Wellington Recreation Program Rules
2007
National Weather Service-Lightning Safety http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm
Last updated Spring 2007
LEAGUE MODIFICATIONS TO USSSA. RULES
ALL DIVISIONS
EVERYONE BATS
FREE SUBSTITUTIONS
MUST PLAY RULE
8 PLAYER MINIMUM
GAME TIME
HOME TEAM
COACHES
UNIFORMS
GAME BALLS
WARM-UP
TIME BETWEEN PITCHES
LEAGUE AGE
"PLAY UP" IN A LEAGUE AGE DIVISION
PLAYOFFS
LEAVING THE FIELD OR DUGOUT
USE OF TWO OR MORE PITCHERS
CATCHER'S EQUIPMENT
USE OF HELMETS WITH FACE GUARDS
MOUTHPIECES
INFIELD/OUTFIELD POSITIONS
FENCE
HELMET RULE
HELMET FALLING OFF
SLIDING
ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
CATCHER SPEED UP
PITCHER SPEED UP
FUTURE STARS DIVISION
8 & UNDER (COACH PITCH DIVISION)
10 & UNDER (MODIFIED DIVISION)
11 - 12 YEAR OLD (JUNIOR DIVISION)
13 - 18 YEAR OLD (SENIOR DIVISION)
MISCELLANEOUS
DRAFT RULES
Lightning Protection System
Policies and Procedures
Lightning Prediction and Warning Systems have been
installed at various parks throughout the Village of Wellington. The systems are
fully automated, and operate 24 hours a day.
TWO
Warning Systems have been installed at Village Park. The first one is
located on the southern end of the Gymnasium roof. The second system is located
on top of the Press Box/Concession Stand at the Softball Fields.
At
Tiger Shark Cove Park and Olympia Park, the Warning System is located
on top 6fthe Press Box/Concession Stand. The Community Park (Boys &
Girls Club) Warning System is located on top of the main building.
The
Warning Systems consist of a siren horn and a strobe light. The "Red
Alert" warning horn consists of one long, continuous blast. In the
event this warning horn sounds while you are in the park, please adhere to the
following procedures:
1.
Clear the area (field, rink, playgrounds) or equipment immediately.
2.
Seek shelter in a building, or in your car. While cars and buildings are
not 100% safe from lightning, they do offer the best protection from a lightning
strike.
3.
Remain off of all playing surfaces or equipment and do not resume
play until the "All Clear", (see below) horn has
sounded.
Strobe
Lights are attached to each of the siren horns. Should you enter the park after
the siren has already gone off, you will see the strobe lights flashing. These
lights will remain flashing until the threat of lightning has passed. When the
strobe lights are flashing, you must follow the procedures stated above.
The "All Clear" horn consists of three short blasts. Once the "All Clear" has sounded, it is now safe to return to the area and the activity you are participating in. This does not mean that the danger of lightning in the area has diminished. It is still possible for the "Red Alert" warning horn to go off again. Please be prepared to clear the area again and follow the procedures stated above.
The
average lightning strike is 6-8 miles long.
The average thunderstorm is 6-10 miles wide.
Lightning can strike an object 10 miles away, even if it appears that there
is no storm in the area.
The average thunderstorm travels at a rate of 25 miles per hour.
Once the leading edge of the thunderstorm approaches to within 10 miles, you are
at immediate risk due to the possibility of lightning strikes coming from the
overhanging clouds. Because of this, many lightning deaths and injuries occur in
clear skies directly overhead.
On average, thunder can only be heard
over a distance of 3-4 miles, depending on humidity, terrain, and other factors.
Thunderstorms cause an average of 200
deaths and 700 injuries in the United States alone each year, most of which can
be prevented with a Warning System.
•
FLORIDA is the Lightning Capital of the United States.
•
BOTTOM LINE...............LIGHTNING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!
