League Rules
 
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L1. A MMSC Softball Commissioner may not be a MMSC Team Manager.

a.) The MMSC Softball Commissioner must be a member of a MMSC ski club and serves at the pleasure of the majority of MMSC Team Managers.
b.)  Any Softball Manager may ask for a termination vote of the MMSC Softball Commissioner.
c.) The MMSC Softball Commissioner is terminated by a simple majority vote of Softball Managers. For example, if there are 11 teams, then 6 votes (one from each team) are required to remove a current Softball Commissioner.
d.)  A MMSC Chairperson/Commissioner term of office is from Oct. 1st until Oct. 1st of the next year. Approved on 7-12-1990)

L2. Only ski clubs which are recognized as "in good standing" within MMSC may field softball teams in the MMSC: Softball league.

b.)  If an offending person(s) fails to leave when asked by the Softball Commissioner, the Softball Commissioner will cancel the meeting. A new meeting will be arranged and the offending people will not be invited for that meeting.
c.) A $25.00 penalty fee will be required from a team to which an offending manager(s) belongs if a Team Managers' meeting must be re-scheduled. Until the penalty is paid, all games won by the team(s) in question will not count toward the play-off ranking. Payment must be made to the
MMSC: Softball, via the Softball Commissioner. These funds will become general league revenues. (Approved 6-14-1990.)

L5. Before any team is accepted into the MMSC Softball League, they must supply

a.)  Team Manager and an Assistant Team Manager. The Assistant Team Manager will perform league related assignments.
b.)  Failure to supply an Assistant Team Manager for league related assignments would result in an additional $25.00 league fee.
c.)  All won game will count as lost games when play-off ranking is determined until the Assistant Team Manager assignment is made or the $25.00 additional fee is paid. (Approved on 6-14-1990.)

L6. Any single Assistant Team Manager may do a maximum limit of two MMSC Softball League functions.

L7. In the event that 2 or more teams are tied for a league ranking, the team of the higher ranking will be determined by applying the following two criteria:

a.)  First, the team that won during the regular season game is considered the team of higher ranking.
b.)  Second, only if the previous criteria did not determine the team of higher ranking, the team that has the highest run scored/runs given up ratio is the team of higher ranking. In the event that a team was awarded a victory(s) by the forfeit of another team, the runs scored/runs given up for the forfeited game(s) will consist of the seasonal average of the awarded team.
c.)  Only teams that complete an entire season will be eligible for play-off and Championship games.  The only exception to this rule is when the Softball Commissioner has shortened the season for all teams. (Approved on 6-14-1990)

L8. League team fees must be paid before the predetermined deadline. (Set by the Softball Commissioner.)

L9. During the playing season, a Softball Manager's meeting will be held on the second Thursday, after the ball games, of each month. (Location is to be determined.)

L10. Game Protests
a.)  Only a rule interpretation or a rule application may be protested.
b.)  Umpire "judgment calls" can not be protested!
c.)  Only games protested in accordance with the Protest Rules will be reviewed by the protest committee.

L11. Protest Rules (Refer to the Game Rule G20)

a.)  The Umpire and the other team's manager must be told, before the inning is over, that the game will be protested.
b.)  Within 24 hours of a protested game conclusion, the protesting manager must tell the Softball Commissioner the game has been protested.
c.)  Within 24 hours of a protested game, the protesting manager must submit a $10.00 protest fee.
d.)  A team that fails to submit a protest fee will lose the protest by default.
e.)  If a protest is not won, then the protest fee is awarded to the MMSC Softball League treasury.
f.)  A protest committee will make, by majority rule, a final decision upon the merit of the protest.
g.)  The protest committee will be "chaired" by MMSC Softball Commissioner and consist of three Team Managers:
h.)  A Protest Committee Member and the Softball Commissioner may not decide upon a protest that involves their team.
i.)  Roughing an Umpire or anyone else is never acceptable behavior in the MMSC Softball League.  Protest Committee will review all ejection’s for roughness towards an Umpire. The Protest Committee will report whether roughness actually occurred (Yes or No) to the Softball Commissioner. If the roughness actually occurred, the Softball Commissioner will eject the player(s) from the MMSC league. This ejection will apply to the remaining part of the current season and for one full additional season. After the last full season has expired the ejected player must appear before the MMSC managers and explain how unacceptable behavior will avoided in future games. A simple majority vote of team managers will decide if the player is allowed re-entry into the MMSC Softball league. (Approved on 6-14-1990)
j.)  Any player ejected twice in one season is subject to the penalties of L13i. (Approved on 4-27-92)

L12. Each Softball Manager must arrange for ice packs and a small First Aid Kit to be available for usage at each ball game.

L13. A forfeit game fee of $10.00 is required. The payment must be paid to the league commissioner before the next game is played! Until the forfeit fee is paid, all games played by the team that forfeited will not count towards the play-off ranking. For example, team XYZ forfeits a game due to lack of  players.   Then 3 Team XYZ wins the next three games before it pays the forfeit fee. The three games won before the forfeit fee was paid will also be counted as additional forfeited games. (Approved on 7-12-1990)

L14. Playoff rules: playoffs will vary depending on the number of teams in the league each year.


