ELIGIBILITY

A. Any player falsifying his/her legal residency will be suspended for a period of time as determined by the Recreation Department

B. Eligible players cannot be playing baseball professionally or under the age of 18 years prior to the start of the season

C. ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE IDENTIFICATION WITH THEM AT ALL GAMES.

Rosters

A. Roster deadlines are week 3 of the season. Once turned in, rosters are frozen; players can be added only for the following reasons:

1. Incapacitated players may be replaced on the roster after the deadline upon presentation of a doctor’s certificate to the Athletic Superintendent. These players, once replaced, may not return to the line-up for the rest of the season.

2. Players who are scheduled to different work shifts or are transferred because of employment may be replaced (removed from roster and addition of a new player.)

3. Returning servicemen may be added, at any time, as long as team has not met its respective player roster limit.

4. A player may be released from any team at any time throughout the season. Proper notification MUST be given to the Athletic Superintendent.

B. Managers are responsible for their rosters to insure the eligibility of their players. Make sure all information is neatly filled out and that everyone has signed the roster.

C. To participate in the City Softball Tournament you must be a player on the rosters turned in by week three of the season. (This may not pertain to the Men’s Open League)

D. Co-Ed rosters will feature 20 spots and Men’s & Women’s rosters will feature 20 spots

E. Players must sign the Team Roster for every team with which they participate. Players are limited to one team per night. Unless they are playing on a Mixed team. Games will not be held up to wait for players coming from other fields.

Roster checks MUST BE CONDUCTED AS FOLLOWS: Team protesting a player must protest the player

PRIOR to the end of the game. Once a protest is declared, team will have to declare which protested player is in question. At this time, the umpire will ask the individual to produce a picture ID. (The player cannot leave the field of play/dugout to retrieve their ID (i.e. go to a car to retrieve it). The scorekeeper will then write down the players Name and Address on the back of the scorecard. The game will continue as follows and the Athletic Superintendent will rule on the protest the next day. NOTE: During the City Tournament, Protest Fees will be charged and must be paid in cash to the Tournament Director at the time of protest.

F. NO ROSTER CHANGES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE THIRD WEEK OF PLAY

SCHEDULES

A. Each manager will receive a schedule of their game times/locations via E-mail. After schedules are made, the dates, times, and locations are final, unless a conflict is determined by the Park District Recreation Office.

B. The first team listed on the schedule shall be designated as the home team for all leagues.

C. Ties will be determined by:

• • Winning %
  • Head to head
  • Average run differential
  • Total runs allowed
  • Lowest number of forfeits
  • Coin flip

PLAYING REGULATIONS

A. All softball games will be played in accordance indicated with One Nation men’s, women’s, and mixed unless otherwise indicated in the Park District League Rules.

B. There is a definite starting game time established by the team schedule. Any team that is not ready to play at this time is subject to forfeiture, game time is starting time. All teams should be at the fields ready to play 15 minutes prior to listed game time in order to keep games running on time. Game times will be 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, and 9:30pm. All leagues will play regulation seven innings or one hour.

A new inning may not be started after the time limit has elapsed. Timers on each field will be the official clock. If the score is tied at the one hour time limit; an extra inning will be played. Umpires keep the time. Their decision on time is final. There are no protests about time limit.

C. Teams may begin and end the game with nine players; however, the tenth player is an automatic out.

D. Managers should exchange line-ups to the official scorer before the start of each game (10 minutes before game.) Except during fall season, teams will provide lineups to each other.

E. Flip Flop Run Rule– In an inning when the run rule for a particular game is exceeded and the home team is losing, the home team will stay up to bat and bat as the visiting team. If, after three outs, they were not able to reduce the run difference, the game will be over. If they are able to reduce the run differences, the visiting team will come up to bat and continue the game as normal. The flip/flop rule will reinstate itself any time this situation occurs. Run Rules: 20 after 3 innings, 15 after 4 innings & 10 after 5 innings

F. One Courtesy runner can be used per inning. Runner can be anyone on the roster.

G. Courtesy runner for the pitcher is allowed.

RULES OF CONDUCT

A. Each manager will be held responsible for the conduct of his team/fans and is responsible to see that all rules are observed.

B. Officials and their decisions will be respected and not interfered with at any time. Unsportsmanlike conduct or other serious violations will not be tolerated

C. The threatening of any official will result in automatic removal for the season. Any player or coach guilty of physically striking an official, will be immediately suspended for the season and the team put on probation with possible suspension resulting. Length of suspension is determined by the Recreation Office and the severity of the infraction.

D. The consumption of alcohol in dugouts is not allowed. Any players drinking alcoholic beverages in dugouts are subject to ejection from the game and the team is subject to forfeiture. Depending on the severity of the infraction, a player may be suspended from further games.

