NO ALCOHOL ON THE FIELDS OR IN THE DUGOUT. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE CITY RULES REGARDING THE SPECIFIC FIELD YOU ARE PLAYING ON!!

MEN’S 30 and Over SOFTBALL RULES

1. TEAM ROSTERS: All players, including added players during the season, must sign their team's roster/waiver BEFORE they start to play.  If a player is not signed in on the roster before the playoffs, then they are not eligible for the playoffs. Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by SFCS staff.  It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their line-up card are eligible players for all games.

1. AGE: All but two players on the roster must be 30 years old or older. A team is allowed to carry two players between the ages of 25 and 29.

2. RAINOUTS: Please check the website or register to receive text alerts from our rainoutline.com app here: http://rainoutline.com/search/dnis/7863733122

1. Rainouts are automatically rescheduled to the end of the season and playoffs will be moved back.  SFCS reserves the right to cancel partial seasons based on excessive rainouts.

STOPPAGE GAME TIMES:

Being in South Florida, we do happen to experience our fair share of weather issues.  Game stoppage could be for any reason that prevents us from finishing a game (weather, lightning, lights malfunction, running out of time on the field, park error, injury….etc).  Games that are in progress will be considered a legal game and score based on the following rules:

• Softball -  Games will last 7 innings or 55 minutes, whichever comes first.  A new inning starts when the last out is completed. Weather may force some games to end early.  All innings in progress after 55 minutes will be completed.  4 innings is a legal game (teams may tie, except for playoffs).  Prior to that the game will be restarted at 0-0 from scratch
• Flag Football - A legal game will be considered played past the 5th minute in the 2nd half of a game.  Prior to that the game will be restarted from 0-0 with full time.
• Soccer - A legal game will be scored if time reaches past 5 minutes in the 2nd half of the game.  Prior to that - the match will restart from 0-0 with full time.
• Kickball - Games will last 55 minutes for as many innings that can be played.  A legal game will be called after 30 minutes of play or 6 innings played.   Prior to that the game will be restarted at 0-0 from scratch.  
• Ultimate Frisbee - A legal game will be scored if time reaches past 5 minutes in the 2nd half of the game.  Prior to that - the match will restart from 0-0 with full time.

3. LINEUP/BATTING

1. BATTING LINEUPS: Lineups must be presented to the umpire before each game by game time.  Once the lineup cards have been submitted to the umpire, they become official and you may add players to the bottom only. All substitutions must be given to the umpire as being made.
2. BATTING ORDER: Teams may bat up to 14 players. Teams batting less than 10 batters will not receive an automatic out for those missing spots.  They will be forced to play short in the field.  
3. MINIMUM PLAYERS: A minimum of 8 players from the team's roster must be present 10 minutes after game time or the team will forfeit the game. (Game clock WILL start at scheduled game time).  
4. LATE PLAYERS: Any players arriving after the first pitch of the game (not already placed on the line-up card) must be placed at the end of the batting order. If the player bats in any other spot, it is considered an automatic out. Captains must notify umpire of any changes to line-up cards.
5. INJURED PLAYERS: If a player is injured during a game, captain must notify umpire to remove injured player from lineup card with no additional penalty. An injured player that has been removed from lineup cannot return to the game.
6. PICKUP PLAYERS: Pick-up players are NOT allowed during the playoffs. Any pickup players during the regular season must be signed on a SFCS roster for another team for that particular night/location. Failure to do so, even if discovered after the fact, may result in a forfeit. Pickups must be brought to the attention of the umpire BEFORE the game or may be assessed a 4 run per pick-up player penalty. Teams may pick-up up to two players at no penalty in order to field a minimum team number.  If more players from your team show up to allow subs, the free pickup player must be removed.

 ANYONE CAUGHT USING ILLEGAL PLAYERS DURING PLAYOFFS WILL FORFEIT THEIR GAME AUTOMATICALLY.

7. FORFEITS: Forfeit time is 10 minutes after game time. Umpire calls game time. If a team forfeits twice within the season they may not be allowed to play in the playoffs. A forfeit will be counted as a 7-0 win.

