SSATIS
Softball Regulations
July, 2005
Qualifying Players for Finals
To qualify to play in a final a player must have played at least half of the roster matches played by the team contesting the final. In the event of "qualified" players being unable to play a replacement player can be drawn from a nominated list of replacements which has been forwarded to the Roster Secretary once finalists have been determined. This list to be on the pro-forma sheet designed for this purpose. Replacement players are not to be of a higher standard than the competition they are entering. Anomalies in the list of of replacement players will be forwarded to the SSATIS Chairperson.
1.Softball shall be conducted under the rules of the Australian Softball Federation except as stated.
2.Age groupings will be as follows:
1st & 2nd Grade - No restrictions
3rd Grade - Grade 10 students
4th Grade - Grade 9 students
5th Grade - Grade 8 students
6th Grade - Grade 7 students
3.The Grades will play in the following terms:
1st & 2nd Grade - First term
Grades 9& 10 - First term
Grades 7 & 8 - Third term
4.To qualify for any of the grades player must be a bona-fide student of the school, be a student in that particular grade or below, and must not have played more than one-third of a roster in a higher graded softball team during that school year.
5.Pitching distances:1st, 2nd and Grade 10 - 40 feet or 12.91m
Grade 7, 8 & 9 - 35 feet or 10.67m
6.Match Times:The days for matches in all grades will be determined prior to the commencement of each roster. Factors influencing this are teams entered, ground availability, placement of holidays and other interschool fixtures.
Matches should begin at the following times
Y7 & Y8 Thursday 4.15pm
1st and 2nd Grade Wednesday/Friday 4.15pm
Note: Any team unable to commence a match within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time shall forfeit that match.
The minimum number of players allowed on the field to start a game is seven. Absent players will be called out when called to bat. There is a maximum of 16 players for each team.
8.Each team must provide an umpire and a scorebook which must be filled in prior to the commencement of the match. If a school fails to provide an umpire able to umpire the "plate"they will forfeit the match.
9.Format of Matches
1st and 2nd Grade play five complete innings or 75 minutes and the next complete innings thereafter, whichever comes first. HOWEVER, if after three or more complete innings a team is ten or more runs ahead, time and game will be called.
10. Grades 7, 8, 9 & 10: A game shall consist of five (5) even innings or 60 minutes and to the completion of any innings begun.
11. For Year 7 - 10 teams the "Nine Batter" rule will apply. i.e. a team shall only have a maximum of 9 batters in ant one innings.
Interpretation: Where a team has a full nine batters each play shall bat in their nominated position. All players are entitled to bat unless 3 outs have been made in the innings. At the beginning of the next turn at bat the order of batting should begin with the player whose turn it would have been had the previous innings continued. It does not go back to the top of the list.
Interpretation:Where a team has less than nine players it must chose where it will have an automatic out, or outs if there are less than eight players. If an automatic out occurs where the ninth batter would have batted it is important to remember that the second last batter is not treated as the ninth batter. i.e. she walks on Ball 4, fielders do not throw home to get her out. The ninth batter must take her place in the batter's box for the special condition to apply. i.e. When the ninth batter is batting on Ball 4, all base runners advance one base and the count reverts to strikes only.
12.Year 7 batting tee ruling applies:
When a batter has 3 balls and less than 2 strikes the Tee is brought out. If a batter has a full count i.e. 3 balls and 2 strikes the Tee is not used(to allow the pitcher the opportunity to strike the batter out). This does not apply to the 9th batter. The home team provides the Tee.
13.At the end of time the team that has scored the most runs shall be declared the winner.
If in the final innings the side first at bat fails, in their turn at bat, to pass the score of the second team at bat from the last complete innings, then the game shall be called and the team second at bat will be declared the winner. If during the final innings the side second at bat, during their turn at bat, passes the score of the team first at bat, the game shall be called and the team second at bat declared the winner. The score shall be taken from the time the winning run crosses home plate. No succeeding run shall score.
14. Roster:
*For all sports semi-finals will only be played when 2 full rounds can not be completed.
*If one full round is not completed a semi-final will be played.
*Except where weather prevents play, in any roster there must be a minimum of 6 games for the roster to be declared valid.
*If ten or more teams are entered in any roster there shall be two divisions.
*Where a school enters two or more teams in any roster one team must be nominated for Division 1
15.Finals Procedure:
The Grand Final venue will be decided by the team at the top of the ladder at the completion of the roster.
1. 1st & 2nd Grade - For all finals the games will consist of seven complete innings or 90 minutes and the next complete innings thereafter, whichever comes first.The ten run rule will apply after 5 innings.
If at the completion of the final the result is a draw, the following TIEBREAKER will take place. Starting with the top of the 6th inning, and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat, with the player who is scheduled to bat ninth in that respective half inning being placed on second base. The player who is running can be substituted in accordance with the substitution rules.
2.Grades 7, 8, 9 & 10 - For all finals the game is to be played for 60 minutes and to the end of the next complete innings, whichever comes first. In the event of a drawn semi-final the higher placed team at the completion of the roster will be declared as the winner.
Washed out semi-final - the team higher on the ladder will advance to the Grand Final.
In the event of a drawn Grand Final the premiership will be shared between the two competing schools.
The top two teams in each grade will play each other in a Grand Final at the end of each roster. The venue for the semi-finals is at the discretion of the organising secretary, but in all cases it shall be a ground of good standard and preferably capable of hosting two games at the one time.
A neutral plate umpire will officiate in each game.
Umpires for Grand Finals - three neutral umpires in 1st and 2nd grade and a neutral plate umpire should officiate in each game for Grades 7, 8, 9 & 10.
16.All players must wear the approved school softball uniform. Catchers must wear full protective gear during diamond warm-ups and match play. The correct protective gear is as follows:
a) Skull cap
b) Face Mask
c) Throat protector
d) Chest protector
e) Leg guards
f) Mouth guards
All infield players wear mouth guards and shin pads.
Failure to comply with the above may result in the game being forfeited in favour of a team not at fault.
17.Safety:
Should any reason arise that:
a) both schools or both school softball co-ordinators
OR b) one coach and the plate umpire
OR c) both coaches independent of the plate umpire
deem to be dangerous to the safety of the players or officials, or would interfere with the conduct of a game of a reasonable standard, the plate umpire shall call the game. If two or more innings have been completed at the time the umpire calls the game the score shall be taken at the last complete innings. If less than two innings have been completed the game shall be a draw.
A safety base must be used in all games.
Bases must not be pegged and the "sliding base" rule shall apply.
Each school is responsible for supplying each team with a first aid kit and cold pack.
18. The point score will be
Draw = 3
Loss = 1
Washout = 3
Forfeit = 5.
Match Ratio will be used to determine ladder positions.
Match Ratio = points scored divided by matches played
19. Changeover between batting and fielding.
Teams must be ready to begin an innings or half innings within two minutes of the completion of the previous innings or half innings. If not, the following penalties will apply:
Batting: After the two minutes the umpire is to call up the batter. The batter must be in the batters' box within 10 seconds or a strike will be called.
Fielding: If the fielding team is not ready within thirty seconds of the scheduled start of play the batter will be awarded first base and this will continue, at thirty second intervals, for each subsequent batter.
20. Match ball.
Green optic softballs are to be used for matches in all grades.
Roster Secretary Responsibilities
1.Schools which provide a home ground should, where possible, play an equal number of games at home and away.
2.Schools are to notify the secretary of school excursion dates when entering teams.
3.For 1st and 2nd Grade softball the roster must consist of two complete rounds.