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SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2008 RULES
KCPSL Code
of Conduct General Policy
Any initiation and/or
acts of physical violence or abuse (i.e. pushing, shoving, physically
blocking the departure of an individual from any area, hitting, etc.) will
result in automatic suspension of the privilege of attending any KCPSL
function for a period of 6 months. This includes regular and tournament
games, practices, award ceremonies or any other functions. Any spectator, coach, manager, or player who continually verbally abuses players, coaches, managers, or other fans will be removed from the game area. The umpire is responsible for the control of the environment at the game site and has full discretion to make these judgements. Players
If a player is ejected
from a game by the umpiring staff, then that player is automatically ejected
from the next regular season KCPSL league game. The commissioner of that
division or his/her designee will notify the player’s coach of the
suspension. Managers/Coaches
Managers/coaches removed
by an umpire from a game are automatically ineligible for the next regular
season KCPSL game. Managers/coaches removed a second time during the regular
KCPSL season are suspended for the next three- (3) regular season games. A
third removal results in suspension for the remainder of the season or a
minimum of 10 games bridging into the following season. Spectators
Spectators removed by an umpire from a
game are automatically ineligible for the next regular season KCPSL game.
Spectators removed a second time during the regular KCPSL season are
suspended for the next three- (3) regular season KCPSL games. A third removal
results in suspension for the remainder of the season or a minimum of 10
games bridging into the following season.
The Manager/coach will be notified of the suspension and will be responsible for the insuring compliance with any suspensions, and will incur a ONE (1) game forfeiture for each instance of non-compliance. ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AGAINST ABUSE The Kansas City Parochial Softball League is committed to providing a safe environment for its member and participants, and to preventing abusive conduct in any form. To this end, the following guidelines of behavior and procedures for our staff, volunteers and participants are established. All members of this organization as well as coaches, players, umpires, parents, spectators and other invitees are expected to observe and adhere to these guidelines.
GENERAL INFORMATION Please have your team warm up in the designated warm up areas
only, NO WARMING UP IN THE WALKWAYS! This includes pitchers that are warming up
during the game. Managers please pick-up ALL trash before leaving your dugout.Your Commissioner will not call you. No Alcoholic
Beverages No Tobacco
Products in Dugouts or Playing Fields No Warm-Ups
in the Walkways This is an instructional league and girls should be
encouraged to hit the ball. Coaches
are not to instruct their girls to “take a pitch” as a general rule. No one learns softball by standing and not
swinging, just to get a walk and get on base. KCPSL LIGHTNING POLICY The KCPSL Field Marshall or a KCPSL Board Member, at the request of
the manager or coach of a team in competition or in anticipation of such
request, has the authority at the initial sound of thunder to immediately
suspend/stop all play and direct the evacuation of all fields. It does not matter where the storm is, what
the sky looks like above or in any direction from the KCPSL location. All
umpires, players, coaches and spectators will be instructed to seek shelter
in a building or vehicle. A field dugout does not constitute a building. These shall be considered the Official KCPSL Rules and Regulations. These rules will be published and distributed annually to all managers and coaches. The President will appoint a special Rules Committee to make any recommendations for improvement annually. Changes or additions to all rules require a majority vote of the Board of Directors. There has never been a set of rules nor laws that are completely without so-called “loopholes”. When it is apparent that an individual or team is basing a protest or defense on merely a minor technical point or loophole, which is contrary to tradition, accepted practice, fair play or good sportsmanship, the spirit of the law will be considered as well as the letter of the law. A reminder that you as a manager have the responsibility to KCPSL, your team, and your sponsor to maintain a spirit of good sportsmanship. Please do so at all times. KCPSL is organized to help provide enjoyable recreation for all concerned. Managers, coaches, players, umpires and spectators play an important part in the results obtained. The official rules of the Amateur Softball Association supplemented by the following rules shall govern play and conduct of players and team officials in all league games. These rules have as their basis the development and teaching of good sportsmanship and fair play. I. REGULATIONS AND PLAYING RULES A. SPORTSMANSHIP Rowdyism, profanity and gestures of poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. The deliberate and malicious razzing of any member of an opposing team or any Umpire will not be allowed. The result is ejection of the manager from the field and a ONE GAME suspension. Any further violations will result in forfeiture of that game. If a manager is ejected from a second game during a single season, he/she shall be suspended the next three games and a third ejection will result in suspension for the remainder of the season or a minimum of 10 Games stretching into the Following season. Upon written appeal, stating Reasons for reinstatement a suspended manager shall be heard by the Review Board. Any acts of demoralizing of any team player by the manager, coach, players or fans will not be allowed. This will result in ejection of the manager or coach from the playing field, a ONE game suspension. Any further incidents would result in forfeiture of the game. B. SPECTATOR No sponsor or spectator will be allowed to enter the playing field unless beckoned by the umpire to come on to the field. Result will be forfeiture of the game. C. