Summer Ball Rules/Guidelines

Middle – Essex Softball League Zero Tolerance Policy Purpose:

Coaches who argue or comment in a negative fashion shall immediately be ejected from the game. The ejection carries a two-game suspension.

Parents / Fans who argue or engage in negative behavior (yelling, teasing, taunting, etc.) shall be removed from the playing area. Time will continue as this happens. If the parent or fan refuses to leave within one minute, the game will end with a forfeit charge against the offending team. Any argument or disagreement that becomes physical, in any way, will result in an immediate, indefinite suspension for any adult involved. A team may exercise its right to play the game under protest based on the incorrect rulebook interpretation.

MIDDLE – ESSEX SOFTBALL LEAGUE BYLAWS & POLICIES PURPOSE:

Each team is allowed to list three (3) non-residents. Only one of which may become a pitcher. Also, your non-residents may not be from a town that has a team in the same division as your team.

ROSTERS: All players MUST be registered and insured through USA Softball. Anyone who uses a player not registered and insured that game will result in a forfeit. You can always add players onto the Register USA website Registerusasoftball.com. Within a town, a player may only be listed on one (1)roster. If on a given night a team is going to be short on players, a girl may be called to play up one division. She may not play down even if age eligible. Likewise, she may not go from an “A” team to a “B”

team. Furthermore, if there are two teams in the same division, she may not play for the “other” team. Roster violations will result in a loss by forfeit and a two-game suspension of the coach.

2023 FORFEIT POLICY: To eliminate the problem of teams failing to show up for games, the forfeiting team must pay $60 within 48 hours of announcing the forfeit.

UMPIRES: Umpires will be hired from the appropriate USA Softball umpire districts. The home team is responsible for canceling an umpire for rain or other factors. Phone numbers for the umpire assigners are posted in the league directory. Any cancellation, for a reason other than weather related, must be made before 8:00 PM the day before the game; otherwise, you may be responsible for the umpire’s fee.

The more notice you can provide, the better. Umpire “no-shows” have been a problem in the past.

GAMES: Scheduled game time is 6:15 PM. If a team has only 8 players, the USA shorthanded rule is in effect. Umpires are responsible for ending games regarding darkness or other factors once a game has begun.

Teams must play their games according to the league schedule. If for some reason your team is not able to play on an assigned date, you must take a forfeit.

• Teams are not allowed to reschedule games after July 9th.
• When posting a forfeit, the proper score per the USA is 7-0.
• Rainouts are an exception to this rule. If a game must be postponed because of rain or other weather-related events, it can be played on a new date.
•  If a game is canceled because of rain, thunder, lighting the game will be picked up at the time of the delay. Make sure you make everything in your scorebook. Send makeup game to the walthamgirlssoftballboard@gmail.com.

RULES: The current rules of the USA are in effect unless noted.

Time limit --- No new inning may begin after 1 hour and 30 minutes. Any game that plays to the time limit will be considered an official game regardless of the number of innings. If the home team doesn’t get to bat at the end of a game, the score reverts to the last completed inning.

Divisions 18A, 18B, 14A and 14B pitch from 43 feet.

The 12’s pitch from 40 feet and the 10’s pitch from 35 feet.

A team may use either a rule- book line up or a continuous batting order. Free substitution when using continuous batter order. The only restriction here regards the pitcher, if removed she may not return to pitch in the same inning but is free to pitch in any other inning.

The following Divisions are allowed (but not required) to play with ten (10) fielders – 14B, 12B and 10U. Other Divisions will play with 9 fielders. A 12-run mercy rule is in effect. It is invoked after 5 innings (4 ½ if home team) and at the point in which it occurs.

SIX RUN RULE: This rule applies to all Divisions except 18A. An inning will end early if a team scores six runs before they are put out three times. The play on which the sixth run scores will end at its normal conclusion. {Effect, if more than 6 runs score in the inning they all count.} The six-run rule is lifted in the 5th, 6th and 7th inning.

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE 10U DIVISION:

• Player’s pitch from 35 feet. If having difficulty at this distance and with the consent of both coaches, a girl may modify her pitching stance so that only one foot is in contact with the pitching rubber. If that doesn’t help, she may move in another step or two. This provision is made to make the game flow along more smoothly.
• Base runners may steal from second to third and third to home, but only two runs per inning may be scored in this fashion. Runners must wait until the pitched ball reaches home plate. A runner may only advance from 1st to 2nd on action generated by an at bat. In the B Division, a runner may steal from 1st to 2nd one time per inning.
• The catcher’s throw to any base (to catch a stealing runner) is a live ball
• The “walk and run” play is not allowed. A player may not advance to second on a walk.
• Only 5 runs allowed per inning. Unlimited in the fourth inning and beyond.
• The dropped third strike rule is not in effect.
• There is no infield fly rule.
• 12 run mercy rules are in effect as detailed in previous section
• Games will be played with 11- inch softball.
• 10U games in this league are 7 innings.
• However, in the A Division, a runner may also steal from 1st to 2nd

ALL STAR GAME: An All-Star Game will take place. Date will be announced during the season. Tee shirts will be handed out to the players and coaches will receive a coach’s shirt. Coaches will be named by the end of July.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: The Middle – Essex Softball League will award one scholarship to a graduating senior. The recipient must have played on Middle – Essex teams for at least five seasons and be nominated by a coach. Other factors will be taken into consideration such as: giving back to the softball

community by helping with teams, umpiring or in some other way promoting the game. Also, citizenship and financial need may be considered.

2023 WEBSITE The league schedule and standings will be on the USA softball Massachusetts website.

www.usasoftballma.com.

Go to USA leagues and select Middleessex. Make sure you add the middleessex email address to all emails sent to us. Middleessex@gmail.com.

USA Softball Ma has the right to change or add rules as needed.

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