2024 Woodland Senior Softball Association Rules
1. The spirit and intent of this league and these rules are to encourage close, competitive games; however, every player safety is our utmost concern. ANY PLAYER SLIDING INTO A BASE WILL BE CALLED OUT, however diving back or sliding back to a base is allowed. Base runners must be tagged out when going back to the bag. The five-run rule will be in effect throughout the entire game except for the last inning, the last inning will be played as an open inning.
2. The pitching screen is mandatory and protective pitching gear is advised. The screen must be positioned in front of the pitchers gloved hand; the base of the screen must be in line with one-half of the pitching rubber area. Pitching beyond or outside of the screen area is not allowed. Violation: batter gets first base and all runners advance one base.
3. Game times are 6:30 and 7:45 pm. Games are 60 minutes and will start at the assigned time. If the 60 minutes expires during an inning, complete that inning, and the open inning will follow. TIME PERMITTING, a tie breaking extra inning using international rules will be in effect. The inning will start with one out and the batter who made the last out on second base. The five-run rule will be in place.
4. ANY BATTER THAT HITS THE PITCHING SCREEN TWICE IS OUT!
5. Every player step into the batter’s box with a one and one count: (1 strike and 1 ball). A pitched ball that makes contact with ANY part of the black mat or home plate is a strike. The second foul ball after two strikes is an OUT. The arch of the pitch must be 6 to 12 feet.
6. Defensive players will not tag an INBOUND runner within the vicinity of ANY BAG; the vicinity of the bag is five feet of the base. Base runners can overrun 2nd and 3rd bases without being called out. If the runner overruns a base, they must retouch the overran base to advance or be called out.
7. BASE RUNNERS MUST VEER AWAY FROM EVERY BASE TO AVOID A COLLISION! Incidental contact will happen, but any base runner involved in an OUTRIGHT collision will be called out, EJECTED from the game and will not participate in the next scheduled game.
8. A runner cannot retreat to third base once he passes the commitment line, violation: results in a put out. Runners on first or third will be allowed to move laterally into foul territory for safety from a pull hitter. Runners must tag the base before advancing.
9. Any runner touching the strike mat or home plate will be called out. To be called safe at home a base runner’s foot must make contact with the ground PAST the home plate line. Tagging the runner is not permitted at home base; violation: the runner will be declared safe. The defensive player must touch home plate for a put out.
10. All batters are guaranteed first base if a batted ball reaches the outfield. After reaching first base a courtesy runner will be permitted. Any player on the team can be a courtesy runner but can only run once per inning. If a courtesy runner runs more than once per inning, the runner will be called out when he takes possession of the base. A courtesy runner that is on a base and it is their turn at bat will be declared out; removed from the base and the next batter in the lineup will be due up.
11. Protected batters will be numbers 3 & 4 in the lineup unless specified before each game. The protected batters, if walked, will get two bases and any runners on base will also advance two bases.
12. Any batter 75-years-old or older may have a courtesy runner when batting, defensive players are to play at their regular positions; courtesy runner to be the previous batter in the lineup or last out and must start behind the umpire.
13. NO SHIRT, NO PLAY. All players must wear a team-colored sponsored league shirt. Any player not wearing a league sponsored shirt cannot take the field and WILL NOT PLAY.
14. An equalizer, a ONE-UP OVER THE FENCE home run rule will be in effect. If Team 1 hits an over the fence homerun they cannot hit another homerun until Team 2 hits a homerun. Team 2 can hit 2 homeruns (1 to even homeruns and an additional to go 1 up). If an over the fence homerun is hit before the other team hits one, that homerun will be played as a walk.
15. AT GAME TIME, each team must have 8 players in uniform to officially begin a game. Support players can be added to field a full team of ten; support player to come from the opposing team. If a player is injured during the game and cannot continue, that spot in the batting line up will be skipped and next player will be up. All team players are expected to play. Any team with less than 8 players will forfeit that game.
16. Support/Pickup players will have no defensive restrictions, will bat last and only be allowed a single base. Any runner on base will advance ONLY IF FORCED. No base runner can advance on a sacrifice fly and a support/pickup player cannot be a protected batter.
17. For plays at first base the defensive player must use the WHITE bag and the runner must use the ORANGE bag. Any interference at first base and the runner did not utilize the orange bag, he will be called out.
18. Teams are responsible for retrieving and returning all foul balls and home runs. After the last game relocking all screen doors on each field, tending and locking up the pitcher’s screen, policing the dugouts and field, then returning all game equipment to the league’s storage shed. League officials will ensure that the softball complex is secured for the night.
19. Flip flops will be allowed but both managers must agree. Game score to be 15 runs or more during the open inning and the losing team can tie but cannot win on a flip flop.
20. All outfielders are to be positioned BEHIND the co-ed line until the ball has been batted. Violation: batter advances to second base.
21. All rules not covered in this body will be governed by the current N.C.S.S.A. and A.S.A. softball rules.
Revised January 30, 2024