Andover Adult Softball League Rules

 

ASL Board

The Board is made up of 5 people. The purpose of this board will be to handle any and all protests, rule discrepancies, and league issues. The Rec department will not be involved in any of these issues.

Board Members:

Matthew Breeden

Candice Latta

Ben George

Phil Cultra

Bill Letourneau

 

PLAYERS

A.    Eligibility - Age:  All players must be at least 18 years old as of May 1, 2026.

B.    No player may play on more than one team in this league.

C.    NO SMOKING IS ALLOWED ON THE FIELD.

D.    No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed at games.  Players drinking alcohol or using any type of drugs on the playing field or bench area will be automatically ejected from participating in that evening’s game. The ejection will also result in a one game suspension.

 Umpires who see any violation of this rule will inform both team representatives that the offending player is ineligible to play that evening.

 

 TEAMS

A.    No team is guaranteed to return from one year to the next. Team eligibility will be at the discretion of the league director and the Recreation Department.

B.    Rosters and Waivers - Final rosters and Waivers are to be submitted by Apr 17 2026, to Andoveradultsoftball@Gmail.com. 

C.    Rosters may contain a maximum of 25 names.

D.    Players must submit a completed waiver prior to their teams’ first game.

E.    Once rosters are submitted, no player may change teams during the current season.

F.     No player may play regularly on more than one team in this league, however players may be borrowed to avoid forfeits.  See League Rules for further info.

 

SCHEDULING

Games will be played Monday-Wednesday at 6:30 & 7:45. Thursday games will be 7:00pm.

All Make up games will be scheduled for 8:45 Mon-Wed. Or 8:15 on Thursdays.

Each team is allowed to request one (1) problem day OR problem time prior to the start of the season.  All efforts will be made to accommodate problem days/times when scheduling but nothing is guaranteed.

The League Director handles all scheduling.  The ASL Board will handle all rules and league issues.

The Recreation Department will not get involved in the schedule unless it is to accommodate their programs. The Rec Department will only get involved if there is a serious incident during a game or at the field.

 

LEAGUE RULES

 

A. All games will be played at Rec Park.

           B.   A team shall consist of a minimum of 10 players including 3 female or non-male players, and up to a maximum of 14 players (includes 4 extra hitters).  3 female or non-male players are required to play in the field at all times.

          C.  Coed Factor – Each team must have a minimum of 3 female or non-male athletes playing at all times. There are to be no special arrangements between teams.  Substituting a minority sex player with a non-minority player can only be done when a team has more than 3 of the minority sex players in the batting order.  If a team only has 1 female or non-male player at game time the game will be a forfeit.

          D.  Games may be played with 9 players.  If a team cannot field 9 players including 2 female or non-male players the game will be declared a forfeit by the umpire.  If playing with 9 players, the shorthanded team must take an out when the vacant lineup spot is due up. 

          E.  Teams may borrow a player to reach the minimum to field a team but NO more. Teams may only borrow a maximum of 1 female/non male and 1 male player. There will be a 2 game Maximum. If a team needs more this will be at the discretion of the league director and the board.

You can not borrow players to have extra hitters. Teams may not borrow players if you have an eligible player on the bench - Your own player needs to play.

           F.  If playing shorthanded and a 10th player arrives after the game begins, they may be inserted into the #10 spot in the batting order.  An EH cannot be added to the line-up once the game begins.

G.  *On the field and ready to play* - Players must be on the playing field and ready to play at the designated game times.  If teams are not ready to play at their designated game times the umpire will call a forfeit on one or both teams.

          H.  Female/Non-Male players can be placed in any spot in the batting order.

          I.  There will be no special arrangements between teams on playing / forfeit times. Umpires’ decisions will be final.

          J.  There is no bunting, base stealing, leading, or advancement on a wild pitch.  Metal spikes are not allowed.

           K.  Bases will be the breakaway style.  The league will provide bases including a double safety base.  Base runners cannot leave the base until the pitched ball either crosses the plate or is hit by the batter.

          L.  Slow-pitch regulations will be in effect with a minimum arc of 6’ and a maximum of 12’.

          M. A legal pitch which hits the plate will be called a strike by the umpire.

     

N.  EH– The use of 1-4 extra (11th, 12th, 13th and/or 14th) players is optional and must be decided upon prior to the start of the game.  The EH’s may play anywhere in the field defensively without the loss of the EH.  Their position in the batting order cannot be changed.  The EH’s cannot be dropped from the line-up. Coed factor must remain.

          O.  Courtesy runner – A courtesy runner is permitted where a male player may run for a male and a non-male player may run for a non-male player. The courtesy runner shall be the last batter/out in the previous inning, provided that that runner is not due up in the current inning.  Due up includes being in line to bat in the next 4 batters.  If the last batter/out in the previous inning is due up or is already on base, then the 2nd to last out in the previous inning may be used.  In no circumstance should a player that is due up be used as a runner. If a runner is required and no outs have been made or it is the beginning of the game, then it will be the last batter in the line up. No player that requires a runner due to injury will be a runner at any point in the game. It will roll to the next available out.

          P.  Re-entry – players may be taken out of the game and re-entered one time during the game.  Players re-entering must return to their original spot in the batting order.  The starting player and the player who substitutes for them, may never be in the game at the same time.

  Q.  INJURIES: In case of an injury during a game,  a team may use what would ordinarily be an illegal substitute (i.e. a player who has already substituted and come out of the game).  If no substitutes are available, the injured player's spot in the lineup will be skipped and will not result in an out.  However, if the injured player is the team’s 3rd female or non-male player, the team must play with 9 players and remove all extra hitters (EHs) from the lineup from that point forward.

