NSBSSA RULES (updated 8/18/2025)

The field rules of the New Smyrna Beach Senior Softball Association are listed below.  Those not covered will be consistent with those of “Senior Softball-USA” (https://www.seniorsoftball.com/wc/wc2023/SSUSA-Rulebook-2023-Web.pdf)

DEFINITIONS:

The Board: The governing board, made up of: President/Commissioner; Vice President; Treasurer; Secretary and Members At-Large. The governing board members are the only voters.

The Advisory Board: The Advisory Board is made up of player and manager representatives and player/volunteers that consult with the board on issues regarding rules and player’s concerns.

Players: The active participants of the teams in the league.

Sub-Committees: Sub-committees address specific concerns such as: Rules; Public Relations; Safety; Recruitment and Fundraising.  These sub-committees will be comprised of player/volunteers and members of the Board and Advisory Board.

Processes:

1. The Board will meet periodically as directed by the President/Commissioner and as necessary.  Meetings will only involve Board members with voting responsibilities.  Others may be asked to attend to present information requested by the Board.
2. The Board will meet periodically with the Advisory Board to solicit input from players and sub-committees.

NSBSSA OPERATING RULES

 1. 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. 

2. Players who are turning 50 years old during the season in progress are eligible to play.

3. The Board members of NSBSSA retain the right to establish local ground rules to be used by the organization.

 4. Umpires shall be trained and approved by the service with which NSBSSA contracts and shall not be members of any team (except in emergency situations).  Score-keeping will be the responsibility of the offensive team (each time they are at bat)

5. 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.

6.  Rules of Order – In the absence of specific rules, the Board, shall determine the meeting agenda and process.

 7.  Player Expulsion – Any member who consistently behaves in an irrational manner, makes threats to any officer, umpire and/or player, files a lawsuit against NSBSSA, 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. 

 8. 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 will try to facilitate ways to reconcile these conflicting differences, such as player trades.  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 to be part of the cause of the personnel problem, corrective action may be applied to the manager as determined by The Board.

9.   All league players will pay a fee for each season of play.  This fee will be paid directly to the League.  The amount of this fee will be determined by the Governing Board. Registration is online with fees paid in-person by cash or check. Payments will be made on opening night before the player’s first game. 

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

 11.   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”.

12. The distance between bases will be 65 feet.

13. The “early games” will start at 6:45 PM given. For players coming from work or other commitments if the team is under 10 players, the manager must replace with the lowest rated available. The game will begin when ten players are present.  The second game should start as quickly as possible to 8:00 PM.

14. The number of games will be determined at the beginning of each season.  The Board will decide the number, based on fiscal and situational data, such as the number of teams and operational issues. 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 FIELD RULES

    SSUSA rules will be used in conjunction with the following.

 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 out. The manager, before the first pitch to the next batter, may replace 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 used once per inning. Runners on 1^st and 3^rd can stand off the base to protect themselves from batted balls. Once situated, the runner 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. Each batter will start with 1 ball and 1 strike. They will be allowed 1 more strike: a ball into the net, a swing and miss, a foul ball or a called strike. There will not be a courtesy foul.

3. A foul ball is not required to be any minimum height.

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

5.   Each team may score unlimited runs in the designated last inning.

6.   There will be a mercy rule of 15 runs after 5 innings or 12 runs after 6 innings.

 7.   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. Pickup players must be of the same draft row or lower. The only exception is when both 3b’s and one other player are missing, the team may pick up a 3a, drafted in the second round of 3a’s. 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. If a manager does not play himself and all other players for 5 defensive innings (unless the game is shortened due to mercy rule) the game is a forfeit.

8. A “Rabbit Runner” (a runner from home plate) may only be utilized for a player injured during a game.  This runner should be a player with the same or lower rating. If one is not available, he should be as close to the same rating as possible. The “rabbit runner” cannot advance past 1^st base.  Any movement or gesture towards 2^nd base results in an out. The batter cannot run more than 5 feet from home plate or will be called OUT. The batter who uses a rabbit runner will be limited to playing first base, pitcher or catcher.

 9. During playoffs and tournament games, the usual pick-up rules apply. All pick-up   players are chosen in accordance with Rule 1 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.

10. Except for playoffs and final 2 games, all pick-up players must bat last in the batting order and be on existing league rosters.  All pickup players can play in any position. If the team with one loss beats the undefeated team, the pickup player can bat anywhere in the lineup in the second game.

     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 ever play against his own team. 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 must 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.

11. 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 same-rated (or lower) player. That “temporary” replacement player will bat in the same slot as the player leaving to start his regular game.

