STANDING RULES OF THE MIDLOTHIAN GIRLS SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
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INTRODUCTION

The objectives of the Midlothian Girls Softball Association are to play softball in a supervised, competitive and athletic atmosphere; and to implant in the girls in the community ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and reverence so that they may be finer, stronger and happier young people who will grow to be good, clean and healthy adults. All participating adults should bear in mind at all times that the attainment of exceptional athletic skill or the winning of all games is secondary and that the molding of future citizens is pf prime importance.

GENERAL

1. The Midlothian Girls Softball Association playing rules shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the League Affiliation, except as stated herein. Age divisions shall meet affiliation rules.

2. Adults being of good character, interested in promoting Midlothian Girls Softball Association “Objectives” and helping the association are eligible to serve in the capacity of director, head coach or assistant coach as determined by demand and position available.

3. The Executive Board shall have the authority to discipline any head coach, assistant coach, player or and other person whose conduct is considered detrimental to the best interests of the Midlothian Girls Softball Association.

4. Conduct of coaches must be exemplary. They must display sportsmanship; courtesy to all involved and all decisions should be based on the best for his players. (i.e. don’t hold a personal grudge to the point where it hurts the team.) Any coach who knowingly or willingly breaks a Midlothian Girls Softball Association or league rule may be removed from the league and not allowed to participate in the league for a time specified by the Executive Board.

5. Evaluation/Assessment of Coaches - The Executive board can, at any time and for any reason, give an evaluation of a coach and decide if is good for the league to allow the coach to begin coaching or to continue coaching.

6. Players will always display sportsmanship. If any player is ejected for any game, the Executive Board can disqualify her for further participation in that season.

1.7 A coach from each team or designated representative must attend Midlothian Girls Softball Association meetings. If two meetings in a row are missed, without just cause, the Executive Board can remove the Head Coach.

PLAYER/TEAM SELECTION

1. Each team will remain unchanged from year to year regardless of the total number of returning players. A returning player is defined as a player who played in the Midlothian Girls Softball Association the previous season. Otherwise, for draft purposes the player is deemed a new player.

2. A girl will go into the draft when;

1. She is a new player

2. If she or her parent(s) request removal from her previous team.

3. If she does not remain with her previous team due to age bracketing, or

4. Her previous team dissolves.

3. All players that enter the draft will be evaluated at a Field Day workout. Each coach that does not have a complete team returning will be responsible for being at the Field Day exercises and make his/her own evaluation of each girl. The Association will be responsible for providing the time, place and drill necessary for the coaches to make their evaluation. There will be no assessment of the girls rendered by the Association. Any girl not making her scheduled Field Day workout will be considered an “unrated” player. (See Unrated Player under the Draft Process section.)

4. DRAFT PROCESS

1. At the draft proceeding, each coach will be required to add to his/her team so as to bring the total number on the team up to a predetermined number of players.

2. In an attempt to facilitate a new team, each coach will be permitted to select the first 3 draft picks. This will be in addition to the coach and one assistant coach’s daughters. Thus, each new team will activate 5 members prior to any returning team coming into the draft. If there are 2 or more new teams, the coaches will alternate picks up through the 5^th round. The order of selection in this case will be decided by the toss of a coin.

3. Once the new team(s) has secured its five players, the returning teams with 5 or fewer members will enter in the 6^th round. The draft proceeds with the first pick of the 6^th round going to the returning team with the fewest returning players and so forth. In this round, the returning teams will pick prior to the new team. In the case of a tie of the returning teams, the order of selection will be decided by the toss of a coin.

4. All teams will join the draft in the seventh round. The first pick of the seventh round will go to the returning team with the fewest players and so forth. In this round, the returning teams will pick prior to the new teams, thus setting the order for the balance of the draft. In the case of a tie of the returning teams, the order of selection will be decided by the toss of a coin.

5. The will be absolutely no trading of players between teams prior to or after the draft.

6. An” unrated” player will be drafted last, in order and with the application/card face down.

5. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. The Assistant Coach must be a parent of a player that is returning to the existing team. They may not be a parent of a girl that would otherwise be in the draft. Exception would be if the named Assistant Coach and daughter leave the team, then the Head Coach may select his Assistant from outside the team. The Division Commissioner must be informed of this change.

