East Village Softball Association Rules#

2026 Edition#

Administrative#

• COIN TOSS: determines Home team for single games, and choice for doubleheaders.

• FORFEITS: Teams that forfeits must pay full umpire fee of $60

• SCRIMMAGE: In the event of a same day forfeit, teams may agree to stay and play a scrimmage. If so, umpire will stay and call the game and receive customary $3 per player.

• NO GUILT TRIPPING: No, you are not allowed to ask for or use a male player from another league team unless suggested by the opposing manager – specifically, to avoid a forfeit.

• NO RINGERS: Male players must have played 6 or more games to qualify for playoffs. A team may have a total of 4 unaffiliated players on the field at any time. Affiliated players are anyone in service industry or regular customers to their establishment.

• POSTPONEMENTS (The 24 Hour Rule): Managers must give opponents a heads up the day before a game with plenty of time to alert teammates. * Team that postpones MUST CONTACT UMPS to let them know. Teams will be allowed 2 postponements. If they need to postpone a 3^rd time, opponent will have the option of taking the forfeit or making up the game at a later date. If postponements are not made up by start of playoffs the wins will be issued to opponent.

• The 30 MINUTE Rule: No one wants to win by forfeit. But if your players are running late, you have 30 minutes to start the game or other team is awarded a forfeit victory. The team you’re playing may have players who have to leave early on the back end.

• GOOD FAITH: We are a community league, every team should work well with each other and make your best effort when it comes to rescheduling. Things happen, work happens, life happens. Don’t hold grudges or take a request to reschedule personally. We all want to play each other at full strength but it is what it is. Team that postpones is responsible for a loss if game is not played by end of season. Let’s keep it fun.

Game Rules#

• PITCHING: This is a modified – modified league, 90 degree rule in effect. No crossing plane of shoulder, no slinging, no sidearm, no palming, no bullshit. Pitchers must start with one foot one the rubber. They may rock back but no extra steps or running up to the rubber.

• BASES: Bases must be 65 feet

• UMPIRES: No cursing at, yelling at, smart-mouthing or disrespecting umpires. Bad sportsmanship will NOT be tolerated. Period. If a player is thrown out of a game, he is automatically suspended for his team’s next game. (if thrown out of game 1 of a doubleheader, he must sit out game 2) Also: only a bench player can replace ejected player in the line-up. If you have no bench players, team will take an out during ejected player’s batting position in the line-up.

• Topo Rule: If a player threatens, pushes or touches an ump or refuses to leave the park and continues to heckle or in any way antagonize the umps or other players he/she will be suspended from the league until further notice. Upon review by the rules committee, a written apology and a face to face meeting with the umpire and rules committee a player may be reinstated into the league. And if a player engages in above mentioned activities it’s the responsibility of the manager to control the player. And may put in jeopardy the whole team’s season. A judgement will be made by rules committee if a team should be expelled from the league.

• SLIDING: Runners must slide or give themselves up. At home plate, catchers and pitchers must stay out of the base line unless throw pulls them into it. Avoid contact at all costs – umpire’s judgment will be respected.

• LEADING: No leading on delivery or when ball crosses the plate. Runner may move on contact ONLY.

• DH/EH – There is no DH in the EVSA, only EH. You may EH 2 male players and 1 female player. You can add both male EH’s even if you have no female players. Additional EH’s may be negotiated by managers.

• PINCH HITTING: There is NO pinch hitting. New batters must have played defense for at least 1 batter, even latecomers.

• COURTESY RUNNERS: Each team can have TWO courtesy runners. In game injuries happen and are treated with good faith.

• LATE PLAYERS: Male players may arrive after the game has started and inserted at bottom of lineup with no penalty. He must play defense for 1 batter before hitting. Unless player remains EH for duration of the game. Male player can also leave early with NO ‘automatic out’ penalty.

• BATS: Bats will be provided by EVSA, personal composite bats will be allowed but must be shared. Bats are communal in this league. If you don’t want the other team using your bat, don’t bring it. Simple as that. Absolutely no shaved bats allowed in the league. If a team is caught hitting with shaved/altered bat, the hit will result in an automatic out, the bat will be banned and the player/owner will be suspended for 2 games.

• FIELDING: Players must field no more than 8 male players and 2 female players unless otherwise negotiated by managers.

• FREE SUBSTITUTION: Re-entry – players can re-enter the game as long as substitute gets at least 1 at bat - starter must play defense for at least one batter before he can return to his original slot in the line-up.  

• BALLS IN PLAY: The ball will be considered ‘in play’ on the field turf only, not the concrete or grass. Any ball caught on turf is an out. An overthrow from the infield out of play results in runners moving up one base, overthrow from the outfield that goes out of play or into the dugouts results in runners getting two bases from point of release.

• SOCCER GOALS / LIGHT TRUCKS IN OUTFIELD: Nobody likes these. If a ball is hit into a goal or stuck in a truck, throw up your hands. Umpires will stop play and judge where the runners go. Make your case, and then respect the umpire’s judgment.

• WALK BEFORE A FEMALE RULE: If a male batter is walked without receiving a single strike before a female batter, it will be a judgement call by the umpire. If determined it was intentional, the male batter gets 2^nd base, the female must still bat. No free walks. If a team has one female only, she can bat twice, once in her spot and then again in the spot of the absent female, must be at least 2 male batters between them. If there is no female to bat, the pitcher must throw at least one strike to the male batter before her spot, or there’s no auto out.

• WHEN FEMALE PLAYERS ARE AT BAT: Pitchers must ease up to the ladies unless they ask for the junk. Outfielders must stand beyond the cones and may not catch a fly ball in the zone. If they do, it’s a dead ball single, all runners will advance one base. Outfielders cannot throw out females at first base from the OF.

• MERCY RULE: Game 1: A team losing by 15 after 5 must throw in towel, or if losing by 10 after 5, losing team still gets their at bats, winning team plays defense only. Game 2: A team losing by 15 runs may opt out of finishing the game after 5 innings is completed and or bat out as well. There will have a 5 run per inning max. Inning will end when a 5^th run is scored. However If defending team has more than a 5 run lead, the batting team can score as many runs until they have caught up, at which point the inning will end.

• Umpire Fees: $60 per game ($30.00 per team)

• $10 after 9 : Ump will receive an additional $10 if a game goes more than 9 innings. ($5.00 per team)

• Kallady Rule: You may play with a female roster player from any other team, if you absolutely can’t field any of your own roster players.