1998 RULES FOR N.C.S.S.A. SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS

ASA rules apply except as follows:

1-3-98

1. Sliding, going forward, will not be permitted. Violations will result in an out. Diving or sliding back into a base is allowed.

2. An eight-foot line, perpendicular to the third base line, will be added twenty feet from home plate. Base runners touching or passing the line must continue toward home plate and cannot retreat back to third base. Violation results in a putout. Other base runners may advance at their own risk.

3. A base runner will be retired at home plate on a "non-force" situation without a tag. It is only necessary for the defensive player to catch and hold the ball while touching home plate before arrival of the base runner. Tagging the runner is not permitted.

4. A second home plate per ASA is preferred, but if one is not there a (ten-foot) line perpendicular to the third base side of home plate, and extending from the 'right-handers' batting box will be added. A base runner must touch or cross this line, with foot down. He cannot touch home plate or the strike mat or be in that area. Violation is an out.

5. The defensive line-up must consist of no more than 10 players except 70 or older who may have 11. If 70 and older teams have to play younger teams they may still use 11 players on defense. A minimum of eight defensive players must be available to start a game. If other players arrive they must be put at the bottom of the batting order. The team that has less than 10 players will be the visiting team.

6. A.S.A. re-entry rule will be used. Rule 4 Section 5. Any starting players, including an E.P., may be withdrawn and re-entered once, provided players occupy the same batting positions whenever in the lineup.

7. The E.P. (unlimited players) is optional. All player changes must be reported to the official scorer. (The E.P. may be withdrawn, without penalty due to an injured player). The E.P. provision cannot be reinstated during the remainder of that game.

8. Courtesy runners will be permitted at any time, but are limited to one per inning. Any player on the roster may run whether they are in the lineup or not, but may only run once per game. 65 and older will be unlimited but a player may only run once an inning.

9. The 'strike zone mat' will be used in all games. Pitches striking the mat or home plate are strikes. The mat must be 17" wide by 32" long. The arch of the pitch must be 6-12 feet.

10. Four balls and three strikes will be used. A foul ball after a two strike count will result in the batter being called out and the ball is dead. Exception, a fly foul ball caught, runners may advance at their own risk.

11. Extra innings: A game with the score tied after (seven) complete innings, extra innings will be played using the International Rule until the tie is broken. (Tournament rule 8 applies). The bottom half of the inning will be played the same.

12. Maximum time for games, one hour ten minutes (tied games must be completed).

13. The 5 run rule will apply in each inning except the last one or any extra inning. If any inning begins with five (5) minutes or less of game time remaining that inning shall be declared the "last" inning and played without a run limit. If before the seventh inning, time expires during an inning, that inning will be completed using the five run rule and the next inning (whether or not the seventh), will be declared the "last" inning and shall be played without a run limit.

14. Base runners, when advancing only, are permitted to 'over-run' second and third base without fear of being retired. If the base runner makes an obvious motion to advance, he is subject to being tagged out. If a base runner runs thru then wants to advance, he must re-touch the base before advancing. (Appeal play for re-touch) Violation results in the runner being called out.

15. The base runner must avoid collisions or be at risk of being called out. If a runner misses the base to avoid a collision, the runner will not be called out. (Umpires judgement)

16.The home team will be determined before each game by a toss of a coin. (Exception rule 5).

17. Teams are requested to be ready to play at the announced time. In some instances when the previous game has finished 'early', teams may start their game early if it is agreeable with both managers.

18. Only managers or acting managers may consult the umpires over rule interpretation.

19. The standing of teams tied after the regular games can be determined by the following:

a. Head to head competition, exec

b. Differential, (excluding forfeit games) of runs between the tied teams.

c. Total runs allowed, (excluding forfeit games) between the tied teams.

d. Total runs scored, (excluding forfeit games) between the tied teams.

20. A protest committee, composed of the tournament director or his assistants and the game umpire, will make the final decision on protests. All protests must be made to the umpire immediately following the questioned decision or ruling, and before play is resumed.

21. Try to schedule the teams traveling the farthest toward the middle of the day, not at the beginning or end. Schedule no more than three games per day, no more than two back to back games, and not under lights for 60 or over.

22. The age a player attains on his birthday that year will be his age for the entire calendar year.

23. Minimum of five games per tournament. (If less make sure it is specified on the fact sheet that is sent out.) All games must be played. No team may refuse to play an opponent but may play any game under protest. A team that does not play all its games will not be eligible for any prize and will be subject to rule 36.

24. A restricted softball of .47 or .48 compression with poly-core, shall be used for safety reasons.

25. Tournament directors will have a cut off date at least two weeks prior to the start of their tournament. The game schedules must be out at least ten days in advance. The entry fee and the NCSSA approved roster must be in by the cutoff date. That roster is the roster for that tournament.

26. A double fee and the NCSSA approved roster must be in by the cut-off date.

27. A double base must be used at first base. When the base runner is running through, he must use the base in foul territory, if there is a play at first base. Violation results in the runner being called out. The defensive player must use the base in fair territory.

27. Tournament rosters are frozen at the beginning of their first game. Any team adding three or more players to its NCSSA roster will be eliminated from awards for that tournament. The games will not count in the standings. (Exhibition only)

28. Managers must be called if a director wants to move a team two brackets. A director may move a team one bracket without a call. A team cannot add younger players just because a tournament director moved the team to a lower group. Example: a good 55 team gets put in a 50B bracket for a tournament. It must keep its team age the same as they turned in.

29. All players are restricted to one roster during a tournament. A player who plays on two teams will cause the second team to forfeit any games he plays in. The first team he plays for becomes his only team for that tournament.

30. All players are restricted to one NCSSA roster. (Exception: A player may be on more than one roster if his age permits.) A 60-year-old could be on a 60 and 55 or 50 roster. Any team may add two players for a tournament.

31. For safety reasons, any double walled bat must have a 1.20 stamp. Any Titanium bat is banned. Any double walled bat that does not have the 1.20 stamp is banned in N.C.S.S.A. tournaments.

32. Any team dropping out of a tournament after the schedule is out will automatically be suspended until the board can review the problem and enact penalty or reinstatement. If a team drops after the cut off date, it will lose its entry fee.

33. Fees: Team registration of $10 along with the NCSSA approved roster must be in before a team can play. Tournament directors must send $50 per tournament along with the NCSSA contract by December 31, 1997.

34. Home run rule for fields with a fence less than 275 feet from home plate: A team cannot have more than one home run more than its opponent. A batter who hits his team’s second ball over the fence will be credited with a single and any base runner may advance only if forced.

35. Discipline: the board will review any violations of these rules and the appropriate punishment shall be administered.