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Senior Division Rules click here to download Senior Division Rules file It is the objective of the Wallingford Girls' Softball League to provide an organized slow pitch softball league
to girls who live in the Town of Wallingford, while providing a positive learning experience for all participants. The League
stresses skill development, team play and fun. Fair play, cooperation and respect among players, coaches, parents/spectators,
umpires and officials shall always be emphasized. All rules established by the League are directed to these ends and, therefore,
shall be interpreted and applied by the coaches in the way in which they are intended. Circumventing these intentions to win,
though technically permissible in some cases, is not considered in the best interest of the league, its participants and,
most importantly, the girls. GOAL - It is the
goal of the Senior Division to promote adult style softball. Competition is emphasized, though never above fair play. ASA
rules govern this division with only minor adjustments to address League objectives. Players will continue to be taught team
play and encouraged to refine their individual abilities in all aspects of the game. ELIGIBILITY - The Senior Division is open to any girl in grades 7-12 who lives within or attends school within
the boundaries of the Town of Wallingford. The maximum age is 18 years as of the January 1 prior to the playing season. Any
registered player who elects to participate on their High School softball team is not eligible to play in the League unless
they withdraw from their High School softball participation prior to the League’s first official game of the season.
THE RULES Senior Division play shall conform to the rules of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), except as noted below.
The format of the rules below is consistent with the "ASA Playing Rules & Umpire Manual". 1. DEFINITIONS (ASA Rule 1) The following definitions have been emphasized, added and/or
modified from ASA: Base on Balls. There will be no intentional walks. Call-Up.
A call-up player is a registered Junior Division player
who conforms to the Call-up procedures noted herein. In general, a call-up player is asked to substitute for a missing Senior
player to prevent the forfeit of a scheduled Senior game. Coach.
Two offensive coaches can coach the bases, while one additional
coach is allowed in the bench/dugout area. Defensive coaches will keep off the field during active play. Infield Fly. There is an
infield fly rule for the Senior Division (see 8d below). League. Wallingford Girls' Softball League, Inc. as represented by its
League Officers. Strike Zone. When the batter assumes a natural batting stance, the strike zone is that space directly over
any part of home plate between the armpits and knees. Exaggerated stances will not alter the strike zone. 2. THE PLAYING FIELD (ASA Rule 2) a. The pitching distance is 46 feet, measured from the pitching rubber to the rear of home plate. b. Bases
shall be placed 60 feet apart. Unless already set by the League, it will be the responsibility of the home team coach to set
the bases and pitching rubber before the game and return them to the locked field box after the game. The home coach should
identify the correct pitching rubber and cover the others. 3. EQUIPMENT (ASA
Rule 3) a. Bats used in the
League must be marked "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" by the manufacturer and/or bear an ASA certification mark and approved
by the League. Coaches must verify all bats with the Umpire(s) prior to the start of each game. All approved bats must have
a WGSL label affixed to the bat. Any player found to be using an illegal bat prior to, during or upon completion of their
at bat within the current inning will automatically be called out and the bat will be removed from the game. The call must
take place before the first pitch is thrown to the next batter within the current inning. b. The official game ball
will be a leather (11") ball, or an approved equal, as issued by the League. Both the home team and the visiting team
will provide a new ball to the umpire prior to the start of the game. c. The catcher must wear all catcher’s
equipment while positioned behind the plate. This equipment includes a combination helmet/mask with a properly adjusted throat
protector, shin guards, and a chest protector. e. Players must wear their League approved/provided
jersey, visor, and socks to every game. Players must also wear either solid white/grey/black baseball/softball pants or their
League approved/provided softball shorts to every game. There are no exceptions. While in the field, players must wear sweatshirts
and other warm clothing under their uniforms. Players who fail to change into their proper uniform, upon request by either
the umpire or a League official will not be allowed to play in the game. f. Metal spikes are prohibited. Players must wear rubberized
cleats or other athletic shoes. Non-athletic shoes, street shoes and boots are not allowed. g. All visible jewelry
must be removed. Players who refuse to remove the jewelry upon request will not be allowed to play in the game. (Note: players
should wait until after the softball season to have any piercings.) h. The head coach will maintain all League distributed
equipment in good working order and will request replacement equipment from the League's Equipment Manager, as necessary.
4. PLAYERS & SUBSTITUTES (ASA Rule 4) a. The minimum number of players needed to start and continue a game is 9 per
team. If at least 9 players per team are present and ready to play, the game will begin at the scheduled time. There is no
out for the missing tenth player. Rule # 4.d. c. Teams will use 10 players on defense, including 4 outfielders.