          R.  If a male is walked on 4 pitches (no strike thrown) and a female or non-male is on deck, the female/non-male may choose to take an automatic walk or take their turn at bat.  This choice must be made before entering the batter’s box.

S.  12 Run Rule -- At any point AFTER 5 innings (4 ½ if the home team is leading) when one team is leading by 12 runs or more, the game is over AT THAT POINT.  After five full innings the home team does not bat.

T.  Homeruns - There is no limit on homeruns in the regular season or playoffs.  Any player who hits a home run needs only to touch first base and then may proceed back to his/her bench area.  Any other players already on base may also proceed to their bench without touching the other bases.

U.  Sliding is legal.  As much effort as possible should be made to avoid contact with any fielders. If a base runner makes contact with a fielder without sliding, they may be called out by the umpire.

           V.  The Use of any type of enhanced/high-performance bats (including double wall, triple wall, titanium, and composite) is not allowed by a male player in this league .  The penalty is ejection of the player and forfeit of the game.  

          W. Non Male-Female players will be allowed to use any bat with an ASA 2000/2004/2013 stamp  or a USA softball stamp. These bats will be marked with red tape and initialed. Any player other than non male or females that use these bats will result in an out.All bats will say USA softball. The first offense will be an out! Second offense the player will be ejected.

 

           Y.  All Bats must have an Andover Recreation Approved Bat Sticker. Teams/ Players must set up a time with the league director or a designee at the field to have your bats sticker.

           Z.  If any player is found to be using a non-stickered bat that bat will be removed from the game and any runs will be nullified.

 

GROUND RULES

 

Rec Park Field: Overhanging Trees – If ball is foul – foul ball, no catch permitted.

If the ball is fair – home run if in the judgment of the umpire, ball would have been a home run, otherwise it would be a ground rule double.  Under no conditions may the ball be caught off the overhanging trees.

 

Out of bound lines – 1st/3rd Bases: Any ball that goes over the out of bounds line on either side is a dead ball and book rules apply.  The former rule allowing a fielder to carry the ball out, then bring it back in and make a play no longer applies.

 

Outfield fence extended: If a fair ball kicks out and goes beyond the fence, it is a ground rule double.

 

No 100 foot line players may play as shallow or as deep as they want but must follow the guidelines below.

 

Outfield- Outfielders must stay in the outfield for all batters at all times. No outfielder is permitted in the infield until contact with the ball is made.

Infielders- Infielders must stay in the infield for all batters at all times. No infielder is permitted in the outfield until contact with the ball is made.

 

Extra Innings

Games that are tied at the end of 7 innings will go into extra innings. The game will only end in a tie after 10 innings. All extra innings will start with the last out of the last inning (gender doesn't) matter on 2nd base.

 

PROTEST REGULATIONS

 

Protests must be expressed verbally to the opposing team representative and umpire at the time of the controversy. A written protest must be submitted to the league director via email at ANDOVERADULTSOFTBALL@gmail.com by 4:30 PM the following business day. The Board will review the protest and will rule on the decision. The board's decision is final! If the protest involves a board member the member will recuse themself from any decisions,discussions  and rulings on the matter in question. Legitimate protest will only be upheld if it has a bearing on the game.

 

You are expected to keep a copy of the League / Ground Rules in your score book.  If a dispute could have been resolved by referring to these rules, at the time of the dispute, a protest will not be recognized based on a misinterpretation of these League playing rules, regardless of the merits of such a protest.

 

 PLAYOFFS

 

Playoffs will be a bracket style with reseeding. Top 7 teams will make the playoffs with 1st place receiving a bye.

Tiebreakers: Head to head records will be the first tiebreaker, then run differential.  If the two teams split the season series a coin flip will be used.

Playoffs will be the best 2 out of 3 for all rounds.First game will be a single game and the last 2 will be double headers.

 

Two umpires will be used in all playoff games.  The additional cost of this umpire will be the responsibility of the two teams involved.

 

All Playoff games will go 7 innings (6 ½ if the home team is ahead) with the exception of the 12 run rule. There is no limit on home runs.

Playoff Eligibility - In order to play in a playoff game, a player must play in a minimum of four regular season games.  (Three if the player was added to the roster at mid-season).

 

EJECTIONS / SUSPENSIONS

 

A. Any player who is ejected from a game will automatically be suspended from their next game. The league director must be notified of all suspensions. Three suspensions in one season will result in that player being suspended from the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

 

B. Inappropriate behavior, requiring disciplinary action, will be handled on an individual basis by the League Director, the board and or the Rec Director.

 

C. Honor System: Teams in violation will be suspended.

 

MID SEASON ROSTER CHANGES

 

A team may replace (not add) up to four players on its official roster.  These changes must be made in writing to the league director starting June 1st  and no later than Friday, June 27, 2025. Waivers also must be submitted with the roster changes.  New players may begin playing in games on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025.

 

TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Home team is the second team number listed on the schedule and provides one new and one good used back-up softball for each home game. All Softballs will be in the blue bin with the bases. Provide a copy of the league rules to the umpire if necessary.

B. Home team in the first game is responsible for getting the bases from the equipment   bin and placing them on the field. 

Home team in the final game of the night is responsible to make sure bases are put away and the bin is locked.  Based will be kept in the blue bin on the third base line at Rec Park

 

C. Any Lighting issues or an umpire doesn't show up you need notify the league director immediately at 978-420-2369

 

 REPORTING GAME RESULTS

 

The game results must be reported to the League email: Andoveradultsoftball@gmail.com or texted to the league director. No later than 24 hours after the game has been played. Matts Number: 978-420-2369

 

RAINOUTS: In the event of questionable weather, cancellation notice will be emailed out by 5:00 PM or earlier. There may be times where the game will get canceled earlier or later than 5pm.

 

FEES:

2026 League Fees

$1700