Red Watson
Athletic Supervisor
City of Greer Parks and Recreation
(864) 416-6607
RWatson@CityofGreer.org
Any rule or situation not explained here will default to Major League Baseball rules. These calls will be made at the discretion of the head referee. Their call is final and cannot be disputed.
REMEMBER, THIS IS A SOCIAL SPORTS LEAGUE
The only players allowed to communicate with the umpires are the captain and co-captain. Any abuse (verbal or otherwise) of the umpires or other players will constitute an immediate ejection from the game. Repeated offenders will be banned from the league. No exceptions.
THE PLAYING FIELD
Field of play will equal the dimensions of a standard softball field (i.e., with the bases being about 70 feet or 20 paces apart).
EQUIPMENT
City of Greer Parks and Recreation will provide field equipment. This will consist of a 8 or 10-inch playground ball, bases and cones.
OFFICIALS
Games will be officiated by two (2) umpires who will be scheduled and provided by City of Greer Parks and Recreation Athletics. The home plate umpire issues all final rulings. Each team is recommended to provide a minimum of 2 players who should attend the scheduled Pre-Season Referee Clinic.
Only a team captain or co-captain may dispute a call with the referee. The referee has jurisdiction over the play and may penalize a player, including game ejection, for un-sportsman like conduct. Ejected players may not return to the game and if necessary may be asked to leave the premises.
PARTICIPANTS All players must be 15 years of age or older. Players may only play on a team on which they are registered. Exception: no exceptions!
City of Greer Parks and Recreation reserves the right to suspend any player at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct, violation of any rules, for failure to pay appropriate dues or for being disruptive, without any refund what so ever. Any team wishing to suspend any member for just reasons must do so on their own and provide City of Greer Parks and Recreation a written reason as to why. Again, no refunds. At the discretion of City of Greer Parks and Recreation, any member suspended may not in the future be allowed to participate in any further City of Greer Parks and Recreation events for one calendar year.
TEAMS
Each team must consist of a minimum of ten (10) players and no more than 20 players. A team may not play more than 10 players at a time in the field. Each team is required to have at least 4 women in the field in each inning.
Every player present is required to be in the kicking line up. Every player present is required to play at least one (1) inning in the field. If a team does not have the required minimum number of female players in the fielding lineup, then the team must forfeit.
If a team cannot field at least 8 players (Minimum of 2 Females), they automatically forfeit.
Each team shall have one Captain and one Co-Captain who are charged with:
- Making sure that only players registered on their team are participating on their behalf in a game.
- Insuring that their players kick in the same order through out the game (if necessary, teams can exchange kicking lineups prior to the game).
- Disputing a call on the field and maintain their composure at all times.
- Making sure everyone on their team understands the rules.
- Turning in the game results to the appropriate person.
- Staying in contact with City of Greer Parks and Recreation and attending all required league meetings.
- Communicating any changes in regards to scheduling or rules with his/her team.
- Ensuring that everyone on his team is eligible to play.
- Contacting the other team and the league in the event of a forfeit by 2:00 pm game day.
Any team that forfeits three or more games will be removed from the remaining schedule and not be allowed to participate in any playoff situations. No refunds will be given and a team dropped by the league may, at City of Greer Parks and Recreation’s discretion, not be allowed to rejoin the next season.
Players on a team must wear same colored t-shirts during all games, chosen before the season begins. Teams are encouraged to be creative with names and City of Greer Parks and Recreation will provide t-shirts.
REGULATION GAME
Games will be played on a 1 hour time limit. Once past 1 hour, the current inning will be completed. A complete game is 5 innings. Games that have gone past the 1 hour time limit and are tied in score will result in a tie.
The game will be called in the event of uncooperative weather. The rules for game cancellation are defined by the parks in which we play. City of Greer Parks and Recreation will attempt to reschedule any canceled games. If a game is called due to weather and less then 4 complete innings have been played, the game is canceled and will be rescheduled (and replayed starting at 0-0, top of the 1st). If more than 4 full innings have been played, the final score will be the score at the end of the last complete full inning. Teams are required to trade lineup cards prior to the game.