WELLINGTON SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION 2004 GIRLS' LEAGUE RULES
The following rules governing Girl's Softball shall be in effect for the 2007
Spring season and will be strictly enforced:
I. LUSSSA rules will be observed except where noted below.
II. LEAGUE MODIFICATIONS TO USSSA. RULES;
A. ALL DIVISIONS
1. EVERYONE BATS A batting order, consisting of all players present, is to be given to the official scorer at game start and followed throughout the game.
Late arriving player may enter game
and be added to the the end of the lineup.
2. FREE SUBSTITUTIONS Substitution for defensive players is allowed any time the team takes the field. Substitutions must be made before the first pitch is delivered, except in the event of injury or illness.
3. MUST PLAY RULE No player may sit on the bench for two consecutive innings while their team is in the field, unless the player is injured or ill.
It is recommended that you rotate the players that sit the bench with everyone. Players not starting defensively must start the next game.
Players showing disrespect or unsportsmanlike conduct will be addressed by the board and possible disciplinary action may
result.
4. 8-PLAYER MINIMUM Teams must field at least 8 players; seven or less players present at game start shall result in a forfeit. Players may be borrowed from the next lower division with the
Liaison or Board Member approval, to bring the roster up to 9 players. (Since there is no lower division for the 8 & Under division,
(we cannot use the Future Stars group) players may be borrowed from other teams providing that their rating is the same or lower than the missing player,
and it is approved by the Liaison or board.) However all regular team members
must play the entire game. Players unable to bat due to illness or injury will have their batting position skipped without penalty of an out, but may return in that game.
Players brought up from a lower division may only play an outfield position defensively and must be placed in the batting order behind all regular team
members, except in the 8's where the rating is used.
Should the regular team members who were replaced show up, the borrowed player
must still remain in the game.
5. GAME TIME Games will be 7 innings in length. However, no new inning may start after 1 hour and 15
minutes (Future Stars, 8 Under, 10 Under) and 1 hour 30 minutes (12 Under 18
Under), with the official time kept by the home plate umpire. A game will be considered complete if the time limit is reached regardless of the number of innings played. In the event of a tie after 7 innings or when the time limit has been reached, a "Kansas City Tie breaker" will be used to determine the winner. A full new inning will be played but the offensive team will place the
last out of the previous inning on second base and will start the inning with one out. The home team will follow the same format. In all divisions, there will be one inning of a Kansas City tie breakers. All games after their Kansas City Tie breakers innings will end in a tie. No playoff or championship game may end in a tie.
6. HOME TEAM The home team shall bat last and occupy the third base dugout. On-deck batters should use the on-deck circle
nearest their dugout. The home team shall supply the official scorer for the game.
7. COACHES All coaches
must be N.Y.S.C.A certified in softball. (anyone who helps in any
capacity except the team mom) This includes children helpers. Coaches must supply the liaison with their N.Y.S.C.A. certification number prior to the first game of the season.
Should no certified coach be present, that practice must be canceled. All coaches must provide a copy of their drivers licenses
and social security number, for background
check, and they must submit to fingerprinting..
8. UNIFORMS League-issued uniforms must be worn.
9. GAME BALLS The umpire shall provide the game balls before the beginning of the game.
10. WARM-UP At the start of each half-inning, pitcher is allowed only 5 pitches or 1 minute for warm-up, whichever comes first. It shall be the defensive team's obligation to provide a coach or another player to warm their pitcher up if their catcher is not ready for the warm-up pitches.
11. TIME BETWEEN PITCHES Pitcher has 20 seconds to deliver pitch after ball is received.
12. LEAGUE AGE League age is girl's age on January 1 of the current season.
13. "PLAY UP" IN A LEAGUE AGE DIVISION
You may move up one age group by parent request, evaluation, and board
approval..
14. PLAYOFFS There will be a
single elimination playoff tournament at the end of the regular season games. Standard league rules will apply to playoffs
including time limit or 7 inning game, except in the case of a tie, then the Kansas City Tie
breaker will be played every inning until you have a winner. In
determining seeding for the playoffs, it goes according to your league
standings. In the event of a tie, the determining tiebreakers are Head
to Head (only if two teams are involved) runs allowed (with the teams involved
in the tie) and runs scored (with the teams involved in the tie), and then a
coin flip. Home team is determined by a coin flip in every game. The
higher seed will call the coin. No playoffs for the Future Stars.
