GENERAL

1. These bylaws were approved by consensus on March 11, 2006.

2. The Lehigh Valley Coed Recreational Softball League will play softball in accordance with the Official Rules of Softball of the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA, www.asasoftball.com). Each team captain is responsible for obtaining a copy of the rules for the current year and having them available at every game. Problems or questions arising during a game must be resolved immediately by the captains. This is a no protest league. League bylaws override any conflicting ASA rules.

3. This is a recreational league whose purpose is to have fun. Fighting and arguing calls will not be tolerated. Any other actions detracting from this purpose will not be tolerated either.

4. Any team not following League bylaws and ASA rules can be subject to ejection from the league. If a complaint is received about a team, the team will receive a warning. Any team, which consistently does not follow the rules, will be ejected from the league. A team can be ejected from the league by a majority vote of all other team captains.

ORGANIZATION

5. The league website, www.lvcoedsoftball.com, is the official reference for all documents. Email is the official means of communication from the league to each team.

6. The captain of the winning team is responsible for reporting game results including scores by email, web, or phone within 24 hours, to the captain selected at the captains’ meeting, so that league schedule and standings can be maintained all season.

7. Similarly, the home team captain must report cancellations and postponements. Cancellations and postponements will be rescheduled by the league. In extreme cases it may not be possible to reschedule all makeup games. It is also possible makeup games may be rescheduled at a different field.

8. Fields which do not have a game scheduled may be used by the league for makeup games.

9. All teams must submit a non-refundable deposit at the annual captains’ meeting; the amount is determined annually prior to the meeting. All teams must submit the balance of the registration fee by May 15. The non-refundable registration fees are used to purchase trophies, tournament and playoff game balls and fields, playoff umpires, website hosting, etc. DO NOT BE LATE!!!

10. Please make check payable to the captain selected at the captains’ meeting.

11. Teams must acquire the use of a home field for at least one night per week during the season, preferably Tuesday or Thursdays. Games will not be scheduled for other days unless absolutely necessary. First-year teams may exercise a “bye” year in lieu of a field, but will reimburse the league accordingly.

12. Home team supplies bases, foul line markers, home plate mat, home plate if necessary, pitching rubber, and the game ball, which must be a new, restricted-flight, DUDLEY SB12LRF .44 COR 375 compression softball (white leather, red stitch.) For home teams that do not have their own field, the team “owning” the field will supply the equipment, if necessary, but not the game ball. It is the home team’s responsibility to repair major damage to a field prior to game time, but both teams shall share general field prep equally.

13. The league will supply game balls for playoff games and the entire tournament.

ELIGIBILITY

14. Team members must be at least 18 years of age and are employees and immediate family members, to include spouse, siblings, children (of age), girlfriend/boyfriend, and close friends (within reason). No one under 18 is allowed to play at any time.

15. Players MUST read and understand the league bylaws prior to the start of the season.

16. Players are responsible for acquiring their own insurance coverage.

17. To be eligible to play in the league tournament or post-season playoffs, a team cannot forfeit 4 games in the regular season. A team that forfeits 4 or more regular season games will finish in last place regardless of its record and will not be entitled to a refund of any kind.

18. Players from one team may not play for another team, except in the case where a team is short players and both captain’s agree.

SAFETY

19. Metal spikes are prohibited. If you wear metal spikes during the game, you will be immediately ejected and cannot play for the remainder of the game. Captains must report offenses to the league immediately. Subsequent offenses by a single player in a season will result in the team’s forfeiture of affected games.

20. Any bat listed on the ASA Banned Bats list is not allowed. All unmodified, solid wood bats are allowed. Bats that are not marked or cannot be verified to comply may only be used at the discretion of the opposing coach.

