CITY OF KINGSPORT PARKS AND RECREATION

ADULT SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL RULES AND POLICIES

Co-ed League

Article I: Sponsoring Organization

City of Kingsport Parks and Recreation: Hereinafter designated as KPR.

Article II: Purpose

To promote softball on a well-organized basis where good sportsmanship and fair play will be practiced
at all times.

Article III: League Definitions

Co-ed League:
 Any player that meets the age and roster requirements set forth by the KPR will be eligible to
participate in the Co-ed Division.

Article IV: League Rules – ASA Rules will prevail except for local league and ground rules.

League Director is Athletic Coordinator and Staff

Section I: Rosters
1) Each team will be limited to no more than twenty (20) players. There may be a maximum of ten (10)
women and ten (10) men on each team’s roster.
2) All players must be at least eighteen (18) years of age as of January 1st of the current season to be
eligible for league play.
3) A player must be able to provide, upon any official request, acceptable identification.
4) Each player is to play under a written contract, signed by the player and coach.
a. All contracts and rosters must be on file in the KPR office at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium
before the first scheduled practice of the season.
b. Players signed after the first game of the season must have a signed contract in the KPR office
before they play.
c. NO NEW PLAYERS MAY BE ADDED TO TEAM ROSTERS AFTER MAY 15 IN THE
SPRING AND SEPTEMBER 15 IN THE FALL.
d. If a player is on a team’s roster and has played with that team in one game he or she is locked in
with that team.
e. To avoid a forfeit, a team is allowed to pick up one player from another team to make (9), not
(10). The team avoiding a forfeit must have (8) players of their own for this rule to take effect.
If that team does not have (8) players of their own, the game will result in a forfeit.
f. In post season play, teams will not be able to pick up, PERIOD.
 5) A team must start and finish a game with at least eight players.
a. If a ninth or tenth player arrives after the start of the game, he/she must be put in the ninth or
tenth batting position.
b. An eleventh player or extra hitter may NOT be added after the starting line-up is turned in to the
scorekeeper.
6) Non-residents of the City of Kingsport must pay a fee to play.
a. The amount of this fee will be set by Kingsport BMA ($10) and is not transferable.
b. Any player, coach, manager, or sponsor found guilty of falsifying the residential address of a
player or players will result in a penalty to be determined by the KPR!!!
c. If the penalty should result in a player or team being suspended from the league, all fees paid
will be forfeited.
7) If for any reason, a team or player is suspended from the league or voluntarily decides not to participate
after the schedules are made all fees will be forfeited.
8) Rosters for each team will be made available to all teams at the beginning of the season and again once
rosters freeze. It is up to each team to check the lineups against the rosters.

Section II: Uniforms

1) We strongly encourage players on the same team to wear the same colored shirts so teams are easily
identifiable and recognizable.
2) No metal cleats will be allowed for KPR play.

Section III: Game Time

1) ALL FIRST GAMES AT EACH FIELD WILL BEGIN AS SCHEDULED!!!
2) NO GRACE PERIOD!!!
3) All games to follow will start as scheduled with NO MORE THAN TEN MINUTES between games.
a. If the preceding game is a forfeit, the next game will begin as scheduled unless both teams agree
to an earlier starting time.
b. No game will begin any earlier than thirty minutes before scheduled starting time.
4) NO INFIELD PRACTICE BEFORE GAMES!!!
5) Playing time of a game is limited to sixty (60) minutes.
6) No new inning is to begin after time expires.
a. Exception: Tie game.
7) Seven innings will constitute a regulation game.
8) If weather or other unforeseen conditions terminate a game before five innings (4 ½ if HOME team is
ahead), the game will be replayed at a date and time to be set by the KPR.
9) For every two (2) games a team forfeits without giving KPR notice by 4pm on the day of the game, the
team must pay a $50.00 CASH forfeit fee before resuming league play or the team will be dropped from
further league play during the current season.

Section IV: Home Run Limit

1) There will be a limit of five (5) home runs in each league. Inside the park home runs will not count
against the limit.
2) When home runs are hit, players advance one base and come off the field to the dugout.
3) After the fifth (out of the park) home run, batters will be declared out and runners will not advance.

