Softball

Softball (5.55)

1. The schedule will be played in the Spring.

2. Eligibility lists must be submitted to the SHSAA web site twenty – four (24) hours prior to each teams first league game. Rural schools, Notre Dame and Greenall, must also submit a copy to the RHSAA Office.

3. The RHSAA will provide the home plate umpire for all games. In play-offs two umpires will be hired.

4. The Spalding 1775, Dudley SB12L and Wilson A9110 (Green) are acceptable for league games.     The Worth Red Dot ball will be used for the City Championships

5. S.A.F.A. rules will apply with the following exceptions:
- Games will be a maximum of five innings with no inning starting after 5:20 pm.
- For play-off games the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be five complete innings. City final will be 7 innings and the bronze medal game will be 5 innings..
- Game time - 4:00 pm (If a team is not prepared by 4:15 pm the game is forfeited).
- No metal cleats.
- Three innings constitute a game in bad weather.
- Tie games are left as ties - Win (2); Tie (1); Loss (0) (regular season only).
- Any game ejections must be reported to the Commissioner the next day.
- Re-scheduled games policy:
- The home team is responsible to set the date.
- The game should be played the next day if at all possible.
- All re-scheduled games must be played before the scheduled start of the play-offs.
- If the coaches cannot agree on a date to play the re-scheduled game the Commissioner should be contacted.
- It is mandatory that catchers, batters and runners wear helmets with functioning chin straps.

6. DP - DEFOE Rule
- The DP and DEFOE cannot be on offence at the same time.
- The DP cannot be on defense only.
- There is no substitute unless a player leaves the batting order.
- The DEFOE may go in on offence for the original DP only.
- The DEFOE can go in for the original DP position as many times as the lineup permits.
ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION
a) any unannounced substitution
b) a defensive only player (DEFOE) that subs for any player other than the DP
c) use of a DP not originally on approved line-up
Penalty: This is an appeal play by offended team. When ruled ineligible, player is REMOVED from the game and can only participate as a coach.
ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY
a) starting player, including DP or DEFOE who re-enters twice
b) starting player who re-enters into different batting order
c) substitute player who re-enters the game
Penalty: EJECTION of coach (whose name appears on line-up card) and player in violation.

RULE 4.3
1. 10 players must be listed on the starting line-up.
2. May bat in any position from one through nine.
3. 10th player listed in the line-up plays defence only. (DEFOE)
4. DP/DEFOE may be substituted for at any time.
5. The DEFOE may pinch it, pinch run for or replace the DP.
6. The DP/DEFOE may re-enter the game one time.
7. The DP/DEFOE may be suspended but never terminated.
8. The DP can play defence for any defensive player.
9. The DP and DEFOE cannot play offence at the same time.
10. The DP can never play defence only.
11. If the DP plays defence, that person becomes the temporary DP.

7. In case of tied in the league standings, ties will be broken as follows:
- The team that won between the tied teams.
- The team with the most wins between the tied teams.
- The team with the best for and against, among the tied teams only (seven run maximum rule).
- The team with the best for and against, among all teams (seven run maximum rule).
- Any other possibilities to be handled by the Commissioner and coaches involved.

8. League Structure (2008):
The league will be consist of two divisions:

Large School Division - Balfour, Campbell, Thom, Riffel, Knoll and
Leboldus

Small School Division - O'Neill, Miller, Luther, Balgonie, Martin,
Sheldon, Notre Dame, Johnson

9. Play-off Structure:

The league will consist of two divisions - Large School and Small School. Each division will compete in their respective City Championship.

Playoff Format
Playoff structure will be determined by the number of teams in each division. The minimum number of teams in either division is six (6).

Should a playoff game end in a tie after regulation play the International Tie Breaker will be used. The last out of the previous inning will start at second base in the extra inning(s) and the game continues until a winner is declared.

10. Home Team Responsibilities:

- Diamond
- New Ball
- Base Umpire
- Explanation of the ground rules to the visitors

11. Mercy Rule for 7 inning games, 10 up after five.
When a team is ahead by 15 or more runs after three innings, whether it is a league or playoff game and including the bronze medal game the mercy rule will come into effect. The game may continue until 5:20 PM if both coaches are in agreement. The score after three innings is reported.

12. Pitching distance will be 40 feet.

13. Home Team definition - City Final
· The Home Team will be the team with the best record.
· The Home Team in the final will be decided by a flipof a coin if the two teams have identical records. Otherwise the team with the best winning record (% or otherwise) will be declared the home team.

14. If in any league or playoff game all eligible substitute players have been used and a player is injured then, rather a forfeiture of the game, the injured player may be replaced by one of the players on the bench who is currently not playing.

Revised Jan 2007