2008 Pascack Hills Industrial Softball League Rules
1.
The Double AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.)
is a “Ten
Man modified fast pitch” league governed by all ASA rules in effect for 2008.
2. Eight men
constitute a valid team; a pitcher and catcher must comprise two of the eight men on the
playing field.
3. All early
games start at 6:15 p.m. (Exception,
playoffs start at 6:00 PM.). You must start with at least eight (8) players, you
may wait 15 minutes (Until 6:30 PM and 8:15 PM for early
& night games respectively) for players, if you have less than eight (8) players. All night games will start at 8:00 PM. If there is another league’s game in progress
at that time, all Double
AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.)
teams must yield until the other league’s game is completed.
4. Games are
scheduled for seven (7) innings. Four and
one-half (4-1/2) innings are necessary for a game to be considered complete, five (5)
innings if the home team is losing. Should a
game not be considered complete per this by-law, the game will revert to the point in
which the game was stopped.
5. All teams
playing early games (I.E. 6:15 PM) on either
Chestnut Ridge fields must be off the field at 8:15, whether the
game is completed or not. The game will be considered complete per provisions under By-Law
4
6. Two (2)
forfeits are allowed per season. On the third
forfeit, the team is automatically dropped from the league.
They will be allowed back into the league only by a majority vote of all
teams in the Double
AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.) at
a league meeting. YOU MUST FINISH OUT YOUR SCHEDULE WHETHER YOU MAKE
THE PLAYOFFS OR NOT. A forfeit can
occur in several ways:
6.1. Non-payment of league
fees by first scheduled game.
6.2. No rosters received by
the league office prior to the league’s first game.
6.3. Less than eight
players by scheduled game time.
6.4. See By-Law 11.7 - 11.9.
7. 2008
Schedule: The commissioner will work with each team before the schedule is created to
avoid problem dates. Once the schedule is published at the 2nd league meeting,
the schedule is final and any changes will result in a forfeit.
8. UMPIRES
8.1. One umpires will
oversee all Double
AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.)
sanctioned games. Once the game starts they:
8.1.1. Have control of the game.
8.1.2. Can call game due to rain.
8.1.3. Can call game due to darkness.
8.1.4. Playoffs: We will have two umpires at
the semi finals / finals.
8.2. Any discussions
with the umpire during the game are limited only between the umpires and team
coach’s.
8.3.
In the rare event the umpire does not show
up for a scheduled game. The coaches can agree to
play the game using an agreed upon person as the umpire or the catcher can call balls and
strikes and the base coaches call the bases OR they can have the game rescheduled. PLEASE
try to play games whenever possible to avoid rescheduling !!!!
9. RAIN OUTS
9.1. It is the Local Team
or Home Team coach’s decision to call the visiting team prior to 4:00 p.m. to cancel a
game. If he does not call, both teams MUST GO
TO THE FIELD and the umpire will make the decision. If
the decision is to cancel the game, the local team or home team’s coach must call Jim Cosgrove at 201-444-0430 before 4:30 PM to Cancel the
Umpire.
-If 2 Montvale or 2 Mahwah teams playing each other than the home team’s coach will
check the field
-If 1 Montvale and 1 Mahwah team playing in Montvale then the Montvale team’s coach
will check the field,
-If 1 Montvale and 1 Mahwah team playing in Mahwah then the Mahwah team’s coach will
check the field
9.2. In the event that a
game is to be played in inclimate weather, it is the responsibility of both teams to make sure that the playing
field is in some decent form of playing condition (I.E. puddles, holes in the infield,
garbage on the field or deep batters boxes).
10
The Winning team is responsible to call all scores in
the next day to Tony Davino 201-248-5057 or send an email to: doubleaasports@optonline.net.
10.1
With respect
to score books kept for each game at least one team should maintain a score book for both
participating teams in a game. All players
should be identified by their last name and first name (THIS ALSO APPLIES TO THE SCORESHEETS WHICH WILL BE
COLLECT PRIOR TO PLAYOFFS). If possible, the
players designated number should be listed.
