Rules

Softball Rules & Regulations

FHA Team Rules

  1. Get your ass to the Field and Play
  2. Bring Your A-Game
  3. Missing a game because you’re hung over is NOT an excuse (it’s almost expected that you’re hung over when you show up and kick some ass)
  4. In case of questionable weather call 1-800-BEN-PENZICK (you have his number from the emails)

Sportsmonster League Rules

Mens, Womens and Coed Leagues

Welcome! Here is What You Need to Know for This Season:


  1. Game Scoring: Single-point runs score all games. Games are won by a one-run advantage. The umpire prior to each inning announces scores: (example: batting team has two runs and fielding team has three runs = 2 - 3, top of the 5th.) Teams switch hitting/fielding following each three-out rotation. Contact SMC rep with any game rules or fault infraction questions regarding scoring. Tie games will be scored as such. Weekly summaries will show team standings by games and total runs scored.


  2. Starting the Game: Games are to be started no later than 10 minutes into the hour. We will make every effort to start on time, so please arrive early. Use of open areas is allowed for warm-up prior to game play. Game warm-up is at the discretion of both teams as long as the game begins within the 10-minute limit. A one-run penalty will be assessed by SMC for each +5 minutes. Hitting team is determined by flipping a coin with winning team determining preference of batting or fielding.


  3. Forfeits: All around bad news. This is a big SMC no-no and all will be frowned upon. A forfeit will be declared if there are less than 6 registered players from an individual team at the following times: One run lost 15 min. into the hour Two runs lost 20 min. into hour Full game lost 25 min. into hour If your team has 6 or more registered players but less than a full 10 person complement, a legal game can be played with or without substitutes. SUBSTITUTION POLICY Substitutes from other St. Louis SportsMonster softball teams are allowed and preferred. Opposing team may not challenge a SportsMonster substitute. Substitutes from outside St. Louis Sports Monster teams are allowed as follows: Substitutes must register with a St. Louis Sports Monster representative before the game. Failure to do so will result in a one-run penalty if noticed in the inning and a two-run penalty if noticed following the game. Opposing team may challenge suspected ineligible substitute to SMC rep, but this must be done before the game. PLAYOFF SUBSTITUTES: SMC will allow up to two intra-league substitutions up to final game. You must play with your registered players in the playoffs. Players who have attended at least two (2) regular season games will be considered rostered/registered players. Registered players will be defined as those signed on the waiver by the 5th week. There are no exceptions. A game forfeit will automatically score the offending team as 0-1, 0-15.


  4. Good Sportsmanship: Please observe the rules of good sportsmanship during your time with us. SMC understands that competition can generate strong emotions, however your emotions/actions must not affect the enjoyment/comfort/safety of any of our other participants. Foul language is not acceptable. You are playing in either Park District or Private/Public school facilities. It is imperative that your language be a reflection of civility and good sportsmanship. Taunting opponents is not acceptable. Tantrums (throwing objects, yelling) are not acceptable. Opposing team may call time out and contact SMC ump for consideration if they feel that bad sportsmanship is being displayed by one or more of the opposing team. At the discretion of the SMC ump, any displays of bad sportsmanship will result in the following penalties: By Team: 1 = verbal warning 2 = final warning 3 = forfeit next scheduled at-bat By Individual: 1 = verbal warning 2 = final warning 3 = one-game suspension Any physical altercation will automatically result in expulsion. A second offense will result in a two-game suspension, which must be attended by that player. A third offense will result in league expulsion. Teams are responsible for their players actions and failure for a player to follow the umps judgement may result in team penalties. FYI, a shove of another player is considered physical altercation.


  5. Umpires: SMC umpires are there to make the game run as smoothly and error-free as possible. Obviously, no one is perfect and there may be occasion to question an individual call if the umpire has not already offered an explanation. The only person allowed to openly question an umpires call is that teams captain. Should any other person other than the captain approach the umpire during a game, a ruling of bad sportsmanship will be applied (see above). Pre-game, between innings and post games are all considered to be part of your scheduled league play. So keep it zipped or youll get zapped for the next game. Whether you agree or not, the umpires judgement is the final word during the game. An appeal may be filed with SMC following the game and a determination of validity will be made prior to next weeks game.


  6. Playoffs: Everyone makes the playoffs. Overall winning team will be determined by regular season record. The winning team will be that team with the highest total winning percentage. In the case of a tie, game scores will be compared via a positive run percentage. If still tied at positive run percentage, ties will be broken by the team that scored the most runs in head to head games. Playoff format will be single game elimination. Playoff games will be bracketed by the first place team playing the last place team in the first round, etc. Depending on your day of league format, playoffs may be completed on your day and the other based strictly on standings (ex: Tuesday or Thursday league).


  7. Equipment: SMC will provide bases, softballs, bats and an umpire for game play.


  8. Attire: Shoes, shirts & shorts (or sweats) required. Softball only athletic footwear is recommended. No metal cleats are allowed. SMC strongly recommends that men wear cups and women wear protective sport bras. Please coordinate a team color to be worn each week: nice, but not mandatory.


  9. Protective Gear: For everyones protection, knee braces must be of a soft material or be covered and padded so that no hard plastic or metal is exposed. You will not be allowed to play unless your brace is ok.


