Rules and Regulations
10th AUSTRALIAN MASTERS GAMES - ADELAIDE 2005
(A) TOURNAMENT RULES:
Eligibility:
All players must be officially entered in the 10TH Australian Masters Games.
Registered players must meet the minimum age requirements as per the 10th Australian Masters Games Terms and Conditions, for the age group they are registered in.
Age group divisions will be Fastpitch 35+ and 45+ for both Male and Female, and Mixed Slowpitch 30+.
Non-playing registered coaches, managers, scorers and umpires do not have to meet the age restrictions
Players found ineligible under the above rules shall have all games in which they have participated declared a forfeit.
Team members may play in only one age group. There will be no interchange of players between teams, during the tournament.
Umpires:
All participating teams must supply an umpire. Umpires must complete a softball registration form.
Substitutes:
We will accept a substitute (provided they meet the age criteria) for a person who is entered but unable to attend. Notification and arrangements must be done through the Masters Games Registration Office and appropriate credentials presented to the Softball Records Officer prior to the
pre-tournament Manager's Meeting.
Medal Policy:
Only fully registered team members who have paid the full games entry fee and relevant sports fee are eligible to receive medals;
Alcohol Policy:
The playing arena is a declared Alcohol Free Zone. The consumption of alcohol is restricted to the designated licensed area. Team managers/coaches are to ensure these restrictions are adhered to.
Smoke Free Policy:
The South Australian Softball Association Headquarters building and grandstand areas are smoke free zones. Please refrain from smoking in these areas.
(B) PLAYING RULES:
All games, both Fastpitch and Mixed Slowpitch, shall be played under the Softball Australia Official Playing Rules unless otherwise stated in these rules.
All games will start and finish according to the fixtures (unless otherwise advised) The umpires will time the games.
All games (except the Finals), will be 75 minutes or 7 innings, whichever occurs first.
If the score is level at the end of a regulation game (7 innings), and time permits, the tiebreaker rule will apply from the top of the 8th inning.
Game" shall be called precisely 75 minutes from the scheduled commencement time of the game except that, once a batter has started a turn at bat, "game" shall not be called until all plays resulting from that batter have been completed. No new innings shall commence with less than five (5) minutes playing time remaining.
The score shall revert to that of the last even innings except that, if the team 2nd at bat has more runs when time expires OR in its incomplete inning has TIED the score, then the score shall stand.
Finals games will be 7 innings or a result with the tiebreaker rule applying at the top of the 8th inning.
Tiebreaker Rule:
Starting with the top of the 8th innings and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat ninth (FP) or 10th or 11th if EP is used (SP) in that respective half innings being placed at second base.
Mercy Rule:
The 10 15 and 20 run rule will apply to all games including Grand Finals
NOTE: The bottom half of the inning will not be played if the team second to bat is leading by the required runs.
Protests:
Protests will not be allowed under any circumstances. The plate umpire's decision is final.
Team Composition:
A Team may start and/or finish a game with a minimum of seven registered players for fastpitch (FP) or eight registered players for slowpitch (SP), unless using a DP (FP) or EP (SP).
If commencing the game with less than nine players (FP), ten players (SP) the batting lineup must be listed in order without any blank spaces. No automatic out to be declared for the blank spaces at the end of the lineup.
Should an injury, during the game, reduce the batting lineup to less than nine (FP) or less than 10 (SP) that turn at bat is ignored and the game continues, no out is recorded.
Designated Player (DP):(Fastpitch only)
Teams may use a DP as per official rulebook. Teams with a Designated Player in the lineup must start with 10 players, and may finish with 9.
Extra Player (EP):(Slowpitch only)
Teams with an EP listed in the lineup must start and finish with eleven players.
Designated Runner (DR):(Fastpitch only)
Teams may use a DR during a game (only once per inning) for any base runner. The DR must be named on the official scorecard prior to the commencement of the game. The DR may not otherwise enter the game either defensively or offensively.
Catchers: (All divisions)
When a player, who will take the field in the immediate next defensive inning as the catcher, is on base, and there is two out, a runner may replace that player. Time should be called by the offensive team and the plate umpire advised of the changeover. The intent is to hasten the changeover of the innings.
Scorecards:
Scorecards will be issued to all teams and the completed cards shall be handed to the Plate Umpire 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the game. The first named team is to supply the scorecard for each game.
At the conclusion of the game the scorecard must be signed by both scorers and the umpires. The winning team is responsible for the return of the card to the administration area. The card must be lodged within one hour of the conclusion of the game. In the event of a tie the first named team will be responsible for the return of the scorecard. Non lodgement of the scorecard will result in the loss of points for the game to the team failing to return the scorecard.
Matchballs:
The preferred matchball is the Easton 803 yellow optic brand, however other brands will be allowed.
