Holliston Senior Softball League

PURPOSE

• The purpose of the Holliston Senior Softball League is to provide a low-key recreational outlet for men and women, 35 years or older. Those interested in intense, "super-competitive" atmosphere should join a team in another league.

MEMBERSHIP

• Participation
  • Participation in the Holliston Senior Softball League is limited to “Eligible Players”
  • Eligible Players are players who meet the following age and residency requirements or are otherwise approved by the board:
    • Are at least 35 years of age by APRIL 1 of any given season
    • Were on an active roster and played during the 2014 season, or
    • Joined in or after the 2015 season and submitted an application that is reviewed and approved by the board
  • Eligible Players that remain on an active roster for consecutive seasons will remain eligible. This includes Eligible Players who subsequently move from Holliston but continue playing.
  • Any player that is left off of an active roster for at least one full season will no longer be considered an Eligible Player and will need to reapply
  • Any game in which a non-Eligible Player plays will be forfeited by his team


• Managers have the right to question any player on the opposing team concerning their age or residence in the town of Holliston. A player should be prepared to produce proof of their birth date and residence. IT IS ULTIMATELY THE MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO VERIFY EVERY TEAM MEMBERS ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY IN THE LEAGUE. Managers have the right to raise player eligibility issues, before, during, or at the conclusion of a game. Managers are encouraged to report any suspected or known infraction of this rule to the Board of Directors. Should a team be found to be in violation of this rule, all games in which the offending player or players have participated will be forfeited.


• Team rosters will not be limited. Teams are encouraged to carry as many players on their roster as they deem necessary to avoid the possibility of forfeits.


• Each player in the league is required to sign the league’s Waiver of Liability form prior to any participation in the league.  This one-time form need not be signed each year.  Any player that plays in a game prior to having signed this waiver will cause his team to forfeit that game.

DUES

• The dues for each player are $50.00. Each player must pay this fee if their name appears on the team roster.  Completed Team Rosters, with complete dues, must be turned into the League Treasurer NO LATER THAN 9:00 PM, SUNDAY April 27th, 2014. TEAMS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT THEIR ROSTER AND FULL DUES PAYMENT ON THIS DATE WILL FORFEIT ALL ADDITIONAL GAMES UNTIL THE ROSTER AND DUES ARE RECEIVED BY THE TREASURER.

• A properly completed Team Roster will consist of: players Full name, Complete address, Telephone number and Date of birth.

• Only paid members are allowed to attend the annual banquet.

GAMES

• Games are scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM. should a team be unable to field at least eight (8) players by 6:15 PM, they will forfeit the game. In the event this occurs, it is suggested that sharing the players available and hold a “pick up” game.

• Each game will consist of seven (7) innings. The home team will be determined by the flip of a coin. Four (4) complete innings constitute a complete game. Nine (9) innings will be played if both managers agree before the start of the game.

• All disputes during games will be decided between the OPPOSING MANAGERS ONLY, by the flip of a coin. It is the Manager's responsibility to see that his players do not participate in the discussion. An umpire may be used in the first base area if both managers agree to the choice of the specific individual.

• All teams must use a continuous batting order, with unlimited substitution. All team members shown on the roster and in attendance and have a desire to play must play. It is the manager's responsibility to see to it that all team members play.

• A team must field a minimum of eight (8) players. Teams fielding only nine (9) players must have a catcher.

• In the event of rain, the game will be cancelled and there will be no make-up game. Both Managers must agree if a game is to be played or cancelled. Common sense should prevail regarding this decision. No game should be played if the field or weather conditions could result in player injury. Should both Managers not come to an agreement regarding the cancellation of a game, the matter will be brought to the Board of Directors for a ruling. It is suggested that if conditions for the playing of a game are doubtful, Managers should contact one another on or before 5:00PM of game day, to allow ample time for the notification of all team members as to the decision.

• The manager of the winning team is required to call in the game results NO LATER THAN 48 HOURS (the Tuesday night after the game), following its completion. If this is not done the game will be considered a tie.

BASE PATHS

• There is no leading off any base. A base runner is not allowed to leave the base until the ball crosses home plate.

