2023 CO-ED RULES

Brighton Co-Ed Christian Softball League

Purpose

Christian fun, fellowship, and witness. All players are required to exhibit their best Christian sportsmanship. Games will begin and end with a group prayer at home plate.

Players, Subs, and Team Eligibility

  1. Team rosters must have a majority of Christian players who regularly attend the church they’re playing for.
    1. Team managers have the authority to ADD additional eligibility requirements for their own team and have the responsibility of enforcing all requirements.
  2. If you have an opportunity to use your team as an outreach to a non-Christian player, we encourage this.
    1.  Communicate with the other coaches prior to the game, so we may react appropriately (as we always should) to possible non-Christ-like behavior/actions coming from said player.
  3. Non-Christian players must abide by the rules as outlined for this league.
  4. Age: 15 years and up.
  5. Playoff Eligibility: Only players that have played a reasonable number of games during the season are eligible for playoffs.
  6. Substitute players are to be used only when you don’t have enough players from your roster to field a team.
  7. If 11 or more players, who are on the roster, are at the game, a substitute player may not be used.
  8. A coach may bat all the players more than 10 that they wish; but they must also be rotated into defensive play unless special circumstances are discussed with the opposing coach before the game.
    1. A team may not change their batting line-up during the game and must bat all players for that game.
    2. Player substitutes during the game are not allowed, not even for injury.
    3. Players who show up after or during your team’s first at bat may be added to the bottom of the batting lineup and must be rotated into the defensive play. Back to back male hitter outs rule is in affect.
  9. If someone is hurt during the game, there will not be an out penalty when it’s their turn to bat; and will jump to the next batter in the lineup.
    1. Male back to back hitter outs will not be in affect, however the injured male hitter must exit the game not to return.

ASA (USA) rules apply unless stated below.

Player Etiquette

  1. Obey the NO’S: no smoking, no chewing, no foul language, no alcohol, no metal spikes, no barreling fielders, no illegal bats, no phantom tagging.
  2. Player may be evicted from the game, either by umpire or preferably by their own coach, if non-Christian conduct is present.

Warmups and Opening Prayer

  1. Teams share the field for warm-ups from 6:00 to 6:30pm.
  2. Opening prayer is to be held at 6:35pm.
  3. This is NOT batting practice.
    1. The idea is to give everyone an opportunity to swing the bat a few times before they need to take their first swings during the game. This is not batting practice, its warm-ups; batting practice is for another time, not before game time.
    2. Please limit swings to a half dozen or less per player.
    3. Once the game has started, no field warm-ups after the second inning; let’s keep the game moving.

Game Length and Format

  1. Games begin at 6:30 pm.
  2. The team in the field must have at least 8 players.
  3. The batting team may start with 7 players, but must have 8, or more, players by the time they take the field.
  4. Batting team will supply the catcher to a short-handed team, but the fielding team must cover the plate on an active play at home.
  5. When a team has 9 players, they are expected to supply their own catcher.
  6. Players who show up after first pitch are to be added to the bottom of the lineup, even if that creates a scenario with back to back males.
    1. Please encourage your players to show up on time.
  7. Forfeit time is 6:45 pm
    1. Forfeit scores are recorded as 15-0 in favor of the team who did not forfeit.
  8. Games will consist of two 6 inning games.
    1. The first game will run roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes, with no new inning starting after 1 hour from the start time.
    2. The second game will start as soon as both teams are ready, but no later than 10 minutes from the end of the first game; and will run for 6 innings or until darkness.
  9. First team listed on schedule will be the home team for the first game; who will then switch to the away team for the second game.
  10. Team managers can end games early if they agree that it is unsafe to continue play due to darkness.
  11. Scores may be reported as stands when the games are called due to darkness, or the teams may reschedule the game for another day.
    1. It is up to the team managers to agree on if the entire game should be replayed or if they should start from where they left off.

Mercy and Runs Limits

  1. Each team will be allowed to score up to 10 runs per inning.
    1. If your opponent has the lead, your team will be allowed to continue to score until you have gained a 10 run lead over your opponent.
      1. i.e., your opponent has a 12 run lead, you will be allowed to score 22 runs.
    2. Once one of those scenarios has been reached (you had the lead and scored 10 more runs or you were behind and gained a 10 run lead) your batting is over for the inning regardless of outs.
    3. One exception of this rule will be in the 7th inning as there will be no cap on the runs scored.
    4. Beginning with the 5th inning, a 15 run mercy rule will apply.
      1. If either team has a 15 run or more lead at the end of the 5th or 6th inning, the game will be over.

