LEAGUE RULES AND BY-LAWS
1) Name and Purpose
This organization shall be known as the WESTERN MASS INTER-CHURCH SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE. The Inter-Church Slow Pitch Softball League shall be sanctioned with the Freedom Sports Association (Freedom) through its local area. All FREEDOM rules and regulations are in effect unless otherwise superseded by these bylaws. The objective of this league is to have fun and fellowship among fellow Christians with a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to be used as a ministry to reach out to others. Because of this, a Christian and sober behavior will be in effect at all times. Any infractions will be brought to the Executive Committee for further action, including possible expulsion from the league. A coach should keep a copy of these by-laws with them at the field.
2) Management
The management of the league shall be invested in the Commissioner, and the League Director, and the executive committee. The Commissioner and League Director will choose an Executive Committee of members. The League Director is an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee, with the Director only voting to break a tie. The Executive Committee will help assist the Commissioner and League Director in the running of the league.
3) League Funds
An account shall be opened in the name of the league, in which the forfeit fees from each team will be deposited. The forfeit fee is $40.00, the cost of one umpire. This fee will be returned if a team drops from the league and it has not been used to pay for a forfeit.
Each coach shall pay the umpires at the fields on game nights. They will pay the umpires after the conclusion of the last game. For two umpires the cost is $24/umpire/game. For one umpire the cost is $20/umpire/game. Therefore each coach will owe either $48 or $40 in total for each double header night.
As of the 2024 season, with a passing vote from all of the league coaches, there will be a set stipend for the League Director position. Funds that were previously used to purchase All Star game t-shirts will go toward this stipend. The league executive committee voted on the amount and that will be set at $540 for the 2024 season. This amount is subject to change on a yearly basis depending on varying league costs.
4) Schedule
Schedules will be made available approximately two weeks before the start of the season. The team captains are responsible for making sure that their team is at the right diamond at the right time. All scheduled games will start promptly. There is a fifteen-minute grace period for the first game only. If you don’t have a legal line-up (at least 8 players) by the required time, you will forfeit the game. Forfeit time for the second game is the posted starting time. In the event that game one is started late, the game time limit will not be extended, such that the final inning of game one may not start past the start time for game two (usually 7pm). If you are unable to field a team for a scheduled game, you must give at least 48 hours notice in order for us to try to cancel the umpires. This may only be done once a season. Any other no shows will result in a forfeit.
Team captains are responsible for checking the league website on a regular basis for any schedule changes. Fields and dates may change on a week to week basis due to field availability. Team captains may give an email address to the scheduler and will receive an e-mail notification concerning any schedule changes. The scheduler’s e-mail address is bonksam77@yahoo.com.
5) League Membership
Eligible players must either be at least 14 years old in this calendar year. There shall be no restriction of gender, however players should be aware that A and B divisions are competitive leagues and some players hit the ball with high velocity. Therefore recreational or weaker players would be advised to play in the CoEd division. Each team member must have attended church twice that calendar year.
Rosters shall be submitted to the league director no later than two weeks before the start of the season. There is no limit to the number of players on a roster; however, a player may not be on more than one men’s roster. A Player may play on one league team (A OR B) and one of the same church’s coed teams if desired. Players may be added to rosters throughout the season by having the pastor of the church email the Commissioner and League Director. Newly added players are eligible to play 24 hours after submission. If a game is scheduled with less than one week’s notice, a player not on a roster may play in the game assuming the player is properly added to the roster within 48 hours from the completion of the game. In emergency situations players may be added to a roster at the commissioners/director’s approval within this time frame.
6) The Game
The winning team has the responsibility of notifying the Commissioner of their win by 10 P.M. of the date the game is played. Failure to do so may result in a forfeiture of that game. Both teams will email in case of a tie. Notification can only be made by e-mail (dphenry@integrity.com and bonksam77@yahoo.com). Email is preferred!
A game will consist of seven innings. The Mercy Rule will still be in effect. This mercy rule will be 15 runs after 4 innings, and 12 runs after 5 innings. This Mercy rule is in effect for the Regular season only. In the event of a shortened game (weather, time limit, etc.) then five innings or 60 minutes will constitute a legal game.
The Target time limit will be 65 minutes for each game. A new inning should not start after the 65 minute time limit. If a game looks like it will exceed 65 minutes, then the umpire can make a call for the last inning. This would indicate that the NEXT top of the inning will be the start of the last inning of the game. That inning will be played until conclusion and both teams shall be allowed to bat the full inning if needed. If the umpire calls a time limit/last inning, then the umpire MUST notify both coaches BEFORE THE START of that inning. The umpire may NOT call last inning in the middle of an inning. No inning for game 1 should begin after the designated start time for game 2 (usually 7 pm). On lighted fields or very late summer sunsets the time limit rules may be waived at the discretion of the umpires/coaches.
Both umpires and coaches are encouraged to keep the progress of the game going as much as possible. Pitchers should only get one warm up pitch after the first inning, and players should run in and out of the field. These practices will usually eliminate a time issue.
