New Coast Senior Softball League Rules

Revised 9/13/2024

(Regulation SSUSA Senior Softball Rule 2019-20 shall be used if not specified in the following playing rules) SSUSA weblink: https://s3.amazonaws.com/my.llfiles.com/00319712/SSUSA_RuleBook_2019-20.pdf

Section 1: Player Conduct

A. Requirements

     1.   The first line of enforcement will be the manager. All offenders are to be addressed immediately.

2. Players may NOT ARGUE with umpires. The team’s manager should handle disagreements with the umpire or the opposing manager.

3.   Verbal abuse, such as taunting the opposing team or umpires, is not acceptable behavior. The manager will warn the offender(s). Friendly, good-natured needling of opponents is okay.

4. ANY AGRESSIVE PHYSICAL CONTACT OR THREATS to opponents, fans, or players is forbidden. Any player touching any other person in a hostile manner will be ejected from the game and suspended by the Manager(s) for at least the next game or until such time the Board can meet and decide on further action. Punishment can range from a one game suspension up to a lifetime ban from the league based on the seriousness of the offense and/or prior unacceptable conduct/offenses.

5.   Any players responding to physical contact by touching another person in a hostile manner will also be ejected & face the same penalties listed in #4 above.

     6.  Managers, assistants, and players MAY NOT yell at, scream, swear at, or verbally abuse their TEAMMATES.

7.   Suspension will be issued by the Board after collecting information from all parties involved, especially from the managers of the teams involved. The Board’s decision will be final. ANY situation not covered by the rules will be referred to the Board for action. All rule infractions will be reported to the Board within 1 week.

Section 2: Field and Equipment

A.  Protective Equipment

    1.  Players are encouraged to wear protective equipment appropriate to their position, abilities, physical impairments, and/or for general safety.

B. Bats

   1.  All female players regardless of age and male players turning 80 years of age in said calendar year, may use any bat, including those in Appendix A.

       2.  All other male players may only use bats endorsed with the ASA 2000, 2004 or 2013 Certification label as shown below        which must be clearly visible on the bat and/or have a BPF of 1.20 or less.

   3.  Bats with or without an ASA label that have a BPF greater than 1.20 or appear in Appendix A are not permissible by any male player under 80.

   4.  If a player uses an illegal bat and it is so determined prior to the first pitch to the next batter, the batter shall be out, and all runners shall return to their original base(s).

C.  Balls

   1.   All teams shall use the approved softballs with 0 .44 CORE, 375 compression bought by the league.

   2.   The Home team manager is responsible for providing one new ball and a good condition backup ball for the start of the game.

D. Pitching Screens

      1.    Pitching screens are mandatory.

   2.  The pitcher is to pitch from a position such that after the ball is released the pitching screen protects him/her from the batted ball.

   3. The pitching screen will be placed 43’ from the back point of fixed home plate and placed to protect the pitcher’s position in the pitching box that extends from 43’ to 53’ from the back of the plate. (See Attachment B).

   4.   At the start of an inning the edge the pitching screen must be aligned with the opposite edge of the pitching rubber from the side the pitcher pitches from. The screen must remain on that side of the rubber for the entire half inning unless there is a pitching change.

   5.   The pitcher shall pitch from behind the 43’ line. If the pitcher steps past the 43’ line he/she should be warned by the umpire and any subsequent violations should be called an illegal pitch and a ball.

      6.   If a batted ball hits the screen, it is a strike. If it is the 3rd strike, the batter is out.

   7.  If a thrown ball gets lodged in the screen, it is dead and runners will be awarded the base they were going to, by the umpire determination.

      8.    If it hits the screen without getting lodged in the net, it is a live ball. 

E. Wet Bag Rule

      1.     Managers shall announce to all players prior to the start of the game any wet or loose bags rules.

   2.     If a base is not secured properly or if it is wet, a runner is not obligated to touch that base to advance.

F.     Home Plate Mat

      1.     The home plate mat shall be aligned with the front and sides of fixed home plate.

      2.     The home plate mat shall be 17 “by 35”.

G.   Field Setup

  1.  The home team manager is to assign someone to set up the field starting no later than 9:00 am.

  2.  The field should be laid out exactly as shown In Attachment B.

Section 3: Starting the Game

A.    Number of Players

  1.  Under normal circumstances the game will be played with 11 players – which includes 4 outfielders, 7 infielders (including a rover).

  2.  Teams on defense shall be allowed, but not be required, to utilize 12 position players. The 12 players shall consist of five  outfielders and 7 infielders (including a rover) -see 3C.

  3.   Managers must agree, prior to the game, to any imbalance in the numbers of players on the field. If no agreement is reached teams will play with the same number of players.

  4.   Managers can mutually decide, prior to the game, to close a part of the outfield when there are less than 10 players. A new foul line will be defined by cones. All balls that remain in the infield are fair balls regardless of where the new foul line is drawn. Any ball that reaches the grass shall be declared a foul ball based on the new foul line.    

      5. Games are 9 innings unless mutually agreed by managers except when it reaches 11:45, then the next inning becomes the last and unlimited inning.

