General League Rules		Game Playing Rules
League Eligibility Team Rosters Player Status Draft Rules Final Standings Divisional Alignment Tournament Rules Player Conduct League Issues		Playing Rules Insurance Playing Fields Equipment/Uniforms The Game Players and Substitutes Pitching/Batting Base Running
PLEASE NOTE: New rule changes are shown in red italics

---

 GENERAL LEAGUE RULES

1. LEAGUE ELIGIBILITY

   1. AGE – Player’s minimum age, 40 yrs old, reached anytime during playing year

   2. RESIDENCY – All new players need to be either Town of Oyster Bay or Farmingdale (Nassau or Suffolk) residents

   3. ELIGIBILITY – Established player maintains eligibility if he relocates outside of above locations

2. TEAM ROSTERS

   1. Mandated 16 man rosters are established prior to the start of the season

      1. If the roster opening occurs after the draft was completed but prior to the start of the season, the replacement player will be chosen from the pool of available players.

      2. The draft method (“Preferential’ or “Lottery Hat” selection) will be dependent on what is available to the team.  A “Preferential” selection if none was selected during the draft, other wise the replacement will be via a “Lottery Hat” pick

      3. Vacancies that occur after the season started, the team has the option of filling with a “Replacement Player”

         1. Selection is from the pool of available players via “Lottery Hat” pick

         2. If the player is placed on “Reserve Status” and his roster spot is filled with a “Replacement Player”, that player can not return to the active roster during that calendar year (including tournament games) and has to wait until the ensuing season to be reinstated to the active roster (2005)

3. PLAYER STATUS

   1. “RESERVE PLAYER” – player who becomes inactive due to health or personal reasons but maintains his permanent roster spot

      1. Two consecutive years is maximum limit for being on “Reserve Player” status to maintain his permanent roster spot

      2. If the player doesn’t return to the active roster within the two (2) year limit, that player must re-enter league via the draft

      3. If placed on “Reserve Status” prior to or during the season and his roster spot is filled with a “Replacement Player”, that player can not return to the active roster during that calendar year (including tournament games) and has to wait until the ensuing season to be reinstated to the active roster (2005)

   2. “REPLACEMENT PLAYER” – replacement of an active roster player that went onto “Reserve Player” List

      1. Each “Replacement Player” placement date and draft round is recorded to determine seniority among that team’s “Replacement Players” (when there are more than one)

      2. If more than one “Replacement Player” is on a roster and any “Reserve Player” returns to the active roster, the “Replacement Player” with the least seniority is the first player bumped off the active roster and the more senior “Replacement Player” retains his roster spot (last on – first off)

      3. If a “Replacement Player” is being “bumped” off the roster, he has the option to either return to the draft or wait up to two (2) years for a vacancy to occur for that team

      4. Permanent status can occur if a permanent vacancy occurs on current roster (team doesn’t have option of denying the replacement player a roster spot if a vacancy exists)

   3. ROSTER PLAYERS

      1. Trades

         1. Written requests from both OTHG managers and players involved

         2. Submitted to OTHG President no later than Jan.16th

         3. Between current roster player only (no future draft choices)

      2. Roster Player Removal

         1. Removal of a player from current roster by the team for disciplinary reasons (absenteeism, behavioral, etc.) requires OTHG Board approval

         2. Player notification done directly, regular mail or e-mail notification not permitted

4. DRAFT RULES

   1. DRAFT ORDER – Reverse order of final combined divisional standings (based on winning percentages)

   2. DRAFT ROUNDS

      1. "Preferential” Round – initial pick is a known selection from the pool of eligible candidates as established by the OTHG Board

      2. "Lottery Hat” Pick Rounds

         1. Subsequent draft picks, if needed, will be “blind” selections

         2. “Bumped” and “Re-registrants” (those not drafted the previous year) will have their name placed in the “Lottery Hat” pool twice to increase their chances of being drafted (2005)

   3. DRAFT POOL

      1. New Players

         1. From yearly registration

         2. Registration dates and methods to be established by OTHG President

            1. Late Registrants (after draft list distributed to team representatives) can only be a “Lottery Hat” pick and not eligible as a “Preferential” choice

            2. Re-registrants (those not drafted the previous year) will have their name entered in the “Lottery Hat” pool twice if not a “preferential” selection (2005)

      2. Re-entering OTHG Players

         1. Active roster players

            1. Written request to re-enter the draft must be received by the OTHG President prior to January 16th of the draft year

            2. Can only be “Lottery Hat” pick and not eligible as a “Preferential” choice

            3. Manager of player requesting to re-enter draft has option of arranging a trade for said player

               1. Trade deadline of Jan.30th or night of draft, whichever comes first

               2. Trade subject to OTHG Board approval

            4. If re-entering player is selected by team he is leaving, player is replaced into draft pool and team makes new “Lottery Hat” pick

         2. “Bumped Player” (“Replacement Player” returning to the draft pool) will have their name entered in the “Lottery Hat” pool twice if not a “preferential” selection (2005)

         3. Former OTHG Players

            1. Anyone who played within the past four (4) years can only be “Lottery Hat” pick and not eligible as a “Preferential” choice

   4. DRAFT PENALTIES

      1. “Ghost” Player – any team that pays a “returning” player’s registration knowing that said player has no intention of returning will forfeit their next “Preferential” Draft Choice (replacement via “Lottery Hat” choice) (2005)

      2. Any candidate who refuses to play for drafting team will be barred from playing in the OTHG League for a period of five (5) years. 

