FREDERICK INDUSTRIAL SOFTBALL LEAGUE

2024 RULES

1. Player requirements: Men 18 years of age and older 

2. Drinking alcohol is permitted only in the designated beer gardens.  There is to be no drinking during a game. 

3. All regular games are scheduled for 6 p.m. starting time with a 15-minute grace period, only for the purpose of obtaining the 9-player minimum.  When the first game is forfeited, the second game will start at 6:30, with no grace period.  A team may forfeit both games at 6:15. 

4. Most regular-season games will be played with a 1:15 time limit for the first game and 2:30 limit for the completion of both games.  No new inning will start after any time limit is reached.  For nights with more than three games, no new inning will start once the :55 mark is hit in the first game.  No new inning will start in the second game after the 2:00 mark. 

(This rule allows for additional time in the second games in the event of an early finish in the first, as well as keeping games on schedule to avoid lights going out during games. Innings must be completed, unless home team is ahead.) Games can end in a tie. 

5. Nine (9) players is the minimum a team may play with.  The team will not be charged an out for the 10^th player spot in the line-up. 

6. A team may pick up players from another team in the league to reach a maximum number of 10 players.  Teams must have a minimum of 6 players of their team’s roster.  Teams are limited to 3 pick-up players.  A team may not play with more than 10 players if using a player of another team,

7. Teams that forfeit 4 games will not be allowed to play in the year-end tournament.  They may finish the regular season, and will be put on the waiting list to get back into the league 

8. If a team starts with 9 players, a 10^th player may be added anytime during the game. 

9. Teams may have up to 15 batters in the lineup for regular season games and Opening Tournament.  Lineups are limited to 12 batters in The End of Season Tournament

10. An 11^th or 12^th or further additional players cannot be added after a team has batted through the lineup once

11. If a team loses a player, and there is no replacement, it is an out each time that batter would come to bat.  This includes all extra hitters.

12. Courtesy runner is allowed once per inning.  Any player on the roster may be used for the courtesy runner.  A courtesy runner whose turn at bat comes while on base will be called out; will be removed from the base & take their turn at bat; a second courtesy runner is not permitted at this time. 

13. The pitcher may pitch up to 6 feet behind the rubber, with pivot foot within the width of the rubber.  

14. Pitchers must wear a mask. 

15. Pitchers must pause at least one second, (whether in contact with or behind rubber) before beginning any pitching motion. 

16. Teams are discouraged from intentionally hitting the ball up the middle with the intent on injuring or intimidating the opposing pitcher.  Upon the judgment of the umpire, a warning may be issued to one or both teams.  Subsequent intentional incidents may result in a player being ejected, subject to league penalties. 

17. All batters start with a 1 ball and 1 strike count, and have one courtesy foul after 2 strikes. 

18. Home Run limit: 5 home runs over the fence per game.   Home runs over the limit will be an out. 

19. BATS: Only bats with an ASA or USA Certification stamp are legal for use, so long as the bat does not appear on the non-compliant list appearing on the ASA/USA website.  Original Miken MSF Freak, TPS SB73V Voltage are included in list of “non-compliant” bats.  Bats can have multiple organization stamps.

A)     Any team caught using a disguised illegal bat (painted over) will automatically be thrown out of the league and the team will be reported to all softball associations (ASA, ISA, USSSA & NSA) with the roster names.  

B)     Any team caught using an illegal bat will forfeit the game (this does not count towards rule18).  

C)    Umpires and/or league officials may inspect bats at ANY TIME prior to, during and following any game.  Failure to comply or present bat for inspection will result in an ejection with same effect of regular season or tournament rules.   

20. If a runner rounding 1^st base touches either base (orange or white) they will be safe (only heading towards second).  For safety reasons if a play is being made at first base, the runner must touch the orange bag.  The 1^st baseman must use the white bag to make a play on the batter.  The 1^st baseman can use either bag, when on a fly ball, a play is being made on a runner that is returning to 1^st base to tag up. 

21. Games listed on the original season schedule will not be rescheduled, except in the event of inclement weather that night, and only by the league scheduler.  

