Safety

• Managers/Coaches will make sure everyone from their team has gotten a ride home before leaving the park – do not leave any of your players unattended. 
• No one should be allowed to climb fences, and horseplay should be kept to a minimum when on the field.
• Anyone batting (including soft toss at practice/games), running the base paths, or on deck, will wear a caged batters helmet
• Anyone under the age of 18 will be required to wear a catchers mask when warming up pitchers.
• Play/practice will be suspended if there is lightening in the area & everyone will leave the field.
• All Schererville Girls Softball members will abide by the town ordinance when it comes to the lightning detection systems installed at Stephens and Rohrman parks.
• Jewelry is not permitted during practice/games.  If a player has “newly pierced ears”, request that the players parents fit band aids over the ear-rings during practice, and let them know that the umpires will not allow ear-rings to be worn during games.
• Players with braces should wear mouth guards provided by their orthodontist during practices/games.  The league strongly recommends the use of mouth guards for all players (but this is not a requirement).
• Steel spikes will not be allowed.

Sportsmanship/Conduct

• Good sportsmanship/conduct is very important.  All Players, Manager, Coaches, Team Moms, family members and fans will conduct themselves appropriately, be respectful of each other, and respect the judgment/authority of our umpires – or they will be asked to leave the field.  This is especially important when we are visiting or hosting teams from other towns. Ongoing conduct issues will be addressed by the Schererville Girls Softball Board.

·         Behavior unbecoming of a Schererville player, parent or league representative will result in immediate ejection from the game, no warning will be given. Unacceptable behavior will include but not be limited to the following.

1. Profanity from a player, parent, spectator or league representative.
2. Any player who leaves the dugout during an altercation or to become involved in an altercation on or off the field of play.
3. Taunting of an umpire by any league representative, parent or spectator. (to reproach or challenge in a mocking or insulting manner : jeer at)

If an individual is ejected from a game they will immediately remove themselves from the premises. Any person who refuses to leave that persons team will forfeit the game.

• Cheering for your team and teammates is encouraged.  “Chants” and derogatory remarks toward the opposing team or other players is not allowed, nor will such behavior be tolerated. 
• Following the end of a game, players/managers/coaches will line up and shake hands with the opposing team – that’s all.  Other “ceremonies” celebrating a win are many times taken as demoralizing and are not permitted within inter-league play, or when Schererville teams are playing as a guest in another town (i.e., forming a tunnel in the opposing teams dugout entrance for players to run under, chanting in front of the opposing teams dug out, etc.).  

Scheduled Field Usage

• We play in public parks; however, we do have priority for use of the fields in Plum Creek, Redar, Stephens, and Rohrman (if scheduled in Rohrman) per our contract with the park board.
• If someone is using a field when your team shows up for a scheduled practice/game, RESPECTFULLY inform them & request that they make the field available for your use. 
• If they refuse, please find somewhere else to practice and report the issue to your commissioner. 

Field Set Up & Tear Down

• The home team is responsible for setting up the field, and returning all equipment to the lock ups after the game/practice has ended. 
• IMPORTANT – if you are playing at Rohrman Park, the fields must be dragged after the final game/practice of the day – and you must turn off the lights if playing a night game.  NO EXCEPTIONS!!
• All other fields, it is not necessary to drag the infield after practice/games (though highly recommended), but please take some time to fill in the holes around the base paths and pitchers mound – so that rain water does not accumulate between games.
• If no one is waiting to use the field when you are finished, assume you are the last team & take are of the field/equipment.  REMEMBER TO PUT THE PITCHERS MOUND AWAY IF YOU USED THE TEMPORARY MOUND.  ALSO, THE BASE RECIEVER PLUGS ARE ONLY TO BE USED DURING PRACTICE/GAMES, AND SHOULD BE REMOVED AND LOCKED UP WITH THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT FOLLOWING PRACTICE/GAMES.  CONFIRM THE BOX IS LOCKED AND SECURED BEFORE LEAVING THE FIELD.

