Quit Qui Oc Sports Complex                        
1555 Riverview Rd
Plymouth, WI. 53073                            
920-892-6300 Cell 920-946-1754
email: qqoaa@qwics.net  

 2008 Plymouth Softball Association
Local Rules and Regulations

1.  Basic Rules

1.   Basic Rules  

A.  It is the runner’s responsibility to get out of the way (slide or run out of baseline) during a play at any base.

B.  All Plymouth Softball Association games, whether league, league playoffs or league    tournaments shall be conducted according to the official rulebook of the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association (USSSA).

C.  Any deviation from the USSSA rule book shall be stated in these local rules.

D.  All rules apply to all Men’s and Women’s leagues unless otherwise stated.  Use of the term “he” shall apply to the male gender as well as the female gender unless stated.

2.   Teams

A.  Team rosters may not exceed 25 players.

B.  A team roster consisting of at least nine plus player fees (shall be paid with certified check or money order)  must be submitted in full to the Membership Chairperson no later than the last Monday of April for the upcoming season.  Any team failing to meet this deadline shall forfeit their 1st game and every game thereafter until the situation is rectified. 

3.   Players

A. All players, managers and base coaches must be a registered PSA member.  Membership fees are $35.00 for each player and $15 for non-playing manager or base coach.  An addition $15.00 fee will be charged for each addition league.

B.  No player may participate in the PSA without having completed at least one year of High School or reaching the age of 15 (unless approved by the Board of Directors).

C.     Participation by a non-roster player shall cause the forfeit of every game in which the illegal player takes part in while not on the official roster. Penalty will be forfeiture of the game (s) at the time the non-roster player is identified, plus the player will receive a 1 (one) game suspension, the manager will receive a 3 (three) game suspension from the league.

D.    Any new player added to a team roster must pay the appropriate membership fee.  He-She can play immediately.   No players can be added after the last league game. Player fees after mid-season will be $20.00, players playing a second night the fee is $10.00.

E.     A registered player may change teams only after completing a transfer slip, pay the appropriate player fee and receive approval from the Membership Committee.  The player can play immediately after approval.

F.      Men’s leagues only: a player may only play in one league per night, can be added as a 9^th player but only in your league.

4.  Scheduling

A.  The Scheduling Committee shall publish the entire season schedule.

B.  Last team listed on the schedule will be home team and occupy the 1st base dugout..

C.  Teams unable to play a scheduled game for any reason shall forfeit the game, (see forfeit rule Section 10 paragraph B) unless prior arrangements have been made with the opposing team and Scheduling Chairperson.

D.  Teams will fill out the PSA tournament form and hand it in to the concession stand two weeks before City Tournament.  (Sent to all managers in the April mailing and also available at concession stand).

E.  The Scheduling Chairperson will make all decisions regarding the rescheduling of canceled games due to inclement weather and/or ground conditions.

F.  All teams are required to adhere to the make-up arrangements set down by the Scheduling Chairperson or game will be considered a forfeit with rule enforcement.

G.  Every effort will be made to play postponed games.  If it is impossible to reschedule all postponed games, make-up games will be played on a priority basis.  Those games with important league standing will be played first.

H.  The Facilities Manager of Quit Qui Oc will make all decisions requiring the cancellations of games due to inclement weather or field conditions. Every effort will be made to make this decision one hour prior to game time. However, we know that this is not always possible.Game time decisions will be the umpires call.   TEAM MANAGERS ONLY SHALL CALL 920-892-6301 for the recorded message with cancellation news.

I.  All new men’s team entries will start on Wednesday nights, Federal North or Federal South Leagues.  There will be No Exceptions!!!

5. Equipment

A.      A. The Plymouth Softball Association will allow only bats approved by the ASA and the PSA.  Penalty:  In the event A protest occurs over an illegal bat the game will be continued to the finish.    However, the umpire will confiscate the bat at the time of protest. (Umpire may make the ruling during protest if they determine the bat is legal to play with).  In the event the bat is indeed illegal the offending team will forfeit the game.  If the bat is later found to be legal the game will stand.  (see list below)   

                              List of PSA Banned Bats as of 4/5/08

B.  All equipment (not in use during game) shall be kept off the playing field (gloves etc.).

C.  Softballs will be provided for all PSA events including: League games, Tournament games and Playoff games.

D.  A safety base (doublewide) will be used at 1st base for all PSA games.

6. Pitching

A.      A three ball, two strikes (any combination) will be used for all PSA games.

B.      A strike mat will be use.  A strike is a legal pitch ball that hit the mat or home plate.

C.     Five warm-up pitches will be allowed to begin the game.  One pitch will be allowed  between innings after the first inning.  Umpires may reduce or eliminate the warm-up pitch at their discretion during the game. 