Section V: Co-ed Game Rules

1) When a woman is batting, the infielders cannot be inside the base lines to field the ball until after the
ball is hit. The outfielders must play behind the outfield line until the ball is hit. The grass will be
considered the line for the outfielders. PENALTY: The ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base.
2) If a male is walked he is awarded two (2) bases. The next female batter can choose to hit or
automatically walk.
 3) Batters must bat Male/Female or Female/Male alternately. EXCEPTION: Teams may have females bat
back-to-back but at no time will two males be allowed to bat back-to-back.
a. SCENARIO 1: An eight player lineup must consist of 4 males and 4 females.
b. SCENARIO 1: A nine player lineup must consist of 4 males and 5 females.
c. SCENARIO 2: A ten player lineup may consist of 5 males and 5 females or 4 males and 6
females.
d. SCENARIO 3: An eleven player lineup may consist of 5 males and 6 females or 4 males and 7
females.
e. SCENARIO 4: A twelve player lineup may consist of 6 males and 6 females, 5 males and 7
females, or 4 males and 8 females.
4) As soon as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, females may lead off base at their own risk.
a. There is NO STEALING.
5) There must be two (2) men and two (2) women in the infield and outfield at all times.
6) The pitcher and catcher must be male/female or female/male.
7) One courtesy runner will be allowed per inning but that runner must be whoever recorded the last out for
that team.

Section VI: Equipment

1) Each team must provide one (1) New 12” ASA Approved .52 core/.300 compression MSP softball, and
one (1) New 11” ASA .44 core .375 compression GWSP softball. Male batters will use the 12” 52/300
ball while female batters will use the 11” 44/375 ball.
2) Teams may hit their ball in the first inning.
3) After the first inning, teams must hit the ball put in to play by the umpire.
4) When a ball is hit or thrown out of playing area, the team at bat must provide an acceptable ball (to
home plate umpire).
5) All bats used must conform to ASA regulations. Any player found to be using an illegal or altered bat
will be ruled out and ejected from the game. The player will serve a two-game suspension that can carry
over to the following season if need be. The player may also face indefinite suspension from the league
at the discretion of KPR. Players over the age of 60 may use ASA approved senior bats. These bats will
be deemed illegal for any player under the age of 60.

Section VII: Protest

1) All protest must be made to game officials when the incident occurs or when it becomes knowledgeable
of a violation.
2) All protests must be made before the final out of the game is recorded.
3) A $50.00 CASH protest fee must be submitted with oral protest to the game officials and recorded on
the game’s score sheet.
4) All protests must be submitted in writing to the Athletic Office within twenty-four (24) hours after the
protest is announced.
5) If a protest is made, it must be followed through.
6) Protest must be in compliance with ASA procedures as outlined in the ASA Rule Book and the local
league rules.
7) Penalty for noncompliance will make the protest null and void.
8) If the protest is upheld, the fee will be refunded.
9) BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THE ACCUSER!!!
10) A protest committee appointed by the Athletic Staff will decide all matters of protest that may be out of
an official’s decision.
11) ANY TEAM FOUND GUILTY of using an illegal player will forfeit the game in question.

Section VIII: Extra Hitter

1) The Extra Hitter may be used in all KPR slow pitch softball leagues.
2) Teams may use two (2) Extra Hitters.
a. They must be one (1) male and one (1) female.
 b. If a team uses only one EH, it must be a female.
c. A team can have no more than 5 men playing defense.
Section IX: Officials
1) The KPR will assign two officials to each game, if possible.
2) No team has the right to refuse an official’s assignment.
3) Games will be played if only one official is available.
4) The game officials are responsible for the enforcement of all rules or the game and HAVE COMPLETE
CONTROL!!!
5) The game officials will decide on the condition of the playing field when KPR official is not present.

Section X: Scorekeeping
1) KPR will furnish an official scorekeeper for all games, if possible. In the absence of a scorekeeper, the
umpires will be responsible for recording the score.
2) MERCY RULE:
a. Twenty (20) runs after three (3) innings.
b. Fifteen (15) runs after four (4) innings.
c. Ten (10) runs after five (5) innings.

Section XI: Player Conduct

1) All players, coaches and spectators are subject to KPR’s zero-tolerance policy.
2) Team managers and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players.
3) Verbal abuse or personal contact with a KPR official before, during, or after the game will not be
permitted.
a. The offenders will be removed from the game and premises.
b. Offender may be suspended from league participation in accordance with the KPR zero-tolerance
policy.

Section XII: Park Rules

1) No use of tobacco products in or around ball fields, bleachers, dugouts, concession areas, or offices.
2) There will be NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES permitted at the playing facilities (including parking
lots) AT ANY TIME.
3) No one under the influence of drugs or alcohol may participate in any KPR activities.

Section XIII: Cancellations

1) The decision to cancel games will be made as soon as field conditions are deemed unplayable.
2) To check the status of scheduled games, you may call the ATHLETIC OFFICE HOTLINE at (423)
200-3205, extension 50#.

Revised 4/11/16
ME