This brief summary of the most widely accepted senior rules of the year will give all of us a chance to compare what our local league has employed and what might be available for them next season.

If you and your league can adopt one or more of these imaginative, creative rules for next year, feel free-because we the people, who are for the people, and who operate only BY the people, do decide to have our own rules! And isn’t that just about perfect for a bunch of short-sighted old duffs who can’t remember past the preamble any more_they just want the game to work for them. Here’s a sampling of some of the Senior Softball regulations over the past few decades. The general softball rules are in effect, with any of these chosen selections.

GAME POLICIES
All senior teams will not be allowed to have players under the age of 50. (Players are eligible if the birth date occurs anywhere within the year of participation).

In an effort to speed up the game, so that a full 7 innings can be completed, no warm up infield practice will be allowed after the first inning. A new pitcher coming into the game will be allowed regular warm ups.

Shorthanded Rule: The intent of this rule is to allow teams to adjust for emergency player shortages BEFORE the game begins. After the game begins, only rostered players can be added to a team’s batting order and defensive position. Teams should use the shorthanded rule only in emergencies. If a team has less than ten rostered players available at the beginning of the game, the team manager may request a player from another senior team, within the same division, or an older division, to play for them. Up to 2 players may be added to complete a team’s lineup. The added players may only play as catcher or right field. They must be placed at the bottom of the batting order. Or the team may play shorthanded with a minimum of 8 or 9 players. In that case, an out will NOT be assessed for each empty batting slot that comes up.

If after the game begins, a team becomes short a player(s), an out will NOT be assessed; the batting order will close up to the minimum number of 8. After that, an out will be assessed for each empty batting slot. If a rostered player for the short team arrives after the game has begun, that player must bat at the end of the batting order.

The offense can score a maximum of five runs in their half of an inning, except for the last inning: In the last Inning, as determined and announced by the umpire, an unlimited number of runs can be scored by either team. The umpire must announce the last Inning to both dugouts before play continues. After 60 minutes has expired from the start of the game, the current inning in progress shall be completed and then one additional (last) inning will be played with each team being able to score an unlimited amount of runs.

An interesting twist has been adopted concerning this end part of the game: If at the end of the inning, preceding the last Inning, the home team (which has just concluded batting) is behind by eight or more runs, then they remain at-bat, with the defense staying out in the field. If the home team does not tie or go ahead, the game is over. This is known as the Flip-Flop rule. It saves not only time, but also embarrassment. Of course, if the home team comes back to tie or go ahead in their last at bats, then the visitors will bat last.

Sliding is legal in all normal respects, except at the scoring plate. Sliding into the scoring plate will be an out. (Will some of you players e-mail me this winter and tell me your feelings and ideas concerning the reasons for this rule?)
There is NO provision for safe overrunning, except at home and first base. The runner overrunning 2nd or 3rd base can be tagged out.

ASA home run rules as defined by Rule 5 section 98 (2) in the ASA rulebook will be enforced. Whether a run scores or not, it is used in conjunction with the five run limit. There is no limit to the number of home runs that may be hit in a game.

A courtesy runner can be used at any time. The runner must be a player on the team. He can run only once per inning. A shorthanded player cannot be used as a courtesy runner.

A scoring plate is used for scoring. It is placed across from home plate, approximately 8 feet on the 3rd base line side; it is to equal 60’ from the 3rd base. Home plate is only to be used by the defense in making an out; the runner will be called out if he touches home plate. The runner cannot be tagged out, only forced out, by the defensive player having the ball and touching home plate. The ball remains live during this play.

For the safety of the pitcher, a pitcher’s box should be part of the playing field. The box should be 2’ x 6’ starting at the front edge of the pitcher’s plate and extending back toward 2nd base by six feet. The pitcher must be within the box when he pitches.

65+ TEAMS
These teams can use 11 defensive players and they all may bat. Unlimited runs may be scored in any inning, except when playing another 65+ team, then the regular scoring rules apply. In case of unexpected player shortage, the team is allowed to use three players not on the team roster. They must be 65+ and on a roster of an existing local senior team. These players shall bat last in the batting order and play catcher, right field and right-center field.

Let’s not lose our humor along with the few more steps and stands of hair. This winter dream a little-next year we might get scooters, hovercrafts or at least pogo sticks. Whatever it may take to get us back into that box, around those bases and, SOMEHOW, back to where we had started.
Dream on_see you next year.