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ARENA SOFTBALL LEAGUE - 

*OFFICIAL RULES SHALL BE THE CURRENT SENIOR SOFTBALL-USA RULE BOOK. IN ADDITION, the following local Rules shall also be used taking precedence over a SS-USA rule:

1. All games are seven (7) innings unless extra innings are required. Tiebreaker rule: Last official batter starts on second base. A courtesy runner is not allowed for this runner until he reaches third base. In order for a game to be official, the losing team must bat five (5) times. Time limit for ALL games played at Lady Lake (Sacks Field), including the last scheduled game, is 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

NOTE:  After 1 hour, the scorer or umpire will announce that the current inning will be finished, and one more inning will be played.

2. If there is a tie for 1st Place at the end of the regular season, a single elimination game or games can be played, schedule permitting, else head to head will be used as a tiebreaker. If still tied, then total season average run differential will be used as the tiebreaker.

3. No game may be canceled unless the field is unplayable or the weather is unfavorable (i.e. rain, cold, heat). The two managers of the game will make this decision. A team canceling a game for any other reason will forfeit the game. 

 

4. Draft / Draft Order: 

4.1  Selected by drawing  Priot to Draft Managers will be slotted into a specific round where they must be drafted

4.2  Order the Draft will be a Snake draft from the 2nd through the 12th rounds

 

5.  Rated Players

Players drafted in Rounds 1-3 will be designated as 'A' rated players, players drafted in rounds 4-7 will be designated as 'B' rated players, and players drafted in rounds 8-12 will be designated as 'C' rated players 

 

6. Substitutes

6.1 All players on the Sub List will be rated 'A', 'B', or 'C' when entering League

6.2 Rostered players will be rated per their Draft position for Substitution purposes as stated above, the only exception to this would be in the event of 2 players sharing a single slot where 1 of the players has previously been rated above the Draft position

 

 

7. Substitutes / Games

7.1 Substitute players may be obtained from either Rostered or Sub List (preferably Sub List).

7.2 Players rated as 'A' players may only Sub for other 'A' rated.  Players rated as 'B' players may only Sub for either 'A' or 'B' rated players.  Players rated as 'C' players may Sub for anyone. 

7.3  There is no limit on the number of substitutes used, but all subs must be currently playing on an Arena team or listed on the official sub list.
7.4  A team cannot use the same sub in more than 3 games per season (includes games as a temporary replacement player per Section 9). This includes subs from other rosters.
7.5 Subs may bat in any position of the lineup.

7.6 Managers are allowed to pickup a Sub to bring their complement of players back to 12 if so desired.  There is no requirement to do so, it is at the Managers discretion.

7.7 Single game substitutes on the official sub list are not game limited daily, whereas an Arena roster player can only play two (2) games per day, i.e. a scheduled game plus one additional game as a sub OR two (2) games as a sub on a "BYE" day.

7.8 Single game substitutes must bat at the bottom of the lineup, except for those designated as 3-game temporary replacement players who can bat anywhere in the lineup and are subject to roster player rules during their 3-game stint.

7.9 All substitutes, whether from an Arena team roster or the official sub list, can be used as a courtesy runner.

7.10 Violation of section 7.4  will result in a forfeit by the team in violation, and can be determined during a game or at any time following completion of a game.

7.11  In case of injury, illness or any other valid reason for leaving the game, and no substitute is available, the player's batting lineup spot shall be skipped and no out declared. The player may not return to the game.

 

8. Substitutes / Prioritization (Refer also to Section 28 for "Substitutes / Participation")

8.1 All Subs listed on the official sub list (except for Winter season roster players on the Summer season sub list) are prioritized (for future entry into a Fall season draft) by the most recent of the following dates:

a) date of new participant put on the sub list;

b) date a substitute voluntarily declines to enter a Fall season draft when eligible and available;

c) date a non-injured roster player voluntarily elects to return to the official sub list;

 

9. Temporary Replacement Players

9.1  A temporary replacement player is a player from the official sub list replacing any injured, absent (lengthy) or ill player listed on the original team roster even if it brings the roster count back to 12 (twelve). Such injured, absent or ill player will continue to be listed on the roster as "injured reserve/not playing" in anticipation of returning to active playing status during the season.

9.1.1  Temporary replacement players can only play for a total of 3 consecutive game dates (BYE is excluded, rainout is included) and cannot repeat such for the same team in the same season. Once so used, that individual may no longer be used by the same team as a single game sub for the remainder of the season (see Section 7.4 and following exception).

NOTE: Exception would be if one or more games are rained out during the designated 3-game dates, then the team can use the individual as a single game sub for the number of games rained out during the designated 3-game dates.

