1.
These bylaws were
approved by consensus on February 24, 2007.
2.
The Lehigh Valley Coed
Recreational Softball League will play softball in accordance with the Official
Rules of Softball of the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA, www.asasoftball.com). Each team captain is responsible for
obtaining a copy of the rules for the current year and having them available at
every game. The captains must resolve
problems or questions arising during a game immediately. This is a no protest league. League bylaws override any conflicting ASA
rules.
3.
This is a recreational
league whose purpose is to have fun.
Fighting and arguing calls will not be tolerated. Any other actions detracting from this
purpose will not be tolerated either.
4.
Any team not following
League bylaws and ASA rules can be subject to ejection from the league. If a complaint is received about a team, the
team will receive a warning. Any team,
which consistently does not follow the rules, will be ejected from the
league. A team can be ejected from the
league by a majority vote of all other team captains.
5.
The league website, www.lvcoedsoftball.com,
is the official reference for all documents.
Email is the official means of communication from the league to each
team.
6.
The captain of the
winning team is responsible for reporting game results including scores by
email, web, or phone within 24 hours, to the captain selected at the captains’ meeting, so that league
schedule and standings can be maintained all season.
7.
Similarly, the home
team captain must report cancellations and postponements. The league will reschedule cancellations and
postponements. In extreme cases it may
not be possible to reschedule all makeup games. It is also possible makeup games may be rescheduled at a
different field.
8.
Fields which do not
have a game scheduled may be used by the league for makeup games.
9.
All teams must pay their registration fee at the annual captains’
meeting; the amount is determined annually prior to the meeting. The non-refundable registration fees are
used to purchase trophies, tournament and playoff game balls and fields,
playoff umpires, website hosting, etc.
Teams not paid in full at (or prior) to the meeting will lose their
place in the league.
10.
Please make check payable to the captain selected at the captains’
meeting.
11.
Teams must acquire the
use of a home field for at least one night per week during the season,
preferably Tuesday or Thursdays. Games
will not be scheduled for other days unless absolutely necessary. First-year teams may exercise a “bye” year
in lieu of a field, but will reimburse the league accordingly.
12.
Home team supplies
bases, foul line markers, home plate mat, home plate if necessary, pitching
rubber, and the game ball, which must be a new, restricted-flight, DUDLEY SB12LRF .44 COR 375 compression
softball (white leather, red stitch, cork center.) For home teams that do not have their own
field, the team “owning” the field will supply the equipment, if necessary, but
not the game ball. It is the home
team’s responsibility to repair major damage to a field prior to game time, but
both teams shall share general field prep equally.
13.
The league will supply
game balls for playoff games and the entire tournament.
14.
Team members must be at
least 18 years of age and are employees and immediate family members, to
include spouse, siblings, children (of age), girlfriend/boyfriend, and close
friends (within reason). No one under
18 is allowed to play at any time.
15.
Players MUST read and
understand the league bylaws prior to the start of the season.
16.
Players are responsible
for acquiring their own insurance coverage.
17.
To be eligible to play
in the league tournament or post-season playoffs, a team cannot forfeit 4 games
in the regular season. A team that
forfeits 4 or more regular season games will finish in last place regardless of
its record and will not be entitled to a refund of any kind.
18.
Players from one team
may not play for another team, except in the case where a team is short players
and both captain’s agree.
19.
Metal spikes are
prohibited. If you wear metal spikes
during the game, you will be immediately ejected and cannot play for the
remainder of the game. Captains must
report offenses to the league immediately.
Subsequent offenses by a single player in a season will result in the
team’s forfeiture of affected games.
20.
Any bat listed on the
ASA Banned Bats list is not allowed.
All unmodified, solid wood bats are allowed. Bats that are not marked or cannot be verified to comply may only
be used at the discretion of the opposing coach.
21.
Bases must be fastened
securely with equipment in reasonable working condition.
22.
Pitchers must have one
foot touching the rubber when the pitch is released from the hand.
23.
FIGHTING IS PROHIBITED.
Any player involved in a fight will be ejected from the current game and
suspended for:
·
One game for the first
offense
·
Remainder of the season
and the tournament for the second offense
·
Permanently banned from
the league for the third offense
24.