10.2
All teams are
required to submit their score sheets to Kyle Lippman after each game. Kyle will send all
teams the required spreadsheet.
10.3
Adopted, as a
result of a 7 - 3 majority vote at the 4/26/02 Double
AA Sports
(P.H.I.S.L.)
meeting, are the following sanctions for non-compliance of score sheet submission:
10.3.1. The league is
committed to communicate playoff eligibility when the playoffs start, based on a
team’s submission of all score sheets prior to this notification. A team will compromise their playoff eligibility
for the playoffs for lack of score sheet submission. If
this is the case the next team eligible for the playoffs will serve as a replacement team
and re-seeding will result.
11.
ROSTERS
11.1.
30 Player
Maximum - Applies to all teams with the exception of Davey’s Locker, Montvale and
Bailey's Smokehouse. They will be restricted
to 24 players with no add-ons once the season starts.
11.2.
As a result of
a 3 – 0 majority vote for those coaches in attendance at the 4/21/04 Double
AA Sports
(P.H.I.S.L.) meeting,
it was decided that the Consultant/Outside Service Consultant, Alumni Player, and Outside
Player categorizations & provisions would be removed from the by-laws and will be
replaced by simpler and more auditable provisions. The categorizations and provisions associated with Alumni,
Outside, and Consultants/Outside Service players will be replaced by the categorization of
Non-Company players that are governed by the following provisions.
11.2.1. Each team, with the exception of Daveys Locker, Montvale and
Bailey's Smokehouse will still be allowed a maximum
30-player roster; the new provision now allows for 7 of a team’s roster to be
Non-Company players.
11.2.2. A total roster is determined by the sum of initial rosters that
are signed by players & Human Resource representative and Add/Delete sheets. What this means is that until a document is signed
by the aforementioned this person would not be an eligible player.
11.2.3. Company or Non-Company players who have played on a team that is
still currently in the league can only play for that team.
That player can only switch to another team after sitting out an entire
season. Unless both coaches agree to allow the
player to play without sitting out for a season.
11.2.4. Company or Non-Company players who have played on a team that is
no longer in the league can play for any team in the league, as long as that team is
within the maximum number of non-company employees.
11.2.5. All players must
participate in 4 regualar season games to be eligible for the playoffs.
11.2.6. All Company players including Davey's,Bailey's & Montvale
players have to participate in a minimum of 4 regular season games to be eligible for the
playoffs.
11.2.7. The League reserves the right to directly discipline, by
whatever sanctions deemed appropriate, any Non-Company players for any conduct unbecoming
to the League or the Company these players represent.
In these situations Non-Company has no discourse through the League
Protest/Disciplinary Committee.
11.2.8. No
Major Modified or “A” Class players
can “pitch” in the PHISL – If a team uses a major modified or A class
pitcher that team will receive a forfeit. (At this time 2 players from previous years are
identified as being in this class: James Parker and Dale Lynch) The commissioner will be
responsible to contact the ASA and or the umpire’s association to review new pitchers
on complaints from other teams.
11.3.
As of July 1, 2008 there will be
a freeze on all rosters.
11.4.
All rosters
MUST have name & email address.
11.5.
After
original Rosters are submitted, a roster change must be made and submitted via an ADD/DELETE sheet to the league 48 hours prior to
the game that the new player will participate in - These should be faxed to Kyle Lippman 201-594-3348. If at the time of updating league statistics
there is no ADD/DELETE Sheet, for an individual who was not on the original roster
listing, that player will be ineligible for the next available game unless Kyle Lippman
receives an ADD/DELETE sheet for this player 48 Hours prior to the start of the next game
in order for the player to be eligible. THIS
RULE WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
11.6.
Any team can
request a roster check on a player. This must
be done, during the course of a game, through the umpire and will be considered a protest.
11.7.
At the time
of the protest, the player in question must sign & print his name on a piece of paper
and give it to the opposing team’s coach who will file the protest with the league
Protest/Disciplinary Committee.
11.8. Rosters
should be checked before the start of each game to ensure that all players are eligible to
play.