B.    Lineup

   1.    Managers can agree prior to the game to assign active players from one team to another. All managers shall participate in assigning potential league players (“walkups”) to teams requiring players to maintain team balance.

   2.    If one team assigns any of their players to the opposing team the players assigned will bat for the opposing team.

   3.    A team can loan a player(s) to the opposing team to fill only defensive positions, e.g., a catcher, and such players will continue to bat for their own team.

      4.    Players from other teams or potential league players shall be added to the bottom of the batting lineup.

   5.    If an error in batting order is discovered while the incorrect batter is at bat, the correct batter may take his place and legally assume any balls and strikes. The offensive team may correct a wrong batter at the plate with no penalty. The defensive team forfeits its right to appeal batting out of order when one legal or illegal pitch has been made to the following batter.

C. Rover

1. The Rover may play anywhere unless a team is using 12 players on defense (5 outfielders).

2.   If a team has 12 players on defense, the Rover must play on the dirt until the ball is hit. This doesn’t prevent the Rover making a play on the grass once the ball is hit.

3. If the Rover fields the ball on the grass no play can be made at first.

D. Outfielder Positions

     1.   Outfielders are required to maintain a distance from the infield, so that any struck ball has a chance to clear the infield and become a hit.

2.   On Tidelands field #1, all outfielders must remain on the grass until the ball is hit.

3.   On Tidelands field #4, all outfielders must remain 15 feet back of the grass.

4. This distance is approximately the same on both fields.

5. Outfielders may charge onto the dirt infield after the ball is hit and put it into play.

Section 4: Scoring

A.    Runs

     1. Once a team scores 5 runs, the half inning is over regardless of the number of outs and the other team shall come up to bat except in the following situations:

a.     Catch-up rule: If, in any inning, except the 9th, a team is behind by 10 runs or more,  in the same inning as the opposing team, it may continue to bat beyond the “5 runs per inning” until the trailing team ties the opposing team or commits 3 outs; whichever comes first.

b.     The 9th inning (or if the managers agree an alternative last inning; for example, 7th inning) is an opening inning for both teams and there is no limit to the number of runs that can be scored except that once the Home Team goes ahead the game is over.

B.    Flip-Flop Rule

     1. If the Visiting Team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs after completion of the eighth inning, the Home Team will always remain at-bat and start a new at-bat (beginning their ninth inning at-bat). All base runners will return to the dugout, and it will be an open inning.

a. If the Home Team fails to tie or pull ahead of the Visiting Team, the game ends and the Visiting Team wins.

b. If the Home Team ties or goes ahead, the Visiting Team will bat.

     2. If the Home Team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs after completion of the top half of the eighth inning, the Visiting Team will always remain at-bat and start a new at-bat (beginning their ninth inning at-bat). All base runners will return to the dugout, and it will be an open inning.

a. If the Visiting Team fails to tie or pull ahead of the Home Team, the game ends and the Home Team wins.

b.     If the Visiting Team ties or goes ahead, the Home Team will bat their 8th inning and, if necessary, their 9th inning.

Section 5: Pitched and Thrown Balls

A.    Pitched Ball

1. A pitched ball must at the maximum of the arc, be between six to twelve feet.

     2. If the pitched ball is not between six to twelve feet at the maximum of its height the umpire should immediately declare the pitch illegal (flat or high before the ball reaches the plate) to make it clear to the batter the pitch will be called a ball if the batter does not swing. The umpire’s call doesn’t prevent the batter from swinging at the pitch.

B. Overthrows -Out of Play

     1. If an overthrown ball goes out of play, regardless of who made the throw, all base runners are awarded the base they were going to and one additional base, based on when the ball went out of play.

     2. If a runner is returning to a base and the ball is overthrown and goes out of play, the runner is awarded that base and one additional base, based on when the ball went out of play.

Section 6: Base Running

A. Interference

1.  It is the RUNNER’S responsibility to avoid a path to the base and colliding with the defender on a base. A runner that collides with the defensive player may be called out if in the umpire’s judgement the runner could have avoided the collision.

2.   A runner who deliberately runs into a defensive player or a thrown ball shall be ruled automatically out.

3. To avoid collisions, a base runner shall not run directly to a base causing interference when a defensive player is in the act of potentially receiving or throwing a ball to put out a base runner attempting to reach any base. Note: If the runner goes to the base but does not interfere with the defensive player the runner is safe.

4. A runner should not be called out if he/she misses a base or line or runs to the wrong side of the base to avoid a potential collision or interfering with the play.

5. A fielder cannot block any base from a runner unless he is attempting to field the ball. The umpire must allow the runner another base if the runner has been unfairly blocked.

B.  Runner to 1st Base

1.   If there is no play at 1st base the batter/runner may touch the base or run to the first base crossing line which is to the right of 1st base.

2.   If the runner runs to the base and there is a play at the base the runner is declared out.

3.  A runner to 1st base that runs into the gap between 1st base and the 1st base crossing line is only out if he/she makes contact with the fielder or in the umpire’s judgement he/she interferes with the play.

