BYSL Softball Tournament Rules and Regulations
BYSL 2023 SOFTBALL
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Dear Team Manager,
On behalf of the City of Brookshire, we would like to welcome you as a participant in our BYSL 2023 Softball Tournament.
Please read the rule book at your first opportunity to familiarize yourself with our Tournament rules and regulations.
Again, welcome to our program. Wishing you and your team a very enjoyable and successful Tournament.
ROSTER INFORMATION
All teams must submit rosters at 30 mins before game time of at registration. Team rosters must include first and last names of all players. Teams are allowed to have a max of 16 players (this is including any subs).
Team rosters will be final when turn in before the game.
Player’s full names must appear on the registration roster on file with the team. A substitute or replacement player must come from the dugout, not from the stands or spectators’ area.
Umpires will not decide the player(s) eligibility.
Penalty: If a protest is lodged against any offended team and it is verified by staff, a forfeit of the game shall be declared for incomplete roster or ineligible player.
Rosters limited to 16 players. Final rosters submitted prior to first game.
TEAM NAME
Team names are subject to approval by staff. Inappropriate and vulgar names are not accepted and may be modified.
LENGTH OF OFFICIAL GAMES
Slow Pitch: Seven (7) innings or fifty-five (50) minutes whichever occurs first, constitutes as a game. In case of rain, light failure, etc. the completion of thirty (30) minutes constitutes as a completed game. The fifteen (15) run rule will be in effect after three (3) innings, or ten (10) run rule after five (5) innings. Walks are issued. Stealing bases is prohibited.
OFFICIAL TIME
The watch of the umpires will be considered the official time clock for all games. In the event neither umpire has a watch, someone selected by the umpires will act as the official timer. Team managers are urged to synchronize their watches with the umpires prior to the start of every game. The clock will start when the umpire calls play ball after the coin toss. In addition, the Team Manager should get the umpires name during pre-game.
SCHEDULES
Schedules (brackets) will be emailed to the Team Manager one (1) week prior to the Tournament start date. It will be the Team Managers responsibility to make sure each team member has their schedules (brackets).
FORFEIT TIME
Any team not ready to play at game time will forfeit to the opposing team. Teams must be in dugout or on the field at game time to be considered present and ready to play.
Teams must have 9 players present in dugout or on the field at the start of the first game. COED must have a minimum of 4 women and 5 men.
RAINOUT INFORMATION
Team managers will be contacted via email or call about any rain outs.
PLAYER CONDUCT
Team managers are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans, before, during, and after all games. Harassment of officials, players, and staff will not be tolerated at any time. Continued harassment may result in player and/or team being suspended from the tournament with no refund.
Fighting will not be tolerated. If a player or team is suspended for fighting or exhibits unruly / inappropriate conduct at any time during the tournament, no refund will be given, regardless how many games remain.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol is NOT PROMITTED ON THE FIELD AT ANY TIME. Glass bottles are prohibited. Alcohol is also prohibited from the dugouts.
PLAYER INJURIES
The City of Brookshire & BYSL is NOT responsible for any injuries to any participants in the tournament. All participants are playing at their own risk. All players should be aware that softball can be a hazardous activity and by voluntarily participating in this activity, they are numerous dangers and risks involved.
GENERAL RULES
A: OFFICIAL RULES:
Games will be played in accordance with official ASA Championship Rules and Regulations.
B: EQUIPMENT:
OFFICIAL BAT: Players must use bats which meet all requirements of ASA. Which bear an ASA approved stamp. The umpire has sole discretion to remove any bat they deem is unsafe for play by rule.
OFFICIAL SOFTBALL:
MENS: .52 Cor/300 compression 12”
Yellow Optic Cover/Red Stitch
Green ASA Logo
WOMENS: .44 Cor/375 compression 11”
Yellow Optic Cover/Red Stitch
Black ASA Logo
C: UNIFORMS:
For tournament play, uniforms are not required. Exposed jewelry, which is judged by umpire to be dangerous, must be removed and may not be worn during the game. Steel or metal cleats are NOT allowed. Any player found wearing steels cleats will be ejected from game.
D: PLAYERS:
All players must be 16 years of age or older to participate in the BYSL Softball Tournament with the City of Brookshire. Valid identification may be required to verify age of participants.
COED MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF FOUR (4) WOMEN TO BEGIN THE GAME.
POSITIONING:
Ten (10) players (five females and five males) with the following positioning requirements: two males and two females in both the infield and outfield, and one male and one female as the pitcher or catcher.
The batting order must alternate sexes. Coed play will use an 11 inch red stitch ball when the female bats and 12 inch red stitch ball when the male bats.
Teams must have 9 players present in the dugout.
While a female is batting, the rover can only be a female. Penalty: The batter and all base runners will be awarded one base unless each has advanced one base safely, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the violation.
There will be no restrictions on a player (man or woman) as to which defensive position he or she may play except for rover position when female’s at bat.
The defensive is required to have 2 male and 2 female in the infield.
A male batter who is walked, intentionally or unintentionally shall be awarded second base. Base runners advance only if forced to vacate their base.
Courtesy Foul
All batters (men and women) begin with a 1 & 1 count (one ball and one strike) before they enter the batter’s box. One extra foul on the 3rd strike will be allowed. The 2nd foul is an out. (Example: Batter begins with 1 ball and 1 strike count they foul off 2 pitches the next foul is an out).
COURTESY RUNNER
Any eligible player on the official lineup may be used as a Courtesy runner. Only one courtesy runner may be used per inning. You may have one male and one female courtesy runner.
HOMERUN RULE:
No over the fence homeruns allowed (recreational)
In park runs are not allowed. Any out of park hits will result in batter taking an out unless the batter has purchased an (UNLIMILTE HOME RUNS BAND).
Home-run – touch 1st base only!
- • Metal spikes prohibited
- 10 Run Rule after 5 innings
- Count begins at 1 & 1
- One umpire per game until semi-finals and finals which will have two umpires.
HALO RULE
If any ball hits a pitcher, the batter is automatically out and the ball is ruled dead as long as the pitcher remains in the protected zone. If the same batter hits the pitcher again, the batter is removed from the game. (Only the current game)
TIE BREAKER
THE BATTER WILL ONLY HAVE ONE PITCH IF A BALL HE GET A BASE IF A STRICH THE BATTER IS OUT.
INNING WILL START WITH A RUNNERS ON 2ND AND 3RD BASE these runners will be the last two outs in the batting order.
After the final inning of a tournament, if the score is tied, there is a Texas shoot out. The last out made for the hitting team goes to 2nd base. Each batter starts with a full count, so they get one pitch. They either strike out, walk or hit. Once three outs are made, the other team bats under the same rules.
HOME TEAM DESIGNATION
The home team designation will be determined by the flip of a coin. The home team will be responsible for the official score and keeping up with substitutes. An official scorebook is required. If neither team has a scorebook and a conflict in the score occurs, the home team’s score will be final. If only one (1) team, even if it is the visitors, has a scorebook and a conflict occurs, then that scorebook will be valid. Please check with the umpires and opponents after each inning about the number of runs scored.
PROTESTS
Only protests based on misinterpretations of the rules and player eligibility will be accepted. • Protests must be announced verbally to the umpire immediately when the contested action occurs and before play is resumed.