21. Bases must be fastened securely with equipment in reasonable working condition.

22. Pitchers must have one foot touching the rubber when the pitch is released from the hand.

23. FIGHTING IS PROHIBITED. Any player involved in a fight will be ejected from the current game and suspended for:

· one game for the first offense

· remainder of the season and the tournament for the second offense

· permanently banned from the league for the third offense

24. No collisions are allowed on the base paths. Fielders may not make fake tags or otherwise trick the runner into thinking they have the ball.

25. Fielders must never block bases, including home plate. Fielders must straddle the bases, including home plate.

26. If a fielder is involved in a play, (e.g. actively fielding or receiving a batted or thrown ball,) the fielder may straddle the base (or home plate) prior to possessing the ball. This is contrary to the ASA rule regarding obstruction (eff. 2004.)

27. Fielders are not allowed to obstruct the runner or block base paths unless they are actively fielding or receiving a batted or thrown ball.

28. Runners approaching bases, including home plate, where the fielder is actively fielding a ball must give up or slide as safely as possible, provided they are within reasonable sliding distance of the base. Sliding which in any way endangers a fielder will not be tolerated and will result in ejection from the game.

29. First Basemen must not place their feet on top of the base. First Basemen must keep their feet on the inside edge of the bag. First Basemen cannot cross the first base line unless the ball has crossed the line, or is obviously destined for over the line.

30. A “double first base” is required. The orange portion of the base which occupies foul territory can only be used as a base by the batter-runner on their first approach to the base. At no other time is the extra base a valid base.

31. 31. This item REVOKED 3/11/2006.

GAMES

32. All games will start at 6:30 PM. There is NO grace period. Both teams must share time available for batting and fielding practice prior to the game.

33. Games postponement due to weather must be decided by the coaches involved prior to 3:00 p.m. of the game day. If the weather or field conditions are questionable, both teams must report to the field and a decision to play will be made at that time. Game postponements for anything but weather-related reasons require both captains to agree. Consideration should be made that postponements can negatively impact end-of-season scheduling.

34. Makeup games will be scheduled by the league. The home team captain must report cancellations and postponements. The winning team captain reports game results.

35. Games which cannot be finished due to weather, darkness, or other circumstances will be called complete or replayed as per the ASA rules, but with two exceptions: continuations of incomplete games begin immediately following the last complete inning, and the roster can be different than the original game.

36. Field setup is as follows: front edge of pitching rubber is 50 feet from the back point of home plate; the back edges of first and third bases are 60 feet from the back point of home plate.

37. EACH TEAM MUST FIELD TEN (10) PLAYERS, WITH AT LEAST THREE (3) WOMEN. A minimum of eight (8) players, including two (2) women, are required to start a game. If a team is short players, there are three options:

· play short, if possible, until additional players arrive

· accept players from the opposing team, at the opposing captain’s discretion

· forfeit the game

38. Any team consistently not playing three (3) women may be subject to suspension or ejection from the league. If a team forfeits, captains can choose to scrimmage.

39. Players arriving after a game starts cannot begin to play until the next top of an inning.

40. Teams starting a game with 8 or 9 players can only play 8 or 9 fielders respectively and must provide their own catcher.

41. A 15-run mercy rule after 5 innings (4½ if home team winning) applies to all regular season games and all regular tournament games. The mercy rule does not apply during season playoffs or tournament playoffs.

UMPIRING

42. Umpires are responsible for making ALL calls. First base coach calls plays at first base and second base. Third base coach calls plays at third base and second. A person supplied by the batting team will umpire and call balls, strikes, fouls and home plate from behind the batter. Captains can and should overrule obviously errant calls made by their own umpires.

43. A ball and strike will be determined by using a regulation size mat, which will be placed behind home plate. If the ball hits the mat or home plate it is a strike; if the ball does not hit the mat or home plate, it is a ball. A ball that hits the black angled edge of the home plate is a strike. The mat must be regulation size, but can be made of variety of materials. A close call will go to the batter, but will be determined by the umpire.

44. There will be no arguing any calls; we must remember this is a fun league and that a close call must go the to batter or runner.

