Official Rules and Standards for the Charlotte County

Men’s 55+ Morning Softball League

Fall 2025

LEAGUE MISSION and STANDARDS

The Charlotte County Men’s 55+ Morning Softball League was established for the recreational enjoyment of senior adults who love the game of softball. There are no Trophies or Cash Prizes awarded.  We focus on keeping our costs low so that we can attract players and expand our league.  We value the experiences and memories of the games, as well as the camaraderie and good fellowship with friends. We look forward to each and every new season and welcome the opportunity to meet new players and hone our skills.

This is YOUR league.  We value your help, ideas and input. Get involved!  Assist your team’s managers, and proudly wear your team shirts in public to help increase awareness of our league.

Always be recruiting new players.  Ask friends, neighbors, clients, co-workers to join our League.

We have a great league.  Men’s senior softball is one of the BEST Outdoor Activities in Charlotte County.

The Commissioners

LEAGUE RULES

A.    CODE OF ETHICS: We prioritize player health, safety, sportsmanship and a sense of fair play.  Because we umpire our own games, we continuously look to reduce/eliminate Umpire judgement calls in those situations that historically result in controversial calls and disputes.  We explain the rules in a way that provides clarity and understanding and to avoid misinterpretation and unnecessary arguments.  To accomplish our goals goal, the League uses USA Softball Rules, USA Senior Softball Rules, and FHC/ASA Softball Rules as GUIDELINES.  They have been modified to accommodate the needs of our league and participants.   All participants are required to know and follow the rules.  Managers are expected inform their players of these rules and to enforce them.

1.     Conduct themselves in a SPORTSMANLIKE manner on and off the field when interacting with other players, managers, officials and spectators.

2.     Refrain from taunting or degrading any other player, or directing foul, abusive or profane language at opponents, officials and others.  Use of profanity towards others is discouraged, as well as use of the “F Bomb”.  Violations will result in a warning for the first offense and ejection from that game for a second infraction.  Continued infractions could result in a suspension.

3.     FIGHTING on the field, as well as before or after a game within the Carmalita Complex will result in a one (1) year suspension from the date of the occurrence.

4.     NO ALCOHOL or SMOKING in the dugouts or near the dugouts during practices, warmups and games.  Smokers are asked to smoke “downwind” from their dugout area.  Please give consideration to players with respiratory issues.  Any violations will result in:

a.     A warning for the first offense.

b.     A one game suspension for a second offense.

c.      A suspension for the remainder of the season for the third offense.

5.     Excessive drinking BEFORE a game and/or drinking DURING a game will result in removal from that game plus a one (1) game suspension from the next scheduled game.

6.     All players are to help in the recovery of home run or foul balls.

7.     The HOME team is responsible for setting up/ taking down the Pitching Screen and Home Plate.

8.     Each team is responsible for keeping their gates closed, if applicable, and the bats out of the field of play.  Advantage to opposing team only.

9.     Unless someone else volunteers to umpire, the team at-bat shall provide an umpire at home plate.  They shall also provide a base umpire if their roster allows for it.

10.  Umpire Authority/Disputed Calls:  ONLY a Manager is allowed to talk to the umpire to question a call or an interpretation of the rules. The umpire will have the FINAL say on any call, with exceptions noted below. 

a.     Please respect the players who volunteer to umpire by not arguing with them.  Any misconduct on the part of any player is subject to review by the League and the imposition of sanctions, from a warning up to, and including, a lifetime ban. 

b.     Fielders and players in the dugouts are cautioned NOT to call a play until after the Umpire makes that call.  If doing so prior to the call by the Umpire causes confusion with the runners resulting in unfair tag or force outs, the Umpire can void the play and call VERBAL INTERFERENCE and award all runners the next base.

c.      In the spirit of good sportsmanship and fair play, the Managers of both teams can confer and “overrule” the Umpire’s call, or NON-CALL, if BOTH Managers agree, particularly if the Umpire failed to make a call that is spelled out in the rules or when the Umpire’s call was obviously incorrect.

B.    THE BOARD - The Board is comprised of three (3) Commissioners who will have the final say on the interpretation of the rules and any disciplinary or corrective action for a violation of these rules.  Rules can be modified anytime by the Board as needed to improve player safety, fairness of the game or for the betterment of the League and our players.

