Local ByLaws 2025

1. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

1.1.   Clubs must register new financial players as soon as possible with the Association Registrar. Clubs who play an unregistered player in any game after the initial grace period of two games, may be subject to  forfeiture of premiership points for games affected.

1.2.   Transfers must be carried out through the Association Registrar.

 

2. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS

2.1. Any team which has fewer than eight registered players available to play at any stage of a game shall forfeit the game. In such circumstances the game shall be awarded to the opposing side with a score of 7-0, provided that the opposing side has at least eight registered players available to play and fills out its score card for the umpire to sign.

 

3. ELIGIBILITY FOR FINALS

3.1.   A player must play at least five games with his club in the current season to be eligible to play in the finals for his club. Allowances for players not making this requirement can be submitted to the committee in the case of extenuating circumstances.

3.2.   Any team being unable to field eight qualified players in a final round will be replaced by the next team in the finishing order and the offending team relegated to last position on the ladder.

 

4. UNIFORMS

4.1.   All players shall be in full uniform no later than the third round of the season. A player not in full uniform after the cut-off date can be removed from the game if requested by the umpire.

4.2.   Full uniform includes shoes, socks, pants, shirt and cap.

4.3.   Shoes must be constructed with a one piece moulded sole. Metal cleats or screw-in studs are not permitted. A player wearing metal cleats or screw ins can be removed from the game if requested by the umpire.

4.4.   All batters and base runners must wear helmets

 

5. CONDUCT OF PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS

5.1.   The Association promotes keenness, sportsmanship and respect for other players welfare. Consequently, disparaging remarks, undue rough play, abusive language or any form of unsportsmanlike behaviour will not be tolerated.

5.2.   The plate umpire has the authority to remove offending players and officials from the game and the ground, with or without prior warning.

5.3.   At the conclusion of any game in which unsportsmanlike behaviour occurs, the umpire shall make a written report to the Association. The Association may deal with the matter as it sees fit.

 

6. DURATION OF GAMES

6.1.   A regulation game shall consist of seven completed innings or 2 hours whichever comes first.

6.2.   A full seven innings need not be played if the team batting last has scored more runs in six innings or before the third out in the last half of the seventh innings.

6.3.   The plate umpire is empowered to call a game at any time due to darkness, rain, fire, lightning, or any other cause that places players, umpires or supporters in peril

6.4.   Finals games will be played until seven innings are completed. If scores are tied at the end of seven innings, the match will be decided by extra innings which will be played in accordance with Rule 5 Section 5 Tie Breaker:  Starting with the top of the eighth innings, and in each half innings thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat ninth in the respective half inning being placed on second base. The player who is running can be substituted in accordance with the Substitution Rules.

7. LOCAL WMSA RULES

7.1.   A game called by the plate umpire shall be regulation if three (3) completed innings have been played.

7.2.   A tie will be declared if:

          a) the game is tied at the end of seven completed innings

          b) 2 hours has been reached and both sides are tied after

          completing even innings

7.3.      A new innings will not commence if there is less than

            10 miutes left of the 2 hour period.

7.4.     A new innings commences as soon as the 3rd out is made

            of the previous completed innings and once commenced

            must be played out unless otherwise decided by the plate

            umpire.

 

8. STARTING PLAYERS (Rule 4, Section 4)

The Batting Line Up must consist of all players present at the commencement of the game, to a maximum of 14 players.

The maximum players allowed to bat is 14.

All players must be written on the official score card before the start of the game.

All players (up to 14) must be written in the score books before the start of the game.

If a player wishes to stop playing, he can do so and the remaining players move up in the batting line-up. (NO automatic out)

Once a player comes out of the game, he can only come back into the line-up if someone is injured or another player has an emergency. (With agreement from both coaches).

Any nine (9) of the fourteen (14) batters can take can field. (Does not have to be the same nine fielders (9) each innings).

9.2. These players must present and in uniform prior to the commencement of the game.

9.3. Should a substitute who is not present be listed on the line-up card, that person’s name shall be deleted without penalty.

