DARC Women’s Softball

League Rules

1.  Games may be played at Shamona Creek Park , Kerr Park , Martins Field, Hickory Park , & Beacon Hill Park . Makeup games may be rescheduled on an as needed basis and could be anywhere within the Downingtown Area School District .

 

2.  All necessary equipment (bats, gloves, catcher’s masks, etc.) must be provided by the teams playing.  DARC will supply game balls, helmets, and scorebooks.  Game balls will be supplied by DARC as follows:  Regular season-1 new, 1 from the previous game.  Playoffs 2 new game balls will be supplied.

a.) Helmets are required to be worn by all base runners.  They must leave their helmets on while in the playing area.  One warning will be issued followed by player ejections

b.) Catchers must wear protective face masks & chest protectors both during warm ups and play.

 

3. Players must appear in at least 5 regular season games to be eligible to play in playoff games.

            a.) Players may not play on more than one team.

            -Lineup cards must be turned in to the umpire at each regular season game-

-WRITE SCORE ON TOP OF LINE UP CARD after every game and give to an umpire or a DARC     representative.

4.  All teams will be limited to a maximum of 24 players.

 

5.  Each team must pay the umpire half of his/her fee ($34; $17 per team) prior to the start of each game.  Umpires must be paid in cash.  Playoff umpires are paid by DARC.

 

6.  We will use Modified-10 A.S.A. rules-exceptions to follow.  Umpires are required to carry a copy of the league rule sheets and a copy of the current year's A.S.A. rulebook.

 

7.  Metal cleats will not be permitted.  All bats must be A.S.A. approved or meet current ASA guidelines.  Approved bat list is available at the ASA website www.softball.org. 

 

8.  Pitch shall be modified pitch according to league softball rules. (umpire’s judgment)

a.) The pitcher shall take a position with both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate/rubber.  The shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases. 

b.) No “breaking of the wrist.” The ball cannot be outside the wrist during the back swing, at the top of the back swing, on the downward motion or during the complete delivery.

c.) The top of the back swing may not be above the shoulder.  The release of the ball must be on the first forward swing of the pitching arm past the hip.  The pitching motion should resemble a “bowling motion.”

d.) On the forward swing of the pitching arm, the elbow must be locked at the point of release and the shoulders and driving hip must be squared to home plate when the ball is released.

9.  Games will be played 10 v. 10 format.  There must be at least eight players to start the game. The empty positions in the batting lineup will not result in outs once they are reached. Teams will be given three outs unless the 6 run per inning rule or 10 run mercy rule come into play. 

a.) If a shorthanded team’s player arrives before they have batted thru the lineup the player can be immediately added to the lineup.

b.) Players arriving after the team has batted thru the lineup may be substituted into the lineup at any time during the game. They cannot be entered into the batting order, however, they may sub into another players position.

10.  Game times will be 6:15PM (unless noted otherwise).  Forfeits will be called if a team does not have at least eight players ready to play within ten minutes of the scheduled game time. Teams forfeiting will be required to  pay the ENTIRE UMPIRE FEE ($34) unless DARC is notified at least 48 hours prior to their scheduled game time. Three forfeits during the season will terminate your team from the league and all fees paid will be surrendered to DARC.  IF YOU FORFEIT A PLAYOFF GAME, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY ALL NECESSARY UMPIRE FEES FOR THAT GAME.

11 In the event of a forfeiture, teams not having enough money to pay umpires at time of forfeit have until closing of business the day of their next game to drop off forfeit fee to the DARC office or the next game will be forfeited and so on until the fee is paid.  PLEASE NOTE: UMPIRES WILL NOT UMPIRE FORFEITED SCRIMMAGE GAMES.

12. Only players are permitted to be in the playing field area.  Coaches are allowed to coach bases.  Physical interference will not be permitted. Children must remain off of the playing field during the game as well as the tennis courts and fences.

13. Substitutions will be unlimited with the exception of the pitcher.  Once the pitcher has been removed from the pitching position, she may not return to that position. She can play any other position on the field.

14. Once the defense has taken the field, all players must maintain the same position throughout the inning. They cannot switch positions (i.e.:  shortstop & 2nd baseman) in the middle of an inning.  THE SHORT FIELDER MAY ROAM!

            a.) A pitching change can be made at any time.

15..  No bunting. Batters hit by a pitched ball will be awarded first base.

16. a.) Base stealing is not permitted.  Runners may leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball.  Base runners are not permitted to advance on passed balls by the catcher or pitcher.

        b.) You may attempt to pick off the runner.  If an attempt to pick off the runner is made the ball becomes a live ball and all runners may advance at their own risk without tagging up.  An attempt may consist of a throw down to the base or the catcher leaving the catcher’s box area in an attempt to catch the runner off the base.  If the catcher fakes a throw the runner(s) may not advance.

    c.) If no pick off attempt is made, the base runner must immediately return to the base.

    d.) Runners who leave the base before the pitch is released will be “out.”

17.  Courtesy runners will be permitted to run the bases for injured players.  Prior to the start of the game both team captains must notify each other of which players will need a courtesy runner. If an injury occurs during the game both teams will be aware of it and courtesy runners will be permitted to run for those players injured during the course of the game. The courtesy runner must be the player who made the last out.

 

18.   A regulation game shall consist of 7 innings.  Games that are suspended (rain, lightning, darkness, etc.) before 5 innings (or 4 ½ if the home team is winning) have been completed will be rescheduled and played from the beginning.  A suspended game shall be considered regulation if 5 (4 ½ if the home team is winning) or more complete innings have been played.  Games that are regulation tie games shall be resumed at the exact point where they were stopped.

 27.  Please write final scores on line up cards and return to umpires at end of the game.  A representative from both the home and away teams must call in the final scores by noon of the following business day. Leave your name, team name, telephone number and scores on the DARC Office answering machine @ 610-269-9260 or e-mail darc@kennett.net.  Please get into the habit of reporting your scores ASAP.

28.  It is the responsibility of both teams to ensure that the fields are left in clean condition.

 

29.  No drugs or alcoholic beverages are permitted on the fields at any time.  If you are caught you will be turned in

       to the proper authorities and be suspended from the league with no refund.

 

30.  Please read and abide by the player conduct code.  By registering your team in the league both you and your

       team are ensuring that you have read this and will abide by this guideline