Champaign-Urbana Church Sports League

General Rules

 

  1. All players must attend at least one service per week at their sponsoring church for at least three weeks per month. Any player not on the roster at the start of the season must fulfill the attendance requirements prior to participating.
  2. All players must have completed the 8th grade before they can participate.
  3. Each player (or their legal guardian, if the player is under 18 years of age) must sign the team roster/insurance waiver form before they will be allowed to participate in any given sport. The form must be turned in to the League Recording Secretary before the season begins, and the Secretary must be notified of any additions during the course of the season.
  4. No team will be allowed to add players to their roster during the last two (2) weeks of the regular season. Exception: Bowling league-status of regulars cannot be changed.
  5. A high school/college student who is participating in high school/college sports of the same format will be ineligible to play until the high school/college sport’s season has been completed. This does not pre-empt the player from participating in a different sport.

    Example: A high school basketball player cannot play in the church basketball league, but could participate in the volleyball league. A college baseball player cannot play in the church softball league until their season is over.
  6. Profanity in any form (cursing, swearing, cussing, bad language, gestures, signs, etc.) by a player or coach from the field/court/bench will NOT be allowed and is cause for automatic dismissal from the playing area. If the offender refuses to leave the premises, his/her team will forfeit the contest no matter what the score may be at the time of the incident. Umpires/referees will be instructed not to tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct and to eject any involved parties from the contest if necessary.
  7. A team may add up to three players to its roster for a given game, provided (1) the normal team number is not exceeded, and (2) the original team’s players are not excluded.

 


 

Champaign-Urbana Church Sports League

Softball Rules

General Rules

  1. In addition to the general Church League rules, ASA rules will be followed. These two sets of rules will be the guidelines by which all games are played.   ASA rules books are available for $10.
  2. All players and coaches will come together at home plate for prayer, both before and after the game.
  3. The official scorebook shall stand as far as the score and players are concerned. If it differs from the individual team scorebooks, no player will have the authority to change the official book without the approval of the umpire.
  4. After the game, both coaches or captains will sign the official scorebook to approve the score. The umpires will also sign the official book.
  5. Failure to return the scorebook to the equipment box after the game will result in a forfeit of 3 wins from the offender’s record.
  6. The home team is charge of providing a score keeper for games played at the U of I.
  7. Uniforms are not required. Neither steel nor hard plastic cleats are allowed and shoes must be worn.
  8. Any protest to be lodged must fit the criteria as stated in the official yearly ASA rulebook or it will not be allowed. Exception: The formal written protest must be filed within 72 hours, instead of 48.
  9. Only captains/coaches and official scorekeepers may discuss a protest with the umpire. Anyone else may be ejected for interference.
  10. Standings will be based on (in order):

1.      Best winning percentage

2.      Best overall record

3.      Best divisional record

4.      Best intra-conference record

5.      Best inter-conference record

6.      Head-to-head contest

7.      Least runs allowed

8.      Most runs scored

9.      Coin flip


 

Playing Rules

A.     Eight (8) players is the minimum to play at one time during a game. A team with less than 8 eligible players shall forfeit the game. Teams are allowed to add up to three (3) pick-up players from other teams, not more than one of which can be a park league class A player, to a maximum of nine (9) total players.

B.     A pitching mat (3 ft. long x 17 in wide) will be placed behind home plate to provide the umpire with a guide to call balls and strikes. Any legal height pitch striking the mat or home plate is a strike.

C.     The batter will have a 1 and 1 count to start. He is entitled to one (1) fouled tip. Example:

è     Batter takes a called 2nd strike, then fouls off next 2 pitches – batter is out on the 2nd foul ball.

è     Batter fouls off first 2 pitches – batter is out on the 2nd foul.

è     Batter takes the first 2 pitches as strikes – batter is out.

D.     If, at the end of five (5) complete innings of play, or any complete inning thereafter, one team is ten (10) runs or more ahead of their opponent, the game will be called complete.