No collisions are
allowed on the base paths. Fielders
may not make fake tags or otherwise trick the runner into thinking they have
the ball.
25.
Fielders must never
block bases, including home plate.
Fielders must straddle the bases, including home plate.
26.
If a fielder is
involved in a play, (e.g. actively fielding or receiving a batted or thrown
ball,) the fielder may straddle the base (or home plate) prior to
possessing the ball. This is contrary
to the ASA rule regarding obstruction (eff. 2004.)
27.
Fielders are not allowed to obstruct the
runner or block base paths unless they are actively fielding or receiving a
batted or thrown ball.
28.
Runners approaching
bases, including home plate, where the fielder is actively fielding a ball must
give up or slide as safely as possible, provided they are within reasonable
sliding distance of the base. Sliding which in any way endangers a
fielder will not be tolerated and will result in ejection from the game.
29.
First Basemen must not
place their feet on top of the base. First
Basemen must keep their feet on the inside edge of the bag. First Basemen cannot cross the first base
line unless the ball has crossed the line, or is obviously destined for over
the line.
30.
A “double first base”
is required. The orange portion of the
base occupying foul territory can only be used as a base by the batter-runner
on their first approach to the base. At
no other time is the extra base a valid base.
31.
All games will start at
6:30 PM. There is NO grace period. Both
teams must share time available for batting and fielding practice prior to the
game.
32.
Game postponements must
be made prior to 3:00 p.m. on game day by the captains involved. If the weather or field conditions are
questionable, both teams must assume the game can be played as scheduled,
report to the field, and make a decision at game time.
33.
Games can only be
postponed if the field is unplayable or unusable due to weather or other
uncontrollable circumstances, including the presence of lightning. Games postponed for other reasons will
result in a forfeit loss to one or both teams depending on the
circumstances and will not be rescheduled.
Games cannot be postponed because of temperature alone (too hot, too
cold).
34.
The league will
schedule all makeup games. The home
team captain must report cancellations and postponements. The winning team captain reports game
scores.
35.
Games which cannot be
finished due to weather, darkness, or other circumstances will be called
complete or replayed as per the ASA rules, but with two exceptions:
continuations of incomplete games begin immediately following the last complete
inning, and the roster can be different than the original game.
36.
Field setup is as
follows: front edge of pitching rubber
is 50 feet from the back point of home plate; the back edges of first and third
bases are 60 feet from the back point of home plate.
37.
EACH TEAM MUST FIELD TEN (10) PLAYERS, WITH AT LEAST
THREE (3) WOMEN. A minimum of eight (8) players, including
two (2) women, is required to start a game.
If a team is short players, there are three options:
·
Play short, if
possible, until additional players arrive
·
Accept players from the
opposing team, at the opposing captain’s discretion
·
Forfeit the game
38.
Any team consistently
not playing three (3) women may be subject to suspension or ejection from the
league. If a team forfeits, captains
can choose to scrimmage.
39.
Players arriving after
a game starts cannot begin to play until the next top of an inning.
40.
Teams starting a game
with 8 or 9 players can only play 8 or 9 fielders respectively and must provide
their own catcher.
41.
A 15-run mercy rule
after 5 innings (4½ if home team winning) applies to all regular season games
and all regular tournament games. The
mercy rule does not apply during season playoffs or tournament playoffs.
42.
Umpires are responsible
for making ALL calls. First base coach calls plays at first base
and second base. Third base coach calls
plays at third base and second. A
person supplied by the batting team will umpire and call balls, strikes, fouls
and home plate from behind the batter.
Captains can and should overrule obviously errant calls made by their
own umpires.
43.
A ball and strike will
be determined by using a regulation size mat, which will be placed behind home
plate. If the ball hits the mat or home plate it is a strike; if the ball does
not hit the mat or home plate, it is a ball.
A ball that hits the black angled edge of the home plate is a
strike. The mat must be regulation
size, but can be made of variety of materials.
A close call will go to the batter, but will be determined by the
umpire.
44.
