SVGSL Rules of Play, Spring 2024
All Rules are governed by USA SOFTBALL Slow Pitch, except as amended by International Pride Softball (IPS) also known as NAGAAA and the SVGSL Open Division Board of Directors and UIC.
BUSINESS:
1) All players must register through SVGSL.org and submit payment for the season prior to taking the field.
2) All players must complete all required forms by SVGSL and Arcadia Ballpark prior to taking the field.
3) Players who are not registered or do not complete the required forms will not be allowed to play until all completed forms have been received and verified by the SVGSL board.
4) All Team fees are due to SVGSL no later than the start of the 1ST game. Teams that have not paid the fee at the start of their 1ST game will not be allowed to take the field until fees are collected.
5) All player ratings are due no later than 5:00pm on March 9, 2024. Players that are not included on the Team ratings sheet or Teams that have not submitted their player ratings by March 9, 2024, will not be allowed to take the field.
6) Ratings should be submitted to the league Secretary at secretary@svgsl.org
7) All ratings will be reviewed, approved, and finalized by the SVGSL Executive Board.
a) If a team manager, coach, or player wants to challenge a rating finalized by the Commissioner and Executive Board, they must show score books and information supporting their challenge.
EQUIPMENT:
1) All equipment used must be approved per the rules of USA Softball.
2) The Umpire shall inspect all bats and verify their legality for play per USA Softball.
3) Use of an illegal bat (dented, cracked, damaged) will result in the batter being called out.
4) Use of a Non-Approved, altered or bat removed from play will result in the batter being called out and ejected.
5) Game balls: 12”- .52/300 optic yellow, red stitch with USA/ASA black or green stamp.
6) The Double 1st Base rule is in effect.
7) When requested by the team, use of the Safety Pitch Screen will be in effect.
a) When a batted ball hits the screen, the ball is dead, and the batter will be assessed a strike.
UNIFORMS:
1) Each player shall wear a shirt of like color with a contrasting color number at least 3” in height on the back. Example - 0 and 00 are considered to be different numbers.
2) Metal cleats/spikes of any kind or with detachable cleats are not permitted.
3) Plastic visors are not permitted.
4) Bandanas may be worn, but not around the neck.
GAME TIME/TIME LIMIT:
1) Games are 50 minutes and played at 6:50pm, 7:50pm and 8:50pm.
2) A ten (10) minute grace period is allowed to get the minimum required nine (9) players to start the game.
3) The clock starts at the game start time. Grace periods will be deducted from the game time.
4) A forfeit (7-0 score) will be assessed against teams with less than 9 players after the grace period.
5) If neither team has the minimum number of players at the end of the grace period, a double forfeit will be declared.
6) A forfeit of a game will initiate a $35.00 fine paid to SVGSL and is due prior to the teams next scheduled game and teams will not be allowed to take the field if the fee is not paid.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
1) Ratings are based on the new NAGAAA/IPS rating limitations.
2) Team Ratings: A team rating is defined as the sum of the highest ten (10) individual player ratings rostered on that team.
3) C division – Maximum player rating 15 team maximum rating 140
4) D division - Maximum player rating 12 team maximum rating 110
5) E division - Maximum player rating 8 team maximum rating 75
6) Teams in the E division will be allowed to have a guest pitcher.
a) Guest pitcher will not be allowed to be a runner / courtesy runner.
b) Guest pitcher will not be allowed to bat.
c) Guest pitcher cannot be rated higher than a 10.
d) Guest pitchers will not count as a pickup player.
7) Player and/or Team ratings may be reviewed and reassessed during the season if playing skills progress above their current rating or the rating limitations of their division.
8) A player must play at minimum 3 league games to be eligible to play in the season playoffs.
LINEUPS:
1) The lineup card shall consist of the player’s last name, first name initial, number and position in the order in which the starting players will bat.
2) All teams must bat all eligible players in attendance.
3) If a team begins play with ten (10) or more players, late arriving players may be added to the batting order prior to the last listed player in the lineup batting.
