Official Slow Pitch Softball Rules

NO ALCOHOL AT PUBLIC PARKS

We know softball and adult beverages go together; however, alcoholic beverages are illegal at public parks. Please don't bring it to the field; Not only do you risk getting cited by the police, we risk losing access to fields.

Team

1. Team rosters shall include a minimum of 14 players, including at least 4 of each gender on the roster.
2. The maximum number of players on the field is 10, with at least 3 of each gender.
3. The minimum number of players on the field is 6.
4. All players present for a game may be placed in the batting order, but not required if players want to just watch.
5. All players must be registered with the League to play with the team. Unregistered substitutes are not permitted. A team will suffer a 10 run penalty for an illegal player and that player will be ejected as well as resulting as a 3 out penalty. The captain of the team will also be removed from the game on the first offense, the second offense will result in a two game suspension on the captain. If an illegal player is discovered after the game is over the team playing with the illegal player will be forced to take a forfeit and the victory will go to the opposing team regardless of the game score.
   
6. When a team has fewer than the required number of players of a specified gender available, players of one gender may not be substituted for members of another gender. For example, if a team has 10 total players available at game time, but only 2 are female, the team must play short with 9 players.
7. Fielding teams are required to play catcher and pitcher.
8. Late Registration: a team may add players to the roster through the Absolute Deadline for each Season.
9. Season Can Be Shortened Due to Continuous Inclement Weather
10. Teams will be allowed to use a temporary sub or one time sub if the player signs the waiver and brings $10 cash for each game. This can not be done on for playoffs if the person has not already played/sub prior in the season.
11. If a player is injured and needs a runner, the player must safely reach a base, then can have the last of their gender run for them from there.

Behavior & Conduct On Or At The Fields/Courts/Sponsor Bars

• Each player is required to display good sportsmanship, and respect to the Game Officials, Staff and other players at all times. 
• Rude, aggressive, vulgar language or behavior will result in either ejection from the game or by being banned from the league all together. 
• If your actions on a regular basis cause other players to be uncomfortable, or we feel your actions have a negative impact on our leagues, members or the image of KnoxSSC/Everplay you will be banned from the league permanently. 
• Drink Responsibly! Know Your Limits, & Don't Drink & Drive!
• Be nice, have fun, and treat players & Staff with respect. 

Officials

1. Each game shall be officiated by 2 League-assigned Umpires.
2. Umpires are responsible for:
1. Keeping game time.
2. Keeping score.
3. Enforcing all game rules.
4. Tracking all counts and outs.

Field

1. Games may be played on any slow pitch softball field, fast pitch softball field, little league baseball field or general purpose field with a distance from home plate to the outfield fence of at least 180 feet.
2. The distance between bases shall be 65 feet.
3. First base shall include a safety base placed to the right; overruns must be made on the safety base.
4. There shall be an outfield line 30 feet behind the dirt that the outfielders may not cross until the batter makes contact with the ball.

Equipment

1. All equipment required for gameplay, except for gloves, will be provided by the League.
2. Only single-wall aluminum bats with the ASA 2004 certification that  are permitted.
3. The ball shall be a 12 inch .52 COR/300 maximum compression softball, regardless of the gender of the batter.
4. Players must wear their Knoxssc League-Provided T-shirts of the appropriate color for their team.  Beginning after the third week, If more than one person on a team is not wearing their League-provided t-shirt, that team will receive a 2 run penalty for each player beyond one that is not wearing their League shirt.
5. Steel cleats are prohibited.

Game Clock

1. Each game shall be completed in no more than 7 innings or 50 Minutes, whichever comes first.
2. No new inning may begin after 50 minutes; any inning being played after 50 minutes shall be the last inning of the game and it will be played out regardless of score.  Exception: If Home team has already hit the Mercy Rule or hits the Mercy Rule, the game will end when the Mercy Rule hits.  See Mercy Rule below.
3. In the event of a tied score after the final inning, the game shall be recorded as a tie, except in Playoffs.  In the Playoffs only, the last two Batters will start on 2nd base and 3rd base with 1 out and teams will play it out. There will be a coin toss to determine which team takes the field first in over time.
   
4. Season Can Be Shortened Due to Continuous Inclement Weather.
5. There will be an (Infield Fly Rule) It is ref's discretion.

