1A The official ASA slow pitch softball rules will apply to all league play unless otherwise specified.

2A Umpires shall have complete control of all league games and only team managers shall have the right to converse with the umpires regarding a problem, which occurred during play.

3A Scorekeepers are considered as officials and should be treated as such during and after any played game.  Any physical abusive or insulting comments will not be tolerated and may be resulted in suspension of league.

4A Be prepared to start games 15 minutes earlier than scheduled start time.  No grace period shall be given for any team.

5A Once play has started, the umpires will be responsible for determining that any game shall be suspended and or postponed due to inclement weather or wet grounds.

6A. All games shall have a sixty-five (65) minute time limit.  Time will be subtracted for official timeouts such as for injuries, field repair, ir emergencies ONLY.  No new inning will start after 65 minutes regardless of what inning the game is in.

7A The following run rules shall be in effect.  20 runs after four innings; 12 runs after five innings; 10 runs after six innings.

8A There shall be no throwing of the ball around the infield between innings.  No multi wall bats permitted.

9A The starting pitchers for each team shall have five warm-up pitches at the start of the game.  For any changes in the pitcher during the game, that pitcher will be allowed three warm-up pitches.

10A Umpires can enforce a delay of game in that if no batter is in batter's box within ten seconds after calling "play ball", an automatic strike can be called.  If the pitcher does not pitch within ten seconds of the call to "play ball", an automatic ball is awarded the batter.

11A All teams must have a minimum of four women and four men to start and finish a game.  A team that starts with eight players shall be penalized with an automatic out in the ninth and tenth position.  When the ninth and tenth players arrive, those players can be inserted in the lineup at any time.

12A Teams may use the following ratios to start a game:  Game can be started with 5M & 4F, 4M & 5F, 6M & 6F, 5M & 5F only.  If starting the game with 5M and 4F, a male must bat first.  In the 10th spot, there is an automatic out and the first male hitter must walk with one or two outs to second base.  The next female hitter must bat (no option).  Team may go to 8 players if injury or emergency happens during game.

13A Once a team has a line-up of ten or eleven players, the following shall apply:  A player or players who for any reason vacate their spot in the batting order and in which these players cannot be replaced, an automatic out is recorded each time that particular player or players are scheduled to bat.

14A Metal spikes are prohibited.

15A If a protest is to be filed with the Marion Recreation Board, a typed or handwritten account of the incident, signed by the manager, must be delivered to the Marion Recreation Department Office within 48 hours.  A filing fee of $25 must accompany the report.  If the protest is upheld, the filing fee shall be returned.

16A There are to be no children outside the dugout.  Children may sit inside fenced-in area.  Children outside are a safety factor.  Umpire will stop play and issue warning.  Second offense may result in forfeit.  This includes children acting as "bat-boys".

17A All leagues will go to 1-1 count on all batters.  Batters will receive one free foul ball.  In addition, we will use the mat for the strike zone.

18A. Line-ups must be submitted to scorekeeper ten (10) minutes prior to start of game.  A line-up card/sheet will be provided. Failure to do so could result in a forfeit.

19A Home Runs - Each team will be limited to three (3) "over the fence" home runs per game.  Subsequent home runs will be an out.  (NOTE:  female's home runs do not count towards this total).

20A Balls - Each team will be limited to three (3) "over the fence" home runs per game.  Subsequent home runs will be an out.  (NOTE:  Females home runs do not count towards this total).

21A Any walk to a male batter will result in a two base award for the batter.  Runners are advanced only if forced to advance.  The next batter (a female) will bat.  EXCEPTION:  With two outs, the female batter has the option to walk or bat.

SECTION B - TEAM CONDUCT

1B Team managers are responsible for the conduct of their team members while inside the confines of the park.  Any unacceptable behavior by a team member will not be tolerated and shall be dealt with accordingly.

2B Umpires have the authority to eject or suspend any team member(s) for unsportsmanlike conduct prior to, during or following a game.

3B While inside the confines of the park, any team member that intentionally creates physical violence, who uses abusive, insulting or profane language, or exhibits the use of alcohol or drugs, shall be subject to ejection or suspension from play.

1. Team member who creates physical violence shall be suspended for the remainder of season.
2. Any team member detected with alcohol or drugs will be suspended for three games.  A second offense will result in being suspended for the remainder of the season.
3. Any team member ejected from a game for any other reason is ineligible to participate in the next played fame of that team.
4. Ejected players will be assessed a fine of $25 which must be paid prior to returning to eligible status for unsportsmanlike behavior.

SECTION C - PLAYER ELIGIBILITY AND ROSTERS

1C The official ASA sanctioned roster shall also be constituted as the official Marion Softball League Roster.  Rosters shall be turned into the Marion Recreation Dept. prior to the start of the season (date to be set annually)  Maximum of 20 players.

2C A player becomes an official member of team once the following criteria are met:
a) They are 18 years old prior to July 1st
b) They have signed the roster and,
c) They have participated in an official

3C A player must have officially batter with the team he is wishing to play for in the LWS, in a game prior to time guideline listed on schedule of the current season to become eligible to participate in the Little World Series and must have played in 4 games for the season.  Any playing member requesting a release from a team must have a written release from their manager before playing with another team.  If the manager refuses to do so, the player must then present their case to the Recreation Department.  A player can only be released once per season per league.  Men's & Co-Ed each constitutes a separate league.

4C After July 1st of the current season, a roster emergency can be declared by a team whose active playing personnel has dropped below twelve players because of one of the following reasons:  the death of a player, military service, medical and employment reasons which will cause the player(s) non-participation for at least thirty consecutive days.  The manager is responsible to present documentation on each specific case.

5C Other than members of the Marion Recreation Board and the Marion Recreation Dept., team managers/captains are the only individuals who will be permitted to look at another team's roster only to check eligibility.  If there is a violation of the league rules, then the appropriate action will be taken immediately by the scorekeeper & umpire(s).

SECTION D - GENERAL ARTICLES

1D Experience has proven that it is impossible to anticipate all situations, which may arise when rules are formulated.  Therefore, the Marion Recreation Department reserves the right to waive a rule when in its application will result in gross unfairness to or unreasonable hardship, provided the waiver does not discriminate against other players or teams.

2D Any team forfeiting a game will be assessed a $25 fine, which must be paid prior to playing the teams next scheduled game.  No team will be permitted to play in any department league game or tournament until fine is paid at the Rec Department.  This will be strictly enforced.

3D Teams are recommended to familiarize themselves with ASA rules.
 NOTE:  Rule 3 Section 6 Article F (page 68 - jewelry)

4D Leagues, which end in tie, will be broken by results of held-to-head competition. If still tied, winner will be decided in a one game playoff.

5D Once schedules are distributed, no changes will be made unless approved by the Recreation Department.

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Signed - Captain                                              Date