LXC Louisville Softball Rules

LXC SPORT & SOCIAL CLUB OFFICIAL COED SOFTBALL RULES

Safety base at home plate must be used at all times.  

Pinch Runner Rule: You are allowed to use a pinch runner only if the batter makes it to first. If the batter gets to first safely, then the pinch runner used will be the LAST guy or girl who was out. You may not use a pinch runner from home to first base. There is no limit to pinch runners as long as it does not impact game quality.

Infield Fly Rule: The batter will automatically be called out if there are less than 2 outs with runners on first and second or the bases are loaded and there is a pop fly which the umpire judges could be caught by an infielder in fair territory. The infield fly rule is called by the umpire. Infield fly IS NOT a dead ball play.

Pitch Release Area: Pitchers must release the ball from the rubber area. This rule is to protect pitchers. If the pitcher moves away from the rubber closer to home plate to release the pitch, your umpire may call a flat pitch

Strikes and Balls:  If the ball hits any part of the strike mat it is a strike.  The catcher must let the ball hit the ground before catching or it will be called a ball. If the ball hits the plate it will be called a ball.  The balls arc must reach 6ft and not exceed 10ft.  If the ball is determined to hit both, then it will be called a ball. Any foul-tip caught by the catcher will be an out. All pitches must come from the hip on the throwing hand side of the body with no fakes. 

Male:Female Ratio:  A maximum of 6 male players are allowed on the field at once.  Teams must have at least 3 females to play. (Coed Leagues Only)

Commit Line:  The line halfway down the third baseline.  Once a runner crosses this line he is committed to home plate.  They cannot return to third.  Unless they are going back to tag up.

Bats:  Each team must supply their own bats. Bats must be USA/ASA, NSA, or USSSA certified.

Helmets:  Helmets are optional. Each team may bring their own helmets to use if they feel it is necessary.

Players:   A full team consists of 10 players. There may not be more than 6 players in the infield before the ball is hit. 

Lack of Full Team:  If you do not have a full team ready to play at start time you may play with a minimum of 7 players (minimum of 3 females in coed leagues). If you do not have at least the minimum you must forfeit. You may split up the players on both teams there and play for fun. This is subject to change if team captains and umpire agree to an alternate plan

Attire:  Please remove jewelry. No metal cleats. It is recommended that you wear your team shirt or a shirt of your team color to each week’s game.

Safety Base

1. Safety base at first base must be used whenever the ball is hit into the infield or if there is a play at first base or the runner will be called OUT. If the ball is hit into the outfield then the runner may use first base to round the bag to second base. In this case, the first baseman must move off the bag to allow the runner to round first otherwise it will be called obstruction and the runner will automatically be called safe at second.
2. Tagging at Home Plate: Runners that cross the commit line may NOT be tagged when running home. The ball must be thrown to the catcher otherwise the base runner will be called safe.

Time Limit:  Games are seven innings or 1 hour.  If 50 minutes of play (or more) have passed at the start of a new inning, the umpire shall call last inning. 

Home Team:  The home team will be decided at the beginning of each game with rock, paper, scissors.

Hitting:
Male players must bat opposite handed in coed leagues. If the league us a strong-hand league men bat normal.
Each hitter will start with a 1-1 count.  Batter will be given one foul with 2 strikes on the next foul he will be out.

Run limit: There is a maximum of 7 runs allowed per at bat.  If 7 is reached the following inning only 6 runs are allowed and the inning after only 5.  This only applies to the team that is leading. The team that is behind is allowed to catch up and take the lead up to 7 runs. 

Home Runs: There is no limit to the number of home runs hit, the hitting team is responsible to bring back the home run balls

Walks: Males will be granted 2 bases on a walk and the follwoing female will have the option to hit or take first base. If the male recieveing a walk, forces tin the max runs per inning, the following female will start the next inning without the option to walk.

Batting Order
The batting order must alternate male and female players(for coed leagues).  Teams must have all fielders in the lineup but there is no max to number of hitters. In the event of more female than male players on a roster, females mey bat back-back- but bever will two guys bat in a row. (exception: female took a walk between two male batters)

Subsitutions
As long as substitutions are not preventing players from being involved or unfairly used they will be allowed at any time.

TOURNAMENT:

The higher seed team will be the home team. All games are played with normal the normal time limit except the Champioship game which has no time limit.

Forefits and Cancellations:Everyone pays to play in the league and they expect to play every week.  WHEN YOU DO NOT SHOW UP FOR A GAME YOU ARE CHEATING THE OTHER TEAM OUT OF MONEY!   You must give LXC at least 3 days notice if your team cannot make a game so we can try to find people to give the other team a game.  If proper notice is not given and LXC cannot get another team to play for you a monetary fine can be issued, the fine will be given to the team that did not play to spend at the post game happy hour.  More than one forefit per season and team will be excluded from league championship tournament.

League Info and Policies

Payment
Payment is due in full by noon the day after your first game.  Remaining balance will be charged to your card at that time.  Any teams not paid will not be added to week 2's schedule. 

League Start Dates
We do our best to start all leagues as initially scheduled.  Every league needs at least 4 teams to start.  If there are not 4, a league will be pushed back 2-3 weeks in hopes of adding enough teams.  We will notify you as soon as their are enough or if the league will be postponed again.  At any point after a league is rescheduled, refunds can be issued upon request.

Schedule
Week 1's schedule will be released at least 3 days prior to the start date.  After week 1's games the full schedule will be out.  After week 2's games no schedule requests will be taken.  Schedules are subject to change due to weather, field availability, or other unforeseen issues.

T-Shirts
A team shirt will be given to each player that is on the roster at least 3 days prior to the start date.  Players not on the roster by that time may have to make arrangements to pick one up at the LXC office.

Rosters
Only players on the online roster are eligible to play.  Rosters will be frozen after week 3's games.  After that, all additions will have to go through the LXC office.  Subs are allowed and should be added to the roster accordingly.  Subs for the tournament must be approved by the LXC office.

SPORTSMANSHIP
The idea of LXC is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when
becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be
competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed
unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.
Abuse of staff will not be tolerated. LXC reserves the right to remove a player from a
game or a league if they are considered to be bringing down the quality of the league.
LXC will not tolerate fighting! Fighting will be an automatic ejection from any game
and in most cases ejection from the league for the remainder of the season. If you feel
that someone on your team or on another team is not practicing good sportsmanship,
please let us know.