REVISED RULES AND BYLAWS FOR NSB SENIOR SOFTBALL

(Amended 8/2/2026) 

1.   The organization shall be known as "New Smyrna Beach Senior Softball League Association, Inc." also known as "NSBSSA".

 2.   The NSBSSA organization shall have a Governing Board which shall be known as “The Board.”  It will be made up of seven member; Commissioner, Vice-Commissioner, Treasurer and Secretary.  There is also three members at large. The Board will be served by an ancillary or Advisory Committee, which includes player representatives, manager representative and consultant..It will represent the voices and concerns of NSBSSA players, but the members will not have a vote. The purpose of the organization shall be to foster, develop, promote and regulate senior softball and to provide proper safeguards with the spirit of true sportsmanship, and to encourage the unification of all teams.

3 A The election of Board Members will be conducted for odd years. In order for the newly elected members to take office in January, they will be selected, during the fall season.  This will be done by vote of active players.  Ballots will be printed and given to players, at a game and date determined by the current Board.

 

3B. Affairs of NSBSSA shall be managed by a Commissioner/President, an Assistant Commissioner/Vice President and a Board of Directors composed of as many Directors as the Commissioner/President might feel necessary. Officers and Directors shall serve without compensation. The Commissioner/President votes only in the case of a tie. The Commissioner’s/President’s appointees must be confirmed by majority vote of the remaining Directors. 

 4.   NSBSSA is an affiliated association of the Independent Softball Association, (ISA), and has been granted authority by them in the State of Florida.  The constitution and by-laws of the ISA are adopted by NSBSSA and are incorporated herein by reference.

 5.   An official NSBSSA registration form and Release of Liability must be completed in full by every member of this organization without exception.  This will include such information as player’s full name, address, telephone number and date.  The player’s signature on this form will verify the information contained therein is accurate. 

6.   Players must be 50 years of age in the current calendar year to be eligible to play in the league. 

 7.   The NSB local recreation department and the Board members of NSBSSA retain the right to establish local ground rules to be used by the organization.

 8.  Umpires shall be ISA certified and shall not be members of any team (except in emergency situations).  Score-keeping will be the responsibility of the managers.

 9. Protests - All disputes, which result in protest, must be settled at that point in the game by the highest ranking available officer and chief umpire.  The game must be stopped at the point of protest and protest resolved.  Any protest filed after the game has continued is invalid.

10. Rules of Order – In the absence of specific rules, the Board, with the approval of the city representative, shall determine the meeting agenda and process.

 11. Player Expulsion – Any member who consistently behaves in an irrational manner, makes threats to any officer, umpire and/or player, files a lawsuit against NSBSS, its officers, players and/ or managers, concerning rules or decisions of the organization, or is convicted of an aggressive or egregious felony, will be removed as a player of this organization.  Reinstatement will be considered, upon receiving a request from the player for a period to be determined by the Board, with the approval of the city representative. 

12. Quitting Players – Every manager has a goal to let each player to play as much as he can and at positions that is satisfying to the player.  Unfortunately, there are some conflicts to this goal that seem to be irreconcilable and sometimes results in a player quitting a team.  The Board and other managers from time to time will try to facilitate ways to reconcile these conflicting differences, such as player trades.  However, in the event that reconciliation is not possible and the player still decides to quit his team rather than finishing the season, the player will face a penalty of not being included in the next draft.  If there is a second occurrence the player will be removed from the player’s list. If a manager is determined by The Board and/or the city representative to be part of the cause of the personnel problem, corrective action may be applied to the manager as determined by The Board, with the city representative’s consent.

13.   All league players will pay a fee for each season of play.  This fee will be paid directly to the city.  Amount of this fee, will be determined by the city of New Smyrna Beach. The preferable method of registration and payment is online by a bank card.  It can also be paid in person or over the phone at the Babe James Center on N. Myrtle Ave.

14.   New playing rules, for NSBSSA league play, may be established from time to time by majority of The Board and city representative.  All rules will be voted on by the Board and published for use by managers, Board members, umpires and city representative.