There will be no arguing any calls; we must remember this is a fun league and that a
close call must go the to batter or runner.
45.
Only regular season games and regular tournament games are self-umpired. The league will supply outside umpires for
playoff games and for the tournament semi-finals and finals. 1 umpire will be provided for semi-final
rounds, and 2 umpires for finals.
46.
Required slow pitch
will have a minimum arc of six (6) feet and a maximum arc of twelve (12) feet
(height above ground at home plate). If
a pitch does not meet the above height restrictions, the umpire will state “ILLEGAL” and call a BALL. If the batter swings anyway, it’s a live
ball, whether it is a strike, foul or fair.
47.
Each inning is limited
to two (2) walks per pitcher. After the
second walk, the umpire will call only strikes, unless the pitcher is
replaced. If the pitcher is replaced,
the new pitcher will then again be allowed to have two (2) walks that
inning. In addition, the new pitcher
will receive 5 warm-ups.
48.
If a pitcher chooses to
intentionally walk a batter, the pitcher can inform the batter to proceed to
the base. The pitcher is not required
to pitch to the batter.
49.
No leaving the base
before the ball is hit. Each team will receive one warning for leaving the
base, on the second offense the runner will be called “Out”. Any umpire on the field can make this
call. This offense can only occur from
the time the pitcher is ready to begin the delivery of the pitch, until either
the ball touches the bat or the ball hits the ground.
50.
Same-gender pinch
running is allowed for any reason. For
female runners, any female on the team can pinch run. For male runners, the pinch runner will be the last male to have
made an out, or in the event that person cannot run, then it will be the male
farthest away in the batting lineup.
51.
Batting line-ups must
contain at least 10 players. To
encourage participation, there is no maximum number for line-ups.
52.
Free same gender
substitution is allowed.
53.
No more than 7 men can
bat in a row.
54.
There are no foul-outs.
55.
Women are allowed to
bunt. Bunting foul with 2 strikes is a
strike out. Once a batter shows a bunt
during a pitch, the batter must either bunt that pitch or take that pitch; the
batter cannot fake a bunt and then swing away during the same pitch.
56.
If a bunted ball,
untouched by a fielder, hits the batter outside of the batter’s box and in fair
territory, she’s out. If a bunted ball,
untouched by a fielder, hits the batter outside of the batter’s box and in foul
territory, a foul is called and, if applicable, is counted as a third strike.
57.
A player who bats does
not have to play the field.
58.
Any player who plays at
least one pitch in the field must bat at least once, unless extenuating
circumstances prevail.
59.
Teams starting a game
with 8 or 9 players can only have 8 or 9 batters respectively in the line-up.
60.
Teams starting a game
with only 2 women will add an additional batting position for the third woman. Until the third woman arrives, a team has
three options:
·
One women bats twice in
the line-up
·
Two women alternate in
the third spot
·
The batting team can
take an automatic out in the third spot
61.
Teams starting a game
with 8 or 9 players can add players arriving late to the bottom of the batting
line-up (except in the case where a third woman arrives late and fills the
additional position already created in the batting line-up,) provided all other
bylaws and rules are followed.
62.
Teams starting a game
with 10 or more players can add players arriving late to the bottom of the
batting line-up, provided all other bylaws and rules are followed.
63.
If a team loses a
player and cannot fill the batting position, the team may shrink (contract) the
batting lineup up to the point at which a game would be forfeited.
64.
These tiebreakers apply
to the playoffs, not the annual tournament.
65.
When comparing records
among tied teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is used. Tie games count as one-half win and one-half
loss.
66.
If regular season games
that would be counted in a tiebreaker have not been played, then the tiebreaker
is applied only if the results of such games would not change the outcome of
the tiebreaker; however, if the results of such games could change the outcome
of a tiebreaker, then skip the tiebreaker step and proceed to the next step.
67.
The term “stronger
division” is defined as the division with the best record (by percentage) of
all its teams combined.
68.
Tiebreaker 1. DIVISION
WINNER TIEBREAKER FOR 2 TEAMS
1a: the team with the best head-to-head record wins.
1b: the team with the best record within their own division wins.
