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Subscribe to our Newsletter2025 ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES
*NO METAL SPIKES ALLOWED IN OUR LEAGUES*
LEAGUE PLAY: Teams play 12 games in own Division.
PLAYOFFS: Will consist of top 4 teams from each league.
1. LEAGUE FEE: $1000 Resident; $1300 Company (Check payable to: Town-Village of Harrison)
INSURANCE FEE: $50 (Check payable to Southern New York ASA)
2. TEAM ROSTER: All Rosters are closed after the 4th Game, NO EXCEPTIONS. Graduating High School Seniors can play. Players can only play in one Division. Once player is on the roster of your team, you cannot switch teams after 1st game. (Penalty - player will be ejected from league play and team forfeits game).
3. ELIGIBILITY
A. Residents - All residents must have a current Town of Harrison Photo ID Card or license and must carry it with them to all games.
B. Rosters/Out Of Towners - Each Resident Team must have at least 50% current "Harrison Residents" or "Grandfathered in players" on their team up to a 16-Man Roster. Players must be registered before the season starts. If you plan to have more than 16 players then each player after the 16th player must be a current "Harrison Residents" or "Grandfathered in player".
C. Grandfather Clause - Any player who grew up in the Town of Harrison & went through the Harrison School system (or private school) & has played in the League for consecutive years prior to this year would be considered a grandfather.
* A grandfather who has not played consecutive years will lose his eligibility. *
**New Grandfather clause for all Residential teams. If a person moves into the Town of Harrison and lives in Harrison for at least 3 consecutive years, and then moves out of town he will be considered grandfathered in. If he moves to any other team in our league, he will be considered an out-of-towner.
D. Company Team - Each team is allowed unlimited Harrison residents. All others must be legal FULL-TIME employees of the Company based in the Town of Harrison (full time means - at least 35 hrs. per week or more).
E. As verification of residency and employment of the Company, players must be prepared to show proof. Players must carry proof on them at all time during season.
*ANY PLAYER UNDER FALSE ID: Team will be dropped from League & all games from that point on will be forfeited. Player will be suspended 2 years from any Harrison Recreation activities and Manager will be suspended for 1 year. *
4. INELIGIBLE PLAYER PROCEDURE:
1. Notify umpire or supervisor in charge before game or as soon as he enters game.
2. PLAY GAME
3. Recreation Sup. will meet & check player out
4. IF FOUND INELIGIBLE, PLAYER WILL BE DROPPED FROM LEAGUE & TEAM WILL FORFEIT ALL GAMES THAT PLAYER PLAYED IN (SEE RULE 3E).
5. FORFEITS: If a team forfeits two (2) games, the team has to pay a $50 fee before the next scheduled game. If a team forfeits three (3) games, the team will be automatically dropped from the League. Any team who forfeits out for any reason will forfeit all League fees.
*Any team who calls the day before for a cancellation due to a death related to the team, game will be considered a loss, not a forfeit.
6. PROTEST: No protests may be lodged on an umpire’s judgement. Any dispute concerning interpretation of a rule must be settled on the playing field by an umpire & field supervisor.
7. STARTING TIME: ALL GAMES WILL START ON TIME, NO GRACE PERIOD. No new full inning will start after an hour of play. For Example: A 6pm game will not start a new full inning after 7pm. All games following a game will start immediately after the game before them is over. If a team or teams are not able to field 9 players by starting time, they shall forfeit. ALL TEAMS MUST START WITH 9 PLAYERS...Suggestion, warm-up 15 minutes prior to start time outside of field.
Curfew Rule: If the game is suspended because of rain, darkness and/or time limit, and 5 full innings have been completed and it is not a tie game, then the game will be an official game. Tie games will be picked up from point of suspension.
8. POSTPONEMENTS & RAINOUTS: Be in contact with League Supervisor as to when your game will be played and at what field.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE REC DEPARTMENT BEFORE 4 PM ON ANY DAY THAT RAIN IS FORECAST. THE LEAGUE SUPERVISOR WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MANAGER. IF YOU DO NOT GET A CALL, YOU MUST SHOW UP AT THE FIELD AT GAME TIME.
9. PITCHERS: Before each game, pitchers are allowed 5 warm-up pitches. Once the game starts, the pitcher gets one pitch and then ball is thrown down.
CONDUCT OF PLAYERS: If a player, coach or manager strikes, punches, attacks or physically harms another player or umpire, player will automatically be ejected from game and suspended from any further League play until disciplinary action is taken. A report from the umpire to the League Supervisor will be submitted before disciplinary action is taken. Vulgarity will not be tolerated. If a player is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct or any other reason, player will be suspended for a minimum of 2 games.
