2008 City Rec Slo-Pitch Rules
1. A maximum of 20 players may be on a team roster at anytime during the season. Players become eligible to play on the date of their 18th birthday unless voted and approved by Board of Directors.
2. Players roster must be submitted to the commissioner before league play begins. The commissioner must be notified of any non league players being added or dropped to league team roster 24 hours prior to upcoming game (after the end of round one no adds or drops are permitted).
3. A roster player may only change teams at the end of the first round (June 20th) and no changes can be made after the start of the 2nd round including adds or drops. After the start of the second round of the regular season the rosters are final.
4. Every player that is on a team roster can play in the playoffs if they are on the official team roster (there is not a minimum games played required during regular season).
5. Any manager may challenge if a person playing is not of age or on the team’s roster by asking the opposing team manager to produce proof of age or name of the player. If a team is caught using an illegal player, the team will forfeit all the games that the player who was illegal played in. The opposing team must protest the player before the end of the game.
6. All protests must be made to the umpire prior to the end of the game. If not, the protest is invalid. Protests will be presented to the commissioner and reviewed by the Board of Directors.
7. If a player is ejected, he has to be replaced by a team member. If you do not have a replacement, that spot in the order will be an automatic out. Any player ejected from a game must sit out the next scheduled game and it will carry over to the next year if needed. No fighting is permitted. Any player fighting will be called out, ejected from the game, and ejected from the league for the remainder of the season. Commissioner will review incident with the umpire and review with the Board of Directors.
8. Any player, coach or manager physically assaulting an umpire will be suspended from the City Rec Slo-Pitch league and any other ASA sanctioned league for life.
9. No alcohol is permitted in the dugout or the field. Any player being caught playing under the influence will be called out and ejected from the game.
10. There is to be no use of profane language. No swearing. Any player who uses this type of language will be called out and ejected from the game.
11. Team managers are to be the only players whom argue a call or umpire’s decision. Any player who argues (other than the manager) may be ejected from the game.
12. Shirts or jerseys must have sleeves and hats must be worn with bill to the front (hats are not mandatory). Players may only wear a regular baseball hat or no hat at all on the field. Umpires will give initial warning to player. Second warning will include an automatic out for team at bat or automatic out for team in field once they come to bat. Third time will result in an ejection from game.
13. RUBBER SPIKES or sneakers are permitted. NO STEEL spikes are permitted. Any player caught wearing STEEL SPIKES will be ejected from the current game. A second offense will result in ejection from the league for the remainder of the season, including playoffs.
14. A team must field a maximum of 8 players to start a game or a forfeit will be declared. You must start with a pitcher and a catcher.
15. There will be no infield practice between games.
16. No grace period is allowed. Each game will be played to completion regardless of time before the second/third game starts. At the conclusion of each game a 10 minute warm up time will be assured for each team no matter length of previous game.
17. In the event of rain or inclement weather, games will be rescheduled by the commissioner. If a game is postponed due to weather it must be in the fifth inning to be official. If the game is not into the fifth inning and is called for the evening it will be rescheduled and start from the beginning again.
18. Designated hitter and extra hitter may both be used. Extra hitters may not play in the field.
19. Each team will have three courtesy runners per game. Runners may be used at any point during the game.
20. Re-Entry Rule: Teams may insert a player on the bench for a current player in the lineup anytime during the game and may re-enter the original player back into the lineup at any point but only for the player that entered for that player originally. Each team can use the re-entry rule for as many players as they have available on the bench.
21. There will be no bunting, stealing or deliberately striking at the ball. If such occurs the batter is out and no runner may advance.
22. The batter can not step on or across the plate or out of the batters box. If this occurs, the batter will be called out and runners will return to their bases.
23. If the runner leaves the base before the completion of the pitch, he is out. Completion of the pitch means a STRUCK BALL SWUNG AT OR MISSED, OR A BALL THAT STRIKES THE GROUND WITHOUT BEING HIT.
24. The slide rule will be enforced. If there is a play at a base, the runner must slide or give themselves up. If the runner does not do this he will be called out. If unnecessary contact is made by the runner into the defensive player he may be ejected from the game pending the umpire decision. If injury is a result, the runner will be called out and may miss as many games as the injured defensive player (including playoffs) pending Board of Directors vote. (Loose bag rules apply. Feet first slide bag may move, head first slide player must maintain bag).
25. Arc of the ball must be over the batters head on all pitches. The pitch will be considered a ball unless the batter swings at the pitch.
26. Three fouls after two strikes constitute an out.
27. Any bat is legal that is under 40 inches and 40 ounces. Any player using a bat above that will be called out and ejected from the game.
28. Any team that needs to re-schedule a game must inform the commissioner two weeks before the scheduled game. Commissioner will decide if game can be re-scheduled and when.
29. Rain make-ups will be scheduled by the commissioner and must be played on the dates the game is re-scheduled for.
30. No children or fans may come onto the field during warm-ups, during the game or in the dugout during the games. Teams will be warned once by the umpire. The second warning will result in an automatic out the next at bat. The third warning may result in a forfeit. This rule is an ASA and City of Erie rule to avoid serious injury.