11.9. ALL ORIGINAL
ROSTERS ARE DUE PRIOR TO BY FIRST SCHEDULED GAME MUST BE FAXED TO: Kyle Lippman – Fax # 201-594-3348.
12.
PROTEST/DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
12.1. The Protest/Disciplinary Committee will consist of the active
commissioners. They will be responsible to make all protest and disciplinary decisions.
12.2. The 2008 Protest/Disciplinary Committee will be Tony Davino, Russ
Chapman, Kyle Lippman, Chris Iorio, Bob Petronaci.
12.3. This committee will be called upon
when any protest is made. Protests include,
but are not limited to, the following: Protests
with respect to a game (I.E. See Roster By-laws, Calls by Umpires, etc.); when the
mandatory 3 game suspension rule imposed by By-Law # 13 is challenged; or when a protest
to a player’s or team’s conduct has been brought forward for judgment to the
attention of the Committee Chairman by the officers of the league as result of a formal
written protest received by the coach of an opposing team (Miscellaneous Disciplinary
Actions).
12.4. With respect to game protests, the
protest must be made to the umpire during the course of the game, not after the game. The protesting coach must have the umpire sign and
date the teams score book or scoring summary sheet indicating that the game is under
protest. Game protests will involve a written
statement from the applicable umpire or other written documentation with respect to the
situation and oral presentations only by
the applicable coaches to the Committee. Where
a coach was not at the game in question, then the acting coach at the time will make the
presentation.
12.5. With respect to the protest of a 3
game suspension rule imposed by By-Law # 13 the coach, or acting coach at the time of the
incident, of the effected team must submit within 24 hours after the game a formal protest
in writing to one of the league officers. These
protests will also involve a written statement from the applicable umpire or other written
documentation with respect to the situation and oral presentations only by the applicable coaches to the
Committee.
12.6. Miscellaneous disciplinary actions
will involve the coach, or acting coach at the time of a incident, submitting a formal
protest in writing to one of the league officers within 24 hours after the game in which
an incident occurs. These protests will
involve an oral or written communication from the umpire of the applicable game to the
Committee Chairman, and oral presentations only
by the applicable coaches, or acting coach(s) to the Committee.
13. IF AN UMPIRE
EJECTS A PLAYER FROM THE GAME AND ASKS THE PLAYER TO LEAVE THE FIELD, SAID PLAYER WILL BE
SUSPENDED FROM PARTICIPATING IN
THEIR TEAMS NEXT THREE CONSECUTIVE GAMES. IT
SHOULD BE NOTED THAT REQUESTS TO LEAVE THE FIELD ARE THE RESULT OF FLAGRANT ACTS (I.E.
CONTINUING TO ARGUE WITH AN UMPIRE AFTER EJECTION). IF
AN UMPIRE EJECTS A PLAYER FROM THE GAME AND ASKS THE PLAYER TO LEAVE THE FIELD, AND SAID
PLAYER DOES NOT LEAVE THE FIELD THIS PLAYER WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. THESE RULES WILL STRICTLY BE ENFORCED. As a clarification to this By-law provision, it
should be noted that generally the B.C.A.S.U when ejecting a player from the game will
also ask the player to leave the field. This
does not automatically impose the League’s three game suspension rule, as long as the
player leaves without being belligerent or causing a scene.
The league will be notified of all ejection’s. If applicable, based on the umpires reports
received & communications with both coaches involved will a determination of the three
game suspension rule be imposed. This will be
further finalized as a result of the League’s commitment to have its officers
attending at least 80 % of the games.
13.1. BY FORMATION OF
THIS PROTEST/DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT ANY TEAMS AND/OR PLAYERS
INVOLVED IN A PROTEST AND/OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION RELEASE THE Double
AA Sports
(P.H.IS.L.)
IT’S OFFICERS, AND COMMITTEE PANELISTS (ACTIVE OR ALTERNATES) FROM ANY LEGAL CLAIMS
ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH AN ACTION.
14. UNIFORMS and
EQUIPMENT
14.1.
It is
requested that all teams wear a full uniform, but all players must have a shirt signifying
the team’s name or logo that they are representing or at the very least 8 players must at least be wearing
the teams primary color.
