BYLAWS OF THE DONEGAL AREA CHURCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE 3/4/2008
I. OFFICERS
1. Election of the league officers for the current season shall be accomplished at a spring meeting of the league.
2. This election shall be implemented by the league president, or in his absence, another designated league officer.
3. Each team from the previous season having a representative present may cast one vote on all decisions at this meeting. Each league officer from the previous season may also cast at most one vote. Decisions shall be made by majority vote.
4. The league officers shall be responsible for ongoing league activities. Specific duties for each officer shall be assigned by the league president according to the league by-laws and customs, and by agreement of the officers involved.
5. A committee consisting of the league officers will resolve questions concerning application of the league rules and/or by-laws. Team managers may be invited to vote by agreement of at least half the elected league officers.
II. TEAMS
1. Each team must designate a manager and an assistant manager. The names, addresses, and phone numbers of these persons must be supplied in writing to the league president for inclusion in the printed league schedules.
2. Each team is required to pay an entrance fee prior to the start of the league schedule. That fee shall be determined at the first league meeting each spring.
3. Each team must meet all of its financial obligations from the previous season before it may be admitted for the new season.
4. Any team or player may be subject to review by the league officers for possible disqualification or suspension in cases of alleged failure to abide by league rules.
III. PLAYERS AND EQUIPMENT
1. Each player, male or female, must be at least 12 years old.
2. All players are required to attend at least 3 services per month of the church they represent.
3. Players are responsible for maintaining a Christian attitude at all games. No profanity or use of alcohol or tobacco is allowed.
4. When a player is ejected from a game for reasons other than jewelry, he automatically incurs a suspension from the next team game(s) that he attends. The number of games for this suspension is equal to the number of times the player has been ejected from games during the season. The home plate umpire will report to the umpire-in-chief the date, player name, and team name of any ejections for reasons other than jewelry.
5. No player may change rosters during the season.
6. Only single wall bats are allowed. No composite, multi-wall, or exterior shell bats are allowed. Bats introduced to the retail market after the start of the current season may not be used. Within a game, the plate umpire is charged with enforcing this bat rule. Appeals may be made outside a game to the umpire-in-chief. Penalty when an illegal bat appears in batter’s box; the player using the bat at the time of discovery is ejected. No penalty for players who previously used the bat. If the batter has not yet batted he is called out. If he has already batted, the opposing team may take an out or the result of the play. The discovery must take place before the next batter receives a (legal or illegal) pitch; otherwise, no penalty is assessed. If the discovered illegal bat reappears in any game for the rest of the season, including playoffs, the game is forfeited. Home plate umpires will report discovery of illegal bats to the umpire-in-chief. During playoffs, the penalty for discovery of an illegal bat in the batter’s box, even on first offense, is forfeit of the game and ejection of the player.
IV. PLAYING SCHEDULE AND PLAYOFFS
1. League divisions, scheduling, and playoff plans shall be decided at the spring meetings before the start of each season. Through the regular season teams earn power points (used for playoffs) as follows: A win over a Division I, II, III, or IV team is worth 4, 3, 2, or 1 points, respectively.
2. After the schedule is established, a seven day notice is required for teams to reschedule games. A maximum of three games per team may be rescheduled per season.
3. Playoffs shall be a 16-team, double-elimination tournament including the top 5, 4, 3, and 2 teams from Divisions I, II, III, and IV resp., and two wild card teams to be selected using the power ratings. Higher seed gets choice of home or away.
4. The following criteria, in the order given, shall determine division titles and playoff entry for non-wild card teams. 1. league standings, 2. head-to-head record, 3. power points, 4. record against highest division played. If teams are still tied, a special game will be arranged.
5. The following criteria, in the order given, shall determine playoff seeding and playoff entry for wild card teams. 1. power points, 2. head-to-head record, 3. record vs. teams in common, 4. coin toss for seeding, special game for playoff entry.
