2008 Rules

1. ASA Rules:
Any rules that are not mentioned here will follow ASA rules in case any controversies arise.


2. Qualification/Player Roster:
1. Player Roster: Each team can have up to 23 players in their roster. The preliminary roster is due on 04/30/2008 and the final roster is due on 07/11/2008.
2. Non-Asian Players: Each team can have NO MORE THAN 2 non-Asian male players and 1 non-Asian female player (or 2 non-Asian Female players and 1 non-Asian male player) on the field and in the batting order during the game. An Asian male batter can be substituted with a non-Asian male batter or vice-versa only when there are NO MORE than 2 non-Asian male batters in the batting order in the same inning (Non-Asian male batters cannot occupy more than TWO batting slots in any one inning). Batting around the lineup in an inning with the two non-Asian males occupying only two batting slots without change in batting order is permitted. The batting order rule applies and the lineup CANNOT change according to Section 3 of the rule sheet.
3. Playoffs Qualification: Each player has to be on the team final roster and plays at least 6 games with the team to be qualified for the playoff games. A player can ONLY be on ONE TEAM roster at any one time.


3. Fielding and Batting Order:
1. Fielding: Each team will play 10 fielders. There is a maximum of 8 males on the field at one time and a minimum of 1 female. A team with only one female player on the field will play with one open position on the field. There MUST be a catcher.
2. Each team must have at least 8 or more players to start the game. A team that has 8 players or less can borrow a catcher from the opposing team; however, the "borrowed catcher" will NOT make any defensive plays (RULE 3.e.i applies).
3. A team must supply their own catcher if they have 9 or more players
4. Team captains MUST provide batting orders before each game when requested by opposing team's captain.
5. Batting Order: Each team can decide to bat "10 Batters Only" or "More than 10 Batters". A female batter can only be substituted with another female batter.
1. 10 Batters: If the team decides to bat 10 batters ONLY, there must be two females in the batting order (anywhere in the batting order). If the team only has one female batter, the team will take one automatic out in the 2nd female spot. Two outs if the team has no girls.
2. More than 10 Batters: If the team decides to bat more than 10 batters, there cannot be more than 5 consecutive male batters. If the team only has two female batters and a 3rd female is required. The team will take one automatic OUT in the 3rd spot. If the team only has one female batter, the team will take one automatic out in the 2nd female spot and one out in the 3rd spot. Three outs if the team has no girls.
6. Starters (a starter is defined as in the initial batting lineup) can switch fielding positions and/or swap in and out in the fielding. Both starters and bench players can be inserted into the game twice. After they are taken out the 2nd time, they cannot be reinserted. All players must remain in the same batting order that they were in when they were originally inserted into the game for the ENTIRE game.
7. INJURIES
1. Male: Injuries to male players with no substitutions within the same team, the team must take an out for each at bat that the injured player does not take. Its recommended that you utilize the substitution rule with players not on your team.
2. Female: A female player may bat twice upon injury of a female teammate when all of the following conditions are met:
* Injured Female player cannot physically continue to play
* There are no female substitutions on the bench within the same team
8. Batting order CANNOT change other than what is stated above.
9. A female may be substituted from another team when an injury occurs.


4. Game Innings
1. Each game lasts for 7 innings.
2. Game must start no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled time.
3. If the game is TIED after 7 innings and has NOT reached the scheduled time limit, then the game continues until a team takes a lead after completing an inning.
4. All games must complete an inning of play even if the time limit is up.
5. If the game remains tied after completing the time limit, then the game will be recorded as a tie.


5. Substitutions From Other Teams
1. Substitution Qualification: Substitutions (male/female) from other teams can be made according to the following guidelines:
i. Can ONLY borrow players to fill gender quota and no more (2 females)
ii. A total of TWO females may be borrowed at any one time when no girls are available on your team. 1 female sub when you have 1 female. And 0 female subs if you have 2 females.
iii. If a team borrows players, that team CANNOT exceed 12 players total; there cannot be bench players when borrowing players UNLESS in the following conditions:
iv. Scenarios:

