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Unless otherwise specified below, the Arlington Athletic & Social League follows the American Softball Association Rules.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Maximum # of 10 players (at least 3 women) in the field. Minimum number of players in the field/your starting line up is 8 (6 men/2 women). There is no maximum # of women allowed on the field/in your line-up. If playing with 8 or 9 players, no more than 6 men are allowed on the field at on time. If playing with 10 players, no more than 7 men are allowed on the field at one time.
GAME EQUIPMENT: The AASL will provide all bases and a new ball for each game. Gloves are not supplied and players must bring their own. It is also recommended that teams bring their own bats. Only ASA certified bats may be used (Summer 2010 Revision).
FORFEITS: If a team does not have the minimum number of players by game time, they must still start the game. If the minimum number of players do not show up by the completion of the start of the first 1/2 of the 1st inning the game will be considered a forfeit. As a courtesy, please give 24-notice if your team will be forfeiting.
START OF GAME: The home team will be listed first on the schedule. They will take the field first and use the first base benches. Both teams are responsible for keeping the score and having your scorebook in proper order. ALL changes to your scorebook must be given to the umpire and opposing team.
GAME CLOCK: All games will have a 60-minute time limit. All play will stop 60 minutes from the time your game begins, by completing the inning the game is currently in. The umpire will give a warning of what will be the last inning. If a rainout occurs while a game is in progress, 3 innings must be completed for the game to count. The umpire’s clock is the game clock and will inform both teams when the game has started. There is no minimum # of innings for a complete game if the time limit has been satisfied. There is only one warm-up pitch between innings and your team is expected to get on and off the field quickly. After your game is completed, please leave the field area ASAP. Championship games will not have a time limit to complete 7 innings, but the Mercy Rule will be in effect.
LINE-UP CARDS: Scorebooks will be given to coaches at the beginning of the season. Books must be filled out at the beginning of the game with the players' name. Completed books must be handed to the umpire when the ground rules are given.
FIELDING TEAM: Starting players may move freely from one field position to another at any time during the game. The batting order must stay the same despite any changes in field position.
BATTING ORDER: There is no maximum number of players allowed in your starting line-up. But, you must keep a "2 men to 1 woman" batting ratio at all times throughout your line up. If a team has less than enough women to accommodate this, then the women will bat twice in the order to obtain the 2 to 1 ratio. Teams must designate which women will bat twice on their line-up card. Only those women will be allowed to bat twice or the batting out of order rule will be enforced.
All late arriving players may be inserted at any time. Late arrivals must be inserted into the bottom of the batting order. The fielding team may place late arriving players in the field as they arrive. Make the umpire and opposing team aware of these additions.
BATTING OUT OF ORDER: If the error is discovered while the incorrect batter is hitting, then the correct batter will assume the ball/strike count of the incorrect batter. If the incorrect batter reaches base safely and the error is discovered, the correct batter will be called out. All runners will return to their original bag and the incorrect batter will return to the bench. The opposing team must make the umpire aware of "batting out of order" before a pitch is thrown to the next batter. If it is not, then the incorrect batter will stay on base.
BASE RUNNERS: The AASL is non-contact and all players must avoid unnecessary contact at all time. Runners must give themselves up, get out of the way or slide. A runner making contact with a fielder that is blocking the base/in the base path does not constitute necessary contact.
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INJURED RUNNER: Injured players may receive a pinch runner once they reach first base. No leading off or stealing. Runners can leave base once the ball is hit.
OUTFIELDERS: Outfielders must play 10 yards past the infield grass at all times. Umpires will give a warning if they are playing too close.
SCORING: 9 runs maximum scoring allowed per inning. After the ninth run crosses the plate, play will stop regardless of the # of outs (Exception: in the bottom of the last inning). The Mercy Rule will be put into effect if after completing five innings one team is ahead by 10 runs, then the game will be over.
PLAY-OFF TIE BREAKER: If the one-hour time limit has expired and the game is tied, a tiebreaker inning(s) will occur. All players will clear the field and the home team will take the field with the visiting team at bat. The batting order will continue from the previous inning. A runner, (player to make the last out in the previous inning) will be placed on second base. The batter will now have 2 balls and 2 strikes count on them (foul is an out). After 3 outs, the home team will start their inning with the same format. The tiebreaker will continue until a complete inning has resulted in one team scoring more runs than the other. Home team will always have the last opportunity to win the game.
OTHER RULES:
- Count starts at 1-1
- No bunting
- No stealing or leading
- A foul tip to be counted as an out must go above the player’s shoulders.
NEW REVISIONS as of Summer 2010:
- Infield fly rule in effect – An infield fly is a fair ball (not including a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when (A) first; first and second; or all three bases are occupied and (B) there are less than 2 outs. If the referee calls the ball an “Infield Fly,” then the batter is automatically out.
- Gender Walk Rule in effect – pitchers may not walk a male batter with 2 outs if the next batter is female. If a male batter is walked with 2 outs, he will receive a walk as well as the subsequent female batter.
- Strike Mats will be utilized. Pitches must have a slow pitch arch between 6 and 12 feet off the ground at its highest point. Any ball crossing the plate and touching the strike mat will be considered a strike.
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