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL There will be no use of tobacco products, drugs or alcoholic beverages on or near the playing field by managers, coaches, players or umpires or anyone concerned with the teams during game or pre-game activities. One warning will be issued; the person in question will be ejected from the field. D. DEFINITION ASA - shall refer to Amateur Softball Association. KCPSL - shall refer to Kansas City Parochial Softball League BOARD - shall refer to the Board of Directors of KCPSL. II. UMPIRES Umpires shall be in charge of all games and must enforce all rules. No umpire baiting by any team members are allowed. All disputes must be handled between the manager and the umpire in a quick, gentlemanly and orderly manner. Managers will see that no player on their team enters into disputes with the umpire. III. DIVISIONS AND TEAMS A. DIVISIONS Coach Pitch – girls entering grades 3 or 4 in the next fall's school year. Middle – girls entering grades 5 or 6 in the next fall's school year. Junior – girls entering grades 7, 8 or 9 in the next fall's school year. NOTE: A player may play in a higher division than presently eligible. B. TEAMS - Each team will carry a minimum of nine players. IV.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER
ELIGIBILITY
A. Age eligibility is defined in Section III. B. Girls will play on the team for their parochial school. If a girl from a parochial school wishes to play but her school does not have enough players to field a team as defined in Section III, those girls may combine with another school. C. The use of an ineligible player at anytime will result in automatic forfeiture of all games in which said ineligible player participated, regardless of when the discovery of such ineligible player may occur. Upon written notification, the Board shall render a timely decision. D. It shall be the duty of each team manager to investigate the eligibility of their own players who are listed on the official team rosters. E. Up to three guest players may play with a same or older division team from their school if said team is short players due to vacation or injury for a maximum of 10 players. V. TEAM ROSTERS A. Each player, manager/coach must sign a team roster and emergency release waiver with his/her own signature. The waiver must also be signed by the player’s parent/guardian, if a player is under legal age. The original waiver must be with the manager at the playing field and at all practices. B. No player is eligible to compete in any games unless and until their roster and emergency release waiver has been filed with the league Secretary. Completed team roster must be turned in to the Secretary no later than May 3rd of any year. C. Any player who falsifies information or signatures on their roster or waiver will be ineligible to participate in the program for the current year. VI. MANAGERS, COACHES, SPONSORS A. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to approve or disapprove all entries as managers, coaches, sponsors and their teams in participation in the Kansas City Parochial Softball League. B. Managers and coaches are responsible for their players being informed of regulations and playing rules. VII. EQUIPMENT A. Equipment (bases, home plate, pitching rubber) for League games will be provided by KCPSL. B. Catchers must provide and wear protective gear per ASA rules. Other protective equipment may or may not be worn. C. ASA
approved batting helmets must be worn by the batter, base runners, on deck
batter, bat person and any players
acting as base coaches in the coach’s box (es). D. All players must wear gloves, except the first baseman and catcher who may use a mitt instead of a glove. E. Any player may use their personal bat as long as it conforms to the following regulations: Official Softball bat not longer than 34” or more the 2 1/4” in diameter at its largest parts. F. Each player shall provide their own glove or mitt. VIII. UNIFORMS A. Metal spiked shoes are prohibited at all times. B. All players must display a large number on the back of their jersey. IX. POSTPONEMENTS A. No league game shall be played without an official umpire unless agreed upon by the opposing managers. Any substitute umpire thus selected shall have the same standing authority as an official umpire, until such time as the official umpire arrives. The start of the game shall indicate agreement of the opposing managers. At the time the official umpire arrives, upon agreement of the managers, the substitute may be relieved. B. No league game for which two umpires are assigned shall be postponed because only one umpire is present. C. The absence or tardiness of any umpire must be reported immediately after the game to Field Marshall D. Two umpires shall be assigned to each game. E. The condition of the playing field shall be determined by the Home Plate Umpire. F. No game shall be postponed for any reason other than the unfit condition of the playing field or weather (see lightning policy) as determined by the umpire or Field Marshall. X. FORFEITURE OF GAME A. The umpire shall forfeit the game if a team is not ready to take the field five minutes after the scheduled start of game time. The umpire may, after approval of both managers, start the game sooner than the scheduled time. B. The ejection rule is to be strictly enforced by the umpire. Refusal of any unauthorized person to leave the above-mentioned area within one minute after being notified will result in the forfeiture of the game. C.