2. When an existing team splits due to bracketing, the Assistant Coach may keep the balance of the team intact. Example would be if Head Coach moves up a division and Assistant Coach stays down, the Assistant has the right to the balance of the team that the Head Coach chooses not to take up with him.

3. There will be no provision at this time for the team placement of players based on transportation consideration. We recognize that this is a genuine necessity in some cases, but as an Association we cannot address it. We would hope that the coaches and other team members would assist in these instances.

4. If sisters need to be on the same team, the coach that drafts the first sister will be obliged to draft the other on his/her next draft.

5. Head Coaches returning to the same division have priority over coaches moving up to new division unless coach moving up has a complete team.

6. NO PITCHER RULE

1. The Association recognizes the importance and uniqueness of a qualified pitcher in the girl-pitch divisions. We also acknowledge that many teams struggle obtaining, developing and retaining a competent pitcher.

2. Therefore, if a coach is not able to develop or draft a “competent” pitcher, he/she may petition his/her division Pitcher Board to allow him/her to go the drafting process and select a pitcher. She will be considered a returning player for purposes of the draft. This girl cannot currently be on an existing team, must be an MISD student and cannot be on more than one team (i.e. select team).

3. The pitcher Board for each division will consist of that division’s head coaches to make up a voting quorum. The decision of the Pitcher Board is final for that season.

4. A petition can be made up to the time of the draft. If there is a petition, it will be voted on prior to the draft commencement. A petitions must first be requested of the President or Vice-President whose responsibility is to notify the Commissioner whose responsibility is to obtain a voting quorum .The Commissioner is responsible for the informing the Executive Board of the results.

5. This rule is applicable only for the pitcher’s position in the Division’s 10U and above.

PLAYING RULES

The league affiliation rulebook, with the following additions and exceptions, governs play on Midlothian Girls Softball Association’s fields.

1. Catchers are required to wear a full catcher’s helmet, complete with a facemask and throat protector and a chest protector at all times including practices.

2. All batters and runners must wear approved protective helmets both during games and at practices.

3. All team members must be in team uniform. “Uniform” is defined as like jerseys with differing numbers.

4. Plastic visors are not allowed.

5. All bats must meet league affiliation standards and must be marked “Official Softball”. Wooden bats are not permitted in any division. Exception is that non-wood bats may be used in the 8U and 6U divisions.

1. All helmets must comply with ASA standards, (must have cage attached).

2. 6U, 8U are granted exception to caged helmet rule, but must still wear helmet.

6. PITCHING DISTANCE AND BALL SIZE.

1. 6U Division – 20 feet with an 11 inch “Softie” ball

2. 8U Division - 20 feet with an 11 inch “Softie” ball

3. 10U Division- 35 feet with an 11 inch ball

4. 12U Division – 40 feet with a 12 inch ball

5. 14U Division – 40 feet with a 12 inch ball

7. BASE DISTANCE AND RESTRICTIONS

1. 6U Division & 8U Divisions – 45 feet, tight bases (runners are not allowed to leave their base until the ball is hit). Runners must return to the last base touched before time was called.

2. 10U Division - 55 feet, tight bases, Runners are allowed to lead off the base after the pitcher has released the ball. Runners are allowed to steal 2^nd or 3^rd base but not home: only one base allowed.

8. RUN RULE

1. 6U & 8U - A maximum of four runs per inning.

2. All other divisions – A maximum of 5 runs per inning.

9. Bunting is allowed from the 10U Division up. 6U & 8U are not allowed to bunt. Exception for the 10U Division only is that the batters cannot bunt when the coach is pitching.

1. 6U, 8U & 10U Divisions – When the coach has come in to pitch, the batter has two strikes, if the players fouls the third pitch, she continues to bat until she hits the ball or strikes out.

10. Thrown bats will require a warning for each player and on the second offense in a game the player may be called out. A deliberately thrown bat or other equipment can mean ejection of a player.

11. Home plate umpire will be the official timekeeper

12. Game time will be forfeit time, or 5 minutes after previous game ends, if it runs overtime.

13. Rainouts or rescheduled games that are scheduled with more than one week’s notice will be treated as regular scheduled games.

14. Rainouts will be determined/declared when the Field Director determines it is unsafe to continue/start the game. In the absence of the Field Director, any Board Member can call a game.