 15.   Team members will be selected by various drafting methods selected by the Board.  Current method and player rating procedures are attached as a separate article titled “Player Selection and Rating Procedure”.

16. The distance between bases will be 65 feet.

17. The “early games” will start at 6:45, with a ten minute “grace period” given, for players coming from work or other commitments, if the team is under 10 players. The game will begin, when ten players are present.  The second game should start as quickly as possible to 8:00.

18. The number of games will be determined at the beginning of each season.  The Board and City will decide the number, based on fiscal and situational data, such as the number of teams and operational issues. The City of New Smyrna Beach will have the final word. The number of games will be based on the regular season, with a double-elimination tournament to follow. There may be a need to alter this format, because of unforeseen events such as weather, health or logistical problems.

           

NSBSSA RULES

         ISA rules will be used with the following rule changes.

 1.   Each team may use unlimited courtesy runners in each inning.  If an injury occurs and the player is removed from the game, the position in the batting order will NOT be an out.  The manager, before the first pitch to the next batter, may change a courtesy runner.  Any courtesy runner who is on base when it’s his turn to bat will be declared out on base and bat in his regular position in the batting order.  The out is declared for the player for whom he was the courtesy runner.  A specific courtesy runner can only be utilized once per inning. Runners on 1^st and 3^rd can stand off the base—for protection from batted balls.  However; the runner—once situated--cannot  move until the ball is hit and must return to the base, before advancing. The runner cannot be tagged until he has re-tagged the base.

2.  A modified format of strikes and balls with 1 courtesy foul will be used.  Each batter will start with 1 ball and 1 strike.  After 2 strikes, one foul will be allowed with the next foul causing an out. (1-1 count allows 2 foul balls before the 3rd the batter is out) A foul ball is not required to be a certain height.

3.   Each team may only get a maximum of FIVE runs per inning.

4.   Each team may get unlimited runs in the designated last inning.

5.   There will be a mercy rule of 15 runs after 5 innings.

 6.   Before the game the umpire will meet with the opposing managers and discuss:  Picked up players, injured players and special ground rules.  A team may only use the same pick up players in 2 games--during the regular season--once in each half. Teams with 10 players are not allowed pickup players.  If a team is missing players, and there are not enough players available, the opposing team will supply a catcher, until a qualified player is available (the missing player is counted as an out in the batting order until the qualified pickup player is inserted).  A team must have 7 of its rostered players to start a game or the game will be forfeited.  If a player leaves or is injured during the game and cannot continue, the team with 6 rostered players does not forfeit but can continue to play with the opposing team supplying a catcher or a replacement player is inserted.

 During playoffs and tournament games, the usual pick up rules apply. All pick up players are chosen in accordance with Rule 8 below. Because the league plays a double-elimination tournament, there would be 2 games played in the championship round, if the loser’s bracket team wins the first game. In that case, the picked up players can play in both.

 

7.   Except for playoff and tournament final games, all pick up players must bat last in the batting order and be on existing league rosters.  All pickup players can play any position.

     a. If an injury occurs and a player is removed from the game, that position in the batting order will not be an out. A player from the bench shall replace the injured player.

    b. Only when an injury occurs—that causes a team to go below 10 players—an equivalently-rated player may be recruited and added to the lineup, in the same slot as the injured player.

    c.  No player can play against his own team, ever.  This situation should only occur with a “split” player assignment, in the final game.

   d. If a player is a “split,” that is, he only plays on one night, and has only paid to play one night, he can be replaced only by another player that also plays and pays for that same night. The only exception is the championship game(s)  The manager picking up players has to tell the opposing manager whom he has picked up for whom.  At that time, the opposing manager has the right to challenge the skill levels of players being replaced but must do so before the game starts.  Once the game begins, no challenge can be made.   All teams adding pickups must play 10 players added as follows:  9 players replace with 1 lowest, 8 players replace with 1 low then 1 high, 7 players replace with low, high, low. If a team has  10 players—no matter who is missing—no players can be added.

