2025 BEACHWOOD SOFTBALL RULES
Revised 5/28/25

 

This league is governed by USA Softball Rules with the exception of the local rules stated herein.

1) League Fee – $150. All Fees must be paid by Sunday June 8th, 2025. Any player who does not have money in by Sunday June 8nd will not be able to play that week and the week’s following until their League Fees have been paid.

2) Double Headers, starting at 9:00 am (unless otherwise instructed) every Sunday (7 innings per game) Forfeit times -- 1st game 9:15 AM; 2nd game 9:30 AM

3) Defensive team must provide own catcher with 9 or more players. Opposing team provides catcher if only 8 players. 7 Players or Less is a Forfeit.

4) Courtesy runners may run ONLY ONCE in an inning. (e.g. On a force-out at second, the courtesy runner returns to the bench and the next appropriate (last out) courtesy runner runs for the batter if needed). If the courtesy runner is on base when he is due to bat, he may be replaced on base then go bat. This is NOT an out. If no other runners are available on the team and curtesy runner is up to bat it will be an automatic out.

5) Batter starts with 1-1 count. After 2 strikes, batter is entitled to only 1 foul ball (next one he’s out)

6) All players must play a minimum of 3 innings in the field. No players may be added after start of 5th inning. Pitchers that pitch entire 1st game need not play in field 2nd game, but must bat.

7) All players must run to 1st base. Make sure batter knows to run to the Orange 1st base on an infield grounder. If there is to be no play at first and is an obvious extra base hit, the runner may turn on the white base.

8) Any player involved in a flagrant fight will be subject to review by commissioners and will be subject to suspension or eviction from the league. Umpire ejection is final with no appeal to commissioners.

• New for 2025: Any ejected player will miss remaining turns at bat for that game and is disqualified from continuing to play that day, plus the next available game played. When the player would be up for his next at bat during the game the player was ejected from, there will be an automatic out. Any additional game the player misses, there is no automatic out.

9) Defensive player cannot block base if not in possession of the ball – otherwise interference called at the discretion of the umpire.

10) Age limit - 25 (21 if son of player) age must be attained in existing calendar year.

• Family members may play together if: Father, Son, Brother, Brother-in-law, Father-in law.
• Beachwood Men’s Softball reserves the right to ask for verification of birthdate should there need to be clarification. If documentation is not provided, the player will not be able to play in the league that year.

11) No physical assistance to a runner by coaches or runner will be called out.

12) If player leaves game early for injury, illness, etc., opposing manager must be notified. If player misses next turn at bat, he may not return to the game. No automatic out.

 

13) Replacement Players:

• In the first half of the season only, first and Second round players that will miss 4 or more consecutive weeks can be replaced by any player of the manager’s choosing. Once injured player returns, replacement player will not play unless original injured player is injured again and will miss 4 or more weeks again.
• If a 15th or 16th round player, has decided not to play, is injured or is otherwise out for the season, or does not pay by the League Fee Deadline, the managers MUST replace him with a player from the undrafted tryout list. *Managers can make this addition optional by taking a 17th round draft pick and should this occur the 17th rounder would simply fill in the empty slot.

14) No Sliding! Any base may be overrun, toward the base and returning to the base. Player may turn in any direction as long as a "defined" break is not made to next base as determined by umpire. All bases must be tagged by a runner’s foot and no other part of a baserunner may be allowed to tag a base or it will be considered an out.

15) No batters box; batter crossing over or stepping on home plate will be called out if contact is made.

16) All bats must be labeled "ASA" or “USA” – Any violation of this rule can result in eviction from league with forfeiture of fees paid. All bats must be taped or have rubber grips.

17) Home Plate – Runners must tag the runner's home plate (outside plate) and catcher must tag inside plate. There is no warning this is an automatic out. There will NO tag-outs by a catcher INSIDE the 25 foot line and home plate. (AKA Only force-outs at home plate)

18) No metal spikes permitted. Any player wearing metal spikes will be ejected.

19) Field Dimensions:

• 6-12 Ft pitching arc and ball must be presented to batter. 50 Ft pitching distance;
• All pitchers must pitch from behind provided screen. The screen is to be placed 20 feet in front of the 50’ pitchers rubber (30 foot from home plate). The pitcher will be required to release the pitch from a position directly behind and in line with the pitching screen and deliver the pitch directly over the screen to be a legal pitch. The pitcher must release the ball while occupying the rubber or it will be an illegal pitch. New for 2025 When a pitched ball hits the pitchers screen it will be an immediate dead ball. The first pitched ball per at bat is a dead ball with no penalty. Every subsequent pitched ball that hits the net will be considered a ball and will be treated the same as any other ball in the count.
• New for 2025: When a batted ball hits the pitchers screen it will be an immediate dead ball. The first batted ball per at bat is a dead ball with no penalty. Every subsequent batted ball that hits the net will be considered a foul ball and will be treated the same as any other foul ball in the count.
• New for 2025: 70 Ft Bases; 25 Ft force-out line from home plate towards 3rd base.

20) Umpire's failure to show – Umpired by non-playing commissioner unless a substitute is agreed upon with commissioners’ approval.

21) Round Robin pitchers – Pitcher of game need not pitch second game – but must play at least 3 innings of next game and bat.

22) Official Game (Bad Weather) – Losing team must bat 5 full innings.

23) Run Rule –12 runs after losing team completes 5 innings at bat. However – losing team always gets at-bat if run rule is reached after 5 innings.

 

24) Teams are seeded in Round Robin with best overall percentage record vs. worst. Highest seeded team are home teams throughout tournament. If there is a tie, head-to-head competition will determine higher seed. If 3-way tie, bye will be determined by coin-toss.

25) Website advertising $150. NOT tax deductible. Upon payment understood waiver release required by all players.

 

Any rules, policies, controversies not covered in the above stated rules will be reviewed and responded to by the commissioners.