SPORTSMANSHIP
Players should have no intentional or unwelcome physical contact with opposing players. Doing so will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and it will be at the discretion of the referee to issue warnings or eject offending players. A player must make the referee aware if he or she feels any contact was unwarranted.
Due to Greer’s regulations, consumption of alcohol on the fields is strictly prohibited. If a person is seen consuming alcohol on the field, that person’s team immediately forfeits that day’s game and may, at the discretion of City of Greer Parks and Recreation be removed from the league.
PITCHING/CATCHING The pitcher must plant their foot on the pitching strip as they wind-up to pitch. No running up to the strip to launch a pitch. Pitches must be underhanded. Any side-arm or over-hand pitches will be considered a ball at the discretion of the head umpire. Any portion of the ball must cross over the plate to be considered a strike. The ball may not be more than 6 inches off the ground as it crosses the plate (bouncing). This is at the discretion of the umpire.
The pitcher must stay behind the pitching strip until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a ball. All infielders must stay behind the imaginary line stretching from designated lines on the field until the ball is kicked. The lines will be approximately 15 feet from homeplate. Failure to do so results in a ball.
The catcher must field behind home plate before the ball is kicked. The catcher shall not interfere with the kicker in any way. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.
KICKING
All kicks must be made by the foot. Any lower leg contact while attempting to kick the ball will be considered a kick regardless of where it strikes the leg or foot.
All kicks must occur at or behind home plate. Both feet must be on or behind home plate at the time the ball is kicked. If one or more feet are in front of home plate at the time the ball is kicked, it is a foul and the kick is called back (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out). A kick must remain within bounds until it crosses past first or third base.
Bunting is not allowed. A bunt is defined as a kick that does not travel past the 15 foot line/markers and remain in fair territory. Any kick that does not travel past the 15 foot line/markers will result in a foul.
Kicking order. Teams must alternate male-female in the kicking order.
RUNNING
Runners must stay within the base line. Fielders must stay out of the base line unless they are attempting to tag a runner out or catch the ball. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the base line. Runners unfairly hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running.
Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may only move off his/her base after the ball has been kicked and you can’t pass the runner in front of you. These are outs.
Hitting a runner with the ball above shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders (neck or head) is safe and advances one base. Exceptions: If the runner intentionally uses his head to block the ball. The runner is out. If the runner is ducking, diving or sliding (i.e. attempts to dodge the ball) and is hit in the head or neck because of this, he/she is out.
If a kicked ball is caught on the fly, runners must tag their originating base (on or after the moment the ball is first touched by a fielder) before running to the next base. There is no infield fly rule.
Only one base on an overthrow is allowed to the runner, if the ball goes into dead ball area.
STRIKES
The ball must travel over homeplate and bounce below 6 inches. As long as any part of the ball passes through the strike zone, the ball is a strike. A kick occurring in front of home plate is a foul (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out).
BALLS
A ball is:
- a pitch outside the strike zone
- the catcher playing next to or in front of the kicker before the ball is kicked
- any player crossing the “line” from the defense that runs from the designated cones on the field
- Three (3) balls will get you to first base
FOULS
A foul is:
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- a kick landing out of bounds. The foul is determined by where the ball lands not how it travels to get there. Remember that if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
- a kick landing inbounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base. (Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play)
- a ball that is tipped while being kicked but continues to travel behind the kicker; but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
- a kicker touching (or kicking) the ball twice while on or behind home plate (i.e., in foul territory); but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out
- Any foul that hits a tree or other outside object is a dead ball and not illegible to be caught for an out. The ball remains a foul.
- Four fouls is an out
OUTS
An out is:
- a count of three strikes
- a count of four fouls
- a runner touched by the ball at anytime while not on base (unless a head shot)
- any kicked ball (fair or foul) that is caught before it hits the ground
- a ball tag on a base to which a runner is forced to run
- kicking out of order
- a runner leading off the base or stealing
- a count of three outs completes the team’s half of the inning
BALL IN PLAY
Once the pitcher has the ball in control and makes contact with the pitching strip; the play ends.