8.  The pickup player starting the game must leave the game and play his scheduled game, once his regular game is ready to start. The team losing the player can replace him with another similarly-rated player. That“temporary” replacement player will bat in the same slot as the player leaving to start his regular game.

 9.   Any player ejected from a game will be suspended for one additional game and reported to the NSB Athletic Coordinator (mandatory).  Suspensions may be increased at the discretion of NSB Rec Dept. and the League Board.  Any player who is ejected twice in one season will be removed for three additional games. An additional suspension masy be added, depending on the offense.  For example, a player suspended for profanity may be treated differently than a player ejected for striking someone. The Board and City Representative will determine the length of suspension, which ranges from one extra game to a lifetime ban.

 10.   Safety Rule – A player that is identified by his manager or team players to be a safety concern will be discussed and voted by the managers as to being eligible for the league draft.  If a majority of the Board--with input from that player’s manager--agrees that the player is a safety concern, the player will be notified that the league draft will not include his name, due to concerns for safety.

 11.   All protests must be made and settled before the next pitch. Protests can only be made by the manager (See rule 9; Paragraph 3; page 1).

12.   Hit a Home Run Hit and Sit Rule:  A player who hits a home run over the fence can opt NOT to advance to first base and instead return to the dugout.  Players who are on base DO NOT have to touch the next base, they can instead return to the dugout.

 13.  There is no limit on the number of home runs a specific player or team can have.

14.   During the season, new players will be added to a team, by the league’s Advisory Board, with the consent of the city representative.  Each team’s initial replacement must come from an undrafted waiting list, which will be maintained by the player representative and Advisory Board. It will be comprised of the names of players that have been rated, and listed by those ratings.  Priority will be given to the earliest candidates. Replacements must come from the  waiting list first, before “recruiting” is allowed.

 15.   When a team begins a game without all of its rostered players and a rostered player shows up, he must play in place of a pickup player at the conclusion of that half inning.

16.   All players in attendance--unless injured--must be in the batting order and must play at least 5 innings in the field and nobody is to sit more than 2 consecutive innings. The team manager is also required to play 5 innings in the field, and must bat, unless injured.

 17.   Runners must use the outside home plate or scoring line.  Any runner crossing into the batter’s box, regardless of the plate action, will be called out.

 18.   Game Line Ups – The “lineup” in the scorekeeper’s book at the start of the game (1^st pitch) is the “lineup”.  If you have lineup changes it must be made prior to the first pitch. 

Exceptions:

                   a.    A missing team player, not in the lineup, that shows up will be added at the end of the batting order. This starts when the lineup is turned in to the scorekeeper,

          b.    An injured or leaving player that is removed from the game is replaced by a  player of the same rating in the same batting position, if the team is down to nine players.  Otherwise, a bench player will be utilized. 

         C       In the case of a player leaving for disciplinary reasons, the replacement player will be one rating lower. The player removed will miss at least one game.  The matter will be reviewed by the Board and City, who will decide on formal disciplinary action.

          d.    When a missing team player shows up and a replacement player is already playing, the team player is inserted into the lineup in the same batting position as the specific replacement player.  (Same player rating if more than one replacement.) 

        e. It is appreciated—but not required—that managers give a copy of their lineup to the opposing manager, before the firxt pitch.

          e.  When a replacement player’s team is ready to play, he must leave the current game in which he is substituting, to play in his assigned team.  The team needing another replacement player can recruit a player.

EXAMPLE:  A recent example that prompted this clarification is as follows.  A line up was turned in and recorded and the game was started and a player in the lineup did not show up when it was his first time to bat.  For that missing player’s first at bat he was then recorded as an out for the first at bat and deleted thereafter.  If per chance that player then shows up later he will be inserted at the end of the order the same as any missing player showing up.

19. Batter’s Box Setup

1. At batter’s set up, both feet must fit within the batter’s box.  Touching or being on the line is permitted, with the back or the side of the foot, but the remainder of the foot must be within the box.  The umpire will alert the batter of any discrepancy, prior to the next pitch.
2. At the swing, the “inside the box rule” remains, for one foot. The plate may not be touched, and should the ball directly hit the plate, it is in play. If the batter runs towards the pitcher-- beyond the box—he is out.
3. If the line is obliterated, the umpire can draw a line in the dirt, to show the batter where he can set up.  Intentionally erasing the line will result in an out.