14.2.
As a result
of a change in position, the Bergen County Association of Softball Umpires (BCASU) is
recommending the use of helmets. The BCASU
will not be enforcing this rule. The league
endorses utilization of helmets, however, it is at a player’s discretion.
14.3.
NO METAL SPIKES
ARE TO BE WORN. ANY PLAYER CAUGHT USING THEM
IN A GAME WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME.
14.4.
TITANIUM BATS
OR ANY NON-ASA APPROVED BATS ARE NOT ALLOWED. ANY
PLAYER CAUGHT USING ONE IN A GAME WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME, PLUS 2 GAMES.
14.5.
All bats
utilized in the Double
AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.)
must be on the American Softball Association (ASA) Certified Listing (http://www.softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp).
15. BASES
15.1.
Base lengths
are 60 feet. Pitching length is 46 feet.
15.2.
The Umpire is
responsible for measuring out the bases and pitching area prior to the game.
15.3.
HOME TEAMS
must supply bases.
16. Runners cannot
leave any base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. On a pick off attempt, if the ball reaches the base
before the runner returns the runner is out. On
any pick off attempt by the catcher, all runners can advance at their own risk, but only
after re-touching the bag.
16.1.
There is no
stealing in this league.
17. BUNTS - There are
three (3) bunts allowed per team at any time during the game.
18. Extra Hitter rule is
permitted. If you start with an EH then you
must play the entire game with the EH. The EH
can play the field, and can be substituted for at any time.
19. RE-ENTRY RULE
- This is a
good rule to use during the year if you have a heavy roster.
Any and all players may be substituted and re-entered for one time during
the game. Once this happens the sub is out of
the game and if the original player who was replaced for comes out again then he will be
out for the rest of the game. As voted by a
5 – 0 majority for those coaches in attendance at the 4/22/03 Double
AA Sports
(P.H.I.S.L.)
meeting, the only exception to this rule is if the sub is injured and unable to play and
the team has no other rostered player’s in attendance to replace the injured sub.
20. COURTESY
RUNNER – Only 1
courtesy runner will be permitted per inning. The
last recorded out will be the eligible courtesy runner.
If it’s the first inning it’s the last batter. The only exception to this rule, once the 1 runner
is utilized, is for a player who subsequently becomes injured while advancing safely to a
base. The injury must be validated by an
umpire’s judgment.
21. Designated Hitter rule is permitted. As voted by a 5 – 0 majority for those
coaches in attendance at the 4/22/03 Double
AA Sports
(P.H.I.S.L.)
meeting this rule will be no longer be governed by ASA Designated Player rules. The rule created and adopted is as follows: DH can
bat for any of the 10 players on the field. They
cannot enter the field and are not applicable to re-entry rules. Due only to injury of the DH could the player who
the DH is hitting for bat in replace of DH. * This rule is meant
to supersede the ASA rule regarding Designated Player rules, to enable coaching
intelligence, and quite simply it means that the P.H.I.S.L allows for an Extra Hitter and
a Designated Hitter but this means that a team can only have 11 players batting and 10
players in the field.
22. If there is a
play at any base, the base runner must go down (slide) or avoid the play (get out of the
way). In the eyes of the umpire, if he or she
believes contact was made or obstruction occurred, the batter and/or base runner can be
called out.
23. Should a pitch
hit a batter, whether it be on a bounce or directly, there will be no awarding of a base
(The pitch will count as a ball).
24. Prize Money /
Trophies - The division
winner’s will receive an engraved bat as the trophy.
The Double
AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.)
champions will also receive an engraved bat as a trophy.
All bats will be engraved with company names.
Prize Money: Prior to 2008 the funds original allocated for the league party will be
divided up by the 1st and 2nd place teams in the league. Champion will receive a 66.6% and
Runner up will receive a 33.3% split of money (Ex. If we had $750. The Champion will
receive $500 and the Runner Up will receive $250.)
25. PLAYOFF FORMAT
25.1.
The League
format is 3 conferences (American, Central & National).
