Augusta Rules in pdf format

UPDATED JUNE 4/22/2024 - 

Update  - Any questions or concerns please contact Mike Limburg - limburg.me@icloud.com

Augusta Softball Rules – Update 4/8/2024

Disciplinary Penalties and Procedures

Any attempt to injure another player will result in the following:

1st offence - 3 game suspension.

2nd offence - suspended for remainder of the season.

Any verbal abuse of an Umpire by a player or a Coach will result in the following:

1st offence – 1 game suspension

2nd offence – 2 game suspension

3rd offence – suspended for the remainder of the season.

Throwing of equipment will be an automatic ejection for the remainder of the game. Any subsequent incident will result in the following:

2nd offence - 2 game suspension.

3rd offence - 3 game suspension.

4th offence - suspended for the remainder of the season.

The use of foul language will be an automatic ejection for the remainder of the game. Any subsequent incident will result in the following:

2nd offence - 2 game suspension.

3rd offence - 3 game suspension.

The use of obscene gestures will result in an automatic ejection for the remainder of the game. Any subsequent incident will result in the following:

2nd offence - 3 game suspension.

Any physical violence at the ballpark during the game, whether it be by a player or a Coach, will result in a suspension for the remainder of the season if during the first ½ of the season, any occurrence during the 2nd half + additional penalties deemed warranted by the Augusta Softball Executive. Any physical abuse of an Umpire will result in an automatic forfeit to the opposite team.

Any ejection must be shown on the score sheet. The name of the player ejected his/her number, team and reason for the ejection must be indicated.

Any suspension must be shown on the score sheet. The name of the player in question and the suspension being served must be indicated.

All situations resulting in an ejection and/or suspension of any kind must be clearly identified on the score sheet by the Umpire and signed by both Coaches.

The Rules and Discipline Chairman will review the ejection and confer with the Executive, if necessary, before notifying both teams of the suspension

Any suspensions must be emailed to Mike Limburg, Rules, and Discipline Chair, upon completion of the game by the Coach and the Umpire

Once ejected the player or Coach must leave the ballpark immediately.

Responsibilities

A. The Township Recreation area and invited guest must:

· Appoint a Softball Representative

· Hold public registration

· Not solicit players from other areas

· Ensure all players receive equal playing time

· Be responsible for the conduct of all players and Coaches within their organization

· Ensure that all Coaches and Umpires in their recreation be aware of the rules of Augusta, Ontario, and Canadian Minor Softball

B. Softball Representatives of each area must:

· Attend Augusta Minor Softball meetings. In the case of a representative being unable to attend a scheduled meeting it is his/her responsibility to ensure someone attends on his/her behalf. Attendance at Augusta Minor Softball meetings is mandatory.

· Have team lists completed, submitted to league via email to scores@augustasoftball.com and a copy kept by coach for reference purposes if required.

· Submit proof of Insurance to scores@augustasoftball.com before start of season. Teams that do not submit proof of insurance will not be allowed to play scheduled games and all games will be forfeited until Insurance coverage is proven.

· Receive all protest cheques from Coaches and present them to the Rules and Discipline Chair

C. Coaches must:

· Must email Scores to scores@augustasoftball.com they must be submitted within 48 hours of the game date by both teams. Rainouts must be communicated within 48 hours of the game date also. Failure to do this& results in 0 - 0 score final and both teams get zero pts.

Scores are sent to scores@augustasoftball.com with the following information:

Game Number

Division

Date

Visitor Team Score

Home Team Score

In addition, all score sheets must be kept by the Representatives until the end of the season and provided to the Statistician if requested.

· Inform the Rules and Discipline Chairman of any team official or player ejected from a game. Also, arrangements must be made to hand over the score sheet detailing the suspension to the Rules and Discipline Chairman within 24 hours. Failure to report these ejections could result in suspensions being assessed by the Executive.

· Notify scores@augustasoftball.com of any use of an affiliate within 24 hours of the game being played. Failure will result in the suspension of the player for 1 game to be served on their regular team.

