HUDSON COMMUNITY EDUCATION and RECREATION



HUDSON COMMUNITY EDUCATION and RECREATIONADULT SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULESADMINISTRATIONManagement of Adult Slow-Pitch ProgramThe operation of the Adult Slow-Pitch Softball League is the responsibility of the Hudson Community Education and Recreation Department.HCER shall organize the leagues, procure referees, prepare and release publicity and in general, conduct the business of the league.The leagues are USSSA Sanctioned. LEAGUE REGULATIONSTeam/Player Registration & Fees Resident teams will be given the first opportunity to register. To qualify as a resident team, 50% of the registered team members must work or live in the Hudson City School District. Teams with less than 50% of Hudson community members will be charged an additional fee.Teams will be officially registered with the submission of their entry fees and official roster to the HCER office with required information completed no later April, 23. Sunday League Begins – May 6th Tuesday League Begins – May 8thFriday League Begins – May 11th Resident Team $385Non-Resident Team $485Make checks payable to “HUDSON CITY SCHOOLS”.Individuals who desire to participate but lack team affiliation should contact the HCER office for assistance in securing possible team placement.The league will be filled in the order in which the entry fees/rosters are received. Each league will be closed after the league limit is reached.If a league is canceled due to the failure to secure the necessary number of teams, the entrance fee will be returned to the involved teams.A forfeiture fee must be submitted in the form of an undated check, and is due with team entry fees/rosters. This fee will be collected in event of a game forfeit for any reason.During the regular season each team will be required to pay $20 cash for umpire fees. Please have exact change! Team Membership and EligibilityLeague eligibility is based on age. All players must be 18 years old and over by the first game of the season. Every player in the 40 & over league must be 40 years old upon the completion of the regular season. *The use of an ineligible player will result in the forfeiture of all games in which that player has participated.Team members could be asked at any time to present personal identification at the request of an HCER employee or game official. Players must play a minimum of six games to be eligible for the post season tournament (excluding injury).Team captains shall present their final roster to the HCER office two weeks prior to their leagues first scheduled game, on the designated roster form. Each roster must be completed in full. No changes may be made to rosters after the sixth game of the season. If a player has played three games on a team he will not be permitted to “jump” to another team during the season.League MeetingsManager or one representative must attend pre-season league meeting. League information packets will be passed out at this time.A league meeting may be called at any time during the season. Each team must be represented by its team manager, coach, or designated representative at these leagues meetings.Equipment and UniformsHCER will furnish basic equipment necessary to operate this program: balls, bases, etc.Bats will NOT be supplied by HCERAll teams must have uniforms. The uniforms should consist of like colored jerseys and numbers. All team members must wear their team uniform for every game. Metal spikes are NOT permitted.All bats must be stamped with the following: 1.20 BPF or lower and USSSA or NSA approved. Bats must NOT be larger than 2 ? inch in diameter at its largest point.If you have any questions on the legality of your bat please contact HCER.Game RegulationsThe home team is listed first on the schedule, and will use the third base dugout. Any spectator under the age of 13 must be supervised at all times by an adult not participating in the game. If a player is injured and misses his next at bat, and exits from the game, his team will not be penalized with an automatic out when it is his turn to bat in the lineup.Field SpecificationsThe base distance will be set at 65’ for Men. The pitching line will be set at 50’ from home plate.Ground rules will be covered for specific fields during manager/umpire meeting before the game. Regular Season ScheduleAll schedules and scores will be available through the HCER website on . In case of team suspensions, the season’s schedule is subject to change; team records will not be altered. Teams who have yet to play the suspended team will receive an automatic victory.A single elimination tournament will be held at the end of each leagues regular season which will determine the league champion.Post Season PlayAll teams will be seeded in the playoff bracket by their regular season record. Brackets and schedules will be available on the HCER website and .If a tie exists for post season seeding:First Tie Breaker- To be determined by the win/loss record against each other in regular season play.Second Tie Breaker- If each team has won or lost equal games, tie breaker will be determined by total runs scored against each other.Third Tie Breaker- If total runs scored against one another is the same, tie breaker will be average run differential throughout the regular season. AwardsThe league champion will each receive a team sponsor’s plaque. Shirts will also be awarded to the players on the championship team.A photo of the championship team will be submitted to the Hudson Hub.ForfeitureA team will forfeit if it does not have eight players prepared to play on the field within the designated grace period. The following grace period will be observed: 