RULES & REGULATIONS

Get ready to walk to the mound, these are the official rules of LUG Softball.

RETURN TO PLAY

Due to COVID, LUG has implemented new rules to ensure that our leagues can return in a manner that is safe and healthy for our players, officials, families, teams, staff, fans and the community.

Do not come to the field if you are sick, have been in contact with someone who is sick, or show symptoms.

TEAMS IN VIOLATION OF THESE RULES WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE LEAGUE WITHOUT REFUND.

AREA	RULES
Screening	Teams are required to check in with the QR code on site to do a health screening at the link HERE
COVID Rules	Please follow local guidelines for COVID-19 based on your city, state, province and country. Limit close contact with other players and the sharing of equipment. Do not spit, dip, chew, or seed during games or at the facility.

CODE OF CONDUCT

LUG enforces a strict code of conduct for all of our players. Any team caught or suspected of drinking, doing drugs, or abusing these rules in any format will be automatically ejected from the league without refund.

Absolutely no alcohol or drugs at the diamond.
Smoking is not permitted on the field or in the dugout.
Respect the Umpire at all times. The Umpires call is final.
Respect your teammates, your opponents, and the rules of the game.

EQUIPMENT

LUG Provided: Bases, softballs, jerseys, strike mat, balls.
Player Provided: gloves, balls, bats, cleats/baseball shoes, safety equipment, masks, helmets.
Prohibited: No spiked cleats.

STATS KEEPING

LUG does NOT track stats for softball.
Teams should track their own game results in the event of any discrepancies with online reporting.

SEASON REGULATIONS

The following rules apply Competitive & COED Divisions.

Team Size	Max. 12 players
Season Length	~8 games (weather/COVID dependent)
COED Lineup Rules	10 players on defence (4 infield, 4 outfield, 1 pitcher, 1 catcher) Min 2 women must be present to play a game. Min 2 women must take the field on defence each inning. In the event that only 1 women shows up, captains can agree to waive the default and play the game. If this occurs, the team must play defence short 1 player.
COMP Lineup Rules	10 players on defence (4 infield, 4 outfield, 1 pitcher, 1 catcher)
Official Game	7 innings or 50 minutes (whichever comes first). No new innings can start with fewer than 10 minutes remaining in game.
Playoffs	All rules apply to playoffs. No ties in playoffs. Winner must be determined in extra innings. Absolutely no unrostered players permitted. If team does not have minimum of 7 players the game is considered defaulted.
Extra Innings (Playoffs)	If a game is tied at the end of regulation innings or the game is tied at the 50 minute mark. Each team will have a chance to hit. The inning will start with 1 person on second and one out (the last person out from previous innings). If one team scores and the other doesn't the game is over. If both teams score the same in the extra inning then continue the process until the game is over.
Substitutes	No substitutes or ringers. Every player must be rostered and registered through LUG.
Scores	A team can only score a maximum of 7 runs per inning. A team can only hit 3 home runs per inning (this is of particular importance in small diamonds)
Plays at Home	To avoid collisions, runners must tag the safety base at first base, and cannot touch the home plate (runners must run past home plate). If the runner steps on the white side of the safety base (infield side) or home plate, they are out. To get a runner out at home plate, the catcher must have the ball and one foot on home plate before the runner crosses the extended line passing from the 1st base line past home plate. Tagging the runner once they have crossed the commitment line at home is not permitted and the runner will be deemed automatically safe.
Sliding	No sliding at all.
Stealing	No stealing. Will be counted as an out.
Lead offs	No lead offs. Will be counted as an out.
First at-bats	Team captains will rock, paper, scissors (or coin flip) to determine who bats first.
Base Coaches	The team at bat should provide a first base and third base coach to call outs. The Umpire will call fair/foul balls as they have the best view. Any calls being disputed must be discussed by the 2 captains and if a final decision cannot be made, re-play the ball! Remember this is a fun league.
Pitching (COED)	Teams pitch to opposing teams. A Strike Mat will be used. A strike is called for each pitch that the batter swings at and misses OR that hits the strike mat and the batter does not swing. A ball is called for each pitch that misses the strike mat and the batter does not swing. In the case the pitcher is hit with the ball, the play is called dead and a re-pitch is allotted to the batter. It is not considered a strike.
Pitching (competitive divisions)	Teams pitch to opposing teams. Umpires will call balls & strikes. Pitchers are encouraged to wear a pitching mask while pitching. 35 ft from home plate to front rubber of pitching mound is regulation length. Pitchers must have back foot on the mound while pitching. Steps behind the rubber mound are permitted. In the case the pitcher is hit with the ball, the play is called dead and a re-pitch is allotted to the batter. It is not considered a strike. No windups. Pitchers cannot use more than 180 degrees of arm motion. (From release point)
Batting Order (COMP)	Batting orders must be written out by each team prior to the start of the game and cannot be changed. It must include all players who play in the field. Players arriving late can be added to the end of the order.
Batting Order (COED)	There must be a minimum of 1 women at bat for every 2 consecutive men at bat (even if a woman bats twice in the same order). If all women are on bases and a women is up-to-bat, a man may pinch run for the woman on base. The man should replace the woman farthest from home.
Strike Zone (COMP)	The strike zone is determined by the umpire. The range for strike zone takes place from the knee to the letters on the jersey + the width of the home plate.
Bunts	Not permitted.
Fair Balls	All fair balls are playable. Balls do not need to pass the pitcher to be in play.
Rovers	Not permitted in the in-field. Any rover must be in the outfield.
Commitment Lines	Marked half-way between 3rd and home. Any time a player passes the commitment line, the play is a forced play.
Bat Throwing	No bat throwing. It is considered an out and the play dead.
Discrepancies of Rules	Softball is a game with lots of rules and some discrepancies may arise during the course of a game. Any disagreement should be discussed by the captains in the spirit of good sportsmanship. Umpires can make final calls on everything.
Rain Outs	If 3 full innings of a game have been played and the game gets rained out, the game is considered played. LUG will book Rain Out Days in advance. All rain outs or cancelled games will be rescheduled to these days.
Altercations	There is a zero tolerance policy for any fighting or rough play. Players will be suspended for the entire season.
Final Thoughts	LUG reserves the rights to have final judgement on all scores and dispute settlement in the event of special circumstances.

SUSPENSIONS GUIDELINES

COVID RULE VIOLATIONS = AUTOMATIC TEAM EJECTION

#	Description of Misconduct	Minimum Penalty	Maximum Penalty1
1	Ejection from a game	1 game suspension	1 year suspension
2	Using offensive, insulting, threatening, degrading or abusive language and/or gestures to any player, official or league official	1 game suspension	Life time exclusion
3	2nd Ejection of the season	3 game suspension	1 year suspension
4	A complete disregard for the safety of another person	4 game suspension	1 year suspension
5	Any form of violent conduct, attempted violent conduct or attempt to injure any person.	1 year suspension	Life time exclusion
6	Participating in an activity while suspended	1 year suspension + captain of team suspended 3 games	Life Time Exclusion
7	Played an ineligible player	Forfeit Game + team captain will receive a 1 game suspension	Forfeit game and suspension of Team Captain up to 5 games

WAIVER

As part of registration, all players agree to the LUG COVID Clause. This document is available to read by clicking the link below and as a link during registration.