SportsMonkey
Sun/Mon Men’s Softball Rules – Sportsplex / TI Fields
SportsMonkey will
follow USSSA rules at Houston Sportsplex / TI Fields with the following
exceptions:
1.
SM rules
will allow a team to play with a minimum of 8 players. If a team has less than
the minimum required number of players it is up to the opponent and/or umpire
or SM staff as to what is allowable.
2.
Inning run
limit rule: There will be a 7 run limit per inning through innings 1-4.
(Exception: unlimited runs may be scored if one of the innings 1-4 is declared
the final inning of the game.) Unlimited runs may be scored in innings 5,6,and 7 always.
3. HR Rule: 3 and 1 up, unless otherwise
negotiated.
4. The Original Miken
Ultra, Miken Ultra 2 are
banned.
Please make particular note
of the
following rules:
1. A
legal pitch must have an arc of (6’- 10’) by the pitcher.
2. NEW Game Mercy Rules. SportsMonkey will adhere to USSSA rules. They are as follows: 12 after four, and 10 after five.
3. One-pitch
extra innings will be used in the event of a tie once time has expired.
4. All batters will start
with a 1 ball / 1 strike count
GAMES:
During the regular season
games are to be played within time allotted (warm up time is included).
UMPS:
An umpire will be provided
by SportsMonkey to supervise the game. It will be the umpire’s responsibility
to coordinate and run the games, which include the following tasks:
· Starting games on time.
· Calling outs, making final
calls on any disputed balls or strikes.
· Settling all disputes or
disputed calls.
It is understood that umps
will assist in the tracking of the score (i.e. announcing it between innings)
and assist in any discrepancies with regards to the coed line-up ratios. However, it is the responsibility of both
teams to maintain their respective line-ups and scores each inning.
FORFEITS:
If your team forfeits a game
during the season, the following rules apply:
First Offense: Loss of game and warning issued.
Second Offense: Loss of game and staff reserves the right to
remove team from playoffs.
Third Offense: Removal from the league.
If you know in advance that
your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call our office so as to help us schedule your
opponent a game.
Teams have until ten minutes past the designated start
time to field a full squad (minimum numbers of players required to play
according to the rules. Anything less then the minimum must be approved by the
SM staff and opposing team.
STANDINGS:
The updated standings will
be posted weekly, displaying each teams rank within its skill level. Rank is based on winning percentage.
PLAYOFFS:
All eligible teams make the playoffs (teams that have not abused any policies are eligible). Playoff rosters must be complete by the third week of regular play. (Players will only be added after the third week for the purposes of a substitution due to an injury or other extreme circumstances as deemed acceptable by SM staff.)
In certain situations teams
at or near the bottom of the standings may not advance to the playoffs. Check with SM league coordinator to see if
this applies to your league.
Playoffs
are single elimination.
Seeding: Teams are seeded according to winning
percentage and strength of schedule.
Teams may be dropped from
their regular season level based on the above criteria. Teams may be moved to a higher division
during the playoffs only if permission is granted.
Skill levels may be divided
into separate divisions based upon size of level.
Teams
may play more than one game per day.
Any questions regarding
rules, policies, or eligibility must be addressed before the start of the game.
SM reserves the right to schedule playoff games on days other than your
regularly scheduled league night.
WAIVERS:
In order to participate in
the league, each participant must sign the team waiver. Waivers are provided and must be completed
and handed in no later than the first night of play. Players not present the first week of play
will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
A formal protest may be filed before a game
if an opposing player’s eligibility is in question. The player in question will be required to
provide his/her player information (name, address, phone #, signature)
in writing to a SM staff member prior to the start of the game. This qualifies as an official protest. The game will then be played in its entirety
as scheduled. Teams will be notified of
all rulings on the identified eligibility discrepancy by the following business
day – decisions will not be made on site.
If the protest is proven to be legitimate, it will result in the
forfeiture of the game in question.
Games subsequent to the protested game may be rescheduled. The above procedure will also apply for any
other “logged” protests. All rulings by
SM staff are considered final. Waivers and Rosters will be used as acceptable
player-team identification during playoffs, all
participants must present ID’s during the playoff tournament in the event of a
roster check. All roster check requests must be made before the first pitch.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
The idea of SM is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in
mind when becoming involved. Although
the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining
good sportsmanship. With this said, any
behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection
from a game or the league.
STAFF:
To coordinate and run the
league, our refs and/or staff will be available at all times to help the league
run as smoothly as possible. If you have questions regarding schedules,
policies, rule interpretations, directions to the bar, etc. please ask.
LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:
Leagues may be cancelled due
to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions,
facility constraints, etc. SM staff
makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games
until absolutely necessary. Therefore,
if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will
not have an answer until close to the start of the league. If the league is cancelled, SM staff will
change the voicemail immediately. SM
will then call/e-mail all of the captains.
If a league is cancelled on site, SM staff will attempt to contact those
teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night. Depending on the time of cancellation, some
teams will have to be notified on site.
If we do cancel, follow next week’s schedule (ex. If April 13 is
cancelled teams should follow the April 20 schedule for their next game). The games that are cancelled will be made up
at the end of the season if time allows.
In extreme circumstances, SM reserves the right to run a shortened
season without a refund of schedule matches on days other than our regularly
scheduled league day/night.
PRIZES:
The top teams in each
division will receive a prize of great emotional, spiritual, and most
importantly, social value.
These policies are designed to make the league run
as smoothly and safely as possible, and provide continuity for its
participants. Each player in the league
is responsible for this information: please advise your team of these rules and
thanks for playing.