  10. T-Shirts: All SMC softball participants (substitutes excluded) will receive a SMC t-shirt.


  11. Prizes: There will be prizes for the winning team.


  12. Alcohol: It is strictly forbidden to bring alcoholic beverages onto/into any SMC league site. If spotted, you will be asked to remove your stash. Failure to do so will subject you to league sanctions and possible police involvement if you are playing in public areas. If a player, in the judgement of the SMC ump, is intoxicated, they will be removed from the game and receive a warning. A second offense will result in league expulsion.


    13. SAMPLE OF GAME RULES TO LIVE BY

    As a fellow Sports Monster, this is your sports league and we want to see a lot more of you in the future. Enjoy your season with us!

    Please call us with any questions, comments or suggestions (314) 645-6323
    Check out our web site for more info www.sportsmonster.net. Enjoy your season with us!


    1. Strike-Outs: Each player at bat starts with a 1-1 (one ball, one strike) count. This is done to speed up play. Players will strike out on their third strike. Foul balls are considered strikes and you may strike out on a foul ball. Umpire will call strikes on any cleanly pitched ball that lands past home plate and within the pitching parameters. The ball hitting the back of home plate will count as a strike (as long as the ball crosses within the player’s strike zone).


    2. Pitching: Must be thrown underhand (slow pitch) and have an arc of not less than six (6) feet and not more than twelve (12) feet from the ground. Any pitch landing on/or before home plate will be called a ball, unless batter swings. The strike zone is from the shoulders to the knees for any cleanly pitched ball. Pitchers must be in contact with the pitching rubber at time of ball release.


    3. Hitting Rotation: Rotation must be established and recorded in softball line-up book. Each team may bat up to eleven (11) players. Please notify the umpire of your decision to utilize this rule. Extra player may be male or female. For coed teams, there is no set male/female rotation. However, if a male player is walked prior to a female at bat, the female automatically walks as well. Also for coed teams, for each missing female player in the batting rotation, an out is automatically assigned for that player.


    4. Method of Scoring: Runs are scored when a player has contacted home plate prior to three outs in a hitting rotation. All runs will be called at the umpires discretion.


    5. Game Length: Whatever comes first: 60-minute games. 12-run slaughter rule following the completion of 4 at-bats by losing team. Completion of seven (7) innings. The only time, time will be enforced strictly will be the playoffs. An inining shall not start if it is within five minutes of the hour. Any inning started will be finished even if it goes over the time restrictions.


    6. Sliding: Safe sliding required for force plays or close plays. Umpire will call out players who do not slide. Aggressive sliding is not permitted. Safety of all players is a main concern.


    7. Playing Area: The entire marked field area is considered within play. Lines are considered in play through 1st & 3rd base and extended to the outfield. Foul balls may be played in the air for outs. Please be careful of balls going out onto the street area.


    8. Time-Outs: None allowed, except for injury.


    9. Gender Ratio: SMC coed softball leagues are set up for 6 men and 4 women on the field for each team at all times. If male players are missing, a team may opt to field more than 4 women. If female players are missing, it is up to the discretion of the opposing team whether more than seven men will be allowed. Once agreed upon, the decision is binding for the remainder of the game. For every missing female player, that team loses an out in the 11 person batting rotation, to be placed where they wish. Missing male players do not result in an automatic out. All teams may legally play with a minimum of six players, for coed this means that six male players only is permissible.


    10. Bunting: not allowed.


    11. Fouls & Misconduct: Here is a ton of stuff you need to know, otherwise known as Big Trouble: a) Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent b) Tripping an opponent c) Jumping at an opponent d) Charging an opponent in a violent/dangerous manner e) Charging an opponent from behind f) Striking or attempting to strike an opponent or spitting at him/her g) Holding an opponent h) Pushing an opponent i) Deliberate handling of the ball All of the above offenses will result in an unsportsmanlike warning and applicable sanctions by the umpire.


    12. Foul Language: Not allowed, learn new words Team warning, final warning and batting out penalties will be assessed.


    13. Stealing Bases: Not allowed. Base runners must keep one foot in contact with the base until the ball is swung upon by the batter.


    14. Base Coaches: Permitted outside of playing area by 1st and 3rd bases.


    15. Substitutions: Each team is allowed unlimited substitutions between at bats. All substitutes must be recorded in the softball line up book.


    16. Weather: What? Are you kidding? Its softball-get some guts. SMC plays in almost all weather conditions aside from driving rain or temps below 40 degrees. We do not play in electrical storms or if the field is ice covered. If you do have questions as to whether the game is to be played, call SMCs weather hotline (314) 645-6323 ext. 3 for an update.


    17. Challenges: To challenge an umpire or referee’s call or sanction following a match: 1)Contact your local SMC office’s manager for your Sport 2) If you are still unsatisfied with the result, contact that office’s manager.Upon review by the market manager, a final decision shall be rendered which will be the final decision.


    18. Other Rules: SMC generally follows the rules outlined by USSA Softball for all other calls that are not listed in this information guide.


    19. Have Fun! Hey, this is your leisure time, enjoy it! Besides, you’re not playing for money-at least you better not be! You’re simply playing for the pride and prestige a SportsMonster championship brings and the adoration of thousands of St. Louis residents wishing they were you, a St. Louis SportsMonster.