SHARON MEN'S SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE BY-LAWS
Updates for 2024 in red text
SHARON MEN'S SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE BY-LAWS
1.0 ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1.1 The Advisory Committee will be made up of all team managers or their representatives and prior to the start of the season will organize and run the league from a management point of view, including all financial decisions and scheduling issues.
1.2 A quorum of Advisory Committee members will annually review the league by-laws and structure and make changes as they see fit, to benefit the Sharon Men's Senior Softball League, as well as administer all league rules. A quorum is defined as one more than half of the Advisory Committee members. All changes must be approved prior to April 1 each year. Changes may be made during the season at special league meetings. Voting on rule changes or other matters will be voted on by the Advisory Committee. League officers do not vote, unless there is a tie, in which the League Commissioner's vote will be the deciding factor.
1.3 The Advisory Committee will annually elect league officers as follows: League Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Secretary, and/or Treasurer.
2.0 LEAGUE COMMISSIONER
The League Commissioner (or Assistant Commissioner) will be responsible for scheduling league meetings, collection of team rosters, scheduling make-up and play-off games, and any other duties that may be required to run the league. Additionally, the League Commissioner (or in his absence, the Assistant Commissioner) will rule on all difficulties involving team or game disputes and/or filed protests. After the start of the season, the League Commissioner will assume the sole responsibility to run the league with assistance from the league officers.
3.0 PLAYING RULES
3.1 All rules for play are in accordance with the official softball rules, as published by USA Softball, with the exception of any rules listed below, which take precedence.
3.2 There is free substitution of all players, except base runners.
3.3 Any player may leave the game at any time, for any reason, including injury. That player, or his manager, must notify the umpire. There will be no penalty as long as that team has at least eight (8) players. The player who has left may NOT return to the game at any time if he has missed his turn at bat. If at any point and for any reason during a game a team falls below eight (8) players, that team will forfeit the game.
3.4 Any player who removes himself from the game due to injury, and misses a turn at bat, may not return to the game, and the manager must notify the umpire. As there is a continuous batting order an out will not be charged.
3.5 Managers at the start of the game shall notify the opposing managers and the umpire(s) of the batters in need of courtesy runners. In no case shall the limit exceed three (3). If another player is injured during a game and cannot run, and three are already designated, one of the original three must then run. The definition of a courtesy runner is that player who is the last batted out who is not on base.
3.6 All players present at the start of the game and listed in the scorebook shall bat in rotation even if they do not play the field. Any player present at the start of the game and not listed as above cannot be added to the lineup later in the contest, unless a) another player has removed himself from the game; b) if it enables a team to maintain 10 players in the field; and /or c) if it enables a team not to forfeit the game. Any player arriving after the first pitch may be added to the end of the batting order, unless five full innings have been played, in which case no new players can be added to the lineup.
3.7 If a team has only 8 players at the start of a game, or if a team with 9 players loses a player during a game, the opposing team will provide someone as catcher, enabling the short-handed team to have 8 players in the field (not counting catcher). However, that borrowed catcher will only retrieve pitches, and will not make any plays. The short-handed team must make all plays at home plate. If strategy dictates and the short-handed team
wants one of its fielders to be catcher, the borrowed player will remove himself from the field. The borrowed player will not bat for the short-handed team, and an automatic out will be registered for the ninth spot in the lineup for the entire game if the team started with only 8 players, or in the spot in the batting order of the player who left the game (ex., if the player batting fourth gets hurt, the fourth spot in the order will generate the automatic out for the rest of the game.)
3.8 The plate bib will be 28” long, 20” wide at the plate end, and 22” wide at the catcher end.
3.9 The league will use yellow balls for all games. It is the responsibility of each team to provide a new ball, which is supplied by the league, for each game during the regular season.
