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DRIVERS LICENSE OR ID TO BE GIVEN TO SCOREKEEPER BEFORE EVERY GAME IN ORDER TO PLAY.
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Slow Pitch Rule Book will govern all rules NOT covered in this document, which will be available upon request.
Playing Rules
Minimum Players:
In the Men's leagues, a minimum of 9 players are allowed to start a game. If a team starts a game with 9 players, then an out will take place each time the 10th batting position is scheduled to bat. A 10th player may be added to the 10th spot in the batting order at any time during the game. Any team starting with 10, 11, or 12 players may drop to 9 to complete a game, but every empty spot in batting order will be declared an out when that spot is scheduled to hit. If a team starts with 9 or 10 players, they are not allowed to add an 11th or 12th player to lineup. Those players must remain on the lineup as substitutes. A player who leaves a game under blood rule may return to the game under USSSA Rule 5 Sec 4:
4. CONTINUED PARTICIPATION DUE TO INJURY, BLEEDING OR OPEN WOUND. Player/substitute, manager, coach, trainer, or other team member or umpire who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until the bleeding is stopped and the wound covered. A. If treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would not have to leave the game. The amount of time is determined by the umpire’s judgment. B. If excessive time is involved, the reentry rule would apply to players. C. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform or if a bandage becomes blood soaked, in the judgment of the umpire.
In the COED league, teams will be allowed to start the game with 9 players. Teams will be allowed to start a game with 6M and 3F with the 4th female spot in batting lineup being an out. A 10th player may be added to the batting lineup at any time during the game. If a game is started with 6M and 3F, then to add the 10th player, it must be a female. Teams who start with 12 may drop down to 11 or 10, but each empty batting spot will become an out, and a team cannot have more than 2 guys in their lineup unless they drop to 9 and have 6M and 3F. A player who leaves a game under blood rule may return to the game under USSSA Rule 5 Sec 4:
4. CONTINUED PARTICIPATION DUE TO INJURY, BLEEDING OR OPEN WOUND. Player/substitute, manager, coach, trainer, or other team member or umpire who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until the bleeding is stopped and the wound covered. A. If treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would not have to leave the game. The amount of time is determined by the umpire’s judgment. B. If excessive time is involved, the reentry rule would apply to players. C. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform or if a bandage becomes blood soaked, in the judgment of the umpire.
COED games start with a female lead-off hitter. The female batting spots are 1, 3, 6, and 9. If you are batting 12 people, the 11th spot must be a female. If a male is walked and is followed by a female, the following female has the option of walking or hitting. THE MALE WALKED WILL BE AWARDED SECOND BASE EVEN IF THE FEMALE CHOOSES TO HIT.
Uniforms:
Players should have on the same colored shirts for league games, but it is suggested to wear shirts with different numbers.
Equipment
Bats: Bats must have the USSSA THUMB PRINT stamp and also be stamped with a BPF of 1.20 or less. Players caught using illegal bats will be asked to remove the bat for the game.
Balls: The balls need to be Classic M for males and Classic W for females.
Cleats: Cleats are allowed on fields but NO METAL SPIKES ALLOWED.
Forfeited Games
If a team does not have the minimum requirement of 9 players for their league game by game time, then the game is a forfeit. A forfeited game will go on the record as a 7-0 game. If a team forfeits three games in one season or back-to-back games, that team will be removed from the league. If a team starts a game and drops below the minimum requirement of 9 players, then they will forfeit that game; however, that game will not count as one of their three forfeits. If a team that has to forfeit is losing, then the score at that time will be the final score; however, if the forfeited team is winning, then it will go in books as a 7-0 win for the other team.
**ANY TEAM FORFEITING THAT DOES NOT GIVE SJP NOTICE THAT DAY BY 5PM WILL BE CHARGED A $65 OFFICIALS/SCOREKEEPER FEE.
FOR THE TEAM TO BE REINSTATED BACK IN THE LEAGUE, THE FORFEIT FEE WILL HAVE TO BE PAID BEFORE THE TEAM’S NEXT GAME OR THEY WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE LEAGUE.
Courtesy Runners
1 courtesy runner per inning will be allowed, but it must be last out. No substitute players are allowed to be runners. In COED, females must run for females and males for males.
Home Run Limits *A home run is any untouched ball that clears the fence. *
Men's Competitive 4 w/DHH
Men's Noncompetitive 1 w/DHH
Coed Competitive 4M & 2F
Coed Noncompetitive 2M & 2F
Once a team has hit its allotted home runs, every home run after that will be declared an out, the ball will be dead, and runners will have to return to original occupied base.
If the defensive team does touch the ball and it goes over the fence, this is deemed a 4-base error. It counts as a home run but DOES NOT count to your home run total. Hitter must touch all 4 bases.
Protest
No protest will be allowed on rules or judgment calls. Umpire's decision will be final.
The umpire will have the right to check a player’s identification if a player is suspected of playing under a different name. If a player is caught playing illegally, then that player will be suspended for remainder of season and the following season. The manager of the team allowing an illegal player to play will also be suspended for the remainder of the season and next season.
If a team’s coach/manager suspects a player is playing under a different name, they should approach the umpire and request that the suspected player’s identification be checked.
Run Rule
15 after 3, 12 after 4, and 10 after 5.