7. Special Rules & Game Rules

A.  A courtesy runner will be allowed only in cases of permanent disabilities.  The Head Umpire must approve all such cases in writing.  The courtesy runner must be on the same roster as the eligible disabled player and assume a starting position behind home plate.  If a substitute is available they must be the courtesy runner; otherwise the previous batter not on base shall be the courtesy runner. 

B.  A team may begin the game with nine players and be considered a legal line-up (no out penalty will be assessed).  You may add a player to the game, as they become available (late arrival).  If you choose to bat an additional hitter, you must finish the game with the number of batters that the game is started with.  An automatic out will be assessed when their spot comes up in the batting order if players is injured or leaves.

C. Rule 8+1…… No team will be permitted to begin or continue with eight or less players. You can pick-up a player from any team from your league to play to make the 9 player limit.  A $5.00 fee must be paid for player at the Concession stand.  The player must play catcher and bat last.  If a player arrives after the game starts, the player added must be removed from the line-up. In event a team cannot continue to play the started game, a forfeit will be declared at that point of time. Cannot add players for playoffs- Rule 3D.

D.  Multiple additional hitters are optional, and may be placed anywhere in the batting order.  If an AH is  included in the original line-up, they must be used throughout the game. (See rule 7 B.) 

E.  In the event a player is injured, but is legally occupying a base, and the team has no eligible substitutes available, the previous batter not on base shall be the runner for the injured player.  The injured player is now considered out of the game and cannot return.

F.   If a team is ahead by 15 or more runs after 4 innings (3 1/2) innings, 10 after 5 innings (4 ½ innings) if the home team is ahead) the game shall be called completed. The rule after 5 innings: the started inning will be completed unless the home team is ahead by 10 run.  The 10 rule will be waived for both Tournament and Playoff Championship games.

G.  For League Games- if weather causes a game to be called after 3 ½ innings and Home team is ahead the game shall be called a complete game.

H.  For League Tournament games and League Playoff games: If these games are interrupted by weather, power failure, etc. will be considered a suspended game.  When the game can be resumed, it will be started at the point of interruption.  The same identical game situations will exist of inning, score, outs, batter, batting order, etc.  The only exception would be the diamond.  The Scheduling Committee reserves the right to reschedule on an available diamond if necessary.

I.  Scheduled game time is forfeit time.

      a. A 60-minute time limit will be used, unless the game is within 3 runs at the start of the inning.

      b. Line-ups are due 10 minutes before your scheduled game time.

J.  Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed to be consumed by a player or coach in the dugout during a PSA scheduled game.  Smoking is not allowed on the field.

K.  Swinging of the bat will not be allowed outside the fenced in playing area.  Offense may result in the batter being declared out (umpires’ discretion).

L.  The home run rule will consist of the following for the designated leagues:

            a. All the Men’s leagues will be allowed 3 home runs per game.

            b. Home runs hit after the limit is met will be considered a Base on Balls

 M.  The use of profanity will not be tolerated on or off the field.  The penalty for such behavior will result in the next batter being called out.  If the incident occurs by an offensive player the results will be:

             a. The batter has safely made it on base; the player will be declared out.

             b. The batter was called out by the results of the play; the team will be assessed an  out.  If the play results in the 3 rd out of the inning, the team starts the next inning with 1 out

             c. The offense is made by a defensive player; the result will be the team starting their half of the inning with 1 out.

           The rule is considered a delayed call and will be informed at the end of the play.   The use of loud flagrant profanity will be penalized with the ejection of the player.  This is a judgment call by the empire and is not protestable.

8. Umpires

A.  One umpire will be used for some of the weekly scheduled PSA games.  This will be accomplished on a rotating basis.  Two Umpires will be used when schedule allows.

9. Ejection

A.      No player, manager, coach or team member shall charge the umpire on a judgment call.  This action will result with the ejection of the offender (s).

B.      Any physical contact with an umpire will result in ejection and suspension of the offender (s).  Player (s) shall be referred to the Board of Directors.

