Lisbon Adult Coed Recreational Softball League
2005
revised 2/28/05
This League is formed to provide a recreational outlet for the adults in
the Town of Lisbon. While we may have some competitive players in this
League, we must remember that we are here first for recreation.
1. Games will be played under the Amateur Softball Association of America's OFFICIAL Rules
OF SOFTBALL (2005 edition) with the exception of the specific Lisbon Adult Coed Recreational
Softball League rules as follows:
A.) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, the use of ILLEGAL DRUGS and TOBACCO PRODUCTS
are not allowed on school grounds, at Beaver Park or at the Pinewoods fields. No animals,
especially DOGS are allowed on school property. All Team Captains, Coaches, Managers
and Players will help to enforce this rule!!! Any player caught doing drugs, drinking or using
tobacco products during their game will be ejected from the game. At the time of ejection the
game will be declared over and the ejected player's team will get a loss added to their record.
The game will recognized as a forfeit. The ejected player will have to come before the board
before being reinstated and becoming eleigible to play.
B.) This League is open to all Lisbon Residents. A Lisbon Resident is defined as:
1.) Anyone who lives and/or works in the Town of Lisbon.
a.) A worker must work a minimum of 15 hours a week in this town.
b.) A worker must be employed by a company whose base is in this town.
2.) A person who lives in the towns of Durham or Bowdoin can play in this League and
will not be considered an Out of Town Player.
3.) A Lisbon High School Graduate can play for any team regardless of their residence.
C.) In order to participate, players must be 18 years of age as of the registration date.
D.) This League will allow no more than SEVEN (7) Out of Town Players to appear on any team
roster. An Out of Town Player is defined as anyone who does not meet the Lisbon residency
requirements as outlined in Rule 1. B. There can be no more than 5 members of one sex
listed as an Out of Town Player.
E.) Sponsors, managers, coaches and players are considered to be a member of this league. As a
member, you can only participate on one team. If you sponsor a team and wish to coach or play,
it must be for that team. If you manage or coach a team and wish to play, it must be for the
same team.
F.) There will be a minimum of 15 players and a maximum of 25 players on any team roster.
G.) ADDING OR DROPPING A TEAM PLAYER:
1.) Each Team Captain/Manager will be allowed to add or drop players from his/her roster
with the following conditions:
a.) Each roster must maintain a minimum of 15 players and cannot exceed the maximum of
25 players.
b.) When adding or dropping a team player the Team Captain/Manager MUST date and
initial the official team roster. This must be done at least 3 days prior to the team's next
game.
c.) When adding a player, the player must meet all eligibility requirements set down in
these rules.
d.) A Team Captain/Manager may drop a player for any reason.
1.) A dropped player must appeal to the Board of Directors before being reinstated on
original team.
2.) A dropped player must appeal to the Board of Directors before being added to a new
team.
2.) Team Captains/Managers may not add or drop a player after August 1st.
3.) Team Captains/Managers may not add or drop a player during any playoff period.
H.) UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT:
1.) Any team member who strikes an official or any other player shall be suspended from the
League for the remainder of the season.
2.) Any team member removed from a game for fighting will be suspended for the remainder
of the season.
3.) Foul Language will not be tolerated on and around the playing field. Officials are directed
to warn the Team Captain/Manager upon first offense. A second offense will lead to an
ejection of the player who commits the act. A third offense will lead to the acting
Captain/Manager to be ejected.
4.) Officials will report all infringements of this rule (Rule G) to the Commisioner within
24 hours after the end of the game.
5.) Anyone suspended from the League must pay a $20.00 fine and appeal to the Board of
Directors before being reinstated and allowed to play in League Games.
2.) Completed roster forms must be submitted 10 days prior to the start of the season. (Friday, May
6, 2005) A team whose roster has not been submitted prior to the start of the season will
forfeit each game until the roster has been submitted. Only an Official League Roster
will be accepted. Forms can be picked up at the Rec Office.
3.) Registration Fees must be paid in full prior to the start of the first game. (Friday, May
6, 2005) Fee amount: $275.00 Checks should be made payable to The Town Of
Lisbon. Cash will not be accepted! Teams not paid at this time will not appear on the
schedule and cannot participate in this league.
4.) Each team is responsible for their team's uniforms, scorebooks and medical kits.
5.) If a team forfeits two games, that team will be eliminated from the League and remaining
opponents will pick up a win. This team is not eligible for playoffs. No fees will be refunded.