E.      All games will have a maximum time limit of 60 minutes. A warning will be given at 50 minutes. At 60 minutes, the game is called and the existing score stands as the final score. NO inning will start after the 50-minute warning.  During the playoffs (excluding the championship game), when the 50 minute warning is announced, the current inning will be competed regardless of time.  If a tie exists, the game will continue with another full inning until a winner is determined.  During the championship game, a full seven innings will be played.  If a tie exists, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined.

F.      Teams may use an 11-man batting line-up with any 10 of those players taking defensive positions in the field for A and B divisions. The C Division can use an unlimited batting line-up with any 10 of those players taking defensive positions in the field.  Those positions are flexible. Once the use of the 11-man line-up is decided for example, it may not be changed during that game (i.e., go from 11 to 10 men) except for an injury to a player. In that case, no penalty is assessed. For any other reason, an automatic out is registered whenever that player’s spot comes to bat. The player removed from the game may not return to that game.

G.     No game will be called due to weather more than 30 minutes prior to the night’s starting time. (Exception: UI may call off game, if necessary.)

H.     Catcher’s plate/dead zone area

è     A line 2 ft long will be marked perpendicular to the base line 30 ft from home plate down the third base line. If a runner crosses that line, they have committed themselves to home plate and cannot return to third base.

è     A 12”x12” mat will be placed 2 ft from home plate towards the pitcher’s rubber. If any defensive player is standing on the catcher’s plate while in possession of the ball when any opposing runner(s) is(are) in the dead zone area, then said runner is (are) out.

è     NO tag is ever made on a runner in the dead zone area. The catcher’s plate must be used instead of the home plate to make the out. Standard rules for obstruction (defensive player) and interference (offensive player) will be followed as always. If the catcher tags the runner, the runner is safe.

I.        Class A league will allow up to 8 park district players (provided no more than 5 from any 1 park team) on the field at one time. Class B league will limit park district players on the field to 2. (Park district players refer to class A or B players by ASA standards or collegiate/semi-professional standards.)


 

Champaign-Urbana Church Sports League

Co-Rec Softball Rules

 

All general softball rules will be observed with the following exceptions:

 

  1. There will be a 50-50 mix in the team composition of even numbers (with odd numbers, there can be an extra man or woman, so long as the batting line-up rule is followed).
  2. There will be a minimum of 8 players, and a maximum of 10 players, on the field in defensive positions.  Competitive co-rec is allowed to have up to 2 additional players as a DH.  For traditional church league co-rec, the DH is NOT allowed because of time considerations.
  3. Defensive alignment – there will be 2 men in the infield, 2 men in the outfield, and 1 man in the battery. It follows that the same is true for the women.
  4. No male may follow another male in the batting line-up (unless it is the first and last batter).
  5. A game will last four (4) innings for traditional church league co-rec.  For competitive co-rec, a game will last 7 innings.
  6. The teams will use a 11” regular softball for the women and a 12” regular softball for the men to hit for competitive co-rec.  For traditional church league co-rec, women will hit a 11” regular softball, and men will hit a 12” ragball.
  7. If a male is walked, intentional or not, the following female batter may take the option of hitting or taking a walk.
  8. For traditional church league co-rec, all batters in the batting line-up will bat in each inning.  For competitive co-rec, regular three up three down rules will apply.
  9. For traditional church league co-rec, the last batter may not be walked. He/she is at bat until he/she gets a hit or is put out. If the last batter gets four balls, a base runner is inserted and any existing base runners are moved up, if necessary. The batter then starts with a new 1 and 1 count.
  10. For traditional church league co-rec, the last batter may be put out by: (1) catching their fly ball, (2) throwing to first base (assuming the batter has not yet reached first base), or (3) throwing to home plate where it becomes a force out. Any runners ahead of the last batter may score up to the point the last batter is declared out.
  11. Where possible, the base paths will be 60 feet long.