League
Games may be started with a minimum of 8 players. For every player under 9,
there will be an automatic out when the missing player is due up to bat. IE:
The missing 9th batter would be an automatic out. D.
The
remaining players must be put in the game as soon as they appear at the
field. If extra players show up after
reaching the top of the batting order for the second time, you can only bat
the initial number of batters. EXAMPLE: If you started with 14 players and player
15 shows up after batter number 1 has come to bat for the second time, then
only 14 players can continue to bat.
Player 15 would have to be substituted for one of the other 14 players
in the batting order. E.
After
the game has started and players have to leave due to injury, etc. there will
not be an automatic out taken unless there are less than 10 players left to
play the game. EXAMPLE: 9 players start the game, the 9th
& 8th player leaves, now there are 7 players left. There will
be an automatic out taken for the absent 8th and 9th
players. XI. PROTESTS A. Decisions on protest, eligibility and violations or interpretations of the rules shall be decided by the Field Marshall or by a Board member. B. Protests regarding playing rules, interpretations and/or violations will be considered if they conform to the following. 1.
Notification
to the Home Plate Umpire before the next pitch, legal or illegal, along with
$20 Cash (non refundable unless the protest is upheld) and entered into the
Official game scorebook. 2. Protest filed in writing, giving full explanation and details within 48 hours following the scheduled game time of protested game, with the Review Board or in their absence the League Commissioner. 3. Protests on judgment calls will not be considered. XII. PENALTIES A. All rule violations are subject to review by the Board. Violations that are confirmed will be grounds for forfeiture of games, suspension of manager/coach/player, or suspension of subject team from game play. Three individual manager/coach/player violations will be grounds for temporary or permanent suspension from KCPSL. B. The Board upon deciding to suspend a manager/coach may elect to do one of the following depending on the severity of the violation: 1. Suspend from a specified number of games as a manager/coach. 2. Place on probation with the Board reviewing before the next schedule game night. Three violations will constitute suspension from KCPSL. C. Players suspended by the Board will be subject to: 1. Suspension from specified number of games as a player.
2. Release from team roster. D. Team suspended by the Board will be subject to: 1. Forfeiture of specified number of games. 2. Ineligible to play in KCPSL tournaments.
XIII. PLAYER CALL UP A. The Player called up may be used when teams are unable to field 10 players due to illness, injury, vacation or other circumstances. B. Called up players and regular team players may not exceed ten (10) players. All players called up are subject to the following: 1. Must not have a regularly scheduled game of their own at the same time. 2. Must wear their regular assigned KCPSL team uniform while playing. 3. Cannot pitch. 4. Must be reported to the opposing team’s manager before the start of the game. 5. Managers who call up a player must insert that player into the line up as if they were a regular player. 6. Called up players must be in the same division or younger. XIV. PLAYING RULES A. PLAYING FIELD DIMENSIONS: League Base Line Pitching Home to 2nd Length Distance Coach Pitch 55’ 35’ 77’ 9 3/8" Middle 60’ 35’ 84’ 10 1/4” Junior 60’ 37’ 84’ 10 1/4” All measurements are from the back of home plate to the center of the bag. B. BATTER’S BOX DIMENSIONS: 1. The total length is 7 feet long. See the diagram below. 2. A batter is considered in the batter’s box as long as any part of both feet is inside the batter’s box. If the batter steps on home plate while making contact with the ball the batter is out (except on a foul ball).
