DEL VAL YOUTH SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES FOR 2002 SEASON

 

1. Players will be ineligible to play in the Senior Division if they reach 20 years of age before January 2, 2002.

Players will be ineligible to play in the Junior Division if they reach 17 years of age before January 2, 2001.

Players will be ineligible to play in the Intermediate

Division if they reach 15 years of age before January 2, 2002.

Players will be ineligible to play in the Midget Division if they reach 13 years of age before January 2, 2002.

Players will be ineligible to play in the Pee Wee Division if they reach 11 years of age before January 2, 2002.

2. A team will consist of either:

a. 10 players (without a designated player), or

b. 11 players (with a designated player) . Only the first 10 players may bat, the 11th player must be listed as DEFO and only plays defense.

Less than 9 players at any time will be an automatic forfeit to the opposing team. If a game starts with 9 players, or starts with more than 9 players and drops to 9, the game must be continued with 9.

3. Coaches must carry team roster cards, and coaches1 book with team roster and league rules to all games. If unavailable, a forfeit must be declared. Roster cards may be checked a~ any time, before or during a game, for any individual in question.

4. All head coaches, assistant coaches, and base coaches MUST be registered with the Board of Directors BEFORE they are eligible to coach. Players are eligible to coach bases in the Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Divisions only.

5. All head coaches must be at least 21 years of age. There must be at least one registered coach, at least 21 years of age, present at each game.

6. Fields to be used for league play will be designated as such prior to the league starting date. Home team ground rules must remain the same for all visiting teams throughout the season. Fields must have a backstop, and foulpoles, flags, or other appropriate markers in place. Foul lines from home plate to first and third bases must be lined. Bases must be

15 inches square by a minimum of 1 inch high (the double first base is legal) , and securely tied down at the following distances from the back of home plate to the back of the bases:

Pee Wee                    Midget                 Int, Jr, Sr

                                    35                            60'                        60'

                                               

Pitching rubber must be 6 inches by 24 inches and must be secure at the following distances from the back of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber:

                                Pee Wee                     Midget                   Int, Jr, Sr

                                    35'                             35'                         40'

Home team must comply with these rules or a forfeit will be declared.

7. All offensive players must properly wear batting helmets. Failure to wear the batting helmet properly, or deliberately removing the helmet during a live ball play and seen by the umpire as a deliberate act, shall cause the violator to be declared out immediately. The ball remains alive.

8. Catchers must wear a catcher's helmet with full ear flaps, and a throat protector securely attached to mask. Catchers must also wear full shin guards covering the knees. Hockey type helmets are permitted. Players warming up any pitcher must wear a catcher's mask with a throat guard.

9. Player base coaches in the Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Divisions must wear batting helmets.

10. No attachments or donuts are permitted to be used on bats by on-deck batters. They are not legal on any part of the ball field.

11. No hard soled shoes or metal cleated shoes are allowed.

12. Each team is responsible for its own spectators. At no time during a game are coaches, players, or spectators permitted behind the backstop.

13. No smoking or alcoholic beverages are permitted on the playing field. This includes the dugout area.

14. No free substitution or courtesy runners allowed.

EXCEPTION: When the catcher is on base with two outs, a substitute may be put in for the catcher. Substitutes may not be in the lineup at that time. This will allow the catcher to put on equipment and help speed up the game.

EXCEPTION: A courtesy runner will be allowed for an injured base runner that is not considered to have a major injury. A courtesy runner may not be in the lineup at that time.

15. Forfeit time will be 15 minutes after scheduled game time. Forfeit fine is $10.00 payable to the League Treasury.

16. If umpire does not appear, game will be rescheduled. No game can be played without an official umpire. Such a game is considered invalid. Home team must contact Commissioner and Umpire Assignor on day of game. Failure to do so is a $5.00 fine payable to the League Treasury.

17. Games may be postponed due to field conditions ONLY. Home team must call opposing team and Umpire Assignor by 4:45 PM. In the event of a late game, or weekend game, the home team must call the opposing team and Umpire Assignor a minimum of 1 1/2 hours before scheduled game time. Home team must contact score taker.

