WCAA Monday Softball Rules

1. Grace Period of up to 15 Minutes on 6:30 p.m. games only. Games clock begins at 6:30 p.m.
2. Once a team has 7 members present, the 6:30 p.m. game will begin.
3. Minimum of 7 team members to avoid a forfeit.
4. A team will be allowed to pick up to 10 players. A team must have at least 7 of their own players to be allowed to pickup. Only the “A” division can pickup three “A” players. This means that if you have 7 players from your team you may pick up three players to make 10.  You may not pick up more subs than needed to make 10.  All subs must comply with rules #5, #6, and #7.
5. Sub must bat last in the batting order.   A sub must be a WCAA member or be using a guest card (see #11).
6. As team member arrives after the game has begun the team members must replace the subs that are in the game.
7. Any player in our league can be a sub as long as he is wearing his Church’s team shirt.
8. Only 1 courtesy runner is allowed per inning. He must be the last out.
9. Team shirts are required to have their Church name on them in some form. All team shirts must match. A minimum of 7 players on the field must have their shirts on. Failure to have at least 7 players in the field with matching shirts will be ruled a forfeit.  Even a church has more than one team; each team must have a different shirt color.  This rule goes in to effect after the second week of the first season of the year.  In subsequent seasons, this rule goes in to effect after the first week of the season.
10. Each team is allowed to have an open roster. All players should attend the Church they play for.  Since we are an outreach ministry, our mission is to bring people to Christ Our Lord through sports.  We are more concerned that teams are bringing in those that need to be saved than bringing in “ringers” to win ballgames.
11. Players may be asked to show there WCAA identification card prior to playing.  IT IS THE TEAM CAPTAIN’S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PLAYERS HAVE JOINED WCAA.  EACH TEAM WILL BE GIVEN TWO (2) GUEST CARDS.  ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE A MEMBERSHIP CARD OR BE USING A GUEST CARD.
12. Games will be played to their normal conclusion after time has expired unless one team leads by 10 runs or more, in which case the game is over immediately.
13. One inning of overtime will be played.  We will use the international tie-breaker.  A tie game is declared if at the end of the one extra inning the game is still tied.
14. Forfeited games will be played and umpired as a regular game. Both teams may pickup as many players as they like. One pitch is optional if both managers agree.
15. If both teams forfeit, it goes into the books as a tie.
16. All games have a 50 minute game time.
17. All batters come to the plate with a 1 and 1 count.
18. Any team that declares they are going to be in the next league, and then withdraws, must give a one week notice prior to the next league starting date. Failure to give a week’s notice will cause the team to incur a 10% penalty that will be added onto their league fee when they rejoin.
19. A player can only play for one team per league. Interchanging players within a church is not permitted during the course of the league. Violation of this rule will lead to that team forfeiting any games in which the ineligible player has played.
20. Once a team has signed up to play in the league their league fee are due by the first league game.  If for some reason a team cannot pay the first night, they must be paid by the second week of league play or else all their games will be a forfeit until their fees are paid.
21. If a player is involved in an Altercation (fighting ) with another player or the Umpire the player or players will be automatically ejected from the game. This applies to Un Appropriate Vocabulary on and off the field. The first offense will be a one week suspension from the league. The second offense will be suspension for the remainder of the league.  The third offense will be suspension for the remainder of the year. If suspended for the remainder of the year the player must contacted the board of the WCAA and ask if he can return.  For the next season and those following we will adhere very strictly to this rule. 
    Un Appropriate Vocabulary- Using curse words or unacceptable language toward another player or umpire on or off the field of play.
    
    The way to look at this is since this is a church league, is would you say what you are getting ready to say to your pastor. If not DO NOT say it.

The Softball Commissioner and or his Assistants will carry out these suspensions.

Consequences of breaking the rules:

The Sub Rules/WCAA Membership Rules

First infraction – The team captain will be immediately ejected and the game will be forfeited.  The team captain will be ineligible to play for the rest of the evening and the following week.  The entire team will be placed on probation.

Second infraction – The team will be disqualified for the remainder of the season.  The team captain and his minister will have to attend a WCAA board meeting to request to be reinstated

Other Rules that do not already have a penalty stated.

First Infraction – The team captain and any players involved will meet with the Commissioner’s Staff to review the issue.  Based on the finding the Commissioner and his staff will enforce the appropriate penalty.

Second Infraction – The individual(s) involved will be disqualified form play in a WCAA softball league for the remainder of the season.  The individual(s) may apply for reinstatement by meeting with the WCAA board.  The individual’s captain and minister must be present during the reinstatement meeting.