If shorthanded, 3 outfielders will be used. All outfielders must be positioned no less than 10 feet beyond the normal infield
dirt area prior to the pitch. If the infield is poorly defined, then outfielders must be positioned at least 20 feet behind
the bases. For safety, the 4 baseplayers will be positioned no closer than 50 feet from home plate and in fair territory prior
to the pitch. No infielder is permitted to stand on a base or in foul territory (except for the catcher) at the time the of
the pitch. d. The ASA Shorthanded Rule does not apply (i.e., no automatic out for missing batters). e. The ASA
Re-Entry Rule (ASA Rule 4.5.) does not apply. Defensive substitutions are permitted within the following restrictions: (1)
Each girl must play a minimum of 3 innings on defense. (2) Defensive substitutions from the bench or the field must
be made prior to the start of each half inning unless: a fielder is injured or must otherwise leave the game or if a team
is playing with nine players, the late tenth player may be introduced by calling for a time-out and informing the opposing
team. All other rules apply. (3) Any pitcher who is removed from that position cannot return to the pitching position
in the same inning nor more than once during the game. f. All players who are not playing defense, coaching, batting,
on deck, or running bases must remain in the dugout/bench area during the game without coach’s permission. 5. THE GAME (ASA Rule 5) a. The Start Time of each Game will be listed on the official game schedule. A team with less than 9 players present
at the scheduled game time will be granted a 15 minute grace period. After the grace period, a team or teams with less than
9 players will forfeit the game. No coach, umpire, or other League official
has the authority to extend the grace period beyond 15 minutes. b. All games are 7 innings. If the score is tied at the end of 7 innings, as
many complete innings as necessary to break the tie will be played (or until the home team has scored more runs). c.
Umpires have the authority to suspend or postpone any game should conditions warrant, i.e., insufficient visibility, wet conditions,
lightning, excessive cold, continuous harassment from anyone present, etc. d. For those games that are scheduled to
start in the evening, a new inning cannot start after 8:30 pm with the exception of any game scheduled to start at 7pm or
later. For these games, a new inning cannot start after 10pm. e. A game called by the umpire shall be regulation if
five or more complete innings have been played, or if the team second at bat has scored more runs in four or more innings
than the other team has scored in five or more innings. The Championship Series Games will not be considered regulation until
7 innings are completed (see 5b above). Games that are not considered regulation shall be resumed at the exact point where
they were stopped. h. Make-up of postponed games are a continuation of the game and all rules apply, with the exception of 4.e. where
as if there are girls that could not be present at the make-up date to complete their three (3) consecutive innings of play,
they may be substituted with available players i. Postponed and suspended games will be rescheduled by the League to
be played at the earliest available makeup date. j. All players and coaches will hustle on and off the field between
innings. All players will be ready and in position when the umpire declares "play ball". If, in the judgment of
the umpire, either team unnecessarily delays play, the umpire will call a ball (or balls) for a defensive delay or a strike
(or strikes) for an offensive delay. k. The travesty (run ahead limit) rule must be used after 4 innings are completed
and one team has scored 20 runs or more than the other team or after 5 innings are completed and one team has scored 15 runs
or more than the other team. Complete innings must be played unless the home team scores the run ahead limit. Whenever the
run ahead limit is used and the visiting team reaches the limit in the fifth or later inning, the home team must have an opportunity
to bat in the bottom half of the inning. If the home team reduces the lead to less than 15 runs in the fifth or sixth inning,
the game will continue. 6. PITCHING REGULATIONS,
SLOW PITCH (ASA Rule 6) a.
The pitcher must begin her delivery in a stationary position with one or both feet on the pitching rubber and she must hold
this position for at least one second before starting the pitching motion. After starting the motion, the pitcher is allowed
only one step toward the plate until the ball is batted. No windup is allowed. c.
A maximum of 3 warm-up pitches will be allowed between half innings. d. The catcher shall be in full gear and ready
to take her position at the end of each half inning, unless she was the last batter, on deck or a baserunner. In this case,
another player or the coach will take the 3 warm-up pitches as the catcher dresses. 7. BATTING (ASA Rule 7) 8. BATTER-RUNNER AND RUNNER (ASA Rule 8) a. There will be no intentional walks. b. Bat throwing
is not allowed. The umpire will issue a warning on the first offense. For subsequent offenses it will be up to the umpire's
discretion if the offending batter will be called out or removed from the offensive line-up for the remainder of the game.
c. There is an infield fly rule in the Senior Division. An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not including a
line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when 1st and 2nd bases or 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases are
occupied before 2 batters are out. When it is apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately
declare "Infield fly, the batter is out." for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the foul line, the
umpire will declare, "Infield fly, the batter is out if fair." e. Sliding is permitted in this Division. f. Collision rule: If the
runner intentionally collides with the catcher or any other infielder, then the runner is automatically declared out.