Your Players Players you may borrow Players on your bench
8 Male, 1 Female 1 female player to fill gender quota (2 female), NO males NONE
7 Male, 0 Female 2 female players to fill gender quota, 1 male NONE
10 Male, 1 Female 1 female to fill gender quota, NO males NONE
11+ Males, 0 Female 2 females to fill gender quota, NO males ONE male

2. Regular Season Substitutions: If a team qualifies for substitutions, that borrowed player(s) will NOT count for the "substituting" team's roster. It is at the sole discretion of the player to substitute for opposing teams. The league does not restrict nor condone substitutions.
3. All substitutions MUST be communicated to the other team (Captain, Co-Captain, etc) prior to the start of the game.
4. Playoffs Substitutions: Substitutions are ABSOLUTELY NOT allowed during playoffs! IF a team cannot field a full team during playoffs, that playoff game will be considered unofficial and that team must forfeit. This penalty is NON-NEGOTIABLE and DO NOT ask opposing teams or the committee for special treatment! Only qualified players on your playoff roster are allowed to participate in the playoffs. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE SUBJECTS A TEAM TO BE EJECTED FROM THE LEAGUE.


6. Game Play
1. Pitcher must be at 46 feet +/- feet when he/she releases the ball for the safety of the pitcher.
2. Distance between bases is 65 feet
3. A legal pitch must have a minimum arc height of 6' and a maximum of 12' or else it is called an illegal pitch (ball).
4. Walk on 4 Balls and Strikeout on 3 strikes
5. Second foul AFTER 2 strikes is a strike out.
6. When female batters are up, all Outfielders must be at least 60' away from the nearest base.
7. With 2 outs, if the pitcher walks the male batter in front of the female batter, the male batter will advance to 2nd base regardless and the female batter has the option of taking a walk or hit
8. Bunting and half swings are NOT ALLOWED.
9. Runners must stay on bases until the batter makes contact with the ball. No leading.
10. Runners cannot deviate more than 3 feet out of the base path to avoid a tag.
11. UNPLAYABLE hits and ground rules will be determined at each field PRIOR to the start of the game.


7. Home Fields/Equipment
1. The home team provides bases for each field.
2. An extra base of the double-base shall be used at 1st base for the safety of the players involved in the play.
3. No metal cleats are allowed. The player with metal cleats will be asked to change or else sit out for the game.
4. Bats must be ASA Certified. If a team is caught using an illegal bat during the game, that team will have to forfeit that game.
5. uniforms: EVERY player MUST be identified by a number that is clearly printed on the back of the player’s shirt.


8. Game Balls
1. Balls used are ASA - 12", 0.44 core, 375lb comp. (Evil ASA microcell - white)


9. Game Officiating:
1. There will be one ASA certified umpire assigned to each game.
2. If a team has issues or concerns, it is up to each Captain to discuss with the umpire, NOT THE PLAYERS. Please respect the umpire's final calls.
3. It is the Captain's responsibility to control their players and their audiences on and off the field. There will be ABSOLUTELY NO ARGUING with the umpires.


10. Infield Fly Rule (According to the rulebook, to qualify for an infield fly rule, the following conditions must exist:)
1. It must be possible for some defensive player currently situated in the infield (regardless of that player's position) to catch a fly ball with "ordinary effort"
2. There must be runners on FIRST and SECOND (there may or may not be one on THIRD; doesn't matter).
3. There must be fewer than TWO OUTS in the inning.
4. The Home Plate Umpire must call INFIELD FLY if the conditions above are met and the Batter is automatically out regardless if the ball is dropped. However, the ball is still alive whether the ball is caught or not. Runners may advance at their own risk.


11. Game Score Results: It is the Captain's responsibility to email game result after each game (within reasonable time) to Catherine Tuan.
1. When submitting scores, each team MUST submit the following information:
* Score of the game
* The lineup of EACH team for that game (both your team and opposing team NAMES and NUMBERS must be submitted; the purpose of this is to keep track of roster qualifications for playoffs. If you do not submit your roster lineup, your players will not receive credit for that game).


12. Playoffs Seeding Tie Breaker:
1. Head to Head
2. Run differential in head to head games
3. Records against common teams
4. Total run difference in every game


13. Other
1. All rules are subject to change per authority of the league committee.