All Palmer Softball Association (PSA) leagues are play at your own risk.  Please pay particular to attention to your children while at the park to ensure their safety. Also make sure that dugouts, bathrooms and other areas around the park are always cleaned up.

Uniforms

Matching shirts not required.  Decision up to individual teams.  No metal spikes (immediate ejection).

Equipment

The league balls are optic yellow, synthetic 12-inch Tattoo 52/300 softballs.  These will be provided to each team by the league at the first game.

Community bat rule – All bats must be kept up inside the dugout by the field entrance and must remain there for the entire game unless removed by an umpire.  Each team must have a minimum of 4 bats for use each night. Any player can swing any bat in play. League is not responsible for broken or damaged bats. Please respect other player’s equipment.  Excessively throwing any bat will result in a $25 fine paid to bat owner and a suspension (please see suspensions section for more info). 

Players are allowed to use any bat that is certified playable by USA/ASA and/or USSSA softball (bats under 25 oz. and fast pitch bats are not legal). If at any time a bat is added to the non-legal list it will be banned from our league at that time. Wood bats are also allowed.

Any player caught using an illegal bat based on the above bat list, will be ejected from that game immediately. That player will be an out each time they come up in the batting order if they cannot be replaced with an extra player. (See Alerted Bat/Ball Rule section below)

Game Play

Safety base – There is an orange safety base attached to the normal white first base.  When there is a play at first base on a hit ball the batter/runner must hit the orange safety base only. If the runner hits the inside white base they will be called out immediately (only if there is a play at first) unless a defensive player prevented them from being able to touch the orange base. The runner does not have to hit the orange safety base on extra base hits or when returning to first base on any play.

Time limit – For all coed leagues, no inning, unless tied, will start after 1 hour has been reached from start time unless game is tied. If a game is still tied after 1 inning has been played past the time limit, a tie will be declared.

Home Run Rule – 2 HR limit (over the fence) for men only (then an out); No touch home runs.

Mercy Rule – 20 after 3; 15 after 4 & 10 after 5. Home team gets to bat if needed.

Count – 1-1 count to start; a coed mat will be used. Arc 6' - 10'.  A foul ball with 2 strikes will be recorded as an out. The pitcher’s foot must be in contact with pitching rubber.  Any pitch thrown with pitcher not in contact with pitching rubber will automatically be called an illegal pitch as soon as pitch is released.

Umpires will call pitches a ball (illegal) that do not reach at least 6 feet from the ground or when higher than 10 feet from the ground after the pitch hits the ground. The umpire has the discretion to call a pitch illegal while it is in the air or after it hits.

Courtesy Runner – Can use for one player per inning per gender (anyone on the team is eligible to run as long as it is a same gender switch). If the courtesy runner’s spot in the order comes up to bat and there is not a pinch runner, it will be an out). Also, if a player already used a courtesy runner and gets on base multiple times in the same inning, they are allowed to use the same or another courtesy runner. In addition to the above courtesy runners, pitchers can get a courtesy runner any time they choose.

Batter maximum.  13 batters can be in the lineup. If a team only has 3 girls the first girl up must hit twice in order at either 7th (if she leads off) or 8th (if she batted 2nd). The number of players you start with, you must finish with unless injury. If a female gets injured during game play and there is not a woman to replace her, an out will be recorded every time her spot comes up in the batting order.

Game times – League scheduled game times will be 6:15/7:15/8:15 and if necessary 9:15 PM on Thursdays and Fridays; 9AM-4PM for Sunday league. Additional times may be added on all days by league for makeups.
There is only a no grace period for any games unless the umpire rules special circumstances.

Safety – Liability insurance covers coaches, sponsors, umpires and township from being sued for batted or thrown balls and injuries during or between games under the rules of Palmer Softball. NO KIDS UNDER 12 YEARS OLD IN THE DUGOUT. ALL PLAYERS, COACHES AND FANS IN DUGOUT ARE THERE AT THEIR OWN RISK.  Additional team medical insurance is available at an additional price (ask Commissioner).

Extra innings (also tied games after time limit) - When the visiting team starts the 8th inning or additional inning played because of a tie in a time limit situation, the last out of the previous inning will start on 2nd base. This will continue with the home team in the bottom of the eighth and continue for any innings for the rest of the game. Any game will be declared a tie after 8 innings unless it is a playoff game.

Scores – Teams will confirm  all scores are reported and correct immediately after all games win or lose. This will be done on www.leaguelineup.com/palmer. Instructions are on the Welcome page.

Rainouts/Cancelations – League officials and umpires will determine if the games will be canceled. Cancelations will be posted on Facebook (Palmer Softball League). 

If games are not canceled before 5pm then it is the umpire’s decision to determine if the fields are playable. If games are canceled the fields are not to be used by any teams on that day. 

In the event a team uses the fields after the games have been canceled, they will be fined $50 and will forfeit their next two league games. 

