Cape Old Timers' Softball League Practices and New Player Information Players who wish to be considered for league play must first attend practices or tryouts. The Player Evaluation Committee (PAC) will assign prospective players. See preceding page forinformation about practices.

Miscellany

POOL PLAYERS -. Conference poolcoordinators will assign up to two (2) players to a team unable to field 11 players. Pool players must be accepted and play any position assigned by the manager. They bat last and  play every inning even if other players arrive. If, after two pool players are assigned, a team has 8 players, the other team may provide a catcher. No other substitutes are permitted. If a team cannot field 8 players 15 minutes after the scheduled game time, they will forfeit. Managers are encouraged to request pool players 24 hours prior to game time. Managers must not contact pool players. The National Conference West does not use pool players.

VOLUNTEER POOL PLAYERS -. Notify your manager or the Commissioner if you would like to be a pool player.

MERCY RULE -. The six run per innning rule has been changed to 5 runs per inning (BOD 2005)

TIE BREAKER -. If the score is tied after seven (7) innings: Each half inning after the 7th will start with a runner at second base. That runner will be the player in the regular batting order that precedes the first scheduled batter of the inning (n.b. this is not necessarily the player who made the final out in the preceding inning ). The inning will then proceed as usual. In the American Conference and National Conference East there will be no substitute runner allowed for the runner placed at 2nd base unless that player cannot run. The batter preceding the assigned runner is assigned to second base and an out is recorded. In the National Conference West, if the runner placed at second base is one who had a runner from the plate, the person who precedes him in the batting order will take his place. There will be no substitute runner allowed for the runner until he reaches 3rd base.")

During POSTSEASON PLAYOFFS, a team must have at least nine (9) players ready to play or forfeit (BOD 8/14/03).

ALL GAMES will be seven (7) innings (BOD June 18, 1999).

EIGHT PLAYERS -. During the regular season, a team with eight players may be provided a catcher from the opposing team (defensive only). In the National Division West, a team with eight or nine players may be provided with a catcher from the opposing team for defense only.

The COMMITMENT LINE - is to be marked off 20 feet from the scoring plate. Touching the line is the same as crossing it. Defensive players are advised to use caution entering the area between the commitment line and the scoring plate. No defensive play can be made on a runner in this region.

COURTESY RUNNERS -...In the National Conference West unlimited runners will be allowed, but no player can run more than once per inning. Courtesy runners may be replaced on base if it is their turn to bat. A runner who is replaced by a courtesy runner may not be used as a courtesy runner for the remainder of the inning. Courtesy runners from home plate are to identified to umpires and opposing managers before the game starts.

CLARIFICATION - Runners may tag-up and advance if a foul fly is caught after two strikes were on the batter and there were less than two outs. A courtesy runner may not be replaced by another runner - including the original runner - on the bases unless the courtesy runner sustains an injury while running. A player becomes a courtesy runner once he touches the designated base. If a courtesy runner bats later in the same inning and reaches base, he cannot be replaced by a courtesy runner.

FIRST BASE - If there is a play made by an infielder on a batter going to first base, the batter must touch the double (outside) base extending into foul territory.The runner will be called out for failure to touch the correct base. This is not an appeal play. The runner may be called safe if, in the umpire's judgement, contact was avoided by the batter touching the infield base. (BOD 12/11/03).

HOME PLATE - A defensive player must be in contact with home plate (not the strike mat) to record an out. A runner who touches or jumps over the regular home plate or the strike mat is out.

MISSING THE SCORING PLATE - should be treated just as any other base. It must be appealed by the defensive team before the runner retouches the base. A defensive player stepping on the regular home plate, after the offensive player misses the base and before he returns, is a form of appeal, and the runner should be declared out.

OVERTHROW - Overthrows into dead ball territory entitle runners to two (2) bases from the last base held when the ball was released. The runner's direction is incidental; a runner returning to a base is awarded two (2) bases from that base even if the runner is returning to tag up or touch a missed base. Appeal is possible if the runner fails to return to tag up (if necessary) or touch a missed base after an overthrow (Rule 8.6.G).

DEFLECTED BALL - A batted ball that deflects off a defensive player and goes into dead ball territory entitles runners to advance two bases from the base they held at the time of the pitch (Rule 8.6.I).

DEAD BALL - The only action that makes the ball dead and ready for the next pitch is a declaration of "TIME" by the umpires. It should be so declared by the umpires when in their judgment the ball is firmly in the grasp of a defensive player in the infield area and all action has ceased. If one umpire calls "TIME", the other umpire should echo the call.

INTERFERENCE - is the act of an offensive player or (offensive) team member, umpire or spectator that impedes, hinders or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary. The interfering runner is out. An umpire may call a runner safe if he would have been safe had he not avoided contact (i.e. the second- or third-baseman drops the ball or misses the base). An errant throw drawing the defense into the path of a runner is not interference (ASA Rule 8.7.Q).

OBSTRUCTION - A defensive player, not in possession of the ball, may not impede the progress of a legal runner unless he is (a) in the act of fielding a batted ball or (b) is about to receive a thrown ball. The ball remains live. All runners are awarded the base they would have made (if necessary).

INFIELD FLY - (a) 1st and 2nd base or 1st, 2nd and 3rd base must be occupied; (b) There must be less than 2 outs; (c) Defined as a fly ball that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort; (d) Any defensive player who takes a position in the infield at the start of the pitch is considered an infielder; (e) An infield fly needn't be confined to the infield area (see (c)) If the infielder is in a position to catch the ball and an outfielder calls him off, it is still an infield fly. The batter is called out. A runner may advance at his own peril. If the ball is dropped, he may advance directly. If the ball is caught, he must tag up before running. Runners who remain on their bases are safe.

BATS - Only ASA approved bats are permitted. (BOD 12/11/03) Official ASA Non-Approved Bat List w/pictures.

BALLS - The League will use low compression white 0.44/375 balls during the 2005 season.

MISCONDUCT - Players will be warned about abusive conduct and/or language and the manager will be given a warning. A second offense will result in ejection plus a one game suspension. A third offense will be evaluated by the commissioner.

1. In the event of an ejection from a game, there will be a penalty of a suspension from the next scheduled game.
2. If a player submits a written appeal (e-mail notification acceptable) within 24 hours to the manager the one game suspension will be delayed until the hearing board renders its decision.
3. The manager will notify the Conference President upon receipt of the appeal.
4. The Conference President will notify the hearing board; in turn the board will set up a hearing within a proper time frame.
5. The hearing board will consist of 2 members of the Code of Ethics committee, Conference President , members of the Board of Directors.
6. Majority vote of the hearing board is required in its decision.

1. Uphold the decision and issue a reprimand without a game suspension.
2. Uphold the decision to issue a one game suspension.
3. Reverse the decision.
4. Uphold the decision and increase the penalty.
5. Expulsion from the league, if such expulsion is ratified by a majority of the Board of Directors of the league.

NON-PROFIT - The League is officially a non-profit organization.

INTERNET - Players can help reduce postage costs and receive important announcements sooner by sending their e-mail address to the Commissioner (katchy@comcast.net).

Last update: August 13, 2008