15. LEAVING THE FIELD OR DUGOUT A player or coach who wants to leave the playing field shall first inform the manager and seek their permission before leaving the field area. The dugout is considered a part of the field area.
16. USE OF TWO OR MORE PITCHERS
No pitcher can pitch in more than two innings of the first
four innings. (one pitch is considered an inning). It shall be the obligations of the opposing coach to bring the matter to the umpire's attention immediately following the game. The umpire shall review the official score book and shall declare a forfeit.
A Forfeit is recorded as a 7 - 0 score. In the event
that a team has only 1 pitcher at the start of the game, the Liaison must meet
with both coaches and allow the other team to use only 1 pitcher as well and if,
and only if, there are no other pitchers available regardless of skill level.
The same rule applies if the pitcher is injured during the game and is removed
from the game. If the injured pitcher stays in the game, she must pitch.
17. CATCHER'S EQUIPMENT MANDATORY It is mandatory that any player practicing with or warming up a pitcher, must wear a full set of catcher's equipment.
18. USE OF HELMETS WITH FACE GUARDS It is mandatory that helmets with face guards be worn by every player while using
an electric pitching machine.
19. MOUTHPIECES It is strongly recommended that mouthpieces be used by all players.
20. INFIELD/OUTFIELD POSITIONS Coaches should make every effort to rotate infield and outfield positions for each girl throughout the season, taking safety into consideration.
21. FENCE If a ball rolls under or bounces over the fence, it is a double. A fly ball hit over the fence is a home run.
22. HELMET RULE Any coach under the age of 18 years old who is on the field coaching a base or is behind home plate, must
wear a helmet.
23. HELMET FALLING OFF If a girl's helmet falls off, dead ball will be called by the umpire and the play will stop at that point.
24. SlLIDING: Sliding is permitted in all age groups, and
as per the USSSA slide rule, but there are no head first slides permitted;
however, you may dive back to the base.
25 ELIGIBLE PLAYERS: Any
person/player who is not signed up through the league can participate in any
functions.
26. CATCHER SPEED UP: A
courtesy runner may be used for the catcher anytime the catcher is on base. This
can be used in all age groups. The courtesy runner is the last out prior the the
catcher getting on base.
27 PITCHER SPEED UP: A
courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher anytime the pitcher is on base. This
can be done in the age groups with player pitchers. The courtesy runner is the
last out prior to the pitcher getting on base. The courtesy runner may be used
for the pitcher who will be pitching in the next inning, not only the pitcher of
record. However, if you use the courtesy runner for the up comming pitcher, it
must be declared to the umpire and that pitcher must pitch.
28 The Village of Wellington Parks and
Recreation Department reserves the right to change or modify any rule, policy
and/or procedure associated with the Village of Wellington Girls Softball
Program.
1. Bases are at 60'.
2. Pitching rubber at 35'. There will be a coach who will deliver 5
pitches. After the 3rd pitch, the batter may use the tee to replace the
last 1 or 2 pitches with a limit of 5 attempts in all between pitches and
swings on the tee. If the batter does not hit the ball, they will be
called out.
3. Coach-pitcher may speak to batter. The coach who is helping behind the
catcher may not at any time coach the players. Coach pitcher may not interfere
with the defense.
4. Use of a helmet with a facemask is
required.
5. Blatant disregard for Rule 3 may result in the Coach being removed from the field at the umpire's discretion.
6. Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the field. They must be beyond the
infield at all times.
7 Player-pitcher should be positioned even with, or in back of, the pitching rubber and within a 6-foot
radius (one foot in the circle) until the ball is hit.
8 Bata are limited to those designated "official
softball" or tee ball bats.
9 Play is stopped when the umpire calls "time out", not when the defensive player declares it. Time will be considered out when the
lead runner's forward progress is halted.