(2 games if less than 12 league games; 3 if 12 -18 games; 4 if over 18 games)
6.) In 2004, the league will consist of one division with each team playing each other once. At the
end of the regular season, the teams will be split into 2 divisions for playoffs. The teams with the
best records will be placed into one tournament; the remaining teams will be placed into a
separate tournament. The split will be 50-50 unless there is an odd number of teams. If there is
an odd number of teams, the team in the middle must be within 2 games of the team above them
to remain in the higher bracket. (See Playoffs and Awards regarding tie-breaking situations)
GAME RULES
1.) All games will begin as scheduled. A team that cannot field a complete team within fifteen
minutes after the scheduled time will forfeit the game to their opponent.
A.) A game consists of seven innings. An inning will not start 5 minutes before the next
scheduled game. A game that doesn't go at least 5 innings will be rescheduled in its
entirety. A tie game after 5 or more innings will be continued at the point it ended.
2.) The Commissioner will be responsible for notifying all teams 1 & 1/2 hours before game time
if game postponement is necessary due to inclement weather or wet field conditions. Make-up
games will be rescheduled at the earliest possible time by the Commissioner.
A.) Teams may reschedule games due to conflicting personal schedules. Captain/Managers must
contact the Commissioner about the conflicting date and then must contact the opposing team
Captain/Manager and agree to a time when both teams can play. Games must be played on Sunday.
The Commissioner reserves the right to settle a schedule change if both teams cannot agree to play.
3.) Teams should be in uniform upon taking the field. A uniform consists of matching shirts and caps.
Caps do not need to be worn by each team member.
4.) A team should start a game with 10 players. There must be a minimum of 3 players of each sex
on the field at any time. (A team may start with 7 women and 3 men.)
A.) A team may start with 9 players.
1.) An out will be recorded in the tenth spot of the batting order.
B.) A team can finish with 9 players.
1.) An out will be recorded in the spot of the player who had exited the game.
C.) There must be at least 3 players of each sex on the field throughout the game.
1.) Do not place an injured player in the lineup in order to have
3 players of one sex. This will result in an automatic protest and be brought to the
attention of the Board of Directors.
D.) A Team Captain/Manager must bat all members of his/her team.
E.) A Player that leaves for any reason will not be considered an out when their turn comes up in
the batting order.
5.) There will be no team infield warm-up before the game. Teams may have a mutual batting
practice before the game if time allows. (A mutual batting practice is when both teams are on the
field and one player from one team bats then a player from the other team bats and so on...)
6.) Team batting orders must be exchanged before the game. Each team is responsible for keeping
their own scorebook. The home team's scorebook will be considered the official scorebook.
Line-up cards must be given to the home plate umpire prior to the start of the game.
7.) Bats must be one single wall bat. Both Team Captains/Managers and the game Umpire will
check all bats before game time. ANY bat in question will not be used during the game and will
be considered an illegal bat. Illegal bats may be confiscated by the umpire until the end of the
game. Any player caught using an illegal bat will result in a team forfeit.
A.) A bat list will be provided for each team at the beginning of the season. Bats not on this list
cannot be used in a game. Teams should provide a list to the Commissioner before the season
begins. There will be no changes to this list after the second week of the season.
B.) Only managers, coaches, players and umpires directly involved with the game in hand
can question a bat.
8.) A Gold Stitch 12 inch regular smooth-seamed, flat-surfaced, pebble-textured softball with a
COR of .44 and under and marked ASA-4495 will be used for League play and playoffs.
A.) Each team will supply a new softball to the umpire at the beginning of the game.
B.) If the defensive team loses a ball due to a bad throw, then the defensive team must replace the
ball.
C.) If the offensive team loses a ball due to a ball hit over the fence, ground rule double or a foul
ball, then the offensive team must replace the ball.
D.) All replaced balls must be approved by the home plate umpire before being used in the game.
9.) The blood rule as discussed in the Official rule book (Rule 4 Section 8.) will be in effect for
all games and playoffs.
10.) Metal Spikes will not be allowed. Any Player caught wearing metal spikes will be ejected from
the game.
11.) Bunting, stealing or leading off bases will not be allowed.
12.) All runners must slide into the base that they are advancing to when and if there is a play
being made on them. Runners cannot barrel into a defensive player who is making a play
on that runner. The umpire will call the runner out and give that runner a warning. A second
offense to that player will result in ejection from the game. This rule pertains to 2nd and 3rd
base and home plate.
13.) The batter is out when he/she hits a second foul ball after two strikes.
