Denville
Softball’s Summer Travel League
2008 Rules
Updated:
June 8, 2008
Documentation
Requirements
Each team must provide a completed Team Registration form (coach contacts
information, home field availability, team blackout dates, and team rosters), a
copy of their insurance certificate, and a copy of birth certificates/age
verification cards to the league prior to or at the coaches meeting. Teams found using players that are too old
for the division in which they are participating will be immediately removed
from the league.
Schedules
The
Denville Travel League will publish initial schedules based on the information
received on the Team Registration form.
The league will attempt to schedule 50% home games and 50% away
games. 12 regular season games will be
scheduled. The schedules will be posted
by June 7. Once the schedules are
created, they will not be modified unless there is an error. It is up to the home team to schedule fields
and umpires. The home team is also
responsible to reschedule makeup games with directly with their opponent. If either team can not make a scheduled game,
they must notify the opposing coach with a phone call at least 24 hours prior
to the start of the game. Failure to do
so will result in a forfeit. Regular season games will begin June 9 and run
through July 22. Playoffs will take
place between July 23 and July 31.
Directions
Directions
to fields are available on the Denville Website (www.denvillesoftball.org). Click on the “Fields & Directions” link
on the left side of the home page to access the directions. If your home fields are not listed or if you
have more complete directions, email them to Tony Baldassari at tonyb4@optonline.net prior to June
7.
Team
Composition
Teams must submit a roster which includes players name, number, town, and
age. If a town has teams in more than
one age bracket within the Denville Summer Travel League, players from the
younger team may play up when short players.
Those players do not need to be listed on both rosters. The age breakdown for each division is listed
below.
·
8U – Players born in 1999 or later
·
10U – Players born in 1997 or later
·
12U – Players born in 1995 or later
·
14U – Players born in 1993 or later
Equipment
·
Softball (8U & 10U) - 11” yellow ASA approved
leather softball.
·
Softball (12U & 14U) - 12” yellow ASA approved
leather softball.
·
Bats - Bats must be ASA approved.
Use of a non-approved bat will result in the batter being called out.
·
Helmets - Helmets with face masks are required for all batters.
Field
Setup
·
Bases – The distance between bases will be 60’.
·
Pitching Distance (8U) – The coaches will pitch to
their own hitters. They can stand
approximately 25’ from the batter and no closer than 20’. The defensive player playing the pitching
position must be positioned no closer than 35’ at the time of the pitch.
·
Pitching Distance (10U) – 35’.
·
Pitching Distance (12U & 14U) – 40.’
Game
Play – ASA Rules with the following exceptions/clarifications
·
Game Balls – Each team will provide one game ball
for home and away games.
·
Defense
o
Players (8U) – 10 players in field, free
substitution, reentry rule not in affect, substitutions need not be
announced. Only 6 players are allowed to
be positioned in front of the baseline at the start of the pitch.
o
Players (10U) – 10 players in field; if Cinderella
batting, free substitution, reentry rule not in affect, substitutions need not
be announced. If there are players not
in the lineup, normal substitution rules apply.
Only 6 players are allowed to be positioned in front of the baseline at
the start of the pitch.
o
Players (12U & 14U) – 9 players in field; if
Cinderella batting, free substitution, reentry rule not in affect,
substitutions need not be announced. If
there are players not in the lineup, normal substitution rules apply.
o
Infield
Fly & Dropped 3rd Strike (8U & 10U) – No Infield fly rule
and no dropped third strike.
o
Infield
Fly & Dropped 3rd Strike (12U & 14U) – Infield fly rule and
dropped third strike in affect.
·
Pitching
o
Re-entry
– Pitchers can also re-enter the mound freely as long as they remain in the
lineup. (i.e. – One pitcher can pitch Innings 1 & 4 another 2 & 5 and
the third 3 & 6). Pitchers are only allowed to return to the mound once per
inning.
o
Inning
Limit – The league will not mandate, nor police inning limitations for
pitchers. It is the coach’s responsibility
to make sure his/her pitchers are not overworked. The recommended guideline is 10 innings per
calendar week (Mon-Sun).
o
Pitching
Rules – Windmill pitching is allowed. ASA rules apply. Both feet should start on the rubber at the
start of the pitch.
o
Intentional
Walks – No intentional walks.
o
Coach
Pitch (8U) – Coaches will pitch to their own players. Walks are not allowed so balls and strikes
will not be called. The batter shall be
called out after 3 strikes or after she receives 8 pitches and does not put the
ball into play. Even if the 8th
pitch is fouled off, the batter shall be called out. The coach who is pitching must make every
effort to avoid interfering with the defensive play on a batted ball. If, in the umpire’s judgment, the coach
intentionally interferes with a defensive play or if the coach fails to make a
good faith effort to avoid the interference, the play should be called dead,
the batter shall be called out, and the runners shall return to the bases they
occupied prior to the play. The coach
who is pitching must remain silent from the start of the pitch until the end of
the play.
