Whitley County Church Softball League
Our league follows the ASA standards. The following is a generalized, non-inclusive
list of guidelines for our league. Note words in red are new rules for 2015.
1. The Whitley County Church Softball League is a mixed league made up of men and
women but will not be restricted to any set number of male or female players, or
batting order of males and females.
2. The entry fee for the league of $300 will be due at the first game. Umpire fees are
included in the entry fee.
3. The Whitley County Church Softball League will furnish each team with one softball
for each home game. Each team will be responsible for providing softballs for their
home games, and all other individual playing equipment including, but not limited to
gloves and bats as following ASA standards.
4. Steel spikes will not be allowed.
5. No alcoholic beverages or smoking will be allowed on the bench or field.
6. It is up to the umpire to determine if the field is too wet to play and he/she is to
notify each team's coaches for that entire day.
7. If a Saturday game(s) is called due to bad weather, attempts will be made to reschedule,
otherwise, will not count towards the regular season standings. Coaches are encouraged to
work together to reschedule.
8. All players will need to sign an event waiver form to relieve the Whitley County Church
Softball League of any liability on medical claims that occur during games.
9. Teams are not required to wear team shirts (it is suggested and most teams have
shirts for their church with numbers on the back to help the scorekeeper). Jewelry
should be kept to a minimum for safety reasons. Dress codes will be monitored by
each coach. Remember, we are a church league.
10. There will be information bins placed behind home plate with additional team
waiver forms, scorecards for team lineups for each game, rules for our league, and
2014 game schedules. Completed scorecards will be placed back into the information
bin at the conclusion of each game, to be collected by the league coordinator.
11. Teams need to arrive 1/2 hour prior to the game. Each team needs their scorecard
filled out and handed to the scorekeeper 10 minutes before game time. The home
team is responsible for keeping the official scorecard for their game, and returning it
to the information bin at the end of the game.
12. Teams will meet before their game with the umpire to discuss the field
boundaries, and the home team will be asked to lead a prayer.
13. No profane language will be tolerated. 1st Offense: ejection from the game,
2nd Offense: ejection from the league. Each team is also responsible for the actions
of their fans watching the game. If your fan breaks these rule it could cause the team
to forfeit the game on the 1st offense and expulsion from the league on the
2nd offense.
14. No arguing with the umpires will be tolerated. After time is called, the coach is allowed
to calmly discuss any rule issues with the umpire; judgment calls cannot be argued. The
umpire will issue a verbal warning to the entire team on the 1st offense. The 2nd
offense and all following offenses on the team will result in expulsion from the game
by the offender. The team is also responsible for their fans watching the game and
the team will be warned on the first offense by the umpire, and forfeiture of the game
will be enforced on the 2nd offense. Umpires need to be treated with the utmost
respect as this is a Christian church league and a positive Christian attitude should be
maintained through good and bad calls by the umpires. Coaches are to keep their
teams and fans under control.
15. Any player who is ejected for any reason will be required to sit out the next game.
16. All Saturday games will have a time limit of 1 hour, 10 minutes. Makeup games on
will have a time limit of 1 hour. No new innings will be
started after one hour of play, as determined by the umpire. Due to varying lengths
of innings, umpires may not always announce the last inning. Each team will finish
their at bats for the last inning started.
17. There will be a 5 minute grace period extended by the umpire before each game
if a team is short players. The grace period is part of the 1 hour, 10 minute time limit
for each game.
18. The pitcher gets 5 tosses before the start of the game and 3 between innings. The
ball must be delivered with perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 feet from the
ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of 12 feet from the ground.
19. Pregnant players may not pitch.
20. Players can only play for one team within the league. Teams must have 8 roster
players to start the game. If a team has less than 10 players they can add up to
2 players from other teams in the league as long as they are added at the bottom of
the hitting line-up and at catcher first and right field second on defense. When using
a catcher from the opposing team, that catcher must step aside on a play at the plate.
If roster players arrive late they must be substituted immediately for the non-roster
players.
21. A player on the bench at the start of the game may enter the game at any time. A
player arriving late must play in the field first.
22. All players on the teams must be 14 years of age or older. The only exception to
this rule will be when a team has less than 10 players able to play the field and they
will have to play short or forfeit the game without the under 14 players.
23. All batters will step to the plate with a 1 ball, 1 strike count.
24. Sliding is required to avoid contact with a fielder on close plays. If contact is
initiated by the non-sliding offensive player on a close play it will be an automatic out
as determined by the umpire’s judgment. If a player can reach a base or home
without running over the fielder or interfering with the throw, then sliding is not
required. Sliding is also required for anyone who is attempting to break up a double
play attempt and must be done cleats down. This rule does not apply to any runners
going to 1st Base.
25. When running through first base, runners must touch the orange safety bag,
leaving the white bag for the first basemen to step on.