C.    PLAYERS - We welcome all players.  Recognizing that we have vast differences in age, abilities, softball experience and health, we prioritize the Safety and Well-being of all our players by adopting rules that reflect this objective.   We encourage everyone to keep this in mind and think of the other guy first!

1.     Age Requirement:  For purposes of joining the league (minimum age 55), or players benefitting from 80+ rules, age is determined on a calendar year basis.  For example, if he will be 55 or 80 on November 21, he is considered to be 55 or 80 as of January 1 that year.

2.     Signed Waiver:  All participants must complete and sign a contract/waiver to play prior to playing.  In doing so, they agree to agree to follow our League Rules.

3.     Fielding Position/Player Safety:  Beginning in the Fall 2025 season, because of the number of players in the league who are limited to only catching, to avoid an abundance of “Catcher Only” players on a team, which can result in using these players out of position, all NEW players must be able to play a position(s) other than catching.  This does not apply to any player who has previously played for the league.

4.     Silver Alert:  When an 80+ player comes up to bat, the player must notify the umpire that he is a “Silver Alert” and the umpire in turn will officially announce “Silver Alert”, meaning an 80+ player cannot be doubled up at 1st base.

5.     Minimum Play:  All players must play a minimum of 3 innings defensively per game if they choose to.

6.     Pool Players:  All players must be able to play full-time (2 games a week), not counting games they can’t make due to vacations, appointments, injuries, etc.  Players who can only make one game a week due to other commitments or limitations, and Part-Time Players, will be designated Pool Players.  The Board will assign them a “Draft” number based on their ability.  They will be eligible to substitute according to the Rules.  If a Pool Player agrees to substitute, that player shall pay a game fee prior to the game as determined by the Board for that season.  Once a Pool Player has substituted enough times so that he has paid enough game fees equal to the league fee, all game fees will be waived from that point on for that season.  Snowbirds and new Players who arrive towards the end of the season may be assigned to a team by the Board.

D.    THE GAME

1.     Length of Game:  One 7 inning game will be played, unless BOTH Managers agree to a shorter game due to bad weather or other reasons.  A game is official after 5 innings or if the home team is ahead after 4 ½ innings.

2.     Choosing Dugouts:  Dugouts will be chosen by whichever teams arrives first.

3.     Runs per Inning:  Teams will be allowed to score 5 runs per inning until the last inning, and extra innings, which is unlimited.

4.     Mercy Rule:  If either team is behind by 15 runs or more after batting in 6 innings, the game is over.

5.     Extra Innings:  If the game is tied after the 7th inning, the 8th inning with start (and 9th if necessary) with the last batter on 2nd base.  This runner may not be pinch run for until he reaches 3rd base.  If he cannot physically run for any reason, he will be declared out, and the 2nd to last batter from the previous inning will take his place.  Games will be called a tie after 9 complete innings.

6.     Suspended Games:  If weather, or any other reasons, prevent an official game from being completed (except in the Mercy Rule situation), ONE of the Managers has the authority to call the game suspended.  Any suspended game will be continued when the teams next play each other and the game will resume from the point that the game was suspended.

7.     Postponed Games:  Postponed games and games that end prior to becoming an official game shall be called and played in their entirety at a later date at the discretion of the Commissioners.

8.     Replacing Players:  Teams must be able to field a minimum of 8 players from their own roster at the start of, and throughout, the game.  They must field a minimum of 10 players counting replacement players.  If not, they forfeit the game.  The rule for replacing players is as follows:

a.     From Pool Players or the Bye Team:  When there are Pool Players or a Bye Team, a team can replace any missing players from the Pool or BYE Team even if they have 11 or more players according to the following rules:  

(1)   Managers can only replace a player(s) with someone EQUAL TO or BELOW the draft order of the player(s) that are being replaced.  For example, if you are missing your #3 and #7 players, one replacement must be a #3 or below, and the other player must be a #7 or below, and so on.

