2024 Season Rules for Venice Over 70 Softball League Nov 04, 2024
1.GEN
Two 7 inning games will be played on both Mondays and Wednesdays. Games begin at 9:00 AM sharp. Games are targeted to be completed by noon. No inning shall start after 12:00 o'clock unless specficalliy allowed by the Board. The game will be decided by the score of the full inning played by Noon. Extreme cold or rain may result in cancellation. Temps. below 45 F at game time is a potential reason for cancellation. When a website becomes available, the cancellation status will be posted by 8:00 am. Should conditions change just prior to play, the commissioner will make the final decision of whether to cancel. Players to come to the field unless called by their Manager.
2. GEN
There are up to 13 players per team. If a team has less than 13 players available, qualifying fill-in players may be taken either from the bye team (first) or from the reserve list. If a team can field 10 players at game time, they will play with those 10. If the team can only field 9 players, the opponents will provide a catcher. If a team can only field 8 or less players the game shall be forfeited. If a player can’t make it to a game, he is expected to call the manager at least one day in advance. Non-league members cannot play in games.
2B GEN
If a team’s roster falls below 13 players, the manager must report this fact to the Commissioner. The Commissioner with the assistance of the Executive Board, will try to find a suitable replacement for any player who drops out.
3.GEN
In case of rain during play, the game will be considered complete after 4 innings or after 3 ½ innings if the home team is leading. Any incomplete game will not be resumed but will be considered a no contest. In case of a tie after 7 innings, then the 8th inning will start with the last batter to bat placed at 2nd base. A pinch runner may be substituted for him at any time. Each inning will start this way until the tie is broken or the managers agree to accept a tie.
4. GEN
All players present (up to 13) must bat in their turn throughout the game and must play at least 2 innings per game on defense. It is a player prerogative whether to play less than 2 innings in any game.
5. GEN
The maximum number of runs allowed per inning is 5, except for the last inning which is open scoring until 3 outs are reached. The mercy rule is set at 12 runs at the end of the 5th inning.
6. GEN
Dues are on per player basis whether playing one or both days. Managers to collect $ with checks made out to VSSA 70+. Managers to turn in total to John Anjos by 2nd week of January. Primary Managers are exempted from dues.

The Dues Include money for the End of Season Party
7. EQ
The softball used is a 375 compression, 44 core ball
8. EQ
The home team supplies a new ball and a backup ball for each game.
9. EQ
Senior softball USA bats are approved for use in this league.
10. EQ
Home plate widths of from 18 to 20 inches will be permitted.
11. EQ
A pitching screen must be used for safety. The screen is to be located no further than 5 feet from and must be aligned in parallel with the pitching rubber. The pitcher must move behind the screen after releasing the pitch and stay there until the batter makes contact. If the pitcher fails to attempt to get behind the screen, the umpire should warn the pitcher. If the behavior continues the umpire may call a ball if the pitcher does not attempt to get behind the screen.
The pitcher can field any ball, including those in front of the screen. If a batted ball hits the screen it will be a strike except in the following case. If the batter has a 2 strike count and then hits a ball off the screen , he will be given and only courtesy dead ball per at bat.
12. PL
We will not use or enforce infield fly rule during the 2024 Season
13. PL
The catcher may tag any part of the plate or plate extension to make an out.
14. PL
Any foul tip caught by the catcher is an out regardless of whether the pitch was of legal height.
15. PL
Substitute runners may be used at any base at any time. A runner may be used only once per inning. If his turn to bat comes up, he may be replaced on the base and do so without penalty.
16. AGE
A batter cannot be thrown out at 1st base by an outfielder, nor can he be doubled up at first by an outfielder-initiated play, unless he has rounded 1st Base. A ball touched by an infielder (grounder or in the air) while he is on the dirt, but which bounds onto the outfield grass, may be recovered by that infielder and the hitter may be thrown out at first base. The outfield can force a runner out at 2nd, 3rd or home plate.
17. AGE
Outfielders cannot play closer than 150 feet from home plate before contact. If an outfielder comes to play as an additional infielder he must play on the dirt.
18. AGE
Infielders may play on the grass, but must set up behind the 150 foot line in an outfield position until contact is made.
19. PL
To obtain a strike a pitcher must keep the arc of the ball less than 12 feet high and more than 6 feet high. The umpire will make the call based upon his judgment.
20. PL
If a play is being made at either 2nd or 3rd base, the runner may either slide or vacate the base path to avoid collision with the defensive player. A runner may come in standing up but must not interfere with the defensive player or his throw to another base. Both the call of interference and the call of whether a runner who has veered from the baseline to avoid a collision would have been safe is an Umpire Judgment call. If a runner veers at 2nd base, the runner must touch the base before proceeding to 3rd base. If the runner proceeds to 3rd base without touching 2nd base, he will be called out. On the same play, runners who are running from 2nd or 3rd base can proceed at their own risk.
21. PL
The umpire cannot call a runner out for missing any of the four bases. If the umpire calls a player out without an appeal from the opposing team’s manager, the runner is considered safe and all other play continues. The field umpire must stand on the right field grass between 1st and 2nd base.
22A
Managers needing players for the following week may contact them directly. The object of the replacement rule is to keep the teams full while maintaining competitive balance. To accomplish this, substitute players may not be stockpiled and can only be called 7 days before being needed.