10. Game time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
11. No Infield Fly Rule applies.
12. Batter is allowed 5 pitches to put the ball into play, including attempts at
the tee after the 3rd pitch only.
13 On overthrows at 1st, 2nd and 3rd base, the runners is eligible for one additional base. (Note that the runner is in
jeopardy of being put out if she chooses to advance, and if there is a second overthrow, the runner may not advance any further.) This applies to the batter and all runners on base.
14 The inning will end after 3 outs have been made. If 3 outs
are not made, the inning will end after going through the line up once.
15. No stealing or leading.
16. A batted ball which hits the coach-pitcher shall be ruled a No Pitch.
17. All players shall play in the field defensively each inning (no one sits on the bench). Any defensive alignment is permitted, provided that all players except the catcher shall be in fair territory and pitcher shall be located with one foot in the pitching circle and one foot out. when the ball is pitched. There should be no more than six (6) infielders including the pitcher and catcher and no fewer than three (3) outfielders.
All outfielders should start play
no closer than half the distance between the grass and the base path on
release of the pitch. Infielders cannot move
more than 10 feet from the base path until after
the ball is hit.
A. 8 & UNDER (COACH PITCH
DIVISION)
1. Bases are at 60'.
2. Pitching rubber at 35'. The pitching machine will be placed on the
rubber. The pitching machine will be used with 5 pitches delivered to each
batter. A batting tee may be used on the 5th pitch to aid a less-skilled batter, for a maximum of two weeks after the start of the season.
3. Coach-pitcher may not speak to batter or to base runners after pitch have been delivered.
The coach who is helping behind the catcher may not at
any time coach the players. Coach pitcher may not interfere with the defense.
4. The pitching machine will be set up by the Village Liaison and/or board
member prior to the game. No adjustments of any buttons on the pitching machine
shall be made except by he Village Liaison and/or board member. Coaches or
officials may adjust the bar on the ground that moves the pitch inside or
outside with a touch of the foot. If there are any problems with a pitching
machine the Village Liaison and/or board member must be called to address the
problem. The batters may be moved up or back in the box to adjust to the height
of the pitch.
5. Dead ball will be called if the pitching machine is hit by a batted ball,
and the pitch will be done over.
6. Dead ball will be called if a thrown ball hits the machine, and the
runners will go back to the last touched base when the ball was thrown.
7. Use of a helmet with a facemask is required.
8. Blatant disregard for Rules 3 & 4 may result in the Coach being removed from the field at the umpire's discretion.
9. Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the field. They must be beyond the
infield at all times.
10. Player-pitcher should be positioned even with, or in back of, the pitching rubber and within a 6-foot
radius (one foot in the circle) until the ball is hit.
11. Bats are limited to those designated "official softball." or a
tee ball bat.
12. Play is stopped when the umpire calls "time out", not when the defensive player declares it. Time will be considered out when the
lead runner's forward progress is halted.
13. Game time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
14. No Infield Fly Rule applies.
15. Batter is allowed 5 pitches to put the ball into play, and strikes will not count.
16. On overthrows at 1st, 2nd and 3rd base, the runners is eligible for one additional base. (Note that the runner is in
jeopardy of being put out if she chooses to advance, and if there is a second overthrow, the runner may not advance any further.) This applies to the batter and all runners on base.
17. 5-run stop inning rule: An inning will end when three (3) outs have been made or when the
fifth run crosses the plate.
18. If the home team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs after 5 1/2 innings the game shall be called.
19. No stealing or leading.
20. A batted ball which hits the coach-pitcher shall be ruled a No Pitch.
21. All players shall play in the field defensively each inning (no one sits on the bench). Any defensive alignment is permitted, provided that all players except the catcher shall be in fair territory and pitcher shall be located with one foot in the pitching circle and one foot out. when the ball is pitched. There should be no more than six (6) infielders including the pitcher and catcher and no fewer than three (3) outfielders.