 

Champaign-Urbana Church Sports League

Brief Guide to Umpires’ Calls and Rulings

  1. Strike: When batter swings and misses, fouls pitch off, or ball is pitched with sufficient arc and lands on the pitching mat or plate.
  2. Flat Pitch: When arc of pitch doesn’t get high enough to clear the pitcher’s head when viewed from behind home plate. Umpire calls “Flat pitch” and batter can swing or pass. If batter swings, pitch is considered live ball and played. If batter passes, pitch is a ball regardless of where it lands.
  3. High Pitch: When arc of pitch exceeds height of 12 ft; called ball.
  4. The batter will have a 1 and 1 count to start. He is entitled to one (1) foul tip. (See Playing Rules, item D)            (C.L.R.)
  5. Team must have 8 players on the field at all times during a game or it shall forfeit.           (C.L.R.)
  6. All games are to start on time. Failure of a team to produce 8 players at starting shall constitute forfeiture of game. (C.L.R.)
  7. Shoes must be worn by players, failure constitutes illegal player. No steel cleats are allowed. (C.L.R.)
  8. Only coaches/captains or official scorekeepers can discuss calls with umpires. Anyone else will be charged with verbal abuse of umpire and may be ejected from the game.        (C.L.R.)
  9. Any protests of calls must be announced and recorded on official scorebook prior to next pitch. Game is then continued under protest. (Remember: judgment calls cannot be protested.)
  10. Re-entry Rule: When a player is lifted, his substitute must bat in the original player’s position of the batting order. Should the original player re-enter the game, he must return to his original position in the batting order, i.e., the original player and his substitute cannot be in the line-up at the same time. (Exception: If re-entering to replace an injured player, will assume that player’s position in the batting order and be recorded as such on the official score sheet; injured player is then out for the rest of the game.)            (A.S.A and C.L.R)
  11. Pitcher and Batter Response Time: If the umpire has issued the command to play ball and the pitcher fails to pitch within 30 seconds, the batter is awarded 1 ball for each delay. Should the batter fail to comply, the pitcher is awarded 1 strike for each delay. Should this occur by either team, it shall constitute lack of cooperation and be recorded on sportsmanship criteria.       (A.S.A and C.L.R.)
  12. Overthrow: When the ball leaves the playing field (crossing a line extended from the backstop fence), all base runners are awarded two (2) bases. On an overthrow by an infielder (or the initial throw), bases are awarded based on the position of the base runner at the time the pitch was made. On an overthrow by an outfielder (or a relay throw), bases are awarded based on the position of the base runner at the time of the final throw.
  13. Infield Fly: A fly ball in fair territory within easy reach of an infielder. If runners are on 1st and 2nd, or on 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with less than 2 outs, the batter is out and runners may advance at their own risk. Batter is out whether ball is caught or not. (Note: If pop fly is in foul territory, there can be no infield fly rule called. This applies also to balls that start fair and drift foul.)
  14. Intentionally dropped hits to infielders – line drives or pop flies: Infield fly rule applies – runners return to base, batter is only out.
     
  15. Interference: Contact initiated by base runner with intent to dislodge the ball from defensive player or to prevent/confuse defensive player form completing a possible double-play following a forced out. Play stops and ball is dead. Base runner is out and ejected from the game. Any other runner (1) closest to scoring is also out. Team is marked down in sportsmanship criteria.             (A.S.A and C.L.R.)
  16. Obstruction: When defensive player blocks access to base while not in possession of ball (also includes fake tags against runners). Play stops and ball is dead. Runner is awarded free access to base in question and no out is recorded in the event of any tag. All base runners are then awarded 1 extra base. Obstructing team is marked down in sportsmanship criteria. No ejections. (A.S.A and C.L.R.)
  17. Should 2 players from the same team be ejected or if an ejected player refuses to leave, the umpire shall declare the game forfeited to the opposing team.     (C.L.R.)
  18. Throwing a bat (or any other piece of equipment) for whatever reason, is grounds for immediate dismissal from the game. Team is marked down in sportsmanship criteria. (A.S.A. and C.L.R.)
  19. Catcher’s Plate/Dead Zone: If a defensive player is standing on the catcher’s plate (in possession of the ball) when a runner is in the dead zone area, that runner is out. One foot in the dead zone area constitutes a runner in the dead zone. All plays are made at the catcher’s plate, not on the runner. Obstruction and interference calls are applicable whenever appropriate. (C.L.R.)

 

(Unless otherwise stated, rules are A.S.A.-approved.)