RUSSELL ARTHUR SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION (RASSA)
2022 RULES OF PLAY FOR DAY LEAGUES Download Here
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2022 RUSSELL ARTHUR SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION (RASSA)
RULES OF PLAY THE FOR MORNING LEAGUES
League games will be played in accordance with the Senior Softball USA Rules for the current
year with the following local rules, exceptions, clarifications or points of emphasis.
Rule 1: The Playing Field:
Section 1: League games will be played at Liberty Park, on either Field #5 or #9. Start times
will be determined by the Board of Directors (the Board).
Section 2: Base line length will be 70 feet; and pitching distance will be 50 feet. Pitchers may
pitch from up to 6 feet directly behind the pitching rubber.
Section 3: Home Plate, for purposes of balls and strikes, will be modified by a rubber,
removable plate which extends the length of the plate to 36 inches and the width to 19 inches.
A second home or “scoring” plate will be placed in line with the main Home Plate, approximately
3 – 4 feet from Home Plate.
Section 4: The field will be marked with an arc at 170 feet from Home Plate. The four outfielders
may not cross inside this arc before the ball is hit. Outfielders may not throw the batter/runner
out at first base. If a ball is touched by an infielder before it gets to the grass, another infielder
can still throw the runner out at first base, even though he or she is on the outfield grass.
Section 5: The Home Team of the first game will set up the field equipment for play, while the
Home Team for the second game will dismantle and store the field equipment.
Section 6: All infielders must begin their defensive play on the infield dirt, but may move
anywhere after the ball is hit to make a play.
Rule 2: Equipment:
Section 1: Any bat approved by SSUSA may be used. Fast pitch bats may not be used.
Section 2: The 12-inch softball used by the league will be an optic yellow, .44 Core, 375
compression balls. One new ball will be used per game, with backup balls selected from balls
used in previous games.
Section 3: Metal cleats or spikes are not allowed.
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Section 4: A pitcher’s net must be used. The net is to be placed approximately 3 to 5 feet in
front of the pitching rubber and must cover 1⁄2 of the pitching rubber on the glove side of the
pitcher. As a guideline, there will be a marker in the middle of the pitching rubber, and a chalk
line will extend out 5 feet from that point toward home plate; and there will be a chalk line crossing
that line 3 feet from the pitching rubber. This Rule will be enforced by the Home Plate Umpire.
Pitchers are strongly encouraged, but not required, to wear a pitcher’s mask.
Rule 3: Teams, Substitutes and New Players:
Section 1: Since our objective is to give all players as much playing time as possible, we will
play 11 players on defense. It will be the Manager’s responsibility to have at least 11 players
available for each game by picking up substitutes, if necessary, in accordance with Section 3
below. A team with 11 players will be allowed to play 11 on defense, even if the other team has
only 10 players. In other words, if the Manager does not pick up an 11th player, his team will be
playing at a defensive disadvantage. If one team has 12 players, the Manager can offer one of
their players to give the other team 11 players. The opposing Manager will decide if they want
the additional player or if they prefer to play with 10.
Section 2: When there is an 11th defensive player in the game, he or she must be placed in the
outfield. This fifth outfielder, as well as the other 4 outfielders, can play anywhere the Manager
wishes, as long as they are beyond the 170-foot outfield line. This means that the fifth (or extra)
outfielder also will be subject to Rule 1: Section 4.
Section 3: Managers are responsible for assuring that a sufficient number of players are
available. All roster players attending the game who are able to play will be put in the batting
order and given the opportunity to play relatively equal time on defense, even if it means playing
them out of their normal position. If a team has fewer than 11 players available, Substitute
Players in the player rating group (or lower) of the missing players may be picked up from other
teams. Managers are responsible for picking up substitutes as needed well prior to the start of
the game, and at least the day before if possible. The two Managers and the League Director
will meet at Home Plate 5 minutes prior to each game to make sure substitutes are replacing
missing players in accordance with the above stated rule. These Substitute Players must be
placed at the end of the batting order, unless the player being replaced is a highly skilled player
who was initially assigned to the team and is not playing because of: 1) dropping out; 2) being
currently injured or having surgery; or 3) not being available to play until a later date. In these
cases, the Manager can replace that player with a another highly skilled player, even if the team
already has 11 players; and has the option of placing the substitute player anywhere in the
batting order.
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Section 4: When a Manager has a need for substitutes, he must pick up only the players who
play full time in his league. In other words, if a player only plays in the Tuesday League, he
cannot be picked up as a sub in the Thursday League (and vice versa). If the Manager’s team
is in a league where there are an odd number of teams, and as a result a given team has a bye,
his priority should be to pick up substitute players from the team with a bye.