All outfielders should start play
no closer than half the distance between the grass and the base path on
release of the pitch. Infielders cannot move
more than 10 feet from the base path until after
the ball is hit.
B. 10 & UNDER
DIVISION
1. Player pitch; bases at 60'; pitch from 35'
2. Game time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
3. Infield Fly Rule applies
4. Stealing is allowed by normal rules after the ball
leaves the pitcher's hand.
5. Running on the dropped third strike
rule is not in effect.
6. 5-run stop inning rule: An inning will end when three (3) outs have been made or when the
fifth run crosses the plate.
7. If the home team is ahead by ten(10) or more runs after 5 !/2 innings, the game shall be called.
8. There will be a maximum of four(4) outfielders.
9. No slap-bunting allowed.
A. 12 UNDER
DIVISION
1. Player pitch: bases at 60', pitch from 40".
2. Game time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
3. Infield Fly Rule applies
4. 5-run stop inning rule: An inning will end when three (3) outs have been made or when the
fifth run crosses the plate.
5. If the home team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs after 5 1/2 innings, the game shall be called.
6. There will be a maximum of four (4) outfielders
B. 13& UP DIVISION
1. Player pitch: bases at 60', pitch from 40'.
2. Game time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
3. Infield Fly Rule applies
4. 5-run stop inning rule: An inning will end when three (3) outs have been made or when the
fifth run crosses the plate.
5. If the home team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs after 5 1/2 innings, the game shall be called.
6. There will be a maximum of four (4) outfielders. This rule could be changed
to 3, but will be finalized at the divisional draft.
III. MISCELLANEOUS:
1. The home team shall supply the official scorer.
It will be the coaches (both coaches must record the score) umpire's responsibility to record the game score at the concession stand.
2. It is the visiting team's
responsibility to have a scorekeeper running the scoreboard.
3. During the post-game "slapping" of hands by the teams,
unsportsmanlike behavior such as spitting on hands, rough hits, or crude remarks can result in suspension from the next game.
Any coach or player who refuses to participate will be suspended from the next
game.
4. At NO time will the following be permitted at the ball park or practice fields.
1. Use of Profanity
2. Use of Alcoholic Beverages
3. Use of any Tobacco Products
4. Use of any Controlled Substances
Penalty for violations of the above will range from reprimands to suspensions as determined by the
Liaison and the Board of Directors.
5. The umpire has the right to suspend the game should any spectator or coach get out of hand. The spectator may be asked to leave the field area by any Board Member.
6. Field Conditions will be reviewed by a board member, umpires and Village
Liaison in determining whether to reschedule games. In the event of rain outs or other cancellations the games will be rescheduled.
7. If a coach or a player is ejected from a game they shall automatically receive a suspension from the following game. If a coach or player is ejected, the Board shall review the incidents leading to the ejection
and consider discipline beyond the suspensions up to and including removal from participation during the remainder of the season.
8. NO VIOLENCE POLICY - Violence of any kind either on or around the field from participants or spectators will not be tolerated. Violence of any nature will result in suspension of the
player or coach.
9. During practices and game warm ups, there is ABSOLUTELY NO HITTING BALLS INTO THE FENCE UNLESS THEY ARE WIFFLE BALLS.
10. No unsupervised children will be allowed in the upstairs press box or concession stand at any time.
11. Do not park in the No Parking spots and do not block the entrance.
12. Do not drive your vehicle up into the park (not past the parking lot). This is not to be used for loading and unloading gear. The only vehicles allowed to briefly drive into the walkways are the once used to stock the concession.
13. At any time a player is hitting in practice or a game, they must wear a helmet with a facemask. This includes bunting and soft toss.
14. Never at any time leave your team unattended at the ballpark.
15. No live hitting on the infield during pregame warm up. The only areas for live hitting are in the lot behind field #4, (only if you are the only team out there), and in the cages.
16. Infield warm up is permitted if time allows, providing that the coach uses his discretion regarding safety issues with the other team possibly being in the outfield. The visiting team should take a 5-minute infield at 10 minutes before the game, and allow the remaining 5 minutes prior to the game for the home team to take infield.
