1. Objective: The objective of the SSC Softball League is to provide a means for employees to participate in the sport of softball in an organized fashion, and promote friendly competition and exercise.

2. Governing documents:

• Stennis Softball League Bylaws and General Rules.
• American Softball Association (ASA) Rule book.
• Approved minutes from League meetings which occur after the effective date of these Bylaws.

3. League Eligibility:
Any person whose job is located at the Stennis Space Center, and his/her spouse or children are eligible to participate in the League. No other relatives (brothers, sisters, cousins, etc.) are eligible. Waivers to this rule may be granted by the League's Advisory Committee. All participants must be 15 years of age or older.

4. League Officers - The SSC Softball League shall have the following officers:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary/Treasurer

5. Responsibility of Officers:

• (a) President
• Take overall responsibility for seeing that the League is run smoothly and fairly.
• Ensure that the playing fields are prepared and ready for play by the beginning of the season.
• Call and chair League meetings as necessary.
• Ensure that a schedule is prepared and distributed to all teams prior to the start of the season.
• Coordinate and organize special League activities (picnic, tournament, etc.).
• Submit yearly budgets to the SSC Rec. Association.
• (b) Vice-President
• Assume the responsibilities of President in his absence.
• Keep an inventory of all the League's equipment, and ensure that there is enough equipment (balls, bases, scorebooks, etc.) for the entire season.
• Update the League schedule as necessary, and ensure that all teams know when games are being rescheduled.
• Inform umpires of rain-outs and dates of rescheduled games.
• (c) Secretary/Treasurer
• Take responsibility for all League financial matters, which include the
• following:
• collect team entry fees,
• pay umpires, and
• maintain the League's bank account.
• Support the President and Vice-President with League functions as necessary.
• Record and distribute the minutes from League meetings.
• Maintain won-lost records for all teams in the League, and update the League standings at least every 2 weeks.
• Keep a record of forfeits charged to each team.
• Maintain an official roster for each team.
• Reserve the meeting room for League meetings.

7. Teams - The League will consist of teams made up of men and women that meet the eligibility requirements. Each team will have one vote at League meetings.

8. Season/Schedule - The season will typically start in early April and run through July or August. Games will generally be scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings to start at 5:00pm. Mondays will be reserved for make-up games. No team will play more than 20 games during the season or be scheduled to play more than 2 games per week, excluding make-up games.

9. Tournament/Playoffs -

• A tournament will be held at the completion of the regular season. The tournament format will be approved by team representatives at a League meeting prior to the season being half over.
• The 2002 Tournament will be a double elimination tournament.
• The Top 8 teams, as determined by win/loss/forfeit percentage, will be invited to participate in the post season tournament.  (Formula:  (Total Wins)/(Total Wins + Total Loses + Total Umpire Forfeits) )SEE RULE 13E FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
• To be eligible to play with a team in the tournament, a person must have played in at least 2 games with that team during the regular season.

11. Rosters - Each team must submit a roster to the Secretary prior to their first game of the season. Once a roster has been submitted to the Secretary, it is "official". Team managers may update official rosters up until 75% of the season is over (a cutoff date will be designated at a League meeting). In order to play for a team, an eligible man or woman must be on that team's official roster. Rosters should list each player's name, age, and the criteria which makes them eligible to play in the League. New hires, transferred military personnel, or ship riders desiring to be added to a team roster after the cutoff date must be cleared by the Advisory Committee. A person may only play on one team during the season (no person may be on 2 different official rosters). The only exception is that if a team folds before the season is 75% over, then players from that team may be added to other teams' rosters.

12. Expulsion - Any team that accumulates 3 forfeits (by failing to show up for games) will be expelled from the League. Entry fees will not be refunded. A team may appeal an expulsion to the Advisory Committee. If a team is expelled, the Advisory Committee will meet to determine if the League schedule and standings should be adjusted accordingly.

