MANHATTAN BEACH SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION (MBSSA)
RULES OF PLAY AND ORGANIZATION
1. ORGANIZATION
The City of Manhattan Beach Senior Softball Association (MBSSA) shall be governed by the Commissioner and Sponsors or their
designated Team Managers. The Commissioner shall only vote in the event of ties. The purpose of this league is to promote
competition, good sportsmanship, friendship, camaraderie and recreation. The desire to win must be tempered with tolerance, and the
appreciation of participation. Rules against foul language, trash talk and other unsportsmanlike conduct will be enforced, and violators
sanctioned.
2. RULES, ELIGIBILITY and CODE OF ETHICS
The current rule book of SENIOR SOFTBALL USA shall govern play, except as modified by the rules of MBSSA. Code of Ethics is presented
in the SSUSA Rule Book and on the Manhattan Beach Senior Softball Association website.
a. Players must turn sixty (60) years old during the calendar year to be eligible to play.
b. EXCEPTION: EACH TEAM I ALLOWED TWO (2) PLAYERS BETWEEN AGE 57 AND 60 YEARS OLD.
c. Players must be able to safely perform softball activities (running, catching, throwing and batting) as to not harm himself or others.
d. New players are subject to the Eligibility rules. Players that are not recruited by existing teams will be placed on the current Last
Place team which will have first choice of placement. Subsequently, the player will be offered to the next team up on the previous
season standings.
3. BASE RUNNING
Runner may over-run any base, as long as there is no intent or motion on his part (umpire’s judgment) to advance to the next base or
home plate. If he over-runs a base, and then intends to advance further, he must return to the base just reached, before continuing to
the next base, the exception is first base. Runners may also over-run a base when returning to that base. There will be no intentional
diving or sliding into a base. Such action will result in the runner being automatically called out. It is not protestable.
a. Runner must touch the first base mat on the right side of the foul line, unless he is continuing on to second base. Runner must avoid
making contact with the fielder or be called out.
b. Runners can’t leave a base until the pitched ball crosses home plate or is hit. Penalty: “No pitch” declared, ball is dead, runner is out.
c. Runners reaching a base almost simultaneously but not ahead of the throw to the defensive player is declared out. If a base runner
attempts to return to his previous base and almost simultaneously reaches that base after the defensive player receives the thrown ball,
he is declared out. If the base runner stops running before reaching a base, he may be tagged out, as if caught in a “Pickle Play”.
d. On plays to any base, the base runners are encouraged to avoid stepping directly on the bases to avoid colliding with the defensive
players, doing this by stepping on either side of the bases, crossing imaginary line extended from front of each base.
4. COURTESY RUNNERS
Once a runner has reached base, his manager may call time out, and request a substitute runner.
a. There is no limit on the number of courtesy runners that can be used, except that no player can be a courtesy runner more than once
each inning.
b. A courtesy runner on base when it’s his turn to bat is declared out at bat, but he may remain on base. (Substitution for a courtesy
runner is prohibited)
c. Pick-up players must be 60 or over and cannot be run for and cannot run for roster players.
5. SCORING
All plays at home plate are a force out, with the obvious exception of foul balls. Only home plate (not the mat extension) must be used
by the defensive player attempting to record an out at home. The defensive player may not tag the runner between the “Commit Line”
and home plate. For a run to count, the runner’s foot must make contact with the ground on or beyond the scoring line or scoring plate,
before the ball is in the defensive player’s control and the defensive’s player’s foot is in contact with home plate.
a. Commitment Line: Is drawn bisecting the third base line, 30 feet from the left front corner of home plate. A runner having reached
or passed this commitment line, is “committed”, and must continue on toward the scoring line.
b. A 90 degree angle to the third base line, beginning 5-feet from this point, providing a 5-foot wide path outside the corner of the
batter’s box. Also there is a scoring base on the scoring line 3-feet from the corner of the batter’s box.
c. In attempting to score, consider that there is a corridor or path outside the third base batter’s box. If a runner crosses over the
batter’s box or touches home plate or mat extension, the runner is out.
6. INNING RUN LIMITS
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In a nine inning game, there is a limit of five (5) runs per inning during the first eight (8) innings and the 9 inning is unlimited runs. The
exception to this would be when umpire declares “last inning” because of time limit.
