SPORTSMONKEY

Monday / Tuesday Coed Softball Rules

 

SportsMonkey will follow ASA rules at Houston Sportsplex with the following exceptions:

 

1.      10 players (at least 4 females…max of 6 males) in the field at all time. (THERE MUST BE AT LEAST 1 FEMALE IN THE OUTFIELD). SM rules will allow a team to play with a minimum of 8 players (at least 2 females). If only 2 women are present at game time, they must bat twice in the first 10 batters. 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. Teams MUST have 1-Male and 1-Female pitching or catching.

 

2.      Inning run limit rule: There will be a 6 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 or 10 minutes left in the game.) Unlimited runs may be scored in innings 5,6,and 7 always. Game mercy rule: 12 runs after 4 innings and 10 after 5.

 

3.      Home Runs allowed per game are as follows: Rec– 1+1up, UR- 2+1up, INT – 3+1up. When UR plays INT…2+1 up

 

4.      All teams must make an effort to retrieve balls hit for home runs during their game.

 

5.      Should a team not have enough players to start a game, the clock will start and that team has until 45 minutes left on the game clock to field the minimum number of players.

 

6.      All batters will start with a 1 ball / 1 strike count.

 

7.      A legal pitch must have an arc of (6’- 10’) by the pitcher. Any pitch that is not deemed legal will be an automatic ball.        

 

8.      Fake tags are not allowed.

 

9.      There is no MAX to the # of male or female batters as long as the team keeps the same guy/girl order. Players may substitute freely throughout the game in the field. Only one Male & one Female courtesy runner will be allowed per inning, the courtesy runner must be the same sex and be the last player to have made a out or the last player in the batting order @ the time the courtesy runner goes in the game.

 

10.      TOURNEY PLAYERS…..No more than 1 “Tourney/Tourney Quality” player allowed on any “Lower” Rec team.  No more than 4 “Tourney/Tourney Quality” players, 2 being guys, allowed on any “Upper Rec” teams. No more than 6 “Tourney/Tourney Quality” players allowed on any “Int” teams. If you feel a team is in violation, inform your umpire and he will get a hold of me. 1st offense is a double forfeit. 2nd offense will result in the team being removed from league play with refund. Teams can and will be moved down/up if needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A "tournament player" is a player who plays on any team in either a USSSA or similarly sanctioned softball tournaments in the United States more than 6 times per year.  A player does not qualify as a "tournament player" if the player plays in only Co-Ed tournaments.  If a player plays in both Co-Ed tournaments and men's or women's tournaments, all tournaments will then be taken into account for this definition.

A "tournament quality player" is a player who has been a "tournament player" in the past and continues to possess the tournament quality skills.  Sportsmonkey will make a determination for a "tournament quality player" on a case-by-case basis.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

11.

Houston Sportsplex / SportsMonkey

 Altered or Illegal Bat Policy

Effective: January 21, 2008

If Houston Sportsplex (referred to herein as “HSP”) or SportsMonkey (referred to herein as “SM”), an umpire or any player, feels that an “altered” or “illegal” bat (as defined in accordance with the applicable softball governing body) is being used, HSP/SM has the right to inspect the bat.  If HSP feels that further inspection or testing is needed, HSP/SM also has the right to confiscate the bat and the bat will be returned once such further inspection and testing has been completed.  If it is determined that the bat has been altered or is illegal, HSP/SM has the right, in its sole discretion, to either suspend the offending player, the bat owner or the whole team from playing at HSP/SM, in either league play and/or tournaments, for whatever time period HSP/SM deems appropriate.  If a suspected offending player or bat owner does not allow HSP/SM to confiscate the bat, then HSP/SM will also have the right, in its sole discretion, to either suspend the offending player or the whole team from playing at HSP/SM, in either league play and/or tournaments, for whatever time period HSP/SM deems appropriate. 

The responsibility for knowing whether a bat is altered is that of the user and the owner of the bat.  If an individual uses an altered or illegal bat at HSP’s facility, the punishment/suspension will be imposed without regard to what the individual knew about the bat being altered.  An individual must know that his bat is not an altered bat, if he uses it at HSP’s facility.  If not, the individual can be suspended.  The fact that the individual did not know that the bat was altered is not a factor in imposing the suspension. The question is only whether the bat is altered or not.

In addition to the rules and policies of the governing sanctioning bodies, altered bats are bats, which (1) had the surface of the barrel or the taper changed in any way such as by sandpapering or applying a solvent to the surface such as fingernail polish remover or by any other means, (2) had the plug removed/replaced or changed in any way, (3) had the knob removed/replaced or changed in any way, (4) had anything removed or added to the inside or outside of the bat other than tape at the handle or knob, (5) are subjected to pressure in any manner that exceeds that of striking the bat again an approved ball traveling at game like speeds and such excessive presume would include, but is not limited to, any compression, rolling, placing in a vice, or hitting a stationary object such as a pole. 

Cracked, worn (paint/lettering wear is not a problem so long as the bat can be identified and has the appropriate BPF marking, but any wearing of the bat material or identifying paint or BPF wear will be cause for removal) or damaged bats are not altered bats, but will also be subject to removal from play by HSP/SM or the umpires.  Such cracked, worn or damaged bats will not result in a player suspension, unless the player or team returns the offending bat into play after it has been removed or the bat is also altered.

HSP/SM are intent and serious on eliminating altered and illegal bats from its facilities.  If you do not like this policy, then please play at another facility.

 

 

 

 

The following are changes for the 2009 seasons to adhere to USSSA rules:

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

1.      Men’s & women’s size balls will be used.  A female has the option to which ball she wants to hit.

 

2.      In the event of a tie at the end of a regulation game, “one-pitch” extra innings will be used to determine a winner.

 

3.      Official softball bats ONLY – Not to exceed 1.20 BPF     The Miken Ultra (original model and Ultra 2) softball bats are banned from league play. 

 

4.      Swinging bunts will no longer be allowed.  HSP's new rule per USSSA/NSA interpretation is as follows: Swinging at/hitting a ball in a manner to intentionally tap the ball slowly
into fair territory will result in a dead-ball out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEAGUE POLICIES

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). Refer to rules regarding guy/girl batting ratio. 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.) Players are allowed on ONE roster for PLAYOFFS.

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.

                 

ROSTERS/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 3rd week of play.  Players not present the first week of play will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating. In order to be eligible for playoffs, players must have played at least 1 REGULAR SEASON week.  Any team not submitting a roster/waiver will be ineligible for playoffs. Any player additions after the 3rd week must be approved by SM.

 

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:

                     Players are allowed on ONE roster for PLAYOFFS. If an opposing player’s eligibility is in question, a formal protest may be filed by the end of the 2nd inning or whenever the player in question enters play.  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 player will be checked against the team roster.  Teams will be notified of all rulings on the identified eligibility discrepancy immediately.  If the protest is proven to be legitimate, it will result in the ejection of the illegal player.  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.