Scoring Penalty:  In an event you do not have 4 females playing at the start or anytime during the game there will be a scoring adjustment made.  You can add a female after the game starts but the scoring penalty still applies. Team receiving runs has the right to refuse the runs and the game is played normally.

• 3 females: Opposing team starts game 5-0. Also the first female in the order must bat twice. For example, if the female bats second, they must also bat 8th.
• 2 or 1 females: Game is forfeited but exhibition game can be played.

Forfeits – If a team forfeits 2 games without calling by 4pm on game day (or previous night for Sunday league) they may be kicked out of the league with no refund of dues.  Board decision.

• Notification prior to 24 hours in advance of scheduled game, forfeiting team pays scheduled umpire for their cost of the game ($20 per game).
• Within 24 hours of scheduled game forfeiting team pays full cost of both teams ($40 per game). If a team forfeits at the field and an exhibition game is not played that team pays umpires for both teams.
• Team does not have enough players at field and an exhibition game is played (both teams pay umpire $20); Umpire can make decision to have a scrimmage between teams not to interfere with next scheduled start time on field.
• If a team notifies the league to forfeit a game(s) prior to the game(s) scheduled date, that game(s) will remain a forfeit even if the games are canceled (for any reason) for the scheduled night. For example, if your team notifies the league that they must forfeit for a scheduled Friday night doubleheader and then that Friday night is rained out. The forfeited games will not be rescheduled.

Age limit – All players must be at least 18 years of age before July 31st to be eligible to play without a parental waiver.  Players at least 16 years of age can play with a signed parental waiver as long as they are approved by the Umpire, Commissioner or President.

Suspensions – Suspensions will be handed out based on severity deemed by the umpire and PSA Board of Directors; The PSA Board of Directors will vote on all suspensions (if ejected you will receive a minimum 1 game suspension; not counting the game you were ejected from).  Fighting with other players or threatening of umpires can result in an immediate 4 game or season long suspension based on severity.  The PSA Board of Directors has the right to levy any suspension deemed appropriate at any time to protect the integrity and safety of the league, its players and fans. This can include suspending players from play in all leagues not just the league the infraction occurred.

Batting order – Must alternate male female for the first 8 batting positions (i.e. m-f-m-f-m-f-m-f-m-m-m). A male cannot pinch hit for a female unless there are more than 4 females playing.  At that point a male can replace or pinch hit for a female as long as there are still 4 females in the lineup.
Walks – Females always go to first base on a walk. When a male receives a walk, he goes to first if the next batter is a male. If the next batter is a female, he goes to second and the female has the choice to bat or go to first.

Defensive positioning – With 4 or more females, 2 females in the outfield and 2 in the infield (including catcher). With 3 females, either 2 in the infield and 1 in the outfield or vice versa. With only 3 females in the field, a male must be playing catcher.

Outfield positioning - When females are hitting, all outfielders must stand behind the 200 ft outfield markings/cones until the ball is hit.  Violation of this rule will reward the batter and all base runners 1 base, and the ball be declared dead.

Females cannot be directly thrown out at first base from the outfield on a hit ball (even by another female). An infielder must first receive the ball (cut-off) and then throw to first. Males can be thrown out at any base.

Defensive 5-man infield positioning- For teams that opt to play “5 man” the 5th infielder must be a female at all times and be in the infield dirt.  Any violation of the rule will be handled as stated above.

Plays at home plate – All plays at home plate are force plays (no tag plays). The runner must touch the outside bag and the catcher/fielder must touch home plate. If the runner touches the home plate and/or the turf batter’s box, they will be called out regardless if there was a play at home plate or not.  There is no sliding at the home base and the runner will automatically be called out; runner must run through side base.

In an event where a runner is tagged out running home the play will result in a dead ball and the runner will be awarded home.  All other base runners will return to previously occupied base and play will resume.

There is also a line drawn between third base and home plate (point of no return line). If a base runner passes this line, they can no longer return to 3rd base.

Sliding – Sliding with the intent to knock someone down or do harm will not be tolerated. The person sliding will be out and immediately ejected from the game.

Foul Language - Foul language will not be tolerated and could result in an automatic ejection and suspension.

Alcohol Consumption- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the field and can only legally be consumed under the pavilion.  Should an issue arise the league assumes no responsibility and will not be held liable.

League Format

Regular Season - Each team will be scheduled a minimum 1 game per week and play a minimum of 12 games during the season (including playoffs). Players are not allowed to play on multiple teams in the same league even if the teams are in different divisions. For example, players can only play on 1 Sunday Coed team.

Playoffs- For Weekday league, playoffs will be played as a single or double elimination tournament (dependent on rainouts) during the week (except in the Fall season; they may play during the week or on a Saturday dependent on available scheduling options. For Sunday league and Weekday Fall season, playoffs will be played as a double elimination tournament on a Saturday or Sunday at end of season (unless otherwise noted). Players must play a minimum of 1 night to be eligible for playoffs.

Awards - Plaques awarded for playoff champions.