Adult Tournament Player Policy

USA Softball Non-Approved Bat List

2022 NSA Non-Approved Bat List

USA Softball (formerly known as ASA) slow pitch rules will govern play along with the following list of Collegedale Recreation Association home/local rules:

*rules written in BOLD indicate new changes for 2021*

-  Team managers will now supply their own "game balls" for each of their games during the regular season (league provides game balls during postseason tournament)  All balls MUST be USA Softball/ ASA certified!!  required ball specifications are: 12" .52COR/300lbs for all men's divisions, and 11" .52COR/300lbs for all women's divisions.  Please note: a used playable ball may now be used to start game as long as all of the above details are visible!

- 60 minute game clock  (including postseason tournament  EXCEPTION: no clock on championship games!)  [or a game that doesn't end via a mercy rule and has a full 7 or more innings {or per USA Softball rules, a game shall also be considered "regulation" if a minimum of 5 innings (4 & a half if home team is ahead) have been completed prior to it being "called" due to inclement weather or other emergencies} completed prior to the game clock expiring will also end the game]  

- Tied games will be fully played out until there is a winner (applies to regular season AND postseason tournament)

- Both teams will line up for pre-game prayer and post-game handshakes

- Minimum number of players required is 7 (including for the 6:30 game!)

- There is a 10-minute grace period for the 6:30 game only!! game clock will still start at 6:30 if a team (or both teams) needs to envoke the grace period! this 10-minute grace period only exists to allow a team to reach its minimum requirement of 7 players! teams will lose game via forfeit if they do not have their 7 players at the conclusion of the 10-minute grace period!  game will end in a "double forfeit" if neither team has their 7 players at the conclusion of the 10-minute grace period! (Reminder: this applies to the 6:30 game only!! no grace period on the 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 games) 

- Players are not allowed to play for multiple teams!

- Maximum number of players on team's official roster is 20

- There is no longer a maximum number of players for being listed on a team's official batting line-up  (meaning a team may now list any number of players between the required minimum of 7 and up to their full roster, if desired, on its official batting line-up each game)  Reminder: teams may also now use substitutions on their batting line-ups if done correctly in accordance with USA Softball substitution rules

- A team's batting line-up is considered official at the time of pre-game prayer. no changes can be made after this point! (i.e. moving players to different spots in the order; subtracting players who are not present)  EXCEPTION #1: players who arrive late can be added to a team's batting line-up at any point during game but must always be added to the bottom of their line-up! EXCEPTION #2: players may still exit game without penalty due to health and/or employment!

- Batters are now allowed 1 "foul" once they have 2 "strikes" against them (ball is "live" on ALL fouls if caught in the air while in foul territory)

- A team's home run limit for ALL divisions is now 3 per game; with each additional home run now being ruled as a ground-rule single (existing base runners only advance if forced)

- Players are asked to "hit & sit" on all over-the-fence home runs  (not required to touch next base and/or run the bases)

- Teams are now allowed to use a "courtesy runner" once per inning  (per the 2016 rule change for USA Softball adult slow pitch)  Please note: the "courtesy runner" may now be any eligible player listed on that game's batting line-up!

- For safety reasons, an automatic "dead ball out" will be called on a batter for slinging their bat during their swing

- For safety reasons, a batter-runner who carries their bat with them and reaches or touches first base while still having their bat in their possession will now be called "out" (this "out" can occur on a live play or on any scenario where the batter is awarded first base)

- For safety reasons, no child under the age of 16 is allowed to be used as a base coach, PERIOD!  in addition, minors who are ages 16-17 MUST wear a batting helmet if being used as a base coach!! (and submit a signed liability waiver by their parent/guardian)

- For safety reasons, metal/steel cleats are not allowed!

- For safety reasons, the following types of jewelry are not allowed: all watches, all bracelets, all necklaces/chains, all dangling piercings (players who refuse to remove said items will not be allowed to play in game!)  EXCEPTION: medical ID's may remain but must be taped and/or appropriately secured to player's body

- Approved USA Softball/ ASA certified bats and approved NSA certified bats are the only bats allowed!!

- A team will lose their current game via forfeit if they are forced to finish the game with less than 7 players, regardless if they currently have more runs than their opponent or are currently tied with their opponent  (game will end in a "double forfeit" if both teams encounter this scenario simultaneously)  ONLY EXCEPTION: players may still exit game without penalty due to health and/or employment!

- Managers who wish to issue a protest during game MUST inform the umpire(s), prior to next pitch, of their decision to protest (i.e. to continue playing current game "under protest" if done during regular season) and MUST provide a $20 fee which will be returned back to them if final ruling goes in their favor.  The requirement of this $20 fee applies to regular season and postseason tournament.  Reminder: ruling on a protest will be made on the spot during postseason tournament, but not during regular season!

- There shall be no agreement between managers of teams in conflict with any article in these rules. Managers will be expected to enforce all rules. When managers make an agreement to disregard or disallow a rule or disallow a rule or policy, the infraction can be protested by teams other than those playing in the actual contest, a penalty will be a double forfeit with both teams given a loss in the standings. There is no statute of limitation on filing the protest; the matter need only be brought to the attention of league officials (the league officials may request a written protest based on the circumstances)

*rules written in BOLD indicate new changes for 2021*