Adult softball rules and information

The City of Lakewood adult softball leagues follow the SCMAF Slow Pitch Softball rule book unless stated otherwise below.

General rules

• No alcoholic beverages allowed.

  Lakewood Municipal Code, Article IV, Chapter 5, Section 400, states: “Drinking in public places. No person shall drink any malt, spirituous or vinous liquor containing more than 1/2 of 1% of alcohol by volume...within any area maintained by City for park and recreation purposes, or in any automobile parking lot...owned, maintained or operated by the City...”

  If a team or team spectator is in violation of this rule, the team may have their games forfeited and may be subject to expulsion from the league with no refund.

• An ejected player will be suspended for that game and must leave the facility. In addition, the player will be suspended from the next scheduled game. Depending on the player’s actions, suspensions for additional games or the entire season may result.

• Trash talking, taunting and foul language: The City of Lakewood Recreation and Community Services Department emphatically rejects this negative activity. Such behavior only serves to make difficult situations worse. The overwhelming majority of players involved in the City of Lakewood’s Adult Sports programs are looking for positive recreational activities. Everyone involved shares the responsibility of eliminating negative behaviors like trash talking, taunting and foul language from both participants and spectators. If a team, or a team’s spectator, violates the standards of good sportsmanship, that team may have their games forfeited and may be subject to expulsion from the league without refund.

• Fighting will not be tolerated.

  The Recreation and Community Services Department will not tolerate any instigation of or participation in any hostile actions toward players, spectators or City staff. Appropriate punishment for anyone involved in a fight, whether as a participant or instigator, will be determined by the league director based on an investigation of the events.

  Punishment will be a suspension at a minimum, but potential actions could include expulsion from the league without refund for both the individual player and/or the entire team, depending on the severity of the transgression and the results of the investigation. Protests will not be accepted for a game in which a fight occurs.

• The roster submitted for application to the league is the official roster of the team. Rosters are always limited to a maximum of 16 players. Slow pitch teams must always maintain a minimum of 10 players on the roster.

  Each team will be limited to roster changes as follows:

  • Lakewood resident teams must maintain no fewer than eight Lakewood residents on the roster at all times. If a Lakewood resident is added to the roster, proof of residence must accompany the roster addition form for that player to count toward the minimum.
  • Each manager has been provided with official forms for roster changes. All additions must be submitted on the official form to the umpire or scorer prior to a game before a new player is eligible. New players must sign the roster change form before they are eligible.
  • Each team may add up to five players. If a team needs to add more than five players, a $10 administrative fee will be charged for each additional player.
  • The last game to add or drop players is the fourth game of the season.
  • Once a player has been dropped from the roster, they will not be eligible to compete with that team for the remainder of the season.
  • All players are limited to playing on one team in any of the softball leagues. For example, a player may not play on two Men’s Slow Pitch teams. Penalty: The player is immediately declared ineligible, and the League Supervisors will determine subsequent eligibility.
  • Players must be at least 16 years old. Players under 18 years old must have a signed parental waiver. Team rosters are limited to a maximum of five players under the age of 18.

Penalty for violation of eligibility rules

Any team discovered using an ineligible player, such as a non-roster player or player playing under an assumed name, will be penalized with the declaration of each game involved forfeited and will receive two minus points in the standings for each game. In addition, the offending team will be placed on probation.

Note: With probable cause, an umpire or league director may ask for verification of identity from a possible illegal player. A team discovered by the umpire or league director to be playing an illegal player shall suffer the consequences stated above.