 20. At the end of the season, all teams tied with the same won/loss record will use following criteria to break the ties:

1..Winning Percentage

2. Head –to-Head Results

3. Head-to Head Differential

4.Total Runs For

5.Total Runs Against

6. Total Run Differential

7. Lowest Number of Forfeits

8.Coin Toss

    
 21.   Pitching Arc of 6 feet to 10 feet shall be used.  A pitching mat will be used with the entire mat being the strike zone and home plate.

 22.   Post season games.  The Highest seeded team will be the home team.  If the teams have the same seasonal record, see Rule #20 for tiebreaker.

 23.   Commitment Line - Once runners have touched the ground on or past the commitment line, he cannot return to third base but must continue to home plate (ISA Rule 18).

 24.   Inclement weather may force a game to be called early by the umpire.  If 4 or more innings have been played, the team ahead will be declared the winner (or 3½ or more innings if the home team is ahead).  Any game called before the play of 4 innings shall be declared “suspended” and shall be resumed at the exact point of play when the game was stopped. The Board--with the compliance of the city--can postpone a game, if the temperature falls below 40 degrees.

 25. Pitching Box –The pitcher must start with his foot on the pitching plate.  The screen will be placed up to 4 feet in front of the pitching plate and protect at least ½ of the pitching plate.

 26.   TIE BREAKER RULE:  When games are tied after 7 innings, each half inning shall start with the last batter from the previous inning on 2nd base until such time as the game is completed.  A courtesy runner is allowed, once the last batter touches the base.

 27.   Illegal Pitch - The umpire is to call an illegal pitch as soon as he detects such by saying “Illegal” to the batter.

 28.  The runner and batter will be out if the runner interferes with the fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball, or throw a ball in an attempt to complete the play. 

          Example:  The runner is advancing toward second and the play will be close, the runner must slide or veer in a direction as to not interfere with the defensive player at second making the play to first.  If the runner deliberately touches or hinders the defensive player at second, he and the batter are out.  If the fielder muffs or drops the ball when touching second, a “diverting” runner, within a reasonable distance--approximately10 feet-- is safe as long as he is not tagged in an attempt to run to 3^rd base. This is in the judgment of the umpire. (ISA Rule 7, section 2F)

 29.   Managers must be forthcoming to alert the Board or city representative that a player is no longer playing for the remaining season, so that a replacement might be added.  If a manager does not admit to a missing player and another manager or officer determines the player is finished, that manager is penalized by placement of a lowest level replacement and last pick in the next draft and a forfeit of all impacted games.

 30.   The two first base bags will be considered to be one continuous base, except when there is a ground ball force out play at first where the fielder must use the inside bag and the runner must use the outside bag to avoid collision.  It is permissible for the runner to safely stand on the outside bag during play, but must re-touch the bag, before advancing.

31. Overthrown balls that hit a bat will result in being a dead ball, with the runner(s) awarded one base, plus the base to which he is currently running. If the errant throw hits a player, standing outside the dugout, the runners shall return to the base they occupy. This rule is to discourage players standing outside the dugout and leaving their bats in play.  It supersedes “The COVID rule,’ which encouraged players to be out of the dugout.

32. If the visiting team is up by ten runs or more--at the end of the sixth inning--the home team will bat again, for their time at the plate, in the seventh inning.  If the home team scores enough to tie or take the lead, the visiting team will take their turn at bat, and become the home team.

33. All games will be scored.  The manager of the home team will score the other game on the same field that night.  For example, the manager of the home team—in the early game--will score the late game, o the same field..  A designated replacement can score a game, but it’s the responsibility of the manager to find him/her.

34.  Any batted ball caught by the catcher—before it hits the ground—is an out, no matter how high or low it is hit.

  PLAYER REPLACEMENT POLICY

 Player Replacement defines the following as an attempt to be both fair and open with the policy to be followed, regarding both new and existing players that surface as available following the draft night.

