CITY OF CORONA PARKS & COMMUNITY SERVICES ADULT SOFTBALL RULES AND REGULATIONS Notice: All league games in the Corona Adult Softball Program shall be played in accordance with the current S.C.M.A.F. Official Softball Rule Book except as noted herein, insofar as such rules do not violate policies and regulations of the Parks and Community Services Department.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Teams are required to pay an $18.00 Officials' Fee prior to the first pitch of every game (including playoff and championship games). The officials fee covers the umpire, score keeper and roving league director.

A.        All teams will comply with the Rules and Regulations of the Parks and Community Services Department.

B.        All players must bring picture I.D. to games.

C.        The maximum number of rostered players in Men's and Women's Leagues is 16. The maximum number of rostered players in Coed and Church is 20.

D.         A minimum of eight (8) players must be present from each team to start and finish a game.  If a team starts with 8 and due to an injury a player must leave the game, and if in the umpire's opinion the team still has a chance to win, the game will continue until completion or until the umpire declares the game.

E.         Only players and managers will be allowed on the bench.  Spectators and children are asked to use the bleachers.  DO NOT leave children unattended at the game.

F.        All players must maintain good sportsmanship conduct.  The Player's Code of Conduct will be strictly enforced during the league.  The team manager is to maintain control of his player's, spectators, and other persons associated with his/her team at all times.

G.        Smoking and drinking on the playing field (INCLUDING THE DUGOUT), or drinking anywhere in the park area, is grounds for suspension from the game.  TEAMS WHO VIOLATE THIS RULE BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER, THE GAME WILL FORFEIT THE GAME AND WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM THE LEAGUE WITHOUT REFUND ON THE SECOND OFFENSE.  If a player appears on the field, and in the judgment of the umpire or field supervisor, is an intoxicated player he will NOT BE TOLERATED.  The player(s) will be ejected and may be suspended from the league. Fans are the responsibility of the team manager, and the above information applies to spectators as well as team players.

H.          Intentionally running over a player is an automatic out and could be cause for ejection if done with the intent to hurt another player.  Runners should slide or avoid contact whenever possible.   The umpire will rule a runner safe if in his/her opinion the fielder obstructed the runner.  If the umpire calls obstruction, the ball is "dead" and all runners shall advance without liability of being put out.

I.         ALL players are required to sign the line up card PRIOR to playing in each game.

J.        ALL decisions on protests, illegal equipment, illegal players, and softball rule interpretations ARE final ‑ no appeals will be allowed.

K.        The Parks and Community Services Department reserves the right to re‑evaluate any team (or players) during any part of the season.  The team (or players) may be removed from the league if the department deems necessary for the safety or best interest of the league.

L.        If conditions are windy the arch minimum can be waived if both managers agree.           

M.        All leagues will use the one & one count.

N.        Santana only - One home run (out of the park) per inning per team.  All others will be considered a single and all baserunners will advance one base.

EQUIPMENT RULES

A.        Stepping into the batters box  with an illegal bat will be an automatic out.  It is the managers responsibility to be aware of which bats are illegal.

• FIRSTLY ... ALL BATS MUST HAVE AN ASA STAMP to be eligible for use.  NO STAMP - NO PLAY.  Before purchasing a new bat please look for this stamp:

 

• SECONDLY ...  The ASA periodically and randomly tests samples of bat models bearing the ASA approved certification mark to verify compliance with the ASA bat performance standards.  Meaning occasionally even a stamped bat may be deemed ILLEGAL.  Please refer to the ASA Website's, list of non-approved bats for these instances 
  
• FURTHER ... all bats must comply with the S.C.M.A.F. rule book, Rule 1, Sec. 27.  (If a make or model cannot be determined due to wear & tear OR if the Umpire suspects modification of any kind, he/she can remove it from play.)

 B.          NO METAL CLEATS ALLOWED.

ELIGIBILITY RULES

A.        The Parks and Community Services Department reserves the right to judge the eligibility of any player at any time.

B.         The minimum age of a player shall be 18 years old, except for Coed, Church and Women's of which only 2 players may be 16 or 17 years of age.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  Any players under 18 years old must have parent consent.

C.        No person can play or substitute a game that is not officially registered on a team roster.

D.        Any unregistered player, or any player who does not qualify under the above rules, or any suspended player, is an illegal player.  The Parks and Community Services Department can forfeit all games in which an illegal player has participated.  An eligibility check may be made by the manager, umpire or scorekeeper BEFORE the game.  ONLY the MANAGER can make an eligibility check DURING the game.

E.         During the first round of play only or as so designated, new players may be added to the roster.  Managers must submit the player waiver/consent form to the Parks and Community Services Department to inform the Sports Supervisor prior to the game that the player is requesting to play.  NO EXCEPTIONS! (NOTE ‑ the form may also be turned in to the scorekeeper at the ballpark before the start of the game).  The scorekeeper should make a notation of the time and date that it was turned in.  Name of dropped player should be noted on form.  IT IS THE MANAGERS RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE FORM WAS RECEIVED BY THE SUPERVISOR.

FORFEITS

Two (2) forfeits and the team will be dropped from the league schedule. When a team forfeits a game, the team will be required to pay a $40 forfeit fee to the Parks & Community Services Department by the next scheduled game. If the team fails to pay the fee by the next scheduled game, that team will forfeit their next scheduled game and will be removed from the league schedule.

PROTESTS

A.        The protest procedure (except for questioning a player's eligibility) will be as follows:

1. The protest must be made BEFORE the next pitch
2. The protest must be made by the team manager to the umpire.
3. The umpire should then notify the other manager and the scorekeeper.

