PORTSMOUTH COED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
By-Laws that differ from our governing body USA Softball

 

Updated As of 2025 Season

 

LEAGUE BY-LAWS:
Season fees are $800.00 per team. Non-Portsmouth residents must pay a $20.00 recreation department fee. All fees are to be paid to the treasurer. Team Managers are responsible for all fees/payments not received by the Treasurer. Any team that does not pay on time all fees on time will be deemed ineligible at that point. Ineligibility due to non-payment of outstanding fees will be enforced by the President.

Players:
1. Eligibility Age: All players must be at least 18 years old by opening day
2. League must continuously consist of 1/2 Portsmouth residents.
4. Teams are responsible to pay $20 for everyone, on their final roster who is a non-Portsmouth resident. This payment is
due by the first league playoff game or the team is deemed ineligible.

5. Teams are to consist of 5 females and 5 males. Two of each gender in the outfield, two in the infield and opposite in the battery. A team may play with 9 one short of either gender with an out in place in the lineup. 

League Ground Rules
1. If suspended, games will be picked up from the point of interruption, unless game is called after the 5th inning is complete. Only playoff games need to play 7 innings.
3. Home Team is first team Listed on the schedule

Home Team Responsibilities:

a) One set up new game balls and one set of used game balls
b) Lights
c) Bathrooms – pickup after ourselves. Ex double check paper towels, soap, wipe sink (bigger problems notify the president)
e) rake batter’s box. Batter’s box and pitcher’s mound to be flat)

f) During High School season, bases need to be put back to HS posts after last game

 

Protest Regulations:
1. Should a protest occur during the game, it should be immediately brought up to the game umpire and if further discussion is needed both coaches should discuss things with the umpire at home plate.
2. All protests must be made to the league within three business days.

 

Reporting Results:
1. Format for game sheets is first name and last name. Executive Director must approve use of any nicknames
2. Executive Director will communicate weekly (Friday) with a request for game sheets via email or text. Reply to communication within 3days
a) Failure to do so will result in the team to be considered forfeiting the game
b) Forfeits due to game sheets (legibility, timing, etc.) will be enforced by President

 

Forfeits:
1. When your team forfeits a game, all players on your team are considered "not playing" in that game. This will be used when meeting eligibility requirements for playoffs
2. When the opposing team forfeits a game, all players on your team are considered to have played in that game. This will be used when meeting eligibility requirements for playoffs
3. Every team is given 1 forfeit with no additional penalty
4. There will be a $50 penalty assessed to any team for each game forfeited after the first one.
5. Payment of forfeit fees is due by playoffs. Non-payment of fees will result in ineligibility for playoffs. Any forfeits during playoffs resulting in fees must be paid by the team's next game or the team is deemed ineligible.

 

Ejections, Suspensions
1. Umpires are allowed to use their discretion and USA rules to enforce inappropriate behavior.
2. Any player who is ejected from the game will be suspended for one additional game.
3. Inappropriate behavior requiring disciplinary action will be handled on an individual basis by the League Officials.

 

Playoff Rules
1. Playoffs will be a double elimination tournament
2. All playoff games will go 7 innings (6 1/2 if home team is ahead) except for the 12run rule

3. If suspended, playoff games will be picked up from the point of interruption regardless of amount of game remaining.
4. At the end of the regular season, all teams will qualify and be ranked for post-season Playoff games.
5. Rankings and ties will be based on 1) Best overall record 2) Best head-to-head record 3) Lowest total runs allowed head-to-head 4) Have two teams play each other in one additional game
6. If available, two umpires will be used in each game of the playoffs.

 

Playoff Eligibility
1. All fines/dues must be paid before playoffs begin to be eligible.
2. In order to play in a play-off game, a player must have played in a minimum of 1/2 the games.

3. Backups will be only be allowed when used to prevent a forfeit. Teams are to play shorthanded before using backups

a) Backups must be pre-approved by Executive Director prior to playoffs

b) Backups are a list of ineligible players ranked based on games played
c) Backups are to be used in order of ranking (most games played to least games played)

4. Managers are given credit for all game where they are coaching. Team managers do not have to play in the game.
5. Injured players are exempt from having to play to get credit as long as

a) The team manager notifies the League President of the injured player. A disabled list will be posted on the league website
b) The injured player attends the game and is put on the bottom of the game sheet

6. If any team forfeits 3 or more times during one season the President will decide if that team is eligible to play
7. Any ineligibility will be enforced by the League President

 

Weather:
1. Decision made by the president before 430pm or after it becomes the umpire’s call.