Special MMSC Softball Game Rules (Revised 4-19-01)

G1. At least eight players are required to start a game. Of these 8 players, there must be at least 4 members of each gender. The opposing team may provide a catcher. This person shall not bat and be involved in a play at the plate. A ten player team may consist of six women and four men but not six men and four women (Approved 4-19-2001).

a.)  A forfeit is required when a team can not supply the correct gender combination for an eight player team to start the game.

G2. For all even numbered teams, sequential batters must be of different genders.

G3. A female following a man that has walked is allowed the option to walk or to hit

a.)  This rule may be applied only once at any time in the inning.
b.)  In an inning, after the first woman takes an automatic walk, all other players must receive pitches.

G4. A nine-player team may finish with eight players if an injury has occurred. However, the eight-player team must consist of four women and four men and both the opposing Team Manager and the Umpire must agree to continue the game. An eight-player team automatically forfeits the game. A forfeit fee is not applicable if a team must forfeit due to injury. (Approved 7-12-1990)

G5. No intentional bunting is allowed.

a.)  The breaking of the wrist is the Umpire's deciding criteria.
b.)  Bunting is an automatic out!

G6. All infielders must remain beyond the baseline (outfield side) until the ball is hit (actual contact).

a.)  If a violation occurs, the Umpire will call the pitched ball a "DEAD BALL" before the ball reaches the plate.
b.)  A warning, but no penalty, will be administered by the Umpire the first time this rule is violated.
c.) After a warning has been issued to a team, the Umpire will penalize the offending team by advancing the runners and providing the batter the option to walk or continue to hit.
d.)  If the violation occurs on a swinging strike, the batter is awarded a walk.

G7. No metal Spikes!

G8. Official softball bats only.

a.)  Crook handle and water weighted bats are acceptable.
b.)  All bats must have taped handles or acceptable grips. (Umpire's call!)

G9. All team players must use only their own name on the sign-in sheet.

a.)  Sign-in is required before the game is over.
b.)  Field positions are not required at sign in.

G10. A five minute grace period is provided for the 615PM game only.

a.)  A forfeit is required when a team can not supply team players of the acceptable gender format.  (As rule # G1 requires.)

G11. A game is expected to last 50 minutes.

a.)  An inning may not be started beyond the 50 minute limit.
b.)  An inning requires completion beyond the 50 minute limit.
c.)  A tied game is counted as a 1/2 (0.5) win and a 1/2 (0.5) loss score.
d.)  A game time limit does not apply to play-off, or Championship game.
e.)  The 50 minute limit is referenced from the game start time. (Approved on 7-12-1990)

G12. Unnecessary roughness will result in the player being called out.

a.)  This rule applies to all base and field plays.
b.)  Players that perform any intentional unnecessary roughness will be ejected from the game and the ballpark!
c.)  Unnecessary and intentional roughness is an Umpire's judgment call and not subject to the protest procedure.
d.) Appeals to the Umpire are appropriate to avoid collisions. A runner will be safe if the Umpire decides the base was blocked.
e.)  As determined by the Umpire, a player will be ejected from a game for roughness towards an Umpire. In addition, a $10.00 fee is required from a team for each person ejected from a game for roughness towards an Umpire. Until, this fee is paid to the Softball Commissioner, the game in question and future games will not count towards the play-offs. Refer to the League Rule L13 for the protest committee review of this situation.

G13. Any member of a team can play in a play-off or Championship game provided they have played in at least two regular season games.

G14. Once a player is removed from the game they can not play in the game again unless there has been an injury and the opposing manager agrees.

G15. All players, not in the field, must remain behind the baselines.

G16. All outfielders must remain on the outfield grass until ball contact is made by the batter. The warning system of rule G6 also applies to this rule.

G17. The Umpire must immediately call a pitched ball that exceeds an acceptable height, an illegal pitch.

a.)  This call must be made before the batter swings.

G18. Only MMSC ski club members that have signed both the individual and game liability wavier are allowed to play. A violation of this requirement will result in an immediate termination and forfeit by the offending team. The Softball Commissioner will make periodic spot checks of this requirement!

G19. An Umpire's decision may be discussed with the Umpire and the Team Manager. But several people shouting from a team is unacceptable.

a.)  Fans, which support a team, are not allowed to hassle the umpire.
b.) A Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager is responsible for the behavior of all of the corresponding team players and team fans!

G20. The Umpire and the opposing Team Manager must be told, before the inning is over, that the game will be protested. After the protest intention is made, the game protest rules are completed. The protest will be resolved by the protest process indicated in League Rules.

G21. An immediate $10.00 forfeit fee is required from any team that must forfeit a game. (Refer to L5)

G22. This extra player rule is an option that allows more players to participate in a game. All of the following rules must be completed to incorporate the extra player rule:

a.)  When extra players (1 female and 1 male) are used the umpire and the opposing manager must be notified prior to the start of the game. Failure to give notice prior to the beginning of the game results in losing the privilege of using the extra players for the balance of the game. However, a manager can not call the penalty against his (or her) own team and therefore change the batting lineup.
b.)  The starting extra players (EPs) must remain in the same batting order position for the entire game.
c.) If the EPs are used, all twelve team players must bat and any combination of 5 females and 5 males may play the field. Of course, players may change field positions and EPs may play the field at any given time but the batting order must remain the same. (Approved on 4-27-92)
(Rev 4/2001)
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