All playing rules of the 20087 Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) shall apply to the Metro Atlanta Senior Softball League (MASSL), unless they are specifically superseded in these rules.

MASSL Rules have been updated for 2008 based on changes voted on by the membership at the Annual Meeting on December 1, 2007 and approved by the Executive Committe on January 15, 2008. Any questions about the revisions should be directed to Gary Mastrodonato, League President, or Doris Warpole, League Secretary.

     

Administrative Rules - Section 1 - Registration

  • Upon proper application, registration in the MASSL shall be available for men who turn forty-five (45) years of age and to women who turn forty (40) years of age during the calendar year.
  • All players and managers must submit a completed application and the required fee before participating in league play.
    • Any player not properly registered shall not be eligible to participate in league play.
  • Any team caught playing with an ineligible player shall forfeit any game wherein the ineligible player participated.

Administrative Rules Section 2 – Competition Procedures

  • Sub-sections 2.2 and subsequent are not applicable for the MASSL.

Administrative Rules Section 3 – Disqualification

  • This section is not applicable for the MASSL.

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Administrative Rules Section 4 – Tournament Format

  • This section is not applicable for the MASSL.

Administrative Rules Section 5 – Adverse Weather or Rain

  • Every effort will be made to avoid playing MASSL games in adverse weather conditions.
    • The decision to cancel a game will be made by the respective League Commissioner.
  • The respective commissioner's decision for each league will be made no later than 5:00 p.m. the day of the game and will be posted on the GSS rainout voice mail message, which can be accessed at 770.682.0633.
    • Players may call the voice mail message number after 5:00 p.m. to receive the status of the games scheduled for that day.
    • Additionally, the GSS voice mail message and the MASSL web site will also provide the games scheduled for both leagues for the week.
    • If a player loses their schedule, they can call 770.682.0633 or visit the web site.
  • A decision to end a game in progress will be determined jointly by the umpire, the two team managers and the League Commissioner (if available).
    • However, players are encouraged to exercise their own personal judgment regarding games to be played under any degree of inclement weather conditions.
    • An out will not be recorded in any such game for any at bat that a player opposed to playing under adverse conditions would experience.

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Playing Rules – Section 1 - Definitions

  • 1.4 Bases -The length between bases shall be 65 feet. The pitcher’s rubber shall be 50 feet extending back 6 feet perpendicular to the pitcher’s plate from the back of home plate to the center of the pitcher’s rubber.
  • 1.5 Runner's Line - The base runners line that parallels the first base foul line from first base back toward home plate is not required for the MASSL.
  • 1.6 Pitchers Box – A pitchers box will be marked perpendicular to the pitchers plate. The box will be the width of the pitchers plate and will begin at the front of the pitchers plate (toward home plate) and extend 6 feet in the direction of the rear of the pitchers plate (toward second base).

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Playing Rules - Section 2 - The Playing Field

  • 2.1 The base runners line is not required.
  • 2.3 The 275’ minimum distance set forth for the outfield fence is not a requirement for the MASSL.
  • A Third Base Commitment Line, a Scoring Plate, a Strike Zone Mat, a First Base Double Bag/Mat, a Runners Line and a Pitchers Box, as set forth in Section 1, are the equipment striping that shall be added to the Playing Field.

Tuesday/Thursday League Play Only Outfield Encroachment Restriction

  • An Outfield Encroachment Line will be added to the playing field.
    • The restriction requires all outfielders to remain back of a chalk-lined arc.
    • The arc, or encroachment line, will extend from a distance of 175' from home plate beginning at the left field foul line and extending in a corresponding arc across the outfield to a point 175' down the right field foul line.
  • No outfielder may encroach inside of the line prior to the batter making contact with the ball.
    • Regardless if the batted ball was caught by the outfielder, the umpire will rule the batter-base runner to be safe, if in the judgment of the umpire, the outfielder did cross the encroachment line prior to the batter making contact with the ball.
    • The manager of the team at bat may make an appeal to the umpire regarding the play should the umpire not immediately announce a safe or out call when such an encroachment may have occurred.