Additional general rules

• Only the manager or a designated player may address the umpire.
• Games have a time limit of 55 minutes or seven innings. No new inning may begin after 55 minutes.
• Games may only go into an extra inning to break a tie if there is time remaining before the time limit when the seventh inning ends.
• There is a 10-minute grace period for the first game of the day only. For all other games, game time is forfeit time.
• Game time begins when the umpire calls both managers for the pre-game meeting.
• Any game forfeited due to an insufficient number of players to begin the game will result in the loss of one point in standings for the team that forfeits.
• Forfeit of a practice game will also result in a loss of one point. The team that forfeits will start league play with minus one championship point.
• Forfeits declared by the umpire due to player ejection or team misconduct will result in the loss of one point.
• Forfeits due to violation of player eligibility rules will result in the loss of two points.
• Once a game has begun with enough players, a team that drops below the minimum number of required players due to injury will forfeit the game but will not be assessed a penalty of a loss of one point in standings.
• No loud radios or distracting sounds are allowed from the dugouts.
• The score recorded by the scorekeeper is the official and final score.
• Non-playing personnel are not allowed on the field or in the dugout.
• Metal cleats are not allowed. A player discovered using illegal cleats will be ejected from the game immediately. The player will be ejected from the next scheduled game as well.
• All SCMAF slow pitch base-running rules will be in effect.
• No base stealing. Runners may lead off only after the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. See the SCMAF rule book for specific details.

Bat rules

• All composite barrel and multiple wall bats are banned in City of Lakewood Adult Softball Leagues.
• No bat may exceed 1.20 performance levels.
• Players using a banned bat will be ejected from the game and the next scheduled game.
• If you have a question regarding the legality of a specific bat, please contact Jonathan Gorne at jgorne@lakewoodca.gov.
• Two-piece bats that have a composite handle are allowed if the barrel is single wall non-composite.
• All bats will be sanctioned by A.S.A./U.S.A. Softball rulings. If a bat is declared illegal for play by A.S.A./U.S.A. Softball, that bat will not be legal to use in the City of Lakewood Adult Softball League.

Protests

• Disputes involving rule interpretations may be protested by the manager of the team by orally informing the umpire before the game resumes, following the incident.
• The use of an ineligible player must be protested by the manager prior to or immediately after the player's first at bat, before the next batter following the protested player receives their first pitch.
• In protest situations regarding rule interpretation or a player's eligibility, in addition to the protest lodged on the field, a written protest detailing the specific ruling or player being protested must be submitted by the protesting team’s manager in writing to the Recreation Department at City Hall, or emailed to the league director, no later than 5 p.m. the next working day.
• Protests involving judgment will not be considered.
• If a protest is upheld, the game will be replayed from the point of protest, only if the protested call had a bearing on the outcome of the game.

Pitching

The pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter at a moderate speed. The ball must arc higher than the batter's head at a minimum, and not more than 16 feet above the ground. If, in the opinion of the umpire, the ball is pitched too fast or without proper arc, it shall be called a ball unless the batter attempts to hit the pitch, in which case the pitch shall be considered legal.

Strike zone

The strike zone shall be determined by a rectangle on the ground extending 17 inches back from the rear point of home plate, making a 17-inch by 34-inch strike zone. A legally pitched ball not struck at that touches any part of the strike zone will be ruled a strike by the umpire. Catchers must allow the ball to land on the strike zone for a called strike.

Warm-up rule

Pitchers will be allotted three warm-up pitches prior to pitching their first inning and one pitch prior to each succeeding inning they pitch. No ball will go out for warm-up for infielders or outfielders after the first inning.

Game details

• Game balls and umpires will be provided.
• Use 12-inch softballs.
• Pitching height is 16 feet.
• Batters start with a 1-1 count.
• Bases are 60 feet in all leagues.
• Pitching distance for slow pitch is 50 to 56 feet.
• There is no mercy rule in effect.

Double base rule

A double base is used at first base. The following rules apply:

• A batted ball that hits the inside base shall be declared fair, and a batted ball that hits the outside base shall be declared foul.
• When a play is being made on the batter-runner attempting to reach first base, the batter-runner must use the outside base. On any hit where there is no play being made on the batter-runner at first base, the batter-runner may touch either base.
• The batter-runner must use the outside base on the first attempt at first base. However, should they reach safely and go beyond first base, they must return to the inside base.
• Should the batter-runner round first base after a hit, they must return to the inside base.
• On any force-out attempt by the defense from the foul side of first base, the defense and batter-runner may use either base.
• In the case that a batter-runner touches the incorrect base, it shall be treated as though the batter missed the base. If an appeal is made prior to the batter-runner returning to the base, the batter-runner shall be declared out.