NOTE:  The manager has 48 hours to file a protest with the Parks and Community Services Department by filling out a protest form with a check for $10.00 which is refundable only if the protest is upheld. It is the manager's responsibility to deliver the form and check to the Parks and Community Services Department.  The scorekeeper should have protest forms.  If the scorekeeper fails to produce a protest form it will still be the manager's responsibility to come into the Parks and Community Services Department within 48 hours to file a protest.

B.         Every effort will be made to settle any disputes on the field, between the umpire and team managers ONLY.

C.        No protest will be accepted on the basis of the officials qualifications or judgments (e.g. safe or out, fair or foul ball, or strike, etc.)  Only protests that follow the correct procedures will be accepted for consideration.

D.        All decisions on protests will be FINAL.  No appeals will be allowed.

E.         Protests on Player Eligibility.  If a manager feels that a player is illegal, he must follow these steps:

• 1)      PLEASE READ ELIGIBILITY RULES PAGE #2.
• 2)      One protested eligibility check will be allowed per team per game.
• 3)      The player must sign the back of the blue card.
• 4)      An eligibility check on a player during the game must be requested no later than before or during the players second at bat.  Only the team manager can request this eligibility check during the game.  No actions will be taken at this time except for the protesting manager notifying the umpire.  The umpire shall then notify the protested player and manager.  At the time of the protest the player in question must sign the back of the batter line up card to be compared to the roster at the site.  If the player refuses to sign the card before leaving the field, the protest will be upheld and the game will be forfeit.
• 5)     Before the first pitch of a game, a manager can challenge the eligibility of a player on the opposing team.  If the opposing manager agrees that the protested player is illegal the manager may then challenge another player to an eligibility check.  This may continue until a protest is reached.

COED RULES AND REGULATIONS

A.        Coed softball will be governed by the rules and regulations as established by the SCMAF Softball Rule Book of the current year, those exceptions noted prior, and the following:

• 1)      A minimum of three (3) outfielders must remain behind an outfield restriction line (180 foot arc from home plate) until the batter swings at the pitch.  Penalty: Batter will be awarded 1st base unless he or she reaches the base safely.
• 2)      There will be no restrictions on a player (man or woman) as to which defensive position he/she may play.
• 3)      Rover position may be played by male or female regardless of the batter.

CITY RULES FOR COED

A.        Teams shall consist of 10 players.  However, a game may be played without forfeit with 8 or 9 rostered players.  When a team has 8 rostered players available, there must be four (4) women and four (4) men.  When a team has 9 rostered players available, there must be four (4) women, five (5) men or vice‑versa.  A team may never START, defensively or offensively, a game with less than four (4) players of any one sex.  When a team has ten rostered players available, there must be five (5) women and (5) men.  A team can play with six (6) women, four (4) men but never vice‑versa.

B.         Players must be 18 years of age or older with the exception for two (2) players who may be 16 or 17 years old.

C.        Rosters will not exceed 20 players.  No roster changes after the first round of play.  Roster changes must be made in advance of the game in which the new player will participate.  (See Eligibility Rules Page 2)

D.        Players must slide or avoid contact during a play at any base.  Intentionally knocking down a player is cause for ejection from the game. (Please see General Information I)

E.               SUBSTITUTION:  A team will have the option of batting their entire legal roster (20) players, or any number of players from 8‑20.  The batting order will be established before the game starts.

F.         Second base will be awarded to any male who walks with a 4-1 count.   This would result in the batter receiving three consecutive balls.  Keeping in mind that all batters start with a 1-1 count.

NOTE:         The starting batting order must be followed, but defensive changes may be made at any time.  The scorekeeper need not be notified of any defensive changes, but must be told of any substitution changes.  Any batter failing to bat for any reason, regardless of number of batters in the batting order from 8‑20, should be automatically out if no legal sub is available.  First time a batter fails to bat, said player shall not participate any further in the game. This space shall be skipped for the remainder of the game with no further penalty.

G.        BATTING ORDER: Regardless of how many players are batting, the batting order must alternate male, female throughout the game.  The batting order must remain the same during the entire game.  (See sample batting order).

SAMPLE BATTING ORDER:      
WOMEN                     MEN
Elayne                         Jim
Irene                            Rick
Judy                             Mark
Lisa                             Pete
Molly                            Ed

NOTE:   With this particular batting order the women will bat more often than the men because there are fewer women.  Women will bat in their order, men will bat in their order, but the two orders will alternate male, female, etc.

CHURCH LEAGUE

Church league plays by men's rules with one exception:  When a female bats, three (3) outfielders must remain behind the 160' arch.  Mercy rule will be in affect for church league. See league structure (E) 

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Alcoholic beverages on City grounds is a direct violation of City code 9.22.020 and will be enforced by the Police Department.  Failure to adhere to this Policy will be grounds for a forfeiture of that game and/or a team or player league suspension with NO REFUND.

• Questions???  Call the Parks and Community Services Department at (951) 736‑2241.

GROUND RULES:

CITYPARK

 1.        Out of play is the imaginary line from the end of the fence to the first light pole then from the first light pole to the second light pole.  Beyond the second light pole the out of play area will be the imaginary line from the end of the fence through the second light pole.

 2.        Any ball that hits a tree on the fly in fair territory is a home run.

 3.        Any ball that rolls into the picnic area in left is a home run.

 4.        Any ball that hits a tree on a bounce or roll and rebounds back will be in play.

 5.        Any ball that goes into the parking lot on a fly or bounce is a home run.

MOUNTAIN GATE PARK, SANTANA & EAGLE GLEN

 1.        Any ball that rolls under or between the fences is a ground rule double.

 2.        Out of play is the imaginary line extended from the fence.

 3.        Any fair ball that rolls down the sidewalk or slope is a ground rule double.

 4.        Santana only - one home run (out of the park) per inning, any other ball hit over the fence on the fly ball will be a single and all runners advance one base, without being forced.