TORRINGTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

MEN'S AND WOMEN’S SOFTBALL RULES - 2008

 

1. The Leagues are governed by the Official ASA Slow Pitch Softball Rule Book and all rules within the rule

Book is superseded by any rule outlined within this text.

 

2. A team may start the game with 9 players. The line-up will include ten players and the vacant position will not be counted as an out when it is due up in the batting order. If that position in the line-up comes up and the tenth player has not shown up, the spot will be skipped.  When the tenth player shows up he/she must be inserted into the line-up immediately.

 

3. A team may finish a game with as few players as possible. If the line-up goes below 9 players each vacant

Spot in the line-up will be an out. If the line-up goes from 10 to 9 players because of an injury, the spot in the line-up will be skipped.

 

4. ELIGIBILITY RULE - All players to play in the league must have full time employment in Torrington or

Reside in the City of Torrington or live in the Town of Harwinton.  They may also own real Estate property in

Assessed value of $l, 000.00 (vehicles or motor vehicles registered in Torrington are not considered eligible.

Up to 3 players that live in Litchfield County may play on a team. An extra Fee of $25 per player must be paid

To the Parks and Recreation Office in order for the out of town players to be added to a roster and play in the

League. 

 

The Torrington Parks and Recreation Office will enforce all eligibility rules in 2008. Any fraudulent

Information given on a submitted roster and/or violations of the eligibility rules at any time will result in

Expulsion from the league. Make sure your players are eligible and legally qualify to play in Torrington. DO

NOT RISK EXPULSION. Any illegal players will result in the expulsion of the manager and player for

The season and the next season. All games that the illegal player, played in will be forfeited. The Park

And Recreation Sports Committee reserves the right to issue the final decision on any player's eligibility. 

 

5. Rosters will be frozen after June 13, 2008.

 

6. Each team is allowed to carry 20 players and a playing manager. Rosters must have a minimum of 14

Players on the roster to be accepted.

 

7. Men’s League play should start April 28, 2008 and Women’s League May 5, 2008(Subject to change).

 

8. Games that must be postponed because of rain will be posted on the Recreation Department’s city website (www.torringtonct.org) or you can call the Recreation Department’s Hotline at 489-2270 after 3pm. The umpire will make all decisions about games after 4:30pm.

 

9. No alcoholic beverages on city owned or leased property.  No smoking or motorcycles on field. Motorcycles must be parked in parking lot. 

 

10. Teams may use 2 Extra Hitters – Both extra hitters are considered position players and can move between defensive positions and the EH spots. Batting order stays the same when extra hitter becomes a defensive player and they switch. If any extra hitter leaves the game and cannot be replaced by a player that has not played in the game that spot in the lineup becomes an out, unless the player is injured. Teams may bat 12 or 11 batters in their lineup, only if it is designated so at the beginning of the game. Once the game starts teams may not add an extra hitter or hitters to their line-up.

 

11. All protests except ineligible players will be handled by the umpire on the field at the game regular season and playoffs. A $25.00 fee, returnable only if protest is upheld, must accompany ineligible player protest. Protest must be filed at the Parks and Recreation Department Office within two working days.

 

12. All Torrington Park and Recreation officials and umpires are considered to be retained from the time

They leave home until they return home following a game.  Physical and verbal abuse at any time will not be tolerated.  Fines and suspensions will be leveled against the individual(s) or team(s) involved.

13. A 10-minute grace period is allowed for the 6:00pm games only on Monday thru Friday.

 

14. Only rubber spike shoes will be allowed; no metal at all - NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

15. The city is not responsible for any injuries of players or game officials.

 

16. A player ejected from a game may have to appear before the Commission’s Sports Committee if the Commission’s Sports Committee deems necessary. Fines will be set according to incident; suspensions may carry into the following seasons.  If the player does not have to appear before the Commissions Sports

Committee the fines are as follows: $20.00 and a two game suspension for the first time: $30.00 and a ten game suspension for second time, which will carry into the following season. The umpire will report all ejections.  Fines must be paid before reinstatement.  Any player ejected from a game must leave the playing field and if misconduct continues, officials may order the player from the complex or his/her team risks forfeiture of the game and/or expulsion from the league.

 

17. Umpires and managers will be responsible for conduct of players during the softball game.  If player or

Players are found to be acting in unsportsmanlike manner; manager will be given 1 (one) verbal warning by

Umpire.  Second offense in ball game will result in ejection of player or players plus fines as stated in rule#12.

If umpire can not determined which player on the bench said something, the manager will be ejected.

 

18. A player who violates his/her suspension will be suspended for a minimum of 5 games.  The game that the player played in will be forfeited. Second infraction will result in individuals' suspension for entire season.

 

19. There will be no contact with an umpire. Any participant that makes contact with an umpire will have a

Hearing with the Sports Committee about the incident before fines will be imposed.

 

20. Balls and scorebooks will be supplied by the Parks and Recreation Department. Teams must use the balls given to them by the department. They must be picked up at the Parks and Recreation Office. Any team unable to produce a new, clean ball to the umpire at the beginning of the game will be fined $10.00, which must be paid at the office before the next game, or the game will be forfeited. Each game will start with two new balls.  The second is to be inserted in the middle of the fourth inning.

 

21. Courtesy Runner - If a team needs a courtesy runner it will be stated before the start of the game. Only one player can have a runner per game. The runner will be the last player out.  If an injury occurs during the game and a team has only ten (10) players, then a second player can have a runner.  If a team is using the Extra Hitter then the injured player must leave the game.  His/her spot will not be an automatic out since their will still be 10 batters.