Prior to the commencement of the game, the first named team is to provide the plate umpire with 2 (3 if on Diamond 1 or 2) identical balls in good condition.
Where possible balls will be returned to the first named team at the completion of the game.
Uniforms:
Teams must be attired in similar uniform. Uniform numbers are not necessary.
Determination of Home Team:
During the rounds the first named team in the program will occupy 1st base and bat first. The second named team will be the home team and will bat second.
The home team in Final games shall be determined by the toss of a coin. The toss will be conducted by the Umpire in Chief (UIC) 60 minutes prior to the scheduled commencement time of the game on the paved area on the western side of the Grandstand. A representative from each team is required to attend the toss. Failure to attend will result in the team attending winning the toss.
Diamond Warm-up:
12 minutes prior to the commencement of the game, the batting team will take the diamond for the warm-up. 7 minutes prior to the start, the fielding team will have their warm-up and then stay on the diamond for the commencement of the game.
NOTE: Any questions regarding ground rules must be directed to the Plate Umpire at the pre game meeting held with the coaches 2 minutes prior to the commencement of the game. Pre game changes will be accepted at this meeting.
Ground Rules:
On all diamonds, the thrown ball is alive off the fence or net. On unfenced diamonds, the ball is dead once it goes over the lines marking the limits of the playing field.
Open Blocked Ball Rule:
A blocked ball is a batted or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game, or which touches any object that is not part of the official equipment or official playing field, or which enters unplayable territory.
Where a diamond is open (ie. not fully enclosed or with no home run fence), the following shall apply:-
* When a fair batted ball is blocked before 220 feet (Female FP), 250 feet (Male FP), 275 feet (Mixed SP) the award will be two bases, (as per rule book).
* When a fair batted ball is blocked beyond 220 feet (Female FP), 250 feet (Male FP), 275 feet (Mixed SP), the batter runner and all other runners will be awarded the base or bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgement, had the blocked ball not occurred.
NOTE: The application of this rule will be based on the umpires judgement.
Smoking:
Smoking is not permitted in the bench areas or on the playing field.
Alcohol & Drugs:
Alcohol is not permitted in the bench areas or on the playing field. The consumption of alcohol is restricted to the licensed areas. Any player/official found drinking during the game will be ejected. The ejected player/official will face a Disciplinary Committee Hearing.
Any player/official displaying behaviour consistent with being under the influence of alcohol or drugs and deemed to be a danger to himself or a threat to the safety of other participants will be ejected from the game, and may not participate further in any capacity in the game.
Ejection of Players/Officials:
Should any player/official be ejected from a game, the umpire(s) concerned shall submit a written report to the Umpire in Chief immediately after the conclusion of the game in question.
Any player/official ejected from the game for offensive conduct may be required to appear before the Disciplinary Committee. The umpire(s) who ejected the player/official shall be called to the Disciplinary Hearing.
The Disciplinary Hearing shall be conducted as close to the end of the game in question as is possible.
The Disciplinary Committee shall have the authority to impose one of the following penalties:-
* Reprimand the player/official, or
* Suspend the player/official for any or all of the remaining games in the competition.
Disciplinary Committee:
The Tournament Committee will also act as the Disciplinary Committee and will hear the umpire reports for team personnel ejected from games.
Points:
The positions in each grade shall be determined by wins and runs scored against.
Teams will be awarded 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
Position for Finals:
The top four teams in each division after the minor rounds will advance to the finals games.
Teams equal on points at the end of the minor round shall be separated by runs scored against; the team with the least runs scored against shall be placed higher. If teams are equal on points and runs scored against, the winner of the last game between the two teams in the minor round shall be placed higher.
The finals games will be:
3 v 4 for the Bronze medals
1 v 2 for the Gold and Silver medals
Weather:
The Tournament Committee will determine the condition of grounds for play. Once the game has commenced the fitness of the ground for a game to continue will be determined by the plate umpire.
The SASA Hot Weather Policy shall apply to this Tournament.
Cancelled Games:
Any game cancelled due to weather and/or ground conditions may be rescheduled. Games that cannot be rescheduled will be officially cancelled. Points for officially cancelled games will be awarded as for a draw.
Any game started but not completed due to weather and/or ground conditions shall be considered a legal game and the result will stand if either three (3) innings have been completed or forty-five (45) minutes of playing time has elapsed.
Finals: In the event that the final rounds are officially cancelled due to weather and/or ground conditions the winner of the division will be determined by the highest placed team after the completion of the minor round.
Other Matters:
Any matters not specifically covered in these rules shall be referred to the Tournament Committee for a decision. This committee will comprise of the Tournament Convenor, the Deputy Tournament Convenor and the Umpire in Chief or delegates. Any member of the Tournament Committee has the authority to check player/official credentials.
