B.A.C.S.L. Rules
1a. HAVE FUN!
1. All issues and ruling that require a decision by the league are subject to approval by the managers on a 50%, plus one vote.
2. The league president shall be elected to a two-year term.
3. Entry fee is $200 per team payable to the Bolingbrook Area Church Softball League. Entry fee is due the third week of the season. Thereafter, a late charge of $10 per week will be added until paid in full.
4. Players must be 16 years or older with the exception of no more than 3 athletically able players being at least 14 years old.
5. Each team will be required to have a minimum of two women on the field the whole game or forfeit the game. In the event that a minimum of two women is not available for both teams, the game may continue by mutual agreement of both managers or be rescheduled.
6. The first team number listed on the schedule for each playing date is considered the HOME team, and responsible for the setting up the field.
7. Bases will be 65 feet apart, and the pitchers mound will be 50 feet from home plate.
8. The HOME team is responsible for supplying the game ball and is entitled to keep it after the game is finished.
9. To start an official game, eight (8) players are required from each team.
10. Starting time is 6:30. Forfeit time is 6:45.
11. Each team will supply the umpire, unless otherwise decided upon by both managers.
12. Each team will keep an official scorebook and exchange lineups if requested by the other team.
13. Both teams will join in prayer prior to and at the end of each game.
14. All equipment and all persons MUST be in the dugout or behind the fences with the exception of the on deck batter. All visitors must stay behind the fences or the backstop during the game.
15. A team may bat an unlimited number of batters and MUST be agreed upon prior to the start of the game. Late arrival players may be added to the lineup into any batting order that has not had a turn to bat. Once the team has gone though the batting order, any late arrivals MUST be used as substitutes. In the event of an injury a player may be eliminated from the line-up with no penalty if no substitute is available and the team still has the required number of players( automatic out if none available) . If one of the women are injured and removed, and there is no substitute available the team may play shorthanded with it being an automatic out when when her bat comes up.
16. There is free substitution.
17. A team may use one designated hitter in place of one position player. This needs to be announced before the game for the scorebook.
18. A designated runner may be used for any player. The designated runner must be the person who made the last out. The designated runner can only run for the batter after the batter has reached first base.
19. A complete game shall consist of 7 innings.
20. In the event of rain or lighting, a complete game consists of at least four and one-half (4 1/2) complete innings if the HOME team is ahead(5 complete innings if Visitor's are ahead). A game ending in less than four and one-half (4 1/2) innings will be replayed in its entirety.
21. Games will be played as scheduled. In an event of poor field conditions, or if a team knows that they cannot field a team for a given game, the manager may call the opposing manager to request a rescheduling of the game. The HOME team is then responsible to call the designated score keeper.
22. When playing with the "carpet", a ball hitting any part of the plate, including the black edge is considered a ball. A ball hitting any part of the "carpet" is considered a strike.
23. There is NO limit of maximum height of the arc of the pitched ball. There is a MINMUM arc of 6 feet from the ground. If the arc is less than 6 feet, it will result in a ball.
24. There is no batters box per se, except that the batter may not step over a vertical plane extended over the inside edge of the plate and carpet. A foul ball will be considered a strike, a fair ball an out.
25. A batted ball that hits the plate, bounces up, and strikes the batter while in the batters box will be called a strike. A batted ball that hits the plate, bounces up, and strikes the batter when out of the batters box will be called an out. The plate is considered fair territory.
26. There is no bunting or stealing. There are no lead-offs until the batter has swung at the ball.
27. A runner does not have to slide, but the runner must try to avoid collision with the opposing player. Any contact deemed to be deliberate will be considered unsportsmanlike contact, and will result in an out. If a runner makes blatant contact, it could lead to ejection.
28. Runners may advance two bases on an overthrow from the field (except at first base). The advancement is determined from the last base a runner had secured at the time the ball was thrown. Overthrows to first base allow the batter to go only to second base- with all other runners getting two bases- first base runner advancing to third base, second base runner advancing to home.
29. A ball that rolls or bounces into the high grass or bushes in right field is a ground rule double. If is lands on or over the high grass or bushes it is considered a home run.
30. Only SOFTBALL bats may be used. IF any other type of bat is used the result will be the batter being out.
31. NO metal spikes allowed.
32. NO ABUSIVE OR PROFANE LANGUAGE. NO BLATANT UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT AND/OR UNCHRISTIAN LIKE BEHAVIOR. The first offence to any of the above will result in a warning. The second offence will result in an ejection. from the game. The third offence will result in an ejection from the league for the remainder of the season.
33. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WILL BE ALLOWED AT GAMES.
34. All managers must take full responsibility for their players and/or fans actions and verbiage.
35. ALL disputes will be discussed immediately, and ONLY between coaches, umpires, and/or league president, if available.
36. All Standing ties will be decided by: a) Record against opponent, and if needed....b) Runs scored against tied opponent, C total runs for the season and if needed....d) Flip of coin.
37. Rule 37 prize money has been removed.
38. The league will supply each manager with an up-to-date official softball rule page at the beginning of each season .
39. On Tournament Day players will be allowed to play for one team only for the day.
40. Home umpire has final say on all controversial plays
41. The pitcher's foot must me touching pitching rubber from start of pitch to release of ball. All pitching must start from the rubber at a stand still.
42. Effective May 7th 2001, we will use a safety base for first base.
43.
44. Slaughter rule: 15 runs after 5 innings 10 runs after 6 innings
45.On the south field if a ball hit goes into the Parking lot in right field in fair territory it will be an automatic ground rule double.
46. Bats Banned by the ASA should not be used in this league.
47 Any reason for rescheduling a game other than weather must have 24 hour notice to the other coach otherwise it will be a forfeit.