2025 SVGSL Rules of Play
All Rules are governed by USA SOFTBALL Slow Pitch, except as amended by International Pride Softball (IPS) previously NAGAAA and the SVGSL Open Division Board of Directors and UIC.
BUSINESS:
All players must register through SVGSL.org and submit payment for the season prior to taking the field.
All players must complete all required forms by SVGSL and Arcadia Ballpark prior to taking the field.
Players who are not registered or do not complete the required forms will not be allowed to play until all completed forms have been received and verified by the SVGSL board.
Spring Season:
Team deposits ($100) are due no later than February 14, 2025.
Early Bird Team Registration ($900) is due no later than March 21, 2025.
Team Registration Fees will increase to $1000 March 22, 2025.
Teams that are not paid in full by 5:00 PM April 3, 2025, will be assessed a forfeit and will not be permitted to take the field.
Team Preliminary Rosters are due no later than February 28, 2024.
Team Ratings are due no later than March 15, 2025.
Players that are not included on the roster or Teams that have not submitted their roster by the start of their first game will not be allowed to take the field.
Summer Season:
Team deposits ($100) are due no later than May 22, 2025.
Early Bird Team Registration ($900) is due no later than June 27, 2025.
Team Registration Fees will increase to $1000 June 28, 2025.
Teams that are not paid in full by 5:00 PM July 10, 2025, will be assessed a forfeit and will not be permitted to take the field.
Team Rosters and Ratings are due no later than June 5, 2024.
Players that are not included on the roster or Teams that have not submitted their roster by the start of their first game will not be allowed to take the field.
Previous ADA language has been updated as PIP, Player Inclusion Policy to abide by iPride Softball Governing Manual Language.
All ratings are reviewed and may be adjusted by the Ratings Committee.
Following committee review, all ratings will be reviewed, approved, and may be adjusted prior to being finalized by the SVGSL Commissioner.
If a team manager, coach, or player wants to challenge a rating finalized by the Commissioner, they must present score books and supporting evidence.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
All SVGSL players are required to adhere to all NAGAAA/IPS, SVGSL and SANCRA code of conduct.
NO ALCOHOL, VAPING, or SMOKING are allowed in the dugouts or fields and all rules placed by Arcadia Ballpark must be followed.
Any player suspected of being intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled substance is subject to ethics review by the SVGSL executive board.
Any and all violations are required to be reported to the governing bodies and Arcadia Ballpark.
Penalties for violation can range from a verbal/written warning, suspension up to and including lifetime ban.
NAGAAA/IPS Code of Conduct is as follows:
Diversity: We expect NAGAAA affiliates to honor all the diversity within the organization, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Integrity: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates to be straightforward, honest, and adhere to sportsmanship in all organizational dealings.
Objectivity: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates should not allow bias, conflict of interest or outside influence to override their judgment.
Honorable Behavior: We expect all NAGAAA affiliates to comply with relevant laws and regulations and avoid any action that could negatively impact the reputation of our organization.
SVGSL Code of Conduct can be viewed at the link below:
Sports Association of Northern California Recreation Agencies (SANCRA) link below:
EQUIPMENT:
All equipment used must be approved per the rules of USA Softball.
The Umpire shall inspect all bats and verify their legality for play per USA Softball.
Use of an illegal bat (dented, cracked, damaged) will result in the batter being called out.
Use of a non-approved, altered or bat removed from play will result in the batter being called out and ejected.
Game balls: 12”- .52/300 optic yellow, red stitch with USA/ASA black or green stamp.
The Double 1st Base rule is in effect.
When requested, use of the Safety Pitch Screen will be in effect.
When a batted ball hits the screen, the ball is dead, and the batter will be assessed a strike.
The screen must not be set more than three (3) feet in front of the pitching plate.
The screen must not be set further than the half-way point of the 24” pitching plate in either direction.
The screen can be adjusted for a left or right-handed pitcher but must be used for the entire inning while on defense.
The pitcher must stand behind the net at the time the pitch is released and may not step out from behind the net prior to the first touch of any batted ball by another defensive player.
Lower D Division:
A commit line will be used for all runners approaching home plate.
Running past the commit line signals intent to score.
If the defense touches home plate after the runner passes the commit line but before runner passes the scoring line, the runner will be declared out.
UNIFORMS:
Each player shall wear a shirt of like color with a contrasting color number at least 3” in height on the back. Example - 0 and 00 are considered to be different numbers.
Metal cleats/spikes of any kind or with detachable cleats are not permitted.
Plastic visors are not permitted.
Bandanas may be worn, but not around the neck.
GAME TIME/TIME LIMIT:
Games are 50 minutes and played at 6:50pm, 7:50pm and 8:50pm. If time remains on the clock after the 3rd out a new inning may start.
A ten (10) minute grace period is allowed to get the minimum required nine (9) players to start the game.
The clock starts at the game start time. Grace periods will be deducted from the game time.
