Spring 2018 Softball Captains’ Meeting and Rules Clinic March 8, 2018
League Rules and Affiliations • League is affiliated with USA Softball (formerly ASA) • Central Virginia state association for USA softball • Played under USA Softball Rules with select rules amended for Arlington County • Games umpired by Old Dominion Softball Umpires Association
Rodney Barber- Umpire-In-Chief, ODSUA • New Rules for 2018 • Points of Emphasis • Questions
Rosters • Teams must be comprised of 66% Arlington residents • Resident or business resident • Proof of residency required • $30.00 per resident/business resident • Rosters lock 11:59pm on May 29 • Maximum of 25 players per roster • Play for one team per division only • Use of an ineligible/illegal player will result in forfeiture of game(s)
Proof of Residency • Required for all residents and business residents • Residents- • Driver’s License • Utility Bill with players name and address displayed, all other info blacked out • Business Residents- • Paystub with player’s name and employers name address, all other info blacked out • Business Card • Letter from HR • Scan/Email or US Mail • Proof of residency/non-resident payments due May 29
Equipment • Teams must provide own equipment • Each team must supply 2 game balls to umpire • 52 Cor 300 Compression 12 inch restricted flight ball. Optic Color • All bats must meet USA Softball specifications • Clearly visible ASA 2000, 2004, or 2013 mark • Cannot appear on USA Softball Banned Bat List • Metal Spikes are not permitted • Jewelry not to be worn during game
Uniforms • Teams required to wear jerseys of the same color, with same team name and/or logo • Each player must have a unique number • Permanently affixed to jersey • Uniform rules enforced beginning week of April 23. • Slight variations allowed • Exemptions granted in special circumstances only
Scheduling • Teams will play 18 games in a doubleheader format (9 weeks) • Games played at: • Barcroft Park, Gunston Park, Jennie Dean Park, Quincy Park, Utah Park, Virginia- Highlands Park • Games Times: • 6:30/7:30pm and 8:30/9:30pm • 6:00/7:00pm and 8:00/9:00pm (VA-Highlands ) • Game Time is Forfeit Time • 15 minute grace for games prior to 7:00pm • Home team will alternate
Weather Cancelation • Games canceled for inclement weather and/or field conditions • May be on days following wet weather • May not impact all fields • Field Status available after 3:00pm- • DPR Weather Line- (703) 228-4715 • Rainedout.com- to receive text message • Prior to 6:00pm decision made by DPR, after 6:00 decision made by umpire on site • Rescheduled by DPR
Forfeits/Reschedules • Official/default game time scheduled by DPR • Games can be rescheduled upon request with consent of both teams • On alternate day of play • Reschedule requests must be received no later than 5:00pm day prior to game (Friday for Monday games) • Forfeits can happen- please try to provide advance notice so opponents, umpires can be contacted
Forfeits/Reschedules • Teams are required to report to the umpire ready to play at "scheduled game time“ unless the grace period is invoked • Failure to have the required number of players (8) at "scheduled game time" shall result in forfeiture • If at the “scheduled game time” of the first game of a doubleheader, a team has zero (0) players at the field, that team shall immediately forfeit both games of the doubleheader. • The grace period shall not be invoked for a team that has zero (0) players at the field. • If neither team has the required number of players (8) at the “scheduled game time” (grace period included), then the game(s) shall be declared a double forfeit.