4. A batter/runner must touch 1st base before being replaced by a courtesy runner or the batter shall be declared out.

5. A runner who is in the act of running from home to first base is automatically safe at first base if the ball is fielded by an outfielder or if the ball touches or is fielded on the outfield grass regardless of which player fields the ball; i.e.; regardless whether the ball reaches the grass on its own or is deflected off a fielder or other object, once the ball touches or reaches the grass the runner to first is automatically safe.

C.     Courtesy Runner

1. Any player on the team can act as a courtesy runner for a player on base or from home.

2. A courtesy runner may run only once per inning. If a courtesy runner runs more than once in an inning, he/she will be declared out even if the team bats around during the inning.

3. If the courtesy runner is on base and it is his/her turn to bat, the courtesy runner is automatically out as a runner and takes his/her turn at bat.

4. EXCEPTION TO RULES 2 and 3 ABOVE: If a team is playing with 9 or less players, or if the managers agree before the game, a courtesy runner may run twice an inning and a courtesy runner who is on base when it is their turn to bat, may be replaced without penalty.

5. There is no limit to the number of courtesy runners in any inning from home or on the bases.

6. A courtesy runner, except in the case of injury, shall be called out if the courtesy runner is replaced by another courtesy runner.

7.     Courtesy runner from home may never advance past first base.If he/she makes a motion to go to 2nd base he/she will be declared out by the umpire. Runner can only advance if a dead ball has been declared.

    8.   A courtesy runner from home must keep both feet behind Courtesy Runner Start Line and may not leave until the batter swings or the ball crosses the plate.

D.    Safe

1.  To be considered safe, a runner’s foot must touch the runner’s base or must touch the ground beyond the base crossing line before the ball is caught and the base tagged.

2.    A runner may be forced out at any base regardless of which direction the runner is running.

E. Leaving the Base

1.     No base runner may leave any base until the batter swings, or the ball crosses the plate.

2.     Runners leaving too early shall be called out by the umpire. The ball is dead, and all runners must return to their respective bases.

F. Changing Directions

1.     A runner advancing to second, third or home base may change his direction only once. If the runner changes directions more than once, the runner shall be declared out unless there is an overthrow, error, a dropped fly ball or the runner retouched the base they are running from. For example, an out shall be declared if a runner running toward 2nd base turns back toward 1st base and then tries to return to 2nd base without one of the exceptions noted herein occurring.

2.     The runner may be forced out at the base to which he is returning or tagged out by a fielder.

3.     If the fielder, attempting to make the tag, drops the ball, or the ball is thrown wildly, the runner is not out and is free to advance.

G.    3rd Base Commit Line

1. The Commit Line shall be perpendicular to the 3rd base foul line and shall be located 20 feet from home plate.

2.     A runner advancing towards home plate that touches or crosses the 3rd base commit line shall be declared out if he/she returns toward third base and re-crosses the 3rd base commit line.

H. Tagging a Runner

1. A base runner can be ‘tagged’ out between any base except after crossing the 3rd base commit line.

2. The catcher/fielder cannot tag a runner who is running to home and has crossed the 3rd base commit line. The catcher must tag the home plate mat and be in control of the ball before the runner’s foot is down on or down beyond the home crossing line.

I.  Runner to Home Plate

     1. A runner shall never run to the home plate used for calling strikes and balls; the runner shall only run to the home crossing line provided for runners.

2. A runner who runs to home plate shall be declared out regardless of whether he/she was forced out.

J.   Hit Ball

    1.   A base runner shall be declared out if hit by a batted ball unless the ball was first touched by a fielder, or the runner was standing on the base or the base crossing line whereupon it is a live ball.

    2.   A foul tip caught in the air by the catcher is an out regardless of the height of the ball.

    3.   A fair ball is a legally batted ball that bounds over 1st or 3rd base, regardless of where the ball hits after going over the base.

Section 7: Players

    1.     If a player cannot continue to play in the field for any reason, he/she is out of the game and will be removed from the batting line-up. An out will not be recorded at their next at bat.

        2. The opposing team manager will provide a player to equalize the teams defensively.

     3.     Exception to this rule is that if a player gets ejected from the game or decides to leave due to an argument/disagreement, an out will be recorded for their next at bat only and the opposing team manager does not have to provide a player to equalize the teams.

Section 8: Infield Fly Rule –

1.   Effective October 18, 2019, the infield fly rule will not be used by the league.

  2. If a fielder intentionally drops, a fair fly ball, including a line drive, that can be caught by a fielder with ordinary effort (umpire’s judgment) only one recorded out on the batter may be made and the ball is dead, and runners must stay at their bases.

Section 9: Player Draft

A. Process

   1. A restructuring of the teams (“draft”) may occur semi-annually, typically in December before the start of the new season on January 1st and mid-year.

   2. The League governing body will decide on the method used to restructure teams at the time of the restructuring.

   3. To balance out the skill levels of all teams, minor adjustments involving only a few players may take place on a quarterly basis by the governing body.