C.      Ejection may occur at any time during a PSA function, including before and or after a game in which the player it is participant.

D.     First ejection will result with the immediate removal from the ballpark for the rest of the night (including the Parking Area) with a one game suspension.  An additional one game suspension will be imposed for failure to comply with the umpires’ request to leave.  Individuals may be ejected more than once if their actions warrant (refusal to leave..continue to argue..etc.).

E.      Second ejection will result in a two game suspension.  All rules noted in first ejection apply to the second ejection.  

F.      Third ejection and any subsequent ejection will result with the individual being suspended for the balance of the current season.  If the ejection occurs near the end of the season the suspension period will be carried into the next season until the penalty is completed.

10. Forfeits          

         A.  All forfeit fees must be paid to the Membership Chairperson.

         B.  A $35.00 forfeit fee will be charged to the offending team for each forfeit.  Fee must be paid before the teams next PSA sanctioned game. 

         C.  Failure to pay within the given period shall result in additional forfeits until fees are paid.  Failure to pay fee (s) will result in the team’s roster being frozen until fees are paid.  Frozen rosters will result with the players listed on the offending roster being barred from future league competition.

11. Protests

          A.  Protests involving an umpire’s judgment call shall not be allowed.

           B.  Intent to protest must be made to the Umpire immediately following a protestable play (before the next pitch is delivered).  Written protest (s) must be filled out by the Manager, within a 24-hour period following the protested game and given to the Rules Committee.  Written protest must be accompanied with a $10.00 fee.  If the protest is upheld the fee will be refunded.  The Rules Committee shall consider and act upon all protests within a period of 1-week following the incident.

12. Substitution--Re-entry Rule

A.  All substitutions and re-entries must be reported to the Umpires and scorekeepers.

B.  Any of the starting players, including the pitcher, may be withdrawn and may re-enter the game once, providing the player assumes the same batting order position when they return to the game.

C.  Improper re-entry is handled as an appeal play and must be discovered and reported by the opposing team.  Examples of an improper re-entry:

                        1.  A starter who re-enters in an incorrect batting position.

                        2.  A starter who re-enters a second time.

                        3. A substitute who re-enters the game.

Improper re-entry if appealed and upheld will result in the ejection of the offending player.

D. A courtesy runner maybe used once in a game (runner who made the last out). (Excluding permanent disabilities).

13. Special Injury Rule

A.      In the event that all eligible players have been used and one of the remaining 10 or 11 players on the field is injured, a free substitution shall be picked by the opposing manager.

14. Carry-ins and Underage Consumption

A.      Any person carrying in alcoholic beverages at any of the PSA fields at Quit Qui Oc will be asked to remove the beverage from the park.  If a member of the PSA carries in any alcoholic beverages they will be suspended from the league.

B.      Any minor found consuming alcoholic beverages during any PSA sanctioned function shall be suspended from the leagues and referred to the local authorities.

15. Practice Restrictions

A.      No teams shall practice from the home plate area prior to the game.

B.      If you are practicing on the Soccer fields at Quit Qui Oc just a reminder, the Soccer players have precedent to the soccer fields.

16. Ground Rules

1. Everything inside the fences are live and in play.
2. Overthrows beyond these lines are considered a dead ball.  The runner (s) will be awarded the appropriate base (s).
3. Batted balls bouncing over, under or through the outfield fence will called a ground rule double.  The batter will be awarded 2nd base and the runners awarded two bases from the time of the pitch.
4. If the fielder intentionally kicks, throws, or pushes the ball beyond the outfield fence, the batter will be awarded a Home Run.

17. Playoff Formats

1. The higher seeded team can choose to be the Home or Visitor team.
2. All Championship game will be the final. 
3. For leagues that consists of Five teams. The step ladder format will be used.
4. For leagues that consists of 7 or 9  teams. The #1 seed will receive a first round bye and the other teams will be seeded according to record.
5. For leagues that consists of 6-8-10 teams. The teams will be seeded according to record.
6. In situations where two or more teams finish with identical won/loss records, the following tie-breaker system will be applied 
1. Head to Head  
2. Runs allowed all games/all season
3. Coin flip

Back to Top

  For Questions or comments contact:  John Eadelis  email qqoaa@qwics.net 

   Phone numbers   920-892-6300  cell 920-946-1754

  Web page last updated:  Thursday, May 22, 2008 09:45 AM