26. Obstruction is the act of a fielder not in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding
the ball, impeding the progress of a runner. Examples are fielders blocking the base
before having the ball, catchers interferring with batters, and fake tag outs.
27. The Whitley County Church Softball League will recognize the courtesy runner rule,
which allows the player who made the last out to run for the player who needs a
courtesy runner. This rule is not to be abused and players needing a courtesy runner
need to be reported to the opposing coach and umpire before the start of the game
when it is implemented (exceptions for injuries during the game).
28. If there is a runner on first and second base, or if the bases are loaded and there
is zero or one out and the batter hits a fly ball into the infield, the batter is
automatically out (infield fly rule). Runners will still need to tag up and may advance
at their own risk.
29. All outfielders must be completely in the outfield when the ball is hit. The division
of the infield and outfield will be marked as a mowed and lined arc. Failure to be
there is an automatic single for the batter. Outfielders may move to the infield after
the ball has been hit.
30. Any ball hit beyond the backstop, sideline fences, or the imaginary extension of
the sideline fences is a dead ball, out of play. The imaginary extension of the sideline
fence will be mowed and lined to the outfield fence.
31. If there are 2 strikes on the batter and a foul ball is hit, the batter is out. No
bunting is allowed. If the umpire deems the batter has bunted the ball, the bunt will
be counted as a strike.
32. There is an unlimited home run rule in this league. We have an eight-foot fence,
265 feet in all directions. Players will be required to touch first base only after hitting
the ball over the fence. A ball that bounces through or over the fence is considered a
double, not a home run.
33. Run rules will be 20 run lead after 3 innings, 15 run lead after 4 innings, 12 run
lead after 5 innings, and 10 run lead after 6 innings. There is a 7-run rule per inning,
except for last inning, where the both teams have unlimited scoring.
34. There is a 5 (five) home run (over-the-fence) limit per team per game. Anything
Anything over 5 will an out, a dead ball, out of play.
35. Players will not be allowed to participate in the tournament at the end of the
season unless they have played in at least 4 games during the season.
36. Teams will be seeded in the tournament based upon overall regular season
record.
37. ALL PLAYERS NEED TO ATTEND ONE CHURCH SERVICE PER WEEK. A church service
is any event that any church holds the week prior to each game (service, bible study,
choir, etc.). Each coach is responsible to monitor their team.
Remember:
This is for fun and fellowship.
God bless and enjoy the season.
Our league follows the ASA standards. The following is a generalized, non-inclusive
list of guidelines for our league. Note words in red are new rules for 2015.
1. The Whitley County Church Softball League is a mixed league made up of men and
women but will not be restricted to any set number of male or female players, or
batting order of males and females.
2. The entry fee for the league of $300 will be due at the first game. Umpire fees are
included in the entry fee.
3. The Whitley County Church Softball League will furnish each team with one softball
for each home game. Each team will be responsible for providing softballs for their
home games, and all other individual playing equipment including, but not limited to
gloves and bats as following ASA standards.
4. Steel spikes will not be allowed.
5. No alcoholic beverages or smoking will be allowed on the bench or field.
6. It is up to the umpire to determine if the field is too wet to play and he/she is to
notify each team's coaches for that entire day.
7. If a Saturday game(s) is called due to bad weather, attempts will be made to reschedule,
otherwise, will not count towards the regular season standings. Coaches are encouraged to
work together to reschedule.
8. All players will need to sign an event waiver form to relieve the Whitley County Church
Softball League of any liability on medical claims that occur during games.
9. Teams are not required to wear team shirts (it is suggested and most teams have
shirts for their church with numbers on the back to help the scorekeeper). Jewelry
should be kept to a minimum for safety reasons. Dress codes will be monitored by
each coach. Remember, we are a church league.
10. There will be information bins placed behind home plate with additional team
waiver forms, scorecards for team lineups for each game, rules for our league, and
2014 game schedules. Completed scorecards will be placed back into the information
bin at the conclusion of each game, to be collected by the league coordinator.
11. Teams need to arrive 1/2 hour prior to the game. Each team needs their scorecard
filled out and handed to the scorekeeper 10 minutes before game time. The home
team is responsible for keeping the official scorecard for their game, and returning it
to the information bin at the end of the game.
12. Teams will meet before their game with the umpire to discuss the field
boundaries, and the home team will be asked to lead a prayer.
13. No profane language will be tolerated. 1st Offense: ejection from the game,
2nd Offense: ejection from the league. Each team is also responsible for the actions
of their fans watching the game. If your fan breaks these rule it could cause the team
to forfeit the game on the 1st offense and expulsion from the league on the
2nd offense.
