENS/Coed SUNDAY LEAGUE PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY RULE : A Player must be on the Final July 1st Roster and played in at Least ONE Regular Season Doubleheader.

Women: A player must play in at least 2 Regular Season Games.

NEW FOR 2013

Forfeits:

EACH TEAM MUST POST A $100 FORFEIT FEE IN THE FORM OF A CHECK MADE OUT TO ASA UMPIRES - NORTHERN MONMOUTH COUNTY CHAPTER.

If your Team shows up without enough players to play a game on a Sunday your Team will Forfeit and be responsible for the entire $44 Umpire Fee for that game. Game Time is Forfeit Time. Your Team will have 30 Min. from game game of the 1st game to field a team for the second game or your Team will Forfeit that game also and be Responsible for another $16 Umpire Fee, bringing the Forfeit Fee to $60. Any Team that has 2 No Show Forfeits  during the Season will be dropped from the League.

Any Team that calls or emails us to let us know they cannot field a Team on Sunday after 5:00PM on Friday will be responsible for a $50 Umpire Cancellation Fee. Any Cancellations made before 5:00PM on Fridays will result in a Forfeit but no Umpire Fee will be charged.

Each Team will be allowed 2 Cancellation Forfeits - on the 3rd one - your Team will be dropped from the League.

If your Team forfeits and you do not pay the Ump at the field - you will have till the following Sunday to drop off a check to RKE Athletic or your Team will be removed from the schedule till the Forfeit Fee has been replenished - all games removed from the Schedule will be forfeited.

Any Women's or Co-Ed game that is cancelled less than 24 hours before scheduled game time - the full $44 Fee will be charged ($60 if a DH).

Same Rules apply regarding replenishing the Forfeit Fee.

ADDITIONAL EP RULE:

All teams playing in the league will have the option of playing with two EP's (additional hitters). Teams may bat 12 hitters and all the players are interchangeable defensively.

Remember, if you choose to start the game with 12 players (maximum), you must finish the game with 12 players. If at any time your batting order has less than 12 players, when the missing player's spot in the batting order comes up, they will be declared an out.

PROTESTS must be made before the next pitch, legal or illegal. A formal protest must be written up with 48 hours of the game and turned over to the league. Make sure you have the umpire's name, the team you are playing and at which point in the game this occurred; men on base, outs, etc. All protests that are protests of ASA-SLO-PITCH rules will be decided upon by the umpire's director. All protests that are league modification rules will be decided upon by the league rules committee. Each team involved in the protest will be allowed to present its case but have not vote.

WINNING CAPTAINS MUST email wallsoftballscores@gmail.com within 24 hours of your game with the actual score of both games.  If your team splits the doubleheader, both coaches are responsible for emailing the scores in.  If we do not receive an email within 24 hours of your game, your team will be fined $10 for every occurrence.  No team will participate in the league playoffs without your total fines paid.

COURTESY RUNNER: This is an optional rule which must be decided upon by the team captains. If a courtesy runner is used, it must be the last UNINJURED out or a mutually agreed upon player.

STEALING IN MEN'S SLOW PITCH   No Stealing - No Metal Spikes

PITCHING RULE:  The Pitcher has the option from pitching the ball from the pitching rubber (53 feet) and back up to 10 Feet (63FT)  as long as he is in line with the pitching rubber. The ball must be delivered with an ARC and reach a height of at least 6 Feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of 12 Feet from the ground.

This year will will be using a pitching Mat in the Men's League ONLY. Any pitch that hits the Mat or  the Plate will be a strike - any pitch that misses will be called a Ball.    

BASERUNNIG: ASA Book Rule - Runner May Leave the Base as the Ball crosses Home Plate.  If a Runner leaves the Base before the ball crosses home plate - he/she will be called out. Pitch becomes a Dead Ball -  NO PITCH- 

NO STEALING BASES.

Woman's League Balls & Strikes will be called the same as last year.        

                                                         
In the Men's League - Each batter will start every at bat with a 1-1 count. The 1st foul ball hit with 2 strikes will count as a strike and the batter will be declared out.

Note - in the Woman's League (1-1 count) - the batter will be out on the Second Foul Ball hit with two strikes.

Illegal pitches will  be declared verbally  at the point the pitch become Illegal.

NEW For 2013: The League has purchased an Official Bat Tester - it will not arrive till about June 1st - upon it's arrival all teams will be notified and All Players must have their bat(s) Tested - all bats that pass will receive a Wall Softball League Approved Sticker - the League will then establish a date when all bats must be inspected by - after that date - no player may use a bat without a sticker on it.

Each player will pay a $1.00 per bat inspection fee.

After that point The League still reserves the right to re-inspect sticker'ed bats in the event that a ball hit with that bat hits an infielder in such a way that he has no chance to defend himself or a ball hit by that bat gives the impression that the Bat has been altered.

If a bat is re-tested and fails marginally the bat will be declared illegal - Illegal Bat Penalty will apply.

If the bat is re-tested and the bat fails because it's been altered - then the Altered Bat Penalty will apply.

