The 2005 season will be played under the following rules and regulations:
1. Every team is required to send the team manager [or representative] that is on the roster to the managers’ meeting. Meetings will be held every other Saturday at 1:00 P.M. at the above address. The league will give plenty of notice if the day, location or time will be changed. Certain exceptions will be made for representatives that are not on the roster (i.e., team sponsors). This must be approved by the league president, vice president and council.
2. Any team that is not represented will be fined $20.00. The manager will have to sit out two games outside the dugout in uniform or pay a $40.00 fine with no game suspensions. The league will determine if their absence is excused (proof may be required).
3. If a manager or representative arrives late, they will be fined $15.00 that will be due at the day of the meeting. This payment should be made to the league assistant before end of the meeting. Starting time will be 1:00 P.M. with a 10 minute grace period. No Exceptions.
4. Although we allow drinking during the meeting, we expect all managers or representatives to act in a professional and courteous manner during the meeting. No obscene language or behavior will be allowed during the meeting. Any person found doing so will be asked not to participate in the meeting and fined $20.00. This will also count as a no-show without the possibility of paying the fine to be able to play.
5. A two dollar donation will be asked from all representatives at the time of the meeting. Although this is not mandatory, we ask that all teams participate in order pay for club house expenses used for our meetings. The two dollar donation will also entitle the representative the chance to participate in a raffle in which the representative will have the opportunity to win a cash prize or other prize.
1. Every team is required to present the following to the umpire before game time:
Once the Identification Cards have been turned over to the umpire, no changes will be accepted. Any changes that are made to the starting players will cause them to be ineligible for the entire game.
2. The Designated Hitter (DH) must be announced prior to the start of the game. Once the DH is in the game, the DH must come up to bat at least one time prior to being removed from the position. The DH may come in for defense but can only be replaced by a player on the bench. If the DH cannot be replaced for whatever reason, he will be called out on his scheduled at bat one time only. (See official softball rule book for clarification of Designated Hitter rule).
Amendment: Amended February 22, 2006
3. The color of the shirt and uniform must be the same for the entire team. Logos and letters must all be the same except for the back of the uniform or shirt. Baseball pants must be worn. (No sweats allowed). The color of the baseball pants do not have to be the same. Some form of number identifying the player must be present anywhere on the uniform shirt.
Amendment: Amended June 10, 2005
4. Undershirts that are worn under sleeveless jerseys do not have to be the same color.
5. No metal cleats will be allowed. NO EXCEPTIONS. Any player found doing so will be automatically ejected. No warning is needed.
6. A team must have nine players present at game time or it will be a forfeit. The official game time is determined by the umpire’s time. Teams will only be allowed to finish a game with eight players if it is due to injury. An ejection with only nine players present will be an automatic forfeit. You must always begin with nine players. NO EXCEPTIONS.
7. Any player that steps foot on the field once the game has started with the wrong uniform will be ejected from the game. (Umpire will be allowed to use discretion).
8. Catchers do not have to wear a hat on the field but must prove that they have one available. The umpire may ask that the hat is hung up in the dugout in a visible location.
9. Only a team manager or designated team captain may question a call made by the umpire. Any other player doing so is subject to being ejected without prior warning from the umpire.
10. All players must be in the dugout during the game. Any player found outside the dugout for an extended period of time will not be allowed to return to the game.
11. Any player that is removed from the game for a substitution may not re-enter the game. Any player that is found doing so will be suspended for one game and the manager will be fined $50.00. If the player completes an at bat or steps foot defensively before being noticed, this will be cause for a forfeiture of the game.
12. Both balls will be used in the first inning. One ball will be used in the top and one in the bottom of the inning.
13. There is a 10 minute grace period for the first game only. The umpire should use his best discretion before calling a forfeit (i.e., player is visible, in parking lot or running to the field).
14. All games, regardless of the time of the game, will have a two hour limit or will be 9 innings. If the game has gone the 9 innings and is under the time limit, the umpire can allow the game to continue using his best judgment. An extra umpire fee will be charged for extra innings.
15. The mercy rule will be in effect throughout the regular season only (15 run lead).
16. No special arrangements are to be made between managers in regards to any league rule. Any manager found doing so will be fined and the game will be considered a loss for both teams. Any umpire that agrees to a manager arrangement will also be fined and suspended for one day. There may be certain circumstances that this rule may not apply. If an agreement is made between umpire and both managers, the umpire must obtain a signature from both managers, including the umpire and a statement describing why it was allowed. The umpire must utilize his best judgment when doing so.
1. All protests must be brought to the umpire’s attention at the time of an incident or circumstance. The team then has up to the 9th inning to turn in its protest in writing with a $15.00 protest fee. The umpire must notify the opposing team that the game is being played under protest immediately after he is notified. The protest will be discussed at the following managers’ meeting. If the team protesting fails to turn in his money or protest in writing before the end of the game, the protest will be invalid. All parties involved must appear at the meeting for the protest. Only the team manager or captain on the roster may discuss the protest. Failure to appear from the team will automatically favor the opposing team. If the protesting team wins the protest, the $15.00 fee will be refunded.
2. Team players or managers will not discuss the protest with league officials before the meeting. Failure to follow this rule will also cause the loss of the protest.
3. A protest made against an umpire for the interpretation of a rule or unjust ejection does not necessarily require the umpire to be present at the managers’ meeting. This will be determined by the league.
