Adult Softball Rules

Thank you for choosing Apex Park and Recreation District to play softball. Please make sure you are knowledgeable of the league rules.

General League Information

Leagues will follow USA Softball (formally Amateur Softball Association) rules with the exceptions and modifications listed. All decisions made by Apex PRD regarding rule interpretations are final and not subject to protest or league fee refunds. Apex PRD reserves the right to establish guidelines for any and all rules or infractions not covered in the USA or Apex PRD league rules and to refuse participation to an individual or team if they do not obey the rules and regulations and keep within the spirit of sportsmanship.

Games will be played at Harold D. Lutz Sports Complex, 10664 West 58th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80002.

Managers will ensure that all players and spectators are familiar with these rules and regulations. All provisions in the Apex PRD softball rules and code of conduct regarding the behavior and actions of players, managers and spectators apply to the entire ballfield area before, during and after the games.

All league schedules and league rules can be found on TeamSideline.

These leagues are strictly recreational. Have fun.

Registration Information

A $200 deposit is due at the time of registration. The entire league fee is due by the first game. Failure to pay could result in a forfeit.

• Teams not having fees paid by the second game will be charged an additional $50 late fee.
• Teams not having fees paid by the third game may be dropped from the league.

Team Rosters

• To be eligible to participate, a player must sign the team roster, acknowledging the liability waiver and code of conduct. A complete roster is required for all teams. All team managers must submit their team roster via TeamSideline before the first game.
• Rosters are open to additions or drops until the following dates per season. At that point, they will be frozen.
• Spring Season: third scheduled week.
• Summer Season: sixth scheduled week.
• Fall Season: fourth scheduled week.
• Players may not appear on 2 rosters within the same division. Dual registration is permitted; however, they cannot be in the same league. Schedules will not be adjusted in league play, make-up, or playoffs to accommodate players participating in more than one league.
• All players must be 18 years of age.
• Protest of eligible players must be done before a player bats for the first time. Players must have a legally accepted picture ID (i.e., driver’s license) at the complex for all games. In league play, players who are protested for eligibility must be able to produce a picture ID. If no proof of picture ID is presented, the player is ineligible to continue participating in that game. If no proof of ID is presented to league officials within 24 hours, the game is forfeited. If a team is reduced to less than eight players because of eligibility, the game is a forfeit.
• Men may only play in men’s or coed leagues. Women may only play in women’s or coed leagues.

Weather Cancellations

The city of Arvada determines field playability. Field condition decisions are made by 1 pm.

The umpire and field supervisor are empowered to call a game at any time because of darkness, rain, lightning, or any other unsafe conditions that might arise. In this event, if four innings have been played, the games will be considered completed regardless of the score.

League Classification

We do our best to appropriately place teams into leagues; however, we reserve the right to place teams and merge leagues as we see fit. The league supervisors and the athletics department will monitor teams and players, and if it is deemed a team and players are incorrectly classified, they may move teams or players up or down accordingly in future leagues. To help determine the proper classification for your team, please use the following guidelines:

• Class Competitive (2 home runs (HRs) + 1 up to a total of 3): This league is geared towards the tournament teams.
• Class Upper (2 HRs): Teams play at a high level. At least 75% of players have above-average skills, with the remaining players having average skills. All players have a solid understanding of the game. These teams want to win.
• Class Lower (1 HR): Teams have no more than 50% of players that have above-average skills. The remaining players are average or less skilled. Teams want to win but are not competitive enough to play in the upper league.

Note: Leagues may be combined into an open division (1 HR +1 up to a total of 2), but there are not enough teams to run independently.

Season Formats

• Spring: 6-game season. No tournament.
• Summer:
  • 12-game season. The top four teams playoff for the overall winner. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
  • 10-game season. The top four teams playoff for the overall winner. Monday and Friday
• Fall: 8-game season. The top four teams playoff for the overall winner.