A forfeit (7-0 score) will be assessed against teams with less than 9 players after the grace period.
If neither team has the minimum number of players at the end of the grace period, a double forfeit will be declared.
A forfeit of a game will initiate a $35.00 fine paid to SVGSL and is due prior to the teams next scheduled game. Teams will not be allowed to take the field if the fee is not paid.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
Ratings are based on current NAGAAA/IPS rating limitations.
Team Ratings: A team rating is defined as the sum of the highest ten (10) individual player ratings rostered on that team.
C Division – Maximum player rating is 14, team maximum rating is 110
Upper D Division - Maximum player rating is 12, team maximum rating is 110
Lower D division - Maximum player rating is 10, team maximum rating is 95
Player and/or Team ratings may be reviewed and reassessed during the season if playing skills progress above their current rating or the rating limitations of their division.
A player must play a minimum of five (5) league games to be eligible for the spring season playoffs.
A player must play a minimum of three (3) league games to be eligible for the summer season playoffs
Team Eligibility: Registered teams must have a minimum of ten (10) players to be eligible for league play.
LINEUPS:
The lineup card shall consist of the player’s last name, first name initial, number and position in the order in which the starting players will bat.
C Division:
All players in attendance must bat once.
Lineups may consist of up to 12 batters with all other players in attendance listed as substitutes.
Late arriving players must be listed as a substitute on the lineup card.
Prior to a player entering the game as a substitute, the team manager must notify the umpire and opposing team of the substitution
Upper D & Lower D Division:
All teams must bat all eligible players in attendance.
Lineups must consist of all players in attendance.
If a team begins play with ten (10) or more players, late arriving players may be added to the batting order prior to the last listed player in the lineup batting.
Any player arriving after all players have batted or the third (3rd) inning, whichever occurs first, may not enter the game.
Teams with PIP players shall provide supporting documentation to the SVGSL Commissioner prior to participation in league play and noted on the lineup card with a star next to their name.
SHORT HANDED RULE:
Teams may start play or finish the game with nine (9) players without penalty. If the tenth (10th) player arrives, they must immediately be added in the tenth (10th) spot on the lineup card.
Teams that are short handed at the start of the game will be allowed two (2) pick up players to reach a maximum of nine (9) total players to avoid forfeit.
All pick up players must be appropriate for the division in which the team they are being picked up for. If a player or team exceeds the rating limitations, they will forfeit the game.
Teams may finish the game with nine (9) or ten (10) players without penalty if player(s) are lost for any reason other than ejection.
If a player is lost due to ejection, the team shall take an out in the vacated spot of the lineup whenever that spot is due to bat.
COURTESY RUNNER:
Any eligible player or substitute may be used as a Courtesy Runner (CR) at any time.
C Division:
A maximum of one (1) Courtesy Runner is allowed per inning.
Upper D & Lower D Division:
A maximum of two (2) Courtesy Runners are allowed per inning.
A Courtesy Runner whose time at bat comes up while on base:
The player who the CR is running for will be called out.
The CR will be removed from base to take their turn at bat.
A second CR or substitute is not permitted.
PIP Courtesy Runners do not count toward the CR limit.
PIP players may have a CR more than once per inning and at any time once reaching base.
PIP courtesy runner must be the last completed at bat.
The same penalty is in effect if the CR is on base when due to bat.
STARTING COUNT:
All batters begin with a one ball, one strike (1-1) count, with no courtesy foul after the 2nd strike.
PITCHING RULES:
Pitching height is 6’ - 12’ feet from the ground with a perceptible arc.
Any ball striking home plate shall be ruled a ball.
A pitcher must have at least one foot in contact with and within the 24” pitching plate.
SCORING RULES:
Mercy Run rule will be fifteen (15) runs ahead after four (4) innings.
Teams are limited to scoring seven (7) runs per inning through the third (3rd) inning, with unlimited scoring of runs beginning in the fourth (4th) inning.
C Division:
One (1) over the fence (OTF) home run is allowed per game.
Any subsequent OTF home run will be assessed an out.
Upper D & Lower D Division:
Over the fence (OTF) home runs are not allowed.
Any fair, fly ball over the fence will result in an out.
EJECTIONS:
Any player ejected by an umpire is subject to an automatic suspension from their team’s next game.
Any ejection related to sportsmanship, misconduct or inappropriate behavior may be subject to further action by the Board.
All players are required to follow the SVGSL and SANCRA Player Code of Conduct.
PROTESTS:
An official protest involves a rules interpretation, an illegal player, or an ineligible player.
Rules interpretation must be made before the next pitch.
Illegal or Ineligible player must be while player is in the game and before the umpire leaves the field.
Questions based solely on umpire judgment / decisions will not be considered.
The umpire will follow these modified USA SOFTBALL rules for the SVGSL. Any rule not covered in these modifications will revert to the Official Rules of USA SOFTBALL.