Field Diagram:  Layout

Web Page Text:

Sycamore Men’s 16” Softball Rules

The Sycamore Men’s 16” Softball League and its officers are not responsible or liable for the actions of individual members or teams that play in the league. Further, the Sycamore Men’s 16” Softball League and its officers will not be held liable for any accident, field, condition or injury to persons playing or watching any of it scheduled contests or make ups. Persons drinking alcohol are subject to all laws pertinent to park, city, state and federal regulation. That all decisions regarding the rules of league play and decorum have been made in accordance with all park, city, state and federal laws where applicable, and that current ASA rules apply except where the league determines. The League through its rules committee may suspend, fine, or expel any player or team that violates League rules.

Official Sycamore Men’s 16” Softball League Rules

1. Any person drinking alcohol on or off the field in violations of park rule is subject to all penalties and fines levied against them by an officer of the court.
2. The league will be governed by the most current edition of the rules adopted by the Amateur Softball Association except where league rules apply.
3. The league and its officers are not responsible for any accident, field condition or injury.
4. Team ownership: A team holds its place in the league from year to year. Any outgoing manager can transfer ownership to a player from the current/prior calendar year roster. If the outgoing manager does not want to cede manager responsibilities, a player(s) from the current/prior calendar year roster has first rights for management of the team. The league must be notified ASAP. If no one accepts the team, ownership will be given to the league president to find a replacement. If there are team ownership issues, each team will be allowed one (1) representative for voting at league meetings although other players may attend and be recognized by the chair during any discussion. A majority vote will be taken. The league president will be 1-1/2 votes to break a tie should a vote be deadlocked. Any team that has a league fee or fine not paid can be dropped from the league, per a league vote.
5. Team roster and entry fees must be turned into the league president by the night league play begins. Non-conformance to this rule will cause the team in violation to forfeit each game until all requirements have been met.
6. During weeks with single time games, the games are to start promptly at 6:15 pm. All batting and infield practice must be finished at that time. Any team that violates its scheduled practice time will be subject to a league fine, forfeit and/or suspension pending a league hearing and ruling by the rules committee. Home Team: 5:45 pm to 6:00 pm. Visiting Team: 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm. During weeks with early and late games, the early game should start no later than 6:15 pm. All BP will be moved up 15 min. If no BP has begun by 6 pm, no BP should be taken by either team. It is the duty of the captains (not the umpire) to adhere to and enforce this. No batting practice for the 2^nd game.
7. Home teams will be responsible for setting up the bases and foul markers. The league will provide game balls will become the property of the home team upon conclusion of the game. Bases are 60’ in length, 1^st base and 3^rd base. Pitching rubber is 38’ from the tip of home plate.
8. Each team must have at least 8 (eight) players for the duration of the game.
9. The ninth and tenth player, should they arrive, will be inserted in the order as the ninth and tenth hitters. They may enter the game immediately upon the umpire calling time out. The team will not be penalized out at the end of the batting order regardless if they have either 8 or 9 players.
10. At the end of five (5) or more complete innings, a margin of fifteen (15) runs ends the game. The only exception will be the tournament championship game in which all seven innings must be completed regardless of the score.
11. Umpires will be provided and paid for by the league. Umpire field assignments will be designated by schedule supplied by the league. The umpire’s decision is final on all judgment calls. Team may appeal to the rules committee, on a rule interpretation only. Should a rules committee member’s team be involved in a dispute, that member will step aside for that vote only and the president will fill the vacancy. Should two rules committee member be involved in the same dispute the president or secretary may appoint a captain from a team not involved to act as a committee member for that one vote.
12. Batted balls which are interfered with will be left to the umpire’s discretion. This includes spectators, players from another game, and objects that maybe next to the field of play.
13. The batter is out if he hits two foul balls after two strikes. This out will be recorded as a strikeout in the official score book.
14. Steel spike are not permitted. Only rubber or plastic spikes ore soft soled shoes will be allowed. Any player in violation subjects his team to a forfeit and himself to a fine and/or suspension.
15. Since the out of play areas are different for each diamond, the boundaries of play should be discussed before each game by both captains and the umpire. The captains are responsible for informing their team as the ground rules and any changes.
16. With second base vacant, a runner on first may advance to second base only if the pitcher throws the ball to first in an attempt to pick-off the runner. A pick-off attempt will be considered to be a thrown ball to first base.
17. Uniforms and caps will not be required. The league requests that all players, teams and coaches use discretion and not wear any garments that may be offensive to other players or spectators. i.e. shirts with offensive language or pictures.
