SICSL - Schedule

2008 Rules

The Suburban Industrial Co-Ed Softball League (SICSL) is an Amatuer Softball Association of Pennsylvania (ASA of PA) sanctioned league. Pennsylvania District 6, Slow Pitch, Co-Ed, Class D. There are eight teams in the league based in and around West Chester, PA.

We follow the Official Rules of Softball, published by the Amatuer Softball Association. Each coach was given a copy of the book and should have it and the "2008 Rules specific to our league" at each game. These rules should be reviewed with the umpire and the opposing coach before each game

Rule 12 of "Use of ASA Playing Rules" allows the League to write its own rules as necessary:
"The ASA Softball Playing Rules shall only apply to ASA Championship play. The use of all or any part of such rules is strictly a local matter and such rules may be altered as league officials deem appropriate or necessary to conduct non-championship play"

2008 Rules specific to our league:

1. Substitutions:
A substitute may enter the game, then leave and RE-ENTER one time in the same spot in the line-up.
2. Courtesy Runners:
A team may use the courtesy runner 3 times in a game. It must be a bench player of the same gender first. If a bench player of the same gender is not available then a player of the same gender who made the last out may be used.
3. The 15 Run Rule:
When a team is ahead by 15 or more runs after 5 innings the game is considered complete. Complete innings must be played unless the home team scores the ahead by 15 run while at bat in the 5th or later innings. When the away team reaches the limit in the top half of the 5th or later innings, the home team must have their opportunity to bat in the bottom half of the inning.
4. Game Start Time:
Games will start between 6:00 and 6:15 pm. Teams not able to take the field by 6:30 must forfeit. The umpire must be paid for a forfeited game. A score of 7-0 must be submitted to the website by the winning coach.
5. Fielder Positioning for Female Batters:
Outfielders may play at any depth for female batters, however all outfielders must remain at their current depth or shallower for the next MALE batter. All outfielders may move left or right as necessary at any time. For example, if a woman comes up to bat and the outfielders sink in, they must remain at that depth for the next MALE batter. If the next batter after a woman is a woman, the outfielders may move to any depth. If a woman makes the 3rd out in an inning the rule does not carry over to the next inning. If the next batting position is forfeited as an automatic out due to too few female players, the outfielder may move anywhere; the automatic out is considered a legitimate at bat, even if it was not played out.
Infielders must position themselves on the infield dirt and not in the outfield grass.
This rule applies to female batters only.
6. Putout at First base of Female Batters:
If a female batter hits a ball either through the infield to the outfield or in the air to the outfield, she may not be putout at first base. The outfielder may force a runner out at second base, third base or home plate when fielding a ball hit by a female. If the female batter attempts to advance beyond first base on the hit she may be putout at any base.
An infielder may run into the outfield to catch a fly ball hit by a female batter.
7. Four Pitch Walks:
If a male batter who preceeds a female batter in the lineup is intentionally walked or walks on 4 consecutive balls without a strike the female batter also receives an intentional walk. The batting team has the option to either accept the intentional walk of the female batter or to allow the female batter to bat as normal.
8. The ASA allows Zero Tolerance of foul language, violence and other poor behavior.
A single ejection will result in a 1 game suspension, a second ejection in one season is a two game suspension, a third ejection is a one calendar year suspension from ASA play in ANY league in Pennsylvania District 6. Serious infractions such as fighting, harassment or verbal abuse of an umpire may result in an ejection from the league.
9. Game Cancellations:
Games cancelled due to weather or the inability to field a team must be decided by the coaches before 3:00 PM game day. Cancellations or re-schedules must be first communicated to Phil Brown - (o)610-647-0936, (c)610-999-6251, (h)610-873-6039 to cancel the scheduled Umpire by the HOME team. The coaches must mutually agree on a date to reschedule the game as soon as possible after cancelling the game. The agreed upon date must be submitted to the website and communicated to the Commissioner and Phil Brown. Games should ideally be scheduled for the next available open date on the schedule posted on this website. Games may be played on Fridays. The league must absorb the cost of cancelling an Umpire for reasons other than the weather. Please make every effort to play the game on the night it is originally scheduled.
10. Player Eligibility:
A player must play in at least half of his teams regular-season games to be considered eligible for post-season play. This season, the minimum number of games played is nine.
If a team wins a game by forfeit, all members of that team will be credited with a game played. If a team loses a game by forfeit, no members of that team will be credited with a game played.
11. Score Submission:
Scores must be submitted to the website within 24 hours by the WINNING team. Please check the website regularly to confirm that it agrees with your scores and standings. The info on the web will be used to determine standings and playoff seedings.
12. Home Run Limit:
There is a limit of four automatic home runs per team per game at both fields. Hits that remain in play and result in a batter circling the bases on a run will NOT count against the four home run limit. All automatic home runs after the fourth of the game by one team would be counted as ground rule doubles and would follow standard ground rule double runner advancement rules.
13. Extra Hitter:
Teams have the option of inserting one or two extra hitters into the batting lineup. The extra hitter is optional.

