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LEAGUE RULES
(ASA & USA Rules govern league play except for WSSA Rules stated below)
Table of Contents
1. Definitions
1.1.Commitment Line
1.2. Scoring Plate
1.3. Double First Base
1.4. Strike Mat
1.5. Infielders positions
3.1.Uniform
3.2.Shoes
3.3.Mask
3.4.Softball
4.1. Team Play (53+)
4.2.Rosters
4.3.Lineup Cards
4.5.Re-entry Rule
4.6. Extra players
4.8 Part Time Players
4.9 Injured player rule
5. The Game
5.1. Pre-game Warm-up
5.2.Starting Time
5.3.Length
5.4.Five Run Rule
5.6.Number of players in Game
5.7. Outfielders in Coastal Division
5.8.Mercy Rule
5.9 AVOIDING COLLISIONS
6.1. Legal Pitch
6.2. Pitcher Location
6.3.Time Limit
6.4.Warm-up Pitches
7. Base Running
7.2. Courtesy Runner
7.3. Contact
7.4. Sliding
7.5.Overrun
7.5.1. Overrunning When returning
7.6 No Bunting, No leads, No Stealing
8.1.Notification
8.2. Time Limit
8.3.Form
8.4. Handling
9.1. Early Notice
9.2. Umpire Option
9.3. Reschedule Procedure
9.3-C- Suspended Game
93-D - WILMINGTON ACTIVITY
9.4. Reschedule Date
9.5. Forfeit Rule
10. Game Rule Review
10.1. First Game
10.2. WSSA Rules Available
DETAILED WSSA GAME RULES
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Commitment Line
A commitment line shall be marked perpendicular to the foul line 20 feet from home plate. Once a runner’s foot touches on or past this line, the runner may not re-cross it in the direction of third base, i.e., runner must continue toward the scoring line. Violation will result in an automatic out. The Ball is Alive. and runners can advance.
1.2 Scoring Plate
A scoring plate is a second home plate in foul territory on the third base side eight (8) feet from the original home plate. This shall be for the runner to score a run.
A runner who has passed the commitment line and not reached the scoring plate shall be declared out if:
A. A defensive player in possession of the ball touches home plate before the runner makes contact with the scoring plate.
B. The runner touches the original home plate. or strike mat.
A runner who has passed the commitment line but not reached the scoring plate shall not be declared out if tagged by a defensive player.
1.2-A- Scoring Line
If there is no second home plate then a line shall extend from the corner of home plate closest to third base into foul territory at a 90 degree angle to the third base foul line. A foot down on or beyond the scoring line shall be the same as a foot down on home plate for the purpose of scoring a run.
As a safety precaution, a double base at first base will be used.. The inside base ( white ) belongs to the defensive player and the outside base ( orange ) belongs to the runner. A RUNNER MUST run to the outside( ORANGE ) base when a play at first base is attempted. A runner who touches the white base is subject to being called out by the Umpire if he sees the play. EXCEPTION, if the baseman is covering the orange base possibly due to a bad throw then the runner can touch the white base. If the batter gets a base hit, he can touch either base.
1.4 Strike Mat
A legally pitched ball hitting the strike mat (17” x 24”) or home plate will be called a strike.
1.5 Infield positions
All of the infielders must position themselves in the dirt infield, they must stay off the grass until the ball is hit. EXCEPTION The
short fielder ( if used )may position himself on the dirt or grass.
The home team has the responsibility for laying out the field, to include: scoring plate, commitment line, home plate and strikemat, batter’s box, double first base, pitcher’s rubber and foul lines. (Note: Bases are at sixty-five (65) feet and pitchers rubber is (50 ) feet from home plate as specified in A.S.A & USA.Senior Rules. The Home team must use the first base dugout. The home team is also responsible to notify the League Commissioner by 7:15 AM if the field is playable or not, during inclement weather.
If the umpire assigned to the game agrees that the field has not been laid out in accordance with WSSA rules, the visiting team may:
A. Allow the home team an additional thirty (30) minutes to get the field in proper condition, or
B. Agree to play on the field as is.
3. EQUIPMENT
3.1 Uniforms
Matching shirts are mandatory with a number on the back ( at least 6 inches ) A matching hat is recommended, Uniform shirt must be tucked inside the pants.