Team Uniform, Equipment and Miscellaneous Rules

• Teams are required to have numbered shirts for the summer and fall seasons. Enforcement of the jersey rule is made by the opposing manager only to the umpire before the said player steps in the batter’s box for the first time; otherwise, the player will be eligible.
• Footwear: Shoes are to be molding soles only and cover toes and heels. No steel cleats will be allowed. No detachable cleats or shoes made of hard plastic or polyurethane are allowed. No flip-flops, sandals or Crocs.
• Blood rule: A player, coach, or umpire who is bleeding or has blood on their uniform must get it cleaned or covered up before continuing.
• Jewelry: Removal is strongly recommended. If staff deems jewelry to be a safety hazard to themselves or others, players will be asked to remove it (e.g., ear gages, hoop earrings, spiked piercings). Players will be given the opportunity to remove them before being called out. Refusal to remove an item will result in an ejection.
• Dugout: Only players and coaches are allowed in the dugout. Managers are expected to keep all kids, dogs, and other people out of the dugout.
• Field of play: No warming up on the infield.
• On-deck circle: Only the on-deck batter can be out of the dugout when the team is on offense. All other players must be in the dugout or outside the fence area.
• Batboy or girl: Only one is allowed in the dugout. They must be at least 10 years old and wear a helmet.
• Bats: Bats allowed for use in league play must be Amateur Softball Association (ASA) or USA Softball bats and must abide by the current USA Softball Bat Rules.
  • SSUSA or USSSA bats are not approved for our leagues.
  • The umpire will inspect the bats prior to the first pitch.
  • The certification stamp must be legible; otherwise, the bat will be deemed illegal.
  • Bats that are altered or dented, bats made of titanium and wood baseball bats are illegal.
  • Any use of an illegal bat shall result in an out.
  • It is the responsibility of the players who arrive after the game has begun to have their bats inspected prior to using them.

Please refer to the images of illegal USA Softball (ASA) stamps.

Game Regulations

• Games are 55 minutes long. The clock will start after the coaches' meeting at home plate. An inning will be completed if the visiting team is losing when time expires.
• The home team will be determined by a coin flip.
• A new inning begins when the third out is made in the previous inning.
• 6:15 pm games will have a 10-minute grace period for the first game, with the game clock starting at game time.
• All other games shall have a 5-minute grace period, with the game clock starting at the scheduled game time
• Games will be considered a complete game, and no new inning may start:
  • At the completion of seven innings and, the game is not tied.
  • At the completion of 55 minutes and, the game is not tied. Finish a full inning.
• Run Spread (Mercy Rule): Games will be called complete if:
  • The losing team has batted four times and is 15 runs or more behind
  • The losing team is 15 or more runs behind after 45 minutes of play.
  • The losing team has batted 5 times and is more than 10 or more behind.
• Teams must have 8 players to start and finish the game. They may finish with fewer players than they started with.
  • If there is an injury, their spot in the batting order will just be skipped, and no out is recorded.
  • If there is an ejection without a sub, an out will be recorded in that spot of the lineup.
• Picking up players the night of the game: With the permission of the other team, players may be picked up to prevent forfeiture. Once a team gives permission for the opposing team to pick up players, they are committed to the result of the game and cannot protest.
• Additional Player
  • A team may insert additional players into their lineup of up to 14 players.
  • The batting order must remain consistent; however, any 10 players can play defensive positions.
  • Any player in the lineup must be present at the beginning of the game. If the lineup has less than 10 players at the beginning of the game, you can add additional players up to 10 when players arrive. Any other players arriving after the start of the game will become substitutes.
    • Any player withdrawn from the game for a substitute may re-enter the game once for the same player that they were pulled for.
    • They must bat in the same place in the batting order from the beginning of the game.
  • Pitching Arc is 6 ft to 10 ft from the ground. No fake pitches, quick pitches, or herky-jerky motions in any league. The pitcher must present the ball and release it while having one foot touching the mound.
  • Batter's Count: Each batter will start with one ball and one strike count when they step into the batter’s box. There will be one courtesy foul ball on two strikes. The strike mat will not be used.
  • Home Run (HR): “Hit and Sit” on home runs hit over the fence. All runners may clear the bases. All runs will count.
  • Home runs must be retrieved by the team who hit the ball by the end of the inning. The game clock will not stop if the umpire runs out of balls.
  • The first HR after a team’s allotted HR will be considered an out.
  • If a team hits a second HR over the allotted HRs, it will end the inning.
  • If a team hits a third HR over the allotted HRs, it will result in an offensive ejection. The player will be able to play defensively, but an out will be recorded very time their spot comes to bat.
  • Double First Base: When a ball is hit in such a manner that there is going to be a play at first base, the batter must run to the orange base, and the defender must use the white base. If the runner hits the white base, they will be called out. If the fielder hits the orange base, the runner will be called safe. The orange base is only live the first time the runner runs past the base.
  • Courtesy Runner: With the agreement of the opposing manager, the team may use a courtesy runner. The proceeding batter, who is not a base runner, will be the courtesy runner. Courtesy runners must be the same sex of the runner they are replacing. If the courtesy runner is on base when their spot in the lineup comes up to bat, an out will be recorded at the plate.
  • Base Running: With the various skill levels in our league, we cannot enforce a “slide rule.” However, it is mandatory that the runner gets down, gets out of the way, or gives yourself up. Intent will be a judgment call from the umpire and staff. Although wild overthrows are part of the game and accidents happen, this rule is in place to prevent injuries and collisions.
  • Fielders: Do not block the base. Stay to the side of the base. Runners have the right of way to the base. Being safe is more important than getting the out.
  • Extra Inning Play: All tied games at the end of regulation game time will go to a one-pitch per batter inning.
    • The first extra inning, the last batter from regulation play will start on second base.
    • If games go into more extra innings, the last batter of the previous inning will start on third base.
    • Each batter will only get 1 pitch to hit. If the ball isn’t hit in play, the result of the pitch is:
      • Ball = walk
      • Strike = out
      • Foul = out