Rainouts and Rescheduled Games

  1. Rainout will be based upon mutual agreement of both coaches.
    1. If you have doubts, SHOW UP OR FORFEIT.
  2. Rain postponement and replay as follows:
    1. Rain stoppage before final out of 4th inning, replay new game of 6 innings.
    2. Rain stoppage any time after the final out of the 4th inning, the score stands as a complete game.
    3. If the score is tied after the final out of the 4th inning, the score stands as a complete game.
  3. Lightning: If lightning is spotted, play will immediately stop; and will not resume until 10 minutes, with no lighting, has elapsed.
  4. If a game needs to be called, a make-up game may need to be scheduled, based on the inning of play.
  5. It is requested that 48 hours’ notice be given to non-weather caused game cancellations.
    1. A forfeiture could be requested by opposing team if less than 48 hours’ notice has been given.
  6. Make up games: Scheduling of makeup games is the responsibility of the home team coach.
    1. Check with the Commissioner regarding field availability.
    2. Make up games that have not been made up by September 30 will be recorded as a loss for both teams.
      1. If one of the coaches of a make-up game has requested 2 different times to make this game up and has been unsuccessful as of the game will be considered a forfeit and a win will be recorded to the team which had attempted to set a makeup date.

Balls and Game Equipment

  1. Each team is being supplied 10 new 52 core / 300lb. balls.
    1. The home team listed for each game will supply a new game ball.
    2. Lost hit balls cost the batting team their best used ball.
  2. Except for a few exceptions, most slow pitch Softball bats will be legal, provided a 52 core / 300lb ball is in use.
  3. Bats on the Non-Approved ASA Bat list and Senior bats are illegal.

Umpires

  1. Batting team will supply umpires.
  2. The batting team must supply 1st and 3rd base coaches who will act as the base umpires.
    1. First base coach will also ump and call 1st base; the third base coach will also ump and call plays at 2nd and 3rd bases; and the home plate umpire will call home plate.
    2. This can be modified if agreeable between the coaches.
    3. Please remember to remind base coaches that their priority is to make a safe or out call.
  3. Mature players that understand the game are strongly recommended for base coaches/umpires.
  4. If the batting team has enough players to also provide a field umpire to cover 2nd base, that would be preferable.
  5. No protests, home umpire has final decision unless both coaches are in agreed opposition to the umpire, then they may overrule them.

Pitching and Hitting

For strikes, a carpet, described in the diagram below, fitting the back of the plate will be used.


Strike mat measures 21″ wide x 36″ long.

  1. Any pitched ball, with the proper arc, hitting any part of the carpet will be called a strike. Pitches must reach at least 6 feet in height (roughly the top of a batter’s head) and not exceed the maximum of 12 feet in height (roughly the top of the back stop) and hit the carpet on the first bounce.
  2. Pitches that do not meet the above requirements will be called a ball.
  3. This is a 4 ball / 3 strike league, starting with a 1/1 count.
  4. 60 feet between bases, 46 feet to pitcher’s mound
  5. Pitchers may move back if more comfortable with that distance for safety reasons.
  6. The pitching mound is in-line with first and third base, regardless of the location of the physical pitching rubber.
  7. Batter is allowed 1 foul ball on third strike.
    1. Meaning, after the second strike (regardless of if the second strike is the result of a watched pitch or a foul ball), the batter has one free foul ball to give; but will be out with the second foul ball on their third strike.
  8. Walked male batters advance to second base.
  9. Walked female batters advance to first base.
    1. With two outs if a male batter is walked the following female batter has the option of automatically taking first base or hitting.
      1. If it is back to back male hitters, the next male must hit and does not have the option for a free walk.

Outfield and Female Batters

  1. There will be a outfield line that is drawn foul line to foul line 180′ from home plate.
    1. When a female hitter is up to bat, anyone playing beyond the infield must start behind the outfield line until the bat makes contact with the ball.
      1. If anyone playing beyond the infield crosses the outfield line before the ball is hit, the hitter will be safe and awarded 2nd base.
    2. Outfielders may field anywhere beyond the outfield line when a male batter is at the plate.

Commit and Home Lines

  1. For safety, we will be using a home line, instead of home plate, and a commit line.
  2. Commit Line is a line drawn 20 feet from home plate, perpendicular to the base line, called the commit line.
    1. Once the base runner crosses the commit line, they must continue home.
    2. If a runner turns around and runs across the commit line after crossing it on their way to the Home Line, the player is automatically out.
  3. Home Line is a line drawn off the back corner of home plate, as an extension of the first base line.
    1. When the base runner is attempting to score, their body must break the plane of the home line prior to the catcher catching the ball and touching home plate, like a force play for a hitter/runner at first base, where the runner must beat the catch.
    2. The catcher must not attempt to tag a runner that has passed the commit line, or the runner will be safe; and if the attempt to cross home plate, they will be out; if both happen, the runner is out, as they shouldn’t be crossing the plate.