·
Batting
o
Cinderella
batting (8U) – all players in attendance bat.
The additional players are treated as EP’s and can freely substitute
into the field. If a player must leave
or is injured, the player is skipped in batting order without an automatic out
being counted. If a player arrives late,
she is added to bottom of batting order as an additional EP.
o
Modified
Cinderella batting (10U, 12U & 14U) – Teams have the option to bat
Cinderella for all players in attendance or for the number of players in
attendance for the opposing team. For
example, if Team 1 has 12 players and Team 2 has 10 players at the start of the
game, both teams must bat at least 10 players.
The 10th player is treated as an EP and can freely substitute
into and out of the game. Team 1 has the
option to bat Cinderella for all 12 players or for 10 players. If Team 1 chooses to bat Cinderella for all
12 players, the three additional players will be treated as EP’s and can freely
substitute into the field. If a player
must leave or is injured, the player is skipped in the batting order without an
automatic out being counted. If a player
arrives late, she is added to the bottom of the batting order as an additional
EP. If Team 1 chooses to bat 10 players
and use normal substitution rules for the remaining two players, 10 players
must remain in the lineup for the entire game.
If one of the players in the lineup gets injured or must leave early, a
bench player must be substituted into the game or an automatic out will be
recorded when the players spot is reached in the batting order. The decision on the number of players in the
lineup must be made prior to the start of the game and can not be changed once
the game starts. If not using Cinderella
batting for all players in attendance, normal substitution rules must be used
to bring players into or out of the lineup.
Starters and substitutes may return to the game one time after removed
from the game. If a player is injured
and no substitute players are eligible to return to the game, the opposing
coach may select the bench player to re-enter.
o
Inning
End (8U, 10U, 12U) - There is a 10 batter limit per inning. The inning will end after 3 outs are recorded
or after 10 batters come to the plate, whichever comes first. The 10th batter will be announced
and will bat as normal. The ensuing play
will be treated as if there were two outs.
There is no 10 batter limit in 14U play.
o
Bunting
(8U) – No bunting is allowed in 8U.
o
Fake Bunting (10U) - Fake bunting and then swinging away is not allowed in
10U play.
·
Base
Running
o
Leading
(8U) – Runners may not leave the base until the ball crosses the plate or is
hit. The runner shall be called out if
she leaves the base early.
o
Leading
(10U, 12U, & 14U) – Runners may lead on the pitcher’s release. The runner shall be called out if she leaves
the base early.
o
Stealing
(8U) – No stealing is allowed.
o
Stealing
(10U) – Runners may steal third base only and can not advance on an overthrow,
even if the ball goes out of play.
Runners can not steal 2nd base or home. Runners on 1st or 3rd
base may not advance on a pickoff attempt from the catcher, even if the ball
goes out of play or if the pitcher misses the throw back from the catcher.
o
Stealing
(12U & 14U) – Stealing is allowed and is unrestricted.
o
Courtesy
Runners (8U) – A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher at any time. The courtesy runner is the last batter to
make an out.
o
Courtesy
Runners (10U, 12U & 14U) – A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher or
catcher at any time. If the team is
using Cinderella batting for all players in attendance, the last player to make
an out must be used as the runner. If a
team is following normal substitution rules for any players, a player that is
not currently in the game must be used as the runner.
o
End
of Play (8U) – Base runners are limited to one base on all batted balls hit in
the infield. Base runners may take
additional bases on all batted balls hit into the outfield. Base running must end at the next base once
the ball is returned to the infield.
o
End
of Play (10U, 12U, & 14U) – The look back rule is in affect once the ball
is secured in the pitching circle. If a
runner is standing on a base once the ball is secured in the pitching circle,
she must not leave the base or will be called out. If the runner is between bases, she is
allowed one stop and then must immediately decide whether to return to the
previous bag or continue on to the next bag.
Dancing between bases once the ball is secured in the circle will result
in the runner being called out. If the
pitcher leaves the circle, fakes a throw, or throws the ball in an attempt to
make a play on the runner, the ball is again live and the runner’s actions are
unrestricted.
o
Continuance
(12U & 14U) - If a batter is awarded a base on balls, she may continue to
second base even if the ball is secured in the circle. However, if the ball is in the circle, the
runner must continue to second base without stopping. If she stops after touching first base
without a play being made on her, she will be called out. Again, a fake throw constitutes a play.
·
Game
Length
o
Innings
(8U, 10U) – Game length will be 6-innings.