15. Home team is first team listed on the schedule and will occupy third base dugout.

16. Both teams in the last game of the day are responsible for taking up bases and returning them, along with the water container and bat rack to storage room

17. Rescheduled game can only occur due to rainouts or school conflicts with a minimum of 72 hours notice given or other reason deemed appropriate by the Division Commissioner and approved by the Executive Board.

18. A complete game will consist of:

1. All divisions except 6U & 8U – Seven innings or one hours and twenty minutes time limit. Whichever comes first.

2. 6U & 8U Divisions – Seven innings or one hour and ten minute time limit. Whichever comes first.

3. In the event of rain, a complete game will consist of 45 minutes elapsed playing time or three complete innings. Final score of rain-shortened games will revert back to the last complete inning.

4. Once an inning is started, it will be completed, unless it is rain shortened. An inning begins when the final out of the preceding inning is made.

19. No game will end in a tie. If a complete game ends in a tie, the tie breaker will be as follows:

1. The last batter in the previous inning will be put on second base. Two outs will be counted. Winner will be determined when an inning end not tied (e.g. if the number 5 batter is lead off batter, the number 4 batter in the batting order will be placed on second base.

20. The official scorekeeper shall be the person operating the electronic scoreboard and shall be responsible for keeping proper records of the game on an official score sheet. Both the official scorekeeper and home plate umpire will sign the official score sheet after each game. The official scorekeeper is responsible for turning in the score sheet to the concession stand after each game.

21. Players who did not attend 2 consecutive practices and do not have a reason acceptable to the Head Coach may be prohibited from playing the next game at the Head Coach’s option.

22. Protest shall be considered only when based on a violation or interpretation of playing rules or use of an ineligible player. No protest of an umpire’s judgment call will be allowed. A Head Coach must inform the plate umpire and scorekeeper immediately of his intention to protest when the infraction occurs. The official score book must be signed by the protesting manager as a protest and the home plate umpire immediately after the game. A written report stating reasons and citing rules must be filed with the League President or Commissioner within 24 hours of the game. A $25 cash deposit must be included with the protest report. If the protest is upheld, the money will be refunded. If not, the money will be deposited into the league’s bank account. All decisions will be final.

23. At the plate umpire’s option, any dispute of game rules may be brought immediately to the attention of any Board member present before the next pitch is thrown. If this does not occur, the umpire’s decision will stand. If the coach is not happy with the Director’s decision, refer to standing rule 3.22. If the coach decides to protest the call, the Board of Directors will hear the appeal. The Board member who made the original decision cannot vote in the hearing, but can present his case. The coach filing the protest has to be present. If the coach does not show, the protest will be lost and Midlothian Girls Softball Association will keep the $25.

24. If a game is forfeited for any reason, teams scheduled to play are permitted the used of the fields for up to 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the next game.

25. Each team will be responsible for cleaning up their dugout after each game.

26. Free substitution is permitted in all divisions.

27. Each girl must play a minimum of one defensive inning.

28. BATTING ROSTER

1. The batting roster for each team shall be submitted to the official scorekeeper at least 10 minutes before game time.

2. All team members present shall be listed in their proper batting order.

3. If a player arrives after the start of the game, she may be added to the bottom of the batting roster as long as the first batter has not batted twice.

29. BLOOD RULE

A player, coach or umpire who is bleeding or who has blood on their uniform shall be prohibited form participating further in the game until appropriate treatment can be administered. If medical care or treatment is administered in a reasonable length of time, the individual will not have to leave the game. The length of time that is considered reasonable is left to the umpire’s judgment. Uniform rule violations will not be enforced if a uniform change is required. The umpire shall:

1. Stop the game and allow treatment if the injured player would affect the continuation of the game.

2. Immediately call a coach, trainer or other authorized person to the injured player.

3. Apply the rules of the game regarding substitution, short-handed player and re-entry if necessary.

30. PLAYERS NEEDED TO START A GAME

1. 6U Divisions- a team with 7 players available at game time can play with no charged outs. A team with six players available at game time can play with the 7^th batting position as an out. A team forfeits if at game time there are no more than 5 players available.

2. All other Divisions - A team with 9 players available at game time can play with no charged outs. A team with 8 players available at game time can play with the 9^th batting position as an out. A team forfeits if at game time there are no more than 7 players available.