Fair, Foul and Dead Balls

  1. On an overthrow, out of play, the runner advances 2 bases from the time the ball is released by the defensive player who caused the overthrow.
    1. Example: If a base runner is one step away from second when the defensive player released the ball, but past second when the ball went out of play, they are still awarded just second and third base.
  2. It is the position of the BALL which determines whether it is fair or foul…NOT the position of the fielder; call determined by home plate umpire.
  3. When a player catches a ball in the designated playing area, and then proceeds into a non-playing area (out of play), each base runner may automatically advance one base.
  4. When a runner is struck with a fair untouched batted ball while not in contact with a base and before it passes an infielder, excluding the pitcher, the EFFECT is the ball is dead and the runner is out.
    1. All other runners must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the interference.
    2. The batter is awarded first base.

Home Runs

  1. Home Run Rule: 3 and 1 up.
    1. After the 3rd home run (untouched ball hit over the fence), the next home run will be an out, unless the opposing team has also reached 3 home runs.
    2. Once both teams have hit 3 home runs, either team will be allowed to hit an additional home run (the 1 up).
    3. Additional home runs may continue if you are not more than 1 up over the opposing team, at which point the 2nd up would be an out.
    4. The home team, in the bottom of the last inning of the game, may not hit a home run to go 1 up.

Base and Courtesy Runners

  1. No barreling or intentional sliding into a defensive fielder, runner will be called OUT.
    1. This does not include normal scuffle for bag or mishaps of play that create a collision.
  2. Runners need to stay in baseline and fielders are not to block the base or baseline with their body.
  3. If there is a play at the bag, the runner has the option of sliding or giving themselves up to the out.
    1. But again, the fielder is not to block the base; base must be exposed to the runner.
  4. Courtesy runners may be used as needed for injury situations, or a player with an existing injury.
    1. You may not use pinch runners for a slower runner.
    2. Courtesy runners will be the last player of the same sex that was batted out.
  5. If a runner is required from home, the runner will stand behind the batter with a hand on the backstop until the ball is hit.

Infield Fly Rule

  1. Infield Fly is defined as “a fair fly ball, not including a line drive, which could be caught by an infielder, pitcher or catcher with ordinary effort, when runners are on first and second, or first, second and third, with less than two outs.”
    1. This should be called by the home plate umpire.
    2. With an Infield Fly called, the batter is out, and the base runners are not forced to advance, even if the ball is dropped.
    3. A base runner is allowed to advance after the ball is caught, after tagging up, just like any other caught fly ball; but are not required to.

Blood Rule

  1. A player, coach or umpire who is bleeding or who has blood on his uniform shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment can be administered.

Field Decorum

  1. Please leave each field free of all litter after playing games and show respect for they are on loan to us for the pleasure of this fellowship.
  2. Only designated parking areas are to be used.

Playoff Seeding

  1. Seeding for playoffs will be based on losses.
    1. If two teams have the same win/loss record, the advantage will go to the team that won when those two teams played during the regular season.
      1. If there is still a tie, run differential (diff) will be used to determine the seeding between the two teams, awarding the team with the higher differential the lower seed.

Playoff Tournament

All playoff rules are the same as the regular season rules unless stated below.

  1. Every teams makes it into the signal elimination playoff tournament, their seeding based off their regular season record.
  2. Elimination rounds are played as 1 nine inning game.
    1. The winning team advances to the next round of the bracket.
    2. The losing team will be eliminated.
  3. The lower regular season seed is the home team.
    1. In the championship game the home team is determined by either a coin flip or a best 2 out of 3 Rochambeau.
  4. Playoff mercy rule is 15 runs after 7 innings of play.
  5. When available impartial umpires will be provided for playoff games.

Reporting Scores

  1. Winning coach of the second game MUST report scores within 24 hours of the completion of the game.
    1. Scores not turned in before September 30th will be recorded as losses for both teams.

Ball Field Notes:

Coaches will be provided the combinations for the locks at the fields.

Cornerstone – Home coach of the first game is responsible for setting up the game equipment including paintings the home/commit lines. Away coach of the first game will be responsible for replacing the base plugs, returning the game equipment, raking around home plate, and dragging the field following the game.

Shepherd of the Lakes – Home coach of the first game is responsible for setting up the game equipment including paintings the home/commit lines. Away coach of the first game will be responsible for replacing the base plugs, returning the game equipment, raking around home plate, and dragging the field following the game.