2007 FALL CHURCH LEAGUE SOFTBALL RULES

DECATUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT’S SOFTBALL LEAGUES WILL BE GOVERNED BY CURRENT ASA GUIDELINES WITH LOCAL LEAGUE EXCEPTIONS

I.Entrance Fee

Entrance fee for the season shall be $325.00 if paid by 5pm Monday, August 1, 2007, and shall be $375.00 if paid after August 1, 2007. NO TEAMS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE 2007 SEASON IF THEIR ENTRY FEE HAS NOT BEEN PAID BY AUGUST 8, 2007. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. Due to a limited number of fields and playing times, it may become necessary to limit number of teams per divisions, so it will be important to enter a team as soon as possible. Entry fee includes a 9 game season, double elimination tournament and trophies. Checks for fees should be made payable to Decatur Parks and Recreation. No two-party checks will be accepted.

Checks and team information may be mailed to:

Decatur Parks and Recreation
PO Box 1315
Decatur, AL 35602
Attention Softball

For more information or questions please contact Kelly Varnell and David Wisdom, League Coordinators and Complex Managers, at the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex (256) 351-7954.

II. Eligibility

A. Player must be entered on roster form provided by Decatur Parks and Recreation. Form must be completed and turned in with entry fees by August 8, 2007. Teams that have not turned in a signed roster in by the deadline will be placed in the highest division. Any rosters turned in after the deadline will be charged at a rate of $1 /player as will all other player additions. Any games played after this date by teams who have not turned in signed rosters shall be considered forfeits. There is no maximum number of players a team can have on its roster.

B. All players must be 15 years of age as of January 1, 2007 for the 2007 season. All players under the age of 16 must turn in a copy of proof of age (birth certificate) with roster. This rule will be revised each year increasing the age by one year until 16 years of age is reached

C. Before a new player is eligible to play, a $1.00 addition fee per player must be included with a roster addition form filled out, signed and presented to the League Director before the start of the game. New players must be added before the last regularly scheduled league game.

D. Once a player has played in a league game on one independent team, that player becomes ineligible to play on any other team in the independent league during that season. Any games played with ineligible players are subject to be forfeited.

III. Forfeit

A. Teams must be able to field a team of at least (9) players (when the 10th player arrives, he/she will be added to the bottom of the line-up and be allowed to play) all wearing the appropriate matching shirts with permanent numbers (not to be duplicated) when their scheduled field becomes available. Teams will be allowed 15 minutes after their 6:30pm scheduled time to field the adequate number of players. (These 15 minutes will be deducted from the allotted 1 hour time limit.) On all other game times (7:30pm & 8:30pm) teams will not be given this 15 minute grace period. Failure of a team to be ready to play within five minutes after their scheduled time or when their scheduled field becomes available will constitute a forfeit. Failure of both teams to be ready to play will result in a double forfeit. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

B. Time limit of 1 hour will be set for all league games. The inning in progress at the end of the limit will be completed. Tied games will continue on full inning basis until tie is broken.

C. MEN INDEPENDENT ONLY If a team forfeits on three separate nights during the season, that team will not be permitted to complete the season or participate in the league tournament.

D. Line-up must be turned in to the scorekeeper a minimum of 10 minutes before scheduled game time.

IV. Protest (Refer to RULE 9 in the ASA Rule Book)

A. All protests must be declared to the home plate umpire. Protests on a misinterpretation of a playing rule must be made immediately following the disputed play, before the next pitch. Protesting team must pay a Ten Dollar ($10.00) protest fee to the complex manager. The umpires and complex manager will constitute the protest committee and will rule on the protest. If you wish to appeal the decision, notify the complex manager and home plate umpire that the game will be continued under protest. League Director will review the appeal and make the final decision.

B. Protest on player eligibility

1. PRIOR TO THE GAME: If a player is protested, he/she must provide a picture ID or he/she will not be permitted to enter the game. If he/she has proof of ID, he/she may participate. The protesting team may require the game to be played under protest if they think the player does not work for the company or attend the church for which he/she is playing. The League Director will contact the church or company for verification and then rule on the protest.

2. DURING THE GAME: If a player is protested, he/she must be able to show a picture ID or the game will automatically be forfeited. If a player has ID, the game will continue under protest as above.

3. THERE WILL BE NO PROTESTS ONCE THE GAME HAS ENDED.

C. If a protest is upheld, the protest fee will be refunded.

D.Any team protested legally and is found to have an ineligible player will be warned. If such offense occurs again the team will be removed from the league and not be allowed to participate in the league tournament. No refunds will be given to the team

E. Any player protested legally and is found to be ineligible for that team will be removed from the league and not allowed to return to his/her legal team. If said player was never on a team legally he/she now becomes ineligible for all teams in that league.