22. If a game is stopped due to rain or darkness, prior to the 5^th inning, that game will start from the point where it stopped.  If 5 innings, or more, have been played and the losing team has batted in their half of the inning, then it is a complete game. 

23. When games are cancelled due to rain or darkness, the league Vice President will schedule the make-up and call the managers.  The make-up date will be the first available date after 2 weeks from the date of the original game. 

24. Field condition announcements will be posted on the league Facebook page by 5 p.m. if playing conditions are questionable due to rain or wet field conditions.

25. Once a rainout has been rescheduled, it is then considered a regularly scheduled game, and cannot be rescheduled again. 

26. Forfeits of rain make-ups will not count towards rule 18, if the league Vice President is notified by noon on the day of the game.

27. The slaughter rule of 15 runs ahead after 4 innings and 10 runs ahead after 5 innings (losing team must have four or five at bats respectively) in both season and tournament games. 

28. The re-entry rule is in effect.  A starting player may be re-entered once and must be re-entered in the same position in the batting order. 

29. If the umpire fails to show, the teams may, by agreement, select someone to umpire.  Notify the President or Vice President immediately and we will notify the head of the umpires. 

30. Teams pay the umpire in cash at the start of each double header, $17.50 per game, $35 per double header. 

31. If a team forfeits without giving the league notice prior to noon, the umpire gets paid their full $70 for the doubleheader.  The forfeiting team is responsible for the umpire fee.  The league will pay the umpire and the forfeiting team will pay the league before they play their next game. 

32. If a game is stopped due to rain, the league will schedule the same umpire for the make up game so teams will not have to get money back from the umpire when the game is stopped. 

33. Rosters will be limited to 25 players.  All players must be on the team roster.  

34. The official league ball is the Tattoo or Dudley with a 52-core and 300 max compression.  Each team will hit their own ball by supplying the opposing pitcher with a ball.  It is the opposing pitcher’s responsibility to check the game ball in use. 

35. The league does not allow any base stealing. 

36. Team rosters must be turned in to the league before the season starts, within deadlines set by league officers.  The team will not be allowed to play until the roster is turned in. 

37. Teams may add players to their roster until 8:00 PM, July 1^st.  Any added player’s name must be added to the roster and applicable player fee paid before playing.  After July 1^st, the roster is frozen.  Names of players dropped or added must be given to the President, Vice President or Treasurer. 

38. All players must play 12 regular season games to be eligible for the year-end tournament.  If challenged, the team manager must prove that the player in question has played 12 games.  Exceptions handled on a case-by-case basis regarding injured rostered players. 

39. If there is any fighting, the person or persons involved will be suspended from the league.  If the whole team is involved, the team will be suspended from the league (league fees and player fees are non-refundable). 

40. Ejections - There will be no harassment of umpires before, during or after any game.  If this happens, a player, manager or entire team may be suspended from the league, depending on severity of any situation.  The FISL follows these guidelines, but will look at each incident on a case-by-case basis. 

Regular season:

·        Ejections – 2 games following the game ejected from. Ejections from the final games of the regular season carries over into the playoffs.

·        Continued Verbal Abuse – minimum 4 weeks (8 games).

·        Threats, Verbal or Acts of Aggression - minimum 6 weeks (12 games).

·        Physical Attack – minimum 1 year suspension. 

Tournament:        

·        Ejections – 2 games following the game ejected from,

·        Verbal Abuse – remainder of any game in progress, plus the next 2 games.

·        Threats/Verbal Aggression – minimum, the remainder of the tournament.

·        Physical Attack – see above 

41. Current sponsors have first choice of renewal and all new teams are on 1-year probation. 

42. A game may be protested, following the rules set out in the ASA/USA rulebook.  Protest must be submitted in writing within 72 hours of the game being protested.  A fee of $25 must be submitted with the written protest.  If the protest is upheld, the protest fee will be refunded.  The protest committee will be made up of 3 USA umpires selected by the president of the umpires association. 

43. Managers are responsible for reporting game results to Bill Wendorf through either text or phone calls to (240) 285-5294, or email to wtwendorf@gmail.com  The winning team is responsible for reporting the scores in the case of a sweep.  If the games are split, both teams are responsible for reporting the scores.  All scores must be called in by the end of the week or losses will be given to both teams until scores are reported.        

