Who's In First - Englewood Recreation Department - Slowpitch Softball Rules

Home ◊ Softball ◊ Basketball ◊ Volleyball ◊ Racquetball ◊ Contact

Thursday, July 24

Englewood Parks & Recreation Department Slowpitch Softball Rules

Link To: Englewood Parks & Recreation Department Men's Fastpitch Softball Rules

All team members must take into consideration that all fields are located in residential areas. Please show respect to the owner’s property by parking legally, not loitering, and littering and by using proper restroom facilities for changing and bodily functions and overall noise level.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in Englewood Parks. The Police Department enforces this ordinance. Alcohol consumption in the Parks by a team member may result in forfeiture of game and ejection from the league. Smoking is prohibited on the field and the dugouts.

Good Neighbor Policy
This policy addresses basically three issues, lights out, “tailgating” and the use of proper facilities. During last season concerns were raised regarding these issues. In an attempt to address them we will continue with our stance on tailgating and use of bathrooms. The third phase of the policy addresses “lights out,” game times have been moved forward and no new inning will start after 10:45pm. Any game that is not considered complete at that time will be continued at a later date. We hope to complete all games prior to the park curfew of 11:00 p.m.

Coaches and Managers
All Coaches are responsible to see that each team member reads a copy of the rules and the "SOFTBALL PLAYER’S CODE OF CONDUCT” and that they understand the importance of the aforementioned, to themselves and to the team.

Managers are responsible for keeping the dugout area clear of all persons except players, 2 managers/coaches, and 1 scorekeeper (provided the total number of players and coaches does not exceed 20). Players of other teams may not sit in the dugout. Due to safety reasons, spectators, children, and animals will not be allowed inside the field gate. Managers are responsible to see that all items are picked up from the dugout prior leaving (this includes trash that team has created).

Managers must turn in a game line-up to the official scorekeeper no later than 10 minutes prior to scheduled starting time. Line-ups must include batting order (first & last names), defensive positioning.

Managers and players should only go to the official scorer for business. Please do not ask to use the telephone; it is for department and emergency use only.

Rainout Policy & Make-up Games
Games canceled prior to becoming complete games will be resumed from the point the game was stopped. Note- A decision to whether a game will be canceled will not usually occur prior to 5 p.m. Managers are asked to call the field at which they play for the recorded message. When a decision is made to cancel all recorders will indicate so. Players should converse with managers concerning game information. This will limit the number of incoming phone calls to the field and chances of receiving information are greater. Belleview & Spencer 303 762-2598

Rosters
Teams may have as many players listed on their rosters as they wish provided all players are listed and player fee is paid. Teams that wish to add players to their roster once their roster form has been submitted may do so at the Englewood Recreation Center - 1155 W. Oxford, Englewood, Co. 80110 by filling out a player add form, paying the proper player fee and returning the form to the scorekeeper at the field. It is the players responsibility to present the add form and insure his/her name is added to the team roster. If the player loses the add form, then the player will not be eligible to play until he/she acquires a copy at the Recreation Center and presents it to the scorekeeper. Players may play on more than one team provided they are not playing on teams in the same league. Players may play in a classification that is the same or one level higher or lower. Englewood reserves the right to limit players playing on multiple teams if it is determined that there skill level are inappropriate for the league classification. Rosters are frozen approximately at the midpoint of the season (see schedule). After this date players will be accepted under the hardship clause and may be added for a fee 4 times the stated non-resident player fee.

Player fees are non-refundable and non-transferable after the first game of the season.

All transactions must be done at the Englewood Recreation Center during hours of operation.

General Rules

Players must be 16 years of age.
Uniforms: Each team must have like color and style jersey with at least a 6" permanently attached non-duplicating number. Each player must have his or her own jersey. The opposing team manager before player(s) in question steps must make enforcement of the jersey rule to the umpire into the batter box for the first time. Otherwise player(s) will be eligible to play. Team members do not have to wear hats. Plastic visors and other potentially dangerous apparel will not be permitted. Metal, fiberglass or plastic cleated shoes will not be permitted. Only shoes of molded rubber sole will be permitted. Every team will have a 1 game grace period before the uniform rule will be in effect.
Game time is forfeit time with the following exceptions: The team with legal number of players has the option of;
1. Accepting an immediate forfeit, or
2. Start the game clock and allow the team up to 10 minutes to get the proper number of legal players. Failure to field a team within the 10 minutes will result in a forfeit. Note: The waiting time is counted as game time. The score of a forfeited game is 7 - 0.
A minimum of 8 players is needed to start and finish a game. Teams may utilize up to 12 players if using extra players, 10 players is the maximum a team may play with defensively.
Home team will be determined by the first team listed on the scheduled and will take the third base dugout.
Strike Carpet will be used in all Slowpitch games. The plate IS a strike. The arc of a pitched ball shall be a minimum of 6’ and a maximum of 12’ from the ground. If a batter swings at an illegal pitch the ball shall be considered in play.
Players transferring to another team must wait 2 days after notifying League Supervisor. Players are allowed only one transfer per season.
A Photo I.D. is required at all times and must be shown immediately upon request.
Tie Breaker Procedures: 1. Head to Head competition. 2. Fewest number of forfeits. 3. Total score difference in all Head to head games between teams that are tied in the standings. 4. Toss of coin.
Forfeiting 2 games in a season will result in a team not being considered a returning team next season. If a team drops from the league all games up to the time of official notification in the office will count in the standings. League standings will then be based on winning percentage. If a team forfeits 3 consecutive games due to lack of players, the team manager must contact the league supervisor on their intent of continuance of play; they may, provided that the team doesn't forfeit another game due to lack of players. If the team makes no attempt to contact the league supervisor after 3 consecutive forfeits, the team will be automatically dropped from the league and games thereafter will not count in the standings.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in Englewood Parks. The Police Dept. Alcohol consumption in the Parks by team member may result in forfeiture of game and ejection from the league enforces this ordinance. Smoking is prohibited on the field and dugouts.
Players ejected from a game will have a minimum of 1 game suspension. Players must sit out the next game following the suspension.