Section 5: If a roster player arrives late, he will replace his Substitute at the start of the next
half-inning and must bat in his Substitute’s place in the batting order. If a team has fewer than
10 players at a given point in a game due to an injury, illness, disqualification for misconduct or
any other reason, a player of equal or lower player rating group may be picked up if one is
available. This player will bat in the spot occupied by the departing player. If no Substitute
Player is available, an out will not be recorded when the vacant position in the lineup is due at
bat.
Section 6: If a team does not have a player capable of playing shortstop or pitcher, the Manager
may pick-up a player for either or both positions, even if the team has 10 or more players present.
The regular shortstop being replaced typically will be in the higher rated player group, so there
is no issue in replacing him. On the other hand. the regular pitcher being replaced could be in
any of the player rating groups. Therefore, the substitute pitcher should be a player in an equal
or lower group. As always, each Manager and the League Director must be in agreement with
any such pick-up prior to the beginning of the game. If a player on the team is present and
capable of playing shortstop or pitcher, but might normally play another position, the team will
be required to put the player in as shortstop or pitcher and not pick-up a Substitute Player for
either position.
Section 7: If a team has 11 players available, but 3 players are not able to play outfield, the
Manager can pick up a substitute player for the outfield at the highest level of his 12th or 13th
missing player.
Section 8: If a player joins the league during the season, he or she will be temporarily assigned
to a team until evaluated and assigned a rating by the Commissioner and League Directors.
Once the rating is determined, he or she will be assigned to a permanent team by the
Commissioner in consultation with the League Directors and Managers.
Rule 4: The Game:
Section 1: Games will normally be 7 innings. When the offensive team has scored 5 runs in
an inning, they must take the field, unless it is the 7th inning or “open inning” where the number
of runs scored is unlimited.
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Section 2: If the game is tied after seven innings, one extra inning will be played and runs will
be limited to 5 per team. The batter who made the last out for each team in the seventh inning
will start as a runner at second base in the extra inning. If the game is still tied after one extra
inning, the game will be declared a tie for record purposes. If a game is limited to six innings due
to extreme heat and is tied after six innings, the same rules will apply as stated above.
Section 3: Teams will flip/flop batting if the visiting team has at least an eight-run lead at the
end of the sixth inning. In other words, the team behind (the Home Team) will bat twice
consecutively (taking its 6th inning at-bats AND its 7th inning at-bats in succession). If the team
behind should take the lead or tie, the other team (the visitors) will get its 7th inning at-bat that
was skipped.
Section 4: During the hottest part of the season (typically July and August) the game may be
limited to 6 innings; and all of the above referenced 6th and 7th innings, will apply to the 5th and
6
th innings of the shortened game.
Section 5: If one team is ahead by 15 runs after five full innings, the game will be declared over,
unless the team behind requests to continue playing.
Section 6: In the case of rain, the team winning after four or more complete innings will be
declared the winner for record purposes. The one exception to this rule is as follows: If the
home team is ahead after a half inning and at least four full innings have been played at the time
the game is called, the home team will be declared the winner. Otherwise, the game will be
declared a rainout.
Rule 5: Pitching:
Section 1: Any pitch that reaches its highest point above the playing surface at less than 6 feet
or more than 12 feet is declared an ILLEGAL PITCH by the plate Umpire and will be called a
“ball.” It will be at the discretion of the batter as to whether or not he swings at the pitch. If the
ball is hit, it is in play.
Section 2: There will be no intentional walks. In other words, pitchers must pitch to each batter.
Rule 6: Batting:
Section 1: A strike is called by the Umpire for each legally pitched ball that lands on, before
bouncing, any portion of the entire extended Home Plate (19 inches by 36 inches).
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Section 2: A ball is called by the Umpire for each legally pitched ball that does not land on any
portion of the entire extended Home Plate. The pitched ball must be thrown in an arc ranging
from 6 to 12 feet. Otherwise, it declared an illegal flat or high pitch by the umpire and is also a
“ball,” unless swung at by the batter.
Section 3: Each batter will start his turn at bat with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. If a batter has
2 strikes and then hits a foul ball, the batter gets another strike. If the batter then hits another
foul ball, the batter is out. The ball is dead, and the Runners may not advance, unless a fielder
catches the foul ball.
Section 4: Any ball that is hit outside either foul line will be called a foul ball by the Umpire. If
a fielder is attempting to catch a ball in foul territory, it is still a foul ball based on where the ball
is (not the player).
Section 5: If a ball is hit and it strikes the pitcher’s net before the pitcher touches it, it will be
considered a dead ball foul. If a ball it hit towards the pitcher’s net and the pitcher touches it
prior to it striking the net, the ball is considered live and in play until time is called.
Section 5: Any foul tip caught by the catcher will be declared an out by the Umpire, regardless
of how high in the air it goes.
Section 6: The batter is out if he carries his bat to first base.