44. Both teams are responsible for picking up trash around the fields when finished playing. 

45. All rules not listed here are to be considered official ASA/USA rules and the ASA/USA umpire on duty will make the final decision on any call. 

46. In league tournament play, home team will be determined by:

-        Opening day: Coin toss for every game, except championship “if” game, when opposite team is then given the choice of being home team.

-        End of Season: Higher seed has choice for all games.  If an additional championship game is needed, home team choice determined by coin toss for the “if” game. 

47. Season Awards: 1^st place $200., 2^nd place $125, 3^rd place $75.   Tournament Awards: winners $150, second place  $50.

                                                                              FREDERICK INDUSTRIAL SOFTBALL LEAGUE

2024 RULES

Senior Division

1.      Players must be 50 years old by the end of the calendar year. 

2.      Eight (8) players is the minimum for a team play.  If a team plays with 8, the opposing team will supply a player to act as a retriever to return pitches to the pitcher.  When a ball is hit the retriever will not be involved in any defensive play and not become an obstacle to any defensive play. 

3. There is no limit to the number of batters in the a team’s lineup.  Any 10 players from the lineup can play defense. 

4.       If a player is injured and the team does not have a replacement, the players first at bat after removal from the game will be an out.  All following at bats for that player will be skipped. 

5.      A player removed from the game may replace an injured player if no other extra players are available.  The injured player may not return to the game. 

6.      Players may re-enter games following USA re-entry rules. 

7.      Teams are limited to 5 runs per inning, until the last inning when runs will be unlimited.  The unlimited inning may or may not be the 7^th inning.  The umpire will announce the last inning if it is before the 7^th inning. 

8.      Mercy rule: 15 runs after 5 innings. 

9.      When the home team is down by 10 or more going into the last inning, the visiting team can allow the home team to bat first in the last inning. 

10.   Home run limit is 5 per game.  All balls hit over the fence count towards the home run limit, even if the batter’s run is not counted due to the 5 run per inning rule. 

11.   Teams may use multiple courtesy runners each inning.  

12.   A player may be used as a courtesy runner only once per inning. 

13.   If a courtesy runner is due to bat, the runner will remain on base and the batters position will be out. 

14.   If a player is ejected, without a replacement available, his position in the lineup will be an out. 

15.   Bats: must be USA/ASA.  No Senior bats. 

16.   The official ball is a 52cor 300 compression, Dudley or Tattoo. 

17.   Home team will supply a new game ball and a good back-up ball.  Home run or foul balls will be retrieved by the team hitting.  A back-up ball will be supplied by the hitting team until the ball is retrieved.  

18.   A full mat will be used to cover the plate and the strike zone.  Defensive plays are made by touching any part of the mat with possession of the ball.  There is no tag play made on a runner attempting to score. 

19.   A commit line will be located half way between 3^rd base and home.  When a runner passes the commit line, one foot or two, they must continue to the scoring plate.  Returning to 3^rd after crossing the commit line, the runner will be called out. 

20.   A scoring plate will be placed in line with the first base line between the home plate and the fencing.  Runners attempting to score must touch the scoring plate before the catcher touches home plate while in possession of the ball. 

21.   Pitchers are not required to wear masks, but are encouraged to do so. 

22.   There is no minimum game limit to be eligible for playoffs. 

23.   Games will have a 1:15 time limit when 2 games are scheduled.  Any inning started will be completed. 

24.   Rainout games will be schedule the following 2 weeks, making up one game each week.  When more than 2 games are played there will be a 1:00 time limit.  Last inning will be declared by the umpire at :55 minutes.  Any inning started will be completed. 

25.   Teams using ineligible players will forfeit each game in which the player played.  The ineligible player should be reported to the umpire before the umpire leaves the field. 

26.   Batters who walk and will have a courtesy runner do not need to touch first base.  The batter can return to the bench and the courtesy runner will take the place at first base. 

27.   Teams that forfeit 4 games will not be allowed to play in the year-end tournament. 

28.   Playoff champions receive $100, second place receive $50.

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