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North Jersey Coed Softball League Rules

1. League Officials & Umpires

Umpire Coverage

  • Umpires will be scheduled for every game.
  • If an umpire cannot attend or does not arrive, teams may either reschedule the game or umpire the game themselves.
  • If an umpire arrives more than 15 minutes after game time, they will be asked to leave and will not be paid. Teams will then umpire the game themselves.
  • Umpires are asked to contact team captains in advance if they are running late.

Authority & Conduct

  • No arguing, threatening, or excessive questioning of umpires is permitted.
  • First incident during a game: warning.
  • Second incident: ejection.
  • Second ejection in the same season: removal from the league for the remainder of the season.
  • If there is a concern about an umpire’s fairness, the team captain must contact league administration during the game.

Umpire Responsibilities

  • Establish the 50-foot line for the No Creep Rule prior to the game.
  • Enforce the No Creep Rule.
  • Inspect league and personal bats before the game and confirm which bats are approved for use.
  • Review any field-specific ground rules with both captains.
  • If an umpire ends a game due to weather, teams may choose to finish the game without the umpire and self-officiate.

2. General League Rules

Player Eligibility

  • All players must be 18 years or older by the first game of the season.
  • All players must register individually using the TeamSnap App and upload a photo of themselves to their player profile and sign the waiver.

Game Time & Grace Period

  • Scheduled game time: 6:00 PM.
  • Teams have a 15-minute grace period.
  • A minimum of 8 players must be present and ready by 6:15 PM to avoid forfeiture.

Roster & Lineups

  • A full lineup consists of at least 9 players.
  • Teams may start with 8 players, but an automatic out will be taken at the end of the lineup until the 9th player arrives.
  • Players arriving late may be added to the batting order up to the end of the 3rd inning.
  • After the 3rd inning, no additional players may be added to the batting order, but substitutions are allowed (male-for-male, female-for-female).

Female Participation Requirements

  • A minimum of two (2) females must be on the field and in the batting lineup at all times.
  • If fewer than two females are available:
    • An out will be taken at the end of the batting order.
    • Only 9 players may be on the field, with at least one female, unless both teams agree otherwise prior to the game.
  • Pinch runners and substitutes must be female-for-female and male-for-male.

Substitute Players

  • Teams short on players may borrow players only to reach the minimum needed to avoid a forfeit (8 males / 2 females).
  • Borrowed players may not exceed what is necessary to meet minimum requirements.
  • Examples:
    • 7 men and 2 women → may borrow 1 male.
    • 12 men and 1 woman → may borrow 1 female.
  • You may utilize any currently registered player that is rostered on another team. If bringing in a substitute from outside of the league, they must register in the TeamSnap One app prior to game time, sign the online waiver and pay a $10 substitute fee. If they are not registered with a signed waiver, they cannot play. Team’s substitute fees must be paid in full prior to playoffs in order to play in playoffs

Sportsmanship & Conduct

  • Derogatory, inappropriate, or offensive language toward opponents is prohibited.
  • Umpires may eject players at their discretion.
  • Any player who is obnoxiously intoxicated or slurring speech will be ejected and removed from their team indefinitely.
  • Two behavioral incidents by the same team in a season will result in team removal from the league.
  • An ejected player:
    • Is suspended for the next gameday.
    • If ejected during playoffs, they are done for the season.
  • Any player that was removed from a team or the league for behavioral reasons in a prior season is not eligible to return. Moving forward, if a player is removed from a team or the league for behavioral issues, that team will be fined $100. The fine must be paid before the team can continue playing scheduled games

3. Safety Rules

No Contact Rule

  • Runners must always avoid contact. It’s not the defenders’ job to get out of your way
  • Sliding is not required, but plowing through a defender is prohibited.
  • Intentional contact or failure to avoid contact will result in automatic ejection.

Safety Base (First Base)

  • The safety base is located in foul territory.
  • If a batted ball hits the safety base, it is a foul ball.
  • Runners must use the safety base when running through first base.

Catcher Positioning

  • Catchers may not stand in the baseline without possession of the ball.
  • If a catcher blocks the runner without the ball, the runner automatically scores, and no play is allowed at the plate.