Playing Rules
Current A.S.A. Softball RuleBook will govern play in addition of league rules.

Bats must conform to the following restrictions;

Does not exceed 1.2 BPF
Is not constructed with a double, triple or multi wall
Does not contain titanium

A 10 run rule will be used in addition to the usual 7-inning regulation game and a 55-minute time limit. If after 4 1/2 innings with the home team ahead by 10 runs the game will be considered over. If the game is tied after 7 complete innings or after 55 minutes of playing time has expired, the new inning will begin with the last batter from the previous inning starting at 2nd base with no outs and a one and one count on the batter. This will remain in effect for both teams until a winner is declared. No new inning will begin after 55 minutes except for tied games.

Home-Run restriction is in effect for all teams.
League Classifications. - Over the fence Home-Runs

Mens & Coed C 4 per team per game
Mens & Coed D-comp 3 per team per game
Mens & Coed D-rec 2 per team per game
Mens & Coed E 1 per team per game

Once a team has reached the limit of home runs the next ball to leave the field will be considered a strike, all balls there after will be outs. Note- at Belleview Park Only! If a fly ball strikes the power line in fair territory the umpire will award a Home Run (Over the fence)

Men’s and Coed teams may play with 8, 9, 10 or 12 players.

Re-entry Rule - any of the starting players including the Extra Players may be withdrawn and re-entered once provided the player occupies the same batting position in the line-up. The starting player(s) and the substitute(s) cannot be in the line-up at the same time. Once the substitute leaves the game, they may not return to the line-up. A violation of the re-entry rule results in the use of an ineligible player, ejection of both the manager and player shall be declared as soon as the violation is brought to the attention of the umpire by the offended team. Note- use of a non-rostered player will automatically award the game to the opponent.

Intentional Base on Balls - Catcher will notify umpire and umpire will award the batter 1st base.

A double first base will be used in all leagues. Runners must touch the orange bag when there is a potential play at first base. The runner may touch either white or orange base when rounding first base. Failure to touch the orange base will result in the runner being called out. Once a base runner is on first base the orange base is no longer in play. The defensive player must be in contact with the white base in order to record an out.

A base runner cannot deliberately run into a fielder when the fielder has the ball in his possession awaiting the runner. The runner is out and the ball is dead. If the act is determined by the umpire to be flagrant, the runner shall be ejected.

Courtesy runners will be allowed upon consent of the opposition. If the opposing manager does not object the last, like sex batter will be allowed to run.

A 12" restricted flight game ball will be provided for all games. If a ball goes out of the field of play, the pitcher cannot wait for that ball to be returned. The pitcher must throw the replacement ball until the umpire puts the original ball back into play.

Team managers must hustle players on and off the field between innings. The umpire must warn and then call the game a forfeit if a team employs tactics to delay the game.

In case of a dispute, the umpire is instructed to talk to the manager only. All others will retire from the vicinity (at least 20-ft.). Anyone violating this regulation may be liable for immediate removal. Prolonged arguments will not be tolerated. The umpires are instructed to notify managers that they have the right to file protest and the call play ball and the game shall proceed. Protest is to be written in accordance to the I.J.R.C.S. Rules. The League Supervisor (note- Games may not be protested based on judgment calls) will consider protest

Coed Rules (Defense) – There will be No restrictions as to the defensive positioning of male and female players. Equal numbers of male and female players must be utilized up to ten players with the only exception when playing with 9 players in the lineup.

Coed Batting Order - Males and females must alternate in the batting order. Teams playing with 9 players shall take an out when players of the same sex bat back to back. If a male batter receives a base on balls he shall be awarded 2nd base. He may go directly to 2nd base without touching 1st. The next female batter must bat. Exception: With two outs, the female batter has the option to walk. If the female steps into the batters box she must hit. Teams, please have female hitter indicate to the umpire that they are going to accept the base on balls.

All coed leagues will use the 175' arc in the outfield. The arc is utilized only when a female is batting. All outfielders must remain behind the line until contact is made with the ball. Violation of this rule will result in a delayed dead ball situation. The offense shall have the option of taking the result of the play or awarding the batter first base.

Pre-game warm-up must take place in the designated warm-up areas. No batting or infield practice will be permitted on the infield prior to the game. Pepper or soft toss batting into the fence is prohibited.

Any player ordered out of the game by an umpire, for any reason, shall leave the field immediately (unless otherwise indicated by the umpire). In most cases they may remain in the stands and be SILENT. Any outbursts, heckling, or threats will call for action by the Field Supervisor. The Field Supervisor is instructed to have violators removed from the area, first by invitation, or second by legal means. Any player order out of the game must sit out the next game.

All team members must take into consideration that all fields are located in residential areas. Please show respect to the owners property by parking legally, not littering, using proper restroom facilities for changing of clothes and bodily functions, and overall noise level.

Team managers are responsible for the overall conduct of players and spectators. The continuance of a team privilege to participate will be based on their conduct. Failure to comply will result in the loss of participation privileges in the Englewood Softball Leagues either by suspension for a specified time or indefinitely.