2010 Lawyers' League Softball Rules

  1. Rosters: Rosters are restricted to lawyers, payroll employees, spouses of employees, and children/immediate family members of lawyers. ("Significant others" of lawyers are eligible.) Prior to the start of each game team captains shall exchange a complete game line-up and shall identify each player's status (lawyer, payroll employee, spouse of employee, significant other of lawyer, and children/immediate family member of lawyer). Players can only play for one team during each season.
    1. Lawyers: Each team is required to play at least five (5) lawyers in the field at all times. If a team has fewer than five lawyers in the field, it must play shorthanded. Law clerks qualify as "lawyers" but may not comprise more than two of the "5 lawyer requirement". (Note: Teams must provide a catcher.)
    2. Women: Each team is required to play a minimum of three (3) women in the field at all times. If a team has fewer than three women in the field, it must play shorthanded. (Note: Teams must provide a catcher.)
    3. Children: Children of lawyers are only allowed to play if their attorney-parent is playing in the game. A single week absence of the attorney-parent does not necessarily require enforcement of this rule/li>
    4. Automatic out: If you are short either an attorney or woman, then the 10th position in the batting lineup is an automatic out. No more than one automatic out per batting lineup shall be penalized no matter the number of lawyers or women absent.

      Example 1 - A lawyer is absent. Team plays shorthanded one player and takes an auto out on 10th position.
      Example 2 - A lawyer and woman are absent. Team plays shorthanded two players but takes only one auto out in the lOth position.
  2. Batting order (line-up): All players must be listed in the batting order at the beginning of the game. At least five (5) lawyers and three (3) women must be placed in the first ten positions of the batting order. Late arrivals may be added to the end of the batting order, no matter what inning they arrive.
  3. Substitutions: Players may be freely substituted in the field as many times as they please. (e.g. A player may start at first base, sit out the second inning, play left field in the third inning, sit out the fourth and fifth innings, and return to first base in the sixth inning.) Player's listed in lineup spots I thru 10 may not be substituted in the lineup and said players must remain in the same position in the line-up throughout the game, however, players 11 thru infinity may be freely substituted in-between innings. If a player listed in a I thru 10 spot in the line-up leaves the game permanently then the remaining players shall shift up one spot in the line-up but the top ten players must still comply with Rule 2 or the team shall be required to take an automatic out.
  4. The strike zone is identified by area extending 36" behind the rear tip of the home plate. The mat should be 17" wide x 36" long. The strike zone includes the area immediately behind the corners of the plate. Preferably, the front of the mat should be aligned with the corners of the home plate such that the home plate sits partially on top of the mat. If the ball strikes any part of the mat or the area immediately behind the corners of the home plate, it is a strike. If it misses the mat, it is a ball. Balls and strikes will be called by the home-base umpire. Three strikes is an out; four balls is a walk. Unless both teams agree to the contrary, the default rule is that walks will be called.
  5. Pitches: An illegal pitch is counted as a ball. A legal pitch is accomplished when the ball is pitched underhand to the batter at a moderate speed with a perceptible arch of not less than three feet (as measured from the time the ball leaves the pitcher's hand until it reaches the plate) and with an arch of not more than twelve feet/from the ground (NOT measured twelve feet from release from the pitcher's hand).
  6. Pinch runners are only allowed if a batter is too injured/ill to run (not just claiming to be too old to run). The default rule requires that the pinch runner be allowed once the batter has successfully reached base. The pinch runner will replace the batter at the base reached by the batter. The pinch runner shall be the player who made the last out for the team at bat. If agreed upon by both teams, a pinch runner may be allowed to run for the injured/ill batter beginning at home plate when the batter is up. If both teams agree to this alternate arrangement, the pinch runner is required to maintain a hand on the backstop in the area behind the catcher and may only advance to a base after the batter has hit the ball.
  7. Metal cleats are not allowed.
    No bunting, intentional walks, or base stealing is allowed.
    The same ball must be used by both teams when batting and the required league ball is a 12" Classic M, .44 cor., 375 lbs max compression.
    Female batters may choose to hit a 11" Classic W slow pitch ball, .44 cor., 375 lbs max compression.
    Teams should provide their own umpires. Teams failing to provide umpires may be penalized.
    Each team must provide a catcher.
    Distance between bases is 60 feet.
    Dimensions of the strike zone carpet behind home plate are 17" x 36". See #4 above.
    Run rule: any team with a 15 run lead after the fifth inning shall be declared the winner.
    Games cannot end in a tie score. Game must continue for additional innings until the tie is broken.
    Teams are requested to provide bases for each game and two (2) orange cones to mark the foul ball lines in the outfield.
  8. Infield fly rule is not in effect. Due to the fact that an umpire is required to make the call whether the ball is "catchable" and we don't have a neutral umpire (except in the championship), the rule can't be enforced.
  9. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Games shall consist of seven innings. If a game starts later than 6:40 p.m. then it shall be a five-inning game. If a team is not prepared to start the game by 6:50 p.m. then that team is required to forfeit the game and the other team shall be declared the winner.
  10. Darkness rule: Games that become dangerous due to impending darkness or severe weather shall terminate at the conclusion of the last complete inning at the discretion of the league commissioner, with the leading team declared the winner. If darkness or severe weather is likely to affect a game's conclusion prior to seven innings (or extra innings in the event of a tie), then the team captains should consult with the commissioner so everyone is aware the game may be called early.
  11. Game cancellations due to inclement weather will be decided by 4:30 p.m. on game day.