(2)   Managers who obtain a Substitute Player(s) must let the opposing Manager know PRIOR to the start of the game who is missing and their draft #’s, and who the replacements are with and their respective draft #’s.  No player will be allowed to substitute unless they have been added according to this rule.  If the opposing Manager discovers that the rule has not been followed, then that player cannot play for the opposing team unless the other Manager waives the rule.

b.     From the Opposing Team:  When there are no Pool Players or a Bye Team, a team that is short can pick up no more than 3 players as substitutes from the opposing team if that team has players to spare.  These players can be “put on” the opposing team for the entire game, or just play defensively for them and remain on their own team for that game.  Defensive players can play any position as determined by the Manager of the team in the Field.  

c.     Safety and Fair Play Considerations:

(1)   Replacement players can BAT anywhere in the batting order and PLAY any position as determined by the Manager.

(2)   When teams only have 10 or 11 players, they are allowed to rest one player defensively each inning and ask the opposing team to provide a defensive player.

E.     PITCHING

1.     Pitching Screen: The pitching screen is mandatory.  The purpose of the screen is to protect pitchers and should not result in aiding the defense.

a.     Placement of Screen: The edge of the screen closest to the pitcher must be placed in front of any part of the pitcher's rubber.  Once the screen is in position it becomes part of the field and may not be tipped over or thrown aside to accommodate a throw from the outfield.

b.     Using the Screen:  All pitchers MUST use the screen AND step behind it with BOTH feet after every pitch.  The first failure to do so will result in a WARNING from the Umpire.  Further violations will be called a ball if the pitch is taken.  Pitchers will be allowed to field a ground ball or line drive ONLY AFTER first stepping behind the screen and remaining there until the ball reaches the plate.  If in the Umpire's judgment, the pitcher failed to step behind the screen or stepped out too soon and fielded a ground ball or a line drive, the umpire shall call a Dead Ball Single for the batter and all runners will advance one base if forced to do so.  

2.     Pitching Arc:  The low arc is the height of the batter. A pitched ball must go higher than the batter’s head while in his normal stance. The high arc is 12 feet from the ground.   

a.     Calling an Illegal Pitch: A “flat” pitch that doesn’t go higher than the batter’s head is an illegal pitch.  Likewise a pitch is illegal if it exceeds 12 feet in height.  To avoid complaints of "late" calls by an umpire for an illegal pitch, umpires will defer calling an illegal pitch either “FLAT” or “TOO HIGH” after the ball lands.  This also relieves the batter from guessing if a pitch will be called illegal or not.  The burden is on the batter to either swing or take the pitch at their discretion.  If the batter chooses to swing at it and make contact, then the pitched ball is in play.  If the batter swings and misses, then it is a strike.  Borderline pitches where an Umpire tells the pitcher to “bring the ball up” or “lower the pitch” are not considered an official warning.

b.     Penalty for Illegal Pitch:  The umpire will call a BALL for all illegal pitches that are not swung at.

F.     BATTING

1.     Starting Count:  The at-bat begins with a one ball - one strike count.

2.     Hitting a Foul Ball:  If a batter hits a foul ball with two strikes, the batter will be called out on strikes.

3.     Hitting the Pitching Screen with a Batted Ball

a.     With ONE Strike:  When a batter has one strike and the batted ball hits the screen, it will result in a dead ball and Strike Two on the batter.

b.     With TWO Strikes:  When a batter has two strikes and the batted ball hits the pitching screen, it is a dead ball and the count will remain the same.  If during the same at bat, the batter hits the pitching screen a second time, it is a dead ball and the batter will be called out on strikes.

4.     Waiving/Rejecting a Walk: In innings 1 to 5, a batter can “waive” or reject a walk after he receives 4 balls, including an intentional walk, when he has 1 strike on him, unless the 5th run of the inning is on 3rd base with the bases loaded.  If so, he must accept the walk.  Once waived, he must continue the at-bat until he either gets a hit or makes an out.  However once he receives a 2nd strike, whether called, a swing and miss, or a foul ball, the “walk waiver” is no longer an option and play will continue with a 3 and 2 count on the batter.

NOTE:  As a recreational league, and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, pitchers are discouraged from deliberately throwing unhittable pitches during the at-bat after a batter has rejected a walk.

5.     Carrying a Bat to 1st Base:  As a safety precaution, a batter-runner who does not discard his bat before reaching 1st base shall be called out.