8 of the total 12 teams will make the playoffs. The Conference Winners will be seeded 1, 2 and 3 based on based
on regular season records and tiebreakers where applicable.
The remaining 5 teams will be wildcards from any conference based on regular season
records and tiebreakers where applicable. The
first round of the playoffs (1st Seed
vs. 8th Seed, 2nd Seed
vs. 7th Seed, 3rd Seed vs. 6th Seed and 4th
Seed vs. 5th Seed). The first round
and semi-finals will be a best of three game series format. Higher Seeded team will be
home team in odd numbered games (ex. Games 1 and 3) throughout the playoffs. Winners from
the 1st round will be matched up in the semi-finals. Highest Seed remaining
will play the lowest Seed remaining and the other two Seeds will play in the other game.
The winners from the semi-finals will meet in a best of 3 game championship series.
25.2.
Should there
be a tie for any playoff spots, the following criteria will be used to determine the
actual position of the teams:
25.2.1. Head to Head
Competition.
25.2.2. Conference
Record
25.2.4. Lowest Runs
Allowed
25.2.5. Coin Toss
26. PLAYOFF
ELIGIBILITY - All Players
must play in a minimum of 4 games to be playoff eligible.
27. 12 RUN RULE -
If a team is
leading by 12 runs at the end of Four and one-half (4-1/2) innings (Five (5) innings if
the home team is losing); or if after 5 innings, the complete inning thereafter; the game
will be stopped and regarded as complete. This will be enforced for the Regular Season and
Playoffs.
28. PITCHING - A plate will
not be required (An imaginary line will be the substitute).
Other than the aforementioned all other rules with respect to pitching shall
be governed by ASA Pitching Regulations – Ten Man Modified Fast Pitch
29. ILLEGAL PITCH
- The first
three illegal pitches will be called a ball. Every
illegal pitch thereafter will result in a walk and a balk.
30. Daveys Locker
- As
established by a league vote at the 3/13/97 meeting to
incorporate this By-law; Daveys Locker is a permanent team of the Double
AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.)
unless they decide otherwise.
31. All teams are
to clean up any mess they have made at all fields. League
representatives will conduct random checks of fields.
32. BEER DRINKING
AT ALL FIELDS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE GAMES IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED BY THE LEAGUE AS
WELL AS LOCAL ORDINANCES. ANY TEAM, OR MEMBER
OF A TEAM CAUGHT VIOLATING THIS RULE MAY SUBJECT HIS TEAM TO PROSECUTION AND DISMISSAL
FROM THE LEAGUE. THIS RULE WILL BE STRICTLY
ENFORCED.
NO BEER DRINKING AT ALL MAHWAH SOFTBALL FIELDS !!! – WE WILL LOSE THE FIELD PERMIT AS
A RESULT !!!
33. Prior to the
start of the playoffs all playoff teams will need to submit all of their score sheets to
the commissioners.
34. The
Double AA Sports (P.H.I.S.L.) will not be using the double base at 1st
base for the 2008 season, as voted on at the March 30th league meeting.
35.
Forfeits: If a forfeit in the last 2 weeks of the
season will have a direct impact on a team making the playoffs or not (#8 Seed). The
commisioner will schedule a play in game for the #8 and #9 Seeds (or the last 2 Seeds)
36. Mahwah Fields:
Directions to
Fields
Fardale
Take 17 North to MacArthur Blvd, take MacArthur Blvd to the end turn right on
Darlington, left on Seminary Road, left on Campgaw Road go until slight fork in road and
bare left on Youngs Road, then a right on Chapel Road and field is on your left.
Sharp: Field
is located behind the Sharp Bldg on Route 17 North
Commodore
Perry SB and BB Fields are located on the corner of Island Road and East Ramapo Ave.
37. Montvale Fields:
Directions to
Fields
Chestnut
A and B Fields from MacArthur Blvd take Route 17 South to Lake Street exit at the top
of the ramp continue over Route 17 at the 1st Light make a right on Lake
Street. Take Lake Street approx 3 miles at the 3rd light make
a left on Chestnut Ridge Road just past the 1st light the fields are on the right hand side.