18. A player that starts the game and is taken out of the lineup for a substitution must stay out of the game for at least one complete inning. Only starters may re-enter under the free substitution rule. Exception: A non-starter or starter may return to the lineup due to an injury of a player where there is no other available rostered substitution.
19. The pitcher is allowed no more than two hesitation pitches. If the ball is not delivered on the 3rd motion, an automatic ball will be called. A hesitation pitch is defined as any movement of the ball toward home plate.
20. If a player is ejected from the game, he will be fined $50.00 and given a minimum two game suspension. He will not be allowed to sit on the bench for the next two scheduled games, regular season or tournament. A second suspension in the same season will result in a suspension for the remainder of the season, including the tournament. An ejected player who continues the confrontation can be given a second ejection whereby his team will forfeit that game and he will be suspended pending a hearing from the league rules committee.
21. Any player who after the game confronts an umpire concerning game related matters and does so in a threatening manner, may be brought before the league rules committee to decide if a fine and/or suspension is warranted. A player(s) can still be ejected and subject to all penalties after their game has ended if their behavior continues. The umpire may press charges to the full extent that the law will allow.
22. Teams should discourage inappropriate behavior by their team and spectators. The coach and captain should ask for cooperation from his team and spectators if an umpire requests assistance.
23. The maximum number of players a team may roster is twenty-five. Final rosters will be due after the fourth game of the year. These players are who are eligible to play for the rest of the season, including the tournament.
24. On designated work days each team will supply two workers. Teams not supplying workers will lose two players from their roster for the next scheduled game. The opposing team’s captain will decide which two players will not play in that contest. Should that leave a team with less than eight (8) players, that team will forfeit the game. A scrimmage may be played; however, the results of that contest will have no bearing on the league standings.
25. Rainout or bad weather make up games will be scheduled between the captains of each team. Games do not have to be made up but games that are made up will count to the regular season standings even if all games from that week are not made up.
26. If there is potential for a play at any base (other than 1st base) the runner is expected to slide to avoid a collision. The umpire will have to ultimately make a judgment call if he/she feels that if by not sliding, the runner caused the fielder to drop the ball. IF the umpire does in fact rule the runner affected the play, the runner will be out and any other runners will have to go back to their last gained base.
27. All players on a team found to have falsified information on the roster will be suspended from league play for the duration of the season and games he played in will be forfeited by his team.
28. Rules Interpretation Committee shall consist of three members chosen from all the team captains by nomination and vote at the first coaches meeting. The President will vote only in a case where a committee member’s team is directly involved in the dispute.
29. New Team Probation Rule: The league will expand upon a majority vote from the current captains. The first of year for any team will be a probation year. The captains will vote at the end of the year to grant permanent membership or revoke the team’s membership. Revocation will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) forfeits, team and fan behavior, adherence to league rules and general sportsmanship.
30. Chop Swing: A batter is never allowed to intentionally swing down at the ball in an effort to create a large infield bounce. If the umpire rules the batter attempted a chop swing, the batter will be ruled out regardless if the swing resulted in a fair or foul ball. Runners cannot advance and will have to return to their previous base if they attempted to advance on a fair ball.
31. Courtesy Runner: Teams are allowed 1 courtesy runner per game that will be agreed upon before the game by the two captains. If someone other than the runner is injured during the game, the courtesy runner can transfer if both captains agree. If the batter who is being run for is replaced during the game, the team loses its courtesy runner.
32. The arc limits for a pitched ball are 6’ and 12’. This is a judgment call by the umpire. The umpire should call the ball “high” or “flat” as soon as possible. The batter then has the option of swinging if he chooses. If the batter does not swing, the pitch is an automatic ball.
33. To be eligible for tournament play, a player must participate in a minimum of 4 complete games. That player needs to be included on the roster prior to turn in.
34. Per our insurance policy, no one under the age of 18 may participate in league games. If a player is found to be participating in a league game under the age of 18, the game will be forfeited by the team with the underage player.
35. The league will have a maximum cap of 16 teams per a majority manager’s vote in 2012.
36. No bat shall be over 35 inches in total length and weight no more than 40 total oz.
37. Each team is required to keep a scorebook for each game. At the end of the game, managers will meet to inspect the opposing team’s scorebook. If correct, managers will initial opposing team’s scorebook. If there is a question if a player has played the 4 games minimum, the manager is responsible to prove that the player has played 4 games.
38. All league issues that require a vote will need a majority rule. At least 51% to pass. The league president will be 1-1/2 votes to break a tie should a vote be deadlocked.