9. PROTESTS (ASA Rule 9) Judgment calls made by an umpire cannot be protested. These include strikes,
balls, outs, fair/foul balls, illegal pitches, touching a base, leaving a base too soon, interference, obstruction, game suspensions
due to conditions, and other judgment calls. Protests may be considered for the following: (1) A misinterpretation of a playing
rule which must be protested before the next pitch. (2) An illegal substitution or re-entry must be protested while she is
in the game and before the umpires leave the playing field. (3) An ineligible player which can be protested anytime. Consideration
by the League of a protest will be granted provided that said protest is presented to the Divisional Vice President or League
President in writing and within 24 hours of the game in which the protest occurred. Upon submission of said protest, the League
will consider and decide on any protest within a reasonable period of time. 10.
UMPIRES (ASA Rule 10) a. Umpires
are given charge of the game. They represent the League and are authorized to enforce the rules and to make decisions on situations
not specifically covered by the rules. Umpires will be treated with the respect due all participants in the League. b.
The umpire will call time when, in the judgment of the umpire, all action in progress has been completed. Time will not be
called automatically simply because a player or coach requests it. 11. SCORING (ASA Rule 11) a. The home team is the official scorekeeper. Each scorekeeper will confirm the score at the
end of each half inning by conferring with the opposing team scorekeeper. Discrepancies will be resolved before play is allowed
to continue. b. The score of a forfeited game shall be 7-0 in favor of the team not at fault. If both teams forfeited,
their individual records will each reflect a 7-0 loss. 12. OTHER RULES b. Discipline: If a player displays unsportsmanlike conduct (as referenced above) while representing the League,
the Head Coach has the ability to discipline this player in an appropriate manner; said player, regardless of their ability,
can and should be withheld from the balance of the game in which the unsportsmanlike conduct was displayed and from the next
game in which her team plays. If such disciplinary action is enforced, the Head Coach is required to inform the player’s
parents as soon as possible. The Head Coach is also required to inform the opposing Head Coach of any disciplinary action
that affects his/her batting order. The Head Coach is required to inform all players of the League’s code of conduct,
in writing and prior to the start of the season, and if any disciplinary action is taken, it should only be taken if it is
clearly stated in the team’s rules and they are uniformly enforced with all players, regardless of ability. Last, the
Head Coach is required to report disciplinary issues (that result in a game suspension) to both the League President and the
respective Divisional Vice President. Coaches committing an infraction of the smoking rule will receive a written
warning after the first infraction. Coaches committing a second infraction of the smoking rule will be suspended indefinitely
and subject to review by the respective Division Vice-President, League Vice-President and League President. Coaches
committing an infraction of the alcoholic beverages rule will be suspended indefinitely and subject to review by the respective
Division Vice-President, League Vice-President and League President. SENIOR CALL-UP PROCEDURES 1. All Junior Division head coaches will evaluate their teams
during the pre-season for the expressed purpose of selecting 2 or 3 players who have the skill, knowledge and attitude to
compete at the Senior level. These selections may be eligible for call-up subject to the procedures noted below. Coaches will
not consider any girl who could be at serious risk playing with the older girls. 2. Junior coaches will obtain permission
from the parent of each girl before submitting her name to the League. Depending on the number of eligible girls, the league
will place the players on one or more call-up lists, which may be updated by the League at any time during the season. 4.
Call-ups are to be used solely for the purpose of avoiding forfeiture,
not to enhance a team's chances against an opponent. Therefore, no one Junior girl can play 2 consecutive games for the same Senior team. In addition, a Junior girl cannot
play in more than a total of 5 Senior games per season. 5. All call-ups will play a minimum of 2 complete innings. Call-ups
will be placed at the end of the batting order. After 2 complete innings, 6. The Senior head coach shall report the use of a call-up player to the League when reporting
the game scores. The League will provide phone numbers. 7. Any coach violating these call-up rules and procedures will
be reprimanded. subsequent violation will include suspension. In addition, the team's performance will be evaluated by the
League Officers to determine if unfair advantage was gained by using the illegal call-up. If so determined, further sanctions
(including forfeiture) may be imposed. Approved
by the Wallingford Girls Softball League, Inc. Last revision date: November, 2010 |
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