2. Notification will post on the PCSL facebook page, emailed and communicated from the president to the team managers 

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Field Ground Rules:
1. No team is to play/practice on the field 30minutes prior to the game
2. No smoking or alcoholic beverages at games. Players smoking or drinking alcohol at the facility will be automatically disqualified from participating in that evening's game. a) Umpires who spot violations of this rule simply must inform both team representatives that the offending
player(s) is (are) ineligible to compete that evening.

3. No dogs are allowed. Dogs must be kept in vehicles or in parking lot if brought to the field.
4. Homerun limit is 3, coinciding with USA guidelines. For any in excess the ball is dead, the batter is out, and no runners can advance

 

LEAGUE BY-LAWS THAT AFFECT USA RULES:
League
1. Starting times: 6pm games are given a 15minute grace period

2. No games will be cut short for time (including extra innings)
2. Each batter will start with a 1-1 count and have a "foul to waste" (ability to foul on 3rd strike one time)

3. Mercy Rule: 12 runs after five complete innings. If visiting team is ahead, home team will get last at bat. All games will go a minimum of 5 innings.

3. There will be no special arrangements between teams 1. Umpires’ decisions will be final.
4. Game Start: Starting time cannot be delayed because only 9 players are present.
5. Courtesy Runner: If a player is injured, the injured player must notify the umpire for the need of a substitute runner prior to entering the batter's box. The umpire will make the opposing team aware of the injured runner and base limits before the injured player bats. Upon notification the injured player cannot go past first base unless it's awarded base (HR, ground rule double, male walks, etc.) After getting a base hit, the injured player shall be replaced by same sex that has made the last out A male player shall run for a male and a female for a female.
6. In case of injury, resulting in removal of injured player, a team may use what would ordinarily be an illegal substitute, if there are no legal substitutes available. The removed player cannot reenter the game.

7. Rule Explanation: All starters and substitutes can be removed and re-enter as long as they occupy their original spot in the lineup. Once a player is removed a second time, they cannot reenter.

7. All outfielders can be positioned at a team's discretion in the outfield. This includes the short fielder. (no closer than 5ft from the infield.)
8. Infielders cannot start the play deeper than 5ft from the infield dirt.
9. When only one new ball is used along with a used second ball, the umpire will keep the new ball in play as much as possible. The umpire will not wait for proper ball rotation procedures to put the new ball back in play. When the balls become equal the umpire shall the use procedures for proper ball rotation.

10.a team is allowed to use a player from another team to avoid forfeit during regular season. ie one male and/or one female as an 8th and 9th or one as the 9th player. in not instance is a player to be used as a 10th or extra player.

11. a team may play with 6 females and 4 males on the field defensively but the extra female is not to bat it is an auto out in the order.
Bats
1. Women will be allowed to use any USA approved bat at the time the game is played. Any bats that are banned by USA are NOT approved regardless of what Certification Marks are on the bat.
2. Men are only allowed to use bats listed on "PCSL approved bat list"
3. All bats must be slow pitch bats
4. A list of acceptable bats will be made prior to opening day.
5. Penalty for players/teams caught using a non-legal bat will be:

∙ 1st offense: Player ejected from game. Player cannot be substituted for resulting in automatic out
∙ 2nd offense by the same team: Team forfeits game
∙ 3rd offense by the same team: Team ejected from the league
∙ The League website will be updated to acknowledge each offense and track number of offenses

 

 

 

Approved Bats

• Demarini Ultimate Weapon (WTDXUWE)
• Demarini Uprising (STDXDMS)
• Anderson Flex (011039)

 

Approved Bats (Discontinued)

• Worth Legit (SBLGSW)
• Demarini Bruiser (DXBSP)
• Easton Reflex (SX72)
• Easton S300 Single Wall (SP14S300)
• TPS Louisville Slugger Warrior (SB12W)
• Easton Rival (SG1)
• Easton S500 (SP14S500)
• Louisville Slugger Vapor (SBVA15U)
• Demarini Defiance