1c: playoff game on neutral field, neutral umpires optional.
69.
Tiebreaker 2. DIVISION
WINNER TIEBREAKER FOR 3+ TEAMS
2a: the team with the best combined head-to-head record wins. if 2 teams have the same best combined
head-to-head record, they advance to 1a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best combined
head-to-head record, eliminate all others and repeat 2a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate
teams, advance to 2b.
2b: the team with the best record within their own division wins. if 2 teams have the same best divisional
record, they advance to 1a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best divisional
record, eliminate all others and repeat 2a.
if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 2c.
2c: chance--draw straws for one winner.
70.
Tiebreaker 3. WILD CARD
TIEBREAKER FOR 2 TEAMS TIED FOR 1 POSITION
3a: the team with the best head-to-head record wins.
3b. if the teams are from the same division, the team with the best record
within their own division wins.
3c. the team with the best record against the stronger division* wins, skip if
divisions are equal.
3d: playoff game on neutral field, neutral umpires optional.
71.
Tiebreaker 4. WILD CARD
TIEBREAKER FOR 3+ TEAMS TIED FOR 1 POSITION
4a: the team with the best combined head-to-head record wins. if 2 teams have the same best combined
head-to-head record, they advance to 3a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best combined
head-to-head record, eliminate all others and repeat 4a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate
teams, advance to 4b.
4b: if all the teams are from the same division, the team with the best record
within their own division wins.
4c. the team with the best record against the stronger division* wins, skip if
divisions are equal. if 2 teams have
the same best divisional record, they advance to 3a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best divisional
record, eliminate all others and repeat 4a.
if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 4d.
4d: chance--draw straws for one position.
72.
Tiebreaker 5. WILD CARD
TIEBREAKER FOR 3+ TEAMS TIED FOR 2 POSITIONS
5a: the team with the best combined head-to-head record wins one position,
others repeat 3a or 4a depending on number of teams remaining. if 2 teams have the same best combined
head-to-head record, they both win, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best combined
head-to-head record, eliminate all others and repeat 5a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate
teams, advance to 5b.
5b: if all the teams are from the same division, the team with the best record
within their own division wins.
5c. the team with the best record against the stronger division wins one
position, others repeat 3a or 4a depending on number of teams remaining. if 2 teams have the same best divisional
record, they both win, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best divisional record, eliminate all
others and return to 5a. if you have 3+
and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 5d.
5d: chance--draw straws for two positions.
73.
The playoffs are a
seeded, single-elimination event. Seeding
rules only apply to the playoffs, not the annual tournament. Playoff seeding is applied only after the
playoff teams are conclusively determined.
74.
When comparing records
among teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is used. Tie games count as one-half win and one-half
loss.
75.
If teams play an equal
number of games against division and non-division opponents (round-robin), then
wild cards may be selected from within the same division. Wild cards may also be seeded higher than a
division winner. Seeding is determined
as follows:
(a) rank teams by overall season record (W-L percentage)
if teams are tied, then
(b) rank tied teams by combined head to head record
if teams remain tied, then
(c) by tossing a coin or drawing straws among tied teams
76.
If teams play more
games against each division opponent than each non-division opponent
(split-division), then wild cards will be selected from each division and will
always be seeded lower than division winners, regardless of record. Seeding is determined as follows:
(a) rank division winners by overall season record (W-L percentage)
if division winners are tied, then
(b) rank tied teams by combined head to head record
if teams remain tied, then
(c) by tossing a coin or drawing straws among tied teams
(d) repeat this process for wild card teams
77.
The semi-final playoff
games will be setup as follows:
The first (highest) seed plays the fourth seed.
The second seed plays the third seed.
Highest seeds are home teams.
78.
The league championship
game will be setup as follows:
The higher seed team is the home team.
79.
The format and rules
for the League’s Annual Tournament are published on the League’s website, www.lvcoedsoftball.com, as soon as
the logistics are confirmed. Approval
of these bylaws indicates general, advance acceptance of the tournament format
and rules as discussed during the captain’s meeting. In the event of conflicts between other versions of the
tournament rules, the version on the league website shall be the sole
authority.
