Men's Softball Rules

1. The games will start promptly at 10:00 am. Teams will have the right to accept forfeit if the opposing teams are not ready to play within 15 minutes after game time. The official paid umpire will be in charge and will render a final decision on such matters, if requested.
2. All games will be played on fields designated by the Softball Director.
3. Each team manager will supply a new ball for each game. The official ball must be that which is purchased through the Hub Lakes League. The Chairperson will use an Umpire Scheduling System to assign umpires and provide a schedule of games for each season.
4. NO metal cleats allowed.
5. Minimum age for players is 15 years old as of May 1st. These young players must show proof of age to the opposing manager if asked and cannot play any infield position. All players between the ages of 15 and 18 years of age must wear a batting helmet while at bat and on the bases. Their Parents must also sign an “In Case of Accident” Waiver before stepping onto the field.
6. The League will provide the chief umpire who will umpire from behind the plate. If the home team has an adult volunteer to umpire the bases, it is up to the home plate umpire as to whether to use this volunteer. The official paid umpire is in complete charge and can overturn any call made by a volunteer umpire on appeal from a team manager.
7. Each team will play with 10 players or a minimum of 9 players except in the case of injury during the game when a minimum of 8 players may be used. If a team chooses to play more than 11 players and an injury occurs and there are no bench replacements, that team will not be penalized. The injured player’s at bat will be skipped rather than given an out.
8. Coaches must sign each other's scorebook at the end of the game.
9. No protest shall be valid unless announced to the umpire and opposing team manager before play is resumed. The details of the protest must be confirmed in writing to the Chairperson within 48 hours of game completion. A committee will be formed consisting of at least 4 team managers exclusive of the teams involved. The softball Chairman shall preside and will vote only in the event of a tie. The decision of the committee shall be final.
10. Unsportsmanlike conduct by a player or manager is subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors. All such incidences should be reported in writing to the Softball Chairperson within 24 hours. Such discipline may result in suspension for part or all of the current season or the following season.
11. It is the responsibility of each team manager to arrange for use of an acceptable playing field for each scheduled home game. Teams using Gardner Field (Denville) must contact the field custodian to arrange for the use of a field or to establish the playability of a field.
12. Each home team manager will be responsible for reporting a postponement to the opposing manager due to inclement weather. The home team manager will solicit the use of the opposing team's field, and then any other possible field. The opposing team manager and the Chairperson will be advised of the results of this action by 9:00 am the day of the scheduled game. If the game cannot be played on the scheduled date, it will be postponed. The game will be re-scheduled by an agreement between the managers of the teams involved at a mutually agreed upon date, time, and location. Once this reschedule is agreed to, the home team manager must notify the Senior Softball Chairperson within 24 hours of the details of the re-scheduled game and the Chairperson will assign an umpire. If an agreement cannot be reached by the managers, the Chairperson will render a final decision specifying the date and place to re-schedule the postponed game and assign an umpire. Failure of either team to comply with the new date and place of the game will result in a forfeit. The Chairperson will make the final decision concerning the forfeit. The only exception to this rule will be during a period of time within the last 2 weeks of the schedule when the replay will be scheduled within 3 days. When a field is switched, the original Home team will remain the Home team.
13. If a team is winning by 15 or more runs after 5 innings, the game shall be called in favor of the leading team - (MERCY RULE).
14. The team managers are responsible to take action for the timely resolution of any problems, such as the scheduling of all postponed games, to ensure the complete and final status of each scheduled game. This action will include an agreement to record each game in the following categories only: win, loss, win by forfeit, loss by forfeit.
15. It is highly recommended that all teams play in uniforms, if not complete, at least shirts and caps. At no time will the pitcher be allowed to wear a white shirt of any description. A pitcher’s glove shall be uniform in color and may not be any color other than natural leather.
16. The look back rule will not be in effect in league play. A runner must return to the base after each delivery by the pitcher. There are no leads. Runner can leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball.
17. The manager of the winning team will be responsible for sending the final score to the Chairperson, by either email or text.
18. In the event of a tie at season end, the first tie breaker will be head-to-head result, second will be run differential between tied teams, third will be run differential against the league, and fourth will be a coin toss.
19. All teams will be eligible for the playoffs.
20. No games will be played on Memorial Day or July 4th weekend.
21. If rain cancels a playoff game, move the schedule back 1 game in August, if there is still a problem then play a morning - afternoon doubleheader.
22. The Semi-Final and Final Playoff games require 2 umpires (each team pays for one) and 1 umpire for the consolation game.
23. All plays at Home Plate will be force plays with a commit line set at 30 feet before Home Plate. The runner will be required to avoid a collision with the catcher and touch Home Plate. Once player has committed, catcher or player covering home has option to either tag the runner or step on home plate. There will be no sliding at Home unless it is deemed that the slide was made to avoid a collision with catcher or other player covering Home Plate. If the runner collides with the catcher or player covering Home, he will be called OUT!
24. There will be no aluminum bats allowed in this league starting with the 2022 Season. All bats will be Bamboo wood barrel and handle, with the exception of the DeMarini Corndog Wood Composite USA/USSSA Slowpitch Bat (Style: WBD2237010).
    
    Although we are now using wooden bats starting with the 2022 Season, we should not ignore the fact that wood bats too can be doctored like aluminum bats and a doctored composite wood bat is just as lethal as a doctored aluminum bat, so any composite wood bats and composite wood handle bats are prohibited from league play, with the exception of the DeMarini Corndog Wood Composite USA/USSSA Slowpitch Bat (Style: WBD2237010).
    
    Having heard concerns from all the teams about how illegal / doctored bats can cause severe injuries to players, we are implementing the following penalties which should strongly discourage the use of illegal / doctored bats:
    
    1st time offender - Batter is removed from the game and an out will be given for each at bat after removal. That player will also be suspended for 1 game. Game will be completed but any runs generated by the use of the illegal bat will be erased.
    
    2nd violation – Batter is removed and suspended from league play for the remainder of the season. Team will be reprimanded with that game being forfeited and will also include a team disqualification for the remainder of the season, regardless of which player violated the rule. All opponents on remaining schedule will be given a WIN.
    
    This will certainly discourage the use of illegal / doctored bats but most importantly maintain the safety of our players.
25. With the exception of the above rules, Official Fast Pitch ASA softball rules will prevail in league play.