Playing
Guidelines
Revised August
16, 2010
1. Age Qualifications
2. Playing Qualifications
1. Registration Form
2. Registration Fee
1. League Play
2. Team Composition
3. Returning Players
4. New Players
5. Pool Players
6. Player Draft System
7. Player Participation
8. Replacement Players-Game Draft Selection Process
9. Manager’s Responsibilities
10. Player/Team Code of Conduct
1. Tornado Warning
2. Hot Weather
3. Cold Weather
I. GOAL
The goal of Nebraska Senior Softball is to promote softball and improve the physical, mental and spiritual wellness of seniors in Omaha and surrounding communities who enjoy Fun, Fitness and Fellowship and who wish to develop new friendships and renew old acquaintances among active senior players.
II. QUALIFICATIONS
1.
AGE QUALIFICATIONS:
A player must become at least 50 years of age during the calendar year to be eligible to register with Nebraska Senior Softball and play in that calendar year.
2.
PLAYING QUALIFICATIONS:
With primary concerns for players' safety, competitiveness and the integrity of the game, all player candidates shall possess minimum ability and skills to be pre-qualified in at least three out of the four following hitting, running, throwing and fielding drills, before they will be assigned to a league team or as a pool player:
a. Hitting: Shall be able to hit a pitched softball to the outfield grass, either in the air or on the ground, a minimum of 5 times out of 10 strikes thrown.
b. Running: Shall be able to run 65 feet from home to first base in less than 6.0 seconds in at least one of three attempts.
c. Throwing: Shall be able to throw a regulation softball a minimum distance of 65 feet in the air to within three feet of the target, in 4 out of 5 attempts.
d. Fielding: Shall be able to cleanly catch a softball thrown from a distance of 65 feet to within arm’s reach, in 4 out of 5 attempts.
III. REGISTRATION
The Board will determine registration deadlines each season. Access the registration form on line at www.neseniorsoftball.com/Registration%20Form.htm
Each player shall complete, sign and return the Player Registration and Liability Release form along with a check for the fee, to the address indicated at the bottom of the registration form.
Fees are applied toward cost of fields, umpires, softballs, issued caps and jerseys (spring league only), and other miscellaneous costs of administering the league.
IV. COMPETITION PROCEDURES
1. LEAGUE PLAY:
a. Playing sessions will be split into spring and fall sessions, commencing around the last week of April and mid August respectively. Games are played Monday and Wednesday evenings. A separate player registration will begin mid July for the fall league.
b. Location of games will be established each season, but currently are played at Council Bluffs Recreation Complex, 2900 Richard Downing Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 during the spring season, and at Seymour Smith Park, 6802 Harrison Street, Omaha, NE 68128 during the fall season.
c. The number of teams will be based on registrations received.
2. TEAM COMPOSITION:
To prevent dominate teams from entering the league, no pre-formed teams will be accepted. All new players will be assigned to a team via the draft or pool player process described below.
3. RETURNING PLAYERS:
a. Returning players from the previous spring may elect to return to their previous spring team or enter the draft for an extra fee (jersey cost). New players joining the league in the fall automatically enter the draft the following spring.
b. Players wishing to play with the same team will be pre-assigned in order of the registration post mark. Once the returning player’s team roster reaches the maximum number of returning players allowed (12-13), subsequent returning players will go into the Player Draft System, or may be assigned as a Pool Player if registration is received after the stated deadline date.
4. NEW PLAYERS:
All new players will be evaluated for individual skills as describe under Playing Qualifications above. New players who register by the deadline and satisfy the Playing Qualifications will enter the Player Draft.
5. POOL PLAYERS:
a. A player whose registration and fee are received after the registration deadline and/or Player Draft may be assigned directly to a team to fill existing vacancies or assigned as a Pool Player.
b. Pool Players who are present at least 15 minutes prior to the start of a game shall be temporarily assigned (for one game only) to a team that has less than the full team roster present.
c. Pool Players shall be in the batting order the entire game, may play any defensive position and must play a defensive position a minimum of four innings unless they are injured or request otherwise.