14.) Pitchers MUST pitch from the 50 foot (or furthest) rubber (away from home plate). Pitches
must have a 6 to 12 foot arc. Any pitch under 6 feet or over 12 feet may be declared an illegal
pitch by the umpire. Pitchers may wear protective shinguards and/or a catchers helmet and
face guard while in the field.
15.) A Strike zone mat 19 inches wide and 40 inches long will be placed level on the ground.
The front corners shall rest on the corners of home plate and shall be in line with the pitcher's
plate and second base. A pitched ball landing on this mat shall be called a strike unless, in
the umpire's judgement, it did not meet the 6 - 12 foot arc requirement.
16.) The outfield will consist of four fielders; a leftfielder, a left centerfielder, a right centerfielder
and a rightfielder. An outfield with 3 fielders must have a leftfielder, a centerfielder and a
rightfielder.
A.) There will be NO shortfielder used in this league.
B.) All outfielders must remain behind a designated line or spots at all times while in the field.
This line will be 175 feet from home plate foul line to foul line.
1.) RULING: A ball hit to an outfielder who BEGINS their position in front of the designated
line or spot can be ruled a single by the umpire and first base awarded to the batter.
2.) This is a judgement call by the umpire and cannot be appealed by either team.
17.) Due to an injury to a runner, only one courtesy runner will be allowed per team per game.
1.) The courtesy runner will be the person who bats before the player who is being replaced
as long as that runner is not already on base. If the person who bats before the injured
player is already on base then go to the next previous batter who is not on base.
18.) Each team will be allowed to hit 4 home runs. Each additional home run will be considered
an out.
19.) If an intentional walk is given to a male batter, the next batter (if it is a female) will have
the option to accept a walk or have the opportunity to hit. An intentional walk is defined as
the pitcher motioning the batter to first or pitching four straight unhittable balls.
20.) Game results must be called in to the Public Relations Director no later than 9 pm the day
after the game by the winning team. Game results not called in can result in a forfeit by the
winning team. The Public Relations Director will capsulate the game and call it in to the
local paper(s). The Public Relations Director will also keep track of League standings.
21.) Game Protests must be submitted in writing to the Protest Committee no later than 48 hours
after the game. The protest must be accompanied by a $20.00 fee which will be forfeited if the
protest is not allowed. A hearing on the protest must be held no later than 7 days after receiving
the protest. The protest must be attended by both team representatives, umpire(s) involved in
the protest and the Protest Committee. A fee of $20.00 may be assessed to the offending team.
A team can protest because of illegal players or an infraction of the rules. A team cannot protest
a judgement call by an umpire. The Protest Committee will be formed by all Team
Representatives not involved in the protest. This Committee will be presided over by 1. the
Commissioner, 2. the Rec Director or 3. by a member of the Committee (by a simple
majority vote).
22.) Any player ejected from a game must leave the complex. The umpire in charge of the game
will contact the Commisioner and give a description of the events leading to the ejection.
UMPIRES
To keep the costs down, each team will be asked to supply a list of volunteer umpires to officiate
each game. Umpires can be players, coaches or spectators. Umpires must be knowledgeable of
League rules and the ASA official rules. Umpires should be respected for the job they have to do.
Umpires should be fair to both teams on the field. If no umpire is available then the offensive team
will call balls and strikes. The home team is responsible for getting an umpire for their game. If
a volunteeer is not available then it is up to the teams to umpire themselves.
Umpires will be designated at the time of scheduling. Each team will be responsible for having a
representative officiate the games as scheduled.
PLAYOFFS AND AWARDS
1.) To be eligible for the playoffs, a player must have played in at least 4 League games.
(If a team has 12 - 14 scheduled games then a player must play in 4 games.)
(15 - 17 games : 5 games; 18 - 20 games : 6 games; 21 - 23 games : 7 games.)
2.) All teams will advance to the playoffs in their division. The playoffs will consist of a
double elimination tournament. Depending on the number of teams in this tournament,
the top teams may receive a bye. Otherwise the tournament pairings will consist of the last
place team playing the first place team, the second last team playing the second team and so
on. In this situation, the higher place teams will have the home field advantage.
3.) In the event of a tie in the standings at the end of League play, to determine playoff positions,
a head to head won/loss record will be considered or a single game playoff may be held.
4.) Trophies will be awarded to the top Division finishers and the Playoff winners. Trophies may be
trophies, plaques or t-shirts as voted by the League.
5.) A Team Sportsmanship Award will be given to the Team with the most votes as voted on by the
Team Representatives. This will be a simple majority vote. In case of a tie there will be a second
vote on the teams that are tied. If there is another tie, then the League Commissioner will vote
to break the tie. This vote will be taken during the playoffs.