13. Team Responsibilities:

• (a) League Meetings - Each team shall have at least one representative at all League meetings.
• (b) Manager - Each team shall have at least one person designated on their roster as manager. The manager shall be responsible for the following:
• Ensure that his/her team will have enough players for each game. If a manager knows his team will be short of players and will have to forfeit a game, he/she should contact the opposing teams manager or a League officer so that the other players and umpires can be notified.
• Provide his/her team's batting order to the official scorer (home team) and opposing manager (if applicable) prior to the start of the game. Notify the official scorer and opposing manager of player substitutions during the game.
• The actions of all players on his/her team while a game is in progress. A manager shall encourage good sportsmanship, and not tolerate any conduct which is detrimental to the game.
• The manager of the home team shall ensure that the final score of the game and the names of the umpires are reported to the Secretary.
• Managers shall ensure that all players on their team are familiar with the League's Bylaws and General Rules.
• The manager may question an umpire about a rule interpretation during a game, but no other player on the team should be involved. The manager may not argue with an umpire about a judgement call. If an official protest is required to settle a rule interpretation, then the manager shall inform the Plate Umpire that the game is being played under protest, and ensure that the official scorer records the game situation. The manager must then submit a written protest to a League Officer within 48 hours after the completion of the game.
• (c) Official Scorer - The home team at each game will provide a person to keep the official score and maintain the batting orders for both teams. If a game is suspended or protested, the official scorer shall record the game situation at the time of the suspension or protest, including the score, number of outs, count on the batter, and the position of base runners.
• (d) Players
• All players must play within the rules and maintain good sportsmanship. Any player who engages in fighting, argues with umpires, intentionally tried to hurt another player, uses excessive profanity, or engages in any other conduct detrimental to the League, may face suspension or expulsion from the League.
• Players shall ensure that no trash is left on the field, benches, or bleachers following a game.
• Discipline - Only the designated Managers of the 2 playing teams may argue a call or discuss a problem with the umpire. At the umpire's discretion, any team member (not the manager) who chooses to take matters into his/her hands can be removed from the game. Any player who does this twice (not necessarily during the same game) will be expelled from the league. ANY FIGHTING or threats to other players or the umpire will result in an automatic expulsion from the league. Expelled players may NOT reenter the League.
• (e) Umpires - All teams are expected to provide umpires for scheduled games. The umpiring schedule is contained on the master league schedule. Any team failing to provide an umpire will be assessed 1/2 game forfeit. This forfeit will be included in league standings and will count towards expulsion under league rule 12. Any team failing to provide an umpire for 3 games will NOT be allow to play in the post season tournament.

14. Rules of Play:
All games will follow the rules given in the most recent edition of the ASA Official Softball Playing Rules for Slow Pitch, Co-Ed Leagues with the additions and exceptions described herein.

15. Starting Time - The starting time for games will be 5:00pm. After 5:00pm, games must begin as soon as both teams have a full (7 men, 3 women) team of players. If, after 5:15pm, either team requests to start and both teams have at least 7 men and 3 women players and the other team declines to start, the game will be declared a forfeit in favor of the team requesting the game start. A team forfeits the game if the first pitch is NOT made by 5:20pm.

16. Man/Woman Ratio - Teams will field at least 3 defensive women players at all times. The defensive positions are all positions except catcher. The women may play any position except catcher. A woman may play the catcher position if 4 or more women are playing in the field on defense. If fewer than 3 women players are present at gametime, the following situations pertain:

• (a) Teams with no women must forfeit.
• (b) Teams with only one woman player may play as follows. Ten players may take the field defensively (9 men and one woman, not as catcher). Ten players (or eleven, if an EP is used) may be in the batting order, but the team starts every inning with 2 outs.
• (c) Teams with only two women players may play, using one of the two options described as follows. The option chosen must be announced to the umpire at the beginning of the game. [Note - if it's possible that a third woman player may show up late, the first option should be used to allow her to enter the game.]
• (c1 - the old rule) The team may play with 2 women, but will be required to have three women in the batting lineup. When the third woman comes up to bat, she will be issued an out. The third woman's position in the field will be vacant.
• (c2 - the new rule) Ten players may take the field defensively (8 men and two women, not as catcher). Ten players (or eleven, if an EP is used) may be in the batting order, but the team starts every inning with 1 out.