4. A protest will be handled in the following manner: Protest will be handed to umpire with the $15.00 protest fee. Umpire will turn in the protest and fee to league president or vice-president. The protest will be read at the following managers’ meeting. It will not be up for discussion. The protest will then be scheduled for review by the appointed league council. The council will have the final decision along with the input from the league president and vice president. The final decision will be announced at the following meeting. The council’s decision is final at the time of the meeting and will not be up for discussion. The league president and vice-president cannot overturn a council’s decision. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Note: Certain circumstances may require immediate attention to a matter before a meeting is held. The league holds the right to determine when that is necessary and will give the explanation for doing so at the meeting.
1. The League may postpone any game with at least a 48 hour notice due to circumstances beyond its control.
2. No games will be rescheduled or scheduled at certain times for special needs of the team. If the team is not able to appear to an already scheduled game it will be considered a forfeit. If both team managers agree on a mutual postponement and it is approved by the league, it will be allowed.
3. In case of rain, you can contact the league president at (323) 574-1207 to find out if the fields are in playing condition. In certain circumstances the league officials will contact the managers to notify them of any cancellations due to rain. The first scheduled team will have to be present if they have not received any notice of cancellation.
4. Games will be played at the umpire’s discretion (i.e., field conditions, rain, wet field, etc.). No decision is needed by league officials.
5. Any games suspended for any reason will be made up at the end of the season. The schedules will remain the same and if possible we will schedule double headers during the season to make up those postponed games.
1. The league holds the right to suspend any player that it feels has violated any rule or has acted in a demeanor not acceptable by the league.
2. All fines must be paid no later then the following game after it was issued. Failure to do so may result in the forfeit of that game regardless if the fine is for a certain individual. Fines may be doubled if they are not paid accordingly.
3. Having illegal players participate during the season that are not on the roster will be cause for the ejection of the entire team for the season.
4. Any player that commits unsportsmanlike conduct determined by the umpire will be ejected for that game only, unless the player persists. If the umpire should turn in a report about the player the league will then determine his punishment at the following managers’ meeting. Depending on the severity, the player may be suspended before the managers’ meeting by the league officials. If no report is made the players punishment will end that same game of ejection and would be eligible to play the following scheduled game.
5. Any player that has been banned by the league for severe circumstances has the right to appear before the managers at the meeting to appeal the leagues decision. The league managers will determine if he should return to the league or decide the severity of his punishment.
6. Players or members drinking out of a bottle at any park will be fined $10.00 per bottle.
7. Any team leaving trash behind in the dugouts or its area will be fined $10.00. This fine will double each time that it is committed.
8. No player is allowed to drink alcohol before or during the game. Any player found doing so will be ejected from that game and fined $10.00.
9. Any player or member urinating in public will be suspended for two games and fined $50.00.
10. No player or league member should confront or argue league decisions to a league official unless they are present at a managers’ meeting and is with his team manager. Any player found doing so will be fined and suspended depending on the severity.
11. The league holds a zero tolerance for team fights or brawls on or off the field. This goes for any individual fight as well. If two players are involved in a fight the player who throws the first punch will automatically be suspended for two games. The player(s) suspended does not need to be present on the field during his suspension. Depending on the circumstances, the player that returns the punch will be suspended for one game. The umpire may determine how many other players will also face fines or suspensions. Automatic fine for more then one player on the same team involved in a fight (i.e., bench-clearing brawl) will be$200.00, regardless of who started the fight.
12. Umpires are not to be threatened, ridiculed, physically assaulted, spit on or any other inappropriate behavior. Any player found doing so will be subject from being banned from the league regardless of the circumstances (Council decision). Umpires fall under the same criteria towards players or managers.
1. Any team having two consecutive forfeits or three in one season will be removed for the season. The league council holds the right to determine if the team will be allowed to continue the season.
2. A team from a lower division is only allowed three players from a higher division before it is forced to move up a division. The league will also determine what division a team should be placed in depending on the team’s performance regardless of the players or division that it is in.
3. The base runners may only advance after the ball has been released from the pitchers arm.
4. The runner may advance if the ball has gone behind the catcher in between the lines that have been designated. If the ball goes out the lines after hitting the backstop, it is still a live ball.
5. Teams may have up to 18 players on the roster but must notify the league which two players are not eligible to play. Only 16 are allowed as eligible players.
6. Teams may continue to add players to their roster until the beginning of the second round unless approved by the league and providing that you do not have a full roster.
7. Any team that forfeits a game must pay both teams’ umpire fees unless the opposing team agrees to play a practice game of 5 innings in which they will both split the entire umpire fee.
8. 1st place will be considered home team throughout the playoffs. The championship game will be decided by a coin toss. Fields will be determined by the league or will be raffled off.
9. The league umpires must be aware of each and every league rule and should always carry a copy with them.
See Amendment Dated 2/28/02.
The rules and regulations are subject to change depending on the need or circumstances of the league. The league holds the rights to add, amend or modify any rule during the season. The league will only accept suggestions on changes or amendments at the managers’ meeting. Any change will be presented at a managers’ meeting along with the attached amendment or documentation once it has been approved.
Umpires will use their best discretion in enforcing the rules and regulations. Umpire’s that are unable to do so will be fined, suspended or removed from their duties.
Any memos or minutes from managers’ meetings that are placed on paper will be honored as official rules. It will be the sole responsibility of the manager or representative to ask for copies of the mangers’ meeting minutes or memos. All information will be placed on the league web-site.