4) For E division teams with a guest pitcher, the guest pitcher should be placed at the end of the lineup and identified as “GP”.
5) Any player arriving after all players have bat or the 3rd inning (whichever occurs first) may not enter the game.
6) Teams with ADA players shall provide supporting documentation to the SVGSL Commissioner prior to participation in league play and noted on the lineup card.
SHORT HANDED RULE:
1) Teams may start play or finish the game with nine (9) players without penalty. If the 10th player arrives, they must immediately be added in the 10th spot on the lineup card.
2) Teams that are shorthanded at the start of the game will be allowed a maximum of three (3) pick up players to reach a maximum of nine (9) players to avoid a forfeit.
3) All pick up players must be appropriate for the division in which they are being picked up. If a team exceeds the rating limitation, they will forfeit the game.
4) Pick up players and Guest pitchers must be approved by the SVGSL Commissioner or their designee prior to starting play.
5) Teams may finish the game with nine (9) or ten (10) players without penalty if player(s) are lost for any reason other than ejection.
6) If a player is lost due to ejection, the team shall take an out in the vacated spot in the lineup whenever that spot is due to bat.
COURTESY RUNNER:
1) Any eligible player or substitute may be used as a Courtesy Runner (CR) at any time,
2) A maximum of one (1) courtesy runner is allowed per inning.
3) A Courtesy Runner whose time at bat comes up while on base:
a) The player who the CR is running for will be called out.
b) The CR will be removed from base to take their turn at bat.
c) A second CR or substitute is not permitted.
4) ADA Courtesy Runners do not count toward the 1 CR per inning limit.
5) ADA players may have a CR more than once per inning and at any time once reaching base.
a) ADA courtesy runner must be the last completed at bat.
b) The same penalty is in effect if the CR is on base when due to bat.
STARTING COUNT:
1) All batters begin with a one ball, one strike (1-1) count, with one courtesy foul after the 2nd strike.
PITCHING RULES:
1) Pitching height is 6’ - 12’ (feet) from the ground with a perceptible arc.
2) Any ball striking home plate shall be ruled a ball.
3) A pitcher must have at least one foot in contact with and within the 24” pitching plate.
4) A pitchers safety screen may be used under the following conditions:
a) The screen must not be set more than three (3) feet in front of the pitching plate.
b) The screen edge shall be set at the midpoint of the 24” pitching plate.
c) The screen can be adjusted for left or right-handed pitchers but must be used for the entire inning while on defense.
d) The pitcher must stand behind the net at the time the pitch is released and may not step out from behind the net prior to the first touch of any batted ball by another defensive player.
SCORING RULES:
1) Mercy Run rule will be 15 runs ahead after 4 innings.
2) Teams are limited to scoring 7 runs per inning through the 3rd inning, with unlimited scoring of runs beginning in the 4th inning.
3) E and D division are not allowed (OTF) home runs. Any fair, fly ball over the fence will result in an out.
4) C division will be allowed one (OTF) home run per game. Any additional fair, fly ball over the fence will result in an out.
a) When playing mixed division games, the upper division team will play by the lower divisions rules regarding (OTF) home runs.
5) Mixed division games will not be recorded to the team standings.
EJECTIONS:
1) Any player ejected by an umpire is subject to an automatic suspension from their team’s next game.
2) Any ejection related to sportsmanship, misconduct or inappropriate behavior may be subject to further action by the Board.
a) All players are required to follow the SVGSL and SANCRA Player Code of Conduct.
3) NO ALCOHOL or SMOKING allowed in the dugouts or fields and all rules placed by Arcadia Ballpark must be followed.
PROTESTS:
1) An official protest involves a rules interpretation, an illegal player, or an ineligible player.
a) Rules interpretation must be made before the next pitch.
b) Illegal or Ineligible player must be while player is in the game and before the umpire leaves the field.
2) Questions based solely on umpire judgment / decisions will not be considered.
3) The umpire will follow these modified USA SOFTBALL rules for the SVGSL. Any rule not covered in these modifications will revert to the Official Rules of USA SOFTBALL.