 

 New/Existing Player Replacements:

The goal is to integrate new players to keep the league viable and to integrate existing players that may have been injured or missed as draft candidates.

 A.   Drafted Rosters:

The draft order will be determined by a draw, which will occur during the pre-draft meeting. All Players must be accounted for via phone call or otherwise.  Players that cannot be contacted will be dropped from the team roster.  Players that have reconsidered and are not playing will be dropped from the team roster.  The team rosters will continue to show an open slot with the drafted players rating so that a replacement player--with an equivalent rating--can be slotted in to fill the draft vacancy. 

                    1.     The Board will agree and place any new or existing players into the open        slots at an equivalent player rating.

               2.     If there are one or more players available to be placed and one or more teams with “open slots”, the actual player’s placement will be made via lottery by the teams with the “open slots”.

         3.     If there are no openings on the team rosters to accommodate new or existing players that are available, they will be placed onto a waiting list for later consideration, as season injuries or other season ending openings occur.

          4.     When the league draft--for whatever reason--does not produce an even team roster to start the season, that team must include a substitute player into the open position until a player is assigned to the team.  As an alternate to the substitute (in this open roster situation), another of the team’s same-rated players can bat twice in the lineup while playing at least 6 innings in the field.

B.   Season Ending Injuries or other Season Ending Openings:

         Throughout the season, when a season ending injury or other season-ending situation has occurred, the team’s roster will drop the player and keep an open slot at the player’s rating. 

                   1.     The Board will utilize the waiting list and agree on placing a new or existing player onto the roster at the equivalent player rating, if available.

          2.    The cutoff for replacing a player will be determined by the Board, prior to each season. It will be based on the number of games to be played.

          3.     If there are one or more players available--to be placed and one or more teams with open slot--the assignment will be made by the Board.

          4.     When a replacement cannot be made, the open slot can be filled with a temporary league player per the existing guidelines at that rating.

 C.   Other Player Replacement Committee Activities:

         If a team roster falls below nine players due to permanent season player losses and there are no players waiting:

               1.     The Board will consider disbanding the team and placing the players onto other teams.

         2.     The Board will consider transferring players from one or more other teams to enable the team to continue in the League.

        3.  If a manger is going to miss the draft, he may allow a player to draft for him provided that:

                 a. The other managers agree on that specific player.  The chosen player will be that manager’s first pick of his particular rating.  For example, if the player selected to draft is a five (5), he will be the first five taken for that team.

                  b. A player chosen to substitute—in a particular season—can only use that player once per 12 months, to draft for him.  For example, a player drafting in January is not eligible to select—for that team—until the following January.

        

      D.   Generally:

         There are numerous situations which arise throughout the season which can result in a team’s roster being short a player temporarily due to injury, illness, work or other acceptable reasons.  The Board is not engaged in fixing those situations.  The guidelines for using league players to fill in are to be utilized for those situations.  The drafted team rosters are the main guide for all replacement activities. Replacements are to be made at equivalent rating levels from the draft.  There may be some teams that play short, when no additional players are available as replacements. The manager—with Board permission—can recruit a similarly-rated player, provided it’s not after the designated game—determined by the Board--at the draft of the given season. The assignment needs to be authorized by the Board.

E. A specific replacement player may only play for a specific team, once per half.

PLAYER SELECTION AND RATING PROCEDURE

1. The draft will be open, which means that there will not be pairing of shortstops and another position. The order will be determined by lottery.  It will be a “snake draft,” meaning that the last team picking will have the next pick first. This process will be utilized throughout the draft.

2.          Teams will consist of 11/12 players per team, depending on numbers of players in the draft.

         3.          “The Board” rates and re-rates players at the pre-draft meeting  Players are evaluated on their running, fielding and hitting ability.  They are rated on a scale of 2 through five, with 5 being rated highest.

4.          Teams are drafted by the managers or approved substitute (page 10).  They are free to choose any player that is registered in the draft.