ILLEGAL BATS:  Umpires should perform a Bat inspection prior to every DH.  All Bats must be on the approved ASA bat list. If it's not on the list it's illegal. Only bats stamped with Offical ASA Softball Logo and a BPF 1.20 or less will be legal and allowed to be used, with the exception of wood. ALL BATS WITHOUT THE ASA  STAMP ARE ILLEGAL, and cannot be used-unless the bat appears on the ASA Banned Bat list.

Note Starting in 2014 - No bat without a 2013 (or later) ASA Approved Stamp will be allowed in the League.

All dented Bats, Bats with loose pieces, any Bats with loose or altered caps will be BANNED.

ILLEAGAL BAT PENALTY -  The use of an illegal or non-sticker'ed bat will be : if a players is caught in the batter's box with an illegal bat ( by either the umpire , a member of the opposition or a league official) - First- he will be declared an out & may not be replaced in the batting order (he may be replaced in the field)- each time that spot comes up for the rest of that game - that spot will be an out- Second - he will be ejected for the rest of the day (that could be for both the 1st & 2nd game of the Sat or Sun DH). That player will be reported to the League Director and if a second offense occurs - that player will be banned from the League for the remainder of the season.

ALTERED BAT PENALTY - Any Player caught with an Altered Bat will be thrown out of the Wall Softball League for the remainder of the Season. THE BAT WILL BE CONFISCATED & DESTROYED. His Team will also Forfeit the game the Altered Bat was used in.

ASA Senior Bats are LEGAL - ONLY to  to Senior Players on a 50+ Team in the Fall League.

The Link to the ASA Website is:  http://www.asasoftball.com/

HOME RUN RULE 

AMERICAN League (B): Any untouched hit over the fence is a Home Run. 2 Home Runs an Inning - USE IT OR LOSE IT - All Home Runs hit after the 1st in an Inning will be outs. 

National League (C) : 1 Home Run Per Inning - Rest Same Rule. But any HR hit after the 1st in an inning - will be an out.

Crossover Games between National & American Leagues will play by the National League Home Run Rule of 1 Per Inning.

SPEED UP HOME RUN RULE - EVEN THOUGH ALL RUNNERS DO NOT HAVE TO CIRCLE THE BASES - ON ALL HR's OVER THE FENCE - the batter & each runner must touch the next base - BEFORE THEM COME OFF THE FIELD - or he/they will be called out - DO NOT WALK OFF THE FIELD!

IF A BATTER WALKS - HE MUST TOUCH FIRST BASE BEFORE YOU PUT A COURTESY RUNNER IN FOR HIM - OR HE WILL BE CALLED OUT!

NOTE: All balls hit over the Right Field Fence at Belmar Memorial Field will be OUTS .

For both the Spring & Fall Leagues: Bases will be set at 70 Feet.

Men's Teams will be designated A, B or C - when an A Team plays a B  or  C Team- the Lower ranked team will have the option of choosing ONE of the 3 listed handicaps listed below:

NOTE : In the Woman's League A Teams will allow B Teams both the Runs & the Use of the 11th Defender in all games.

1. The Higher Ranked Team will spot the Lower Ranked Team 6 Runs per game(Game begins with the Higher Ranked Team Trailing 6-0). NOTE: In the Woman's League A Teams will give B Teams 7 Runs per game.

2. Lower Ranked Teams may employ  the use of a 5th Infielder (as an 11th defender) when playing against Higher Ranked Teams.

3. Lower Ranked Teams can hit 2 Home Runs per inning - the 3rd HR will end the inning in this instance, when playing against Higher Ranked Teams. Or in the case ob a A vs B - The B Team may choose to Hit 2 Per Inning while the A Team may only hit 1 - HR - Per Inning.

 League Director has the discretion to Decide which Teams are Classified as A,B or C Teams at any time during the season.

LEAGUE DIRECTOR at his discretion may implement these and other rules to maintain the competitive balance between A and the other teams in the league. If the League Director feels it is necessary to to make the Handicap two or tall three of these rules - he may do so.

GAME LENGTH:

All double-headers will be 6 inning games.
All single games will be 7 inning games
All games both 6 & 7 innings will be played a 1-1 count.

EJECTIONS:

1. Any member of a team who tosses a bat during a game will be ejected from that game only. If the infraction occurs late in the game (5th inning or later) that member will sit the next game also (DH if Sunday Men's League).

2. Any member of a team who is ejected or continues to argue wrongfully and makes a mockery of the game during or after the game, will be ejected for a minimum of that game plus the next game. Second offense -- will be ejected the rest of the game plus the next 2 games (2 DH's- if Sunday Men's League). Third offense -- will be expelled from the league.

3. Any member of a team who makes an attempt to cause physical harm to an umpire before/during or after a game will be ejected and expelled from any sanctioned ASA league in this state.

4. Any member of a team, player or coach, who is suspended from any league for a period of three or more games will not be permitted to play of be part of any game in any other league that he/she is associated with. The suspension will be honored in all leagues. The league directors/commissioners will contact each other if and when the time comes. The area director will uphold this ruling. This infraction must occur in an ASA registered and sanctioned league.

PLAYER MOVEMENT: Once a player has played a game with a team, he is permitted to switch teams only once. The league director must be notified in advance, or the team he plays for will be a forfeit.