1.  Governing Authority:  Current ASA Senior Softball rules will govern all games, except by the Winter Haven Senior Softball Club modifications that follow.

 2.  Umpiring:  The team manager or assistant is the only person on a team allowed to discuss rule interpretations with the umpire. As a courtesy, the umpire will usually give a brief explanation of the call. The umpire is the final authority and the ruling will be made before the next pitch is thrown.

In the absence of umpires, the catcher will call balls, strikes, and foul balls. The first base coach will call plays at first base and home plate. The third base coach will call plays at second and third base.

 3.  Players:  Eleven defensive players will constitute a team. A team must have a minimum of nine players to start or continue a game or the game will be forfeited.

All team members present will bat in the batting order whether they are playing a defensive position or not. When a player is inserted into a defensive position in lieu of a teammate, the player maintains the same position in the batting order he originally held.

 4.  Commitment Line:  A line shall be drawn across the third base foul line twenty feet from the normal home plate. When a runner crosses this commitment line, he must continue on to the alternate home plate. An out will be recorded if he attempts to return back to third base after crossing the commitment line.

 5.  Alternate Home Plate:  An alternate home plate shall be placed eight feet in foul territory, directly behind home plate, and in line with the first base in fair territory.
An out is recorded at home when the defensive player has possession of the ball while in contact with the normal home plate before the runner has made contact with the alternate home plate.
The defensive player may tag the runner out before the runner has crossed the commitment line. No out is recorded if the runner is tagged after he has crossed the commitment line.
A runner who touches home plate before or rather than the alternate home plate is automatically out. No appeal is necessary.

 6.  Double Bag:  A double bag shall be used at first base. The runner must use the outside bag (normally orange in color) and the infielder must use the inside bag (white) whenever a force play is being made on the runner. The runner is automatically declared out when there is a force play being made at first base and the runner touches only the inside bag. No appeal is necessary.

 7.  Pitching Regulations:  A legal pitched ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of six feet from the ground, while not exceeding a height of 12 feet from the ground. Legal pitches must land from flight on the Strike Zone Mat or the Actual Home Plate to be called a strike.

The Umpire shall call ILLEGAL PITCH on a pitch above or below the required height and the pitch will be called a "ball". However, if a batter swings at an "illegal" pitch, the call is nullified and all play stands.

The "Four-Ball-Three-Strike" format will be followed. The beginning count will be one ball and one strike when each batter comes up to bat. After two strikes on the batter, any ball hit foul or any swing by the batter without bat contact with the ball shall be recorded as a strikeout.

 8.  Protective Pitching Screen:  Pitchers must step behind the protective pitching screen upon release of the pitched ball. The batter is not ruled out if the ball has been hit back to the pitcher and the pitcher has fielded a ball without first stepping behind the protective pitching screen. This is an umpire's judgement call and runners on the bases at the time of the batted ball may advance only if forced.

Batted balls that hit the protective pitching screen are ruled NO PITCHES. A thrown ball by the defensive player that makes contact with the protective pitching screen is in play.

 9.  Defensive Placement of Players:  The player occupying the ROVER position and the first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman must be stationed in the infield dirt until the ball is hit. The outfielders must be behind the designated line (180 feet from home plate) until the ball is hit. If an out is made and any defensive player violates this rule, the batter will be awarded 1st base and no out will be recorded. If the batter is awarded 1st base due to a rule infraction, only forced baserunners may advance.

10.  Courtesy Runner:

A.
Any player who has not used a courtesy runner may be a courtesy runner one time per inning.

B.
A runner may not be substituted for a runner.

C.
The courtesy runner for a batter shall stand behind a line drawn at an angle from home plate to the backstop. The runner shall not begin running until the ball touches the ground or is hit by the batter. The runner may be called out by the umpire if he begins running too early and the ball thrown will be ruled a "no pitch".

D.
A courtesy runner for the batter at home plate may not advance beyond first base under any circumstances. He may advance only after the next batter has hit the ball into play.

E.
Any umpire can call out a courtesy runner or any other runner occupying a base if a runner leaves a base before the ball is hit or touches the ground. The ball thrown will be ruled a "no pitch".

F.
During the season, the manager will determine when a runner is needed and can do so at any time before the first pitch to a batter.
All other times, it is up to the player, and the player only, if he wants a courtesy runner.

11.  Sliding:  Sliding is allowed except into first base or the alternate home plate. Diving back to a base is permitted.

12.  Fielder Interference:

A.
A defensive player may not be situated in the path of a base runner when the defensive player is not fielding the ball. If the defensive player does block the runner, the runner will be awarded the base to which he was headed.

B.
An interference call will be enforced when a fielder is stationed on a base, thereby causing the baserunner to alter his path, if the fielder is not being thrown the ball. The baserunner will be awarded that base and the next base if he has not achieved those bases after the play has concluded.

13.  Time Limit:   There is no time limit. All two team games are set at nine innings and three team games are set at seven innings. If a game is tied at the end of regulation play, one extra inning will be played with the teams tied for first.

14.  Miscellaneous Rules:

A.
No smoking or alcoholic beverages are allowed on the softball complex premises during any game.

B.
Unsportsmanlike conduct, profane language, immoral gestures, disputes on umpire decisions or verbal abuse of an umpire or player will not be tolerated. Penalty for such misconduct may result in ejection or suspension.

C.
All bats, gloves, & balls must be in the dugout during the game.
Bat bags must be out of the dugout.

D.
A batter will be declared out if he carries his bat to first base.

E.
Miken Ultra 2 bats are allowed.

F.
The home team will use the 3^rd base dugout and the visiting team will use the 1^st base dugout.

G.
Players must continue to wear their team shirts and caps until the official end of league play. A team not properly dressed will forfeit the game.

H.
All league games will begin at 9:00 A.M.

15.  THE GAME IS NOT A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. HAVE FUN, DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, AND MAKE LIFE A LITTLE BETTER FOR YOUR FELLOW BALLPLAYERS.