Adult Softball Rules

The current Softball Rule Book issued by the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation will govern all league play with CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AS NOTED BELOW:

1. UMPIRES
   A. No direct payment to the assigned umpire is required on the field.
   
   B. Games will be officiated by S.C.M.A.F. Certified Officials. In certain situations, City of Torrance staff may be permitted to umpire a game. Volunteer umpires will not be permitted.
   
   
2. FORFEITS
   A. A team not having eight (8) rostered players present and ready to play at the scheduled starting time will be charged with a full game loss in the league standings. Forfeit time is game time as scheduled. A player is only present if he/she is in the sight of the umpire.
   
   B. Teams obtaining 2 forfeits may not be allowed to continue playing that season. 
   
   Staff Notification process
   1) Please send an email to Dholmes@TorranceCA.gov, SportsCenter@TorranceCA.gov and JCastillo@TorranceCA.gov. AND
   2) Call the Sports Center (310) 972-7760 as soon as possible letting us know of a forfeit, so we can notify the other team and umpire.
   
   C. DOUBLE FORFEIT - If a double forfeit occurs, both teams involved will receive a full game loss in the team standings; these may be unexcused or excused depending on rules above.
   
   D. There will be NO forfeit fees charged or refunds for forfeits in City of Torrance Adult Softball leagues.
   NOTE: Following a declared forfeit, teams may pick up players and play a practice game, or use the time for practice, until 10 minutes before the start of the next game. Umpires are not obligated to officiate a forfeited or cancelled game.
   
   
3. GAME TIME LIMITS
   A. A regulation game shall consist of 7 innings or (no new inning) after 1 hour and 5 minutes from scheduled game time, (BIG BALL is 7 innings and 55 minute time limit) whichever occurs first.
   
   B. Championship games shall consist of 7 innings with no time limit. If the game is tied after 7 innings the game will continue until a winner is determined. The mercy rule will be in effect for championship games.
   
   C. If the game is started late because of the previous game extending over the time limit, the next scheduled game will not be penalized.
   
   D. If the score is tied after seven (7) completed innings prior to the time limit, one extra inning must be played. If the score is tied after the time limit has expired (regardless of the number of innings that have been played), one extra inning must be played. If game remains tied, it will be recorded as 1/2 game won and 1/2 game lost.
   
   E. It is the responsibility of the team managers to verify the innings, time and score with the umpire.
   
   F. The game will be called after five (5) innings, if a team is 15 runs ahead (or after 4½ innings if the Home Team is ahead by 15 runs), if by the 3 ½ inning the score is 20 or more (All Men’s League only) . Any team deliberately not scoring the 15th run will be forced to score that run
   and the game will be called.
   
   
4. INFIELD PRACTICE
   No organized infield practice will be allowed. Teams may use the infield to warm up only.
   
   
5. ELIGIBILITY
   A. All managers, coaches and players are responsible for the enforcement of, and adherence to the eligibility rules.
   B. Men’s Rule - All players (male or female) must be 18 years of age or older.
   Women’s Rule - All players must be female and 18 years of age or older.
   
   C. Any player attempting to play under an assumed name will be barred from league play. The last game, in which he/she participated before such deception is discovered, shall be declared forfeited.
   
   D. For a player to be eligible, he/she must completely fill out and sign the official roster/waiver form for their team and be in possession of a legal form of identification. A player must play in at least one game during the first half of the season and must also sign the score card prior to each game played. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY AND USE YOUR LEGAL NAME.
   Any player refusing or unable to present identification to a staff member during a roster check shall be considered an illegal player resulting in a game forfeit for the offending team.
   
   E. A player can play in multiple leagues on the same night. A player must play for only one team in any scheduled league. A player whose name appears on the roster of more than one team in a given league shall be eligible only on the first team he/she played for in any such league.
   
   F. Rosters must be turned in prior to the first game. Failure to turn in a completed roster before your second league game will result in a forfeit. An unlimited number of players may be signed by a team prior to the completion of the team’s 5th game of the season (3rd game for the winter league).
   