Flip/Flop Rule
In the inning when the run rule is exceeded and the home team is losing, the home team will remain at bat and become the visiting team. If the new visiting team does not score enough runs to reduce the run difference below the run rule, the game is over. If they reduce the run difference below the run rule, then the new home team will bat. If they subsequently score enough runs to exceed the run rule, then the game will be over; if not, then the game will continue as is. If the situation reverses, then teams would swap again.
Batting
All counts will start with 1 ball and 1 strike. Each batter will be allowed 1 free foul ball with 2 strikes, then the next foul ball will be considered an out.
General Rules
6PM game times will be graced 15 minutes in order to start with a 9-player minimum due to traffic, etc. 7PM, 8PM, and 9PM games will be graced 5 minutes. If these grace periods have passed and the 9 player minimum is not met, this will result in a forfeit.
Lineups must be turned into scorekeeper 15 minutes before scheduled start time, and lineups must have first and last names on them. NO NICKNAMES.
No one who is not listed on the team roster is allowed in dugout or on playing field.
- NO TOBACCO PRODUCTS ALLOWED IN BROUSSARD SPORTS COMPLEX
- NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED
In the event of a rain out, we will attempt to reschedule games, but due to a 10-game season and end-of-season playoffs, games may have to be on other nights of the week than originally scheduled.
Games will only be postponed due to weather, unsuitable playing conditions, or light failure.
Once a game starts, the umpire has the authority to suspend any game due to weather. Any game suspended, if resumed, will begin from where it was suspended. A game is deemed complete if 4 innings have been completed.
A male player may be allowed to play on any night in either league. Male players can also play on a COED and Men’s team on same night (not 2 men’s teams in the same night). COED players are allowed to play on different COED teams as long as they are on different nights. Players who are caught playing on multiple teams in the same league will be suspended from the league, and each game he/she played in for second team will be ruled a forfeit. The team captain of second team will also be suspended from league.
For any team that removes itself from the league or is ruled out due to number of forfeited games, those players will not be allowed to join another team in the same league until next season. (No refunds will be given for teams who drop out or get removed from league).
ALL INDIVIDUAL PLAYER REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE REGISTERED ONLINE BY 5PM ON GAME DAY, OR THAT PLAYER WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY THAT NIGHT.
NO PLAYERS WILL BE ADDED TO A ROSTER AFTER THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON, AND ALL ADDED PLAYERS MUST BE ON THE ONLINE ROSTER AND ADDED TO ROSTER BY 5PM ON SCHEDULED GAME DAY.
PLAYERS MUST PLAY IN A REGULAR SEASON GAME TO PLAY IN THE PLAYOFFS. Any line drive ball hit back through the pitcher’s box will be deemed an out and a dead ball with players returning to original base they were occupying. The rule will be enforced on balls that DO NOT make contact with the ground before pitching box and pass no greater than 1’ over the pitcher’s head. This decision will solely be based on umpire’s judgment and no protest will be allowed. The Halo rule is only in effect if the pitcher is in the pitching box.
HALO RULE (MEN’S OPEN, MEN’S RECREATIONAL, AND COED)
Pitcher’s box
There will be a 2-foot-wide by 6-foot-long pitcher’s box starting at 50’, ending at 56’. The pitcher may pitch from anywhere in the box, as long as ONE foot is in the box at the time of pitch. Pitcher may leave the box once the ball is pitched, but WILL NOT BE PROTECTED BY THE HALO RULE.
Sportsmanship
Code of Conduct: No Player, Coach, or Manager Shall:
- Not at any time, lay a hand upon, push, shove, strike, threaten to strike, or verbally threaten an umpire.
- Refuse to abide by an umpire’s decision.
- Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an umpire’s decision by throwing of gloves, bats, balls, or any other forceful action.
- Discuss with the official in an aggressive manner. The only person who should discuss situations with the umpire is the coach/manager.
- Be guilty of using unnecessary rough tactics in play of the game, against the body and person of an opposing player.
- Be guilty of physical attack as an aggressor on a player, umpire, spectator, or a member of the SJP staff.
- Use profane language in any manner or at any time.
- Be guilty of public discussion with spectators, in a derogatory manner, of any play, decision, or his/her own personal opinion of other players or officials during the game.
- Any player ejected from a game will be suspended from all games for 1 week, and a second ejection will result in the removal from the league.
Team-Player Sportsmanship
Any participant who participates in a fight or altercation or in any way causes harm to any other program participants, whether on the playing field or park property before, during, or after a game, will be suspended for the remainder of season and following season.
No cursing, throwing equipment, arguing with officials, deliberate rough play, or other types of unsportsmanlike conduct will be tolerated and will result in an ejection.
If a player/coach/manager is ejected, he/she must exit the park. If that person refuses to leave then their suspension will be increased, and team will forfeit the game.
Post Season
All leagues will play single elimination tournament, starting on scheduled playing day one week after completion of regular season.
Awards
Awards will be given to both first and second place teams in league and tournaments.
BAT TESTING
Any player refusing to allow Broussard Sports Complex to test a bat will be subject to USSSA rule 2, sec. 2.
All games will be 55 minutes or 7 innings. No inning will start with less than 60 seconds on timer.