6. PLAYER DRAFT SYSTEM:
a. Players not assigned to an existing team will be selected to a team by the team managers on a pre-announced draft date, in a fair and equitable rotating draft system, according to the manager's specific needs.
b. The Board will decide each year how the draft will be run based on current league needs. The primary goal will be to promote team parity. Preference will be given new teams to accomplish equity, and then existing teams based on team record and league standings of the previous spring season.
c. During a period of no more than forty eight hours after the conclusion of the player draft, a manager will be allowed to trade no more than three newly drafted players from his team to other teams if the respective managers and players involved are all in agreement.
d. All players will be notified shortly after the draft of their team assignment.
NOTE: Commencing with the 2005 season and every third year thereafter (2008, 2011, etc), a complete new draft of all returning and new players will be conducted using a fair and equitable serpentine draft rotation sequence.
7. PLAYER PARTICIPATION:
a. Every available player including roster and replacement players shall be in the batting order the entire game. Every available player shall play a defensive position a minimum of four innings per game unless he is injured or requests otherwise. A roster player arriving after the game has begun will bat last in the line up and may enter the game immediately. (Exception: when replacing a replacement player, see below).
b. Once the game has begun, if a player is injured or must leave the game, his position in the batting order will be vacated, and no "out" will be charged. If his team then has less than nine players, a replacement player will be randomly drawn. He will fill the vacated position in the batting order, and will play only first base, right field or right center field.
8. REPLACEMENT PLAYERS - GAME DRAFT SELECTION PROCESS:
a. When a team is short of players for a scheduled league game, the following order of priority will be used to pick up replacements:
1) Pool Player - A player who is not permanently assigned to a team.
2) Bye Player - A player assigned to a team that was not schedule to play that night
3) Substitute Player - A player from another team playing that night who desires to play an additional game.
Note: The term “replacement player” is a generic reference to any of the above three.
b. A team with less than its full roster of players present may be required to pick up a Pool Player to ensure these players get equitable playing time. The team with the fewest number of players present will be staffed first.
c. Team managers, with assistance from the umpire, will be in charge of running the replacement player draft.
d.
Replacement player requirements shall be determined as
follows: Teams with a current roster of 12 or more must have a minimum of seven
roster players present at game time to secure replacement players and can pick
up by random draw a maximum of two
players, but may not exceed a total of nine players. See borrowed catcher
below. Those teams with 11 or fewer
current roster players must have a minimum of six roster players present in
order to start a game and can pick up by random draw a maximum of three
players, but may not exceed a total of nine players. Note, the 9-player limits
above do not apply to pool players, only bye and substitute players.
e. Borrowed Catcher. In addition to the random draws described above, the 10th defensive player will come from the opponent as chosen by the opponent’s manager. He will play only as catcher and will not bat for the receiving team. The receiving team will bat with a 9-player lineup. This borrowed catcher can be swapped with any of his original team’s players, at any time at the discretion of his manager. (Exception: For the Fall 2010 season, the borrowed catcher will be selected by random draw from idle players available and willing to catch only. If none are available, follow the above procedure).
f. When team “Byes” are built into the league schedule, players assigned to "Bye" teams are encouraged to show up for other scheduled games and will be treated as replacement players. EXCEPTION: Teams will not be required to fill their game roster beyond ten players for Bye players.
g. Bye players will be treated as a "Bye" player for one game. After they have played one game, they will be treated the same as other "Substitute" players.
h. Team managers will call for available replacement players ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game.
i. If a team has a player currently playing for another team, that player will be considered absent for substitute player purposes. The manager has the option of drafting a substitute player or counting on his player being available by game time. If a substitute is drafted and the manager's player is available by game time, the substitute is not needed. If the manager's player is not available when the umpire says "Play Ball", the substitute will be part of the lineup and must bat once before being replaced by the regular player.
j. The substitute player draft should not be delayed waiting for another game to finish. Draft from the available players.