   G. ADDING PLAYERS
   a. Games 1-5: Managers can add players to the roster.
   NOTE:
   Ask staff for the Official Team Roster and Release Form to add players. Team Managers are responsible for adding players. If Team Managers fail to add players to their official roster in the first 5 games, then said players are not eligible to play in the second half of the season.
   
   b. Games 6-10 + Playoffs:
   1) No new player additions allowed
   2) When a team forfeits due to the lack of players, the team manager has the option of replacing one player on the roster for the next
   scheduled game and thereon. The City of Torrance will make every effort to play all games.
   
   H. Illegal players and/or the manager using illegal players are subject to suspension. The last game, in which illegal player participated before such instance is discovered, shall be declared forfeited.
   
   I. Roster Checks need to be made no later than the end of the 2nd inning and can only be made by a manager.
   
   J. High school students, while a member of any team engaged in inter-scholastic competition, are ineligible. All players must be 18 years or older at the time they enter the game.
   
   
6. PLAYER’S CODE OF CONDUCT
   A. It is the direct responsibility of the team manager to acquaint his/her players with the Player’s Code of Conduct in the SCMAF Rule Book and to enforce all rules.
   
   B. No one is allowed to drink alcoholic beverages at any City of Torrance parks - Ordinance #3025. Anyone associated with a team (player or spectator) that is reported to have violated Ordinance #3025 will receive a team warning. The second violation by anyone associated with a team (player or spectator) will result in the team being removed from the league. WARNINGS WILL BE RECORDED ON THE DAILY GAME SHEETS BY STAFF AND UMPIRES.
   
   C. ONE GAME SUSPENSION (minimum) - Any player, coach or manager thrown out of a league or play-off game for any reason, will automatically be suspended from participating in the next game for his/her team. The incident will also be reviewed by the City of Torrance Adult Sports Disciplinary Committee and a possible longer suspension may follow.
   
   D. TWO GAME SUSPENSION (minimum) - Any player, coach or manager thrown out of a league or play-off game for verbally threatening any other player, an umpire or spectator will automatically be suspended from participating in the next two games for his/her team. The incident will also be reviewed by the City of Torrance Adult Sports Disciplinary Committee and a possible longer suspension may follow.
   
   E. EJECTION RULE - Any player ejected from a total of two (2) games in the same season will be suspended for the remainder of that season. The two games do not have to be from the same league or division.
   
   F. When ejected or while serving a suspension, a player will not be allowed to participate, view, or be in the general areas of the Adult Sports Programs. Violations will result in further disciplinary action.
   
   
7. FREE SUBSTITUTION
   A. The free substitution rule allows for a batting order of more than 10 players and for free substitution during the game. The free substitution rule will apply at the start of each game, unless otherwise announced by the umpire.
   
   B. A player listed in the batting order must bat when it is his/her turn, unless he/she has been officially removed from the line up for a substitute. All substitutes must be submitted to the umpire and announced to the opposing team.
   
   C. Any 10 players who are listed in the batting order may be played defensively and may be rotated in and out of the defensive line up.
   
   D. A player removed from the batting order may not re-enter the game. 
   NOTE: It is not mandatory that all teams use free substitution; however, a team playing under the RE-ENTRY rule must notify the umpire before the game starts.
   
   E. Courtesy Runner. Unlimited number of courtesy runners per inning allowed, however, a player may be a courtesy runner only once in a given inning.
   
   
8. RUN RULE – Women and Coed Only
   A. Any new inning that is started prior to one (1) hour of play will be governed by the six-run rule, except if that inning is the seventh inning or extra inning(s).
   
   B. Any new inning that starts after one (1) hour of play, allows teams to score an unlimited number of runs and will be declared the last inning of the game, regardless of the time. The seventh inning (and extra innings) allows unlimited number of runs. No inning will be started after the 1 hour and 5 minute time limit has expired, except in the case of a tied game.
   
   
9. PITCHING
   A legal pitch will be one that is delivered at a maximum height of 16’ and above the head of the batter (any part of the ball) as deemed by the umpire. BIG BALL leagues will pitch from front rubber with height of 12’.
   
   
10. EQUIPMENT
    A. A new game ball will be provided for each game. The visiting team shall provide a usable ball if game ball is lost or out of play.
    
    B. Game Balls – Game balls may change due to stock availability, but a 44/375 ball will be used. BIG BALL leagues will use DeBeers Official Clincher 16” balls.
    
    C. Bats – MENS & WOMENS LEAGUES - Shall be on a list of approved bats, as published by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) or USA Softball (USA) and shall not exceed 1.20 Bat Performance Factor (BPF) rating (as of January, 2011). Visit www.softball.org for more information. Either fast pitch or slow pitch bats may be used.
    