Players code of conduct

The Players Code of Conduct is governed by the City of Lakewood Softball League. Procedures covering its use and implementation and any necessary penalties are the responsibility of the City of Lakewood Adult Softball League Supervisors.

• No player shall: At any time lay a hand upon, push, shove, strike or threaten to strike an official.

  Penalty: Officials are required to immediately suspend the player from further play and report the player to the League Supervisors. The player shall remain suspended until their case has been considered by the League Supervisors.

• No player shall: Refuse to abide by the official’s decision.

  Penalty: Officials are required to immediately suspend the player from further play and report the player to the League Supervisors. The player shall remain suspended until their case has been considered by the League Supervisors.

• No player shall: Be guilty of objectionable demonstration by throwing gloves, bats or any other forceful action.

  Penalty: The degree of infraction of this tenet of good sportsmanship shall, in the official’s judgment, draw a minimum penalty of warning or a maximum penalty of removal from the game. Officials are required to immediately suspend from further play any player who throws a bat in an unsportsmanlike manner.

• No player shall: Be guilty of heaping personal, verbal abuse upon any official for any real or imaginary wrong decision of judgment.

  Penalty: Officials are required to immediately suspend the player from further play and report the player to the League Supervisors. The player shall remain suspended until their case has been considered by the League Supervisors.

• No player shall: Discuss with an official in any manner the decision reached by such official, except the manager or captain.

  Penalty: The degree of infraction of this tenet of good sportsmanship shall, in the official’s judgment, draw a minimum penalty of warning or a maximum penalty of removal from the game.

• No player shall: Be guilty of using unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body and person of any opposing player.

  Penalty: Officials are required to immediately suspend the player from further play and report the player to the League Supervisors. The player shall remain suspended until their case has been considered by the League Supervisors.

• No player shall: Be guilty of using physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, official or spectator.

  Penalty: Officials are required to immediately suspend the player from further play and report the player to the League Supervisors. The player shall remain suspended until their case has been considered by the League Supervisors.

Procedures for inclement weather

On days when weather conditions may be a concern, such as rain, days after rain, severe wind or a smog alert, a manager may call Mae Boyar Park at 562-925-6912 when there is any question regarding the schedule.

Please call after 3 p.m. on weekdays or noon on weekends, and park staff will be able to advise you of the current conditions. If games have not yet been canceled, teams should be prepared to play. Please note that all attempts to play games as scheduled will be made. Games can, and will, sometimes be called as late as the scheduled game time, if necessary.

Determination of league champions

For Men’s Slow Pitch and Ko-Rec Slow Pitch, at the conclusion of all league play, there will be a single elimination playoff tournament. The tournament will take the top four places from each league.

If a tie exists at the end of league play, head-to-head play will be the first tie-breaker. If head-to-head does not break the tie and the tie exists between two teams already qualified for the tournament, a coin flip will determine seeding. If the tie exists between two teams tied for the fourth and final playoff spot, and head-to-head record does not resolve the tie, a one-game tie-breaker will be played.

Schedule and standings

League schedules and standings are available online through the City of Lakewood eCatalog. Participants can view schedules, scores and standings by visiting Lakewood eCatalog. Select “Sports” on the top banner, then navigate to the appropriate league to view the schedule and standings.

Pickup player rule

This rule is to minimize or prevent on-field forfeited games. The following is acceptable only with the opposing manager’s consent. Without consent, penalties will be applied.

• With the opposing manager’s consent, a team may utilize up to four "Pickup Players" to bring the total number of players to 10.
• The total number of pickup players allowed is also at the opposing manager’s discretion.
• The opposing manager can elect to limit the other team to playing with only the minimum needed of eight players.

Illegal player penalties: If, at any point during a game, an illegal player is discovered by a Lakewood official and/or opposing manager, the opposing manager will be consulted as to whether they wish to:

• Remove the illegal player from the game, which may result in a forfeit if a team no longer has the minimum number required to play.
• Continue playing using the pickup player rule.
• Receive an automatic win by forfeit due to cheating.

