I. ARTICLE 1-RULES
Section 1) The official slow-pitch rules as adopted by the Independent Softball Association (ISA), except as modified by these league regulations, govern all play in this league.
Section 2) Said modifications are:
A. Each team must have eight (8) players for an official game. The ninth, tenth, and Extra Players (EP) may be added at any time during the game. The added players must bat in the last position respectively.
B. During the regular season only, a team may have as few as six (6) regular players and then use three (3) borrowed players only from among those players who have signed the league waiver. The maximum number of players allowed in the lineup when borrowing players is ten (10). A player may be borrowed at any time before or during a game in order to avoid a forfeit. In order to borrow a player(s), the team must inform the opposing coach and umpire. Offensively, the borrowed player(s) must bat last respectively. The borrowed player must field as catcher, first base, or right fielder only. If players are borrowed, the coach of the opposing team should be notified. In addition, borrowed players shall be marked with a (P) next to their name on the lineup card.This allows the board to note a “(P)icked up player” on your roster for future eligibility requirements.
During the playoffs, teams may borrow up to 3 players to make a maximum of 9 players. This is in accordance with the stipulations in the regular season rules regarding batting order and defensive placement.
C. Each men’s and coed’s teams may use as many players as they desire. Only ten will continue to play defense at any one time
D. If a team starts with nine (9) or moreplayers, and a player is ejected, and there is no legal substitute, an automatic out will be declared when that player would have batted and every subsequent batting turn for the ejected player.
E. If a team starts with nine or more players, and a player leaves due to injury or emergency, and there is no substitute, the players turn will be skipped and no out will be declared. The substitute may be any player of the same gender on that team’s roster or if no additional members of that team are available, any player of the same gender on any team roster of the league may be used. Being a Christian league, the intent is not to punish a team due to injury or emergency.
F. Any player intentionally running into an opposing player with the intent to dislodge the ball or break up a double play will be called out and ejected from the game.
G. A progressive five (5) home run (over the fence) limit per team will be in effect. Any home runs hit over the fence in excess of the limits will constitute an out.In the last inning, the home team may only match any progressive home run hit by the visiting team and may not “one-up” during their home field advantage at bat.
H. After the batter has two strikes against him/her, the second foul ball, after the second strike has been recorded, becomes dead, no runners can advance, and an out is declared, unless the ball is caught, at which the ball stays live and the runners may advance according to the rules. Each batter will start off with a one/one count at the plate.
I. A"Freedom" runner may be used. Thebase runnerwill notify the umpire when they have safely reached any base and time has been called. They are not required to have that runner for the entire game andthe "Freedom" runner can be any player fromyour lineup. In coed games the"Freedom"runner shall be of the same sex in the lineup and not on base at that time. As an exception, a female may run for a male. If the "Freedom" runner is still on base when their turn in the batting order is up, an out will be declared. A player that chooses to be the "Freedom" runner for another batter may only do so once an inning.
J. A thirty-foot line will be marked from home plate toward third base. No runner crossing that line will be able to safely return to third base. They are only subject to be put out at home plate by a force out or being called out after time is called by the umpire. They are not out if tagged beyond the 30-foot line.
K. The legal pitching arc will be six to twelve (6-12) feet from the ground. There will be a mat placed at home plate to determine if a pitch is a strike or a ball.
L. Both the men’s and coed divisions shall use a second home plate, or line, for scoring which shall be placed in line with the regular home plate behind the batter’s box. Players either touching the regular home plate or the batter’s box prior to stepping on the second home plate shall be called out. It is acceptable to slide.
M. Outfielders for both the men’s and coed divisions are required to stay behind the 200’ line until the batter makes contact. In both divisions, the infielders must stay on the clay until batter makes contact.
N. When there are two first bases, the batter must run to the base located in foul territory if there is going to be a play made at first base unless, in order to avoid a collision, they are forced to go to the other first base. Defensively, a player must make contact with the base that is located in fair territory. Using the foul territory/outside base will result in the runner being declared safe.
O. No more than 7 runs may be scored, per inning, per team, during the first five innings of a game.This rule applies to regular seasonandall playoffs excluding thechampionship game.A team may score an unlimited amount of runs if the last inning is before the 6th inning. If applied to an inning before the 6th, there shall only be one full unlimited inning, commencing at the start of the visiting team’s at-bats of that final inning.
