Nashua Baptist

NORTH METRO CHRISTIAN SOFTBALL LEAGUE -LEAGUE RULES

                                      NMCSL OFFICIAL RULES

                                 (2019 changes/updates high-lighted)

    >1. ELIGIBILITY

A. All team players and non-playing team members must sign a roster/release form before they may participate in any league games.
B. The roster/release form shall have a Designated Manager/Contact listed.
C. A player must be at least fourteen (14) years of age by the first date of play.
D. All players must attend church at least twice each month during league play. This is controlled and monitored by each church.
E. A new player may play in a game, provided that the above eligibility requirements are met, and the league president is sent a text with the NEW roster before the start of game.  

F. Women are eligible to play on Men's Teams and are subject to all Men's rules

G.  Once a player signs a roster/release form he may only play on that team for the current season.  

    >2. REGULATIONS

A. RULES- ASA Slow Pitch Softball Rules will govern the league, with the exceptions of the following N.M.C.S.L. Rules
1. The Executive Committee will settle all rule interpretation disputes, and will meet with the umpires to make any ruling changes. 

2. Game-day ground rules will be decided on by a majority vote of the two (2) managers and the umpire before each game, at each field.
3. Distance of bases = 65 feet.  Distance of pitching rubber = 50 feet.
4. There will be a four (4) home run (over the fence/dead-ball) limit per team, per game. All other over the fence hits following the limit will be counted as outs.  This rule does not apply to any inside the fence home runs, or if it bounces off of a defender, prior to going over the fence. The batter and all runners are credited with a run, and are not required to run the bases. [NOTE: Per ASA rules, batter is not required to touch 1st base once the umpire has declared the home run.]
5. All open wounds must be covered. This applies to those that occur before or during a game.
6. All dues/fees must be turned in when picking up schedules and balls at the last coaches’ meeting before the season begins. Teams that have not paid in full, will receive forfeits until such a time as this requirement has been met. 

7. All pitches must be between 6 and12 feet, and if not, the umpire shall call “illegal pitch.” If the illegal pitch is hit it is a live ball.  If the pitch is not hit it shall be called a ball. 

8. Quick pitches will not be allowed.

9. Umpires decisions on all pitches are final.

RAINOUTS

A.  The handling of rainouts will be decided by the Executive Committee. 

B.  Rainouts will be determined by 4:00 pm on game days. 

C.  Please check the league website for rainout information at www.eteamz.com/nmcsl/, after 4:00 pm.  Also, you may also check facebook page at  www.facebook.com/NorthMetroChristianSoftball/, after 4:00 pm.  If you do not have access to the website or facebook, then MANAGER’s ONLY should call the rainout number after 4:00 pm. The rainout number is 816-447-1018.  

E.  Teams are responsible for forming their own phone trees to inform individual team players concerning the game status.

REPORTING GAMES

A.  Umpires are responsible to report game scores and Christ-like points to the Umpire-in-Chief.  Reports are due to the Umpire-in-Chief, by each umpire, the day the game was played.  Umpires should attempt to get the Christ-like points from the teams discreetly. Teams will get credit for a win or loss and Christ-Like Points when the report is turned in for that game. 

B.  Reports can be made to the Umpire-in-Chief, via texting, to 816-447-1018, or by email to: john.mcfadden99@yahoo.com

TOURNAMENTS

A.  The league sets up a tournament for both, Coed and Men’s, leagues. This is provided for in the league fees and no additional money will be collected. The dates will be scheduled, on a Saturday in June, at the first Coaches’ meeting each year.

C.  The times & fields will be determined by the Executive Committee due to scheduling and time limitations. 

D.  Teams (or churches) will be allowed to combine if they cannot field their regular team, but must inform the league president in advance.

E.  All participants must be on a current roster and have signed a roster/release form.  

F.  TIE BREAKERS:

      >1. Head to head- winner of teams when they played against each other.   

      >2. Run differential- total # of runs scored minus the # of runs scored by the opponent (if home team is ahead and batting @ the time limit, game will end).            

       >3. Coin flip.

G.  GAME TIMING:  

      >1. Time limit for tournament round-robin games will be 55 minutes.  

      >2. The playoff/championship game(s) will be one (1) hour, but run spreads shall apply. 

C. TIES
1. One (1) extra inning will be played, (only) if time allows, to break a tie; otherwise, the game will end as a tie.
2. Placement ties (if needed for league standings and the tie breaker rules cannot break the tie), will be scheduled the week following the completion of the season.

    >4. OFFICIALS

A.  There shall be only one paid umpire for all league and round-robin tournament games; however, there will be two paid umpires for league & tournament playoff/championship games.
B.  The official scorekeeper shall be provided by the home team, or one agreed on by both team managers.          

    >5. EQUIPMENT

A.  The League will provide six (6) new 12" balls, per team, plus two (2) new 11” balls for coed team. They will be league, and ASA,certified, with the ASA diamond-shaped green stamp and a max .52 COR. & max 300 lbs. [Note: ASA rules require to ONLY use softballs clearly marked .52-300.]  Each team will write their name on, and hit their own league-approved ball.  The home team will provide the umpire with a brand new ball. Each team is responsible for replacing a foul ball, or homerun ball, that they have hit. 

B.  Coed teams will play with a 12" ball for men and 11" for women. A base coach is responsible for holding the balls and replacing the ball with the correct one, after time is called.
C. All bats used must be ASA or USSSA approved and must be stamped accordingly. A legal bat must be marked Official Softball and have an ASA 2001, 2004 or 2013 certification mark, or a USSSA mark clearly showing that the bat has been approved by that organization for softball with a BPF of 1.20.  The bat must not be on any ASA OR USSSA Non-Approved (or Withdrawn) bat list. EXCEPTION:  If the bat is obviously aged (e.g., manufactured prior to 2000), with the label/mark missing or unreadable, the umpire has sole discretion to allow its use, if he/she determines it will not give the batter an unfair advantage.

D.  Both teams will help set up and take down bases, home plate, and pitching rubber.  

E.  Both teams are responsible for cleaning up the field, dugouts, and bleacher areas after their game.