4. GAME PLAY

1. THE COUNT: Each batter starts with 1 Ball & 1 Strike
2. PITCHING WITH A "strike mat" - will be used to determine balls and strikes. If the softball touches any part of the mat on a legal pitch (6'-12'), it will be considered a strike. Pitches touching any part of the plate WILL BE considered a strike as well (Because of the small size of the strike mat and the difficulty of pitching, the strike zone includes the plate to promote teams to swing more and give pitchers a larger target).
3. GAME TIMES: Games will last 7 innings or 55 minutes, whichever comes first.  A new inning starts when the last out is completed. Weather may force some games to end early.  All innings in progress after 55 minutes will be completed.  4 innings is a legal game (teams may tie, except for playoffs).
4. FIELDING RATIOS: A full defense of ten players would be 10 men.
5. COURTESY RUNNERS: Players requesting a courtesy runner must do so BEFORE their at bat. NOTE: Umpires and/or SFCS staff can overrule courtesy runners to ensure fair play. COURTESY Runners are for players who could be injured or were injured running to the base.  There is no “PINCH RUNNER”.  Runners will be the same last out (or furthest in lineup card if no out).

1. You are only allowed two courtesy runners per inning

6. NO DESIGNATED FIELDERS: Any player playing the field must bat at some point during the game and must be on the batting lineup card while in the field (may share a spot).
7. 10 RUN RULE: When a team brings in the 10th run of the inning, it is counted and is also the 3rd out. In the final 10 minutes of the game (or the 7th inning), the 10 runs per inning rule does not apply (unless the team that has scored 10 runs is up by 20 or more runs). This DOES NOT apply during playoffs (see below).
8. MERCY RULE: There is a 15-run mercy rule after 4 innings. There is a 10-run mercy rule after 5 innings
9. FOUL BALLS: Batters are OUT on 3rd strike fouls.  No courtesy fouls
10. RUNNERS: Stealing bases and "leading" is not allowed (will result in an out). SLIDING IS PERMITTED.  If the ball beats a runner to a forced-out base in time to peel off, the runner must do so or both runners may be called out.

1. Runners are allowed to stand off 1st or 3rd base (adjacent) if concerned about being hit by a line drive from a batter.  Runners cannot advance until ball is put in play and runners must touch the base to continue advancing.  (This is an unwritten rule, but common practice for safety concerns).  - NEW ADDED 4/29/16

10. HOME RUNS. Each team may hit a total of 3 out of the park home runs, every home run after that will be an out. Each team is responsible for retrieving their homerun balls. On an over the fence home run, base runners and batter do not need to advance any bases.
11. GROUND RULE DOUBLES:

1. DAVE POSNAK JCC: If a batted ball is hit into the left field net, will be ruled an automatic double.  All runners advance 2 bases from their start.
2. FLAMINGO PARK: Any batted ball hit into front face of the center field tree, it will be ruled a double.  

12. RETRIEVING BALLS OUT OF PLAY: If all available softballs are hit out of play, the umpires are given the right to call balls and strikes on the offending teams if balls are not brought back into play on a timely manner causing a delay in the game.
13. POSITION OF FIELDERS: A defensive player may not impede a runner’s progress by standing in the baseline, unless the defensive player is fielding a batted ball. In this instance the defensive player has the right to field it and the runner must avoid contact with the fielder.  A defensive player may not block a base unless they have possession of the ball. Defensive players must catch the ball, block the base, then make the tag- in this order. Blocking of the bag without the ball shall result in an obstruction call, a warning to the offending player, and the runner will be awarded the base. In games where an orange "extra base" is being used at first base players must step on the orange base when overrunning first base, or when there is a legitimate play at first base (ball still in the infield).  Players stepping on the white base in these instances may be called out.  Balls that have gotten past the infielders and have reached the outfield will allow the runner to touch the white base in an attempt to advance to second base.  When in doubt runners should touch the orange base to avoid being called out.

5. PLAYER CONDUCT 

1. DISPUTES AND PROTESTS: In a disputed play, only the team captain may discuss the play with the umpire. If a protest is made by the team captain, the captain must notify the umpire and opposing team captain before the next pitch.
2. EJECTIONS:  Players ejected from any league may be required to serve a one game suspension pending league review (this may include a 2nd game of a night if a team has a doubleheader and is the call of SFCS field staff). Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in multi-game suspensions or ejection from the league altogether. Verbal abuse of officials or players, fighting, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.
3. FAKE TAGS AND VERBAL/PHYSICAL DISTRACTIONS: No fake tag outs or yelling at a defensive player as they are making a play will be allowed. Doing so MAY result in the runner being called safe (fake tags) or out (verbal distraction) and possible ejection of the offending player.
4. THROWING BATS: Intentionally throwing the bat in anger or frustration after your turn up to bat will result in an automatic out for the batter and may result in player’s ejection, upon umpire's discretion.
5. PROFANITY: Profanity will not be tolerated and may be grounds for players being called out or ejected on the discretion of the umpire.
6. ALCOHOL is prohibited from all City & County parks unless others noted.  Teams caught drinking are risking the permit for everyone in the league.  Head to the bar after the game and don’t be “THAT GUY” that screws everyone else out of being able to play.  This could lead to a warning or forfeiting of games and possible team removal.