17. All parents must read and sign the Parents Code of Conduct that will be given to them.
18. Please try to use all of your pitchers as much as possible if you have more than two. Please rotate all your players as much as possible.
19. Please adhere to your practice times. Do not go over your scheduled END times. The lights will be turned out promptly at 9:00 PM. They are on a timer and will go off.
20. If you are scheduled to share a field, please adhere to your infield time strictly.
21. PLEASE PUT AWAY ALL TEES AND PITCHING MACHINES PROPERLY.
22 TO DOGS, SKATEBOARDS, BILES, SKATES, SCOOTERS ETC ALLOWED AT THE PARK.
23 NO PARKING ON THE SIDEWALKS OR IN THE ROAD WAY. USE THE EMPTY LOT BEHIND FIELD 4
WELLINGTON
SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION DRAFT RULES
1.
All drafts will be run by the Village Liaison and board members.
2.
Only managers will be allowed to attend drafts.
3.
Each division will hold a separate draft.
4.
Each manager will evaluate all new players to the Wellington League
(those that did not play in the Fall of 2003 season) within their division, on a
rating sheet provided by the league. The managers will evaluate a player's
overall rating on the following scale (with 1 being the lowest rating.)
Coach Pitch 1 to 15
Modified 1
to 20
Junior
1 to 25
Senior
1 to 30
5.
The rating sheets will be turned in to the liaison after evaluations.
This information will be collated onto a master
draft-rating sheet. New player ratings will be based on the average of all the
managers' overall evaluations of that player. Players from the Fall season have
already been evaluated by their former managers. Each player will be assigned a
draft rating. The managers' rating sheet and a copy of the master rating sheet
will be returned to the managers prior to commencing the draft. Please be sure
to put a fax machine number on the Managers Information Sheet so that we can get
the information to you as soon as possible.
6.
The teams drafting order will be determined in a random manner after the
A
B C
D E
1
2 3
4 5
10
9 8
7 6
11 12 13 14 15
ETC............... 17 16
7. Pitcher Draft: Drafting of pitchers in the Modified, Junior, and Senior Divisions will be as follows. There will be two pitching rounds. All managers will draw a number to determine the order in which to pick. The first round will be to draft a primary pitcher, and the second round will be to draft a secondary pitcher. This will be done before the regular draft. Names of the 1st and 2nd round pitchers will be provided. After the first two rounds of pitchers are determined, the pitchers will then be placed in the draft round that they belong in according to their rating as a player. Following the completion of the pitching rounds, the managers' children will be placed on the draft board in their respective rounds. The managers will again draw a number to determine the draft picking order. The rest of the draft will follow. ***REMEMBER THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO DRAFT A CATCHER AS WELL***
8. Coaches do not have to draft their players in accordance to the consensus evaluations (i.e. A. player having a consensus rating off 10 may be taken in the first round.)
9. All managers' children will be rated and the team will lose a draft pick in the first round that rating would have been chosen.
10. The league will identify players who are to be selected on the same team (i.e. sisters, car pooling, etc.) prior to the draft selection process. The lower rated player in the package will be deemed to have been selected in the first round they would have been taken if the draft were done in accordance to the ratings on the master sheet.
11. Trading of any players, for any reason, must be approved by the liaison and board members present at the draft. The trade must be for players of an equivalent overall rating and must take place prior to the dismissal of managers from the original draft.
12. The assignment of new players who are "no shows" at the evaluation will be handled as follows: If the player is known, the decision will be made by rating, experience, and the Board's opinion. If the player is not known, the player's experience and a poll of the player's parents will be made. Every girl will have a rating. All information possibly known will be given prior to the draft for the players with no rating.
13. All players that want to pitch during the Spring 2004 season, must receive a rating at the evaluation. Players not rated as a pitcher during the pitcher evaluations may not pitch during the season. Exceptions, to this rule will have to be approved by the Liaison and Board.