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RULES - CHICO SENIOR SOFTBALL CLUB, INC. (CSSCI)
Revised as of February 13, 2008
1.PLAYING RULES: Chico Senior Softball will use the current Official ASA Rules and Playing Rules of Northern California
Senior Softball Association (NCSSA) except as modified here.
2.CLEATS: Metal spikes may not be used.
3.PITCHERS MOUND: The pitching area will be extended a distance of six feet behind the pitcher's mound and the width
of the pitcher's mound. The pitcher may start his delivery from anywhere within this area.
4. BANNED BATS: The Board of Directors has banned all the bats on the ASA list of banned bats as well as any composite
bat of more than 50% and any titanium bat. Any use of a banned bat in league play will result in ejection of the violating
player. Any new model bat issued within the previous 12 months must be approved by the Board of Directors prior to use.
5. STRIKE MAT: An extended home plate mat measuring 20" wide by 36" deep will be used. Only legal pitches hitting
the mat or plate will be called a strike.The strike mat also acts as home plate for purposes of a play at home.
6.FOUL STRIKE OUT: A foul ball on the third strike will be an out.
7.SYCAMORE FIELD: Any ball in fair territory striking a tree will be considered a dead ball (no pitch). Any ball striking
a tree in foul territory will be a foul ball whether caught or not.
8.BATTING LINE-UP: Managers must bat all team members who attend the game and are able to play.
9.PLAYER LEAVING GAME: If a player must leave the game for any reason before it is completed, his place in the batting
order may be bypassed without penalty. A pool player may be substituted for the player and will be added to the bottom of
the batting order.
10.RUN LIMIT: Teams are restricted to five runs per inning unless they are behind by more than seven runs, in which case
they will be allowed to score enough runs to be behind by two runs. In the final inning or extra inning of play, both teams
may score as many runs as they can.
11.TIME LIMIT: A time limit will be in effect for all regular season games as noted in the schedules. Time limits shall
be counted from the scheduled start time. At a point 10 minutes prior to the end of the scheduled time limit, the umpire
shall stop play and inform both teams that the current inning will be completed and the next inning will be the final inning.
Time limits may be extended at the umpire's discretion.
12.SHORTENED GAMES: If a game is to be shortened to less than seven innings by the umpire for reasons of time or safety,
the umpire must notify both teams before the start of the last inning allowed. If the umpire fails to do so, or the game
is called before the last inning is completed, either team may request a protest game which will be resolved by the Board
of Directors.
13.TIE GAMES: In the event of a tie game after regulation play, one extra inning may be played only if time has not expired.
Each team will start their half of the extra inning with the last batter from the previous inning at second base. If they
remain deadlocked after one extra inning the game will declared a tie. (Tie games will be counted in the standings as a half-win,
half-loss.)
14.FLIP-FLOP RULE: In the last inning to be played, if the home team is behind by more than 5 runs, the home team manager
may elect to have the home team bat first.
15.ENCROACHMENT LINE: An encroachment line shall be behind the infield in an arc from the third-base line to the first-base
line at a distance of 165 feet from home plate. Encroachment across this line by an outfielder toward home plate before the
ball is hit will result in the umpire awarding first base to the batter.
16.SCORING: A "scoring" plate shall be installed in the 3rd base foul territory parallel to home plate at a
distance sufficient to provide adequate safety; but at a minimum must be clear of the right hand batters box. When scoring,
the runner must touch the scoring plate unless it is necessary to veer off to avoid colliding with the fielder in which case
he may safely over-run .
On those fields where a scoring plate is unavailable a scoring line shall extend from the corner of home plate closest
to third base into foul territory at a ninety-degree angle from the third base line. To score, the runner must have a foot
or portion of the body down on the ground at a point on or beyond this line. The runner is out if he touches the plate or
mat or runs inside the batter's box. EXCEPTION: Runner will not be called out if he is veering toward home plate and the
batter's box to avoid a collision with the catcher or other defensive player.
17.SLIDING: A runner will be called out if he slides or dives into a base, however he may slide or dive returning to a
base after having once touched it.
18.OVER-RUNNING: Base runners, when advancing, are permitted to over run without liability of being retired. If the
base runner makes an obvious motion to advance, he is subject to being tagged out. If a base runner runs through without
intent to advance, and then wants to advance, he must re-touch the base before advancing. Violations result in the runner
being called out.
19.FIRST BASE DOUBLE BAG: A double bag will be used at first base. On all initial plays at first the runner must use
the outside (orange) bag ONLY and the defense the inside (white) bag ONLY. The runner may use the inside (white) bag if rounding
to advance or returning to the base or if the outside (orange) bag is blocked by the fielder.
20.VEERING: When advancing, the runner must veer in or veer out to avoid contact with the defensive fielder if a play
is being made at that base. Failure to veer will result in the runner being called out. The defensive fielder must stand clear
of the base and the runner's base path when no play is imminent in that area of the field. Second and third base will be
a force out (or tag out) the same as at first base.
21. COMMITMENT LINE: Base runners crossing a commitment line placed twenty feet from home plate in an attempt to score,
must continue to the plate and cannot return to third base. Penalty: runner is out. Other runners are not restricted from
advancing. (Line will be marked at ninety degrees from the third base line.)
22.COURTESY RUNNERS: Courtesy runners will be allowed at any time in the game with the umpire's permission. Any player
in the batting order may run, but only once per inning.
23.INTENTIONAL WALKS: Each batter may be walked only once per game. Any additional walks to the same batter will result
in that batter being awarded second base with all runners advancing if forced.
24.FORFEIT: Teams must have six team members at the start of the game. If a team is short of this number at game time,
the umpire shall call the game forfeit and the team with the required number of players will be awarded the win. If both
teams have less than six players at game time, the umpire shall declare a double forfeit and a tie game.
Each manager has the option to declare a forfeit for his team at any time. A forfeit in the first game must not delay
the second game in any way.
25.PLAYER POOL: During regular season play, all teams must field ten defensive players. To insure that all games are
played with ten, a player pool will be established for a blind drawing from other members of the league available at the game.
The team with the least number of team members present shall draw first and will continue to draw until their number equals
that of their opponent. Then the teams will alternate with the team with the most members present always picking first until
the player pool is exhausted or each team has ten.
For every pool player added, the team will be penalized one run. Pool players selected must bat at the end of the batting
order and may play any position.
If both teams have nine players and only one pool player remains, the pool player may catch for both teams and not bat.
If, after the game starts, and another pool player becomes available, drawing will continue. If, after the game starts and
a roster player arrives late, roster player will play with his team and the pool player will play for the other team. Team
not using a pool player will be awarded a run. If the player pool is short of players, nine defensive players will be allowed
in lieu of the required ten.
26.LATE ARRIVALS: If a team picks up pool players to make the requisite ten fielders and late team members arrive and
are able to play, pool players must give up their position so that regular team members may participate.
27.THROW TO FIRST FROM OUTFIELD: Any player who, in the opinion of the umpire, is making an effort to run to first base,
may not be thrown out at first by an outfielder.
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