Slowpitch Softball Rules & Regulations

1: Field of Play

The on-deck batter only is allowed outside the dugout. All other players are to remain in the dugout or behind the fence.
If a player other than the on-deck batter is in any way involved in a play via umpire discretion while outside of the dugout, the lead runner will be called out.
Players are to warm up only on the field or in the designated warm up areas directly adjacent to the dugouts.
Alcohol is allowed in the dugouts upon umpire discretion only. This is a privilege of Victory Lane Sports Park that can be revoked at any time the umpire feels it has become a hindrance to the game at hand.

2: Equipment

Victory Lane Sports Park will supply one new ball for each game.
Adult Men's players will hit a 12" ball.
Adult Women's players will hit an 11" ball.
Teams hitting homeruns are required to shag their homerun balls.
If the umpire runs out of balls at any time due to players not shagging homerun/foul balls, the clock will continue to run until a game ball is provided.
Metal spikes are prohibited at Victory Lane Sports Park softball leagues.
Bats may not exceed 1.20 BPF.
A posted list of unapproved bats is available in the main office or online at playvictorylane.com.
The Victory Lane unapproved bat list is updated annually by the league director.
Victory Lane Sports Park reserves the right to remove any piece of equipment deemed unsafe.
Any bat deemed altered in any form is subject to removal and testing at any time.
If a bat is tested and confirmed altered, the player responsible for that bat will be banned from Victory Lane Sports Park for an indefinite period of time and may have criminal charges pending the severity of the situation.

3: Impact Players

An impact player is any player that plays in an upper division and, in the opinion of the league director, can make a competitive difference in a game situation.
The number of impact players on a team will affect a team's classification.

4: The Game

The home team will be designated by the umpire in the managers' meeting before each game.
It is the responsibility of the home team to provide a scorekeeper.
If the home team does not provide a scorekeeper, the umpire's tally will be official and undisputed.
A regulation game shall be seven innings or 55 minutes.
The umpire will start the clock as soon as the managers' meeting has concluded.
A game that is still tied after the expiration of the time limit or completion of seven innings shall be considered a tie.
Team standings are designated by win percentage and not overall wins and losses to accommodate for the difference in number of games played.
If two teams have the same win percentage at the end of the season, the tie breaker will be head-to-head matchups, run differential, then a coin flip if head-to-head did not break the tie.
Park rules use the one-and-one count with no fouls to waste for all divisions.
Run rule: 20 runs up after 3 innings, 15 runs after 4 innings, and 10 runs up after 5 innings.

5: Players and Substitutions

All players must sign a waiver prior to playing.
All players must be able to produce valid picture identification upon request.
Any player can take a defensive position at any point in the game.
A minimum of 8 players are required to start and finish a game.
Any team may bat the entirety of their roster.
Late players may be added to the bottom of the line-up at any time until 10 players are playing.
A team cannot add hitters numbering 11 or beyond after you have been through the line-up.
If a team loses a player or coach from the batting order due to an ejection and has no replacement, this will result in an out each time that player comes to bat.
If a team loses a player due to injury and has no replacement, the player will be declared out at his/her next time at bat only.

6: Behavior

Victory Lane Sports Park is a family oriented facility and the use of certain behaviors will not be tolerated.
Team managers are responsible for the actions of their players at all times.
If a player is ejected from the game, it is the umpire's discretion as to whether the coach is also ejected.
Once a player is ejected it is also the umpire's discretion as to whether they must leave the park immediately.
The league director has the final say on all ejections relating to leaving the complex.
The league director will determine the length of the suspension for players who violate league rules.
The following will not be tolerated: unsportsmanlike conduct, rough tactics (including physical altercations), obscene gestures or objectionable demonstrations, throwing of a bat (intentional or unintentional), flagrant rules violations, false tags, blocking the plate with or without the ball, or a runner colliding with a fielder.
If a player or manager is ejected for flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct, they will not be allowed on the park grounds for at least one week.
All suspensions are dealt with on an individual basis and are made by the league director and sanction officials.

7: Profanity / F-Bomb Rule

Profanity pertains to expletives not directed at umpires or an opposing player, but uttered by a player or coach frustrated with themselves, a teammate or an opposing player or fan.
Victory Lane Sports Park F-Bomb policy is zero tolerance.
At the managers' meeting each team manager will be informed of this policy – the meeting serves as the teams' one warning.
Any use of the F-bomb that the umpire deems excessive or inappropriate will result in the ejection of that player for the remainder of the game.
It is at umpire discretion whether to allow the player to play in the second game, if pertinent.

8: Pitching Rules

The pitched ball must rise to a minimum of 6 feet from the ground and not go higher than 10 feet.
The ball must be delivered at a slow speed.
If the ball hits the plate it is a ball.
If the ball hits any part of the mat it is a strike.
Only one pitch is allowed between innings.
New pitchers get three warm up pitches.
The pitcher is allowed a one foot safety distance behind the pitching rubber.