 

9. RE-ENTRY (Rule 4, Section 7)

Any of the starting players may be substituted and re-enter once, providing they occupy the same batting position whenever they are in the line-up.

The substitute(s) cannot be in the line-up at the same time.

 

10. FORFEIT (Rule 5, Section 4)

10.1. A forfeit is a 7-0 result in favour of the team not at fault.

10.2. The plate umpire may declare a forfeit in favour of the team not at fault in the following cases:

          a) If a team deploys tactics designed to delay or hasten the

          game.

          b) Because of the removal or ejection of players from the game

          by the umpire or for any other cause, there are less than 8

          players. (8 players is a local rule within the WMSA).

 

11. MISCELLANEOUS

INJURED PLAYERS/COURTESY RUNNER 

Prior to commencement of the game a player or coach may request from the opposition coach agreement to use a courtesy runner for himself due to:-

          • an injury received during the game or warm-up

          • a long term injury that restricts a player mobility or safety

          • being an elder statesman of our association who wants to

             continue being actively involved but risks injury if he continues

             as a runner.

Any batter/runner who continues to 2nd base or beyond will not be entitled to a Substitute Runner unless an injury is sustained while running the bases.

Substitute runners are not permitted to steal on a pitched ball.  This does not apply to passed balls or pitches missed by the catcher, on which occasion all runners are entitled to steal or advance bases.

The runner must be the last out or where that is not practical the last runner to have crossed home plate or closest preceding batter.

GROUND RULES FOR FIRST BASE

The only time a fielder can use the yellow base at first is:

The first base person can have is foot on the yellow and white bag and the runner is still out. If the first base person has all his foot on the yellow bag the runner is safe.

If the ball goes behind the batter/catcher on the third strike and the batter runs to first. The fielder takes the yellow base and the runner MUST use the white bag. This is for safety reasons, to reduce the chance of the runner being hit by the thrown ball..

PROTESTS: As per Section 24 of the Association By-Laws.

UMPIRING DECISIONS: As per Official rules of Softball (Fast Pitch).

CONTROL OF CHILDREN: Children must be kept well clear of the playing areas while games are in progress

 

12. OBLIGATIONS OF TEAMS

12.1. The team named first in the fixture is the HOME TEAM.

12.2. The Fixture also nominates a DUTY TEAM for each round.

12.3. The HOME TEAM

(c & d is done by away team when duty is required)

a) fields first

b) occupies the First Base bench

c) collects the gear bag, sets up the back net, pitching mat and bases

d) returns all the gear to the storage area at the completion of the game

e) uses the diamond for the pre-match warm up from 1.50pm – 1.55pm

f) supplies a plate umpire to umpire a game which is not their own.

12.4. The AWAY TEAM

( see above if you are on D1 and not the duty team)

a) bats first

b) occupies the Third Base bench

c) uses the diamond for the pre-match warm up from 1.45pm – 1.50pm

d) supplies a base umpire to umpire a game which is not their own

 

12.5. The DUTY TEAM

Due to the change of format for 2025 Duty teams are now required to play as well as perform duty.

Duty teams will be placed on Diamond 1 in all games so as to ease the congested expectations. This will mean that any team playing on Diamond 1 who is not the duty team will be required to perform home team duties in regards to the setup and packing away of the diamond.

• The duty team is required to be a the oval no later than 12.30 to receive goods for the bar

• Collect drinks and foodstuffs from IGA.

• Setup the bar, canteen and hall before start of play.

• Supply at least one adult to man the bar/canteen during play

• At the end of the day after reconciliation procedures, packs away all drinks and food items in the association locker. All food and food prearation items must be placed in seal-able hard plastic containers provided.

CASH, EFT & STOCK RECONCILIATION PROCEDURES

1. Before opening bar or canteen confirm that a correct float of $300 is available for each till by ticking the boxes under till float on the attached Cash Reconciliation Sheet against the actual money in the tills. Advise Brenton Cunning from Cobras if float is incorrect.

