Suffolk County Co-Ed Softball Association (SCCSA) Official 2025 Rulebook
SECTION I
General
1.1 This league will be played following the USA Softball Official Rules. Unless explicitly indicated otherwise in this document, all USA Softball Official Rules will be applied. You can view the entire USA Softball Official Rules at https://www.usasoftball.com/official-rulebook/ . Any rule in this SCCSA Official Rulebook which contradicts the USA Softball Official Rules will take precedent and be enforced.
SECTION II
Umpires and Officiating
2.1 All umpires will either be USSSA or ASA/USA certified or will be independently certified by SCCSA. There will be 1 umpire located behind home plate. Umpires will have the final say and determination on the field. The only members of either team that can speak directly to the umpire are the Managers.
2.2 While playful and respectful banter is encouraged, any disrespectful, mean, aggressive or otherwise unsporting conduct towards the umpires will result in an immediate ejection from the game and an immediate removal from the SCCSA.
SECTION III
Gameplay
3.1 Each game will be 9 innings at a maximum of 90 minutes with no new inning starting after the 80th minute.
3.2 Each game will be played on Saturday at either 7:00 pm or 8:45 pm. If only one team is ready 10 minutes after the scheduled game time, the ready team may choose to take a forfeit victory. This rule will be strictly enforced.
3.3 Each inning will end after either 3 outs are made or 8 runs is scored, whichever is first.
3.3.1 There is no limit to the number of runners either team can score in the top or bottom of the final inning of a game.
3.4 If a game were to normally end in a tie, the game will continue until either one team is winning after the end of a full inning, or the time limit specified in rule 3.4 is reached (hereinafter “Extra Innings”. For each “Extra Inning”, the player last batted out in the previous inning will start as a runner on second base in the following “Extra Inning”. If the time limit is reached and both teams are still tied, the game will end in a tie.
3.5 Games will be played unless canceled. Cancellations can happen at any time, but SCCSA will make an announcement to cancel a game no later than 90 minutes prior to the start of the game. If no announcement is made by that time, the game is considered to be “on” unless the umpire calls the game for any reason at the field.
SECTION IV
Lineups
4.1 All players must bat if they are playing. Each lineup must consist of a minimum of 8 players and all females in the lineup must be separated by at least one male when possible.
4.2 Each team must have at least three (3) females in the lineup. If a team does not have three females in the lineup, the empty female spot must be indicated in the lineup in accordance with the rules in Section 4, and that respective spot will be an automatic out for the team when it comes up to bat.
4.3 All players must be registered with SCCSA and wearing their game jerseys and appropriate equipment in order to participate in a game.
4.4 Each team may use players not on their active roster but registered with the SCCSA for the current season (“Substitute Player”) to play in a game as long as the total number of people in the lineup is less than 12, including any Substitute Players.
SECTION V
Equipment
5.1 The manager for each team has been provided with balls, mats, plates, first aid kits and facemasks required to be brought to each game. This bag must be returned to SCCSA at the end of the season with all reusable equipment.
5.2 The only balls to be used will be the white deBEER 12” Clincher Balls (Item # F12-12) and each team will provide one (1) new ball to the umpire prior to the start of the game.
5.3 All bats must be USSSA or ASA/USA certified indicated by a stamp on the bat.
5.4 Each catcher and pitcher MUST wear a facemask at all times on the field. Facemasks for other positions are not required, though it is highly recommended for infielders.
5.5 Metal cleats will not be permitted for safety reasons. Players wearing metal cleats will be required to change their shoes or be removed from the game.
SECTION VI
Batting
6.1 Each at bat will start with a 0-0 count (0 balls, 0 strikes). All foul tips are considered strike (you can strike out on a foul tip). A foul tip caught by a fielder is an out if the ball is hit higher than the eyes of the batter.
6.2 There is no bunting or intentional chopping of the ball.
SECTION VII
Pitching
7.1 The front of the pitching mound will be located 50 feet from the 5th corner of home plate.
7.2 Pitches must be 6’ to 12’ high from the ground. Pitches that are outside of this range may be called “ILLEGAL” by the umpire during the pitch. An illegal pitch may be swung at and the result of that swing (hit, foul tip, strike, etc.) will be enforced. However, if a batter does not swing, an illegal pitch will always be a ball.
