General Information

1. Age: Players must be at least 18 years of age by the first scheduled league game. No exceptions!

2. Player/Team Restrictions: Players are restricted to playing with one team. Rosters are limited to 20 players. There is a limit of fourteen (14) players active per game.

3. Eligibility: A player who is not on the team roster and plays in a game is an ineligible player and may be suspended for at least one game. Any protested game that such player took part in will be an automatic forfeit. A player must have played in at least 5 of the scheduled games to play in the tournament. This will be verified by the scorebook.

4. Adds/Drops: Coaches must always officially add a player or drop a quitting or injured player from the team roster. Failure to do so could result in eligibility problems. Add/drop may be accomplished by calling the Parks and Recreation Office by 6:00 p.m. The deadline date for roster additions or drops is August 7, 2009.

5. Game Times: Schedules of games times will be available at the Recreation Center and on the website. If the schedules can reasonably accommodate variations without affecting the overall fairness of the schedule, then it may be altered. Coaches must make a written request for exceptions when they register their team. Once the schedules have been printed, there will be no schedule changes except when both coaches agree to a rescheduled day or time. Any rescheduled games must also have an assigned umpire and be scheduled on a field that has available time.

6. Rained‑Out Games: Rained-out games will be rescheduled whenever possible. Game day status of possible rainouts may be obtained by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 265-7783 after 3:00 p.m.

7. Gender-Mix: There may never be two more men than women on the field, but the number of women is unrestricted. It may be 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, etc. men to women.

8. Coaches' Responsibilities:

a. Coaches will take every measure to ensure that players arrive on time for games, conduct themselves as good sports, and follow all rules and regulations.

b. Player Supervision: A coach is charged with the responsibility of his/her players conduct before, during, and after games. No team member will violate city, state or federal laws. Specifically, alcohol consumption is prohibited on or around the playing field. Alcohol in the dugout or on the playing field will result in immediate forfeiture of the game and suspension of the offending team for 2 games. No player will engage in violence, threats of violence, abusive language, or in any way hinder the playing of the game. Offenders face ejection from the game, files, and/or league.

c. Control of Fans: A coach/manager is expected to control any spectator who is unruly or distracting when that spectator is involved with the team.
d. Meetings: Coaches or their representatives are expected to attend all league meetings.
e. Roster Maintenance: A coach is responsible for submitting an official league roster and for keeping it current using the add/drop procedure and for submitting the fees prior to the deadlines. Rosters are due in writing at the Recreation Center prior to the first scheduled game.

9. Team Conduct: A code of conduct applies to all teams and players who participate in the softball programs offered by the City of Newport. By their participation, players imply that they will abide by this code upon registering for the league.

a. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated before, during, or after a game, on the field, off the field, or in the stands. Infractions will result in ejection from a game, suspension for the remainder of the season, or permanent suspension from City-sponsored leagues.

Adult Coed Softball - League Rules

1. 8-Player Rule: A team may start or finish a game with no less than 8 players. No more than 14 players may be batted. Gender mix must be followed.

2. Gender Mix: There may only be one man more than the number of women. Any time there are two consecutive men in the batting order, an out will be declared between them (before the second man bats). There must be at least one man in the game, but there may be 9 women. There may be no more than 2 men in the infield, and no more than 2 men in the outfield) with the following exception, pitcher-catcher must be opposite gender.

3. Late Arrivals: If a team starts the game with less than 14 players and others arrive late, they may be added to the bottom of the batting order and may be substituted anywhere defensively, subject to the rules stated above.

4. Line-up Exchange and Scorebooks: Lineups will be exchanged as soon as possible before game time. Both teams should keep a scorebook, but the home team will maintain the official scorebook. Once games begin, the batting order cannot be changed.

5. Time Limits: No new inning will begin 1 hour and 15 minutes after the start of the game. The score will stand after a complete inning is played and will not be rescheduled. If teams are not ready to play within 5 minutes of the start time, the game will be declared a forfeit with no exceptions and will not be rescheduled.

6. 12-Run Differential Rule: After an official game can be declared, a difference of 12 runs at the bottom of the inning will end the game.

7. Count: Batters come to the plate with a 1-1 count.  After 2 strikes, a second foul ball will be an out. If a player hits a disallowed home run after two strikes, they will be out.

8. Home Run Rule: Progressive after 3 over-the-fence home runs.

9. Official Ball: Men: 12” .44 COR, 375 compression. Women: 11” .44 COR, 375 compression.

10. Bats: ASA approved.

11. Shoes: No steel cleats.

12. Inning Run Limit: If a team scores 8 runs in an inning, their turn at bat is over. This rule is suspended if the team at bat is trailing by 12 or more runs in the 5th, 6th, or 7th inning.

13. Walk Rule: If a man walks, he advances to 2nd base. If there are 2 outs, the woman following him may choose to walk or hit.

14. Outfielders must start no closer than the line marked by cones in the field and cannot advance in until the ball has been hit by the batter. If an outfielder violates this rule, the batter and all runners will be awarded (2) bases.

15. Halo Rule: A pitchers box will be marked on the infield, if the pitcher is struck with the ball whilst in the box the batter is out. If the ball strikes the ground before passing the pitchers box, it is a legally hit ball.