    D. Bats – Coed Leagues – Women may use any bat as long as it is on a list of approved bats, as published by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) or USA Softball (USA) and shall not exceed 1.20 BPF rating (as of January, 2011). Men may only use single wall OR single wall with a composite handle OR wooden ASA approved softball bats. BASEBALL BATS OF ANY KIND ARE NOT PERMITTED. All approved bats must have the approved ‘TORRANCE BATS’ sticker.
    
    All bats, including partially or fully custom, must display original ASA stamp, USA stamp, model number, and 1.20 BPF rating to be considered legal; certain circumstances may dictate otherwise.
    
    
    Any player deemed to have used an altered bat in a game will be subject to severe disciplinary action as determined by the City of Torrance Adult Sports Disciplinary Committee. Use of an altered bat is deemed cheating and will not be tolerated. The assigned umpire or Adult Softball staff has the authority to remove any bat from use for cause as defined in the SCMAF Adult Softball Rule Book. BANNED AND ILLEGAL BAT ISSUES MAY NOT BE PROTESTED.
    
    An umpire has authority to remove any bat he/she believes is altered or is deemed to be illegal. No protest will be allowed on the field. Failure to adhere to the umpire/staff decision will result in immediate forfeiture of the game and additional disciplinary actions as deemed by the League Director.
    
    
11. TEAM STANDINGS
    A. All league standings shall be determined strictly on a percentage (win/loss) basis.
    
    B. Runs for and Runs against stats will be kept to help gauge the competitiveness of each field of play.
    
    C. Tied games will be recorded as 1/2 game won and 1/2 game lost.
    
    D. Ties will be broken in the following manner to determine playoff seeding:
    1. Head to head record amongst tied teams
    2. Least number of forfeits throughout the season
    3. Run differential amongst tied teams
    4. Run differential total for the entire season
    5. Coin flip
    
    E. Playoffs: In a six team league, the top 4 teams will make playoffs. In a five team league, the top 3 teams will make playoffs. In a four team league, the top three teams will make playoffs. In an eight or ten team league, the top 6 teams will make playoffs. The top Higher seed is designated HOME TEAM. These rules may change at the discretion of the Community Services Department Adult Sports Supervisor.
    
    
12. PROTESTS
    A. Protests shall not be received or considered if they are based on a decision involving the judgment of an umpire.
    
    B. Highly technical protests and those which could have little or no effect on subsequent play or the final result of the game will not be considered.
    
    C. A protest must be made immediately after the incident in question and before the next pitch.
    
    D. Only the manager or captain must notify the umpire and opposing manager that the game is being continued under a protest. Protests must be noted on the official game card to be considered. Protest may take up to 48 hours to fully investigate and resolve any issues.
    
    E. Player eligibility may be protested at anytime during the game, following the procedures as stated in A, B, C and D above. In any case, a protest of eligibility if allowed, would affect only the last game of which the protest is made, and Adult Sports will not consider the effect eligibility has on games prior to such protested games.
    
    
13. CANCELLED GAMES
    Games cancelled because unsafe field conditions will only be rescheduled if there is an impact on the final standings. Cancelled games may not be rescheduled if available dates are not available. No refunds will be issued for cancelled games.
    MUD LINE: (310) 781-7529
    
    The purpose of this straight-to-message line is to give ALL league participants updates on field conditions, schedule updates if field conditions are unsafe or unplayable, and weather and/or other uncontrollable outside factors occur that cancel or postpone games.
    
    Please, note that we do not cancel games based on rain alone. So, if there is a question of whether or not games are still on as scheduled, call the MUDLINE.
    
    
14. FIELDING REGULATIONS - COED
    

    NUMBER OF PLAYERS, MALE OR FEMALE  MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MALE PLAYERS  MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FEMALE PLAYERS  TOTAL MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS TOTAL MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS

    (3) (5) (6)   (8) (10)

    
    Examples:
    
    

    5 MALE  5 MALE  5 MALE  6 FEMALE

    5 FEMALE   4 FEMALE    3 FEMALE  4 MALE

    6 FEMALE  5 FEMALE  5 FEMALE  4 FEMALE

    3 MALE   4 MALE   3 MALE   4 MALE

15. BATTING ORDER - COED
    A batting order may have an unlimited number of players. An alternating male/female batting order must be used.
    