P. Teams may have the option to score runs using the catch-up rule. The catch-up rule allows a team to score more than the normal 7 run per inning cap if they are losing by more than 7 runs. The catch-up rule only allows the team with less runs to catch-up to tie. The catch-up rule will not apply in the 6th and 7th which are still unlimited for either team.
Q.In both men’s and co-ed league there will be a 6-foot safety tall net near the pitcher’s mound to protect the pitcher from injuries caused by line drives. A back leg of this net must line-up perpendicular to the pitching rubber and the innermost leg must not exceed beyond the width of the rubber. If the batter hits the net, it will result in a foul ball. If a defensive player hits the net while making a throw across the field, the ball is considered a live ball and is still in play.
The safety net at the pitching mound is placed there for the safety of the player. The net is not intended to act as a fielder or inhibit a fielder from making a play on the ball. The pitcher is not forced to place him/herself behind the net, but the pitcher has the choice to use the net as a "safe-haven" from a batted ball. A pitcher may makea defensive play on any batted ball without the necessity of using the net or shieldingthemselves behindthe net.
R. In men’s league only, a middle infielder (totaling 11 fielders) may be used. He is to play between the second baseman and shortstop and remain on the clay until the ball is hit.
S. Teams in both men and co-ed leagues will be placed into divisions based on previous season’s win-loss record. More win teams will be placed into the “A” division while lower win teams will be placed into the “B” division. Number of teams in each division is based on the number of registered teams prior to the season. A team that is new to the league will be placed into a division based on discretion of the directors or scheduling needs.
T. A “Base Burglar” may be used. This is a player who is not a batter/fielder on the team but is able to be a substitute runner only. This player must be on the waiver/roster but not in the lineup. The Base Burglar can be used one time per inning unless the offensive team bats around. In that situation, the base Burglar can run only for the same player that he/she ran for the first time. Once a base Burglar takes a position on the base, he/she cannot be replaced or substituted for, unless due to injury. If the Base Burglar is put on the batting order or field for offense or defense, the team loses the “Burglar” option and may not replace that player with another player.
II. ARTICLE 2-BALL & BATS:
Section 1) The official ball for the league shall be designated and provided by each team, the official ball shall be a .44 core, 375-pound ball. ISA softballs meet this standard.
Section 2)Any male player turning 50 years old (in the calendar year) or older, and any female player, regardless of age, are permitted to use Senior bats, regardless of whether approved by ISA.
Section 3) Any altered bat may not be used in the CCAA league. Examples of altered bats are those that are “shaved” or “rolled”. Any bat that is suspected of being altered may be checked at the discretion of the CCAA board or discretion of any umpire. Any hits up the middle that result in a contact injury may be inspected automatically. The inspection process may be further explained in the ISA rules.
Any bat that is found to be altered will be removed from play and player penalty is subject to Section 1 of Article 8, player conduct.
Inspected bats that are cleared should be documented by serial number and detailed description. This can be a picture.
III. ARTICLE 3-PLAYING TIME AND TIE GAME RESOLUTIONS
Section 1) Playing time:
A.The game time shall start at the commencement of the opening prayer. After one hour, the inning in progress will be completed and one more will be played.
B. This rule is waived only during the final games of the extended season and for the final game of the evening if both coaches and the umpire agree to continue the game until the 7th inning.
Section 2)A fifteen (15) run mercy rule after five or more innings will be in effect. An inning does not have to be completed for the mercy rule to take effect if the home team is winning.
Section 3)Tie resolution:
A.There shall be no ties.
B. If seven innings have not been completed prior to the time limit being reached and the score is tied, any additional inning necessary to be played to settle the tie, through the seventh inning, shall be played as normal.
C. Innings after the first seven will be played as follows: The player at bat when three outs are achieved (in the previous innings at bat) shall be placed as a runner on second base. This runner CANNOT be replaced with a freedom runner until after the first batter of the inning. If player cites injury as a reason not to run, they shall be removed from the lineup due to injury and the previous out of the same sex shall run in their place.
Section 4) For the sake of playing time expediency, no infield practice will be permitted after the first inning.