         1. To compensate team losing draft choice, the replacement player will be the same as the lost pick (“preferential” for a “preferential”, “Lottery Hat” pick for a “Lottery Hat” pick) from available candidates

   5. DRAFT SELECTION TRADES

      1. Trades only permitted between “Lottery Hat” selections

         1. No trades permitted involving “Preferential” Selections

         2. No trades permitted between current roster players (including “Reserve and Replacement players”) and any draft choice

      2. Draft Pick trades limited to “Draft Night” only

   6. TRY OUTS

      1. No team is permitted to hold tryouts of draft candidates

5. FINAL STANDINGS

   1. Based on winning percentages - number of wins (tie equals ½ a win) divided by total of games played

      1. Tie Breakers

         1. Head-to-head record

         2. 1 game playoff (to decide 1st place only, all other ties go to next tie breaker)

         3. Divisional record

         4. Coin flip

6. DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT

   1. Determined by combined divisions overall standings (based on winning percentage)

      1. American Division – first six teams based on best winning percentages

      2. National Division – next six teams

7. TOURNAMENT RULES

   1. Format determined by the OTHG Board

   2. No game protests will be entertained

8. PLAYER CONDUCT

   1. The OTHG Board has the right to review any player and/or manager’s conduct

   2. Any behavior that the OTHG Board deems inappropriate (fighting, vulgar and/or abusive language, violation of the Town of Oyster Bay Park Rules (2006) etc.) will be subject to review.  In reviewing the reported behavior, the OTHG Board will acquire as much information as possible from as many sources available (managers, players umpires, witnesses, etc.)

   3. If the OTHG Board determines such behavior was founded to be inappropriate, the following sanctions will be considered against the offending individuals

      1. Warning

      2. Suspension (length to be determined by OTHG Board)

      3. Ejection from the league

9. LEAGUE ISSUES

   1. Quorum to conduct league business consists of four (4) OTHG Board members and League President or his designated Vice President

   2. President has veto power

   3. Rule Changes

      1. Submitted in writing including submitters name and date

      2. Submitted no later than the initial meeting of the new calendar year for ample time to review and incorporate

 

GAME PLAYING RULES

 

1. PLAYING RULES

   1. OTHG League is governed by the ASA Slow Pitch Rules

   2. All OTHG League Playing Rules supersede in-conflict ASA Rules

      1. Any rule conflicts and/or interpretations will be address by the OTHG Board

   3. Managers (or his designee) must have in their possession at all games a printed copy of the OTHG Game Rules and OTHG Ground Rules

      1. Failure of the team to have in their possession a copy of the OTHG Game Rules, the team automatically forfeits their right to contest any play/rule interpretation made by an umpire that is based on an OTHG Rule (2006)

2. INSURANCE

   1. The Over the Hill Softball League only carries liability insurance

3. PLAYING FIELDS

   1. Allen Park Officials have authority to cancel games at their discretion

   2. Ground Rules will be the same for each game played on that field as establish by the OTHG Board

   3. First Game home teams are responsible to obtain and placed on the field (if not done by Park Personnel); cones (if needed for foul lines), and the Home Plate Extension Mat

   4. Base distances are 65 ft. (2006)

   5. Pitching distance is anywhere between50-55 ft. (2006)

      1. Distance used is at the pitcher’s discretion (2006)

      2. Distance used is flexible, pitcher can change distance pitch by pitch basis (2006)

   6. Home Team’s bench is the 1^st base Side

   7. The only physically applied commitment line is halfway between 3^rd base and home plate

4. EQUIPMENT/UNIFORMS

   1. No metal cleats of any type will be permitted

      1. Violation is an automatic out of that player without any advancement of other runners

   2. All players listed in the line-up must be wearing their OTHG Uniform shirt

      1. Violation will result in game forfeiture

      2. Exception: Any new player who hasn’t received his OTHG shirt

   3. Banned Bats (2006)

      1. All bats comprised of composite material (barrel and/or handle) are banned from use in all OTHG games (2006)

         1. Violation will result in the following penalties for each offense

            1. Team forfeits game (2006)

            2. Player is suspended for the next two consecutive games

         note – “Banned Bats” are NOT based solely on any “Banned Bat” list that may currently be supplied by the OTHG game umpires.  Each individual player is responsible for verifying his bat’s composition and that it doesn’t violate OTHG League Rules (2006)

   4. Altered Bats (2006)

      1. Definition – when the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed such as inserting material inside the bat or painting a bat (to disguise a banned bat) other than at the top or bottom for identification (2006)