Tuesday/Thursday League Play Only Infield Restriction

NOTE: This rule will not apply in 2008 since all league games will only be on the Softball Field.

  • An Infield Restriction Line will be added to the Baseball Playing Field to be consistent with the depth of the infield on the Softball Playing Field.
    • The infield restriction rule requires all infielders to remain on the dirt (softball field) or in front of the infield restriction line (baseball field) until the batter makes contact with the ball.
  • If an infielder is standing on the grass or behind the restriction line, the player cannot throw the runner out at first base, but can throw out a runner going to second base.
  • The umpire will rule the batter-base runner to be safe, if in the judgment of the umpire, the infielder was on the grass or behind the restriction line prior to the batter making contact with the ball.
    • The manager of the team at bat may make an appeal to the umpire regarding the play should the umpire not immediately announce a safe call when an encroachment may have occurred.
  • A Middle Fielder is considered an infielder unless a Team Manager designates the player as an outfielder.
    • In that case, the Middle Fielder must remain behind the Outfield Encroachment Line and cannot throw out the runner at first base.
  • Any player safely hitting a ball between the outfield encroachment line and the infield restriction line cannot be thrown out at first base.

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Playing Rules – Section 3 – Equipment

  • 3.2 Jerseys - Numbers on the player’s jerseys is not a requirement for the MASSL.
  • 3.3 Bats - (Updated for 2008) Softball Players Association (SPA) Bats allows the use of all bats meeting the 1.20 BPF, including Miken Ultra II and Ultra II Advanced, Easton Synergey and TPS Genesis.
    • Bats that are banned by SPA may not be used in any MASSL sponsored play (league play or practice sessions).
    • As of January 1, 2008, the following bats are banned by SPA: Miken Ultra Original (Gray, both balanced and maxload models), fast pitch bats and all titantium bats.
  • Players caught using a banned bat will be called out and the bat confiscated for the remainder of the game or games.
    • Any subsequent offense will result in the player being ejected from the game.
  • Players who alter bats to appear as something else will be banned from participating in any further MASSL play for the remainder of the season for the first offense.
    • The player will receive a lifetime ban for any second offense.
  • Additionally, any bat that becomes banned by SPA or determined by MASSL officials to not be an approved bat will also not be allowed to be used in MASSL play.
  • To protect the league and the safety of our players, we ask that each player and team manager work together as responsible partners to ensure adherence to the MASSL list of banned bats.
    • Team managers will also be responsible for ensuring that any Practicing Only members asked to be a fill-in player for league play are also aware of the GSS/MASSL approved bat position.
  • 3.4 Softballs - Only MASSL approved softballs shall be used.
    • The maximum Coefficient of Restitution (CORE) for softballs shall be .44 and the maximum Compression Rating shall be 375 psi for all league play.
  • Safety - In the interest of safety, a catcher’s mask/helmet, Face Mask, and/or a batting screen will be made available and will be considered legal equipment for use by any pitcher during any league game.
    • All batted or thrown balls hitting the batting screen will be considered to be “in play.”

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Playing Rules - Section 4 - Players and Substitutions

  • 4.1 Re-entry and Extra Player - All players on each team roster (or approved borrowed players) that are present at the game must be in the batting order for each game, unless they are physically unable.
    • Additionally, each player must play one complete game on defense, defined as half the total number of defensive innings played, minus one if the total number of defensive innings is odd.
      • To accomplish this, managers may rotate players in a position for both games of the double header.
  • (Updated for 2008) Tuesday/Thursday League Play Only - An eleventh defensive player must be used if both teams have eleven or more approved players present. The use of eleven players applies even if players have been borrowed. If each team, or if one team has only ten players, then the game can be played with ten and not forfeited.
    • NOTE: Eleventh defensive player or middle infielder has been eliminated in Monday/Wednesday League Play.
  • Players arriving after a game starts must be immediately added to the end of the batting order.
  • Players ejected from a game will incur an automatic out for each turn at bat.
    • Otherwise, players may elect to leave during a game with no penalty (no automatic out for their turn at bat), if they are injured or if they leave the park.
  • 4.2 Line-up Cards - Line-up cards are not required for MASSL play.