9: Pitcher's Box Rule

A pitcher's box extends 2 feet on each side of the rubber.
Any ball hit inside this box while the middle is closed and within the pitcher's reach will be declared a dead ball out. All runners return to previous bases.
Any ball considered a hazardous safety issue by the umpire hit up the middle through the box (in the air or on the ground) will be declared a dead ball out.
If the ball hits the chalk or the line, the ball will be declared dead and the batter will be out.
It does not matter if the pitcher is in the box when the ball is hit through it; the ball will still be declared dead and the batter out.
If the middle is closed at the managers meeting pre-game, the umpire has complete authority over any hit ball back up the middle in or near the pitcher's box. The umpire's ruling is final and undisputable.
Any player who repeatedly questions an umpire's dead ball ruling on a ball hit up the middle will be subject to ejection and/or suspension.

10: Divisional Home Run Rules

Men's D Division – 2 homeruns
Men's E Division – 2 homeruns
Men's Rec Division – 2 homeruns
Co-Ed Divisions – 2 homeruns
These are a flat, no-plus rule policy.
If both teams agree to a 1+ homerun policy during the managers' meeting, the game will be played in that fashion.
The home team can win the game with a walk-off homerun that places them one up on their opponents in this scenario.

11: Base Running

Victory Lane mandates that offensive runners avoid contact with defenders at all times (sliding, getting out of the way, or giving yourself up).
Any flagrant act by the runner is subject to ejection. All flagrant activity is at umpire discretion.
Fielders blocking the base or making fake tags are subject to ejection.
One courtesy runner per inning (last out or last run scored). The rule can be changed during the managers' meeting pre-game.
In leagues where homeruns are allowed, the hitter does not have to touch first base. Runners on base when a homerun is hit do not have to touch the plate.
A safety rule exists when a runner on base does not feel they will have enough time to safely remove themselves from the path of a hard hit ball – the runner may ask for safety precautions and stand in foul territory, and must re-establish contact with the base before advancing if granted by the umpire.

12: Safety Base

The double first base is an added safety precaution.
The batter/runner must touch the orange bag if there is a play at first base.
Any play involving a possible attempt to go to 2nd base – the runner may touch the white bag.
If the base runner uses the orange portion at any time after the first attempt at first base and is not in contact with the white bag, they are considered off the bag.
The runner/batter may cross over to the inside bag to avoid a collision if a wild throw occurs. The fielder may tag the outside of the bag to record the out on the initial play at first base only.

13: Co-Ed Leagues

For traditional co-ed games the batting order must alternate male/female.
Defensive positioning does not matter; any player may play any position.
There must be equal males/females unless the opposing team agrees otherwise.
Minimum 8 players to start and finish.
When a male is walked ahead of a female, the female has the option to either walk or hit. If the female hits, the male is still awarded second base.
One courtesy runner per inning per sex is standard unless other agreements have been made at the managers' meeting.
When pinch running, the pinch runner must be of the same sex as the original runner (last out or last run scored).
Co-Ed Lite rules differ; full rules are on playvictorylane.com and available upon request.

14: Rosters

It is the coach's responsibility to update the roster and ensure all players have filled out a waiver.
Roster is limited to a maximum of 20 players.
Players must sign a waiver before participating in any fashion.
Teams are subject to random roster checks by the League Director at any time.
If a player is playing but not on a roster, that team will forfeit all games played with that player involved.
Players must be at least 18 years old to participate in adult leagues.

15: Team Move Up Rule

The league director has the ability to move any teams from division to division based on a team's overall performance.
Based on standings, 1st, 2nd or 3rd place teams may be required to move up. Teams in last positions may re-classify at the next lower level.

16: Schedules

Copies of all league schedules are available online at playvictorylane.com.
Hard copies can be made available upon request.
Typically schedules for the first week are posted 3–5 days before the first games.

17: Grace Period

The grace period for any contest is 7 minutes.
If at game time one or both teams do not have the minimum required players, the grace period will begin. The team causing the delay loses their first at bat.
At the end of the grace period, any team without at least eight players will be given a forfeit.
In a double header format both games will be forfeits unless both teams agree to wait and play the second game once the team has eight players.

18: Forfeits / No Shows

Victory Lane has a strict policy against no call/no show forfeits.
If you know in advance your team will not make a game, contact the League Director.
Two no show/no call forfeits in a season may prohibit your team from finishing the season.
All teams are required to pay a $50 forfeit fee if they forfeit within 24 hours. Forfeit fees for forfeits before 24 hours are at the discretion of the league director.

19: Rainout Policy

The Victory Lane Sports Park Facebook will be updated for rainouts.
If a game is played 3 innings or 2.5 innings and the home team is in the lead before it is canceled due to weather, it will be considered an official game.
If the game is incomplete, the entire game will be made up. There is only a guarantee of 1 rain makeup per season.
If the game is incomplete, the umpire must refund the money paid by your team.

20: Make Up Game Policy

The League Director will contact coaches after games have been canceled.
If games are rained out, the entire night will move to the week after the last night of the season.
The internet schedule will be changed ASAP to reflect makeup game dates.
Games not played due to teams not showing up and forfeits will not be made up.

21: League Standings

Updated standings will be posted on playvictorylane.com each week.
Team managers should verify standings are correct.
No score protests will be accepted 2 or more days after the last night of league play.

22: Playoffs

End of season tournaments are played on week 8.
Top 4 teams make the playoffs in each league. All other teams play regular double headers.
Home team is decided by the team with the better seed.
Playoffs use the same format as regular season games including time limit and run rule.

* All other rules not mentioned in these modified rules are located in the corresponding year's league sanction rule book.