- Notify the Scheduler of any rained out / cancelled game. If the two teams involved cannot mutually agree on a date or game a forfeit for both teams.

Note: all postponed games must be rescheduled within 2 weeks

If the Scheduler is required to set a date for a postponed game, his/her decision is final!! If, after a reasonable effort to reschedule a game, a team refuses to play the game, that game will be considered a forfeit and points will be awarded to the opposing team.

· Ensure all players receive equal playing time

D. Rules and Discipline Chair must:

· Receive all protests from area representatives

· Investigate any complaint of misconduct in the league

· Report their findings to the Executive along with his/her recommendations

· Be available to attend tournaments and problem games

· Have a thorough and complete understanding of Softball Canada, Softball Ontario, and Augusta Softball rules

E. Softball Executive must:

- Set up all the schedules.

- Deal with all protest and appeals through the Rules and Discipline Chairman. If necessary, the Executive will call a meeting to deal with any protest or appeal within 36 hours of notification.

- Arrange for a mid-season tournament for each division

- Schedule all end of season tournaments and playoffs. The time and location of all yearend games will be set at an open meeting early in the season.

- Assist with the use of the computer program for the scheduling of all tournaments

- Reschedule all cancelled games if the teams do not do so.

- Provide a website which is to include but not be limited to: schedules by division, team scores and standings, yearend tournament layouts, contact lists, etc

Chair is responsible to:

- Plan meetings and chair meetings

- set meeting agenda

- receive and approve tournament formats/fees

- primary contact with softball Ontario

- circulate emails from softball Ontario

Secretary is responsible to:

- compose minutes

- circulate minutes

- manage contacts for recreations/teams

- book meeting facility

- circulate agenda

Rules and Discipline is responsible to:

- respond to rule questions

- ensure rules on site are accurate

- deal with complaints about umpiring

- manage umpires listing

- make rulings on rainouts/ forfeits

- interact with Umpire in Chief

Scorekeeper / Statistician is responsible to:

- update website as required (post information)

- receive team submissions and ensure balance of home nights

- create schedule

- circulate schedule

- modify schedule

- record game results

- post playoff/tournament schedules

- keep website running - dealing with Ripnet

General Rules

All players will be included in the batting order.

Pitching Rule   Points of Emphasis   Augusta Minor Ball

 

Learn To Play

No standings or scores are kept.

Learn to Play replaces T-Ball as the introduction to the game of Softball. The program is designed to keep kids active while learning the skills of softball.

Tournaments and playoffs will be completed in one day. No scores will be kept, and no winners will be declared. The home associations will present an award to all participants at the completion of the season.

All fielders except for the catcher must stand behind a line from 1st base to 3rd base until the ball is hit.

A fair ball must cross a line drawn from half the distance to 1st base to half the distance to 3rd base.

No scheduled games - A regulation game is decided mutually between the 2 coaches.

Diamond Bases - 45 ft.

Foam balls and bats should be used.

Ages 5 and under as of December 31

 

U7

A regulation game shall be 3 innings or 1 hour 15 mins whichever comes first.

So, an inning would consist of each team s full batting lineup. Everyone bats.

On an out the player leaves the field but the whole batting lineup is gone though. The batting order is only to keep the batters organized. No score is kept.

(Changed in 2015) This is directly in line with softball Canada recommendations.

 

U9

A regulation game shall be 5 innings or 1 hour and 30mins whichever comes first. No new inning started after 7:45pm. Any inning started must be completed regardless of time limit unless the team up to bat last is winning in the final inning.

In case of darkness or rain, 3 innings or a 10-run lead will constitute a complete game.  An inning will consist of 3 outs or 5 runs whichever comes first (Modified June 2008)

Scores are sent to scores@augustasoftball.com with the following information:

Game Number

Division

Date

Visitor Team Score

Home Team Score

 

U11

A regulation game shall be 7 innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes whichever comes first. (Note below) Any inning started must be completed regardless of time limit unless the team up to bat last is winning in the final inning.