Rule 7: Runner and Defensive Player:
Section 1: No leading off is allowed. Runners must stay on the base until the ball is hit. If the
ball hits the ground without the batter swinging, or if the batter swings and misses, the Runner
is allowed one (relax) step off the base.
Section 2: When overrunning first base, the batter must touch the alternate red/orange base
outside the regular white base if a play is made on him, unless he utilizes the regular base to
avoid a collision (Umpire’s decision).
Section 3: When running to second base, it is the Runner’s responsibility to stay out of the way
of the defensive player attempting a double play by ducking, sliding or running to either side of
the base. Also, when a runner is approaching first, second or third base, both he and the
defensive player always should make every effort to avoid a collision.
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Section 4: If a runner continues beyond either 2B or 3B, he runs the risk of being tagged out.
If a runner gets to second or third base and is called safe, but then falls off the base and is
tagged by the defensive player, the call of out or safe will depend the umpire’s view of whether
or not the runner was pushed off the base by the defensive player.
Rule 8: Pinch Runner
Section 1: A Pinch Runner is in the game when announced by the offensive team Manager.
Section 2: There is no limit on how many times a Pinch Runner can run either during an inning
or during a gam
Section 3: If a Pinch Runner comes up to bat while he is on base, another substitute runner
can pinch run for him.
Section 4: When running for a batter, the Pinch Runner will start behind a chalked line, which
will be drawn parallel to and 3 feet back from the 3rd base foul line. The Pinch Runner is under
the “honor system” to not step over the line until the ball is struck by the batter.
Rule 9: Home Plate:
Section 1: Defensive Players can only touch the original Home Plate (the batter’s Home Plate)
and Runners can only touch the second Home Plate (the scoring Home Plate).
Section 2: In order to be safe at home, Runners must touch the second Home Plate located
adjacent to the right-handed batter’s box, located 3 – 4 feet from the original Home Plate.
Section 3: Should a defensive player with the ball touch any portion of the original Home Plate
before the Runner reaches the second Home Plate, the Runner is out.
Section 4: If the Runner touches the original Home Plate, the Runner will be out and the ball
will remain live.
Section 5: Once the Runner crosses the commitment line (located on the 3rd base foul line, 20
feet from Home Plate), he or she must touch the Scoring Home Plate before the catcher touches
Original Home Plate in order to score a run. The catcher must touch the Original Home Plate to
make the put out, and cannot do so by tagging the runner. If the runner crosses the commitment
line and attempts to return to third base, he or she will be called out and the ball remains live.
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Rule 10: Infield Fly Rule:
Section 1: There is no infield fly rule; however, if in the judgment of the Umpire, an infielder
intentionally drops a line drive that results in a double-play, he will credit that infielder with a
catch/out, and the Runners will return to the bases they occupied before the play.
Rule 11: Throws to First Base:
Section 1: When a batter hits a ball that results in a throwing or fielding error at first base
(including a bad throw by an infielder or any ball missed by the first baseman), the batter can
only advance as far as second base at his own risk regardless of where the ball ends up on the
playing field. There is no limit to how far a runner (or runners) already on base can run as long
as the ball is in play.
Section 2: If the ball goes outside the playing field (e.g., inside the dugout), it is a dead ball. In
that case, the batter running to first base automatically gets second base; and the other base
runners get the bag they are running toward plus one more base or home plate.
Rule 12: Home Run Rule:
Section 1: Two Home Runs over the fence by the same team will be allowed in a game. Any
subsequent fair ball hit out of the park by that team will be recorded as a “dead ball” single. If a
team is using a substitute player and that player hits a homerun over the fence, it will be declared
a “dead ball” single. In both situations of a “dead ball” single, runners on base will be allowed to
advance one base only if they are in a position to be forced out. Any other runners will remain
on the base they are on.
Rule 13: Yearend League Championship Playoffs and World Series Games:
Section 1: The standings for the Tuesday and Thursday Morning Leagues will be kept
throughout the season and will be posted on the RASSA Web Site (bamaseniorsoftball.org).
Section 2: Yearend single elimination round robin League Championships Playoffs will be
played at the end for both the Tuesday and Thursday Morning Leagues with pairings based on
the standings for the total season. The two winning League Champions will then play a best 2
out 3 game World Series Championship.
Section 3: A separate schedule for the yearend League Playoff and World Series
Championship games will be published once the yearend standings are known in each league.
Games only will be scheduled on either Tuesdays or Thursdays.
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Section 4: Any special rules applying to the League Playoff and World Series Championship
games which are different from regular season Rules of Play will be separately published.
Section 5: It is very important to remember that the League Playoff and World Series
Championship games are intended to encourage fun competition. Therefore, it is very important
for both Managers and Players to keep this in perspective and behave accordingly.