15 minutes for game one and five minutes for following games.A team will forfeit a game if one or more of its players are found to be in an inebriated condition as judged by the game officials. Officials may order an intoxicated person from the game or playing site to leave. In the event of non-compliance, the officials will immediately notify the police. Violators are subject to dismissal from the league.A team will forfeit all of its played games in which an ineligible player has participated. If a team forfeits, then it shall lose its “forfeit fee” that was submitted with the team’s registration. The other scheduled team is not required to pay an official's fee for the forfeited game. If a manager informs HCER 24 hours in advance of their scheduled game of a possible forfeiture they will NOT lose their forfeit fee. If a team forfeits a second time, then it shall be ejected from the league, without refund. Team records will remain the same with automatic victories given to teams still scheduled to be played.ProtestsOfficial protests are to be filed with HCER and addressed to the Director by the close of business the following day of the protested game.An official protest must be in writing, stating the infraction of the rule or league regulation, signed by the team manager/coach, and must be accompanied by a twenty-five-dollar ($25) protest fee, which will be refunded if the protest is upheld. Forms are available at the field. The Softball Administrator and Director of HCER shall rule on all protests, and levy all penalties they deem fit. There is no appeal process regarding protests.Protests are based upon an interpretation of a rule and not upon the judgment of an official’s call.A league rule protest must be announced to the opposing team captain through the game official at the time of the infraction. If a team believes a player on the opposing team is NOT on the official team roster they may ask the umpire to check that player’s identification to compare with the official team roster. This must be done prior to the start of the 5th inning. If a player is found ineligible, he will be disqualified from the line up, and his team will be given an automatic out if/when his turn in the batting order comes. Manager’s/Coach’s ResponsibilitiesManagers are asked to check in with the umpire 10 minutes before the scheduled game time to provide their lineup on the official HCER lineup card.Managers and game officials will meet prior to each game to 1) receive umpire fee 2) review league rules 3) go over field ground rules. It is the manager’s responsibility to notify and inform his players of all playing rules, special rules, and playing times.It is the manager’s responsibility to contact the Softball Administrator should there be any questions relative to league play.It is the manager’s responsibility that his players obey league rules at all times. League umpires will direct all comments and warnings to league managers who are responsible for sharing the information with their players.Umpire ResponsibilitiesUmpires will be obtained by the HCER office and assigned to officiate all of the games in this league.The umpire will be in the complete control of the game, equipment, and playing area at all times. Only the manager or captain will be allowed to discuss any dispute with the umpires. Umpires will note the exact situation on the score card when a protest is made.In the event of an ejection, the umpire is required to make a detailed report to the HCER office about the altercation and turned into the softball administrator.Official will submit score cards or e-mail results to HCER within 24 hours.Pre-game manager’s briefing is required by all officials to secure payment, review league rules, and go over ground rules.Suspension and ConductAny players or managers dismissed from a game by the official for unsportsmanlike conduct will not be permitted to play in his team’s next scheduled game (including playoffs). Arguing balls & strikes/judgment calls with the umpire, yelling between players on/off field, and profane language are all examples of unsportsmanlike conduct. The umpire will not address individual players directly, but give all warnings to players through their managers. In the event of a violation, all players or teams will receive one verbal warning before they can be ejected from a game. Ejected players will not be permitted to play in his team’s next scheduled game (including playoffs).Players or managers suspended by the softball administrator are not permitted to participate in a game in any way during their suspension. This includes watching their teams next scheduled game/s.Smoking on park grounds is strictly prohibited in accordance to Hudson City Ordinances. Managers/captains are expected to control their team and fans. Umpires are authorized to penalize (forfeit a game) teams whose fans are unsportsmanlike. Umpires have the authority to request any fan be removed from park premises. Any physical assault upon an umpire will automatically result in a lifetime suspension from the league. The offending team may also be expelled from the league.Fighting is strictly prohibited, and will result in suspensions for all players involved. If a player is ejected from the game, his team will receive an automatic out each time his place comes up in the batting order. Game Cancellations / Time RestrictionsDecisions to cancel league games will be made by 4pm for weekday games and 1:00pm for weekend games. Cancellations will be posted on Twitter @HCER2440 and messaged to team managers. Please follow our HCER account on Twitter for the most up-to-date information. If in doubt, show up.The scheduled length of all