2. Count the total number of the previous week’s closing bar and canteen stock and add in new stock to arrive at opening stock for

each type of beer, bourbon, wine and canteen items etc and place those figures under opening stock on the attached Bar and Canteen Stock Sheets.

3. Place a copy of the Drink and food receipts in the top of a till on the bulldog clip.

4. After closure of bar count the remaining beer, bourbon, wine bottles etc by type and place those figures under the respective totals under closing stock on the Bar Stock Sheet attached. The difference between the opening stock and closing stock figures

CASH, EFT & STOCK RECONCILIATION PROCEDURES (Cont.)

equals the total item sales for the day. You can then multiply that by the price per stubby, can etc to calculate your total bar sales and reconcile that to your till takings.

6. Do the same for closing stocks of canteen items on the Canteen Stock List. If there any shortages in sauce, mustard, bags, coffee etc note this on the bottom of Canteen Stock List.

7. Count the cash in the tills and fill in the takings for bar and shop on the left hand side of the form.

8. Complete and sign the attached Cash Reconciliation Sheet and fill in the eftpos total amount from the eftpos terminal.

9. After locking up the hall and turning on the alarm, the hall keys are to be taken back to Neville Jiggins house at 4 Aderyn Place Willetton and placed in the meter box.

10.    The tills, cash ,ipad, phone and square readers are to be taken by a responsible team member and handed personally all funds to the association treasurer, Mr Brenton Cunning at: 2 The Eyrie, Willetton by 7.00pm

11.     Please take care with the cash, tills, square items and receipts as your team is responsible for shortfalls and eftpos terminal issues.

12.    Any problems or queries ring Brenton on 0408 825 149 or Jim on 0459 072 038.

13. SCORING

13.1. Score cards must be printed, showing surname followed by first name (no initials) and must be presented to the plate umpire prior to the commencement of play.

13.2. Plate umpires must sign score cards at the end of each game and lodge them with the registrar immediately after the completion of the game.

13.3. T-Ball type scoring is acceptable; that is, only the recording of outs and runs across the plate is necessary.

 

14. LITTERING AND CLEANLINESS

Players and spectators are responsible for keeping the playing areas and their surrounds free of litter.

 

15. LIMITED LIABILITY

The Association’s public liability insurance does not cover player injury or damage to vehicles. If you park in close proximity to a softball diamond, it is at your own risk.

 

16. FINALS GAMES

For all finals games, the team finishing highest on the ladder is afforded Home Team status e.g. if 3rd is playing 4th in the Semi Final then 3rd is deemed the home team. Thereafter the highest placed winner becomes the home team right through to the Grand Final i.e. the higher placed team is given the advantage rather than tossing a coin.

 

17. sliding rule adjustment

5.10.3 A RUNNER IS OUT

ix) a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner and the runner remains on their feet and crashes into the defensive player.

If the act is determined to be deliberate/flagrant, the offender will be ejected.

18. Overthrow rule

When it is the first throw from either infield or outfield the batter/runner or runner is awarded two bases from the time of throw.

If it is the second throw (ie double play or relay) the batter/runner is awarded two bases from the time the ball crosses the foul ball line.

19. infield fly rule

The infield fly rule in softball is a rule that declares a batter out when a fly ball is hit into fair territory and could be caught by an infielder. The rule is in place to prevent teams from intentionally dropping the ball to force a double or triple play. 

The infield fly rule applies when:

There are fewer than two outs 



Runners are on first and second base, or the bases are loaded 



The ball is a fair fly ball, not a line drive or bunt 



The ball is catchable by an infielder with ordinary effort

 

The rules stated in this book are a guide for the use of all umpires, players, scorers and supporters associated with the WMSA.

If a team considers it may be violating one of these rules it is possible for the coach to discuss their situation with the opposition coach and Umpires to come to a satisfactory arrangement to allow the game to continue.