F. All games played with ineligible player(s) that have been removed by the League Coordinator are subject to be forfeited without protest.

V. EJECTED PLAYERS

A. Ejection from a game by an umpire for disciplinary reasons may be for the remainder of the game, the next game, the next two (2) games or for the remainder of the season. The degree of severity of the penalty will be determined by the official(s) involved, the Officials’ Board and the League Director.

B. Any player or coach/manager ABUSING an official, scorekeeper or staff verbally or physically will be removed from the game and the league for at least the remainder of the season. If it is determined that this act was team oriented, the above applies for the entire team.

C. Any player that is repeatedly ejected for disciplinary reasons will be suspended

from play with all teams he/she participates with for the remainder of the season.

D. Profanity will not be tolerated. Players will be ejected. For the purpose of our league "profanity" will be defined as any word that would not be used in a Sunday School Class.

VI. Home Run Rule

A limit of over-the-fence home runs will be used in all men’s and coed slow pitch leagues. The following limitations are per team per game:

A. Men’s Church Division I Six (6)

Men’s Church Division II Three (3)

Men’s Church All Other Divisions One (1)

B. Men’s Industrial Division I Six (6)

Men’s Industrial Division II Three (3)

Men’s Industrial All Other Divisions One (1)

C. Men’s Independent Division I Six (6)

Men’s Independent Division II Three (3)

Men’s Independent All Other Divisions One (1)

D. Coed All Divisions Three (3)

Effect: For any in excess, the ball is dead, the batter is out, and no runners can advance.

VII. Miscellaneous

A. All rainouts will be called off by the Parks and Recreation Department based on the condition of the fields.

B. All rainouts will be made up following the conclusion of the regular season schedule.

C. The following "Run Rule" will be in effect: A game will be considered complete if a team is behind 10 runs after 5 innings, 15 runs after 4 innings or 20 runs after 3 innings.

D. Steel spikes will not be allowed. If player is found wearing steel spikes during play, this player will be removed from the game and, if on base, a "dead ball out" will be called; any players on base at the time the removed player came to bat must return to the base occupied at that time if there are less than 3 outs.

E. In case of a tie for first place, season records between the teams will determine which team is first. If there is a tie in head-to-head, fewest runs allowed for all games played (9) by the teams involved will determine ranking. If a tie still exists, co-champions will be declared. Same procedure will be followed for second place tie.

F. No head gear may be worn except for: caps, visors and/or sweat bands. (NO HANDKERCHIEFS)

G. If your team finished in first place, your team will automatically move into a higher division the following year. Last place teams will drop a division unless they choose to stay in that division. Any team may be moved up or down to try to make divisions more equal.

H. All players on a team shall properly wear uniforms that are alike in color. An Arabic whole number (0-99) of contrasting color, at least 6 inches high must be worn and visible on the back of all uniform shirts. No players on the same team may wear identical numbers. All numbers must be permanent - no tape. etc. will be allowed. Church teams will not be allowed to use equipment or uniforms advertising alcoholic beverages.

I. Home team will be assigned on the schedule.

J. Home team will be responsible for providing one new softball and several good used softballs per game. All softballs must be ASA approved and stamped as such. Stamp must be visible on all used softballs. Men will hit the .44 COR, 12-inch ball and women will hit the .44 COR, 11-inch ball.

K. Championship and Runner-up TEAM trophies will be awarded in each division.

L. ON ALL HOME RUNS HIT:

1. BATTER WILL TOUCH FIRST BASE AND RETURN TO THE DUG OUT.

2. ALL BASERUNNERS WILL JUST RETURN TO DUG OUT.

M. Managers must be listed on roster as a player if they plan to participate as a player.

N. LINE-UPS

1. MUST HAVE FIRST NAME AND LAST INITIAL AS LISTED ON THE ROSTER WITH NUMBER!

2. MANAGER’S NAME MUST BE LISTED.

3. ALL SUBS AVAILABLE SHOULD BE LISTED WITH NUMBER

P. No provisions will be made for players playing on more than one team.

Q. ALL BATTERS WILL START WITH A 1 BALL AND 1 STRIKE COUNT. ALL FOUL BALLS WILL BE
STRIKES.

LEAGUE TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

1. The run rules will be in effect for all games, including the finals and IF games: 20 after 3 innings, 15 after 4 innings, and 10 after 5 innings

2. There will be an hour time limit on all games except the finals and IF games.

3. Trophies will be award to Tournament Champion and Tournament runner-up.

Any person or persons that destroy or damage city property will be prosecuted. This will include a minimum 1 year suspension from the complex.