There will be no exceptions and no discussions after a decision is finalized.

• If rostered team members arrive late, the corresponding number of pickup players must leave the game.
• Pickup players may only play the following defensive positions: catcher or right field. Right-center and left-center field are allowed if more than two pickup players are used.
• Pickup players may only bat at the bottom of a lineup.
• Pickup players may never be used during playoff and/or championship games.
• Pickup players must be 18 or older.
• Pickup players must be registered on the official roster of a team playing in the current season of the Lakewood Adult Sports program.

Lineup card requirements: Managers must make it clear to the scorekeeper when using pickup players.

• List the player on the lineup card as a pickup player or put a “P” in front of their name clearly.
• Pickup players must be listed on the lineup card using their real names.
• Pickup players may not be placed onto a lineup under a rostered player’s name. This is illegal.

Note: If the opposing manager consents to the pickup player rule, they have waived any win by forfeit they may have received, and the game will be played as normal. The game will be considered a legal game. No protests related to player eligibility will be accepted after a game is played.

Game times and forfeits

A forfeit will be declared when a team does not have eight eligible players on the field ready to play at the following times:

Supplemental ground rules

Balls hit over the basketball court fence at San Martin Park will be awarded a home run. Balls that travel under, through or get stuck in the fence will be awarded three bases.

Men’s Slow Pitch rules

Lineup and substitution: Prior to the beginning of each game, the manager will declare the method of lineup to be used by their team: regular or free.

• The regular method will consist of the traditional lineup of 10 players playing both offense and defense. A player may be replaced by a substitute, at which time the removed player is not eligible to participate for the remainder of that game.
• The free method allows a team the option of batting any number of legally rostered players from 10 to 16, with any remaining players withheld as substitutes.
• In either the free or regular method, substitutes must be designated prior to the game.
• Any batter failing to bat for any reason, regardless of the number of batters in the batting order, will be called out the first time their spot is skipped in the order.
• If the player is unable to continue in the game, their spot in the lineup will be skipped for the remainder of the game with no further penalty.
• The choice to play regular or free may not be changed once the game has begun.

The purpose of this rule is to enhance the recreational philosophy of the program. There is no disadvantage imposed on any team, as everyone has the freedom of choice, yet the ability to involve more players on a regular basis is created.

Note: Any player arriving late may play. If a regular lineup has been declared, they may enter as a substitute. In a free lineup, they must be placed at the bottom of the existing lineup.

Rules emphasis:

• If the second foul ball after two strikes, also known as the four-strike rule, is caught on the fly and the fielder remains in the live playing area, the ball is alive and in play. Runners may advance as on any other fly out.
• The infield fly rule is enforced in Men’s Slow Pitch.

Ko-Rec Softball rules

Lineup and substitution: All team members must bat. The batting order must alternate male, female, etc. The original batting order cannot change during the game, unless to add late-arriving players.

• Roster players arriving late may be inserted at the end of the lineup.
• At no time may two males bat consecutively for a team.
• If a team has more male players than female players, the team must form two separate batting orders, one for male players and one for female players, and alternate between the two lineups.

Example: Team X has five female players and seven male players. Two batting orders are created:

The order in which Team X players bat will be:

Eventually, Male 1 will follow Female 3, Female 4, Female 5 and so on.

If a team only has eight players present, the ratio must be either 4:4 or 5:3 women to men. A 3:5 women-to-men ratio will not be allowed.

Rules emphasis:

• The infield fly rule will not be enforced.

Defensive alignment

A minimum of three outfielders must remain behind an outfield restriction line, which is a 180-foot arc from home plate, until the batter swings at the pitch. When a female is batting, the rover may be any player, male or female.

Penalty: The batter is awarded first base unless they reach first base safely, in which case no penalty will be imposed.

Intentional walk rule

The SCMAF intentional walk rule will be implemented as stated below:

A male batter who is walked on four consecutive balls with no strikes thrown during his time at bat shall be awarded second base. Base runners advance only if forced to vacate their bases.