45. Only regular season games and regular tournament games are self-umpired. The league will supply outside umpires for playoff games and for the tournament semi-finals and finals. 1 umpire will be provided for semi-final rounds, and 2 umpires for finals.

PITCHING

46. Required slow pitch will have a minimum arc of six (6) feet and a maximum arc of twelve (12) feet (height above ground at home plate). If a pitch does not meet the above height restrictions, the umpire will state “ILLEGAL” and call a BALL. If the batter swings anyway, it’s a live ball, whether it is a strike, foul or fair.

47. Each inning is limited to two (2) walks per pitcher. After the second walk, the umpire will call only strikes, unless the pitcher is replaced. If the pitcher is replaced, the new pitcher will then again be allowed to have two (2) walks that inning. In addition, the new pitcher will receive 5 warm-ups.

48. If a pitcher chooses to intentionally walk a batter, the pitcher can inform the batter to proceed to the base. The pitcher is not required to pitch to the batter.

RUNNING

49. No leaving the base before the ball is hit. Each team will receive one warning for leaving the base, on the second offense the runner will be called “Out”. This call can be made by any umpire on the field at the time. This offense can only occur from the time the pitcher is ready to begin the delivery of the pitch, until either the ball touches the bat or the ball hits the ground.

50. Same-gender pinch running is allowed for any reason. For female runners, any female on the team can pinch run. For male runners, the pinch runner will be the last male to have made an out, or in the event that person cannot run, then it will be the male farthest away in the batting lineup.

BATTING

51. Batting line-ups must contain at least 10 players. To encourage participation, there is no maximum number for line-ups.

52. Free same gender substitution is allowed.

53. No more than 7 men can bat in a row.

54. There are no foul-outs.

55. Women are allowed to bunt. Bunting foul with 2 strikes is a strike out. Once a batter shows a bunt during a pitch, the batter must either bunt that pitch or take that pitch; the batter cannot fake a bunt and then swing away during the same pitch.

56. If a bunted ball, untouched by a fielder, hits the batter outside of the batter’s box and in fair territory, she’s out. If a bunted ball, untouched by a fielder, hits the batter outside of the batter’s box and in foul territory, a foul is called and, if applicable, is counted as a third strike.

57. A player who bats does not have to play the field.

58. Any player who plays at least one pitch in the field must bat at least once, unless extenuating circumstances prevail.

59. Teams starting a game with 8 or 9 players can only have 8 or 9 batters respectively in the line-up.

60. Teams starting a game with only 2 women, will add an additional batting position for the third woman. Until the third woman arrives, a team has three options:

· one women bats twice in the line-up

· two women alternate in the third spot

· the batting team can take an automatic out in the third spot

61. Teams starting a game with 8 or 9 players can add players arriving late to the bottom of the batting line-up (except in the case where a third woman arrives late and fills the additional position already created in the batting line-up,) provided all other bylaws and rules are followed.

62. Teams starting a game with 10 or more players can add players arriving late to the bottom of the batting line-up, provided all other bylaws and rules are followed.

63. If a team loses a player and cannot fill the batting position, the team may shrink (contract) the batting lineup up to the point at which a game would be forfeited.

PLAYOFF TIEBREAKERS

64. These tiebreakers apply to the playoffs, not the annual tournament.

65. When comparing records among tied teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is used. Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss.

66. If regular season games which would be counted in a tiebreaker have not been played, then the tiebreaker is applied only if the results of such games would not change the outcome of the tiebreaker; however, if the results of such games could change the outcome of a tiebreaker, then skip the tiebreaker step and proceed to the next step.

67. The term “stronger division” is defined as the division with the best record (by percentage) of all its teams combined.

68. Tiebreaker 1. DIVISION WINNER TIEBREAKER FOR 2 TEAMS
1a: the team with the best head-to-head record wins.
1b: the team with the best record within their own division wins.
1c: playoff game on neutral field, neutral umpires optional.