Game Start

1. A coin toss shall determine the home team, who shall choose whether to bat first or field first.

Pitching

1. All pitches must be with an underhanded motion.
2. All pitches must arc between 6 feet and 12 feet; otherwise the pitch shall be considered a "ball."
3. The strike zone shall be marked with a rubber strike mat placed behind home plate. Contact with either the mat or home plate shall be considered a strike.
4. The Pitcher's Mound is placed at 46.5 feet on 60 foot base fields.

Batting

1. Teams are encouraged to exchange batting orders prior to the start of the game. Any team found batting out of order will receive a 2 out penalty.

2. There must be at least 3 players of each gender in the batting order. If there are fewer than the required number of players of a particular gender, that point in the lineup shall be counted as an out.

1. Each batter shall start at bat with 1 ball and 1 strike (1 and 1 count).
2. Foul Ball Limit: Batter shall be called out on the 2nd foul of a 2 strike count, 2 fouls per bat regardless if there is a prior strike. 
3. Bunting is not permitted; bunts shall be counted as foul balls.
4. No three players of the same gender may bat in a row for the entire order, including between the end and beginning of the order. For example, a team may bat two men followed by one woman followed by two men, but may not bat three men in a row without also taking an out prior to the third man batting.
• Exception: A team may bat three players of the same gender in the order, if they are short, but must designate an automatic out before the fourth batter, ala taking an out at least every 9th Batter or however the order is constructed.
• Exception: If a team has at least three of each gender in the batting order, but the ratio of men and women is such that the players of a given gender must bat more to complete the lineup, then the lineup may be made in succession with one of the female players batting twice after all the females have batted. Once the batting order is determined it can not be altered. She must bat in those positions every time through the batting order.\
5. If a team has an odd number of guys they must bat girl, guy girl at the bottom of the line up and the females must stay in sequence at all times.
6. Example: Girl #1, Guy #9, Girl #2, Guy #1, Guy #2, Girl #3. The females must always rotate in the same sequence even though where they bat in the line up will change each time through the batting order.
• 1. The way you establish what girl's turn it is, you must have a guy's list and a girl's list example below:
  
7. Each team shall be limited to a maximum of 3 over-the-fence home runs per game. Subsequent home runs shall be called a single.

Running

1. Stealing bases and leading off bases is illegal. A player who was leading the base prior to the hit shall be called out.
2. Sliding at first base is illegal. A player who slides at first base shall be called out. Runners must use the safety base.
3. Pinch running is permitted at 1st, 2nd and 3rd base provided the pinch runner is of the same gender and who was the last out.
   

Walking

1. When a batter has been awarded 4 balls called, the batter shall walk:
1. To 1st base, if the batter is female and followed by a male or if the batter is male and followed in the batting order by another male.
2. To 2nd base, if the batter is followed in the batting order by a female.
2. A female who is batting behind a walked batter must bat.

Mercy Rule

1. The inning shall advance when a team scores 6 Runs in the Inning. The Mercy Rule shall be called and the Inning advanced immediately upon scoring the 6th Run.  The Mercy Rule will end the game if a team is down 15 or more after 4 inning or down 10 or more after 5 innings.

Forfeits

1. Teams must be ready to play and meet game start requirements at the posted game time. Any team not ready to play at this time will receive a 5 minute grace period.  At 5 minutes, the team short on players will start down 5-0.  At 10 Minutes, the team short on players will start down 10-0.  At 15 minutes the game is called at 15-0.
2. If neither team is ready to play, both teams shall forfeit.

Cancellation Policy

1. Email And Facebook is primarily used to inform participants of canceled games due to inclement weather and field conditions.  These cancellation decisions typically don't occur before 3pm the day of the game. Participants should always assume their game is being played as scheduled unless they hear otherwise.
2. Knoxville Sports & Social Club will make all efforts to reschedule up 2 weeks of games per season due to weather related cancellations.  Any cancellations after that, may not be made up due to time and scheduling constraints.
3. Any game that makes it past the 4th inning shall be counted as a full game. If a game must be called due to inclement weather the score will revert back to the score of the 4th inning, or whatever the score was in the last full inning played after the 4th.