9.1.2  A Temporary replacement player MUST play in all 3 specified game dates and the ONE (1) roster player being replaced by the temporary roster player (per Section 10.1 requirements) cannot play any of those game dates.
9.1.3  Once assigned and any of the 3 games played, replaced players and their respective temporary replacements cannot be changed.
9.1.4  A Temporary replacement player is considered a roster player during the designated 3 game dates so is subject to roster player rules and may sub for other teams as a single game sub.

 

10. Identifying & communicating temporary replacement players

10.1  Managers must provide written (email is ok) confirmation to the Commissioner designating the following:

a) Name of temporary replacement player (from the sub list) and the roster player being replaced.
b) Starting game date

c) Ending game date for a temporary replacement.

11.  Courtesy Runners: All players and subs can be used as a courtesy runner one (1) time per inning.

12.  First Base. A double bag shall be used at first base with the double portion of the bag being in foul territory. If, in the judgment of the umpire, there is a play on a batter-runner going to first base, the batter-runner must touch only the bag in foul territory. He is at risk of being called out if he fails to do so, except to avoid a collision in the judgment of the umpire. This is not an appeal play. The defensive player must touch a portion of the bag inside fair territory to make the putout but can have part of his foot on the bag in foul territory and still record an out.

The separately colored bags are considered merged after a batter-runner becomes a base runner, i.e. once the batter-runner becomes a base runner (after ceasing to be a batter-runner) the two portions of the bag are considered "merged" for both offensive and defensive purposes.

13.  Force Plays: Senior Softball Rules apply. Force Plays occur ONLY when:

a) A base runner must return to a base because of a caught line drive or fly ball.
b) A base runner must advance to the next base when an uncaught batted ball by a succeeding hitter forces him to touch the next base.
c) In all other cases, Arena League uses regular Senior Softball rules whereby runners must be tagged in a non-force out situation.

14.  Infield Fly

14.1  An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with an ordinary effort when there are runners on 1st and 2nd or on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and less than two outs.
14.2  Any player who positions himself in the infield at the start of the pitch shall be considered an infielder for the purpose of this rule. The infield is defined as that portion of the field, which includes areas normally covered by infielders.
14.3  When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpires shall immediately declare "Infield Fly - The batter is out" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball insure a foul line, the umpires shall declare "Infield Fly - The batter is out if fair." If a declared infield fly becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
14.4  In an infield fly, the ball is alive and runners may advance at their own risk. Any runner can tag up and advance once the ball is first touched by a fielder.
14.5 Failure of the umpire to call "Infield Fly" does not negate the Infield Fly. If the error is discovered prior to the next pitch, the Infield Fly rule may still be called. The batter is out and all runners will return to the base occupied before the last pitch was thrown.

15.  Contact: A runner must make every effort to avoid colliding with the opposing players while running the bases. If a runner misses a base to avoid a collision, the runner may not be called out (umpire's judgement).

15.1  If a runner fails to avoid a collision, fails to allow a player's opportunity to field a thrown ball or fails to give a fielder the opportunity to complete a double play throw, the the runner is out, and if in the judgement of the umpire the runner did not allow the fielder to complete a double play, both runners can be called out. The fielder does not have to throw the ball to have the second runner called out (umpire's judgement).
15.2  If the umpire rules deliberate contact on the part of the defensive player, the runner shall be called safe.

16.  Sliding / Hard Slides. Sliding or diving into first base or the Scoring Plate is not permitted, and such players will be called out. However, a player may slide or dive into second or third bases and when returning to any base, except the Scoring Plate. In addition to the Contact rules as stipulated in Section 15 above, if, in the umpire's judgment, the contact by the runner was deliberate, the runner may be in jeopardy of being ejected from the game.

16.1  In the interest of safety, players should avoid a hard slide into a base to "break up a double play" if they are going to be out by a substantial margin. The player can be warned by an umpire.

17.  RUN LIMIT: A team is limited to five (5) runs per inning; however, if a team is losing by more than 5 runs, it may score 5 runs or half the difference (rounded up to the nearest run) whichever is greater, between its score and the leading team's score.

17.1  One extra run may be scored on a legal home run over the fence (5+1 or half the difference +1).  See Section 21

17.2 In the last inning and any extra innings, there is no run limit.

18.  All bats must meet the specifications set by Senior Softball-USA.

19.  The flip-flop rule is per SS-USA, i.e. invoked by the umpire when there is a 10-Run or greater differential in favor of the visiting team at the start of the "Open Inning".

20.  The mercy rule will be enforced for a team trailing by 15 or more runs after five (5) complete innings.

 

21. Home Runs

21.1  An over the fence home run (OTF) is allowed only with ASA approved bats; OTF home runs with non-approved ASA bats are dead ball outs.

21.2 A touched, over the fence home run is considered a 4-base error-home run that does not count against the OTF home run total.

