Goal

Qualifications

1. Age Qualifications
2. Playing Qualifications

Competition Procedures

1. League Play
2. Team Composition
3. Returning Players
4. New Players
5. Pool Players
6. Player Draft System
7. Roster - Player Participation
8. Replacement Players Game Draft Selection Process
9. Manager's Responsibilities
10. Player/Team Code of Conduct

Weather Cancellations

The goal of Nebraska Senior Softball is to "promote softball for seniors, improve physical/mental well-being, develop new friendships and renew old acquaintances among active senior men and women, ages 50 years and over, in Omaha and other communities throughout Nebraska, to cooperatively enjoy fitness, fun and friendship through athletic competition within a safe playing environment."

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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 (1) players' safety, (2) competitiveness and (3) the integrity of the game, all player candidates shall possess minimum ability and skills to be pre-qualified in at least three (3) out of the four (4) following hitting, running, throwing and fielding drills, before they will be assigned to a league team or as a pool player:
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • Throwing: Shall be able to throw a regulation softball a minimum distance of 65 feet within three feet of the target, in 4 out of 5 attempts, without bouncing or rolling the ball.
   • Fielding: Shall be able to cleanly catch a softball, thrown from a distance of 65 feet, that is within arms reach, in 4 out of 5 attempts.

• The Board will determine registration deadlines each year.
• Each player candidate shall complete, sign and return the Player Registration and Liability Release form to our NSS League Secretary at the street address indicated at the bottom of the form.
• A Player Registration Fee will be required in the amount determined by the league Board. Separate late fees and cost of new jersey will be assessed, as necessary.

1. League Play:
   
   • Playing sessions will be split into a Spring/Summer and Fall league play commence around the first week of May with two games each week. A separate player registration will be conducted in mid July for the Fall League session
   • Location of games will be established each session, but are currently played at N. P. Dodge softball complex, 11005 John J. Pershing Drive in northeast Omaha, NE.
   • The number of teams will be determined based on registrations received.
2. Team Composition:
   To prevent having dominating teams in the league, no pre-selected teams will be accepted.
3. Returning Players
   
   • Returning players from the previous spring/summer and/or fall league have two options. They may select to play with (1) the same team they played with during the past season, or (2) choose to enter the Player Draft System (see NOTE below).
   • Players wishing to play with the same team will be pre-assigned based on the receipt date of his/her Player Registration Form and fee. Once the returning player's team roster reaches the maximum number of returning players allowed (12-13, subsequent returning player 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 based on hitting, running, throwing and fielding abilities. All new players who register by the session deadline and satisfy the Playing Qualifications standards will go into the Player Draft System.
5. Pool Players:
   
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • All Pool Players, as well as team roster players, shall be in the batting order the entire game and play a position in the field a minimum of four (4) innings per game unless they are injured or request otherwise.
6. Player Draft System:
   
   • 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.
   • The Board will decide each year how the draft will be run based on current league needs. Preference will be given new teams to accomplish equity, then existing teams based on overall combined team record and league standings of the previous spring and summer seasons.
   • During a period of no more than forty-eight (48) 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.
   • 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. Roster - Player Participation:
   
   • Every player in attendance shall be in the batting order the entire game and shall play a defensive position, as directed by the team manager, a minimum of four (4) innings per game unless they are injured or request otherwise.
   • Once the game has begun, if one or more players is injured or must leave during the course of the game and cannot continue playing, his position in the batting order will be vacated, and no "out" will be charged against his team anytime his turn at bat is due as long as the team has at least ten (10) remaining players.
   • If his team has less than ten (10) players remaining in the batting order, and replacement players are available and willing to replace him, the manager may select one in a random draw and that player will replace the injured player in his identical position in the batting order. The added player must play catcher, right field, or right-center field.
8. Replacement Players Game Draft Selection Process:
   
   1. When a team is short players for a scheduled league game, the following priority order will be used to pick up replacements.
      • Pool Player - A player who is not permanently assigned to a team.
      • Bye Player - A player assigned to a team that was not schedule to play that night.
      • Substitute Player - A player from another team playing that night who desires to be included in the Pool.
   2. 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.
   3. Team managers, with assistance from the umpire, will be in charge of running the replacement player draft.
   4. Replacement player requirements shall be determined as follows: Teams with a current roster of twelve (12) or more must have a minimum of seven (7) roster players present at game time to secure replacement players and can pick up a maximum of three (3) players. Those teams with only eleven (11) or fewer current roster players must have a minimum of six (6) roster players present in order to start a game and can pick up a maximum of three (3) players.
   5. If a team fails to have sufficient players available at scheduled game time, the team will forfeit the game. However, if both teams agree, they may play a practice game utilizing other players available.
   6. When teams "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 (10) players for Bye players.
   7. 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.
   8. Team managers will call for available replacement players ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game. The Team Managers will determine the total number of players needed by each team for the game.
   9. 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.
   10. The substitute player draft should not be delayed waiting for another game to finish. Draft from the available players.
   11. . 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.
   12. 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.
   13. The number of additional Substitute players will then be determined. A random selection of Substitute players will be made and joined with the Pool and/or Bye players for a second random selection to assign players to teams.
   14. 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.
   15. 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.
   16. 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 as determined by the team manager and will bat the entire game. They shall play a defensive position, as directed by the team manager, a minimum of four (4) innings per game, unless they are injured or personally request otherwise.
   17. Bye and substitute players will be required to
       • Bat at the end of the order,
       • Must play 1st base, catcher, right field, or right-center field.
       • May not be used as a courtesy runner. This requirement does not apply to Pool players.
9. Manager's Responsibilities:
   
   1. Team manager are responsible for the team's actions on the field, and to represent the team in communication with the umpire and the opposing team.
   2. Manager's are expected to read and understand the Playing Guidelines and Rules prior to the beginning of the playing season.
   3. Each winning manager is responsible to record and report the correct game score to the website manager within one (1) day following completion of 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:
    1. abiding by the guidelines, policies and rules of the league to the best of his ability,
    2. being willing to assist in performing suitable duties assigned in connection with the operation of the league activities
    3. accepting the decisions of the team manager and umpires in good sportsmanship
    4. neither taunting nor degrading an opponent or teammate
    5. avoiding bodily contact that may cause injury to others or himself
    6. never directing abusive or profane language at officials or opponents
    7. exercising control over his family members and friends to the extent of the above articles d and f
    8. not commit any act that could be considered unsportsmanlike conduct

• Tornado Warning - In the event a county alert for a Tornado Warning (do not confuse this with a Tornado Watch) has been issued for the section of the county in which the ball field resides, games will be canceled and players should take appropriate action to avoid travel to the ballpark. Note: N.P. Dodge Park is in Douglas County. Seymour-Smith Park is on the southern boundary of Douglas County, so we will use either Douglas or Sarpy County alerts to determine cancellations. Games currently being played will be suspended at the discretion of the umpire.