         1. Violation will result in the following penalties for the 1^st offense

            1. Team forfeits game (2006)

            2. Player is suspended for the next six consecutive games (2006)

         2. Violation will result in the following penalties for the 2^nd offense

            1. Team forfeits game (2006)

            2. Player is banned from the league (2006)

5. THE GAME

   1. SCHEDULED STARTING TIMES

      1. 1^st Game – 7:00 PM

      2. 2^nd Game – 8:20 PM

      3. 3^rd Game – 9:40 PM

         1. Only 1^st game has 10 minute grace period before forfeit is declared

   2. GAME LENGTH

      1. No new inning may be started 1 hour and 20 minutes from the official start of the game as determined by the umpire

   3. “MERCY RUN RULE”

      1. Game is terminated when a team is leading by 18 or more runs

         1. Home team winning after 6 1/2 innings

         2. Visiting team after 7 innings

         3. Home team always gets to bat in any inning visiting team reaches/exceeds mercy run limit

   4. FORFEITS

      1. Must field a minimum of nine players

      2. All players must be on “Active” roster (“Reserve” players are ineligible to play)

      3. Score is recorded 9-0

      4. Penalties

         1. 1^st Violation -  $100.00 team fine

            1. Paid prior to ensuing year’s registration or subject to team status being suspended by the OTHG Board

         2. 2^nd Violation – team’s status to be reviewed by the OTHG Board

   5. TIE GAMES

      1. Scores are final and reflected in team’s record

   6. CONTINUED GAMES

      1. If an incomplete game has been rescheduled with a regularly scheduled game, the suspended game is completed first

6. PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES

   1. All players on the active roster and present must be part of the line-up and play the field (unless sick or injured)

   2. Only players present at the start of the game can be listed in the line-up and all late arriving players must be added to the bottom of the batting order

   3. Players must play the field for a minimum of 4 innings in every full length game (8 ½ - 9 innings)

      1. Penalties

         1. 1^st Offense – team warning

         2. 2^nd Offense – lose of team’s next occurring “preferential” draft pick

         3. 3^rd Offense – team status reviewed by the OTHG Board

   4. SUBSTITUTIONS

      1. Fielders

         1. Unlimited & unrestricted (w/o violating 4 inning rule)

      2. Runners

         1. Each player can run only once per game

            1. Violation – game can be declared a loss

7. PITCHING/BATTING

   1. ARC

      1. The ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 ft. while not exceeding a maximum of 12 ft. from the ground (ASA Rule 6 Section 3-H)

   2. ILLEGAL PITCH (All in ASA “Rule 6 Section 7 Effect”)

      1. The umpire shall verbally state “illegal pitch”

      2. If a batter swings at or contacts any illegal pitch, it is nullified and all play stands

      3. If the batter doesn’t swing, a ball shall be called on the batter

   3. STRIKE ZONE

      1. When a legally pitched ball lands on home plate or the home plate extension mat

   4. BALL/STRIKE COUNT

      1. Each at-bat starts with a 1-1 count (1 ball 1 strike)

8. BASE RUNNING

   1. FORCE PLAY

      1. Is in effect at every base in every situation that a runner is advancing towards.  No need to tag any runner but is permitted.

   2. COMMITMENT

      1. Any base runner can be judged by the umpire to have “committed” himself to the next base

         1. The only physically applied “commitment” line is between 3^rd and home plate

         2. Does NOT apply to a runner who is returning to retouch a base on a caught fly ball (2008)

   3. OVERRUNNING

      1. Advancement to 2^nd or 3^rd base, the runner is permitted to overrun the base without risk of being put out (as long as there is no attempt to advance)

      2. There is no limit to how far past the base the runner may go

      3. There is no requirement to return to the base prior to advancing

      4. Returning to a base, the runner is not permitted to overrun that base (subject to being put out)

   4. CONTACT RULE

      1. When a runner is advancing to any base that is occupied by a fielder (i.e. positioned to receive a throw), the runner must attempt to avoid contact with the fielder

      2. The runner is permitted to run to either side of the base, if needed, to avoid contact with the fielder.  The runner is not required to touch the base in this situation 

         1. Avoidable Contact – runner is declared out

         2. Incidental Contact – no penalty (i.e. caused by fielder’s action)

      3. At any base, the runner’s foot needs to be in contact with the ground in the area of the base or on/past the home plate extension line (same as touching a base) for the umpire to determine safe or out.

      4. This is a judgment call for the umpires (can’t be protested)

   5. SLIDING

      1. Not permitted (either feet or head first) when advancing to a base

         1. Exceptions

            1. Returning to a base, permitted to go into the base head/hands first

            2. If runner tripped/fell, can reach for the base with either hand or foot

   6. 3^rd STRIKE FOUL OUT (2006)

      1. Dead ball situation, runners can’t advance

      Rule rescinded, using ASA Book Rule, which allows runner to tag on 3^rd strike foul fly.