Local League Rules
General

Unless otherwise designated by the Softball Board or specifically noted herein, NSA SOFTBALL rules will apply.

Section 1. General

1. Teams should be at the game site at least 30 minutes prior to game time. However, the batting cage may be used by the Visiting Team for the period from one hour to thirty minutes before game time. The cage may be used by the Home Team for the period from thirty minutes before game time until game time. There will be no grace period for game time. The game may start early if both teams are ready, but no later than scheduled.
   

   A. A player arriving late for a game may be added to the end of her teams batting order if they have not batted around before she arrives
   B. A player may be listed on her teams batting order even though she is not present when the game begins. She may be removed prior to her first time at bat, but she will not be allowed to enter the game once she has been listed and then removed. In the event she is not removed from the order at the proper time, she will be an OUT each turn at bat until she arrives, or her name is removed from the batting order.

2. Each division shall be allowed to “call-up” a maximum of 4 players from the next lower age division for the purpose of substituting to prevent a forfeit or to allow a total of 10 players to be available for a game. In no event shall more than 4 players be called-up.

   A. Substitutes may only be used in the outfield.
   B. Substitutes must be placed at the end of the batting order.
   C. The parents of a substitute must give the coach permission for her to play.
   D. It is the responsibility of the coach to call the substitutes and obtain parental permission.
   E. If substitutes are called-up, and regular team members arrive unexpectedly, substitutes must play as if they were regular team members (subject to the above guidelines).
   F. Coaches are responsible to field a team of no more than 10 players on the weekends of travel ball tournaments.  Players can be added by using players from the league directly below their respective league.  Example:  If you have 11 girls on your roster and only 1 travel player, then you cannot call up any players unless you will be without other players also.

3. The Home Team should occupy the first base dugout.
   
4. The umpire at the diamond, after the first game begins, will determine conditions as to the playing field. The decision of the umpire will be final, without question. If a game is “called off’, please keep off the fields to protect them for the next day’s play.
   
5. Games cancelled because of rain or other reasons before they become regulation games shall be resumed from the point of termination.
   
6. Neither coaches, spectators, nor players are allowed to harass or direct any outbursts or negative comments toward opposing team players or their coaches.
   
7. Player participants must have accident insurance coverage. Such coverage is the responsibility of the parents.
   
8. Coaches shall prohibit eating of food on the playing field or in the dugouts.
9. No earrings or other jewelry shall be permitted to be worn during games.
   
10. In the event a pitcher hits five (5) batters during a game, that pitcher will be immediately removed from the pitching position and replaced with another pitcher for the remainder of the game.
    
11. Courtesy Runners. Any injured player may have a courtesy runner. The runner shall be the player who made the last out for that inning of play or if no outs exist then the last batter of the previous inning.
    
12. Assistant coaches or parents that assist during a game must be approved by the Board.
    
13. Ten Batter Rule: The ten batter rule will be used in each division as set forth in more detail herein. The team will be limited to ten batters in each inning, or the number of players in the lineup for that game, whichever is less. For example, if the home team has ten players in the line up, they can bat ten batters in one inning. If the visiting team only has nine batters in the line up, they can only bat nine batters and the ninth batter of the inning will be the last batter.

Section 2. PROTESTS
Game protests shall be conducted as follows:

1. Protests shall be submitted in writing, along with a $50 protest fee, to a Softball Board member within 48 hours after completion of the game in question.
   
2. The Softball Board will ask the umpires to submit a written report of the protested game within 48 hours.
   
3. The protest committee shall consist of the members of the Softball Board.
   
4. The coaches of the teams involved shall be present at a special meeting of the Softball Board to present the protest.
   
5. The Softball Board shall rule on the protest, and its decision shall be final.

1. ALL Catchers must wear the protective equipment described in Rule 3, Paragraph 5. C.
   
2. ALL Players must wear an approved helmet when outside the dugout and in the field of play.
   
3. In play with other park leagues, the Home Park Team shall provide batting helmets for the Visiting Park Team.

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