* A $75 fine will be imposed for the player who is ejected from the game. The player will remain suspended until the fine is paid. The fine does not negate the games suspended. Fine payable by check to: Harrison Cares. If ejected again, the player will be dropped from the team roster, and from further league play for 1 year or more depending on the circumstances.
10. NO ALCOHOL: Players, coaches & spectators are not allowed to drink alcohol. Anyone refusing to comply with this rule will be removed from the field. *Any player or team caught with alcoholic beverages during or after game on any of the school properties, will be suspended from that point and for the remainder of the season. *
** Drinking of alcoholic beverages will be permitted only in Veterans Park under the shelters until 9 p.m. & at West Harrison Park under the shelters until 9:30 p.m. Drinking in the parking lot of West Harrison Park is prohibited. **
11. CATCHER INTERFERENCE: The catcher has received the ball & is waiting to tag the runner attempting to score. The runner deliberately runs into the catcher with great force, causing him to drop the ball. RULING - runner is out. He is also ejected. Rule 8, Section 8 - ASA Rule Book.
12. SLAUGHTER RULE (ALL DIVISIONS): Any team ahead by 10 runs at end of five (5) complete innings is awarded the win. If the home team is the team ahead by 10 runs, it will not bat in the last of the 5th inning. After five complete innings if visiting team is ahead by 10 runs: the home team does not get another at bat & as a result, the visiting team is awarded the win.
13. EXTRA HITTER (EH): a) An extra player, referred to as an “EH” is optional. If you choose to use one, it must be made known prior to the start of the game, and be listed on the scoring sheet in the regular batting order. (b) The “EH” must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game. (c) If an “EH” is used, all eleven players must bat and any ten can play defense. Defensive positions can be changed, but the batting order must remain the same. (d) The “EH" may be substituted for at any time, either by a pinch-runner or pinch-hitter, who then becomes the “EH”. The substitute must be a player who has not yet been playing in the game. (e) You can have more than one “EH".
NOTE: If an injury occurs to one of the fielders & he can’t be replaced by another player (even “EH” batter) & his turn comes up in the batting order, the Penalty will be an automatic out every time his turn comes up.
13B. ONLY A STARTER CAN RE-ENTER THE GAME: He must re-enter in his original batting order with the player who had substituted in for him.
14. ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PLAYOFFS: A players must play in 5 games during the season to be eligible.
15. COURTESY RUNNER: Before the start of each game, the captain must tell the umpire who will be their two (2) courtesy runners. Failure to do this before each game will result in the team not being able to use the courtesy runner rule. The Courtesy Runner is the last batted out.
16. Count: Each Batter will start with a 1 ball 1 strike count.
STRIKE RULE: The batter is NOT allowed a foul ball with two strikes. If the batter hits the pitch foul with 2 strikes, it will result in a strike out.
17. ALIGNMENT OF THE LEAGUE: The top team in each division may be moved up a division and the bottom team of each division may be moved down a division at the start of each new season. If this is done, it will only be done to help the league become more balanced.
18. TIE BREAKER RULE: Procedure will follow guidelines:
1. Head-to-head competition.
2. Run differential.
3. Play a deciding game for position purposes.
4. Coin Toss
19. PROPER ATTIRE: Proper attire is required to participate. No jewelry worn during games, earrings, necklaces, watches or rings.
20. NO CHILDREN ON PLAYERS BENCHES DURING GAME (PLAYERS ONLY!)
21. During the season score keepers must write in last name, first initial in score books.
22. ABSOLUTELY NO DOGS PERMITTED AT GAME
23. ADDED IN PLAY RULES:
BATS
You may use “METAL” hitting surfaces only. NO COMPOSITE HITTING SURFACES.
Exceptions: PST (metal) is banned.
PENALTY FOR USE OF AN ILLEGAL BAT:
• Loss of all runs that inning, 3 outs, Inning will be over.
• Player ejected from game
• Plus 2 game suspension
• $75 fine applies
Recreation Supervisor has the authority to change any rule
& ban any additional bats throughout the season.
HOME PLATE & STRIKE ZONE MAT
• Legal pitches striking any portion of Home Plate (including the black) and/or the Strike Zone Mat shall be strikes.
• Together, Home Plate & the Strike Zone mat will form a rectangular shape.
PITCHERS PLATE
• Pitcher’s Option: In the best interest of the pitcher’s safety, the pitchers plate has been extended back 10 feet. The pitcher now has the option of pitching anywhere from 50 ft. to 60 ft. if properly delivered from the pitchers plate & back directly behind pitchers plate within 10 ft.
*THE RECREATION DEPARTMET HAS THE POWER TO MODIFY OR CHANGE ANY RULE AT ANY TIME*