G.    RUNNING THE BASES

1.     Alternate 1st Base:  To avoid collisions and injuries, a double bag shall be used at 1st base with the double portion of the bag being in foul territory abutting 1st base. 

a.    Touching the Bag on a Play at 1st Base:  If there is a play on a batter-runner going to first base, the batter-runner must touch some portion of the double bag extending into foul territory. The batter-runner is permitted to touch both portions of the double bag at the same time.  He will be called out if he fails to do so, except if, in the umpire's judgment, the batter-runner is avoiding a collision. This is subject to an appeal to the field umpire. Result: If the runner has been determined to have hit the wrong bag, batter/runner is out.

b.    Touching the Bag on NO Play at 1st Base:  If there is no defensive play to be made at first base, including balls hit to the outfield, the batter/runner may touch either bag.  After the initial play, the base runner is not penalized for choosing to start on the outside base or “STEPPING OFF” according to the rules.  The 1st Baseman shouldn’t remain on the bag or stand in the way of the runner who is taking the turn at 1st base.

c.     The Defending Player:  The defending player must touch the inside base in fair territory to make the putout.  There is no penalty for first touching the bag in foul territory while on the way to the inside bag, which can occur on an overthrown ball that he is retrieving, or for touching both bags simultaneously.  However, the defender has the responsibility to avoid a collision with the batter-runner.  Failure to do so can result in the batter-runner being declared safe at first.

2.     Stepping Off:  If a player wants to step off the corner bases into foul territory he must notify the umpire.  The runner must be perpendicular to the base and retouch the base before advancing.

3.     Commit Line:  Runners must go home after touching or crossing the commit line and cannot be tagged out after touching or crossing the commit line.  After the runner touches or crosses the commit line, the player covering home plate must catch and control the ball while touching the home plate by the batter's box for the runner to be called out.

4.     Alternate Home Plate:  To score, the runners must touch the alternate home plate.  We do not use a Home Plate line.  Touching the plate at the batter's box will result in the runner being called out.

5.     Courtesy Runners:  A player shall be a courtesy, or pinch-runner, only ONCE per inning during regulation play and extra innings, as follows:

a.     A courtesy runner is officially in the game when announced to the plate umpire AND the base is touched.

b.     A pinch-runner cannot be replaced except for injury.  If so, the injured player must be removed from the line-up and cannot return to the game.

c.      If a pinch-runner is on base when it's his turn to bat, he is declared out, the base shall remain vacant, and he loses his turn to bat.  The next batter will be the on-deck batter who followed him in the lineup.  If the out resulted in the 3rd out of the inning, the player who was on-deck will be the lead-off batter in the next inning.

d.     If a player is pinch run for, it is NOT required that he be pinch run from that point on, however, any player replaced by a courtesy runner cannot become a courtesy runner in the same inning.

e.     If a courtesy runner is used more than once in an inning, he will be called out and removed from the base.  The base shall remain vacant.

f.       It is the Manager’s discretion to determine when pinch runners will be used.  Managers are encouraged to allow all runners to run for themselves except when the batter-runner requests a courtesy runner, injury or when strategy calls for it depending on the situation and the score.

6.     Avoiding Collisions:  For player safety, runners are required to avoid violent contact with defensive players by not colliding with them or knocking them down.  They must also get out of the base path on a thrown ball on a force play at 2nd or 3rd base (not on a ball thrown from an outfielder) by "Peeling” or “Veering" off.  A batter/runner who intentionally slides into 1st Base or Home Plate is automatically out and it is a Dead Ball.

7.     Dropped Balls when Peeling/Veering Off:  On a ball fielded by an infielder who throws to 2nd Base or 3rd Base, the following rules apply:

a.    Dropped Balls:  If the ball is dropped by the defensive player covering the bag, the runner going to that base will automatically be declared SAFE regardless of where the runner was when the ball was dropped. 

b.    Definition of “Dropped Ball”:  A ball is consider "Dropped" when it touches any part of the fielder or his glove AND hits the ground IN THE INFIELD.  A bobbled ball that is caught is not a "Drop".  The ball is still in play and runners can continue to advance at their own risk.  The fielder can pick up the ball and throw other runners out, including the batter.

c.     Wild Throws:  If the fielder throws the ball wild to 2nd or 3rd, the ball is live and the play continues as normal.  All runners advance at their own risk.  It is NOT a dropped ball if it "flicks" off the body or glove of the fielder covering the bag and lands in the outfield.