6. A player must appear in 6 games to be eligible for the playoffs. Scorebooks may be required to verify eligibility.
7. Any playoff game called off by an umpire before normal completion of the game will be replayed in its entirety as soon as possible.
V. GAMES
1. The home team must furnish a new ball and a good second ball for each game. The color, cor type, and brand of these balls will be designated at a league meeting.
2. A forfeit will be declared if a team cannot field eight players within five minutes of the scheduled starting time. The forfeiting team must pay all umpire fees.
3. The third time a team forfeits a game, and for each additional game it forfeits, that team will be fined $15.00 by the league. This fine is in addition to any other fees for which the team is responsible.
4. If a team starts with eight players, the opposition shall supply a courtesy catcher whose sole function shall be to return the pitched ball to the pitcher. This courtesy catcher cannot help or hinder the defensive team in any other way. A team that starts with eight or nine players may build the lineup to ten players if additional players become available. A team playing with eight players must maintain nine slots in the batting order. An out is recorded each time the open slot comes to bat. The ninth slot may be filled as soon as another player becomes available.
5. The home team will be responsible for leading both teams in a prayer at home plate, before the start of each game.
6. The mercy rule (10 runs after 5 innings, 15 runs after 4 innings) will be in effect for all league and playoff games, with the exception of the final game(s) of the league playoffs. The game is over if the losing team has batted at least five (four) innings and is behind by ten (fifteen) or more runs, even if this happens in the course of an inning.
7. The home plate umpire is responsible for ensuring that game scores are reported to the scheduler. He should also report the failure of a base umpire to appear.
8. The ASA rules for slow pitch softball will cover all questions of the game and league not specifically changed by these bylaws or by league custom.
9. An extra player (EP) may be included in a team lineup. The manager of each team must declare his intentions about playing an EP before the game begins, both to the plate umpire and to the opposing manager. The EP may bat at any place in the batting order, and may substitute in the field as the manager chooses. The EP may not be added to the roster after the game begins. If an EP is removed from the roster during the game, his or her team will receive an out each time that lineup position is due to bat. The out is recorded whatever the reason for removal.
10. A designated hitter (DH) is optional, but if one is used, it must be made known to the plate umpire and opposing manager prior to the start of the game (first legal or illegal pitch). If the DH is used, the DH must be utilized the entire game. The DH may not be added after the game begins. The penalty for adding a DH after the game begins is the same as batting out of order. The DH must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game. The DH may not hit for the extra player (EP). The player for which the DH is hitting, the defensive player (DEFO-defense only) must be utilized for the entire game. The DEFO may play defense at any position and switch with any other throughout the game. The DEFO must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game. The DH and/or DEFO may be substituted for at any time. The substitute(s) must be a player(s) who has not yet been in the game. Each position, DH and DEFO, requires a different substitute; one substitute cannot replace both positions. A team need not substitute for both positions. Any starting DH or DEFO may be substituted for and re-enter once, as can the substitute, providing players occupy their original positions in the lineup.
11. All games will be played with each batter starting his at bat with a count of one ball, one strike. An extra third strike foul ball will NOT be permitted.
VI. UNIFORMS
1. No metal cleats, no football or golf shoes may be worn by a player at any time during the game. No jewelry except a wedding ring may be worn by a player or coach at any time during the game. Umpires should warn both teams before each game. Any violation after being duly warned will result in suspension from that game only.
2. Teams are encouraged to have at least uniform shirts to wear during games.
3. Shirts are required to be worn at all times.
4. Any acknowledgement of sponsors on team uniforms must be approved by the league officials.
VII. UMPIRES
1. The plate umpire is the umpire in charge. His fee shall be established at a league meeting prior to the start of each season.
2. Each team is responsible for supplying base umpires as designated on the league schedule and as assigned by the scheduling officer. Teams failing to supply a base umpire as assigned will be required to pay a $10.00 fine to the league treasurer. This fine must be paid within 30 days.
3. Teams are encouraged to send their best umpires for base umpiring assignments.