4. Equipment Rules

League & Personal Bats

  • League bats are available for use.
  • Teams may supply personal bats provided they are ASA / USA / USSSA approved and accessible to both teams.
  • The league is not responsible for damage to personal bats.
  • Any bat suspected of being shaved may be tested at the expense of the league.
  • If a bat is found to be altered, the entire team will be removed from the league

Balls

  • Only league-provided Champro Slow Pitch Softballs may be used.
  • Specs: 300 compression, .52 COR (restricted flight).

Strike Mat

  • A league-provided strike mat must be used for all games.
  • The home team is responsible for providing it.

Equipment

  • Each team should have a pair of bases from the previous season. If for some reason they do not, we will provide them at an additional cost.

Damage to League Equipment

  • Intentional damage to league equipment must be paid for by the player responsible.
  • If unpaid, the cost falls to the team.
  • Accidental damage must be reported to the league immediately.

5. Game Play Rules

Pitching

  • Count starts at 1–1.
  • Pitching style: Slow-pitch, high-arc.
  • Legal pitch height: 6 to 12 feet.
  • The arc must generally pass over the batter’s head.
  • A strike includes:
    • A pitch hitting the plate or strike mat
  • Repeated illegal pitches may be objected to if the batter does not swing.
  • Any pitch that is bowled or rolled results in a balk, advancing all runners one base.

Bunting & Stealing

  • Bunting and stealing are not allowed.

Foul Tip

  • Any contact followed by a clean catch by the catcher is an out (does not have to pop up over their head).
  • If the ball first hits the cage, it is only a strike.

Infield Fly Rule

  • With runners on base in force-out situations and fewer than two outs, an infield pop-up is an automatic out, even if dropped.

Intentional/Non Intentional Walks

  • ANY walking of a male batter with a female batter on deck results in the female having the option to bat or take an automatic walk

Overthrows

  • Outfield throw out of play: runners advance two bases from last base touched.
  • Infield throw out of play: runners advance one base from last base touched.

Designated Runners

  • Each team may designate two players that will receive a runner if they get on base
  • Runners MUST be the last batted out
  • Must be male-for-male and female-for-female.

Fifth Infielder

  • Teams may use a fifth infielder only for male batters.

Courtesy Runners

  • Allowed only for players who are physically unable to run.
  • Courtesy runner must be the last recorded out.
  • Female-for-female and male-for-male unless agreed upon before the game.

No Creep Rule (Female Batters)

  • Outfielders must remain at least 50 feet from the bases when a female is batting.
  • Violation results in a base hit once the first pitch is thrown, regardless of swing.

6. Mercy Rule

  • 20-run rule after 4 innings.
  • 15-run rule after 5 innings.
  • Teams may continue playing for fun by mutual agreement, but the score will stop at a 15-run differential.

7. Scores, Scheduling & Administration

Scorekeeping & Reporting

  • Both teams must maintain a neat scorebook.
  • Teams must sign each other’s scorebook after the game.
  • You must upload YOUR teams scorebook page only to the TeamSnap One App.
  • Scores should be submitted the same day but it is not mandatory.
  • Scorebook uploads close weekly every Sunday evening
  • Failure to upload scorebooks WILL result in a loss of player eligibility

Forfeits

  • Teams may forfeit no more than two games and remain playoff-eligible.
  • Three forfeits in a season results in removal from the league.
  • New teams forfeiting three games will lose their $100 deposit.
  • Forfeits are recorded as 7–0 wins.

Rescheduled Games

  • Rescheduling of games may only happen based on weather or field conditions
  • Admins will handle all reschedules of games for the league based on field availability
  • If you cannot field a team for the makeup game, it results in a forfeit

Field Changes

  • Fields may only be changed due to unsafe field conditions caused by weather only – not because a better field is available

Field Cleanup

  • Each team is responsible for removing all trash from their dugout and sideline after games.

Team Availability

  • Preferred game days must be submitted at the captains meeting.
  • Preferred game days are not guaranteed however we will accommodate as best we can.

8. Playoffs

Eligibility

  • Players must participate in at least 7 regular-season games to be playoff-eligible.

Seeding Tiebreakers

  1. Head-to-head record
  2. Fewest runs against
  3. Most runs scored

Injury Exceptions

  • Serious injuries (surgery or broken bone) must be reported immediately.
  • Player must provide medical clearance to return.
  • If fewer than seven games remain, the player must appear in at least half of the remaining games to qualify for playoffs.