3.10 A foul after two strikes will be a strike out. There will be no second foul allowed.
3.11 The arc of pitches is required to be between a minimum of 6 feet and a maximum of 12 feet from the ground.
3.12 Uniforms are not required.
3.13 The league supplies bases.
3.14 Each team will play each other team in the league three times, for a total of 21 games for each team.
3.15 The League Regular Season Final Standings are based on record, with the tiebreakers listed below.
Tiebreakers - 2 Teams
1. Record - Head to Head
2. Combined record against all teams higher in standings
3. Record against individual teams starting with top seed in league, then second seed, etc. If seeds 1 and 2 are tied, then you start with 3 seed and go down.
4. Run differential in games between tied teams
5. Run differential in games with all teams higher in standing.
6. Run differential in games with all teams in league.
7. Flip a coin
For 3+ teams
Each time a tie is broken, but two or more teams remain tied, the remaining teams start again at tiebreaker #1. If three teams remain tied after #7, then all three teams flip a coin in person. Each team flips a coin simultaneously until one team has different result from the other two. That team gets highest seed. Then remaining two teams flip one coin, with one team making the call.
3.15 Umpires must be paid promptly at the start of the game. Failure to pay the umpire results in forfeiture. The forfeiting team must pay both their umpire fee and the opposing team fee by their next scheduled game. The league will ensure the umpire is paid and the forfeiting team will pay the league.
3.16 All players must slide or avoid contact on plays where the fielder at the base has the ball or a play is imminent. It is the responsibility of the BASERUNNER to slide away from the fielder and TAKE-OUT slides are not allowed. If any illegal contact is made by the base runner, the base runner will be called out. In addition, if a baserunner is deemed by the umpire as causing flagrant or malicious illegal contact, the player will be ejected from the game and suspended for the next three (3) games, even if the next three games are playoffs and/or games the following season. If the baserunner is determined to have committed flagrant or malicious illegal contact a second time during the season, he will be suspended for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. The umpire will have the responsibility to determine if a player commits illegal contact.
3.17 All bats used in a game must are considered approved by the League Commissioner if they meet the league’s requirements. All bats will be single wall non-composite bats. If an unapproved bat is used during a game:
- The player using the bat will be declared out and be ejected from the game and suspended for up to five (5) additional games, as determined by League Commissioner or his designee.
- If this is not the third out, the game reverts to the point previous to the infraction with any runners on base returning to the base they were on.
- The game resumes from this point.
- The manager of the offending team will be suspended for the following game.
- The offending team will consider itself warned and any subsequent offense will result in forfeiture of the game.
- A second offense by the same player will result in that player’s permanent suspension from the league.
- It is the responsibility of the opposing manager to report the offense to the League Commissioner.
4.0 STARTING OF AND DURATION OF GAME
4.1 All games will be played in accordance with the written schedule. If a team cannot field a team (considered a minimum of 8 players) at the scheduled time, that team will forfeit that game. If both teams cannot field a team on the scheduled day they will both forfeit the game. No changes to the schedule will be made, with the exception of make-ups due to weather, after April 1, unless approved by the League Commissioner, or his designee.
4.2 The League Commissioner or his designee will make a decision on all games cancelled due to weather no later than 5:00 PM for weeknights and 3:00 PM for Sundays. The League Commissioner or his designee will post the cancellation via e-mail and/or text. It is the responsibility of the team manager to contact the League Commissioner or his designee to find out if the games are cancelled.
4.3 All games will commence at the field and time listed on the league schedule approved at the beginning of the season. A 15-minute grace period is allowed before a forfeit will be declared. (THIS IS ALLOWED FOR THE FIRST GAME OF THAT DAY ONLY). If a minimum of nine (8) players are present from each team, the game will begin before the end of the grace period. In the event neither team is ready after the grace period, both teams will be given a forfeit loss. However, if one team still has less than eight (8) players present after the grace period has ended, and is expecting more to arrive, the game may start with that team at bat; becoming the visiting team regardless of the schedule. If a minimum of eight (8) players are still not present after the team bats once through their present lineup, or the top of the first inning has ended, or within ten (10) minutes of the first pitch, whichever is less, that team will forfeit.