The basic ground rules for the EB Field:

Hits that roll or bounce into the weeds will be counted as ground rule doubles and would follow standard ground rule double runner advancement rules. The outfielder must signal to the umpire that the ball is in the weeds by raising both hands above his head. If an outfielder makes an attempt but fails to catch a ball hit into the weeds the hit will be a home run. If an outfielder makes no attempt to catch a ball hit in the air into the weeds, the hit will be a home run. It is the Umpire's sole discretion to decide the play if he decides that the ball has been intentionally "kicked" out of play.

The basic ground rules for the QVC Field:

Hits that roll or bounce into the weeds will be counted as ground rule doubles and would follow standard ground rule double runner advancement rules. The outfielder must signal to the umpire that the ball is in the weeds by raising both hands above his head. If an outfielder makes an attempt but fails to catch a ball hit into the weeds the hit will be a home run. If an outfielder makes no attempt to catch a ball hit in the air into the weeds, the hit will be a home run. A ball hit into the center and right field ball fields is IN PLAY. It is the Umpire's sole discretion to decide the play if he decides that the ball has been intentionally "kicked" out of play.

The Official Field Layout:

It is the responsibility of the coaches to verify that the bases and pitching mound are measured and marked properly.

Bases: 65' from the BACK tip of home plate to the BACK edge of first /third base
Pitching rubber: 50' from the BACK tip of home plate to the FRONT edge of the pitching rubber (or an imaginary line denoting the rubber location)
Home Plate to 2nd base: 89' 11" from the BACK tip of home plate to the CENTER of 2nd base

Bats and Balls:

The official game ball is the Dudley Leather SB - WT12RF ball. Balls will be provided by the league at the start of the season.
The home team must provide one new ball and at least one ball in very good condition for every game. Batters may not use a double walled bat.

Playoffs:

The top 8 teams will make the playoffs.

Teams will be seeded 1 through 8 based on winning percentage and tie breakers. Original seedings will be maintained throughout for the sake of home field for all three rounds.

Standard tie-breakers are in effect: head-to-head record, then runs allowed, then coin flip.

Round 1 is best of 3:
1 vs 8
2 vs 7
3 vs 6
4 vs 5

Round 2 is best of 3

Finals are best of 5.

The Finals will be played entirely on the QVC field.

Misc:

All participants MUST sign the waiver form given to their coach BEFORE playing any games!
The League carries LIABILITY Insurance with Bene Marc, Inc. This cost is covered by the dues you paid. It is assumed that MEDICAL Insurance is provided by your respective companies.

Protests will not be considered if the protest is based solely on a decision involving the accuracy of judgement on the part of an umpire.
Examples of decisions involving the accuracy of the umpires judgement include, but are not limited to:
Whether. . .
A batted ball was fair or foul;
A runner is safe or out;
A runner did or did not touch a base;
A player or live ball did or did not enter a dead ball area.

Protests may only be considered in cases of potential misinterpretation of ASA or League rules by the umpire.

The NO CONTACT rule:

It is the responsibility of the manager to emphasize to their teams that any contact initiated on purpose will not be tolerated. Umpires should enforce the "Slide or give up" rule. This rule must be discussed by the coaches and the umpire during the ground rules exchange before each game.