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General Rules and Procedures
1.) Game Start Time / Forfeits Weekday games will start at 6:00p.m. For all 6:00 p.m. games, if one or both teams does not have eight players at 6:00 p.m., they will have until at least 6:15 p.m. to field a team. As soon as both teams have at least eight players, the game must begin. For a game on or after May 15th, teams may have until 6:30 p.m. to field a team. Eight players must be present by the forfeit time (6:15p.m. or 6:30 p.m.) or the game will be declared a forfeit. (Daytime games will be a forfeit if eight players are not available within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled starting time.) If at any time during a game a team fields less than eight (8) players, a forfeit shall be declared. Players arriving late must enter the game immediately, placed at the bottom of the batting order and be available for fielding. If a team is unable to field the minimum number of players, substitutes may be requested from the Division Coordinators as follows: Substitute Procedure Rules a.)All subs must be registered with the Bethlehem Tomboys. b.)If there are a sufficient number of players interested in substituting, each manager will be supplied with a roster of substitutes for her/his team. If a substitute is needed, she/he will call those players. If an adequate number of substitutes cannot be obtained, she/he can contact the Division Coordinator to obtain sufficient substitutes. Each team must have five (5) of their own players to begin the game. c.)Sub must be reported to the opposing manager. d.)Sub must start and play at least three innings in the field. e.)Sub cannot play if her team is playing at the same time. f.)Sub may not pitch. g.)Sub must be from the next lower division. Managers may not agree on their own to postponement or rescheduling of a game. If the managers agree to a postponement or a rescheduling of a game on their own, the game will be considered a double forfeit with each team receiving a loss. If a game is called before it is an official game (see below) and the score is tied, the game must be completed on the next day that would have been used for a rain-out date. Home team manager must notify the Division Coordinator to make arrangements for a continuation of the game. 2.) Innings a.)Innings per game: ·YOUTH - 4 innings PRIMARY/JUNIOR - 6 innings INTERMEDIATE/MAJORS - 7 inninings b.)Official Game (regarding games called because of rain or darkness) - 3 1/2 or 4 innings (depending upon which team is ahead.) c.)No games may go more than three (3) extra innings. If the game is still tied, each team will be given credit for one-half win and one-half loss. Youth/Primary Divisions - No extra innings. d.)No inning shall start after 1 3/4 hours past the start time. The 1 3/4 hours is based on the actual start time (not the scheduled start time.) Managers and the umpire(s) should be in agreement of the actual game start time BEFORE the game begins. It is the responsibility of BOTH managers to approach the umpire and all note the same time. If the managers do not approach the umpire prior to the start of the game and there is a discrepancy later on as to the actual start time, then the managers MUST defer to the umpire. The umpire's decision as to the actual game start time will be final. 3.) Uniforms / Equipment Safety Rules a.) Uniform shirts must be worn at all games or the player is declared ineligible for that game. b.) Full catcher's equipment must be worn. c.) Metal cleats will not be worn. d.) No jewelry. e.) Batting helmets with chin straps and face masks must be worn at all times while in the batter's box and on the baselines. f.) All players wearing glasses must have straps on the glasses and plastic lenses. g.) For safety reasons we must insist that only team personnel be on the bench or in the immediate area. h.) On deck batters must be in the circle and no other players should be allowed in the area. i)Only official softballs and official softball bats may be used during the games. (Exception – YOUTH/PRIMARY) j.) No smoking on the field by managers, coaches and players. k.) No one shall be allowed behind the backstop and/or home plate during the game or while a pitcher is warming up. The umpire must clear the area and take appropriate action. 4.) Playing Time a.)All Divisions – girls play at least one half game in the field if her attendance at games and at practices is satisfactory. b.)All Divisions: Girls who exceed three unexcused absences may be suspended from active play and put on an inactive roster maintained by the Division Coordinator. This action is taken at the discretion of the team manager. The Division Coordinator must be notified of this action and it must be approved by a committee consisting of the Division Coordinator, two members of the executive board and a board member familiar with the players in the division. The parents of the girl will be notified of the possible suspension prior to the meeting of the board members. c.)All Divisions: All players will be allowed regular turns at bat even though they do not have a field position. There will be a constant batting order of all players. d.) All Divisions have unlimited substitutions at the manager's discretion. However, each player must play at least one-half (1/2) game as stated in Rule 4a. e.) A player injured during a game and subsequently removed may re-enter the game depending upon judgment and decision of the umpire and manager involved. f.)All Divisions may field 10 players, but the 10th player must play outfield. 5.) Protests No protests. 6.) Dead Ball Lines We will establish imaginary dead ball lines in line with the ends of the backstops. No foul ball may be caught beyond these lines. 7.) Rule Changes Rule changes during the season require a vote of 75% of the full Board of Directors. 8.) Team Roster / Waiting List A manager may request a permanent player to maintain the team size if the number of players assigned at the start of the season changes. Requests go through the Division Coordinator to the Registration Chairperson and a four (4) person review. A manager can only request a player to replace someone who is out for the rest of the season and not a player who is injured and who will be coming back. When there is an opportunity in each division to provide equal number of players for each team, then the girls will be called off the waiting list. The Registration Chairperson will maintain the waiting list and contact the Division Coordinator for distribution of the players. No player will be allowed to transfer to another team for ANY reason once the season begins. If, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON, a parent feels there is a very strong, compelling reason to make a change for the sake of the child, a parental written request to the Board must be submitted. A minimum of five (5) Board members will approve or deny the request. The Division Coordinator will notify the parent/managers of the decision. 9.) Playoffs A.For the playoffs, the home team will be the higher seeded team from the regular season standings. Playoff seeding will be determined by win/loss percentage, even if the teams have not played an equal number of games. B.If two or more teams have the same number of wins and losses, the higher seeded team will be decided in the following manner in order of priority: 1.Head to head competition. 2.Coin flip. C. Any inning started after the time limit shall be considered an "extra inning" for the purposes of pitcher inning limitations. This rule applies only for those divisions that have a maximum number of innings per pitcher. 10) Official Scorebook Managers are encouraged to confirm the game score at least once an inning. In case of a disagreement about the score, the home team scorebook shall be considered official, as long as it is fair and legible (as determined by the umpire or Director on Duty) and has entries for all players on both teams.
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