17. Batting Order - Team batting orders should be set up to avoid having more than 3 men bat consecutively in the order. The first woman batter must be one of the top 4 in the batting order. The next woman batter must be in one of the next 4 positions in the batting order.

18. Extra Player - A team may use an extra player (EP) in the batting order. If the EP is a man, it is permitted to bat three men consecutively in two places in the batting order. If the EP is a woman, normal league batting rules apply. If the EP is used, the EP must be used for the entire game, may be substituted for in the batting order at any time, may reenter the game if removed by substitution, and may play defense at any time. If the EP is used and the EP is a man, any seven of the eight men in the batting order may play defense in any inning. The decision to use the EP must be made before the start of the game.

19. Defensive Positions - Teams must field a pitcher and catcher in all cases. All defensive players MUST remain in their relative positions for the entire defensive half of the inning, unless changed by LEGAL substitution as defined in the ASA rule book. (i.e., All outfielders must remain in the outfield and all infielders must remain in the infield for the entire defensive half inning, unless a LEGAL substitution is made. This rule does NOT preclude an infielder from playing "deep" or "shifting" positions within the infield or outfield as long as it does NOT delay the flow of play.) Switching positions is NOT allowed within a defensive half inning (example: 2nd baseman can NOT move to another infield position such as Shortstop or 3rd base while the other player moves to 2nd base. Outfielders also can NOT switch positions.)

20. Pitching - SSC Recreation Association Softball League will play a modified version of softball that requires the calling of balls and strikes. A pad will be placed behind home plate; any legal pitch striking the pad will be called a strike. Any pitch missing the pad will be called a ball. All batters begin with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike (the batter will be called out after 3 strikes, or walked after 4 balls). A legal pitch must have an arch of at least 6 feet but no more than 12 feet (from the ground). If a man batter is issued a walk and the next batter is a woman, the woman batter has the option to take a walk or continue her at bat. For foul balls exception, see Rule 21.

21. Foul Balls - A batter is not declared out when he/she hits the first foul ball on the second strike. A batter is declared out when he/she hits a second foul ball on the second strike.

22. Game Ball - The home team is responsible for supplying at least one new ball to the Plate Umpire before the start of each game. The visiting team shall provide at least one suitable back-up ball to the Plate Umpire before the start of each game.

23. Provisional Runners - Managers must identify any players on their team who might require a provisional runner to the opposing manager and plate umpire prior to the start of the game. Each team is limited to one provisional runner of each sex per game. If a player so identified reaches base safely, he/she may have the teammate of the same sex who made the most recent out (or who is furthest away in the batting order) take his/her place on the bases, and may still remain in the game as a batter and fielder. Players that are not identified prior to the start of the game may not have a provisional runner, unless they are injured during the course of the game. A provisional runner should not be confused with a substitution.

24. Outfield Inner Limit Line - This line is drawn in the outfield 160' from home plate. All of the outfield players must stay beyond this line until the ball is hit. If an outfielder crosses the line before the ball is hit, the umpire shall award the batter first base.

25. Home Run Rule - There will be a limit of 3 home runs hit per team per game.
Any additional home runs will be considered singles. All runners on base will advance 1 base. (Example: If there are runners on 1st and 3rd and the batter hits a home run, the batter will advance to 1st, the runner on 1st will advance to 2nd and the runner on 3rd to advance to HOME. Notice: The runner on 3rd does not have to be in a forced position.) "In the park" home runs do NOT count towards the 3 home run total.

26. 15 Run Rule - If either team is ahead by 15 or more runs after the 5th inning, the game is officially over and the team that is ahead is declared the winner.

27. Rain-outs - If the possibility of a rain-out exists, the Managers of each team will be responsible for inspecting the fields and deciding if they are playable. Fields should be checked between 3:00 and 3:15pm. Both Managers must agree that the game is not playable to cancel the game. It is the responsibility of the managers to notify the League Vice President or Secretary of any rain-out before 3:30pm. The umpire may declare a rain-out at the start time of the game if conditions are unsafe.

28. Protests - The ASA Rules regarding official protests shall be followed. A manager must submit a written protest to a League Officer within 48 hours after the completion of the game. The Advisory Committee will meet and render a decision on all official protests.