2015 Rules – HARD Senior Softball
I.
GENERAL RULES
1. The current edition of the NorCal Senior Softball Rulebook will be used except as supplemented or changed by
the following rules. All rules apply to all leagues unless otherwise stated.
2. Team managers will be responsible for the conduct of their team players.
3. Only the team manager, assistant manager, or a designated manager in their absences may discuss disputed calls
with the umpires. Any player who persists in complaining about an umpire’s decision after one warning from his
manager shall be referred to the Discipline Committee.
4. Team members who are not on the field coaching, running bases, or on deck must remain either in the dugout or
behind the screens bordering the infield.
5. All games shall start at 9:30 a.m. Forfeit time will be 9:40 a.m.
6. Games rained out must be made up at a time and place determined by the league.
7. A mandatory meeting will be held before the game between the managers.
II.
TEAMS
1. Number of Players: Eleven (11) players will constitute a team.
2. Nine Players: Teams that only have ten (10) players present at game time, will play with ten (10) players and not
be supplied a catcher by the other team.
a. If a team has only nine (9) players present at game time, they will be supplied a catcher for the game or until
another player arrives.
3. Teams with ten (10) players must have:
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(4) Outfielders behind the flags.
(1) 1B, (1) 2B, (1) 3B, (1) SS these positions must be on the dirt infield until ball is hit.
(1) pitcher
(1) catcher
4. Eight (8) Players: A team playing with eight (8) players will play with three (3) or four (4) outfielders and three
(3) or four (4) infielders, Manager’s choice. The other team supplies a catcher. A team playing with nine (9)
players will play with four (4) outfielders and four (4) infielders. The other team supplies a catcher.
5. Seven (7) Players: A forfeit will occur if one or both teams have only seven (7) players present at game time. If
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only one team has seven (7) players, that team will be charged with a loss and the opposing team will be given a
win. If both teams have seven (7) players, each team will be given a half (½) win and half (½) loss.
6. Batting Order/Late Players: The managers will exchange batting orders before the game. If a player shows up
late, he/she will be added to the batting order in the last spot.
7. Player Qualifications: Leagues require that you must reach, the minimum age for that league (50, 60, or 70) in
the calendar year for that season, January 1 to December 31. Women must reach the 45 year old minimum to
qualify for that season in any league.
III.
THE FIELD
1. Length of Base Paths: Since it is necessary to accept the existing specifications of the fields allocated to our
various teams, both sixty (60) and sixty-five (65) foot base paths are approved.
2. Point-of-No-Return Line: A point-of-no-return line shall be placed twenty (20) feet from home plate
perpendicular to the line between home plate and third (3rd) base.
3. Scoring Line: A ten (10) foot “scoring line” shall be placed in foul territory, starting four (4) feet away from the
front left side corner of home plate at a 90 degree angle to the third base foul line.
4. Base “Safe” Lines: A “safe” line shall extend from the corner of first (1st) base closest to home plate into foul
territory perpendicular to the foul line. Similar safe lines shall be placed at second (2nd) and third (3rd) bases.
These safe lines shall be placed on both the left and right sides of the bases extending five (5) feet from each side
of the base.
5. Restraining Line: There shall be a series of flags or cones placed one hundred fifty (150) feet from home plate
in which none of the four (4) outfielders may be inside until the ball is hit.
6. A runner may stand clear of first (1st) or third (3rd) base for safety reason to avoid a line drive. The runner must
re-tag the base prior to advancing.
IV.
PITCHING REGULATIONS
1. Strike Zone Mat: A strike mat will be used in lieu of home plate. The currently approved mat measures nineteen
inches (19”) wide and thirty-four and a half inches (34 1/2”) long. A pitched ball striking any part of the mat is a
strike.
2. Arc of Pitch: A pitched ball must attain an arc of between six feet (6’) and twelve feet (12’) from the ground.
Umpires must call an illegal pitch, if in their judgment, the pitch does not conform.
3. Pitching Rubber Distance: The pitching rubber distance shall be fifty feet (50’) from home plate.
V.
THE GAME
1. Balls and Bats: The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) approved 12-inch, 3.75 lbs., COR.44, poly core center
restricted-flight ball (optic yellow preferred) will be used for all games. The home team will provide the balls.
Any softball bat rated one point twenty-one (1.21) BPF or lower, SSUSA approved, or has an ASA stamp is
acceptable for use. The yellow Rip-It will be grandfathered in as acceptable.
