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Mundelein Baseball & Softball Association - MBSA www.mbsaonline.org

SOFTBALL RULES

Check-In Documents:

All Managers MUST check in 40 minutes prior to their first game. Documents managers must turn in at check-in:

1. Team Roster - with player names, uniform numbers, birthdates 2. Hold Harmless forms – 1 for each player, signed by each player’s parent /guardian 3. Insurance Certificate – submitted via email at least two weeks prior to tournament start date

Birth certificates - must be maintained by the managers and made available should a request be made

** Failure to provide any paperwork will result in the player or team being unable to play until all paperwork is turned in **

Each team is responsible for its own insurance. A copy of your insurance certificate must be provided via email to the tournament director (tournaments@mbsaonline.org) at least two weeks prior to the tournament start date. Note: Your insurance must name Mundelein Park and Recreation District (MPRD) as an additional insured. Contact your insurance agent to have this added to your policy.

Mundelein Park and Recreation District 1401 N. Midlothian Road Mundelein, IL 60060

Mundelein Parks Policies:

• Parks are open daily, dawn to dusk (unless otherwise posted)

• Please dispose of litter in proper receptacles

• Vehicles must park in designated areas and stay on roads and driveways

• Pets are not permitted in the parks (service animals permitted)

• Alcohol is strictly prohibited

Schedules, Standings, Directions to fields are available at www.mbsaonline.org

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General Rules for Softball:

• The ‘Official ASA Softball Rules’, with the exceptions and variations contained in the following supplemental softball rules, shall govern the playing rules.

• Teams will play at designated fields at times directed by the tournament officials. All teams must be ready to play 20 minutes prior to the start of their scheduled game. In that way, if the field is ready prior to the scheduled start, we can begin play early and ensure we eliminate unnecessary delays.

• Nine (9) players must be ready to play at the scheduled start time of the game or the game will be forfeited. In a doubleheader situation, another 30 minutes will be allowed for the team to field enough players for the 2nd game, or game two will also be forfeited.

• In the event a player is injured or otherwise cannot participate in the game, that player can be removed from the game without penalty (but cannot return to that game) provided the team still has at least 9 players. A team may finish a game with less than 9 players, in that case, an out will be recorded each time that lineup position comes to bat.

• Any player arriving late must be added at the end of the batting lineup and reported to the opposing team and the umpire.

• Free substitution (except for pitcher) and roster batting applies in pool play and playoffs.

• Courtesy runners are permitted at any time during the inning only for the pitcher or catcher. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out.

• A forfeited game will be recorded as a 6 - 0 shutout.

• The home team is the official scorekeeper. We recommend both scorekeepers confer at the bottom of each inning to insure uniformity.

• No protests allowed; decision of umpire and/or tournament director is final.

• The Tournament Director(s) reserves the right to change the game schedule, time limit and/or match-ups if weather or time constraints interfere with the schedule, or for the betterment of the tournament.

• In the event of a forfeit for a rules violation, the MBSA Board reserves the right to rule the offending team ineligible for the playoffs and no refund will be given.

• The Tournament Director(s) makes all final decisions on items not covered in these rules.

SAFETY RULES:

• A player must avoid contact on a close play. In the judgment of the umpire, if a player maliciously forces contact on the play, he will be called out and could be ejected from the game. If the tag attempt is “up the line”, the runner is not expected to slide prematurely, but malicious contact is still prohibited.

• Only adult coaches are allowed to coach the bases.

• All batters, runners, and batboys must wear helmets with earflaps.

• Players may warm up a pitcher, however, they must wear protective headgear and mask.

• On deck batters will stand behind the batter. All rules will apply to pool play and playoffs unless noted. There is no time limit in the Championship Game.

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Mercy Rule

• The TWELVE (12) RUN RULE takes effect at the completion of three innings (2 ½ if the home team is ahead).

• The TEN (10) RUN RULE takes effect at the completion of four innings (3 ½ if the home team is ahead)

• The EIGHT (8) RUN RULE takes effect at the completion of five innings (4 ½ if the home team is ahead)

Supplemental Softball Rules: Official ASA Playing Rules are in effect, with the following exceptions designed to enhance safety, participation, sportsmanship and speed of play:

• 10U – NO drop third strike rule, NO infield fly rule • 10U - 11” ball will be used • 10U - Free substitution for the pitcher • 10U - teams may score no more than 5 runs per at bat, regardless of the score in the game. (Exception: if a

team trails by more than 5 runs in the last DECLARED inning, the 5 run limit is waived) • 12U & 14U – Only the starting pitcher can re-enter as pitcher, and only once can she re-enter as pitcher. • 14U – Metal cleats are allowed • All rules will apply to playoff games. There is no time limit in Championship Games. • Pitching Distances: 10U - 35' 12U - 40' 14U - 43'

Sportsmanship:

• No arguing or harassing of the opposing players, coaches or umpires is permitted by anyone - including fans.

• Anyone using profanity and/or displaying excessive temper will be ejected from the facility.

• Managers are responsible for the actions of their team, coaches and fans before, during, and after the game.