C. FOUL BALL. A foul ball is any ball that is first touched while the ball is on or over foul territory. It does not matter if the player touching the ball is in fair or foul territory. The ball is called fair or foul, depending only on the position of the ball when first touched if the ball has not passed first of third base. If the ball is not touched, but first lands in foul territory after crossing 1st or 3rd base, it is a foul ball. D. INNINGS PLAYED PER GAME 1. Games shall be 1 hour and 15 minutes in length. (Unless otherwise stated). The board shall set game start times. The scheduled time is game time. In the event a game is delayed for unusual circumstances, the starting time is then game time. If the scheduled time is disrupted, the succeeding games shall start IMMEDIATELY upon completion of the previous game. Managers and coaches are responsible for having their teams ready for play and warmed up when games are running behind schedule. 2. No new inning shall be started after 1 hour and 10 minutes of play. 3. A game called by the umpire for rain,
threatening weather, light failure or circumstance beyond control of KCPSL
shall be a regulation game if; 45 minutes has expired, or 3 complete innings
of play (2.5 if the home team is ahead
in score.) A game halted will be
restarted at the time of suspension. Official
score keeper will note time played, player positions & outs.) 4. Six innings constitutes a regulation game, if time has not expired. E. There will be no batting practice between games. F. There will be no foreign objects of any kind allowed on the playing field. G. The area around the player’s bench shall be kept free of debris at all times. H. The area of the playing field and bench is restricted to the following people: registered team players, team manager, up to three coaches, and scorekeeper. I. All Managers, Coaches & players, except fielders, shall remain within the dugout area while the game is in progress. Players are not to stand on benches. J. Free substitution of all players (including pitchers) for all age groups. K. In case of player injury, the first manager, coach or umpire to recognize such injury shall call time immediately after the play has been completed. L. When a batter is injured, the person who made the last out will run for that player. M. The home team shall provide the official scorekeeper. N. Any player throwing a bat will be given one warning. Additional offenses by the same player will result in that player being called out. O. An extended strike zone will be used. This is defined as 2” either side of the plate and from shoulders to knees while in a batting position. P. Ten players on the field, 9 regular and 1 rover. Maximum of 6 players in the infield at any time. After the pitch is released, the rover may occupy any position on the field. Q. Roster batting will be employed. R. Each girl should play at least one inning in the field. S. A base runner must re-trace her steps if she fails to touch every base while rounding the base path. Once the base runner enters the dugout she is not allowed to come back onto the playing field to tag up. T. For pitchers, both feet must be in contact with the pitching rubber at the start of the pitchers motion. U. There will be a courtesy runner allowed when there are two outs and the batting team’s catcher is on base. This rule is in place to keep the game schedule running on time. V. There will be NO infield fly rule in any division. W. Each inning will consist of six (6) runs or three (3) outs – whichever comes first. X. A game shall be stopped and deemed an official game if there is a 15 run differential after 3 innings, OR if there is a 7 run differential after 5 innings. Y. If at the end of regulation time the game is tied it will be recorded as a tie (except during tournament play). COACH PITCH DIVISION Special Rules 1. Each
batter will receive 6 pitches to hit the ball. No strike count will be made and a foul
ball on pitch 6 will not end the bat.
The batter may continue as long as the ball is hit foul 2. The
coach pitching can pitch from anywhere within the pitching circle as long as
both feet stay within the circle. The
pitching circle will be eight foot in diameter using the rubber as the
center. 3. Runners
may not leave the base until the ball is hit. 4. No
stealing will be permitted. 5. A
game may start with a minimum of 6 players. Others added must be at the
bottom of the lineup. 6. Each
team will be allowed one coach in the field while on defense. 7. Batters
and base runners may advance as many bases as possible per hit until the ball
has been secured and a throw attempt is made. At that point, runners may
advance no further than the base they are approaching. 8. Official game ball size will be 11 inch circumference. Each team will provide a game ball. Such ball must be a white stitch or other approved fast pitch softball. MIDDLE
DIVISION Special Rules 1. Official game ball size will be 11-inch circumference. Each team will provide a game ball. Such ball must be a white stitch or other approved fast pitch softball. 2. Overthrow rules: The batter/runner may advance one base on an overthrow. Only one overthrow per play. The fielder must be making a play on the batter/runner for the play to be considered an overthrow. 3. Stealing is allowed, except for home. A runner may only advance one (1) base per pitch on a steal even if there is an overthrow by the catcher on the steal attempt. A runner can never advance to home on a steal. Stealing rules override the one base on an overthrow rule. 4. Base runners may not leave the base until the ball crosses home plate. 5. Dropped third strike rule does not apply (i.e., a batter cannot advance to 1st base on a dropped third strike. If there are runners on 1st or 2nd base, they may steal at their own risk). 6. The pitchers circle will be 16’ in diameter. 7. No
walks will be allowed. If the batter’s
count reaches 4 Balls (normally a walk), the batter will then get 3
additional pitches to be thrown by an offensive coach to put the ball in
play. If the batter fails to put the ball in play after the 3rd pitch from
the coach pitcher, she will be declared out. Once the batter has put the ball
in play or been declared out, the player pitcher will resume pitching. JUNIOR
DIVISION Special
Rules 1. Official game ball size will be 12-inch circumference. Each team will provide a game ball. Such ball must be a white stitch or other approved fast pitch softball. 2. On a dropped third strike the batter can run to first base only when first base is open. 3. The base runner is allowed to lead off after the pitch crosses the plate. 4. Steals are allowed. If a play is made on a base being stolen and a throwing/fielding error occurs and the ball remains in play, any runner can advance at their discretion because the ball is considered “live”. If a play is made on a base being stolen and a throwing/fielding error occurs and the ball does NOT remain in play (goes into the dugout or outside of the fence line) the ball is considered out of play and only the next base can be taken. 5. Home can be stolen. 6. The pitchers circle will be 16’ in diameter. |