Mercy at 12 runs after 4 innings (3 ½ if winning) or 8 runs after 5 (4½
if winning) innings unless coaches want to continue until time limit.
o
Innings
(12U & 14U) – Game length will be 7 innings. Mercy at 12 runs after 4 innings (3 ½ if
winning) or 8 runs after 5 (4½ if winning) innings unless coaches want to
continue until time limit.
o
Time
– The goal is to keep the game length to 2 hours. No new inning should start after 1 hour and
45 minutes. A new inning officially
begins as soon as the third out is recorded in the previous inning. Please choose an official time keeper
(usually the umpire) prior to the game.
Once an inning is started, it should be completed, even if it exceeds
the two hour guideline. Regular season
games can end in a tie. Playoff games
must go to completion. Unless sufficient
notice is given (minimum 24 hours), a team must be able to field 8 eligible
players by game time. There will be a 20
minute grace period. If a team does not have enough players after 20 minutes,
that team forfeits. The teams may then
choose to play a scrimmage.
o
Weather
or darkness – If a game needs to be stopped due to bad weather or darkness
prior to the 1 hour 45 minute no new inning mark, it should be considered
complete if 4 full innings have been played (3 and ½ innings if home team is
leading). This rule will be used for
both regular season and playoff games.
If the game gets stopped prior to 4 innings being completed, must be
started from the beginning at a later date.
·
Miscellaneous
o
Backstop
– Coaches are responsible for keeping the backstop clear of spectators and
players.
o
Lightning
and Thunder – The game should be stopped immediately if any lightning or
thunder is present. The umpire should
stop the game for 30 minutes from the last occurrence.
o
Sportsmanship
– All players will shake hands after the game.
Game Results
The winning
team must email game results to Tony Baldassari at tonyb4@optonline.net within 24 hours of
the game. Please include the date of the
game, the winning and losing team names, and the score. Game results and standings will be posted on
the Denville Softball website (www.denvillesoftball.org)
and kept for playoff seeding. Game
results not emailed by 10:30 pm on July 20 will not be included for playoff
seeding. Click on the “Summer Travel
League” link on the left side of the home page to access the game results and
standings for each division. Teams will
be awarded 3 points for a win, 2 points for a tie, and 1 point for a loss. Teams forfeiting a game will be awarded 0
points. Teams winning by forfeit will be awarded 3 points. Playoff seeding will be based on points
earned. The tie breaker will be head to
head competition, winning percentage, and then coin flip. Runs scored or allowed will not be considered
for seeding.
Make-up
Game Procedure
The home team
must contact the visiting team to find a mutually agreeable makeup date. The home team must provide the field and
umpire. If the home team does not have field
availability, the visiting team may host the game.
End
of Season Tournament
There will
be an end of season tournament with trophies awarded for 1st and 2nd
place. The end of season tournament will
take place between July 23 and July 31.
Please clear your schedules during this time. Teams unable to play on the scheduled date
will forfeit. Playoff games will also
have the 1 hour 45 minute no new inning rule.
However, playoff games can not end in a tie. If the game ends in a tie after the regulation
number of innings or due to the time limit, the international tie breaker will
be used in the subsequent innings until the tie is broken. A runner starts on second base for each extra
inning. The higher seed will host
preliminary playoff rounds. The championship
games will be held in Denville.
Umpires
The home team is the host team must secure the umpire for regular season
games and initial rounds of the playoffs.
Umpires should be carded. The
umpire fee for is $50. Due to blackout
dates and field availability, teams may not have an equal number of home and
away games. Therefore, the home team
must pay the umpire half the fee ($25) and the visiting team must pay the
umpire half the fee for each game ($25).
Please make sure the umpires hired for your home games receive a copy of
the rules in advance and know what age group they will be working with. Please do not argue with the umpires over
judgment calls. If you believe a rule
has been interpreted incorrectly, please call time out and have a conference
with the umpire and the opposing coach to review the rule. Once reviewed, the umpire has the authority
to reverse the call or let it stand. As
with the judgment call, the umpire’s decision is final. If you believe a rule has been interpreted incorrectly,
please contact Tony Baldassari to review the situation. If there was a misinterpretation, a
communication will be sent out to all coaches indicating the situation and the
correct interpretation. That should help
prevent future misinterpretations on the situation in question.
Competition
The
Denville Summer Travel league is intended to be a fun league where both
developing and experienced teams can participate. Please be respectful and courteous to your
opponents. If a game becomes one-sided,
please use that as an opportunity to put your second or third pitcher in the
game.
Behavior
Parents,
players, and coaches must behave appropriately.
Foul language or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Any parent, player, or coach removed from the
game due to poor behavior must leave the area immediately or will result in a
forfeit by their team. Repeated offenses
may result in a team being removed from the league.
Cheering
for team mates can be great fun for the players. It is the coach’s responsibility to keep the
cheers positive. Negative cheers or
screaming out during the pitchers windup in an attempt to distract the pitcher
are not consistent with the spirit of the league.
This league
belongs to the players and the teams that participate. Keep it fun and have a great season.