• Ejection of a player, coach or fan will result in suspension for the remainder of that game and the next game. This will be removal from the game site. Any second offense will result in the player, coach or fan being banned from the complex for the remainder of the tournament/league.

Roster:

• Teams will be allowed 15 playing members on their roster.

• No additions/changes to the roster will be allowed after your first game begins.

• All players must wear matching uniforms with numbers.

• Only those players listed on the team’s roster are considered “eligible” players. Any players participating in a game who are not listed on the team’s roster will be considered “ineligible players”. The team will forfeit any game(s) the “ineligible player” participated.

• Players are only allowed to be on the roster of one team in each MBSA event. (i.e. - players are not allowed to play on a 12U and 14U team in the same MBSA tournament). Failure to comply with this rule will result in a forfeit of any games the “ineligible player” participated in.

• Player’s age will be determined by their age as of January 1 of the current year for softball.

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Innings & Weather Delays: • Softball, all age levels – all games are 7 innings in duration. • Pool & Bracket Play - No new inning may start after 1 hour and 10 minutes, we will Finish the Inning.

The time will be determined by when the last out of the second half of the inning is made to avoid stalling.• There is no time limit in the Championship Game. • If weather, darkness, or lightning delays interfere with play so that the game is halted, it will be

considered a complete game after three (3) innings or two and a half (2 ½) innings if the home team is ahead. If the game is not complete when weather, darkness, or lightning delays it, we will attempt to reschedule the game and it will resume where it left off. Due to time constraints, the game could be considered complete, and not made up, even if these inning minimums are not met, in order to continue with the tournament.

• In the event the Lightning Detection Siren goes off, games will be stopped immediately and all teams must vacate the fields. The game will resume where it left off once the all clear signal is given. The time lost due to the lightning delay will be added on to the game time. However, the umpires and/or tournament directors have the authority to reduce the time limits in order to finish the game in a timely manner and continue with other tournament games.

Bracket Play Tiebreaker Rules:

• Pool Play games CAN end in a tie.

• Since we cannot end bracket games in a tie, we will use International Tie Breaker to determine a winner should we have a tie game when the time limit is reached. These rules apply to all bracket games except the Championship Game, as there is no time limit in Championship Games. o the batter scheduled to hit last in the inning will be placed on second base o the inning continues until 3 outs are recorded o the game will continue this way until we have a winner

Pre and Post Game Protocol: • There are four batting cages located within the main baseball complex. A double cage is located just

south of the concession stand and a single cage between the Juniors and Overflow fields. The single cage located just west of the Juniors Softball Field is designated for softball use, and softball teams will get priority. No players should be in or around the cages without adult supervision.

o Access to the cages is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Teams should be respectful of one another and share cage time - 20 minute maximum use while there are teams waiting.

• The first team arriving at the field will have choice of dugout during pool play games. During playoffs, the higher seed will have dugout choice.

• In pool play games a coin flip will be used to determine home team prior to the start of the game.

• Higher seed team will have home/away choice throughout the play-offs. If there is a tie for higher seed, a coin flip will be used to determine home team.

• Teams will alternate home and away in the fall ball pool play, double-header games.

• Team’s warm-up activities should be conducted in the outfield of their field of play. Please keep your players off the infield until game time.

• There will be NO swinging of bats (e.g. soft toss, hitting sticks, temporary batting nets, etc.) outside the field confines. This is for safety reasons, as these areas will be congested with fans.

• Players, parents, and coaches should clean up the field, dugout, and spectator areas after each game.

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Playoff Seedings: • The Tournament Director reserves the right to change the match-ups or format, in the best interest of the

tournament

• Tie-breakers for seeding are applied in the following order: o overall record (W/L) o head-to-head competition (only applies when 2 teams are involved) o least runs allowed throughout the pool play competition o total runs scored throughout the pool play competition o coin toss by the commissioner

• In the event that more than 2 teams are tied and more than 1 team will be moving on. The tie breakers will be applied until one of the teams is declared the winner over the remaining teams, then continue with the tiebreakers, where we left off, to separate out the next teams in line.

• If all regular season/pool play games are not completed, seeding for playoffs will be based on games played and all tie breakers will be applied.

Reporting of Scores: • Both team’s managers must submit their scores to your league director and/or the table located near your

field within 20 minutes of game completion. Scores/Standings will be posted on the MBSA website. Awards:

• Awards for first place and second place teams in the Championship Bracket will be provided. Refunds and Weather:

• The goal will be to play as many games as possible. • Once the first game of the tournament begins, no refunds will be provided. • If the tournament is cancelled and no games are played, a 70% refund to cover tournament expenses

incurred (awards, etc.) will be returned to each team. • If Championship games are affected by weather, the tournament directors reserve the right to award

champion and 2nd place awards based on, but not limited to, pool play results. • Registration fees must be paid in full in order to reserve a spot for your team. Teams that cancel their

reservation more than 45 days prior to the start date of the tournament will receive a full refund ONLY if a replacement team is found. Teams cancelling within 45 days of the start date of the tournament do not receive any refund – no exceptions.

Current field conditions and game status is best determined by checking the MBSA website:

www.mbsaonline.org