games will be seven innings, time permitting. A new inning will not begin past the 1 hour and 15-minute mark of the game. An official game will be 4? innings.Regular season games cancelled due to rain or other occurrences may not be made up. Post season tournament games will be rescheduled.The Softball Administrator may reschedule rainouts, or up to 2 regular season games, on other non-league weekday nights if necessary.Playing RulesA. Over 40 Men’s Competitive Slow-Pitch League (Friday)This league is for the competitive softball player over the age of 40. Plan on being a part of competitive games with players who have a passion for softball, and have previously participated in organized softball leagues. Teams may bat their entire roster, including players on the bench. This is to be determined before the game on the official lineup card. There is no limit on roster size. Changes to the batting line up may not be made after the game starts unless there is an injury or substitution of players. Players may be added to the end of the lineup if they show up late. Each batter begins with one ball and one strike count, no extra foul to waste.Stealing and leading off is not permitted. Sliding & tagging up is permitted. An offensive player may NOT attempt to dislodge the ball by colliding with a defender. Purposeful collisions will result in an automatic ejection from the game. Defensive players may NOT block or impede the offensive players’ route to a base at any point. If the umpire determines the base was purposefully blocked or a runner impeded they will be deemed safe at the next base. Mercy rule is as follows: 20 after 3, 15 after 4 and 10 after 5. This rule will not take place in post-season play.Upon reaching base, a runner may request a courtesy runner, if necessary, due to injury. The player who made the last out will become the courtesy runnerHome Run Rules 3 Home Runs & Home Run Hitter Each team will designate a “home run hitter” before the start of each game with identification on the line-up card. This player is permitted to hit unlimited home runs during a game. Excluding the home run hitter, the team can hit a total of 3 home runs. Any additional home run will result in an automatic out. If the home run hitter is walked, his team will be awarded an extra home run to their total (4). B.Over 18 Men’s Competitive Slow-Pitch League (Tuesday)This league is designed for the competitive softball player over the age of 18. Plan on being a part of competitive games with players who have a passion for softball, and have previously participated in organized softball leagues. Teams may bat their entire roster, including players on the bench. This is to be determined before the game on the official lineup card. Changes to the batting line up may not be made after the game starts unless there is an injury or substitution of players. Players may be added to the end of the lineup if they show up late. Each batter begins with one ball and one strike count, no extra foul to waste.Stealing and leading off is not permitted. Sliding & tagging up is permitted.An offensive player may NOT attempt to dislodge the ball by colliding with a defender. Purposeful collisions will result in an automatic ejection from the game. Defensive players may NOT block or impede the offensive players’ route to a base at any point. If the umpire determines the base was purposefully blocked or a runner impeded they will be deemed safe at the next base.Mercy rule is as follows: 20 after 3, 15 after 4 and 10 after 5. This rule will not take place in post-season play.Courtesy Runner: Upon reaching base, a runner may request a courtesy runner due to injury. The person who made the last out will become the courtesy runnerHome Run Rules 3 Home Runs & Home Run Hitter Each team will designate a “home run hitter” before the start of each game. This player is permitted to hit unlimited home runs during a game. Excluding the home run hitter, the team can hit a total of 3 home runs. Any additional home run will result in an automatic out.If the home run hitter is walked, his team will be awarded an extra home run to their total (4).C.Over 18 Men’s Sunday Slow-Pitch League (Sunday)This league is designed for the social softball player looking for a casual experience. Some players in this league may not have prior organized softball experience. Teams may bat their entire roster, including players on the bench. This is to be determined before the game on the official lineup card. Changes to the batting line up may not be made after the game starts unless there is an injury or substitution of players. Players may be added to the end of the lineup if they show up late. Each batter begins with one ball and one strike count, no extra foul to waste.Stealing and leading off is not permitted. Sliding & tagging up is permitted.An offensive player may NOT attempt to dislodge the ball by colliding with a defender. Purposeful collisions will result in an automatic ejection from the game. Defensive players may NOT block or impede the offensive players’ route to a base at any point. If the umpire determines the base was purposefully blocked or a runner impeded they will be deemed safe at the next base. Mercy rule is as follows: 20 after 3, 15 after 4 and 10 after 5. This rule will not take place in post-season play.Courtesy Runner: Upon reaching base, a runner may request a courtesy runner due to injury. The person who made the last out will become the courtesy runnerHome Run Rules This league allows teams three home runs per game. Any subsequent home run following the three will be an automatic out. ................
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