3.2 Shoes
Metal cleats are not permitted. Plastic or Rubber cleats are recommended.
3.3 Mask
A mask is optional, for the Catcher, Pitcher or any Infielder who chooses to wear one.
3.4 Softball
Home team must supply two (2) softballs ( .44 core, 375 Compression), before each double-header. One softball must be new, the other slightly used. If specified softballs are not supplied, visiting team may:
A. Loan home team two (2) specified balls, or
B. Agree to play with the unspecified softballs.
4.1 Team Play (53)
Ten (10) position players will be considered a complete team. in the Atlantic Division NOTE!!! The Coastal Division teams use 11 players in the field. (Failure to have at least nine (9) position players at the start of, or anytime during the game will result in forfeit.) All players must be fifty-three (53) years of age or older. The age requirement for the season is 55 by Dec 31st, of the year you play in.
A team starting a game with nine (9) position players may add a position player after the start of the game (not to exceed ten (10) position players for the Atlantic Division or if a Coastal Division team, ( not exceeding 11 defensive players ), but that player must bat at the end of the batting order.
If one team is short players, the team that is short may borrow a player from the opposing team. The team with the most players must loan a player to the other team WHO WILL be in the lineup and play a position as well as hit. If they are still short one player then the team with the most players will have someone catch for them, but he DOES NOT BAT.
4.2 Rosters
A roster will be submitted to the Division President of the respective division no later than April 15th, by the team Manager. The Division President will in turn give copies of the rosters to the Commiss- . ioner. Additions (players new to the league) may be made anytime, however the league Commissioner must be notified prior to the player playing a game. The Commissioiner will then notify the Division President. Once a player is committed or assigned to a roster, that player may not move to another team without the approval of the the Managers in that respective Division and the Commissioner must be notified. Keep in mind no player or players from a team not scheduled to play, can play with another team.
4.2-A- A PLAYER ENTERING THE LEAGUE AFTER SEPTEMBER 15TH IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS. EXCEPTION, IF THE PLAYER IS NOT AN IMPACT PLAYER the opposing team may elect to allow him to play.
4.3 Lineup Cards
The official lineup card must be presented to the opposing manager or scorekeeper five (5) to ten (10) minutes prior to each game. The card should list the last name of each player and their position.
Each team must have a copy of its roster available for review at every game.
4.5 Re-entry Rule
A player may leave the game (substitute allowed) and then re-enter the game at a later time. The substitute is replaced by the original player. He can only do this once. They keep the same spot in the batting order.
4.6 Extra Players
Use of one or more Extra Players (EP) in the batting order is optional. However, extra players cannot be added to the original lineup once the game has begun. An extra player starts the game as a hitter only, but may replace a position player in the field, but must keep his original place in the batting order. Remember that only the E.P.'s can move in and out of the game for each other. If you play more than 13 players, then players can alternate who sits and who plays.
Any time a player is taken out of the lineup due to an injury, and there is no replacement,. The team with the injured player will not be penalized by an automatic out, however the other Team Manager must be notified when the injured player leaves .If a player leaves for any other reason other than an injury the team will sufffer an AUTOMATIC OUT when that player was due up to bat. The opposing manager must be notified immediately anytime a player leaves the game.
4.8 Part Time Players
Part time players are excepted provided they have paid the annual membership fee in full and have been accepted by the team manager to play in the league. However the association prefers full time players..
4.9 Injured player.
An injured player at the start of the game may elect to play either offense or defense under the Ameerican Disabilities Acr . If he plays defense only, his name must be placed at the end of the batting order and his position will be listed as DEFO ( Defense Only ). If he elects to play offense only then he can be listed anywhere in the batting order and only gets to hit in the game, he doesn't get to play in the field. He will be listed as an EP.
When a player gets injured during the game, and there is no substitute and he wants to continue he may elect to play the rest of the game under the American Disabilities act. It must be announced to the opposing team. When he is due to come to bat he will not be charged with an out.
5.0 Player Returning
If a player leaves a team for injury or personal reasons, he is allowed to either go back to the team he left or go in the draft. HOWEVER, he must not have left the team more than one year. If he has,left his original team for more than one year he definetely goes into the DRAFT.
