Adult Rec Softball League

Amsterdam Recreation Commission Softball Rules and Regulations​

A. Organization and Administration

1. Each team will pay the umpire $20 each per game.​
2. Official ASA Softball Rules govern league play supplemented by local rules.
3. Managers not in agreement with the other team’s roster must notify the umpire before the game starts.  The umpire will then notify the opposing manager. If the umpire is not notified prior to the start of the game the roster will be deemed valid.
4. Bats need to have official ASA stamp to be eligible for use.  Ultra ​2 bats are not allowed.
5. Pitchers are not allowed to hop.​
6. Players must play in eight games to be eligible for playoffs.
7. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT ON THE FIELD WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT ALL.  The umpire will issue only one warning with a second incident resulting in ejection from the game and/or premises.  If said violation involves several players the game will be forfeited.  A second occurrence will result in suspension or expulsion from the league.
8. Final decisions in all phases of Recreation Softball will come under the Recreation Commission.​
9. Any individual or team that fails to observe the rules and regulations shall be subject to explosion from further competition and shall forfeit the entry and player fees paid.
10. The Recreation and the city of Amsterdam give notice that it assumes no responsibility for injury to any player or spectator.  Coaches are responsible to notify all players and fans of this rule.​
11. The Recreation Softball League cannot commit the Recreation Commission to any expenditure without their consent.​
12. Membership of each team shall be open to all players regardless of residency.
13. Game time for all games is 6:15pm.  Playoff games will begin at 6pm.
14. A complete game will consist of 4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead and five innings if the home team is trailing. All suspended regulation games will be picked up where they were stopped.
15. The first game rained out of each week shall be rescheduled on Friday of that week on the same field.  Please let the umpire know that a game is going to be played on Friday. The Recreation Department will reschedule additional rainouts during the same week. Any game not rescheduled will be deemed a loss for both teams involved at season’s end. 
16. Any team failing to field a team at 6:15 will suffer a forfeit loss. If both teams fail to field a team both teams will receive a loss and the game will not be rescheduled. A $50 fee will be charged after the first forfeit.  This money must be paid BEFORE YOUR NEXT GAME OR YOU CANNOT PLAY.  If the fee is not paid said team would not be allowed to play any further games.  Should a team forfeit a second time they will automatically be dropped from play for the remainder of the season. ​
17. A team may start and end a game with nine players.  The opposing team may still play with ten.  If a team has only eight players present from their roster they may select a ninth player that is not on their roster as long as the opposing coach is in agreement.​
18. If a player’s name appears on more than one roster the team he plays with first becomes his official team.​
19. Any player playing with another team in either league will automatically be suspended for the remainder of the season.  The second team he played with will forfeit the game to the offended team.​​​
20. Absolutely no spikes may be used other than those of rubber composition.  Violations will result in a forfeit.​
21. In case of rain both managers and the umpire shall meet at the field and decide on whether the game shall be played.​
22. After the start of a game it is solely the umpire’s discretion on whether to continue or postpone a game because of weather or darkness.
23. The EH can now enter the game for any position player at any time. He is basically the same as any other position player.​
24. Re-entry for the pitcher is the same as for any other player.
25. Any courtesy runner will be picked by the opposing coach.  The opposing coach can also deny the use of a courtesy runner.
26. Rosters are due by June 30th.
27. All teams will receive line-up cards that must be presented to the umpire and opposing coach before every game. Only players that are present can be on card. The umpire and opposing coach will verify your game roster and sign card. The umpire will keep the cards. This will ensure players were at eight games and may participate in playoff games.

​B. Protests and Procedures

(a) A game may not be protested on a question of judgement on the part of the umpire, but questions of rules interpretation may be basis for protest.

(b) Only a manger, or in their absence a designated official of a team may ask for clarification of rules interpretation in question.

(c) A protest must be made to the umpire at point of rules infraction by the manager only, or in his absence a designated official of the team.  The umpire will then inform the manager of the opposing team that the game is being played under protest.  If the protesting team wins the game the protest will be dropped.  A written protest must be submitted to the recreation office before 4pm the following day accompanied by a $25 fee which will be refunded if the protest is allowed and forfeited if not allowed.  In case of holiday or weekend the protest must be in on the first business day after the protest.

​(d) The Arbitration Board shall consist of the Advisory Board members from another league with at least one neutral member of the Rules Committee presiding.  The Arbitration Board must render a decision as soon as possible after the protest hearing.  The decision is final.  Both managers must be present with the Arbitration Board.  The board shall ask questions to each manager separately.  The board will then render a decision by secret ballot.