k. All Pool and Bye players who have not yet played that day are automatically eligible for the replacement player draft. EXCEPTION: In league tournament play there is no guarantee a Pool or Bye player will play if he shows up as the managers will not be required, but will have the option, to add an 11th player to protect against possible injury.
l. Players who have already played one game that night as a replacement player will not be eligible as a replacement player unless there are not enough "new" replacement players available.
m. The number of Substitute players will then be determined, including the total number of players needed for all teams at a given game time slot. A single random drawing for substitute players will be conducted when feasible.
n. If a manager knows one of his regular roster players is running late but feels confident the player will arrive, he has the option of choosing not to select a Replacement player. He must make this decision and advise the other Team Manager before the pool selection process begins. If this player arrives after the game has begun, he must bat at the bottom of the order. If the player does not show up, the team will play short handed for the entire game. Note: no game will be started with less than nine players per team.
o. If a regular roster player shows up after the replacement player draft is completed, but before the umpire calls “play ball”, the player will be allowed to enter the game immediately and the substitute player sits out. If the player shows up after the call to “play ball”, he will not be allowed to enter the game until the completion of the inning in which the Substitute to be replaced has batted at least once. At that time, the Substitute player will be removed in the reverse order he was selected and the roster player inserted in the same place in the batting order. Pool players may not be replaced in the batting order, only Substitute and/or Bye players from another team.
p. A Pool player who has already played in a league game and desires to play in additional games that evening shall be treated the same as any other league player. Pool players may bat in any position in the batting order and may play any defensive position.
q. Bye and substitute player restrictions (does not apply to pool players):
1) Must bat at the end of the order
2) Must play 1st base, right field, or right-center field.
3) May not be used as a courtesy runner.
9. MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
a. Team managers are responsible for the team's actions on the field, and to represent the team in communication with the umpire and the opposing team. In addition to the usual player/coach duties, the manager shall be responsible for the conduct and sportsmanship of his team members in accordance with league policies, guidelines and rules and above all, he shall at all times demonstrate an exemplary model of sportsmanship for members of his team to respect and follow.
b. Managers are expected to read, understand, and follow the Playing Guidelines and Rules posted on the web site. They will proactively enforce League policies and respond to guidance from the Commissioner, Associate Commissioner and any Board member.
c. Managers have both the authority and responsibility to apply corrective action toward players failing to comply. Keeping the Commissioner informed of these matters is imperative.
d. Wear of the uniform. Players will wear the issued jersey and it will not be ragged, frayed, torn or “cut-off”. Caps will be worn as intended by the manufacturer. Baseball pants/shorts or athletic wear are encouraged.
e. Each winning manager is responsible to report his game score to the website manager within one day following the game.
10. PLAYER/TEAM CODE OF CONDUCT:
Each player is expected to conduct himself both on and off the field in a positive manner by:
a. Abiding by the guidelines, policies and rules of the league to the best of his ability
b. Being willing to assist in performing suitable duties assigned in connection with the operation of the league activities
c. Accepting the decisions of the team manager and umpires in good sportsmanship,
d. Neither taunting nor degrading an opponent or teammate,
e. Avoiding bodily contact that may cause injury to others or himself,
f. Never directing abusive or profane language at officials or opponents,
g. Exercising control over his family members and friends to the extent of the above articles d and f,
h. Not commit any act that could be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.
1. TORNADO
WARNING
In the event a Tornado Warning (do
not confuse this with a Tornado Watch) has been issued for the ball field
region, games will be postponed and players should take appropriate action regarding
travel to/from the ballpark. Note: N.P.
Dodge Park is in Douglas County. Seymour-Smith Park is on the southern boundary
of Douglas County, and Council Bluffs is in western Pottawatomie County, IA. Games
in progress will be suspended at the discretion of the umpire.
2.
HOT WEATHER.
As a guideline, games will not be played when the heat index is in excess of 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
3.
COLD WEATHER.
As a guideline, games will not be played when the ambient temperature is less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Note: The Commissioner has final authority over Hot/Cold weather postponements.