Natomas Adult Softball League Rules

Player Conduct

1. Players are expected to play in the sports league with sportsmanship. This league is designed to be recreational and it is the purpose to provide a recreational experience with fun and exercise

2. Players participating in any kind of physical or verbal confrontation on the field or at the facility are subject to suspension for the current season or the entire remaining softball year

Equipment

3. Tennis shoes or rubber-cleat shoes must be worn. Metal cleats are illegal in all leagues. Shoes deemed to be unsafe by the Umpire at game time will also be prohibited

4. Any bat on the current ASA Non-Approved bat list is prohibited

5. The 12-inch size ball will be used for all games

Game Duration

6. Game duration will be 7 innings or 55 minutes, whichever comes first

7. Game time begins with the first pitch

8. No new inning will begin after time has expired. The current inning being played after time has expired will be completed

9. Inning duration will be 3 outs or the batting team bats twice through its lineup

10. A team leading by 15+ runs after 4 innings will be declared the winner and the game complete.

11. During the regular season, there will be no extra inning play

Batting

12. A team must place a minimum of 8 players in the batting order at the start of the game

13. Once a player bats, they must remain in the same batting order position for the duration of the game

14. When the batter enters the batter's box he/she will have the count of no balls and no strikes

15. After the batter has received a count of two strikes, he/she will be declared out on the next foul

16. Courtesy runners will be allowed for injured players only. Courtesy runners must be the last player to have made an out. In coed play, the courtesy runner must be of the same gender

17. A starting batter can be replaced by a substitute at the beginning of an inning only

18. A starter and their substitute must bat in the same batting position for the duration of the game

19. A starter and their substitute MAY NOT both bat in the same inning

20. Starters and substitutes can re-enter between innings without restrictions

21. No designated hitter. Any player who bats must play in the field next time their team takes the field

22. Runners may overrun first base only

Fielding

23. A team must place a minimum of 8 players in the field of play at the start of the game

24. There are no restrictions concerning field position changes provided that the game is not unduly delayed

25. Any player in the field may be replaced due to injury at any time during the game

Pitching

26. The pitch must be delivered with an underhand motion and must have a perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum of 12 feet.

27. The strike zone is the rubber mat provided by the league and placed behind home plate

Special Coed Modifications

28. The 12-inch size ball will be used for male batters, and the 11-inch ball size will be used for female batters in all games

29. Teams must start a game with a minimum of 4 males and 4 females in the field of play

30. There must be at least 3 female infielders in the field of play

31. The number of males MAY NOT exceed the number of females while in the field of play

32. The number of females MAY exceed the number of males while in the field of play

33. The batting order must alternate males with females

34. If at any time two males bat consecutively, an automatic out will be recorded before the second male bats

35. Once the pitcher has received the ball and assumes a stance to address home plate, all outfielders (including a male "rover") may not position themselves closer than 165' to home plate until the ball reaches home plate. A female “rover” may be positioned inside the 165’ arc at any time.

36. Home plate is a force out at all times. Runners will run to the batting mat, the catcher will tag home plate.

37. A runner must commit to running to home plate after passing a ‘commit’ line half way between 3^rd base and home plate.

38. A male batter who receives a walk (intentional or not) with two outs will be awarded second base. Runners advance if forced. The next female batter has the option to walk or bat