E. There is to be no outside alcoholic beverage brought into the park. Teams found doing so are subject to forfeiture or further penalties from the league office.

F. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not allowed in the parking lot. Teams doing so will be subject to arrest, forfeiture and or further penalties from the league office. Joliet Park District Staff and Joliet Police Department will be patrolling the parking lot during the season.

G. Any player ejected from a game subjects themselves to further suspension depending on the severity of the offense.

H. The Park District desires the best program possible for all interested persons and only proper conduct and attitude of the participants can, in turn, insure a wholesome program. We expect the cooperation of all those participating in the program.

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

A. Teams are encouraged to be in matching uniforms.

B. Managers must supply first aid kit for team – concession stand does not have first aid supplies.

C. Bats may be checked by the umpire or the Athletic Superintendent at any point during the game. The legality of the bat is determined by them, and their decision is final.

D. Effective May 1, 2014 all bats used in league and any Joliet Park District tournaments must have the USSSA or One Nation thumbprint stamp on the bat. This is a mandatory rule. Any bat without this or in violation of any other USSSA/One Nation bat rule and found in play will be removed from play immediately.

1. THE BAT: An altered bat is one in which the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed. Inserting material inside the bat, changing/replacing manufacturer’s markings or replacing the handle of a metal bat with a wooden handle are examples of an altered bat. Replacing the safety grip with another safety grip is not considered altering the bat. The U.S.S.S.A./One Nation is taking a hard line to rid the program of altered bats. The U.S.S.S.A./One Nation will no longer tolerate the use of altered bats. Bats that show any signs of cracking, whether minor or major, are a safety hazard and are considered illegal.

2. If a bat is protested as being altered during a game, the suspected offending player may either:

• • • Allow the Umpire to take the bat and give the bat to the U.S.S.S.A./One Nation
    • NOTE: During the time of the examination of the bat, the U.S.S.S.A./One Nation, at the discretion of the Altered Bat Committee may suspend the suspected offending player pending the decision. If the manufacturer of the bat or Altered Bat Committee determines that the bat has been altered, the Altered Bat Committee will handle any discipline.
    • Withhold the bat from inspection and accept a suspension from U.S.S.S.A./One
    • Nation with no right to appeal.
    • U.S.S.S.A./One Nation approved bats cannot weigh more than 31 ounces. The bat must have the ounces and BPF 1.20 stamped on the bat. If you are unsure ask umpire to check the bat. Batter is out, if caught hitting with an illegal bat.

3. STEEL SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED – NO METAL SHOWING (INCLUDES METAL TIPPED FOOTBALL CLEATS)

PROTESTS

A. See One Nation Rule Book and must be submitted in writing within 24 hours to the Recreation Office.

SOFTBALL RAIN-OUT POLICY

A. Rained-out games will be rescheduled by the Athletic Superintendent. Managers will be notified by email or telephone. Every attempt will be made to reschedule all rained-out games. However, if a second scheduling of the game is again a rain-out, further rescheduling may not be possible.

B. In the event of rain the previous evening or during the daytime, condition of the diamonds will not be available until 4:00 pm. Team Managers may call the softball rain-out hotline after 4:00 pm at 741-7275, press 4 then press 1. Players should contact their managers for playing conditions or refer to www.teamsideline.com/Joliet.

C. If weather becomes threatening after 5:30 pm., the umpires will be the sole judge as to whether the diamond is playable or should be called. A game called by the umpire shall be regulation, if four or more complete innings have been played, or three and one-half innings if the home team is ahead.

MIXED DIVISION

All mixed softball games will be played in accordance indicated with One Nation rules unless otherwise indicated below:

A. Male players hit 12″ ball and female players hit 11″ ball.

B. May play with 9 players; if playing with 9 players it must be 5 women OR 5 men with the 10th batter an automatic out.

Rules of Conduct

A. Each manager will be held responsible for the conduct of his team/fans and is responsible to see that all rules are observed.
Officials and their decisions will be respected and not interfered with at any time. Unsportsmanlike conduct or other serious violations will not be tolerated.

B. The threatening of any official, will be immediately suspended for the season. Any player or coach guilty of physically striking an official, will be immediately suspended for the season and the team put on probation with possible suspension as a resulting.

C. There are no outside alcoholic beverages brought into the park. Teams found doing so are subject to forfeiture or further penalties from the league office.

D. Any player ejected from a game subjects themselves to further suspension depending on the severity of the offense:

• • First offense – One game suspension
  • Second Offense – Two game suspension
  • Third offense – Suspension for the season

(Suspensions can be rolled over to the upcoming season depending on the severity as well as how much of the current season there is left.)
Season ending suspensions will be done with no refunds being issued.

The Joliet Park District desires the best program possible for all interested person and only proper conduct and attitude of the participants can, in turn, insure a wholesome program. We expect the cooperation of all those participating in the program