4.4 No inning shall start more than 1 hour and 25 minutes after its scheduled start if there are games scheduled after it. A standard game is scheduled to be seven (7) innings. If the first game is not completed within the time limit, the game is to be considered a complete game and the team with the lead will be the winner, per bylaws 4.5 and 4.6 below. If the game is tied, that will be the final result.
4.5 During the regular season, any game suspended with one team leading after 5 innings (or after 4 1/2 innings with the home team leading) will be recorded as an official complete game.
4.6 Any game suspended after five (5) completed innings with the score tied will be considered an official tie. If play continues after five (5) innings and is then suspended, the results are determined by the last completed full inning.
4.7 If a rainout occurs, the makeup will not be delayed and will be scheduled for the next possible open day on the schedule after a one day interim period. This means that if a game is rained out on a Monday, the rain date could possibly be on Wednesday of the same week. A rain out on a Tuesday would not be scheduled for the next day. If a team is unable to make up the game on the date scheduled by the League Commissioner, that team will forfeit the game. If both teams are unable to make up the game both teams will forfeit the game.
4.8 Any game suspended for any reason before 4½ innings (5 innings if the home team is behind) shall be rescheduled and played as a new game.
4.9 If a game must be continued at a later date, it will pick up from where it left off and the line-up will remain the same. If a player in the original line-up is not at the continuation game, their spot will be skipped. Any new players who were not in the original line-up will be added to the bottom of the line-up, after the last batter.
4.10 Games will end via the “mercy rule” if the winning team is ahead by 15 runs or more, and the losing team has had their turn at bat in the bottom of the inning after the 15 run lead has been reached (ex. if winning team goes ahead by 15+ runs in top of 6th inning, the losing team will be allowed to bat in bottom of 6th). If the losing team does not reduce the lead to less than 15 runs, the game will be over. If the losing team reduces the lead to less than 15 runs, the next inning would be played. Games must still go five innings, or 4½ innings if winning team is the home team. This also applies to playoff games.
4.11 A protested game, which results in the protest being upheld, shall be played from the point of infraction in accordance with the official USA rulebook.
4.12 There is a 10:30 PM curfew for all night games.
5.0 FORFEITURE OF GAME
5.1 If a team announces it will forfeit prior to the game, the other team may not be required to show up.
5.2 A team forfeiting three games in one season will be dropped from further league play and no portion of their league fee will be refunded. A team may appeal a suspension to the League Commissioner, or designee. The League Commissioner, or designee may also review and adjust the remaining league schedule as necessary if a team is officially suspended.
6.0 PROTESTS
The League Commissioner must be informed within 24 hours of any protest, whether by phone, e-mail or posted letter. The League Commissioner, or designee, will decide on all protests in a timely manner either by himself or in discussion with the League Officers.
7.0 TEAM ROSTER
7.1 Teams must file a roster and pay the league fee with the League Commissioner or Treasurer prior to the start of the team's first scheduled game. Team rosters must include age/date of birth for all players. Failure to file the roster or pay the league fee will result in forfeiture of every game until the roster is filed and the league fee is paid. Rosters are limited to twenty five (25) players.
7.2 Additional players may be added to a team roster until July 4 and new rosters must be submitted by July 4. Any changes to rosters (i.e., adding/dropping a player prior to a game) must be communicated to league officer(s) prior to an added player playing in a game. Rosters in effect on July 4 become the final rosters and are in effect for the playoffs. However, players may play in one or more games after July 4, but any player not on the roster as of July 4 is ineligible for the playoffs regardless as to how many games they have played during the season. A player whose name appears on more than one roster will be considered eligible for the first team for which he plays.
7.3 A player can switch teams within the first five (5) games of the season. If a player wants to switch, there will be a waiver process for teams to select that player based on the previous year's standings. If a team accepts a player via waivers, that team then moves to the bottom of the list in the event additional players seek to switch teams.