A legal lineup consists of a maximum of sixteen batters and a minimum of eight batters. If a team has less than nine players present at the start of the game, the game can still be played, however, the vacant spots shall bat at the end of the order such that the lineup consists of nine batting spots. Vacant spots shall be recorded as outs when it is their turn to bat. Vacant spots may be replaced by late arriving players. If the game starts with less than 10 players and even if the team has already gone through its batting lineup, then late arriving players may enter the field immediately on defense and they may be inserted into the lineup at the end of the batting order according to arrival order. The 9th player arriving will bat in the 9th spot and the 10th arrival in the 10th spot. However, once a team has gone through its batting order one time, then no more than 10 players shall be allowed to bat in the order. Late arriving players numbered 11, 12, 13, etc. may be substituted into the existing lineup but may not be added on to the end of the batting order.
On defense, a team shall consist of a maximum of ten fielders and a minimum of nine fielders. If a team has less than 9 players, then the opposing team shall provide a catcher. The catcher’s duties shall be limited to returning pitches to the pitcher and the catcher shall not be involved in play once the ball is batted. If the catcher touches a live ball, the play shall be immediately deemed dead and the umpire will have discretion to replay the play or score the play accordingly.
Starting for the 2023 season, there will be a new rule for when “A” level teams play “B” level teams. The “A” teams this year (2024) include Bethany #1, Christ Community, and Trinity. When an “A” team plays a “B” team, “A” teams must play with (3) Outfielders for a total of (9) players on defense. The “B” teams then have the option to play with an extra 11th fielder who will act as a rover. This 11th fielder can play anywhere on the field. If a “B” team wishes, they can waive this rule pre game and play a normal 10 vs 10 game. If a “B” waives this rule, they must bring it up to the opposing “A” coach and umpire before the first pitch. After game 1, the “B” coach can opt back into this rule if they wish for game 2. The “B” coach again must communicate this to the opposing “A” coach and umpire before the first pitch of game 2. This rule is for the regular season only and is NOT in effect for the playoffs.
The home team will provide a new regulation League approved 52 core, 300-compression slow pitch softball and the visitors will provide a good clean usable ball.
The pitcher will use a six to ten foot arc from the ground. The pitcher MUST wear a protective mask of some nature.
The wearing of a catcher’s mask, helmet, pitchers protection, and plastic spikes is optional. Metal cleats are banned.
The Freedom substitution rule will be used. Starting Count on the batters will be 1-1. Batters will begin their turn at bat with 1 strike and 1 ball automatically. A foul ball hit with a two-strike count will result in an out. However, if a fielder catches a foul ball it will be considered a live ball and fielders may run provided they are tagged up legally.
In each game, you are only allowed two intentional walks per player and four intentional walks per team.
Middle rule: Any ball that is hit as a line drive up the middle that is within a 1 foot radius of the pitching rubber will result in an automatic dead ball and out. A ball that hits the ground before the pitcher’s mound is not an out. A ball that is more than 1 foot above the head of the pitcher shall not be an out. The umpire will judge the middle rule based upon the pitching rubber, not where the pitcher stands. (Example: If the pitcher moves 4 feet to the right after the pitch and the ball strikes him dead on, this is not an out, because he moved out of the middle. However if the pitcher moved 4 feet to the right but the line drive went directly over the pitcher’s mound and missed the pitcher, the middle rule is in effect, the ball went over the mound up the middle).
An orange/white 1B bag shall be required for all games. It is only for the original hitter running through first base to beat out a play at the bag. If the runner touches the white part of the bag in such a play, then the runner is called out. If the fielder catches a throw and touches the orange bag instead of the white part, then the hitter will be called safe. On a secondary play only, the white bag is in play. If a hitter attempts to advance past first base, he/she may touch either bag.
Any player who is visibly bleeding or showing blood must leave the game immediately. They may enter back when the blood is covered and not showing or exposed to other players.
Beginning in 2022, Freedom Courtesy Runners will NOT be allowed. A courtesy runner may be used for injured or limited players. The courtesy runner MUST be the player on the bench who was most recently recorded as an out. If no out has been recorded in that inning, then the courtesy runner is the last out of the previous inning. If the courtesy runner is still on base when it is the runner’s turn to bat, they shall be replaced on the base path by the player on bench who was most recently recorded as an out. Courtesy runners shall only be allowed for batters who make it to first base. Once a batter has made it to second base, then they may not receive a courtesy runner (exception on an overthrown dead ball from first base). In the event of an obvious NEW injury on the base path at second or third base, then the batter may have a courtesy runner at second or third base for that play only. For subsequent at-bats, the batter will only receive a courtesy runner from first base.
You can have up to six EPs (extra players) in your lineup for a maximum of 16 batters in the lineup. Additional players may only enter the game using the substitution rules.
Protests must be made in writing and e-mailed to the League Director and League Commissioner within two days of the game.