14. No arguing with the umpires will be tolerated. After time is called, the coach is allowed
to calmly discuss any rule issues with the umpire; judgment calls cannot be argued. The
umpire will issue a verbal warning to the entire team on the 1st offense. The 2nd
offense and all following offenses on the team will result in expulsion from the game
by the offender. The team is also responsible for their fans watching the game and
the team will be warned on the first offense by the umpire, and forfeiture of the game
will be enforced on the 2nd offense. Umpires need to be treated with the utmost
respect as this is a Christian church league and a positive Christian attitude should be
maintained through good and bad calls by the umpires. Coaches are to keep their
teams and fans under control.
15. Any player who is ejected for any reason will be required to sit out the next game.
16. All Saturday games will have a time limit of 1 hour, 10 minutes. Makeup games on
will have a time limit of 1 hour. No new innings will be
started after one hour of play, as determined by the umpire. Due to varying lengths
of innings, umpires may not always announce the last inning. Each team will finish
their at bats for the last inning started.
17. There will be a 5 minute grace period extended by the umpire before each game
if a team is short players. The grace period is part of the 1 hour, 10 minute time limit
for each game.
18. The pitcher gets 5 tosses before the start of the game and 3 between innings. The
ball must be delivered with perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 feet from the
ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of 12 feet from the ground.
19. Pregnant players may not pitch.
20. Players can only play for one team within the league. Teams must have 8 roster
players to start the game. If a team has less than 10 players they can add up to
2 players from other teams in the league as long as they are added at the bottom of
the hitting line-up and at catcher first and right field second on defense. When using
a catcher from the opposing team, that catcher must step aside on a play at the plate.
If roster players arrive late they must be substituted immediately for the non-roster
players.
21. A player on the bench at the start of the game may enter the game at any time. A
player arriving late must play in the field first.
22. All players on the teams must be 14 years of age or older. The only exception to
this rule will be when a team has less than 10 players able to play the field and they
will have to play short or forfeit the game without the under 14 players.
23. All batters will step to the plate with a 1 ball, 1 strike count.
24. Sliding is required to avoid contact with a fielder on close plays. If contact is
initiated by the non-sliding offensive player on a close play it will be an automatic out
as determined by the umpire’s judgment. If a player can reach a base or home
without running over the fielder or interfering with the throw, then sliding is not
required. Sliding is also required for anyone who is attempting to break up a double
play attempt and must be done cleats down. This rule does not apply to any runners
going to 1st Base.
25. When running through first base, runners must touch the orange safety bag,
leaving the white bag for the first basemen to step on.
26. Obstruction is the act of a fielder not in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding
the ball, impeding the progress of a runner. Examples are fielders blocking the base
before having the ball, catchers interferring with batters, and fake tag outs.
27. The Whitley County Church Softball League will recognize the courtesy runner rule,
which allows the player who made the last out to run for the player who needs a
courtesy runner. This rule is not to be abused and players needing a courtesy runner
need to be reported to the opposing coach and umpire before the start of the game
when it is implemented (exceptions for injuries during the game).
28. If there is a runner on first and second base, or if the bases are loaded and there
is zero or one out and the batter hits a fly ball into the infield, the batter is
automatically out (infield fly rule). Runners will still need to tag up and may advance
at their own risk.
29. All outfielders must be completely in the outfield when the ball is hit. The division
of the infield and outfield will be marked as a mowed and lined arc. Failure to be
there is an automatic single for the batter. Outfielders may move to the infield after
the ball has been hit.
30. Any ball hit beyond the backstop, sideline fences, or the imaginary extension of
the sideline fences is a dead ball, out of play. The imaginary extension of the sideline
fence will be mowed and lined to the outfield fence.
31. If there are 2 strikes on the batter and a foul ball is hit, the batter is out. No
bunting is allowed. If the umpire deems the batter has bunted the ball, the bunt will
be counted as a strike.
32. There is an unlimited home run rule in this league. We have an eight-foot fence,
265 feet in all directions. Players will be required to touch first base only after hitting
the ball over the fence. A ball that bounces through or over the fence is considered a
double, not a home run.
33. Run rules will be 20 run lead after 3 innings, 15 run lead after 4 innings, 12 run
lead after 5 innings, and 10 run lead after 6 innings. There is a 7-run rule per inning,
except for last inning, where the both teams have unlimited scoring.
34. There is a 5 (five) home run (over-the-fence) limit per team per game. Anything
Anything over 5 will an out, a dead ball, out of play.
35. Players will not be allowed to participate in the tournament at the end of the
season unless they have played in at least 4 games during the season.
36. Teams will be seeded in the tournament based upon overall regular season
record.
37. ALL PLAYERS NEED TO ATTEND ONE CHURCH SERVICE PER WEEK. A church service
is any event that any church holds the week prior to each game (service, bible study,
choir, etc.). Each coach is responsible to monitor their team.
Remember:
This is for fun and fellowship.
God bless and enjoy the season.