RULES FOR 2009 SEASON

Rosters

  • After roster is turned in no players may switch to another team. No player can be on two rosters.  Any player participating in regular game play that is not listed on the roster of that team will result in a forfeited game if protested. Teams may agree before the game to allow a non roster player to participate in regular play as in cases where a team may not have enough roster players present to field a team.  See GAMES rules.
  • All rosters along with the entry fee of $550 must be turned in by Monday, March 23, 2009.  Make checks payable to Habersham County Church Softball.
  • Teams qualifying to go to the district tournament must submit a roster to the Habersham County Recreation Department.  The roster must be minister approved members of the church to qualify for district tournament.  District will be decided by top teams in A division.

Equipment

  • Titanium bats will not be allowed in Church league play.  Only ASA & ISA approved bats will be allowed.  The umpire will inspect the bats and equipment to be used during game play before games starts.  Click here for ASA Illegal bats.
     
  • No steel cleats.
  • .44 Core Balls .375 Compression only

Games

  • Games will be played at the following times and fields:
    Aquatic Center - 2 New Softball fields
        Monday, Friday, Tuesday & Thursday at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 PM
     
  • Time limit will be explained by officials at game time.  At time limit teams will go to a one pitch style play (one pitch, strike or ball) until the 7 innings are complete. One pitch play will begin at the beginning of the next inning once the 50 minute time limit has been reached. The umpire will state the start time of the game.
  • There will be a 5 minute grace period at the start of the 7:00 game. All other games will start at the completion of the previous game or by the scheduled time.
  • Each team will furnish their own softballs for each game played during the season. Church teams may enter a new softball into a game while the game is in play. Each team will hit their own ball throughout the game.   The ball must be a .44 core softball 375 compression.
  • A & B - Division - Games will be played by equalizer format.  No team can get more than 1 homerun ahead of the opposing team.  In the event a team is 1 homerun hit over the fence ahead of the opposing team and hits an additional over the fence homerun, the homerun hit will be counted as a single instead of an out.
  • All teams will follow regulations set by the Habersham Church League rules.

    -Coaches/Managers will be solely responsible for the conduct of the players. Players are not allowed to run on to the fields. In case of dispute only the team captain shall voice his concern.

    -Umpires decision shall remain FINAL. (There shall be no arguments regarding the decision).

    -Personal abuse against the umpires or players will not accepted.  Personal abuse or verbal abuse against the umpires/players can result in the ejection from the game(s) and/or the Habersham County Church Softball League. 

     

  • Any use of Alcohol, drugs, or tobacco is prohibited on the game field. Individual usage will result in ejection of that individual upon judgment of Umpire and both team coaches.
  • Each batter will begin his/her at bat with a 1 ball 1 strike count.  There will be an extra foul ball strike given. 
  • Teams must have a minimum of 8 roster players present to field a team and play a regulation game.  Less than 8 players results in a forfeit.  Teams may agree before a regulation game to allow non roster players to play in order for a team to have the minimum amount of players to play.  If a team has a non roster player participate in regulation play without first agreeing before the game with opposing team, and opposing team protests, a forfeit of the game for that team will result. You can pick up to a maximum of 10 players in this case. “A” roster players can not play/sub in” B” division games; however, “B” roster players can play/sub in “A” division games.
     
  • Each team may use 2 EH's (extra Hitters) this year to make a total of 12 team members playing.  If a team bats 12 people and a player gets injured and the team does not have another roster player to insert into the lineup, each time the player is up to bat it will be considered an out.  An EH may enter to play the field however.

Divisions: 2 (A & B) divisions

  • "A" is consider the upper division or the District division

  • "B" is consider the lower division or the fun division

  • Each team will play everyone once or depending on how many teams in your own division.

  • 5 top place finishers in upper (A) division will qualify for the District 7 equalizer tournament.

  • Games played in your own division will determine the order of finish.


Forfeits

  • A forfeit by a team will be excused by the league. Each additional forfeit will result in a $100 fine that must be paid to the league before any next scheduled game or could result in that team expelled from the league. 


Protests

  • If a protest is waged against a player or team, then the protesting team or Church must first bring the matter before the Church League Committee (president, v. president, treasurer, 2 elected members)  where the matter will be discussed then investigated.
    Examples of Protests:
       Participation of non roster player in regulation play
       Use of illegal equipment

    A bad call by the official is not a valid protest.