 12. Any player ejected from a game will be suspended for one additional game. Suspensions may be increased at the discretion of NSBSSA Board.  Any player who is ejected twice in one season will be removed for three additional games. An additional suspension may 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 NSBSSA Board will determine the length of suspension, which ranges from one extra game to a lifetime ban.

 13. Safety Rule – A player that is identified by the NSBSSA Board or team players to be a safety concern will be discussed and voted by the NSBSSA board as 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 safety concerns. The player will be replaced with the lowest-rated player available.

14. Hit a Home Run / Hit and Sit Rule: A player who hits a home run over the fence can opt to NOT 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.

 15. There is no limit on the number of homeruns a specific player or team can have.

16. During the season, new players will be added to a team by the Board. Each team’s initial replacement must come from an undrafted waiting list, which will be maintained by the player representative and 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 will be the closest skill level as possible.

 17. When a team begins a game without all 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.

18. 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.  Managers who knowingly sit a player longer than allowed will forfeit the game.

 19. Runners must use the scoring line.  Any runner crossing into the batter’s box, regardless of the plate action, will be called out. The player’s foot must be on or past the line to be safe.  It can’t be above the line about to make contact with the ground.

 20.   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:

1. A missing team player who is not in the lineup who shows up late will be added to 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 benched 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, 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 first pitch.

        f.  When a replacement player’s team is ready to play, he must leave the current game in which he is substituting to play with his assigned team.  The team needing another replacement player can recruit a player of the same or lower rating.

  21. Batter’s Box Setup

1. 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.
2. 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.

 22. 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 Against

5.Total Runs For

6. Total Run Differential

7. Lowest Number of Forfeits

8. Coin Toss

 23.   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.

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

 25.   Commitment Line - Once runners have touched the ground on or past the commitment line, he must continue to home plate - otherwise he is OUT.

 26.   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, due to adverse weather conditions, catastrophic events or other necessary conditions.

 27. Pitching Plate –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 half of the pitching plate.

 28. TIEBREAKER 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 unless the runner was a replacement.

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

 30. 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 to complete the play. 

 If 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—approximately 10 feet-- is safe if he is not tagged attempting to run to 3^rd base.

 31.   Managers must be forthcoming to alert the Board 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 may be penalized by the board.

 32. Both first base bags will 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 off the outside bag during play but must re-touch the bag before advancing.

33. Thrown ball rule -

When a thrown ball hits loose equipment belonging to the team at bat:

The ball is dead immediately. Interference is ruled. The runner closest to the plate will be out and all other runners must return to last base touched prior to interference call unless runners are forced.

When a thrown ball hits loose equipment belonging to the team in the field:

It becomes a blocked ball. The ball becomes dead immediately and all base runners will advance 1 base. 

 34. 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.

35. The team that is at-bat will flip the numbers on the scoreboard. It is each team’s responsibility to keep track of their runs.

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

37. Outfield Commitment Line (160 feet from home plate): Outfielders CANNOT throw out a batter who is running to first base. Once the batter establishes first base, rounds the base and heads for second base, an attempt can be made by the outfielder to throw him out.

  PLAYER REPLACEMENT POLICY

 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.

 

 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 by 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 manager 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 within that 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.   VACANCIES

1. There are numerous situations which arise throughout the season which can result in a team’s roster being short of 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.

 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 11/12/13 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 3b through 5, with 5 being highest rating.

4.          Teams are drafted by the managers or approved substitute.  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 split.  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. A one-night player may only play as a pickup, on his assigned night.

         6.         When each team has drafted 11/12/13 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.    There are NO TRADES before, during, or after the league draft.

RULES FOR THE PITCHING SCREEN

1. The pitching screen must be placed in front of the pitching rubber, no more than 4 feet in front of the pitching rubber and must cover a minimum of half of the pitching rubber.
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 rubber.
4. Before releasing the ball and in contact with the pitching rubber, the pitcher must pause for one second before releasing the ball or it will be deemed an illegal pitch.
5. If the batter hits the screen with a batted ball and there is 1 strike, it becomes a “dead ball” and the runners - if any - return to their bases.
6. After the pitcher releases the ball, the pitcher must immediately move behind the screen until the batter makes contact with the ball.

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.

7. 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.
8. Any live ball that hits the screen will remain in play (thrown by any fielder).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAFETY AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION

 

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

Neil Hartzel

Rick Beauregard

Adam Clatterbuck

Wayne Shrock

Billy Armstrong

Ed Malsch

 

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