DC Softball Leagues offered by offered by United Social Sports

USS will provide all bases and a balls for each game. Gloves are not guaranteed to be supplied and players must bring their own. It is also recommended that teams bring their own bats though at least one approved bat will be provided..
A “strike mat” will be used to determine sure strikes, if the softball touches any part of the mat on a legal pitch (6’-12’ arc), it will be considered a strike. Pitches touching any part of the plate WILL BE considered a ball.
All batters will start with a one ball, one strike count.

If a male is walked on three straight balls, and a female follows him in the batting order, the female has the choice to take a walk or bat. Umps will enforce this rule upon request; however, they will not be responsible for notifying the batter in each walk situation. The umpire must be made aware that a female is on deck before the 2nd pitch is thrown.

A batter with two strikes is allowed one courtesy foul ball. After that the batter is out.
All games are seven innings or one hour; the last inning will start 10 – 15 minutes to the hour. The ump will enforce this rule and will make the call at the top of the final inning. Note: Due to differing circumstances in each and every game, some games will finish short on an hour in length, while others might run over the hour mark. Please respect your ump’s call in this matter. He/she must keep all games on time in fairness to teams playing later hours and due to facility permit restrictions.
10 players (at least 3 females) in the field at all time. (THERE ARE NO POSITION REQUIREMENTS of any players, i.e. there need not be 2 females in outfield and 2 in the infield) USS rules will allow a team to play with a minimum of 8 players (at least 2 females).

If only 2 females are present the team must take an out when it comes to the tenth batter or the position where the missing female should be batting.
The Minimum number of players in the field/your starting line up is 8 (6 men/2 women).
If playing with 8 players, no more than 6 men are allowed on the field at on time.
If playing with 10 players, no more than 7 men are allowed on the field at one time.
Batting order ratio MUST always be followed no matter how many men are playing. (see #8)

Teams may bat more than ten players; however, these teams must bat the same ratio (2 to 1) of men and women. Prior to regular season games, teams must request lineups sheet in order to raise lineup objects during the game. For tournaments the Umps will require a line sheet.
All players in the field must be listed in the batting order. Players do not have to play in the field in order to bat.
Batting order must consist of a 2-1 ratio. (For every 2 male batters in a row a female batter must be next.

The ratio does not need to extend from the bottom of the order to the top. IE you may end with two men on your lineup and wrap to the of your line with another male.

Game mercy rule: 12 runs up after five complete innings.
Inning run limit rule: There will be a 5 run limit per inning through innings 1-4.

(Exception: unlimited runs may be scored if one of the innings 1-4 is declared the final inning of the game.) Unlimited runs may be scored in innings 5, 6, and 7 always.

No lead offs or stealing, runners can leave the base once the ball is hit by the batter. If a runner leaves early, the ball is dead and the runner is declared out. If this is the 3rd out of the inning the batter will be first up in the next inning.
Games start on time! Teams must be prepared to play.

Forfeit rule: 10 minutes after game time. If one team has less than the minimum number of players (8 total-2 females) at ten past the designated start time, the game will be deemed a forfeit.

Any excessive contact or collision will result in an “out” and/or ejection. This includes contact with the catcher. Sliding is allowed. Any intentional (in the eyes of the monitor) interference with the defensive player, the runner and the batter will be called out. The strike mat is considered a part of home plate to avoid collisions at home.
If the catcher receives the ball at home plate and is in a stationary position in front of the plate while a runner is at less then half way down the third base line, that runner is automatically out. If the running is MORE than half way down the runner will be safe. EXCEPTION: If bases are loaded and the play at home is a force then the runner is out in either scenarios. (This rule is designed to avoid avoid collisions and injuries at home plate).
The strike mat is an extension of home plate and must be used by the runner for any slides / home plate crossings for safety purposes.
The catcher must field any balls thrown to home in FRONT of the home plate to avoid contact with the offensive player.

Any equipment in question should be brought to the attention of the umpire. The umpire will make all final decisions with regard to equipment discrepancies.

The ball is thrown over the fence / road
The ball is thrown beyond the fence / road / safe area of play
The ball is thrown beyond the imaginary line extending from the End of the backstop (if there is no fence).
This imaginary line applies to overthrows and caught fly foul balls.
If the ball is overthrown and hits the fence behind the 1st or 3rd base lines, this is NOT considered out of play and the runner may advance, BUT at his/her own risk.
On overthrows out of play, the runner is granted the base he/she is going to (at the point of the throw) plus one more. Note: in cases where a base runner runs past first base, he/she must make a clearly aggressive turn towards second base to be granted 2nd and 3rd in overthrow situations.

On an infield fly (any fly ball within the infield with significant arc and deemed an “easy catch”) with less than 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the batter is automatically out and runners can advance, BUT at their own risk.
If a rain-out occurs while a game is in progress, 3 innings must be completed for the game to count. The umpire’s clock is the game clock and will inform both teams when the game has started.

Games ending before the 3 innings have concluded will be rescheduled and played as a new game.

There is no minimum # of innings for a complete game if the time limit has been satisfied.
OTHER RULES:

Count starts at 1-1
No bunting
No stealing or leading
A Pitch has to have a slow pitch arch at least 6 ft. off ground at its highest point and has to cross the plate to be a strike. If it hits the plate, it is a ball.

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