Jim John johndrow is to be notified of the replacements before the game. Jim will maintain a record of substitutes used. Use of UNREPORTED substitutes in a game will result in forfeiture of the game.
22B
Anytime a player is needed in the #1 Grouping, the manager cannot go up a line when choosing. Within Groups# 2,3 and 4 a manager can select any player within that Group or lower. In no case, is it permissible to have 4 Group# 1 players on one team.
22C
Teams must not use less than 3 Group# 4 players two game days in a row, and must replace the loss of such a player within the two game days. With 13 players selected per team, the last three players selected per team are considered to be #4’s. Failure to replace a #4 player with an available #4 within two game days will result in the team having to put a blank spot in their batting order and register and out each time that player would bat. The player replacement penalties are to be self-reported and imposed by the managers. Special circumstances must be okayed by the Commissioner.
22D
When a manager picks up a player, he should not take a player from the roster of the team he will be playing against that day. What has happened in the past is with his team playing Monday, the Manager needing a player has taken a player from his opponents Wednesday only players. The league doesn’t want to have a player pitted against his own regular team

22E

Because of the difficulty finding subs at the 4 level, it is allowed

to take a sub at the 3.4 level.
23. PL
Runners on first and third may move away from the base into foul territory to avoid a line drive for player safety. They must touch the base before proceeding forward.

The runner must stay 8 feet away from the batter's home plate to avoid collisions.

" slide feet, head or hands first into the crossing line.

Runners on first and third may move away from the base into foul territory to avoid a line drive for player safety. They must touch the base before proceeding forward.

To score at home, the runner must touch his foot down on the ground, on or beyond the scoring line. The scoring line must start 8 feet from the batter's home plate to avoid collisions. The second home plate will be placed at that 8 foot spot and the runners must cross the line to the right of the second home plate. Any runner that crosses between the batter's home plate and the second home plate will be called out. A runner can not slide feet, head or hands first into the crossing line.

24. GEN
The batting team will furnish a first base umpire who will be responsible for calling plays at first and second base. He will be expected to be located on the second base side of first base and behind the first baseman so as not to obstruct plays. The batting team may also furnish a first base coach in addition to the umpire if they so desire.
25. GEN
These league rules prevail. Other items not covered here will be covered under the ASA Rulebook
26. Gen
Batters will start each at bat with a 1 ball and 1 strike count.
27. Gen
The second game will be started with the top of the order instead of starting where we left off in the order from the previous game. The manager however is free to set his order for the second game in any manner he deems best.
28. Gen
The team listed first on the schedule will be the home team. Home team will always use the first base dugout, not whoever comes first to the field.

29. Pl

A batter in any One Game can only be intentionally walked once. If batter has already been intentionally walked once and then receives three consecutive balls resulting in a walk in any subsequent at bat, the batter has the option of accepting the walk or staying up with a new count.

30. Gen

Board Members are not permitted to manage teams. No Manager may choose an Assistant Manager with who is rated at the 1.1

31 . Pl

To speed the game up, a player is not required to touch 1st Base if walked and substitute runner may take his place directly.

CODE OF CONDUCT

CODE OF CONDUCT - Venice 70 Plus Senior softball

League

Members of the Venice 70 Plus Senior Softball League (VSSL) should conduct

themselves in a manner which would not bring discredit, dishonor, or embarrassment to

themselves, other league members, umpires, family, spectators, the Board of Directors

(Board) or the overall VSSL.

A VSSL player should be courteous and refrain from the use of profane language,

gestures, or expressions that would cause any uneasiness or embarrassment to

members, family, spectators, umpires or players.

Some examples are trash talking, taunting, physical threats, ridiculing, berating, verbal

or physical abuse, leaving the field without notifying the manager, refusing to comply

with a coach's request regarding any softball managerial move during a game, inciting

others to engage in unacceptable behavior, and refusing to stop arguing with an umpire

after being requested to do so by their manager. Any action that takes place beyond the

playing field and escalates will be looked at on an individual basis.

Also, any action that dishonors the team or leaque is considered a breach of the code.

If any player or a member of the Board feels such an incident has occurred, they have

the right to bring forth a formal complaint.

Procedure for filing a complaint

1) The individual filing a complaint must notify a Board member as soon as

reasonably possible.

2) The Board will then request a written report. This report should include a detailed

description of the incident and any witnesses present.

3) A member of the Board will then conduct an investigation of such incident. They

will interview all parties named in the complaint if reasonably feasible. The member

of the Board will then present their findings to the full Board who will have the right

to take actions they deem fair and reasonable.

Penalties for Code of Conduct violations

The Board after reviewing the presentation may issue the following penalties

depending on the severity of the incident:

1) A reprimand with a warning

2) A suspension of one or more games

3) Expulsion from the league

4) Additionally, the Board may refuse to invite a player back for the following year if

that player has been a continual source of problems. This is regardless of whether

that player has had any disciplinary issues or complaints made against them.

Playing in the VSSL is a privilege and not a right. This privilege may be revoked by the Board at any time for reasons they deem as justifying such action.

Expulsion and Suspension Appeal Procedure
A member who has been reprimanded, suspended or expelled from the league may
appeal such a decision by notifying the Board in writing within seven (7) days of
receipt of the decision.
The appeal must specify, in detail, the grounds for the appeal.
The member has the right to appeal based on any of the following grounds:
• Evidence of mitigating circumstances (additional evidence);
• Evidence of undue severity of the sanction(s):
• Evidence that the decision is arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable and that the
charges are not supported by the evidence.
If the member fails to file a written appeal within the stipulated period, he/she waives
his/her right to appeal.
An appeal hearing with the Board will be arranged by the League Commissioner and
the accused member will be notified in writing as to the time and place of the hearing.

Mon	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Tue	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Wed	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Thu	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Fri	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Sat	Closed
Sun	Closed

Mon	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Tue	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Wed	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Thu	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Fri	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Sat	Closed
Sun	Closed

Mon	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Tue	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Wed	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Thu	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Fri	09:00 am – 05:00 pm
Sat	Closed
Sun	Closed

John Anjos Commissior 508-951-7318

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