• There will be no sliding into any base or home plate. Runners who do so will automatically be called out. Base runners are allowed to overrun all bases in a STRAIGHT LINE for an unspecified distance, provided that they are not headed TOWARD the next base or home plate. Should a runner turn and run towards the next base or home plate, and decides to turn back, the runner may do so once, if the ball reaches the fielder before the runner the runner is out. The runner may not turn again and run to the next base.  THERE WILL BE NO RUNDOWNS.

• THE BASE PATHS BELONG TO THE RUNNER! Infielders and the catcher must provide the runner with a clear base path to avoid collisions. A BASERUNNER WHO OBSERVES THAT THE BASEPATH, BASE OR HOMEPLATE IS BLOCKED BY AN INFIELDER/CATCHER HAS THE RIGHT TO RUN BY OR AROUND THE BASE/PLATE WITHOUT TOUCHING IT, THEREBY ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF COLLISION AND WILL BE CONSIDERED SAFE.

PITCHING

• There will be no fast pitching. The ball must be delivered to home plate in a 6 foot to 12-foot arc.

• It is the responsibility of the manager of each team to voice a challenge of a pitcher’s arc. Challenges should be limited to clear “Intentional” violations of the arc rule. Challenged pitches shall be ruled “no pitch” regardless of whether it would have been a ball, strike, foul, hit, or an out.

• Any Individual who is reasonably challenged (3) three times during a game by the opposing manager for delivering pitches with an arc of greater than 12 feet or less than 6 feet can be removed and replaced from that position at the request of the opposing manager.

• If the ball hit home plate or the strike platform behind home plate, it will be considered a strike. Batters shall automatically have an 0-1 count on them when they come to bat.

• If the ball does not hit the plate or the strike platform behind home plate, it will be considered a ball.

• Illegal pitch rule. It is the responsibility of the manager of each team to voice a challenge of a pitcher’s arc DURING THE PITCH. Challenges should be limited to clear “Intentional” violations of the arc rule. Challenged pitches shall be ruled “no pitch” regardless of whether it would have been a ball, strike, foul, hit, or an out.

PINCH RUNNERS

• Pinch runners shall be allowed for any individual who requests one after they have reached base. The pinch runner shall be last person who made an out, unless they too needed a runner.

• A batter may have a pinch runner from home plate if “mutually agreed” upon by the managers. In the spirit of sportsmanship opposing managers shall not unreasonably withhold approval for players whose physicial situation would reasonably warrant this type of assistance.

• The pinch runner must be standing behind the catcher in line with home plate. And shall not leave for first base until the ball is struck. The runner should always be the last person who made an out, unless they needed a runner.

EQUIPMENT

• It is both teams’ responsibility to provide one new softball for each game. Balls to be used will be provided by the league.

• Balls to be used will be provided by the league.

• Metal cleats are not allowed.

• Only wooden bats are allowed. Bats to be used will be provided by the league.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Should a team forfeit more than two (2) games during the season, they may or may not be allowed to participate in the league in the following year. The Board of Directors will determine a decision regarding the team’s future eligibility.

• Patoma right field rule. Prior to each game at Patoma, the coaches shall agree a marker in the right center field. Any batted ball that touches the marker or passes to the left of the marker shall be "all you can get" even if the ball rolls into the woods. Any batted ball that passes to the right of the marker and into the woods in the air or on the ground shall be a ground rule double.

STANDINGS & TIE-BREAKERS

• Team positions in the league will be determined by the total number of wins each team has. In the event of a tie, the following tie-breaker rules will apply in this order:

  • TWO TEAMS

    • Winning Percentage
    • Head to head record
    • Calculate the total number of wins for the opponents that each of the tied teams has defeated. The highest number is the winner.
    • Compare the record against common opponents. The better record prevails.
    • Compare runs against. The lowest runs against wins.
    • Coin Flip.

  • THREE OR MORE TEAMS

    • Winning Percentage
    • Head to head record (Only if ALL remaining tied teams have played each other)
    • Calculate the total number of wins for the opponents that each of the tied teams has defeated. The highest number is the winner.
    • Compare the record against common opponents. The better record prevails.
    • Compare runs against. The lowest runs against wins.
    • Draw names from hat
• Beginning in 2011, the league shall be divided into two seven team divisions, an A and a B division. The placing of the teams in these divisions for 2011 shall be determined by the teams combined records for the past two seasons, and then approved by the board, which reserves the power to adjust the team’s position on a reasonable basis.