A baserunner must avoid contact with a fielder making a play on the ball, even if the fielder is improperly blocking the base path. Because the runner can see the path in front of him and the fielder must concentrate on the ball, the runner bears greater responsibility to avoid contact. A runner who fails to make a reasonable attempt to avoid a collision with a defensive player shall be called out and a dead ball is in effect. Any other runner advancing on the play shall be required to return to the last base visited. In the event that an umpire determines that a collision was flagrant (Example: Attempting to bowl over the catcher when it is clear that he has the ball and is waiting to apply the tag). The umpire has the authority to eject the offending player from the game. The players name must then be reported to the league executive committee and if future similar events reoccur then the executive committee has the authority to expel that player from the league.
Inversely fielders may not block a base unless they are immediately making a play on a batted or thrown ball in that area. Catchers should station themselves in the cutout in front of the plate, not down the third base line. The runner has the right to the base path, unless a fielder is in the process of making a play. A runner, whose path to the base is illegally blocked, shall be awarded that base. A fielder, who initiates contact by illegally blocking the base path or applies an excessively violent tag, may be ejected, and reported to the league executive committee. Recurrent events will result in player expulsion from the league.
7) Bat Policy
As of April 1, 2018 ALL bats used in this league MUST have an official USSSA and/or NSA logo stamp. If a bat has only an ASA/USA stamp it will NOT be allowed. The umpire has the discretion to disqualify any bat that they are concerned about. If a player is caught in the batter’s box with a bat that is not approved then this shall be an automatic out. If that bat is caught being used again then the player shall be ejected from the game and it will be an automatic end of the inning.
8) Position Standings
Wins and losses will determine position. In the event of a tie, the wins and losses among the teams involved will determine the positions (Tiebreaker #1). In the event that a tie still exists, the League Director will look at record against playoff eligible teams as a determining factor (Tiebreaker #2). If a tie still exists, then run differential against playoff eligible teams will be the determining factor (Tiebreaker #3). In the case that the tie determines playoff eligibility, then a tiebreaker game will be played among the two involved teams. Tied games will count as a half point in the standings.
9) Play-offs
Each team will keep a scorebook, retain each game’s line-up, and score sheets for the entire year in the event that the League Director requires them. Only players that have played in 1/3rd of the teams’ regular season games are eligible for playoffs. The playoff rosters will be handed to all opposing playoff coaches before the start of playoff games.
Time limit is waived for playoffs. A playoff game shall not end because of darkness, time limit or weather. The game will continue where it left off if it is called for darkness or rain. However, for playoffs, a 15-run Mercy rule shall be in effect after 5 innings. This Mercy Rule is for Playoffs only.
The top four teams by record in each division will be in the play-offs. There will be a two-week playoff series. For fenced fields during the playoffs, there will be a four run home run limit per team with a “1 up” rule after that. Any home run above the limit will result in an out.
Each division will have its own playoff series in the following format:
Teams seeded 1-4 will make the playoffs.
Week one: (semifinals)
Seed #1 will play seed #4 in a best of three series under the lights. Seed #1 will have home field advantage for games 1 and 3 if needed.
Seed #2 will play seed #3 in a best of three series under the lights. Seed #2 will have home field advantage for games 1 and 3 if needed.
Week two: (League Championship)
The winning two teams from the semifinals will play in a best of three game championship series under the lights. The higher seeded team has the home advantage for games 1 and 3 if needed. Time limit is waived. All games will be played until completion with standard league rules, including the 15-run Mercy rule after 5 innings in effect. Home run rule will be in effect for fenced fields
Week Three (Saturday event): (Church League STATE Championship series)
TBD
10) Behavior
Good sportsmanship will be in practice at all times.
Teams should pray with each other at the plate before the start of play.
There will be NO swearing on or around the ball field. Anyone caught doing so will be given a warning. After a second offense on the same day the player will be ejected from the game. Coaches are expected to set a clear example for their teams in this regard. If a coach is found to be insubordinate or disorderly then the coach will meet with the executive committee and will face disciplinary action.
There is no drinking of alcohol, drug consumption, or smoking of tobacco or marijuana products on or near the fields.
Only a TEAM COACH will bring up any disagreements to the umpire. All other players are expected to accept the umpires’ call as is. A team coach should only question a call for clarity purposes.
All infractions must be brought to the League Director and League Commissioner’s attention within forty-eight hours of the infraction. League management will then meet (possibly by e-mail) to take immediate action if necessary.
For example but not limited to:
POOR SPORTSMANSHIP – suspension for at least the next two weeks (4games) for the offending player. Penalty may be longer depending on the infraction.
ILLEGAL PLAYER – forfeiture of any and all games in which the illegal player played.
FLAGRANT COLLISIONS – ejection from game and possible further suspension.
USE OF ILLEGAL BATS – offending player and/or offending teams may be suspended or expelled from the league at the discretion of the executive committee.
OTHER FAILURES TO FOLLOW THESE BYLAWS OR FREEDOM RULES – penalties to be decided by the executive committee.