7.3 A “strike” is any legal pitch that lands on either the home plate or the strike mat. Any other pitch is a “ball”.
SECTION VIII
Fielding
8.1 Each team must field at least 8 players and no more than 10 players.
8.2 Maximum of four infield positions, excluding pitcher and catcher. Generally four outfielders.
8.3 Outfielders must begin each pitch on the grass and outfielders cannot throw out a hitter at first base.
8.4 Each team will be required to field a minimum of three (3) female players. If a team cannot field three (3) females, it loses a fielder for each female it cannot field. For example, if a team can only field one (1) females, then it can only play with 8 fielders instead of 10.
SECTION IX
Base Running
9.1 There is no leading. There is no stealing.
9.2 Each team is allowed an unlimited number of courtesy runners. Courtesy runners must be an active player in the lineup and the same gender as the player in need of the courtesy runner.
9.3 Runners must slide or give themselves up to AVOID CONTACT. Intentional contact with a fielder will NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in an ejection from the game and removal from the league entirely. Intent will be determined solely at the umpire’s discretion.
9.4 Hitters running to first base MUST step on the outside (generally orange) bag. If the hitter touches the inside (generally white) bag, they will be automatically called out. If a hitter touches the outside first base bag and proceeds to turn towards second base, they must reach second base or return to the inside first base to be safe. At all times, the fielders' only bag is the inside bag.
9.5 Each field will have on it a COMMIT LINE in between third and home plate. Once a runner crosses or touches any part of this line, he/she is committed to running home and cannot return to third base. This makes all plays at home a force play, there are NO TAGS.
9.6 A second home plate will be placed behind the right-handed batter’s box (hereinafter the “Alternative Home Plate”). This Alternative Home Plate is designated for runners running from third to home. Runners coming home to score MUST touch the Alternative Home Plate. If a runner touches the traditional home plate, they are automatically called out.
9.6.1 The fielder can only get a runner out at home by catching the ball and touching the traditional home plate before the runner touches the Alternative Home Plate. If the fielder attempts to tag the runner beyond the commit line, the runner will automatically score.
SECTION X
Sportsmanship and Conduct
10.1 Every player and manager of this league is required to sign and return the code of conduct of this league. If any player or manager, at any time, feels that they are being threatened, bullied or otherwise made intentionally uncomfortable as a result of the actions of another player or manager, please notify either your manager or an SCCSA representative immediately. The contact information for each SCCSA representative is listed in Section XII of this rulebook.
SECTION XI
Disciplinary Action
11.1 During a game, the umpire has full discretion to enforce the rules as he or she interprets them. Any decision made by the umpire will be enforced for that game.
11.2 If a player is ejected from the game, they must remove themselves from the premises immediately. They cannot stay at the field in any capacity once ejected. If a player fails to remove himself or herself from the premise after being ejected, his team will forfeit the game and the game will end immediately. The player that is ejected will be immediately removed from the league.
SECTION XII
Contact and Report
12.1 If any player feels that any section of this Rulebook has been violated, please report it to your manager immediately. Managers should kindly and respectfully discuss any rule violations or challenges with the umpire at the field, and the umpire will make a final ruling. After the game, if a manager feels the ruling was dealt with improperly or incorrectly, or that the rule otherwise needs to be expanded or clarified, they should contact John Pizarelli at John@sccsa.org or Evan Tabickman at Evan@sccsa.org.
12.2 SCCSA Contact list
John Pizzarelli
John@sccsa.org
Evan Tabickman
Evan@sccsa.org
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ AND THAT I UNDERSTAND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE ABOVE PROVISIONS IN THIS RULEBOOK AND AGREE TO ENFORCE THEM AND DO MY BEST TO ENSURE THEY ARE ENFORCED BY MY TEAM.
Last updated: 4/7/2025. © Suffolk County Co-Ed Softball Association, Inc. 2025. All rights reserved.
