NOTABLE RULES
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PITCHING:
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- SLOW PITCH - This means a pitcher has to throw in a 4-10-foot arc in a continuous motion forward. Strike zone is from the front shoulder to the back knee where the ball crosses the plate.
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- Any pitch that has too flat an arc or is too fast will be declared ILLEGAL by the umpire and ruled a ball unless the hitter decides to swing.
a. If the hitter swings at an illegal pitch and reaches base, play will continue as is.
b. If the hitter decides to swing at an illegal pitch and is called out, batter will be allowed to bat again and a ball will be added to the count.
- A pitcher will be given a warning by the umpire after throwing two illegal pitches in the same game. If a pitcher throws a third illegal pitch in the game, pitcher will no longer be allowed to pitch.
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BATTING:
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- BATTERS WILL BEGIN WITH A 1 BALL + 1 STRIKE COUNT (rule is in place to ensure timely start and finish to games).
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- All metal bats should have the “ASA Approved” logo, no wooden bats. Team captains are responsible for verifying that their opponent bats are legal and have the ASA Approved logo. If a bat is deemed not legal, it shall be removed from that point forward. Player caught using an illegal bat will result in an automatic out and the opponent team will be awarded 2 runs.
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- There is no maximum of players that can be penciled into a lineup. Once the lineup is set, any substitutions made are final and the relieved player can no longer bat.
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-All fielders must be part of the line up.
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- There are no Designated Hitters (DH) for Pitchers or any other fielders.
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START OF GAME:
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- ‘Ready for Play’ - A game will start if both teams have at least 8 players ready to take the field.
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- There will be a 10 min grace period after the scheduled time. If a team arrives later than this period, they will begin with a 4 run penalty. Example: if the game is scheduled for 9:00am, a team has until 9:10am to field 8 players. At 9:10:01am, a 4 run penalty will be applied to the team that was late.
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- If a team is 15 minutes late, the opponent has the right to take the 4 run penalty or force a forfeit. If a team chooses to enforce the 4 run penalty, they can no longer request forfeiture of the game once it has started.
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- No game will start after 20 minutes. The team with a complete team will be awarded a 10-0 victory. If both teams fail to show up on time, a 10-0 loss will be applied to both teams.
UNIFORMS:
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- All players in the field or dugout must wear the Metro Sports PR provided T-shirt from the current season or their team uniform by the first pitch. Failure to do so will result in 1 RUN PENALTY to your opponent at the start of the game. A team can have a mix of players wearing the Metro Sports PR supplied T-shirt from the current season and their team uniform without receiving a penalty.
- NO METAL SPIKES. (For safety concerns)
ROSTERS:
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- Teams need to have finalized rosters before the first day of the season.
- ALL Players must have signed online waivers in order to play.
- If a team captain decides to invite players not included in the official roster to play, he (the captain) is responsible for making sure those players have signed waivers.
​- ONLY Players registered in the original roster and that have played in at least 2 regular season games will be allowed to participate in the playoffs. Roster substitutions for injured player will be allowed during the season.
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GAMEPLAY:
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- Games are 6 innings long.
Extra Innings: If a game is tied by the end of the 6th inning, two runners will start on 1B and 2B to begin the next inning. The batter who leads off the inning shall continue to be the batter who would lead off the inning in the absence of this extra-innings rule. The runner on first base shall be the player (or a substitute for such player) in the batting order immediately preceding the batter who leads off the inning. The runner on second base shall be the player (or a substitute for such player) in the batting order immediately preceding the runner on first base. If the game is tied by the end of 2 extra innings, the game will end in a tie.
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- Base runners can lead off when the ball is released from the pitchers hand.
- Home teams provide 2 new game balls, which must be Wilson Victory. Available for purchase through Metro Sports or at Salvador Colom Store.
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​- 1 OF THE NEW BALLS WILL BE USED FOR THE VISITING TEAM AND THE 2ND NEW BALL WILL BE SAVED FOR THE 1ST TIME THE HOME TEAM BATS. IF THE VISITING TEAM HITS THE BALL OUTSIDE OF THE PARK, THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE BALL IN PLAY WITH A NEW OR SLIGHTLY USED BALL.
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- The team that hits a home run or foul ball is responsible for replacing it. Replacement balls don't need to be brand new, slightly used practice balls are acceptable.
- If the team that hits the home run or foul ball isn't able to replace the ball they will be given an automatic out (the next batter doesn't lose their at bat, but the team is given an out).
- OFFICIAL GAME: A game is deemed official after 3-1/2 innings or four if the home team is behind.​
- UNOFFICIAL GAME: Games that are cancelled before 3 - ½ inning or (4) if the home team is behind will start 0-0 in the 1st inning.
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- OFFICIAL GAME FURTHER EXPLAINED: A game is considered a regulation game -- also known as an "official game" -- once the visiting team has made 12 outs (four innings) and the home team is leading, or once the home team has made 12 outs regardless of score.