8.0 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
8.1 Each team is allowed two (2) 28 or 29 year old players on their roster. A player may be on the final roster at age 27 in anticipation of turning 28 during the season; eligible to play only as of their 28th birthday.
8.2 A player must play in 25% of the scheduled games for his team in order to be eligible for that season's playoffs. For 2024, this equates to five (5) games. All teams must send a copy (preferably, a photo screenshot) of each of their individual game's box scores to the League Commissioner, or designee, via text or email. These photos will serve as evidence of a player's participation in a game.
8.3 If a team wins by forfeit, and that game never started, then each player on the winning team’s roster will get credited with a game played. If the game begins and a team forfeits during the game, only players in the lineup for both teams will get credited for a game played.
9.0 PLAYOFFS
9.1 For 2024, the playoff seeding format will be as follows, based on a seven-team league (home team advantage to the higher seed). All series are best of five.
First Round
1 seed gets a bye
2 vs 7
3 vs 6
4 vs 5
Winning teams go to A Division playoffs with 1 seed
Losing teams go to B Division playoffs
A Division
Semi-Finals
1 v Lowest seed in A playoffs
2nd Highest seed v 3rd Highest seed
Championship
Highest remaining seed vs Lowest remaining seed
B Division
Double elimination tournament to determine B Division champion
9.2 If a team(s) drops out during the season, each team will move up in the standings accordingly.
9.3 If a playoff game is stopped for any reason before five innings is complete (or 4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead), the game will be started over from the beginning. If a game is stopped for any reason after five complete innings, the game must be resumed from the exact point where it left off. All teams must keep accurate records. If only one team has a record, it will be used.
10.0 CONDUCT OF TEAM PERSONNEL
10.1 On any disputed play, only the manager and umpire(s) may partake in the discussion. Any other player(s) involving themselves in the discussion may be ejected from the game.
10.2 The umpire has complete authority at the game and will be the sole judge of unsportsmanlike conduct.
10.3 Threatening and/or abusive language directed at an umpire or another player will not be tolerated and will result in ejection from the game. Continued threatening and/or abusive language can result in a three (3) game suspension at the discretion of the umpire.
10.4 Any player ejected from a game must leave the playing area as defined by the umpire.
10.5 Any player or manager ejected from a game will not be eligible to play in their next active game. Forfeits and rainouts are not considered active games. Teams must report any ejected player to the League Commissioner before the next game. If a team fails to report an ejected player before the next game, or an ejected player plays in the next game, then that player's team will forfeit that game.
10.6 In the event that the game in which a player was ejected is later postponed and must be re-played, the player must also sit out the replayed game.
10.7 A player ejected a second time cannot participate in the next three (3) games.
10.8 A player ejected for a third time will be suspended for the remainder of the season, including playoffs. Reinstatement can only occur by a vote of the team managers the following year.
10.9 Any player or manager involved in an altercation and found at fault will be ejected from the game as well as the following game. The umpire will be asked to provide a summary of the events to the League Commissioner, or designee. All incidents will be reviewed following a hearing to be held prior to the involved person’s next game to determine if any further punishment is warranted. Invitees to this meeting will be the umpire of the game in question, the umpire-in-chief, the League Commissioner (or his designee), and/or the managers of the teams involved.
10.10 Any player or manager involved in a physical altercation and found at fault during a playoff game will be suspended from the game and all subsequent playoff games.
10.11 There is to be no consumption of alcoholic beverages at the field or immediate area.
10.12 Teams are required to keep the playing area and dugouts clean.
11.0 FIELD MAINTENANCE:
It is the responsibility of the managers of the first two teams to play on each field each day to ensure that at least two players will be available for field maintenance to ensure the field is safe to play. Teams not adhering to this rule shall be reviewed by the Advisory Committee for proper action.