Game Length • 7 innings in length • 6 ½ with home team leading • No new inning after 55 minutes • Complete current inning, unless home team ahead • New inning begins with 3 rd out of previous inning • Run Rule- Team ahead by 10+ runs after 5 innings • Game is official after 5 innings (4 1/2 with home team ahead) completed • Any suspended regular season game will be replayed from beginning • Umpire will have official time • No extra innings in regular season
Lineup • 10 players (5 males/5 females for Coed) • May start with 8 (4/4 Coed) • Additional Players up to 10 may be added • May use 2 extra players (EP) • Must be present at start of game • Coed- must be one of each sex (11 not permitted) • If line-up reduced due to injury or other reason- out must be taken • All players may re-enter one time
General Rules • Batters start with 1 and 1 count • 1 courtesy foul ball with two strikes • Pitch must have “perceptible arc” and reach a minimum of six feet, while not exceeding twelve feet • Umpires judgement • Home Run Limits • C League- 3 • may use B league limit of 7 upon mutual consent of both teams prior to game • D League-1 • Can go +1, all other are an out • Double 1 st Base • Courtesy Runners
Coed Rules • 5 males and 5 females • Batting order must alternate in gender • If playing 9, an out must be taken • 11 not permitted • Substitutions on a sex for sex basis • USA Softball positioning not in effect • Women may play in men’s leagues, will play under men’s league rules.
Tournament Rules • Top 8 teams in each division will advance to post-season • If less than 8 in league, all teams advance • Double elimination format • Higher seed is home team • Championship- undefeated team is home • If game- winner of original game is home • Extra Innings Played in Tournament games • USA tie-breaker format, except championship • Suspended games played from point of interruption
USA Softball Tiebreaker • Last batter due up in line-up will start the inning on 2 nd base • Hitters begin with a 3-2 count • Walk, strike-out, ball in play, foul ball=out • Played Until a winner is determined
Awards • Regular Season Division Champions will receive t-shirts • Champions determined using point system and designated tie-breakers • Tournament Champion and Runner-Up will receive team trophy
Protests • May protest rules or player eligibility • Umpires judgement not subject to protest • Must notify umpire at time of protest • In scorebook please note: • score, inning, outs, count to batter, location of runner(s), and time remaining • Commissioner must be notified of protest via email or phone by COB the following day. • Monday 9:00am for Friday or Saturday games • Commissioner will make ruling in consultation with UIC • Commissioner’s decision is final • Failure to follow procedure will result in protest being denied
Conduct • Arlington Code of Conduct • Language, failure to comply with DPR staff or umpire, arguing calls, failure to follow league rules, etc. • Illegal to possess or consume alcohol and/or drugs at park, playground, or athletic facility • Arlington County code 14.2 • Failure to follow Code of Conduct and other rules will result in ejection • Minimum of one game suspension, additional discipline possible based on offense • If ejected must leave site and sound of the field in a reasonable amount of time
Score Reporting • Home team scorebook is the official book for game • Check regularly • Winning team captain responsible for reporting/entering scores • Scores entered at rectrac.arlingtonva.us • Directions for score entry available HERE • Will be emailed to captains as well • Please try and keep scores and standings up to date
Free Agents • Players without teams register as free agents • List available in Youth Leagues via Team Management page • List contact information and any information they wish to share • Please contact them prior to addition to your roster • Add using team management page • Directions on adding free agents to roster available HERE. • Free Agent Tryout- • 12:00pm Saturday, March 24 • Barcroft Park Field #4- 4200 S Four Mile Run Dr • All teams encouraged to attend
Practices • All teams will receive one complimentary pre-season practice • March 17 – April 1 • First Come- First Serve • Based on Field Availability • Scheduled through Facilities Scheduling Unit • Practice Request Form emailed to captains on Friday, March 9. • Available HERE • Additional practices available via DPR rental policy
Early Bird Tournament • Early Bird Tournament to be held week of March 19 • Teams guaranteed 3 games • Round Robin play followed by elimination tournament • $300.00 per team • Men’s and Coed C and D offered • Deadline to register is Wednesday, March 14 • Additional information and registration available on tournament webpage
Contact • League Commissioner- Ryan Amato • ramato@arlingtonva.us • (703) 228-1835 • Will make every attempt to return communication in 24 hours • Please take time to review prior to contacting
Summary • Games begin week of April 2 • Schedules released no later than COB on Monday, March 19 • Free Agent Tryout- Saturday, March 24 • 12:00pm at Barcroft #4 • Register for Early Bird Tournament!
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