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Playing Rules - Section 5 - The Game

  • 5.1 Game Time - A double header format will be followed for MASSL. The first game will begin at 7:00 p.m.
    • There will be a ten (10) minute grace period for the first game of a double header.
    • If the grace period is required, the first game will be shortened from 1 hour to 50 minutes (plus the one additional inning).
  • If the first game is forfeited, the second game shall be scheduled to begin twenty (20) minutes after the ten (10) minute grace period has passed.
    • However, if a sufficient number of players are available and both managers agree, the game can begin earlier.
  • The umpires will be directed to stay at the field to call the second game only until the thirty (30) minute time limit has passed or until it has been determined by the team(s) in need of players that the second game will also become a forfeit.
    • Unless the borrowing of players’ policy set forth below has been accomplished within the established grace period, any team that cannot field eight (8) players shall forfeit that game.
    • If neither team can field eight players, a double forfeit shall be declared.
    • In the event of a double forfeit, players may then choose up teams for practice play.
  • (NEW for 2008) 5.1a Loaning/Borrowing of Players - A full team is ten players in the Monday/Wednesday League and eleven players in the Tuesday/Thursday League.
  • If a manager believes before arriving at the field that his team will be short of players, he may ask the League Commissioner for the names of possible substitutes.
    • Substitute players MUST play full games at bat and in the field, even if the borrowing team has more than a full team at game time or has players show up during the game.
  • If, at game time, a team does not have enough players to constitute a full team and the opposing team has more players than needed for a full team, the opposing team MUST loan its “excess” players to the borrowing team and the “short” team MUST accept those players.
    • A team needs eight its own players to officially compete or it forfeits the game.
  • Individual players may be loaned for one game only, unless the player and his manager agree that the player may play two games with the borrowing team.
    • The borrowing team MUST accept the player(s) provided.
  • Borrowed players MUST play a full game at bat and in the field, even if additional players from the borrowing team arrive after a game has begun.
    • Only if a borrowing team’s opponent does not have enough “excess” players to allow the borrowing team to field a full team, can a team recruit players from another team at game time.
    • NOTE: These players must be approved by the League commissioner or his representative.
  • (NEW for 2008) Tuesday/Thursday League Play Only 5.1b) Catching for the Other Team - If a team does not have enough players to constitute a full team, the opposing team MUST catch for them. For example, one team has 11 players and the other team has 10 players.
  • However, if a team has 12 players and the other team has 10 players, the “short” team MUST accept an extra player to field 11.
    • If the team refuses to accept a player from the opposing team and opts to play with only 10 players, they must catch for themselves with an “open” position in the field.
  • 5.2 Home Team - Each team will be the home team once during the double header.
    • Home teams will be determined by a coin toss prior to the first game of each double header.
    • The manager winning the toss has the option of being the home team for either the first or the second game.
  • 5.3 Mercy Rule - The mercy rule will be twelve (12) runs after five (5) innings.
  • 5.4 Length of Game - The length of the games will be one (1) hour.
    • At the end of the hour, the Umpire will announce that the current inning will be completed and one additional inning will be played, after which the game will be considered complete.
    • The duration of the first game changes to 50 minutes if the ten (10) minute grace period is utilized.
  • (Updated for 2008) Games will continue until a winner has been decided by the score.
    • If the games go into extra innings, the visiting team starts the inning with no one on base. If the game remains tied after that inning, then the last batted out starts the next inning on second base.
    • The player cannot have a pinch runner until he/she advances to third base.
  • (NEW for 2008) If an umpire calls a game due to inclement weather, injury that stops the game or reasons outside the control of the teams, the game will be considered a complete official game at 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead and 4 innings if the home team is behind.
  • 5.4 a) through 5.4 c) are not applicable for the MASSL.
  • 5.5 Umpires - Only one (1) Umpire is required.
  • 5.6 Scorekeepers - Score shall be kept on the electronic scoreboard by the team at bat or by the umpire.
    • Should there be a problem with the scoreboard, then the visitor and home team managers will agree on the score after each team bats in the inning.
    • The manager of the home team for the first game is responsible for recording the scores on a MASSL score card and giving the score card to the Umpire in order for him to report the scores.
  • 5.7 a) Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Managers are responsible for the conduct of their players during a game.
    • If a player disputes a call or a play and gets in an argument with the Umpire or other team members, a “warning” will be issued to the player at the discretion of the Umpire in order to control the game.
    • If the player continues with unsportsmanlike conduct, the Umpire will eject the player from the game and the player has to leave the park immediately.
  • If the player is ejected, the manager may replace the player with another player from off the bench.
    • If another player is not available and the other team has enough players, the manager may ask the other manager for a player.
    • If the team only has eight (8) players when a player is ejected, and another player is not available on the other team, the game will be forfeited.
  • 5.8 Home Runs - There is no limit on home runs.
    • An over-the-fence fair ball hit during the game will count as a home run.
    • If a pitcher walks a batter who has hit a home run in the game, the batter/base runner will be awarded second base and base runners will advance as forced.
  • 5.9 Team Manager Responsibilities - The Field Supervisor for the park will be responsible for setting up the bases, strike zone mat, scoring plate and Scorebrain.
    • After play is completed for the night, managers are responsible for returning the bases, strike zone mat, scoring plate, and Scorebrain to the equipment storage room and making sure the storage room and bathrooms are locked.