69. Tiebreaker 2. DIVISION WINNER TIEBREAKER FOR 3+ TEAMS
2a: the team with the best combined head-to-head record wins. if 2 teams have the same best combined head-to-head record, they advance to 1a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best combined head-to-head record, eliminate all others and repeat 2a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 2b.
2b: the team with the best record within their own division wins. if 2 teams have the same best divisional record, they advance to 1a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best divisional record, eliminate all others and repeat 2a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 2c.
2c: chance--draw straws for one winner.

70. Tiebreaker 3. WILD CARD TIEBREAKER FOR 2 TEAMS TIED FOR 1 POSITION
3a: the team with the best head-to-head record wins.
3b. if the teams are from the same division, the team with the best record within their own division wins.
3c. the team with the best record against the stronger division* wins, skip if divisions are equal.
3d: playoff game on neutral field, neutral umpires optional.

71. Tiebreaker 4. WILD CARD TIEBREAKER FOR 3+ TEAMS TIED FOR 1 POSITION
4a: the team with the best combined head-to-head record wins. if 2 teams have the same best combined head-to-head record, they advance to 3a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best combined head-to-head record, eliminate all others and repeat 4a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 4b.
4b: if all the teams are from the same division, the team with the best record within their own division wins.
4c. the team with the best record against the stronger division* wins, skip if divisions are equal. if 2 teams have the same best divisional record, they advance to 3a, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best divisional record, eliminate all others and repeat 4a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 4d.
4d: chance--draw straws for one position.

72. Tiebreaker 5. WILD CARD TIEBREAKER FOR 3+ TEAMS TIED FOR 2 POSITIONS
5a: the team with the best combined head-to-head record wins one position, others repeat 3a or 4a depending on number of teams remaining. if 2 teams have the same best combined head-to-head record, they both win, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best combined head-to-head record, eliminate all others and repeat 5a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 5b.
5b: if all the teams are from the same division, the team with the best record within their own division wins.
5c. the team with the best record against the stronger division wins one position, others repeat 3a or 4a depending on number of teams remaining. if 2 teams have the same best divisional record, they both win, all others are eliminated. if 3+ teams have the same best divisional record, eliminate all others and return to 5a. if you have 3+ and can no longer eliminate teams, advance to 5c.
5d: chance--draw straws for two positions.

PLAYOFF SEEDING

73. The playoffs are a seeded, single-elimination event. Seeding rules only apply to the playoffs, not the annual tournament. Playoff seeding is applied only after the playoff teams are conclusively determined.

74. When comparing records among teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is used. Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss.

75. If teams play an equal number of games against division and non-division opponents (round-robin), then wild cards may be selected from within the same division. Wild cards may also be seeded higher than a division winner. Seeding is determined as follows:
(a) rank teams by overall season record (W-L percentage)
if teams are tied, then
(b) rank tied teams by combined head to head record
if teams remain tied, then
(c) by tossing a coin or drawing straws among tied teams

76. If teams play more games against each division opponent than each non-division opponent (split-division), then wild cards will be selected from each division and will always be seeded lower than division winners, regardless of record. Seeding is determined as follows:
(a) rank division winners by overall season record (W-L percentage)
if division winners are tied, then
(b) rank tied teams by combined head to head record
if teams remain tied, then
(c) by tossing a coin or drawing straws among tied teams
(d) repeat this process for wild card teams

77. The semi-final playoff games will be setup as follows:
The first (highest) seed plays the fourth seed.
The second seed plays the third seed.
Highest seeds are home teams.

78. The league championship game will be setup as follows:
The higher seed team is the home team.

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT

79. The format and rules for the League’s Annual Tournament are published on the League’s website, www.lvcoedsoftball.com, as soon as the logistics are confirmed. Approval of these bylaws indicates general, advance acceptance of the tournament format and rules as discussed during the captain’s meeting. In the event of conflicts between other versions of the tournament rules, the version on the league website shall be the sole authority.