5.Two players at the same player rating level can be matched up to be able to play together to satisfy playing both nights of the week.  They will be drafted together as a single player.  This means though if one of the players misses an “assigned” night it will be treated like the team has a missing player.  The “other” player cannot be substituted. 

         6.         When each team has drafted 11/12 players, the draft will cease.  Eight or fewer     remaining players will go into a reserve pool.  This pool will be used to fill vacancies as players are injured or stop playing during the season.  This will be done according to the “Player Replacement Policy”.

 Up to five teams can be assigned an “open” position to end the draft when all the draft list candidates are exhausted.  Those “open” positions must be filled by a temporary player until a new player is assigned.  As an alternate to the temporary player, another of the team’s rated players can bat twice in the lineup while playing at least six innings in the field.

       7.          Trading will only be allowed with the approval of the Advisory Board.

RULES FOR THE PITCHING SCREEN

1. The pitching screen must be placed in front of the pitching pitching plate, no more than 4 ‘ in front of the pitching plate and must cover a minimum of ½ of the pitching plate.
2. Once the screen is placed, in cannot be moved, during that ½ inning, unless a new pitcher comes in or it is moved by a batted ball.
3. The pitcher can release the ball from either side of the screen, but must have one foot in contact with the pitching plate.
4. Before releasing the ball and in contact with the pitching plate, the pitcher must pause for one second, before releasing the ball or it’s an illegal pitch.
5. If the batter hits the screen with a batted ball and there are less than 2 strikes, it becomes a “dead ball,” and the runners—if any--return to their bases.
6. If there are 2 strikes on the batter and he has used his courtesy foul and  he hits the screen--with a batted ball-- he is out and the runners return to their bases.
7. After the pitcher releases the ball, the pitcher must immediately move behind the screen.

1. He may field the ball, after it is hit.
2. If the umpire rules that he did not get behind the screen, he will receive a warning.
3. If it happens a second time, the pitcher will be removed as a pitcher and cannot return to that position for the remainder of the game.  He may play any other position.

8. If a ball is released by the pitcher and he is ruled as not being behind the screen and the ball is touched or caught by him, the umpire will rule the play dead.  The batter will be awarded first base and the runners will advance one base.
9. Any live ball—thrown by any fielder—that hits the screen, will remain in play.

 

SAFETY AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION

 

1. The Automated External Defibulator (AED) is located on the side of the snack bar, facing field 3. There are currently players certified to use it.

 

Neil Hartzel

Rick Beauregard

Adam Clatterbuck

 

2. If an ambulance is called to the field, the address given should be: 1800 Turnbull Rd, GATE 30A.

DISCIPLINE

 

GRADUATED SANCTIONS:

NSBSSA will employ the use of graduated responses, defined as immediate consequences for rule violations. Graduated Sanctions include:

Verbal Warning

Written Warning

Ejection and/or One Game Suspension

Two Game Suspension

Rest of Season Suspension

Year Suspension: Current season and two more. 

Permanent Suspension

 

The type of violation will dictate which level of discipline the Board implements.  It does not necessarily require starting with “Verbal Warning.”  It can be any level the Board deems appropriate.  For example, cursing may start with a verbal warning and physical contact may first be a season suspension.  The past history of the player’s disciplinary record and severity of the offense may be aggravating or mitigating factors.

 

ALCOHOL AND DRUG POLICY:

The City of New Smyrna Beach forbids the use of alcohol, smoking, vaping and illegal drugs in its parks.  This includes anywhere on the property of the NSB Sports Complex.  A violation of this policy will result in consequences defined by the “Graduated Sanctions Paradigm,” as determined by the Board.  At the time of the offense, a player or attending individual will be alerted of the policy and warned to curtail usage.

The City upholds the comprehensive ban of these substances.  Anyone caught violating these policies is subject to “code enforcement citations and fines,” in addition to the aforementioned league sanctions. Unfiltered cigars and “Special Event Exceptions” are exempt from this policy.  These paragraphs will be documented in the “Player Waiver and Release of Liability” form, which managers or Board-Represented officials will require players to sign at registration, collect and turn in. This specific paragraph will need to be initialed by each player, and also will be enforced with spectators.