5.1 Pre-Game Warm-up
Batting practice for both teams must be completed before 9:10 AM. The visiting team may take infield and outfield practice starting at 9:10 AM. The home team may take infield and outfield practice at 9:20 AM. As soon as the Home team finishes practice the game will start promptly at 9:30AM. The Managers should make sure that the players DO NOT take too many practice swings which will delay the start of the game.
5.2 Starting Time
A team must be ready to play at game time or suffer a forfeit. A scheduled game may be delayed for up to twenty (20) minutes if a team experiences traffic difficulties. After a 20 minute delay if a team can not field at least 9 players they will forfeit the first game. Normally there will be a delay of 1 hour and 30 minutes before the second game is forfeited. However, the manager of the forfeiting team may elect to waive this rule and accept forfeit for the second game at this time. During the delay, a practice game may take place with the available players and possible loaned players from the team to which the game was forfeited.
Starting time is 9:30 AM.
5.3 Length
The length of a game is seven (7) innings, with extra innings played until a tie is broken. No new inning may begin after 1 hour and 30 minutes have passed. Exception: During playoffs there is no time limit.
During the season ,when there is extreme hot weather, the two teams may elect to shorten the games to 5 innings, or use the 1 and 1 count, or both. Home team makes the decision on the first game, while the Visiting team makes the decision on the second game..
5.4 Five Run Rule
Teams are limited to five runs per inning, except for the final inning of the game in which each team can score an unlimited number of runs. The umpire must announce the last inning unless it is the seventh inning.If a game is tied and goes into extra innings then the team can get unlimited runs. Remember, once the 5th run scores, the ball is dead.
Upon hitting a foul ball on the ground on the third strike, the batter is out and the ball is dead. If a batter hits a foul ball on a fly with two strikes or less and the ball is caught on a fly by the defense, The batter is out ball and the ball remains alive and the runners may advance at their own risk.
5.6 Amount of players in Game
The Manager has the option to bat all of his players in the lineup if he wishes, but can only have ten (10) defensive players. EXCEPTION, The Coastal Division teams can play with 11 defensive players.If more than 13 play on a team, they can substitute positions periodicaly.The playerst must still bat in the same spot in the lineup.
5.7 Outfielders in Coastal Division
Five Outfielders can be used, he may be used as either an infielder or outfielder. He is designated in the lineup as a short fielder.
5.8 Mercy Rule
When the home team is ahead by 15 runs, after 4 and a half innings, the home team is declared the winner. The visiting team is the winner if they are ahead after 5 complete innings.
5.9 AVOIDING COLLISIONS
A RUNNER must make every effort to avoid colliding with opposing players while running the bases.when a runner misses a base to avoid a collision, the RUNNER WILL NOT BE CALLED OUT. A line will be drawn at second base from the base towards the right side of the bag.
6.1 Legal Pitch
The height of a pitch must be a minimum of six (6) feet and a maximum of twelve (12) feet from the playing surface. The umpire must identify an illegal pitch by shouting “Illegal” immediately after the highest or lowest point of the pitch has been reached. A batter has the option to swing at an illegal pitch . Once the batter swings at the pitch , it will then be deemed legal.
6.2 Pitcher Location
The pitcher’s rubber shall be situated fifty (50) feet from home plate.
6.3 Time Limit
The pitcher must present the ball in front of his body and is required to deliver a pitch within ten (10) seconds after the batter is set in the batter’s box - upon violation, the umpire may call a ball (Rule 6, Section 3-H of USA Official Senior Softball Rules).
6.4 Warm-up Pitches
No more than one (1) minute may be used to deliver no more than three (3) warm-up pitches. For excessive warm-up pitches, a pitcher shall be penalized by awarding a ball to the batter for each pitch.
7. BASE RUNNING
Each runner must reach first base on his own.( Exception: Anyone with a hip or knees replacement is allowed a runner from Home Plate ( the runner must be the last player in the lineup that made out ).
7.2 Courtesy Runner
The courtesy runner may be any player in the starting lineup or any player on the bench. If a courtesy runner is on base, when it is his turn to bat, an automatic out will be declared. The runner is out at the base that he reached and he may take his turn at bat, unless there are three outs. No substitution of a courtesy runner by another courtesy runner is allowed, unless he takes ill or gets hurt and can not return, A player that runs for a hip or knee replacement player is considered a courtesy runner.The runner must be a player that made the last out ! He must remain as the courtesy runner. NOTE!!! In the Atlantic Division, only ONE courtesy runner is allowed in an inning. In the Coastal Division there is no limit on the amount of courtesy runners to be used in an inning. Keep in mind , a player can only run as a courtesy runner one time in an inning.
