1. Game Scoring: Single-point runs score all games. Games are won by a one-run advantage. The umpire prior to each inning announces scores: (example: batting team has two runs and fielding team has three runs = 2 - 3, top of the 5th.) Teams switch hitting/fielding following each three-out rotation.
Tie games will be scored as such during the regular season.
Contact your SMC rep with any game rules or fault infraction questions regarding scoring. Weekly summaries will show team standings by games and total runs scored.
2. Starting the Game: Games are to be started no later than 10 minutes into the hour. We will make every effort to start on time, so please arrive early. Use of open areas is allowed for warm-up prior to game play. Game warm-up is at the discretion of both teams and usually only includes practice pitches. Warm-ups should be done in open areas away from the field of play and both teams should be ready to play immediately.
A one-run penalty will be assessed by SMC for each +5 minutes either/both teams cannot start play when announced.
Hitting team is determined by flipping a coin with winning team determining preference of batting or fielding. In playoffs, the Higher Seed receives HOME TEAM status automatically.
3. Forfeits: All around bad news and offending teams shall be noodle-whipped the following week. A game forfeit will automatically score the offending team in the standings as -3 standing points, 0-1 game, 0-15 runs.. Although SMC does not have any monetary forfeit penalties, any team that forfeits three regular season matches for any reason shall automatically be removed from playoff contention.
Forfeited runs will be start to be declared if there are less than 2 registered players from an individual team at the following times: Two runs against offending team 10 minutes into the game, Four runs against offending team 15 minutes into the game, Six runs against the offending team lost 20 minutes into game. Full game lost 25 min. into game.
If a team does have less than 2 rostered players, your SMC umpire will get everyone playing a scrimmage starting 10-15 minutes into the hour. As late players arrive, it is up to the short-staffed team captain to let the umpire know when they have enough to play so that the game may immediately be started. In such cases, accumulated forfeited runs shall be the announced starting score and actual innings played may be less than 4 and still be considered a legal game. In addition, such games shall end exactly as originally scheduled.
If your team has 2 or more registered players but less than a full 5-person complement, a legal game can be played and will be counted in the standings. For coed leagues, it is legal for 2 men to play and still have the match count in the standings.
4. Substitution Policy: Substitutes are allowed during the regular season for teams that have the minimum number of players (2) available to start the match. SMC does allow for multiple substitutes in the regular season but the number may not exceed the number of players needed to field a full team. Substitutes from other Sports Monster same day and location softball teams are allowed and preferred. Opposing team may not challenge a Sports Monster substitute. Regular season substitutes from outside Sports Monster teams are allowed as follows: Substitutes must register and sign the team’s waiver with a Sports Monster representative before the game. Failure to do so will result in a one-run penalty if noticed during an inning and a two-run penalty if noticed following the game.
