2017 GVSA League Rules
Updated 06/20/2016
All Divisions - Men's, Women's, and Co-Ed:
- Everyone starts with 1 Ball, 1 Strike Count
- Run Rule will be decided at the pre-game home plate meeting. If both managers cannot agree, the default is to have NO run rule. The run rule is as follows:
- 20 after 3 innings
- 15 after 4 innings
- 10 after 5 innings
- TIME LIMIT: No new inning after 1 hour 5 minutes.
Team and Player Fees:
Costs:
Teams that play twice a week: $710 team fee, and $50 player fee per individual
Teams that play once a week: $560 team fee, and $35 player fee per individual
Deadlines:
- Team Sponsorship and Registration: The deadline for team sponsor fee payment and registration is April 20th. Any sponsor fee not received by the deadline will result in that team not being scheduled for the current playing season.
These are due at the payment meeting, or can be mailed (must be postmarked by April 21st):
G.V.S.A.
PO Box 25
Bozeman, MT 59771-0025
If for some reason you cannot make these, please contact GVSA (http://gvsoftball.org/pages/contacts) to make arrangements for payment. - Player Fees and Roster: The deadline for player fees and rosters is June 9th. The District Commissioner will accept one check or money order per roster. The District Commissioner will not accept cash or checks from individual players. Any player's fees not paid by the 8th of June will result in that team forfeiting their league games, until player fees are paid in full. There will be no chance of make-ups for these forfeited games. You also risk your team's eligibility to play in District and State Tournament play
Alcohol:
- No drinking of alcohol is allowed during a game.
- Note: The game begins at the conclusion of the plate meeting and ends after the last out. This rule applies to coaches, managers, and players. Players not in the starting line-up are still considered in the game for the purpose of the rule.
- Effect: A player discovered drinking alcohol during the game will be disqualified for the remainder of the game. A coach or manager discovered drinking alcohol will be ejected from the game.
Intoxicated player:
If in the umpire's judgment, a player is deemed to be too intoxicated whereas to be a risk to themselves or another player, the player will be disqualified from the game.
Disqualified player:
Any player removed from the game by the umpire for non-flagrant reasons.
Effect: A disqualified player may participate by remaining in the team area and coaching bases.
Ejected player, coach or manager:
Any unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, coach or manager, which results in an ejection from that game, that player will be suspended FROM THE COMPLEX for His/Her next game. The suspension will only affect that division of play in which the ejection occurred. If ejected from a Men's C or D game, they may play in their next Co-Ed game. If ejected from the first game of a team's double header, they ejected player must sit the very next game.
Upon the second offense and any after that, the player must pay a $50 fine to GVSA as well as the suspension. The Ejected player may NOT PLAY in any game/games until they serve their suspension and pay their fine if applicable.
EXAMPLE: If a player is ejected from their 6:15 game on Monday night, they may not play for another team as a pick-up player that night or any night until they serve their one game suspension.
EXAMPLES of unsportsmanlike conduct include but not limited to: foul or abusive language, persistent misconduct after receiving a warning, abuse of equipment, continual dissent with umpire's decision.
If a player is ejected for a third time, further disciplinary action will be forwarded to the District Commissioner.
Aggressive or violent behavior directed toward an umpire, teammate, opponent, or spectators, will be handled by the District Commissioner.
Arguing balls and strikes:
Any arguing on the judgment of balls and strikes will constitute a team warning; any repeat offense shall result in the ejection of that team member.
Team requirements:
The required number of players to play a game in all divisions of play is nine. If at game time, a team has 6 or more, but less than the required number of players to start the game (9), they will take visitors and start batting, with the missing players being outs. If by the third out they do not have the required number of players the game is forfeited.
Game start times and ending procedures:
A. Games will start at the scheduled time.
B. Managers shall have their batting order in place and exchange it with the other manager before the scheduled start time.
C. No new inning will start after 1 hour and 5 minutes, when the hour and five minutes has past the game will end at the conclusion of the inning. A game can end in a tie.
Note: If after 1 hour and 5 minutes the home team is at bat and has scored more runs than the visiting team the game will be stopped.
Forfeits:
If a team, once a game has begun has less than the required number of players the game is forfeited. See Team Requirements above.
Note: home 7 visitors 0
Make-up Games/Reschedule Procedure
When games are cancelled due to inclement weather, then the following procedure will occur:
A. All make-up games will be scheduled by Vice President of GVSA.
B. Make-up games will occur on a night which the teams normally play IF POSSIBLE or on a Friday night.
C. Vice President will contact the umpire-in-chief, who will in turn schedule umpires.
D. If a team fails to show up for a make-up game, they will forfeit that game. No further make-up of these games will be scheduled.
E. Teams are responsible to check the schedule online www.gvsoftball.org, and posted outside the concession stand.
F. If you have question or problems with make-ups, contact GVSA Vice President.
G. All requests for reschedules MUST be made 48 hrs prior to your game...no exceptions.
Open substitution:
A. The coach or manager may place all available players at game time into the batting order
B. Players arriving late may be placed at the end of the batting order at any point during the game.
Coed: May bat 9, 10, 12 or 14. A coed team using 10 or more players in their batting order must bat an even number of players, and alternate sexes throughout the line-up.