7.3 Contact
In order to avoid bodily contact and possible injury, a defensive player may not straddle a base when a runner is approaching. If a violation of this rule is apparent to the umpire, the runner may be called safe. In extreme case of rule violation, an umpire may eject a player. If it looks like the runner and fielder are to collide, then the runner must make every effort to avoid colliding with the fielder. The runner doesn't have to touch the bag. he can run past it without touching it.As a reminder for the runner there will be a white chalk line extended 2 feet from second base towards right center field. the runner can run past the white line. The runner will not be called out, it is to be decided by the Umpires judgement.
Sliding or diving into 2nd or 3rd base only, is optional. Sliding back into a base is also optional.
7.5 Overrun
A base runner is permitted to overrun 2nd and 3rd bases without being subject to a tag putout. However, the runner must turn right or go straight ahead after crossing the base.He is subject to be tagged out if he turns to the left and the umpire thinks he was trying to go to the next base.. Should a runner overrun a base and stop, he must return to that base and ‘tag up’ before advancing.
7.5.1 Overrunning When Returning To Base
A base runner who overruns any base when returning to it, is subject to be tagged out.
8.1 Notification
A protest should be made immediately before the next pitch. The manager or his representative should approach the umpire and register the protest.
An official protest must be filed within forty-eight (48) hours by contacting the WSSA Commissioner or President and informing him of the protest.
8.3 Form
The protest to the Commissioner or the President should be followed up in a letter form and must include the following:
A. Date, time and location of the game being protested.
B. Umpire’s and scorekeeper’s names.
C. The rule and section under which the protest is made.
D. The decision and conditions surrounding the making of the protest.
E. All facts involving the protest.
8.4 Handling
As soon as possible, the Commissioner or President will convene the protest committee for a hearing and a decision.
Please note: Protests will not be received or considered if they are based solely on a decision involving the accuracy on the part of an umpire. It is based on a rule interpretation.
9.1 Early Notice
The Home Team will be responsible to have a representative to check the fields when there is adverse weather or field conditions, and notify the Commissioner by 7:15 AM, OR if the weather is real bad, the night before. The Commissioner in turn, will notify the Division President and the head Umpire..
9.2 Umpire Option
Once a game is in progress it is up to the umpire to decide if a game can continue. Once both teams arrive at the field, the umpire will decide if a game will be played, and when and if a game can continue.
A game’s schedule date can be changed for any of the following reasons:
A. If, as a matter of convenience, both managers agree to a playing date that takes place before the originally scheduled date, and is approved by the Commissioner.
B. Weather (see Section 9.1 and 9.2)
C. Traumatic situation (accident, death, etc.) If during the course of a game ,if a player gets very seriously hurt, enough that he can't continue, the game will be considered suspended unless it is an official game. The game will be rescheduled when the two teams are scheduled to play again. The suspended game will continue from where it was left off and it will be played prior to the scheduled doubleheader. If a game ends in a tie for any reason it will be played from where it was left off prior to the next scheduled doubleheader between the two teams.
D. When two or more team members are participating in a recognized Wilmington Senior activity, a WSSA Tournament or a recognized Team function.
E. Both managers and the WSSA Commissioner and President agree to the postponement.
9.4 Reschedule Date
All canceled/postponed games will be rescheduled by the WSSA Commissioner/President. All rescheduled games MUST be played on the assigned Rain date, or lose on a forfeit.
9.5 Forfeit Rule
All games must be played as scheduled, any team that can not field 9 players by the start of the game will lose on a forfeit. However the opposing team may lend the aforementioned team that is short players, if there is enough for at least nine players on each team then both teams may play , However it is still a forfeit.
10.1 First Game
WSSA Rules (which have some exceptions to the ASA Rules) and the ground rules should be reviewed by managers and umpires before the start of the first game.
10.2 WSSA Game Rules Available
Each manager should have a copy of the WSSA Game Rules available at each game.