7. TIME LIMIT AND POSTPONEMENTS
Starting time is 9:30 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. There is a ten (10) minute grace period for the first game only.
a. Games will be 9 innings if time allows. Umpire will declare at the 1 hour 10 minute point of each game, “Next inning is open inning
and last inning”.
b. The Coordinator, DENNIS LEW (310-378-7455) will update teams on cancellation because of weather conditions. The umpire may call
a game due to any unsafe conditions arising from weather or other causes. If less than five (5) complete innings have been played and
the score is tied, the game will be rescheduled and played from the beginning. If not tied, the game will be rescheduled and played from
the point the game was called. If five (5) or more innings have been played and the game is tied, the rescheduled game will pick up at the
point of postponement. If not tied the score will be final as of the last completed inning.
c. Each team is allowed one (1) postponed game per twelve (12) game season. However, there must be an agreement between
managers no later than 48 hours in advance and the game can be postponed to a later date. These postponed games to be re-scheduled
and played only if they determine the overall outcome of team standings. If managers cannot reach an agreement to postpone a game,
team needing to re-schedule must forfeit said game.
8. APPEALS AND PROTEST
Appeal play procedures are outlined in SCMAF Rule 5, Section 3. Ball does not have to be thrown to a base.
a. Protest procedures are outlined in SCMAF Appendix A. Protests must be in writing, containing all relevant information, and
submitted to an Executive Board Member (not involved in the protested game) no later than the completion of the next week’s schedule
games. The Executive Board will consider the protest as soon as reasonably possible. Members of the Board in a protested game will not
vote on that protest. A majority of the Board Members voting is necessary to sustain the protest. The Executive Board consists of the
team managers and the Commissioner.
9. ARGUMENTS AND SANCTIONS
Only the manger or his appointed representative can question the decision of the umpire. If an individual persists in arguing, the umpire
will issue that individual a warning. Any additional arguing by that individual after the warning has been give on the play involved or an
immediate subsequent play, will result in the umpire ejecting the player from the game. The player involved will be suspended from his
team’s next game. This rule is not protestable.
10. SUSPENSION OF A PLAYER
A player who resorts to violence, by making physical contact with another player or umpire will be automatically ejected from the game,
and suspended a maximum of the next four (4) games. A second offense of this type will result in expulsion from the league for one
season. This penalty shall apply only to the player who instigated the violence. If two (2) or more are guilty, the penalty shall apply to
each player.
11. SUBSTITUTION OF PLAYERS
Teams will defensively consist of eleven (11) players. All teams must have a minimum of eight (8) roster players before game time, less
than eight (8) players, they must forfeit. If a team is short players at game time, then they may pick up a maximum of two (2) players 60
years old and play the game with ten (10) players. The substitute players can only play right field or catching positions, and must bat at
the bottom of the batting order. They run and bat for themselves, but cannot run for other players.
12. GROUND RULES
a. DEAD BALL RULES are covered in SCMAF Rule Book, primarily in Rules 5 and 7. Remember that the ball is in play, unless it has rolled
out of bounds or time out has been called by an umpire.
b. A pitchers net is used to protect the pitcher. The net is placed in front and center of the pitchers rubber approximately 3 feet. The
net cannot be moved during the game. The first batted ball to hit the net is a strike the second ball to hit the net is an out. Any ball
hitting any part of the net is a strike and a dead ball. The pitcher is not allowed to step in front of the net before batter hits ball. Penalty:
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Dead ball, batter awarded 1 base.
c. Any foul tip ball regardless if it’s over the batter’s head caught by the catcher is an out.
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d. Pitcher may have 3 warm up throws after the 1 inning. Infielders and outfielders may not take warm ups after the 1 inning.
e. Batters will start with a 1 ball and 1 strike count. After batter has 2 strikes called, the next batted ball must be a fair ball or batter is
declared “out”.
13. PLAYERS
a. A team may pick-up a new player or players anytime during the season.
b. If a player expresses a desire, for personal or any other reasons, to leave his present team, then he must go to the last place team if
accepted by them, if not excepted or needed by last place team, he goes to the next team up in order but not to a team higher in the
standings . A player may sit out one (1) full season and go to any team that will accept him.
14. EQUIPMENT
All bat hitting area must be of single wall construction, no doublewall or all composite bats allowed. All two (2) piece singlewall bats with
a metal alloy hitting area are allowed. The exception to this rule is any player 75+ years of age may use any bat of choice including
composite bats. PENALTY: First offense is an out; Second offense is a one (1) game suspension from League play.
IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF EACH MANAGER TO EMPHASIZE THESE RULES TO HIM TEAM MEMBERS.
COMMISIONER____________________________SIGNATURE_________________________DATE_________________
APPROVED BY:
ADMIRAL RISTY ________________________________________
BARE ELEGANCE________________________________________
JETS__________________________________________________
KETTLE________________________________________________
TAB TECH______________________________________________
Revised March 17, 2015