2. Warm-Up Pitches: A pitcher’s warm-up pitches between innings shall be limited to three (3) pitches. At the
start of the game, each pitcher may have six (6) warm-up pitches; and each relief pitcher may also start with six
(6) warm-up pitches.
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3. Innings: All games will normally be nine (9) innings.
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Innings one (1) through eight (8) normal max five (5) runs or three (3) outs.
Ninth (9th) inning in all leagues is an open inning (no scoring limit) until three (3) outs or a win is
obtained. Extra innings are open innings.
Seventy (70+) League will play two (2) consecutive innings (6 outs) before switching from offense to
defense. However bases are to be cleared after three (3) outs or five (5) runs are obtained.
4. Balls and Strikes: A four (4) ball, three (3) strike count will be used. There shall be no more than one (1)
intentional walk to any given player in a game. After being walked once, a player may have the option to refuse a
subsequent walk in the at-bat, until getting three (3) strikes or a batted ball. Any illegal pitch is a ball, unless it is
put in play by the batter.
5. Play Inside Base Lines: In deference to weaker hitters, no defensive player, except the pitcher, may play in the
diamond inside the base lines until the ball is hit. All runners and the batter will be safe if this rule is violated.
6. No Runner can be thrown out at first base by any of the four (4) outfielders, after the ball touches the grass. A
minimum of a base hit is assured.
7. The “Rover”: As long as a team has four (4) Infielders on the dirt and four (4) Outfielders (beyond the
flags/cones approximately one hundred fifty feet [150’] from home plate) the Rover can be either an Infielder or
an Outfielder, and is allowed to throw the runner out at first (1st) base.
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No infielder can setup on the grass.
8. Protests: Protests will be resolved using NorCal Rules or HARD Senior Softball Rules, whichever applies. A
committee of Managers not involved in the protest will be formed by the Commissioners to decide the protest
outcome.
VI.
BATTING
1. Bunting/Chopping: The batter is out if he deliberately bunts or chops the ball downward (either in fair or foul
territory).
2. Fouls: After the batter has two (2) strikes and then hits two (2) foul balls the batter is out. Any foul ball,
regardless of height, caught by the catcher is an out.
3. Batter’s Box: The batter will be in the batter’s box when the ball is pitched. The batter is out if they touch the
strike mat while attempting to hit the ball.
4. Pitching Screen: A batted ball hitting the screen is a “foul ball”, if it is not first touched by a defensive player. A
batter striking the screen three (3) times in an “at bat” will be OUT. A batter striking the screen with two and a
half (2.5) strikes will also be OUT.
5. Screen Placement: The screen will be placed six (6) feet in front of the pitching rubber. The screen will be
placed with one side touching the line from the midpoint of the pitching rubber to midline of the strike mat. The
pitcher’s front foot must be behind the screen when the ball is released. If not behind the screen, the pitch is an
illegal pitch. The pitcher’s box is a box the width of the rubber and extending ten (10) feet to the rear of the
pitcher’s rubber. A pitcher’s foot must be in the pitcher’s box when he/she starts his/her delivery.
VII.
BASE RUNNING
1. First Base “Safe” Line: To avoid collisions at first base, the runner must avoid touching first base if there is a
play at that base. The base runner must instead use the “safe” line or orange “safe” base. A foot down on the line
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or on the ground beyond the line is the same as touching first base. If there is a play at first base the runner shall
be called out if he touches the white base or collides with the first baseman while crossing either base instead of
the line. A runner passing first base who finds that he can advance to second base does not need to return and tag
the base before advancing. If there is no play at first base, the runner can advance after touching first base or
passing the line.
2. Second and Third Bases: The base runner shall run to either side of the base as necessary to avoid colliding with
the defensive player at second and third bases. A runner shall be called out if he collides with the second or third
baseman while the defensive player is attempting to make a play. A foot down on the safe line or on the ground
beyond the safe line is the same as reaching the base.
3. Collision: Any collision at the bases, including those described in one (1.) and two (2.) above, is not an automatic
out as long as the runner makes a reasonable effort to avoid the defending baseman. The umpire’s decision will be
final.