 

22. When a defensive player has the ball the runner remains on his feet and crashes into the defensive player.  The ball is dead and runner is out.  Each other runner must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the interference. If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall be ejected.  An errant throw drawing the defense into the path of the runner and contact is made the runner is not out.

 

23. Each team will supply a scorekeeper. Scorekeeper will meet with the umpire between innings to agree

On the score. The Umpire is responsible for reporting the scores of all games.

 

24. Appeal Play - Once the ball has been returned to the infield and time has been called, any fielder,

Including the pitcher and catcher, with or without possession of the ball, may make a verbal appeal on a

Runner missing a base or leaving a base too soon.  The plate umpire should then make a decision on the

Play. Base runners cannot leave their bases during the period, as the ball remains dead until the next pitch.

 

25. Re-Entry Rule - Any player may be substituted or replaced and re-entered once, provided players occupy the same batting positions whenever in the lineup. Players may not re-enter a second time.  The starting player and their substitute may not be in the line- up at the same time.

 

26. After 4 1/2 innings of play, a team leading by 15 runs will be declared the winner.  The home team, if

Losing, will always have a chance to bat.

 

27. SPEED UP RULE - Pitcher will be allowed three (3) warm-up pitches only, no matter when he/she enters

The game.

 

28. The Pitcher has 10 seconds to pitch the ball.  If pitcher is not ready to pitch within 10 seconds batter will be awarded a ball every 10 seconds until pitcher is ready.  If batter is not ready within 10 seconds pitcher will be awarded a strike every 10 seconds until batter is ready.

 

29. Any team having two forfeits will NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PLAYOFFS.

 

30. Full payment must accompany the roster. An incomplete roster is unacceptable.  Address, phone and place of employment must be listed for each player.  The team's choice of division must be on the roster. 

 

31. ONCE THE SCHEDULE IS COMPLETED FOR THE SEASON, INCLUDING MAKE-UPS AND WHEN THE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE IS DONE, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES TO THE SCHEDULES!

 

32. No batting practice near home plate.

 

33. Roster changes must be made IN PERSON at the Parks and Recreation Office.  No roster changes by

Phone, fax or email will be accepted. There will be a waiting period pending a review of any new players added to team rosters after teams have been placed in divisions. A player add-on form will be required to be submitted. Until the new player is approved, the player is not allowed to play in any league games.

                                                                                                                         

34. If the first game of the day is canceled all following games that day will be canceled.               

 

35. If a team comes in 1st place in the regular season, the next season the team will move up a division. In some cases other teams may also move up.

 

36. JEWELRY RULE

No jewelry will be allowed. Jewelry must be removed; taping will not be allowed with the exception of medical alert IDs.

 

IF THE RULE IS BROKEN THE FOLLOWING WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES: The first player in the game that is found to have jewelry on will be allowed to take it off. That will be the only warning given to either team. Next player in the game from either team that is found to have jewelry on will be ejected from the game.

 

If another player from the same team is found to have jewelry on the game is over and that team will forfeit the game. Neither of these violations will result in fines or suspensions.

 

37. During the Playoffs the top seeded team will be the home team. During the second round and championship series the top seeded team will be the home team for the 1st and if needed the 3rd games and will be the away team for the 2nd game.

 

38. All fields will be using a double first base.

 

39. Little League bats are prohibited.

 

40. A player can play on only one team in the league.

 

41. Bats that are not approved by the ASA will not be allowed to be used in a game. 

The approved Bat list can be found in the news and notes section on www.torringtonsoftball.com.

 

 

Illegal bats:

The Park and Recreation Department and its designated representatives reserves the right to

Confiscate any alleged illegal bat. This bat will be sent out to be tested. If this bat is found to be illegal

That player will be banned from softball for one year. The Game that bat was used in will be forfeited. If that

Player is found to be using an illegal bat a second time he/she will be banned from the league with no

Reinstatement. This is an extreme safety issue. The Park and Recreation department will not tolerate

Illegal use of any softball equipment.

 

Men’s League Rules:

1. The ball, when pitched, must be delivered with a perceptible 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.

 

2. Batters will start with a 0 - 0 count. A Foul on the third strike and the batter is out.

 

3. Men must be 16 years of age or older to participate.

 

4. Walk Off Home Runs - All home runs hit over the fence will be a walk off home run. Players will need to touch first base only.

 

5. Home Run Limit Rule - A team will be allowed to hit 5 home runs in a game. Any home runs after 5 will result in an out.

 

6. The top six teams in each division will make the playoffs or teams with an 8-8 record or better.  The first round of the playoffs will be a single elimination format.  First and second place teams will get a bye in the first round. The second round of the playoffs will be best of three. First place team will play the winner of the fourth place and fifth place game and the second place team will play the winner of third place and sixth place game. The winners will play each other in a best of three championship series.

 

Women’s League Rules:

 

1. Women have to be 14 years of age or older.

 

2. Each team will play 14 regular season games.

 

3. Modified Pitch - There will be no third strike foul out rule.

 

4. All women catcher’s masks must have a throat protector.

5. The top six teams in each division will make the playoffs.  The first and second round of the playoffs will be a single elimination tournament format. First and second place teams will get a bye in the first round. First place team will play the winner of the fourth place and fifth place game and the second place team will play the winner of third place and sixth place game. The winners will play each other in a best of three championship series.

Adoption of pitching rule from 2005

A pitcher cannot have their hand, or elbows go above the shoulder during the windup, otherwise this will be considered an illegal pitch. Also the hips and shoulders should remain square to the plate during delivery of the ball. The ball cannot be delivered in an arc that exceeds 10 feet in height.

Ground rules for Joe Ruwet Field:

Any ball that lands on a fly on the blacktop in left field shall be considered a home run. Any ball that bounces from the grass to the blacktop shall be considered a ground rule double.