League Tie Breakers

1. Any team with a forfeit will be dropped from the tie.
2. Head-to-head.
3. Head-to-head differential.
4. Runs against.
5. Coin flip.

Coed Rules

Teams must start and finish with 8 players. There must be 4 males and 4 females to play with 8. Teams can play with 9 players. It can be either 4 males and 5 females or 5 males and 4 females.

• Defensive Positions: There is no restriction on where players play. There is no male dominance rule. Anyone can make any play.
• Outfield “Coed Line:” All outfielders must stay behind the 200’ line when females are up to bat.
• Penalty: If a player crosses the line before the ball is hit and fields the ball, the umpire shall signal a delayed dead ball. The offense has the option to take the result of the play or choose to award the batter first base with all other runners advancing one base.
• Batting Order: Lineups must alternate sexes. Every player is allowed to bat. Teams can make a male lineup and a female lineup. If there is an odd number in one of the sexes, a player might not bat behind the same opposite sex but will continue to bat behind the same sex.
• Male Batter Walks: For any walk to a male batter, intentional or not, the male batter will automatically advance to second base, and the next female will bat. Exception: with two outs, the female batter has the option to walk or bat.

Forfeit Procedure

• Teams may not take the field and play defense if they have less than 8 players (4 men and 4 women for coed leagues). If the 8th player does not arrive once the home team comes to bat, the game will be declared a forfeit.
• If both teams have fewer than 8 players, a double forfeit will be
• The score of a forfeited game will be 7-0. In the event a double forfeit occurs, each team will be credited with a loss, with the score being recorded as 0-0.
• If a team needs to forfeit, managers must contact the recreation coordinator by 4 pm on the scheduled game day. If notified properly, no forfeit fee may be charged to the team.
  • A forfeit will result in a $25 fine issued to the All fines must be paid before the team is able to play their next game.
  • A no-call/no-show will result in a $50 fine issued to the All fines must be paid before the team can play their next game.
  • If a team has 2 no-calls/no-shows in the same season, it may be removed from the league, and no refunds will be provided.