Knowledge of Rules

• Managers and coaches are responsible for knowing the NSA rules. NSA rules govern play, with the exception of the division/league rules. 

Behavior

• Managers and coaches are responsible for the behavior of their team, fans and their own conduct.

Appeals

·         Only the manager from each team can discuss/appeal a call with any umpire.

·          All other Coaches, Team Mom’s, Players, etc. will remain in the dug out. 

Draft

• Teams will be chosen by blind draw and talent will be disbursed as evenly as possible.

Team Management

• Each team will have a manager and at least one coach. 

Playing Time

• Playing time will be evenly distributed among all players. A player may not sit out more than one inning per game, until every player has sat out at least one inning. No exceptions - including the pitcher and catcher.

Helmet Rule

• All offensive players must keep their helmets on when they are on the field until they get     into the dug out (i.e. all on deck batters & base runners).   Players will be warned twice.  A third infraction will result in an out.

Batting Order

• There will be a continuous batting order for the game. 
• All players present at the start of the game must be placed in the batting order. All players arriving after the official start of the game will be placed last in the batting order. No other changes to the batting order will be made once the game starts, except for injuries.
• If a batter is injured and cannot continue, the next batter in the line up shall assume the injured players count and play will continue. No out is assessed.

Number of Players on Defense (8U-12U ONLY)

• Ten defensive players will be allowed in the game, with the 10^th player only allowed as a 4^th outfielder.
• Outfielders must play their positions in the outfield grass and may not be used as an additional infielder to cover a base. 
• Outfield positions will consist of left field, left center, right center and right field.
• There will be no short center fielder, we want our short stops and second base positions to get use to covering second base on a force-out. 

Courtesy Runner

• Courtesy runners can be used for the catcher or pitcher anytime. (Runner shall be the player who made the 2^nd out of the inning)

Grace Period

• The umpire will designate a fifteen (15) minute grace period from the originally scheduled starting time in the event a team cannot field the minimum number of players.
•  If a team cannot field the required minimum number of players after the grace period expires, the umpire will rule a forfeit.

Rainouts

·         Play if you can.  Division Commissioners/Managers need to be clear on protocol for cancellation of games.  Generally, agreement is reached by the managers as to whether or not to play the game.  Once the teams are on the field, work with the umpires.  If the game is called before the umpire/teams are present, you must contact the Head of Umpires (by 5:30 p.m.) so the umpire can be reached and cancelled (we pay them if they are not contacted and show up expecting a game).  All games must be re-scheduled through the Commissioner; he/she will contact the Schedule Maker for dates that a field is available and the Head of Umpires to reschedule the game.

No Umpire (8U-12U ONLY)

• If no umpire shows up for a scheduled game, ONLY a Manager or a Coach can call a game.  This must be done from behind the pitcher.  Under no circumstance will a spectator from the stands be allowed on the field to act as an umpire.  This is done for insurance purposes. Only Managers and Coaches are insured by the Schererville Softball League 

International Tiebreaker

•  If time has expired or seven innings have been completed and a tie score results, the international tiebreaker will be used.
• If a game cannot be completed due to darkness and no winner can be determined, the game will be recorded as a tie.

7 Run Rule (8U&12U) 5 Run Rule (10U)

·         As soon as the 7th/5th run has crossed home plate or the third out has been recorded the inning is over.

 Call-Ups (8U-12U ONLY)

·         A temporary move up from the division below may be used to field 10 players.

·         The player moved up must play in the outfield and bat last in the order.

·         A team can only call up a maximum of 3 players.

Awards

·         All team members of every team in the division will receive a participation trophy at the end of the season. 

·         First place, second place, etc. trophies will not be awarded.  (7U-12U ONLY)

·         Although the girls know who won and lost the game, we, as managers, should not make this an issue.

General League Rules Revisions:

Revision 1     3/18/09

Revision 2     3/17/10