IV. ARTICLE 4-FORFEITS
Section 1) There is a ten (10) minute grace period for the first scheduled game of the evening. There is a five (5) minute grace period for the subsequent games. The grace period counts towards the one hour and one inning game time.
A. If players are finishing another CCAA game, the above grace periods cannot be imposed. Game will begin at the arrival of all expected team members. This does not apply to players coming from outside the facilities (Carmalita)
Section 2) A team can be removed from league play if they have two forfeit games in a row, or a total of three in one season. For purposes of team disqualification, a double header shall count as one game. Any removal from league play will result in forfeiture of league fees.
A. Forfeitures shall result in a 7-0 win for the opposing team. This is for the benefit of the wining team having runs count toward future possible tie-breakers. Forfeit losses that impact playoff seeding shall be at the discretion of the Board Members to best balance fair play among divisions.
V. ARTICLE 5-POSTPONED AND RAINED OUT GAMES
Section 1) There will be no postponed games except those due to rain or unsafe conditions. All decisions on postponement are final and are not up for debate.
Section 2) Games postponed will be made up at a later date if at all possible. CCAA Board or head umpire will determine whether the field is playable prior to the start of the game. It will be the head umpire’s decision after the game is in progress. In most circumstances, if a game has been rained out, the following games will be canceled for that night.
Section 3) With the cancellations of games, any attempts to further use the field is highly discouraged. Charlotte County desires no future use with rain on the playing surface because damage to the fields is probable. Damage to the property may increase price of future use or prohibit any future use.
VI. ARTICLE 6-PROTESTS
Section 1) A written protest must be submitted to a trustee of CCAA, Inc. within seventy-two (72) hours of the completion of the game being protested, along with $25.00. The $25.00 protest fee is refundable if you win the protest. Protests may only be made on rule interpretations, and not on umpire’s judgment calls.
Section 2) All protests will be decided by a majority of the board members present at the protest hearing.
VII. ARTICLE 7-ELIGIBILITY
Section 1) Players must attend the church they play for at least twice a month. For the betterment and dignity of the league, an exception to this rule may be sought by a coach. If so, a coach must obtain a signed and dated signature by a majority of the coaches before his player (s) begin play and give it to a board member present. No new players can be added for the postseason and players must participate in a minimum of 3 games of the regular season to be eligible to play in the postseason. Players must be on both the waiver/roster and 3 scorecards to be eligible to play in the postseason. Exceptions can be made only by the board members of CCAA, Inc. after reviewing a written request.
Section 2)Players must turn thirteen (13) years old by 12-31 of that year. Exceptions can be made only by the board members of CCAA, Inc. after receiving a written request. All minors must have their parent or legal guardian sign the waiver form.
Section 3) No player shall change teams after the first pitch of the first game of the season unless he/she has a release signed by a majority of the coaches within the new team’s division, and presents it to a board member. This must be done before playing with the new team.
Section 4)A player may not fill in for a team if the player’s team is playing in the same time slot. The intention of this rule is to make sure teams are not left short on players due to borrowing. If opposing teams opt to share players in order to fill out a roster, that may be done on a case-by-case basis. This will not be allowed in the playoffs. In addition, a player on a team’s roster may not be benched in favor of a borrowed player.
Section 5) If a church doesn’t have a team, a player may play with any team, provided they meet the criteria of section one of this article.
Section 6) No players may be added to a team’s roster after the team’s fifth game. An exception to this rule may be granted by the board members. For the board members to consider an exception, the coach who is adding a player must first obtain signed approvals from the majority of coaches in their division.
Section 7) Any player disqualified from any other league can also be disqualified from church softball for an equal time period. The player is first entitled to a review by the Board of Directors.
VIII. ARTICLE 8-PLAYER CONDUCT
Section 1) Any player with a knowledgeable, premeditated violation of league or ISA rules or unsportsmanlike conduct may be suspended by a majority of the board members decision. Per the board members decision, this can be a lifetime suspension. Any removal from league play will result in forfeiture of league fees.
Section 2) There shall be no alcoholic beverages anywhere in the park or parking lots. The penalty shall be expulsion from the game and suspension from the next game. Repeat offenses will result in expulsion for the remainder of the season. Fans are subject to the same rules. Failure to comply by spectators will result in forfeiture of the game. Any removal from league play will result in forfeiture of league fees.