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Playing Rules - Section 6 - Pitching Regulations

  • (Updated for 2008) A five (5) run per inning limit will be in effect until the umpire declares the final inning or until the seventh inning, whichever first occurs.
    • Note: Catch Up Rule has been eliminated in both leagues.
  • Any inning after the declared final inning or the seventh inning will also be an unlimited run inning.
    • For example, if the Umpire notifies the managers in the fifth inning that the fifth inning will be completed and the sixth inning will be the last inning, then the sixth inning will be the unlimited run inning.
    • Should the game go into the seventh or extra innings, then the seventh inning and all subsequent extra innings will also be unlimited run innings.
  • Monday/Wednesday League Play - A one (1) ball and one (1) strike count shall apply to the batter.
  • Tuesday/Thursday League Play - The standard four (4) balls and three (3) strikes count shall apply to the batter.

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Playing Rules - Section 7 - Base Running

  • (Updated for 2008) Applies to Both Leagues 7.2 Courtesy Runners - Players will run for themselves at all times unless they request a courtesy runner.
    • Managers cannot take out a player and replace with a courtesy runner unless the player requests one.
  • A courtesy runner cannot:
    • run twice in an inning for other players, or
    • run in consecutive innings for other players.
  • For example.
    • If a player runs in the second inning, they cannot run as a courtesy runner again in the second inning.
    • If a player runs in the third inning, the player cannot be a courtesy runner in the fourth inning, but could run again in the fifth inning.
  • 7.3 Sliding - Sliding or diving into first base or into home plate when scoring is not permitted and such players will be called out.
    • However, a player may slide or dive into second or third base and when returning to any base.
  • Runners shall be called out for contact with a defensive player IF, in the Umpire's judgment, the contact was deliberate OR the runner could reasonably have been expected to minimize or avoid contact under the circumstances and failed to do so.
  • It is stressed that sliding is clearly optional at the discretion of the individual player and is not to be considered a necessary or required act.
    • SLIDING SHALL NOT BE DONE SO AGGRESSIVELY THAT IT ENDANGERS THE DEFENSIVE PLAYER.
  • 7.8 Base Runner Exemption - Tuesday/Thursday League Play Only - Any player safely hitting a ball to the outfield cannot be thrown out at first base.

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Playing Rules – Section 8 - Dead Ball – Ball In Play

  • Under the condition where a pitcher elects to use a batting screen, any batted or thrown ball making contact with the batting screen shall be considered to be in play.

Playing Rules - Section - 9 - Field Facilities

  • Smoking in the dugouts or on the playing field is not permitted.
Updated as of 1/16/08 - Doris Warpole, League Secretary

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