• Each team shall be scheduled to play all other teams within its own division one time, the remaining games to be played against teams in the other division. Excluding the playoff game, teams shall play against each other no more than once a season.


• Standings for each division shall be based on results of ALL games played (not just those within the division). Final seedings and rankings will be based upon the tie-breaker rules referenced above.


• The team with the best won-lost record will be the home team during the playoff games. If both teams have the same won-lost records, the tie-breaker rules described above will determine who is home team


• Playoffs shall be played as follows:
  • A2 at A1
  • A4 at A3
  • A6 at A5
  • B2 at B1
  • B3 at A7
  • B5 at B4
  • B7 at B6


• Trophies shall only be awarded to the winning teams of each division.


• Beginning in 2012,in an effort to make playoffs more meaningful, final records (including results of playoffs) will be used to generate a final set of year-end standings for each division.


• Based upon the final standings (including playoff results) the bottom two teams in Division A shall move to Division B in the following year. The top two teams in Division B shall move to Division A in the following year.


• Beginning in 2015 the league shall change the number of teams in each division to 8 in the A division and 6 in the B division. This means that the top 2 teams in each division play each other for the division championship. Promotion and demotion remain the same. All teams in the A division should have a game scheduled against every other team in the A division. This means that for scheduling reasons B teams may play other B teams more than once in a season.

Bylaws adopted by League at League Meeting March 23, 2011

• The Board shall be authorized to take steps it deems necessary to enforce League bylaws, including the possibility of suspending individual players or coaches. This bylaw shall be adopted by a majority vote of the coaches (or their designated representative) at the 2011 annual spring meeting. (Bylaw accepted)

• The Board shall be authorized to bring before the coaches, concerns related to the conduct of players, coaches, or teams, for the purpose of placing said player, coach or team on league probation. The probation period shall be for the current and following year, during which period, the charged person or entity shall be on notice that further disruptive behavior could lead to expulsion by suggested new bylaw 3 (below). The person or entity shall be placed on probation by a vote of the majority of coaches (or designated representative) attending a special meeting called by the board for the purpose of reviewing the particular incident or series of incidents. This bylaw shall be adopted by a majority vote of the coaches (or their designated representative) at the 2011 annual spring meeting. (Bylaw Accepted)

• The Board shall be authorized to bring before the coaches, concerns related to the conduct of players, coaches or teams currently on probation, for the purpose of permanent expulsion from the league. Nine votes by league coaches (or their designated representative) in favor of expulsion (based on current 14 team league) shall be required in order to permanently suspend the player, coach or team. The vote shall be taken at a special meeting called by the Board. This bylaw shall be adopted by a majority vote of the coaches (or their representative) at the 2011 annual spring meeting. (Bylaw accepted)

Bylaws adopted by League at League Meeting March 2, 2014

• In the event of an infield line drive, base runners will be allowed to dive head-first into the base they had previously occupied.

• First base coach makes calls for first base and home plate, and the third base coach makes the call at second and third base.

• Addition to the illegal pitch rule:  Manager and the base coaches are allowed to call illegal pitches.  Coaches also discussed the importance of pre-handling problems by talking to opposing coaches if pitchers are throwing illegal pitches.

Board Terms and Succession

• The Board of Directors of the Holliston Old Man Softball League shall consist of four (4) director positions.  The term for each of these positions shall begin on February 1 and will last for 4 years, with the exception of the term beginning on February 1, 2012, in which the terms for the four board positions will be one, two, three and four years, respectively.  As a result, one board position is up for re-election each year on February 1. The board member up for re-election next will be considered the chairman of the board. The board member up for re-election after that will be considered the vice-chairman.

• The current chairman of the board is considered automatically re-elected to the board if a) he is unopposed by December 31 and b) he wishes to continue for another four-year term.  In the event that an election is needed, the vice chairman of the board will organize an election in which each team gets one vote, either by its coach or by the coach's designated player representative from the prior year's roster.  A simple majority carries the election.  In the event that there is a tie, the remaining board members will vote.