21.3  Hit and sit after an OTF home run applies to batter and all base runners, including a 4-base error-home run per Section 21.2.
21.4  Each team is allowed a maximum of three (3) OTF home runs per game hit with ASA approved bats. Any subsequent OTF home runs are dead ball outs.

21.4 Refer to Section 17 when runs batted in via an OTF (over the fence) home run would exceed an inning run limit.

22.  Ball entering dead ball territory through the gap in Sacks Field's centerfield (beyond the boundary defined by extending the outfield boundary fence across the gap):

22.1  The ball is dead, and all runners are awarded two bases (typical "ground rule double").
22.2  If, in the umpire's judgment, a fielder INTENTIONALLY causes the ball to go through the gap from a playable territory into dead ball territory, then the ball is dead. Each runner is awarded two bases from the last base touched at the time the fielder intentionally caused the ball to enter dead ball territory.

23.  A ball hitting ANY PART of the scorer's building (including any overhanging portions of a roof) will immediately become a DEAD BALL.

24.  The official softball of the League shall be the Yellow Trump Stote AK, twelve (12) inch, .44 core ball with a compression ratio no higher than 375.

25.  The home team must furnish one (1) brand new, and one (1) very good used ball for each game.

26.  All protests must be settled on the field at the time the protested incident occurs.

 

27. Participation / Substitutes: Effective 12/17/18 new subs to the Arena League sub list must be in The Villages Rec Division 1 or 2 (or equivalent for non-Villages residents) subject to the following:

27.1  Div 2 (no age limit): Be on a Div 2 roster (i.e. drafted in the most recent Div 2 draft).

27.1.1 If only subbing in Div 2, must complete a full season as a Div 2 sub and then eligible to join Arena League at or after the beginning of a 2nd season as a sub.

Note: The individual has to be resident in The Villages during the majority of both sub seasons (i.e. could not be a snow-bird signed up as a sub for summer season knowing he wouldn't here here).

27.2  Players in The Villages Rec Division 1and non-Villages residents are eligible to participate in the Arena League in the calendar year they turn 65 or older.

27.3  Upon meeting Sections 27.1 through 27.2 one can immediately sign up for play (on sub list) in the Arena League.

27.4  Once in the league (roster player or on official sub list), a Rec Division 2 player under age 65 can move to Rec Division 1 or equivalent without jeopardizing Arena participation.

 

28.  Players moving to Rec Div 3 or lower may no longer participate.

 

29.  EQUIPMENT: Beginning with the S'19 season, the use of a Pitcher's Protective Screen will be mandatory.  The Pitcher must maintain contact with the Pitcher's Plate during the pitch and then immediately move behind the screen after the pitch.  Once the batter makes contact with the ball the Pitcher may then move to become a fielder.  If he has not gotten behind the screen or moves from behind the screen prior to the batter making contact with the ball and fields or touches the batted ball the umpire shall call an nfraction, Dead Ball with the Batter being awarded 1st base and all other runners advancing 1 base without liability of being put out.  Any Batted ball hitting any part of the Pitcher's Protective Screen will be deemed to be a Dead Ball Strike.  The Batter will come to the plate with a 0-0 count.

30.  Conduct that is contrary to the concept of "Good Sportsmanship", whether verbal or physical, will not be tolerated. This includes action prior to, during, or after a game whether at the Lady Lake complex or any other ballpark. Poor sportsmanship by an individual brings discredit to all members of the league. The term "Poor Sportsmanship" is intended to be very broad. In the event of an incident, depending upon severity, the manager of the player or players in question will take appropriate action. In those cases where further action is required, the league managers, in conjunction with the league Board, will determine what further action is necessary This decision will be final, and there will be no appeal.

 

30.1  EJECTIONS:  Specific to the "conduct" clause above, ejection from a game by an umpire will also result in ejection of that player from his team's next scheduled game, i.e. a 2nd game.

30.1.1  When ejected, the player must immediately leave the ball field premises and cannot be on the ball field premises for the 2nd game of the ejection.

30.1.2  In the 1st game, there will be an "out" recorded for the ejected player's batting position in the lineup.

30.1.3  For the 2nd game, if rosters contain twelve (12) players, a team can field eleven (11) or get a sub for a different player missing the game to bring the roster back to eleven (11).  If the season's rosters contain eleven (11) players, then the 2nd game is played with only 10 players.  In neither instance can a sub be obtained for the ejected player.

30.1.4  The ejected player cannot subsequently approach or act, physically or verbally, in an antagonistic or threatening manner to the umpire.  Doing so will result in permanent expulsion from the Arena League.

 

Note:  The harshness of Section 30.1 is meant to discourage conduct resulting in ejection since the penalty(s) not only impact the ejected player but also impacts his team.

 

 

 

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