NOTE: No new innings are to start after 8pm.

In case of darkness or rain, 3 innings or a 10-run lead will constitute a complete game.

An inning will consist of 3 outs or 5 runs whichever comes first (Modified June 2008)

A pitcher can only pitch 3 innings per game. No pitcher can pitch more than two consecutive innings. One pitch thrown in an inning counts as an inning pitched. In the case of tournament or playoff play this rule does not apply to extra innings

Scores are sent to scores@augustasoftball.com with the following information:

Game Number

Division

Date

Visitor Team Score

Home Team Score

 

U13

A regulation game shall be 7 innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes whichever comes first. Any inning started must be completed regardless of time limit unless the team up to bat last is winning in the final inning. Note - no new innings to start after 8 pm.

In case of darkness or rain, 4 innings or a 10-run lead will constitute a complete game.

An inning will consist of 3 outs or 5 runs whichever comes first.

In playoff situation all games will be 7 innings or a pre-set time limit

A pitcher can only pitch 4 innings per game. No pitcher can pitch more than two consecutive innings. One pitch thrown in an inning counts as an inning pitched. In the case of playoff play this rule does not apply to extra innings over the prescribed seven

Scores are sent to scores@augustasoftball.com with the following information:

Game Number

Division

Date

Visitor Team Score

Home Team Score

 

U15

A regulation game shall be 7 innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes whichever comes first. Any inning started must be completed regardless of time limit unless the team up to bat last is winning in the final inning.

An inning is described as 3 outs or 5 runs per inning, 7th inning is open.

In case of darkness or rain, 5 innings or a 10-run lead will constitute a complete game.

Scores are sent to scores@augustasoftball.com with the following information:

Game Number

Division

Date

Visitor Team Score

Home Team Score

 

U17

A regulation game shall be 7 innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes whichever comes first. Any inning started must be completed regardless of time limit unless the team up to bat last is winning in the final inning.

An inning is described as 3 outs or 5 runs per inning, 7th inning is open.

In case of darkness or rain, 5 innings or a 10-run lead will constitute a complete game.

Scores are sent to scores@augustasoftball.com with the following information:

Game Number

Division

Date

Visitor Team Score

Home Team Score

U20

A regulation game shall be 7 innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes whichever comes first. Any inning started must be completed regardless of time limit unless the team up to bat last is winning in the final inning.

An inning is described as 3 outs or 5 runs per inning, 7th inning is open.

In case of darkness or rain, 5 innings or a 10-run lead will constitute a complete game.

Scores are sent to scores@augustasoftball.com with the following information:

Game Number

Division

Date

Visitor Team Score

Home Team Score

 

Protests and Appeals

Only rule interpretation will be considered a valid reason for protest. What an umpire would consider a judgment call would not be considered for protest.

Proper protest procedures as per C.A.S.A. must be followed.

After the game in question, the protest must be written including all pertinent information.

The written protest must be presented to the area representative within 24 hours of the game.

The protest is to be forwarded to the Rules and Discipline Chair along with a cheque for $25.00 payable to Augusta Minor Softball. This cheque will be returned if the protest is upheld. The Rules and Discipline Chair must be notified of the protest within 48 hrs.

If the Rules and Discipline Chair cannot settle the dispute, a hearing will be set up with the Rules and Discipline Committee on his recommendation, as quickly as possible. A decision will be made as quickly as possible and will be final.

Any person has the right to appeal any disciplinary decision of the Executive. The appeal must be made within 24 hours and must be accompanied by a non-refundable cheque in the amount of $50.00 made out to Augusta Minor Softball. Appeals are to be made in writing and submitted to the Rules and Discipline Chair

In the case of an appeal the committee reserves the right to increase or decrease the suspension as they deem proper

Any suspension handed out must be served consecutively. In the case of an appeal the player or Coach may continue to play until the hearing is held unless the suspension is a result of violence

In the case of playoff tournaments, any executive attending the tournament will have the right to rule for the committee.