18. Postponed games must be rescheduled within 7 days, but not necessarily played within 7 days. There must be a 48-hour advance notice to Umpire Assignor to reschedule a game. The Division Commissioner and score taker must be notified of all rescheduled games. If unable to reschedule game, notify the Division Commission, and the Commissioner will reschedule the game.

Pee Wee Commissioner Thomasina Hogue (497-0008)

Midget A & B Commissioner Brenda Smerigan (358-0279)

Midget C & D Commissioner Brenda Smerigan (358-0279)

Intermediate A & B Commissioner Brenda Smerigan (358-0279)

Intermediate C Commissioner Brenda Smerigan (358-0279)

Junior & Senior Commissioner Brenda Smerigan (358-0279)

19. Scores must be recorded by WINNING team to the score taker with 24 hours after the game. Failure to do so is a $5.00 fine payable to the League Treasury.

20. Home team must supply the umpire with one NEW ball and one in good condition at the start of the game. Home teams having natural hazards on their fields which may cause the loss of balls or damage to balls during the game must have enough balls on hand to complete the game. Official Senior, Junior, Intermediate, and Midget ball is Dudley Day/Night (no Thunder balls) . Official Pee Wee ball is 11" Dudley.

21. Teams shall use girl's last name and number from uniform when exchanging lineups. All uniforms MUST have numbers. No duplicate numbers will be allowed

22. If any team is ahead of the other by 15 or more runs (Pee Wee, Midget, Intermediate), or 10 or more runs (Junior, Senior) after 5 or more completed innings, the game is terminated and considered official. If the home team is ahead only 4 1/2 innings are needed. After the 5th inning the home team must get their bats if they are losing.

EXCEPTION: For a game to be considered official from April 25 to May 24 only 4 innings must be completed. If the home team is ahead by 15/10 or more runs then only 3 1/2 innings must be completed.

23. No inning will be started 1 3/4 hours after the SCHEDULED START TIME.

24. At the end of each game, the home team must stay on their field until the visiting team has departed. The visiting team must leave the area IMMEDIATELY after the completion of the game. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a $10.00 fine payable to the League Treasury.

25. Representatives, coaches, or players are ineligible to umpire games in their division or for their organization.

26. If a team, due to dropouts, is in danger of forfeiting their SEASON, they may bring up no more than 3 players from a similar or lower age group in their own organization to complete their scheduled games. Such a team will be ineligible for any championship. If players move up they may not move back to their original team to complete scheduled games, play in All- Star games, or play in playoff games. Board approval must be obtained BEFORE this move. To bring up players:

a. Roster must be down to no more than 10 players.

b. The team MUST already have 1 forfeit.

c. Must be done through the President of the League.

d. Majority of the Board of Directors votes is needed for approval (6). This may be done at a meeting or by phone. A record of the vote will be kept by the President.

e. The team must put in writing the names of the players being dropped, and the players being added. Copies must be sent to the President and Division Commissioner.

f. Dropped players may not return to their original team for any future games.

 

27. All coaches and players should strive to conduct themselves in a manner which cultivate mutual friendship, and promote good sportsmanship. Such conduct will add to the betterment of the game and the League.

28. ANY COACH, ASSISTANT COACH, TEAM REPRESENTATIVE, OR PLAYER

THAT IS EJECTED FROM A GAME BY AN UMPIRE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY

PLACED ON PROBATION AND AUTOMATICALLY BE SUSPENDED FROM THE

NEXT PLAYED GAME. FINAL PENALTY WILL BE DECIDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ADDITIONAL PENALTY MAY BE A WARNING, PROBATION, OR SUSPENSION FROM THE LEAGUE BASED ON THE RULING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

29. Any player may wear any hat or headband. Hats and/or headbands need not be identical, nor does every player have to wear one. Plastic visors are not allowed.

30. Throwing a bat is an automatic out anytime the umpire has given both teams a warning about throwing a bat. No titanium bats are allowed. No DeMarini bats allowed. No single walled, double wall, etc. bats allowed.

