Who umpires the games?
The games are self-umpired. If calls are disputed, let the other team have this call and you can take the next close call - it is a recreational league, so don't spend your time arguing calls.
What if a situation comes up that wasn't covered in the rules?
The rules for this league are pretty slim so it is likely that something will come up that will leave everyone scratching their heads. The captains should come to an agreement at the time and then they should run their questions past the commissioners.
Are there any rules that are different from normal softball?
There are a few rules that we use a lot: a foul ball with 2 strikes is an out, pop-ups are outs if they are caught and they over the catcher's head, no metal spikes, everyone playing must have a Bucknell affiliation, etc. There aren't any rules that go counter to normal softball rules.
Can we add someone to our roster after the season has started?
Yes, you can add players throughout the year, as long as: 1) you inform the commissioners before the first game in which the players plays so the names can be added to the rosters; and 2) the player has a Bucknell affliation (as student, staff, spouse, alum, dependent, summer employee or research student, sibling). The reason for this rule is so that the commissioners don't field calls from captains after a game in which some player who wasn't on the winning team's roster showed up and hit 3 home runs ('ringers' are not in the spirit of the league).
You cannot add a player to a team's roster after the 4th week of the season - a player must be on the team's roster prior to the last week of the season in order to be eligible for the playoffs.
Are there any rules about pitching?
Yes, there are several. First, there are no walks, but someone could strike out if they swing and miss at a third strike. There are no called strikes. The pitches are thrown underhanded, palm up, and they should have a reasonable arc - they should not be flat (which usually means that they are thrown too hard) and they should not be thrown with too much of an arc. Since the league is self-umpired, there can't be a specified minimum/maxiumum height of the arc (who would enforce it?), but remember - the point of the league is to hit the ball and have fun, and you can't do that if the batter takes pitch after pitch while waiting for a good one.
Why do we play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 4:45 and 6:15?
Some people have different work schedules or class schedules, so if we played only on Tues/Thur or MWF, some players might not be able to play at all, so we chose Tues/Wed as a compromise. We also realize that some staff members finish work earlier or later, or that some players might not be able to make it to campus as early at 4:45 to begin a game, but again, we had to choose a compromise, and since the Bucknell summer schedule is 8-4, we chose that time as the basis for deciding upon game times.
What about the playoffs?
Every team makes the playoffs, but the teams that finish at the top of the regular season might get a bye, and then they will play the lower seeded teams during the playoffs.
Can one player play on more than one team?
No, once a player has played for one team, he or she cannot play for another team during the season.
What about injuries?
Injuries are banned in this league. Do not get injured.
Unfortunately, they do occur, although typically they involve bruises from wayward balls, twisted ankles or knees, or perhaps a bit of blood from a ball that eludes a glove. Captains should think about arranging for a simple first-aid kit with an ice pack and some gauze or an ace wrap, and there is a phone at the fields that connects directly to campus security in case a more serious injury occurs.
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