4. Overrunning Bases: A base runner may overrun second and third bases without penalty of being called out
providing there is no motion to advance (umpire’s judgment). After overrunning a base, the runner must re-tag
that base before advancing. A runner making an attempt to advance and then returns to the base is subject to a tag
out. The runner may slide or dive when returning to the base. A runner may advance to the next base if they run
outside the base (right side of 1st, 2nd or 3rd base without re-touching the base before advancing to the next base.
Also, the runner can touch the base and advance. If a runner advances to the next base by running inside the base,
without touching, the runner will be called OUT.
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If a runner abandons their base and steps into the dugout, the runner is OUT.
5. Point-of-No-Return Line: Base runners who step on or over with a foot down beyond the Point-of-No-Return
line, must continue to the scoring line and will be called out if they retreat toward third (3rd) base.
6. Scoring Line: A base runner must avoid touching the strike mat or the batter’s box when advancing from third
base to home base. Instead, he/she must cross the scoring line to avoid colliding with the catcher.
Effect: Runner shall be called out if they violate this rule.
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The runner from third base is also out if his foot does not cross the scoring line before the catcher has the
ball and is standing on the strike mat.
If the catcher is pulled off the strike mat he cannot tag the advancing runner.
Any defensive player standing on the strike mat is considered the “catcher”.
7. Courtesy Runner: Prior to the start of the game each manager must identify those players who will need a
courtesy runner from the batter’s box. A courtesy runner from the plate must start at the middle of the back stop
directly behind home plate. A player injured during the game may be provided with a courtesy runner from home
plate during the game (managers must first agree to this need), otherwise injured player must run or be removed
from the game. A courtesy runner becomes a pinch runner if they reach first base safely. A courtesy runner for a
batter can ONLY advance to first base. No courtesy runner may be replaced with a pinch runner during that
inning.
8. Pinch Runner: Is defined as a player who replaces another player who has reached; first base, second base, or
third base. No player may pinch run more than three (3) times per nine (9) inning game. Players are given one (1)
additional pinch run in an extra inning game.
9. Play Suspended: Play in the field is suspended and no runner may advance once the ball is in the hands of any
infielder, including the pitcher, while positioned in the infield and after all immediate play has been completed.
The umpire shall call “Time,” but failure to do so will not permit the runners to advance.
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10. Stealing: Base-stealing is not permitted.
11. No Leadoff: A base runner may not leave the base until the pitched ball crosses the plate, touches the ground or is
hit by the batter. The umpire may call the runner out for leaving the base too soon.
12. Sliding, Diving: A base runner will be called out for sliding or diving into a base; however, a runner may slide or
dive when returning to a base. Fielders may slide or dive to a base when attempting to make an out at the base.
VIII.
MERCY INNING RULE
1. Five Run Rule: In innings one (1) through eight (8) no team may score more than five (5) runs per inning. The
ninth (9th) inning is an open inning with no run scoring limit.
2. Flip-Flop Rule: If after eight (8) innings the home team is behind by ten (10) runs or more, the flip-flop rule
must apply. The home team will bat first in the ninth inning, which is an open inning.
IX.
THE LINE-UP
1. Batting the Entire Line-Up: A team must bat its entire line-up, that is, all defensive players and all players on
the bench. Defensive substitutions may be made at will. However, the batting order must remain in its original
rotation. If any player has to leave the game for any legitimate reason (such as an injury) it will not be an
automatic out each time the departed player’s turn at bat comes around, provided the opposing team’s manager is
notified.
2. Guaranteed Playing Time: All players who show up at the field before the game begins will be guaranteed a
minimum of three full innings of defensive play. All players must play a minimum of three (3) innings in order to
be in the batting rotation.
3. Line-Up Cards: Line-up cards will be exchanged before the start of the game.
X.
LIVE BALL / DEAD BALL
1. Ball in Play: A ball in play, which bounces off any fence bordering the field, is a live ball and runners may
advance at their own risk. The managers will agree to other ground rules before play starts.
XI.
DISCIPLINE
1. All disputes regarding discipline will be referred to the Discipline Committee. The Discipline Committee for
each league will be made up of the managers of that league. Any manager may refer a problem to the Discipline
Committee.
2. No smoking on the field during games or practices.
3. A player who has not paid his fees and signed the HARD release form may not play in any league games.
4. Disciplinary Actions:
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First time: one (1) game suspension.
Second time: automatic three (3) game suspension.
Third time: automatic suspension for the rest of the season.
5. Any player found to be under the age limit shall be suspended.
6. Managers shall determine which players will be umpires for their team.
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