If a game is terminated early due to weather before becoming a regulation game, the results up to the point of the termination will not count and the game will be started over at a later date.
If a regulation game is terminated early due to weather, the results are considered final if the
home team is leading. If the home team is trailing, the results are considered final if the game is not in the midst of an inning when the visiting team has taken the lead. I.e. If the visiting team is leading in the beginning of the inning and the game is cancelled during the home teams at bat, the visiting team will be declared the winner.
If a regulation game is terminated early due to weather and the game is either tied or in the midst of an inning in which the visiting team has taken the lead, it becomes a suspended game that will be completed at a later date from the point of termination.
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- ONLY TEAM CAPTAINS & CO CAPTAINS CAN ARGUE A PLAY WITH THE UMPIRES
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- SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUEST: THE TEAM CAPTAIN THAT IS REQUESTING THE SCHEDULE CHANGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING WITH THE OTHER AFFECTED TEAM CAPTAINS FOR A TIME & DATE THAT METRO SPORTS WILL PROVIDE.
METRO SPORTS WILL NOT CHANGE ANY GAMES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE OTHER TEAM CAPTAINS AND WILL NOT DEEM A GAME OFFICIAL IF IT IS PLAYED OUTSIDE OF THE TIME & DATES PROVIDED.
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PLAYOFF FORMAT:
- Top 10 teams will make the playoffs.
- Highest seeded teams will play as the home team.
- Single elimination games will be played for the playoffs opening round, quarterfinals, and semifinals.
- The final will be a best of 3 series.
Finals Seeding:
- Team with the higher seed will be the home team in the first & third game (if needed).
Tie Breakers for ties at the end of the regular season:
1. Head 2 Head
2. Run Difference
3. Runs Against
PLAYOFF RULES:
- All playoff games will be played to their entirety.
- There will be NO mercy rule during the playoffs.
- If a playoff game is cancelled for any reason, the game will start in the same inning, at bat, pitch count & score from the original game.
- A player must be included in the original roster and will need to play at least in 2 regular season games in order to be able to play in the playoffs.
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BALLPARK ETIQUETTE:
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- Absolutely NO coolers with personal drinks are allowed in the park premises. There is a fully equipped cantina where you can purchase your drinks. Metro Sports does not benefit from this cantina, it serves as a fundraising tool for the park administrator and to be used to better the facilities. If the park does not have an operating cantina the league will alert captains and allow coolers to be on premises.
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- This is a team family oriented company and event, we ask that you and your party remain respectful towards other team players and fan base. We will NOT tolerate any aggression, verbal or physical, by anybody in the park premises. Any person deemed to be violating this rules will be ejected from the park and any further events can result in law enforcement intervention.
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- Make sure you and your team pick up any garbage you bring to the park. The park has trash cans available at many convenient locations.
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- Please be mindful of the pace of play, we ask that all teams be ready to play by the end of the previous game. Tardiness by any team can result in runs against as established in the start of game section.
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GENERAL RULES:
- Base runners can lead off on the release of the pitch. Base runner leaving before the release will be given a reminder, repeat offenders will be called out.
- After a ball is put in play by a batter, the play is stopped when the ball is in possession of a defensive player in the infield, unless baserunners are already in motion to the next base before the ball has reached the infield. The runners advance at their own risk and can still be tagged out. If the fielder holds the ball and doesn’t attempt a throw, the base runner in motion may only advance to the next base, at which point the umpire will call time, stopping the play.
- Infield fly rule is in effect if there are less than 2 outs and runners are on first and second.
- Pick off attempts can only come from the catcher. No tag on a runner is required on a pickoff attempt, it is a forced out. In the event of an over throw on a pickoff attempt, the runner may advance at his/her own risk. However, runner must first re-tag original base and can only advance one base. All other runners can only advance ONE BASE as well.
- If a player is injured after the start of a game and if, in the judgment of the umpire, the injured player is unable to continue and there is no available replacement for the injured player, team may continue to play without player. No automatic out will be declared during his/her succeeding turns at bat. However, once removed, the injured player cannot return to the game.
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- Any player arriving after the start of play must be placed at the end of the line up if team has less than 10 players. If team has 10 or more players in the lineup, any player that arrives after the start of play must be substituted in.
OTHER GAME RULES:
TAGGING UP: Base runners may advance at their own risk from any base, provided they tag up first.
THROWN/HIT BALLS OUT OF PLAY: Balls hit or thrown out of play according to ground rules are dead balls. On dead balls runners will advance one additional base past the last base possessed.
CHOPPING: Not Allowed. If ruled intentional by the umpire the batter will be ruled out.
MERCY RULE: If a team is winning by 15 or more runs at the end of the 4th inning, the game ends. The same happens if a team is winning by 10 or more runs by the end of the 5th inning.