31. Protests must be filed with the umpire upon protest, and before another pitch is thrown. The protesting coach will write the protest in the scorebook, recording the time and nature of the protest. Included in the protest must be the rule under which the protest was made, the positions of all baserunners, the number of outs, the count on the batter, and any other pertinent information. The umpire should then sign both scorebooks. Play may then resume.

THE UMPIRE MUST SIGN BOTH BOOKS WHETHER HE/SHE AGREES. PLEASE NOTIFY UMPIRE ASSIGNOR IS UMPIRE REFUSES TO SIGN.

All protests concerning violations (ASA rules and Del Val rules) are to be reported to the Protest Committee. All protests MUST be accompanied by $15.00 and a copy of the scorebook with the written protest. If the protest is upheld, the money will be returned and the game resumed at the point of protest. If the protest is declined, the money will go to the League Treasury. The protest will be ruled within 7 days. Any protest must be voted upon by at least 3 members of the Protest Committee. No one involved with a protest may contact ANY member of the Protest Committee concerning the protest. If such an action is taken, the organization will be subject to suspension and/or fine. This will be levied by the Board of Directors. All protests must be received by the chairperson of the Protest Committee within 48 hours.

32. Any player or coach with blood on their body or uniform must be removed from the playing field immediately. The blood must be cleaned up and removed.

33. Any team with 2 or more tournament players must play in the A Division of their age group. Broad approval must be attained in order to play in a lower division. Failure to adhere to the above rule will result in a forfeit of the season.

34. All complaints brought to the Board of Directors MUST be in writing.

35. All teams must file an umpire evaluation form for any games to Brenda if they have a problem with any umpire.

36. Non-adherence to any of these rules could result in a warning, probation, suspension, forfeit, and/or fine.

37. All other rules will be in accordance with the official ASA Rule Book.

38. SENIOR, JUNIOR, AND INTERMEDIATE DIVISIONS ONLY

Teams with 4 or more players involved in school playoffs may postpone a League game for playoff days only. This must be postponed through the Division Commissioner and in accordance with League rules for postponing (17) and rescheduling (18) games.

39. No player is allowed to play in the women's fast pitch league and be eligible for DelVal play. Failure to comply with this rule, will result in an expulsion from the DelVal League and forfeit all games played.

40. All senior players must play in at least ONE HALF of the teams scheduled games in order to qualify for playoffs.

41. ALL HEAD COACHES AND BASE COACHES MUST BE DRESSED IN DELVAL SHIRT OR TEAM OR ORGANIZATION SHIRT. UMPIRES WILL ONLY RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO ARE PROPERLY DRESSED. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A $5.00 FINE PAYABLE TO THE LEAGUE TREASURY.

42. PEE WEE DIVISION ONLY

a. Only 10 batters may come to bat in an inning. If the 10th batter bats, the inning ends when any of the following occurs:

1) The next out occurs. This will be considered the third out of the inning.

2) A dead ball is declared after the batter has become a baserunner.

3) The ball is returned to any fielder, and she has control of the ball touching home plate. EXCEPTION:

Seventh inning is played until 3 outs are made.

b. No walking the tenth batter

EXCEPTION: The offensive team may elect to accept a walk anytime after the batter has reached a count of 4 balls.

c. No infield fly for the Pee Wee Division.

d. No base stealing for the Pee Wee Division.

e. No attempt may be made by any fielder to pick a runner off base.

f. No dropped third strike for the Pee Wee Division. Automatic out.

g. It is not required that Pee Wees slide.

h. Play will become dead when a PITCHER has CONTROL of the ball within 8 feet of the pitching rubber and makes NO play on any runner. Runners half way or more to the next base at any time of the control will get the next base. Runners less than half way will be returned to the previous base. A runner will not be awarded more than the base she was entitled to if forced by a trailing runner.

i. No bunting allowed in Pee Wees.

j. First place team in each division are champs. NO

PLAYOFFS.

k. A PITCHER IS NOT ALLOWED TO WINDMILL IN THE PEE WEE NON WINDMILL DIVISIONS. THE PITCHER WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY BY THE UMPIRE IF SHE WINDMILLS.