Note A: Coed teams starting the game with nine players will take an out in the 9th or 10th spot in the batting order for the missing player.
Note B: Men's, Women's and Masters Divisions may start the game with nine players without taking an out for the missing players spot in the batting order.
Pick up players:
A team may pick up players to meet the required number (9) to play a game. Pick up players, may be from one division of play above their own.
A. If a team, after starting the game with pick-up players has a team member(s) arrive late they must be inserted into the line-up for either a) the pick-up player or b) added to the bottom of the lineup. If adding to the bottom of the lineup, you are required to inform the umpire and the scorekeeper of the change.
B. A team may pick up no more than 2 players from a division above their own.
Effect: Violation of the pick-up player rule is handled as a protest by the offended team.
Shorthanded rule:
If a team begins play with more than the required number of players, that team may continue the game with one less player than is currently in the line-up whenever a player leaves the game for any reason other than an ejection. Under no circumstances shall a team be permitted to bat less than 9 players in slow pitch.
A. If playing shorthanded and a substitute arrives he must be inserted immediately into the vacant spot. If he/she refuses for any reason that player becomes ineligible for the remainder of the game.
B. If the player leaving is the base runner or batter, the runner or the batter shall be declared out.
C. When the player who has left the game is scheduled to bat an out shall be declared for each turn at bat. An inning or game can end on an automatic out.
D. The player who has left the game cannot return to the line-up.
Exception: A player who has left the game under the blood rule may return even after missing a turn at bat.
Effect: Failure to have the required number of players to start or continue a game will result in a forfeit.
Courtesy runner:
A. Any player may have a courtesy runner before the next pitch to the next batter.
B. After a pitch to the next batter no courtesy is allowed.
Exception: If injured while running the bases a courtesy runner may be used at any time.
Metal cleats/Shoes:
No metal cleats allowed in any division
Effect: Players found wearing metal cleats will be disqualified from the game.
Note:
1. This includes football cleats where the nubs screw on a post attached to the shoe, or nubs where the hard rubber has worn off and metal is showing.
2. No warning is necessary when found wearing metal cleats.
3. No open toed shoes of any kind are allowed.
Double first base:
A batter runner being played on at first base must use the colored portion of the double bag.
Effect: The runner will be called out for using the white portion of the double base.
Exception: If the throw comes from either the foul side of the bag or if the throw draws the defensive player towards foul territory, both the runner and the defensive player may use either the colored or white portion of the double base.
Comment: Once a batter-runner passes 1st base, the base now becomes one base with a colored portion and a white portion 15" by 30" that can be used by either the offense or defense.
On deck batter:
The on deck batter may have in his or her possession 1 bat or 1 approved warm up bat, or 1 bat with an approved warm up attachment.
Smoking:
No smoking in the dugout or on the field of play.
Master vs. Men's rules (Stealing):
In games between Masters and Men's divisions stealing will not be permitted by either team.
Home run rule:
The following home run rules will be used in league play.
Note: When 2 divisions play each other the lower division has the choice of home run rules. The lower division must make the decision at the plate meeting prior to the start of the game. If no choice is made, the game will be played by the lower teams home run limit.
Masters C vs. Men's D, Men's D is the lower division. Masters D vs. Men's D, Men's D is the lower division.
Men's C - 6 Women's C - 6 Coed C - 5 Masters +40 - 5
Men's D - 4 Women's D - 4 Coed D - 3 Masters +50 - 4 +1
Men's E - 2 Women's D1 - 2 Coed E - 2
Effect: Home runs over the limit will result in an out on the batter.
Umpires
If you have any problems concerning an umpire that has not been resolved by the UIC, please submit a written complaint to your league representative or the league president.
Montana State ASA Constitution and Bylaws:
Article VI - Casual profanity / Alcohol Unsportsmanlike Rule:
6.01. Casual profanity:
Any team member in a game using casual profanity or unsportsmanlike language (expletives not directed at an umpire(s) or opposing player(s) and loud enough to be heard by spectators) will result in an out being called against the offending team.
A. If a team is at bat and unsportsmanlike words are used, the next batter will be out.
B. If the act is committed by a player remaining at bat, that player will be called out.
C. If the act is committed by the defensive team, the first batter in the next half inning will be declared out.
D. The outs will be treated as a delayed dead ball situation.
E. If the violation occurs in the bottom of the last inning where the fielding team may not bat again, the ejection rule will apply. If a team has an eligible substitute, the same can continue.
F. A game may be ended by a casual profanity / unsportsmanlike language out.
G. Any player declared out by this rule because of a team members actions, will not be charged with an at bat for record keeping purposes.
6.02. Alcohol: Any player, coach, or manager drinking alcohol on the field of play or in the dugouts can be disqualified from the game.