8.     Penalties for Collisions and Interference by Runners: This is a Recreational League and we want to have Fun.  In an effort to prevent injuries and protect defensive players, runners are obligated to avoid collisions with defenders.  When they fail to do so, the following penalties apply:

a.    Running into a Fielder:  When a defensive player, who is not covering a bag or applying a tag, is fielding a ground ball, or a thrown ball where the flight of the ball carries or draws them into the path of the base runner, the runner has the obligation to avoid a collision or interfere with the play.  Failure to do so is INTERFERENCE if it hindered the fielder from making the play.  If so, the runner is called out (dead ball) and other runners must return to their base.

b.    Force Plays: Umpires and runners are cautioned that when runners are going into 2nd or 3rd base on a force out OR tag out at that base, any runner who goes hard into that fielder causing a forceful collision or interferes with the fielder resulting in the fielder not being able to make the play, MUST be called out by the umpire for Interference.  The ball becomes dead and all other runners must return to their previous base.  Even if the collision doesn't prevent the fielder from making the play, going into the fielder hard is Unsportsmanlike Conduct and the runner will be called out, or ejected from the game by the Umpire for flagrant violations. 

Umpires can call a double play if they think that the interference with the fielder or the failure to get out of the base path on a thrown ball prevented an obvious double play from being made.  In this case, the immediate succeeding runner will also called out.

c.     Penalties on Tag Plays:  A runner must be called out when they remain on their feet and crash into a defensive player who is holding the ball and waiting to apply a tag.  To prevent a collision, the runner may slide, go around the defender, give up or return to the previous base touched.  If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender is ejected.

9.     Running out of the Baseline:  The baselines, except from Home to 1st Base, are not always straight lines.  It is the RUNNER who establishes the three-foot running lane based on the route he is taking to the next base.  When a runner runs outside the three-foot running lane to avoid a defender holding the ball and waiting to apply a tag, the runner is called out.

H.    FIELDING

1.     Defensive Alignment: Teams will field 11 fielders as follows:  Pitcher, catcher, 5 infielders and 4 outfielders.  All infielders, including the middle fielder, must be positioned on the infield dirt until the pitcher’s release of the ball.  All outfielders must be behind the white line in the outfield and may only cross the line on the pitcher’s release of the pitch.  Both teams can field 4 infielders ONLY IF both teams only have 10 players.

2.     Fake Tags:  To protect runners from injury, fake tags are prohibited.  Penalty:  All runners advance one base.

3.     Throwing to 1st Base:  Outfielders may not throw out a runner going to 1st base on a batted ball (includes any relays to 1st base), except when the batter has safely reached 1st base and has made an attempt to advance to 2^nd base.

4.     Overthrown Balls:  If a ball is thrown and goes out of the area of play (into a dugout because the gate was not shut or over the fence) the base runners automatically advance to the bass they are going to plus one extra base.  If there is no gate in place, then the runners will only advance one base.  If the gate on the dugout of the team batting is not closed, the team batting will gain no advantage (no player advancement) for a ball that goes thru the gate area into the dugout.  Instead it will be considered a dead ball. 

5.     Obstruction:  A fielder who, when not making a play, blocks the base path and prevents a runner from advancing to the next base, is guilty of OBSTRUCTION and the runner is awarded the base they would have reached if not obstructed.  When a runner crashes into a fielder holding the ball, there is no obstruction and the runner is out.  Being “obstructed” by a fielder does not give the runner the right to collide with a fielder.  It is the runner’s responsibility to avoid contact with a fielder who is going for a ball.

6.     Infield Fly Rule:  The traditional Infield Fly Rule is not used.  This modification is to avoid the judgmental confusion by umpires of whether a batted popup can be "routinely" caught or not.  Instead, the situation will speak for itself as follows.

a.     If a popup or line drive is hit, no "Infield Fly" will be called.  The batter will not automatically be called out, and runners advance at their own risk. 

b.     To prevent a fielder from intentionally "dropping" the ball to confuse the runners so that a double-play can be made, the following applies:

(1)   If the ball is "muffed” or dropped by a fielder while standing on the infield dirt, or falls on the infield dirt without being caught, it is a live ball and only ONE runner can be thrown or tagged out.  All other runners will be allowed to advance safely at least one base.

(2)   There can be no double play on the hit ball until all other runners advance one base.  If any runner runs beyond the one base, he then is in peril of being thrown out.