All games will be governed by official ASA/USA rules with the following exceptions and additions:

1. BAD WEATHER

If known in time, information concerning field conditions will be available on the Henrico Sports Hotline at 501-5132. Info will also be posted on our League Website and our FaceBook Page after 3:00pm. Otherwise, all decisions are left to the discretion of the Location Supervisor; his word is final. If the first game is canceled, then all games for that night are canceled. 

2. SOFTBALLS

Each team will supply the softballs for their own team to use in each game.  Any Optic Yellow APPROVED ASA/USA Stamped Softball having a Ball COR of .44 or under and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under can be used for league and tournament play.   

3. SEASON AND TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

A. The regular season champion for each division will be the team with the highest percentage of games won out of total games played. For the purpose of calculating the standings, ties will count as a half a win, i.e., the standing for a team with a first half record of 8-5-1 would be 8.5/ 14 = .607. In the case of a double forfeit, each team will be credited with a loss. If two or more teams are tied for first after all games have been played, the season championship will be decided as follows:  

1. The teams’ won-lost records against each other will be compared. If team “A” has defeated team “B” in 3 of their 4 regular season games, team “A” will be declared the champion. 

 2. If the teams in question have identical won-lost records against each other, the number of runs they have scored against each other will be the deciding factor. For example, team “A” and team “B” are 2-2 against each other for the season. However, team “A” has outscored team “B” 25-18 for these four games.  Team “A” would then be declared the season champion.

3. A play-off game will be used to determine the season championship only if a champion cannot be determined under Steps 1 and 2 above.  

B. There will be a double elimination tournament involving all teams at the conclusion of the regular season, with the seeds based on the season records. During the tournament, teams will compete in their own division.   

4. TROPHIES

Trophies will be awarded to the following: 

A. Regular season champions – Team Plaque.

B. Regular season runner-up - Team Plaque.

C. Divisional tournament champions - Team Plaque.

D. Divisional runner-up – Team Plaque

5. FORFEITS

Teams forfeiting eight (8) games for the season can be dropped from the League at the discretion of the League President. All games played against the dropped team will count, the remaining games to be played against a dropped team will not be played and the remaining opposing teams records will be adjusted to reflect a percentage based upon wins verses games played. 

6. INJURIES

Neither the County nor the League is responsible for injuries incurred before, during or after a game. All teams are encouraged to secure adequate liability and personal injury insurance coverage.

7. PROTESTS

All protests are to be submitted in writing to the League President within 24 hours after the game has been completed. 

8. REPORTING GAME RESULTS

 In order to keep the standings updated on our league website the Managers of the both teams are required to report their games results to the League President via e-mail ( whcsoftball@yahoo.com ) or text ( 804 539-4622 ) within 24 hours of the game. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the games not reported. 

It is recommended that you email your scores to the opposing coach as well to prevent any conflicts in game scores.

9. RESCHEDULING

Games must be played as scheduled, unless for weather related cancellations.  

10. ROSTERS

All rosters must be on file with the League President prior to the first game and must be signed by the church pastor or associate pastor. Teams will not participate until the rosters are received by the league President. New players may be added to the roster 24 hours prior to the game in which they will participate by notifying the League President. All participants may be either men or women, and must be a member of the sponsoring church or Sunday School, and/or must attend at least two church functions per month. If a Church has more than one team in the league, Players for that church can only be listed on one roster for that church. All players must be at least 16 years of age. Rosters and all changes will be made available to each Team Manager. Rosters are final as of July 1. Violation of the roster rules will result in automatic forfeiture.  

11. SCOREKEEPER

 Home teams are to furnish a Scorekeeper and official scorebook for each game.  The names of the players are to be recorded in the scorebook.
(See REPORTING GAME RESULTS).  

12. STARTING THE GAME

A. A grace period of FIFTEEN (15) minutes shall apply to ONLY the first game of your two games played that night.  Time used for this grace period will count against your game time.  

B.  A team may start a game with nine (9) players.     

C.  If nine (9) players are not available, Non-roster players may be used to make a maximum number of ten (10) players. A team must have eight (8) roster players to make a legal Line-up. The Umpire should be told before the game begins that Non-roster players are being used. 

D. Each game will have a 50-minute time limit. No new inning may start after 50 minutes except as allowed by Rule 19.

E. The 50-minute time limit will be in effect for all regular season games.

F. For the League Division Tournament the 50 minute time limit will be used. 

13. STARTING TIMES  

The first game will start at 6:30 p.m. 
The second game will begin at 7:20 p.m. 
The third game will begin at 8:15 p.m. 
The fourth game will begin at 9:05 p.m.  