6. PLAYOFFS

1. FORMAT: Tournament is single elimination with seeding based on regular season standings. All teams make the tournament.
2. SEEDING: Tournament seeding will be based on the following criteria (based on won-lost percentage where applicable): 1) winning percentage, 2) head-to-head play (if 3 or more teams are tied this means head to head record amongst all tied teams),  3) Overall Run Differential for the season 4)  Overall runs scored  5) coin flip.
3. EXTRA INNINGS: There will be extra innings during tournament games where play ends in a tie. Extra innings will start with a runner on second base (base runner is the one who made the last out in the previous inning).
4. UNLIMITED RUNS: There is no 10 run per inning rule.  A team may score an unlimited number of runs per inning.
5. MERCY RULE: There is a 10 run mercy rule after 5 innings.
6. TIMED GAMES: All games will be 55 minutes in length (or 7 innings).  Games will still be subject to the rainout rule.
7. ELIGIBLE PLAYERS: All players, including added players, must sign their team's roster/waiver BEFORE the end of their team's fourth regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament. If a player is not signed in on the roster by then, they are not eligible for the tournament. Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by SFCS staff.  It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players in their line-up card are eligible players for all games.
8. REGULAR SEASON 8th GAME: sometimes a team may play more than the 7 regular season games due to an odd number of teams.  If the team plays an 8th game the score stats and win/loss for the 8th game will count toward standings for that team (not just the team with 7 games).
9. 11/4/13 NEW RULE--Dugouts are reserved for players only.  Spectators will be removed at umpire’s discretion.

7. EQUIPMENT

1. BATS

1. Bats must either bear the ASA 2000/2004 certification mark and not appear on the ASA non-approved bat list, or, in the umpire’s opinion, be manufactured prior to 2000.  This information can be found at http://www.softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp.  Bats must be free of cracks or dents, and the end cap must be securely fastened to the barrel.  Tool marks, pins, and rough/sanded barrels will constitute an illegal/altered bat.
2. PENALTY: The first time a team comes to the plate with an illegal bat, the batter is considered out and opposing team awarded 3 bonus runs. The second time the team uses an illegal bat, the batter is out and ejected with possible league suspension.  Each individual is responsible for using legal bats. SFCS and the umpires reserve the right to disallow a bat should it be thought the bat may have been doctored.  If a bat is used and proven to be doctored (i.e. painted over, "corked", shaved, etc) this will result in the immediate ejection of the person using the bat and the owner of the bat, and the owner/user may possibly be suspended for the remainder of the season or longer, as this is a safety issue.

2. Helmets are used at the discretion of each team.  Batters, runners, and infielders are permitted to wear a helmet or face guard for safety purposes.  Teams/players are responsible for supplying their own helmets.
3. GLOVES: Players may use any type of softball/baseball glove.  
4. CLEATS: No metal spikes are allowed. Wearing metal cleats is an ejectable offense.
5. JEWELRY: No jewelry can be worn during the games, for the safety of all players.

8. ROSTER MANAGEMENT

1. If you have NOT paid the team price, Club Sport has the right to add to your team until you reach the advertised maximum number of players. If you wish to have less you may buy extra roster spots. If you wish to have more you may as long as players have not been added. If you have made a team payment, you can have up to 14 players on your team roster. Any additions above this number must pay $10 BEFORE playing or the team may forfeit their game. Teams registering individually will pay a pro-rated amount depending on when the player signs on. Players that have already signed the roster may not be replaced: once they have signed, they are locked into that roster spot for the entire season.  Any team that has registered as individuals must get permission from SFCS office staff to add more than the roster maximum.
   REFUNDS: Club Sport is not responsible for any refunds at any time during the season. Only players that have not signed the roster may be replaced and it is the responsibility of the player to make compensation arrangements with the team or player if replaced after the start of the season.

If you are having difficulty interpreting the rules, please ASK!  ALL UMPIRE RULINGS ARE FINAL