    The batting order must alternate male/female or female/male regardless of the male/female ratio.

Mens/Womens/Co-ed/ League Game Rules

1. A batter will start his/her at-bat with a 1-1 count (1 ball and 1 strike).
   
   
2. “Four strike rule”. Found in the SCMAF Rule Book on page 41, rule 6, and section 9, C. (basically a foul to waste with 2 strikes)
   
   
3. Pitcher’s Box - A pitcher may deliver a pitch from any point within the pitcher’s box. The pitcher’s box is located directly behind the existing pitcher’s plate and is 6’ deep by 24” wide. Any pitch delivered outside of the pitcher’s box will be deemed an illegal pitch.
   
   
4. The strike zone plate mat will be used for determining balls and strikes.
   
   
5. Unlimited Courtesy Runner Rule - A player may only become a courtesy runner one time per inning. If the same batter comes up a second time in that inning and a courtesy runner is requested, only a player who has not been a courtesy runner in that inning may be used.
   
   
6. A runner cannot run for a runner. If a pinch runner’s spot in the batting order comes up and they are on base pinch running, they would be out as a batter, and would stay as the pinch runner.
   
   
7. The Home Team may use the option to become the Visiting Team, if and only if, that team has less than 10 players on the field at game time. The game must start with a minimum of 8 players.
   
   
8. The team with the higher seed at the start of the playoffs will be declared the home team in all playoff games.

Co-ed League Game Rules

1. A minimum of three (3) outfielders must remain behind an outfield restriction line (180 foot arc from home plate) until the batter hits the pitch. The rover must remain 10 feet from a base until the ball is hit. When a female is batting, only a female may play rover. 
   Penalty: Batter and all base runners will be awarded one base unless each has advanced one base safely.
   
   
2. There will be no restrictions on a player (male or female) as to the defensive position he or she may play, except for the rover position when a female is at bat.
   
   
3. Runners may not lead off the base until the ball crosses the plate or is hit by the batter. All plays at home plate will be force outs, no tag is required. Runners intending to score must cross the chalked line extending from home plate, instead of touching home plate. If the runner ignores the scoring line and runs across home plate, it shall be ruled an out. There is a “commit line” halfway between 3rd base and home plate. Once a runner goes beyond the
   “commit line”, they must continue to run towards home plate. If they try going back to 3rd base, it will be a force out. The catcher must receive the ball with their foot on the plate prior to the runner crossing the line to record the out.
   
   
4. The batter will start his/her at-bat with a 1-1 count (1 ball and 1 strike).
   
   
5. A male batter who is walked on three (3) consecutive balls without any strikes received during his turn at bat or intentionally walked prior any pitches, shall be awarded second base. Base runners advance only if forced to vacate their bases. NOTE: After a male batter receives one (1) called strike and then is issued an intentional walk, he shall be awarded first base.

Rule Clarification

1. A player on a team’s official roster may be added to the batting order at any point in a game. The Team Manager must inform the umpire of the addition. The umpire will inform the opposing team of the addition. A player who arrives after a team has gone through the batting order at least once must be added to the end of the batting order. No exceptions.
   
   
2. If a player is unable to take his/her turn at bat due to injury, ejection, etc, an out will be declared when it becomes his/hers turn to bat. After the missing batter is declared out, the next batter in the order will come to bat. A missing batter will be called out only once in a given game.
   
   
3. The umpire has final authority to stop a game due to unplayable or unsafe conditions or circumstances. Once a game has begun, all results will be official per SCMAF rules.
   
   
4. A pitcher must come to a full and complete stop before delivering a pitch. Quick pitching a batter will not be permitted.
   
   
5. Abusive language directed at a Staff, Umpire, Player, or Spectator will not be tolerated, and said behavior will be deemed as unsportsmanlike conduct and may be removed from the league. It is the responsibility of all participants to demonstrate good sportsmanship at all
   times. Purposely making a mockery of the game to avoid the mercy rule will result in a forfeit (umpire’s discretion).
   
   
6. Consumption of alcohol and use of tobacco products on all City of Torrance parks is prohibited. Players and spectators are expected to adhere to this ordinance at all times.

Rulebook last update – 05/8/2024