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SHORT FIELD: The short field position player must be on the edge of the grass or farther away from home plate. Once the ball is put in play, the short field can enter the infield at any time.
BATTERS may not attempt to reach 1st on a dropped third strike.
PINCH RUNNERS: Batters can be substituted for pinch runners that haven't played in the game. Once a player has been substituted for a pinch runner, he cannot reenter the game. In case of an injury, the last player ruled out will be the pinch runner.
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EXTRA BASES: If a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place, the batter will be awarded two bases. The same rule will be applied if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at a fair ball.
FULL SET OF RULES
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY AND ROSTER:
The Team/Individual Registration Form must be properly filled out and Individual Waivers signed by all players and submitted prior to playing their first game. Any player who does not sign an Individual Waiver before their first (1st) game will be considered an illegal player. No one can play without signing an Individual Waiver Form. There is no cap on rosters, but a huge roster will obviously cut into playing time.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
In the event of bad weather, we will attempt to notify teams as soon as possible to delays or cancellations. However, we won’t make decisions on field conditions until we get word from the park administrator or have inspected the fields personally. Teams are required to be present at the playing fields and will be subject to forfeiture, regardless of the playing conditions at game starting time. In other words, assume games are on as scheduled until you hear otherwise from the league.
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ALL CANCELLED GAMES DUE TO WEATHER WILL BE SCHEDULED TO A LATER POINT IN THE SEASON AND WILL AFFECT THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE.
GAME BALLS STANDARD:
The Wilson Victory Softball will be used in all league games. Home team is responsible for bringing 2 new game balls in designated leagues. If the home team does not have a new game ball they must purchase it from Metro Sports.
At parks where homerun or fouled balls are lost, it is the responsibility of the team that hit the homerun or foul to replace to the ball. Replacement balls do not have to be new balls. Both teams should make sure they have several practice/used balls on hand for each game.
OFFICIAL BAT:
All bats should read “ASA Approved,” metal only, no wood bats. Use of an illegal bat will result in an automatic out and 2 runs awarded to the opposing team. Continued use could result in ejection from the game.
PROTESTS:
All protests shall be submitted in writing to the league commissioner at no later than 48 hours after the incident. Protests can only be registered on a rule interpretation, not on a judgment call by an official. Protests must be announced at the start of the game, or at the point of rule infraction. Upon receiving the written protest, the commissioner will review and respond with their decision within a 48 hour period.
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FORFEITS:
‘Ready for Play’ - A team has at least 8 players ready to take the field for IMMEDIATE start of play.
A forfeited game shall be automatically declared by the Home Plate Umpire if a team is not ‘ready for play’ after twenty (20) minutes of the posted start time. If teams know that they are going to forfeit in advance they should contact the league as soon as possible.
A FORFEIT WILL CONSIST IN A 10-0 LOSS
FORFEIT PROCEDURE:
Teams must be ‘ready to play’ at the scheduled game time or no later than 5 minutes after the completion of the prior game. If a team is not ready for play in the first 10 minutes after the prior game ended, the team that was ready for play will begin with a 4-0 lead at the start of play. After 15 minutes, the team that was ready for play has the option of taking the 4-0 lead or forcing a forfeiture. Once the team decides to start the game with a 4-0 lead, it cannot request a forfeiture later on.
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CONDUCT RULES:
The League Office will not tolerate any abuse of opposing players/umpires/other league staff. This includes verbal, physical or any other acts of intimidation. Anyone violating this rule in a gross manner as deemed by the umpire is subject to ejection and anyone deemed to be a major or repeat violator will be subject to suspension for multiple games or the entire season by the League Commissioner.
If a player is ejected from the game they must leave the field of play. Any player that fails to do so in a timely manner is subject to additional suspensions and the team is subject to forfeiture of the game.
Any player who strikes at or spits on an umpire will be suspended for the balance of the season and permanently expelled from the league.
GROUND RULES:
The umpire will determine the ground rules prior to the start of the game. We will try to have grounds rules that are as uniform as possible, but each field is different and ground rules will be laid out for each playing field.
PITCHING REGULATIONS:
- SLOW PITCH - This means a pitcher has to throw in a 4 - 10 foot arc in a continuous motion forward. Strike zone is from the front shoulder to the back knee where the ball crosses the plate.
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- Any pitch that has too flat an arc or is too fast will be declared ILLEGAL by the umpire and ruled a ball unless the hitter decides to swing.
a. If the hitter swings at an illegal pitch and reaches base, play will continue as is.
b. If the hitter decides to swing at an illegal pitch and is called out, batter will be allowed to bat again and a ball will be added to the count.
- A pitcher will be given a warning by the umpire after throwing two illegal pitches in the same game. If a pitcher throws a third illegal pitch in the game, pitcher will no longer be allowed to pitch.