14.    RUN-AHEAD RULE

The run-ahead rule will be used for regular season games and will also be used for all tournament games. 
If a team is leading the game by the following runs, the game is over….
20 runs after 3 innings
15 runs after 4 innings
10 runs after 5 innings

Flip Flop Rules will not be used in League or Tournament play.

 15. PITCHING ARCH

 A pitching arch of 6’ -12’ will be used in our league 

16. PITCHING SCREEN

A pitching screen (Team Provides) may be used by either team. If only one team uses the screen, they will be responsible to take on and remove the screen each half inning. The screen shall not be larger than 4’ x 8’ and placed no more than 3’ in front of the pitching rubber with the side of the screen centered on the pitching rubber.
A batted ball hitting the screen will be considered a strike (third strike is an out).
A thrown ball hitting the screen shall remain a live ball.
The Pitcher can field any batted ball.

17. BALLS AND STRIKES

The three-ball two-strike rule will be in effect for all games. 

A Courtesy Foul WILL be used for all league and tournament games. 

18. HOME RUN RULE

The over-the-fence home runs will be limited to two (2)**, afterwards the one-up rule will apply.  For all excess balls hit over the fence by a team, the batter will be awarded a single.
ALL runners on base will advance 1 base . Any fly ball touched by a defensive player which then goes over the fence in fair territory shall be declared a four-base award and shall not be included in the total of over-the-fence home runs.  

        ** Can be changed if agreed upon by both team managers before the start of the game.

19. BASE STEALING

" Thou Shalt Not Steal "
Stealing will not be allowed for Church League play.

  

20. TIE BREAKER

If the game is tied at the end of regulation play, one additional inning will be played using the International Rule. ( Last out goes to 2nd Base ) Each batter being given a single pitch. During this tie-breaker inning, the batter will be awarded a walk for a pitch determined to be a ball, and will be called out for a pitch determined to be a strike. If the batter hits a foul ball, the batter is out.  

21. UMPIRES

In the event no Umpire shows up, the game or games will be rescheduled.  

22. UNIFORMS

ALL teams must have Matching Jerseys / Shirts displaying your church name to participate in our league.  

23. WARM-UP

During the process of any game, there will be no practicing or warming-up by any player from any team within the wire enclosure of the playing field.  The Umpire shall enforce this rule. 

24. TWELVE-MAN RULE

a. The Manager may, at his discretion, have a batting line-up consisting of up to 12 players, with the additional batter(s) inserted anywhere in the line-up.  
b. If the additional batters are inserted for a defensive player, they will continue to bat in the same order. 
c. The number of batters shown on the starting line-up cannot be changed during the course of the game.  For example, if a team begins the game with 12 batters, it must complete the game with 12 batters.     
 d.  Players not in the batting line-up may enter the game in accordance with the re-entry rule. 

25. BATS

Only those bats meeting the current 2024 ASA/USA  and USSSA standards are approved for league play. 
Any Bat listed on the ASA/USA Non-Approved Bat List can not be used in our league.

26. COURTESY RUNNERS

Courtesy Runners will be allowed in League and Tournament play. It must be the player that was the last recorded out. If that player is unavailable it must be the last recorded out before that player.

27. LEAGUE ENTRY

If vacancies occur within the League, they will be filled as follows:  a. First priority will be given to new teams from churches located in the western part of Henrico County that is bounded by I-95 and the James River. Churches desiring to participate in the League should submit their written request to the League President after September 1.  Vacancies will be filled in the order in which the requests are received. b.    If any vacancies remain after all requests from new teams have been considered, churches with a team already in the league may add a second team. Requests to add a second team should also be submitted in writing to the league President after September 1, and vacancies will be filled in the order in which the requests are received.  

REMEMBER . . . . . .  THIS LEAGUE IS FOR RECREATION AND FELLOWSHIP. UN-SPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND FIRST-TIME VIOLATORS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A TWO-GAME SUSPENSION FROM THE LEAGUE. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED. NO PROFANITY. VIOLATORS WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM THE LEAGUE.

THIS IS A CHURCH LEAGUE.

If you would like to post or claim a Lost or Found item, Please email David Harrington : whcsoftball@yahoo.com

Lost : 

 

 

 

Found :