3. A team may use up to 2 MGSA-enrolled players on one game basis if their usage would prevent forfeit due to a lack of players (6+2) or an out in the ninth batting position could be avoided (7+2), provided that the following conditions are met:

1. The player(s) must be enrolled in the same or one lower division within the MGSA program and playing classification (e.g. recreational teams cannot draw from a competitive team roster).

2. The player must bat last in the order.

1. Permission must be obtained from the parents or guardians and given to the player(s) and coach.

4. They must play an outfield position only.

5. They cannot have another scheduled game at the same time.

6. Once a player is picked up, she must complete the game.

7. If a player leaves the game due to becoming sick or injured, she cannot re-enter the game if she misses her turn at bat. No out shall be declared for each turn at bat.

31. One umpire will be used in games of 6U, 8U, and 10U Divisions. Two Umpires will be scheduled in games of other ages. Games will be played if only one umpire is available.

32. Any unsportsmanlike conduct at tournaments or in regular season by the players or coaches will come to the attention of the Executive Board. The Board can apply any disciplinary action it deeps appropriate, including suspension for the rest of the season.

33. Any problems with umpires should be reported to the Division Commissioner or any Board member in writing, giving the umpire’s name and circumstances. If in the simple opinion of the Board, the umpire in unfit to be used in our games, the President will notify the Head Umpire in charge of scheduling umpires.

34. There will be a Board member present at the fields every day/night that games are scheduled. The Field Director will make the schedule.

35. When a fair batted fly ball strikes any overhead power lines above home plate or in the outfield, the ball shall be played as a live ground ball with all runners entitled to advance with liability to be put out.

36. SPECIAL PLAYING RULES

1. 6U and 8U Divisions – Since these age divisions are not classified by ASA, the following playing rules apply in conjunction with the rules above.

2. The pitching will be performed by an adult or anyone else who can best help the batter hit the ball. This person is referred to as the Designated Pitcher.

3. Ball and strikes will be called but walks will not be allowed. Batters will be called out after 5 strikes.

4. Play entire roster on defense. A maximum of six team members will be allowed infield. All remaining players will position themselves in the outfield at least 5 feet beyond the base path. All infielders except the pitcher and catcher must be within 10 feel of the first and 3^rd base paths.

5. Players are not allowed to roll the ball deliberately. Players will be given one warning and on the next infraction, may be removed.

6. The defensive pitcher must be 3 feet to the right or left of the pitching rubber. (Applies to 10U Division when the designated pitcher is pitching).

1. Designated Pitcher: (10U Division Included)

1. Must leave the playing field immediately if the ball is batted into fair territory. This exit should be made in a manner that will not affect the runners or defensive players.

2. Any batted ball hitting the designated pitcher is considered a dead ball and no pitch.

3. Unintentional interference by the designated pitcher will be ruled a dead ball and no pitch. The umpire will give one warning and on the next infraction, the designated pitcher will be replaced.

4. If the designated pitcher interferes intentionally based on the umpire’s judgment, the batter will be call out and all runners must return to the prior base. The designated pitcher will be replaced.

5. The designated pitcher must not assist any players until he/she has left the playing field.

7. One coach is allowed in the outfield when his/her team is on defense, for the purpose of instruction only. The coach must stay beyond the base paths.

8. Infield – and dropped third strike rules are not valid.

9. All play is stopped when a defensive player has the ball while inside the pitching circle (pitching circle is 16ft in diameter) unless, in the umpire’s judgment, the defensive player carries the ball through the circle while attempting to make an out. All runners must return to the base last touched regardless of where they may be when play is stopped.

10. If a girl is injured during pay, all play will be stopped and no additional advancement of runners can be made.

11. On an overthrow into foul territory from an infielder, the runners may advance at own risk to the next base only (no multiple overthrows).

1. 10U Division – the following playing rules apply:

2. After ball four is called, a designated pitcher will enter the game and deliver no more than 3 pitches to the batter.

3. The umpire will not call balls and strikes during this time and the total number of strikes on the batter will remain the same. (e.g. if the batter has two strikes and swings at a pitch and missed, she will be called out.

4. If the batters hits the ball, the designated pitcher must exit the field as defined in Standing Rule 3.36.1.6.1.1

CERTIFICATE OF RULES DIRECTOR

I certify that I am the duly elected and acting Rules Director of the Midlothian Girls Softball Association and that the foregoing standing rules were adopted as the standing rules of the Association at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on _____________

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RULES DIRECTOR