ORGANIZATION:

The organization shall be called the Norristown Men’s Softball League. The NMSL shall be maintained and run as part of the Norristown Area Softball Association and be a member of the ASA/USA of Pennsylvania using its rules as guideline for this league. The ASA/USA rules shall govern this league with the modifications set forth in this document to supersede any existing ASA/USA rule in accordance with the rules and bylaws set forth in this document. There are some areas in these bylaws where the decisions will revert to the League Board or Directors to render a decision. They will be designated as such.

1.      ENTRANCE FEE:

An entrance fee of $900 with 11 teams and 20 games played for each team is required for entrance into the league for 2026. Checks or money orders should be made to the Norristown Men’s Softball League and must be paid to the League Treasurer in full no more than 1 month into the regular season.  If any team experiences hardship and requires a payment plan, this must be arranged with the Board of Directors prior to the season starting.  Any team not submitting payment otherwise by the first month of the season will begin forfeiting games until payment is received.  If any team drops from the League during the course of the season, they shall have no claim to any monies left from their entrance fee. At the end of the season, no team shall have a claim to any monies left in the treasury from the entrance fees or from any fund-raising events, as the accounting of these funds shall be made and applied to the goals of the League. NOTE- It is not uncommon for different divisions within the league to have a different number of teams and thus fore, a different number of games scheduled. The league fee considers the amount of games played.

2.      FORFEITS:

A.      An “Official” forfeit will be called by the umpire or League President if a team does not have enough players at the field to start the game with a 15-minute grace period after the official starting time. If a team is unable to field a lineup by 7:15 for a 7 pm game, then that team will forfeit their first game, and will have until 8:00 pm to field a lineup for their 8 pm game in the case of a doubleheader.  In addition to this game(s) being counted as a forfeit, the team is required to pay the League President a $20 fee per game for forfeiting. Once the Umpire has shown up, he is already paid by the league, so this $20 fee per game is a forfeit penalty and MUST be paid prior to the team’s next scheduled game or risk another forfeit.

B.      The League has what it called “Administrative” forfeit, which is used in these situations listed below in sections I, II and III.

                       I.     If a team loses a player during a game for any reason and causes them to go under the legal limit of players, thus requiring the umpire to declare a forfeit. The game will count as a loss and the opposing team will get the win. If starting with 10 players and one player gets hurt, then the injury rule comes into place. The team will continue with 9 players and skip over the injured players spot in the order. If a team starts with 9 and one player gets hurt, the game is then a forfeit, because injury or not, a team cannot play with less than 9 players.

                      II.     A team manager calling the League President and informing him of the team’s inability to field a team and subsequent cancellation of the game(s) by informing both the opposing team’s manager and the umpire counts as a loss and the opposing team will get the win.  Note: It is the responsibility of the Manager of the forfeiting team to inform the opposing manager and umpire, whether he does it himself or the League President does it for him. IF, the umpire and/or the opposing team shows up, then the $20 Forfeit Penalty Fee will be charged to the team.

                     III.     Administrative Forfeits will NOT be granted at the end of the season if it affects the opposing team or another team’s ability to make the playoffs, either helping the team or hurting them. Teams MUST finish out their schedule. If a team decides it cannot field a team for the game(s), it will receive a forfeit loss, while the opposing team receives a forfeit win. IF either the forfeit win or forfeit win has a direct impact on a team making the playoffs, then both the win and loss will not count.  In other words, no team will either make the playoffs, nor be kept out of the playoffs due to a forfeited game.

C.      Please note, there will be no “mulligans” or pre-arranged makeups if a team cannot field a team and/or needs to start later than the designated 15-minute grace period.  If a team is unable to field a team after the 15-minute grace period has expired, the game(s) will be considered a forfeit. 

3.      ROSTERS AND SCORE SHEETS:

A.      Each team is required to turn in an official Norristown Men’s Softball League Roster by its first game. The total number of roster spots is unlimited at the start of the season. You can add/delete/change players to your team’s roster up until your team’s 16^th game.  At this point each team will re-submit their team’s final roster with no more than 20 players comprised of players currently on your roster and it will subsequently be locked and that roster used for playoff eligibility.

B.      Each team will use a scorebook with both team’s lineups listed to keep the score of the game along with any substitutions, additions, including players arriving late, leaving early or not playing due to injury.

C.      Playoff rosters will be posted centrally and available for all coaches/umpires to review prior to playoff games.  Any player not included on a team’s playoff roster will not be allowed to participate. 

4.      PLAYOFFS:

A.      Playoffs can be of either an elimination format, a best of series or a combination of both. When using a double elimination playoff format, Home team in all playoff games will be the team that finished highest in regular season play. When using a “best of series” format, Home team will be “team with best record” and will be home team in Games 1 & 3 (best of 3 series) or Games 1, 3 and 5 (best of 5 series). Or Games 1, 3, 5 and 7 (best of 7 series).  These scenarios may change from year to year as the League President sees fit.

B.      In case of tie game during the playoffs, games will continue from the point of stoppage when the game is re-scheduled.

C.      All Playoff Games must go 7 innings unless the league run rule shortens game.

D.     The Playoff times will be set up by the League President. He will set them well in advance.

E.      Each team will be required to provide a roster at the beginning of the season, and also at a pre-determined time during the season prior to the playoffs (ex. When 75% of games are played).  The roster collected towards the end of the season will be the final playoff roster for each team with no exceptions.  This roster will be posted centrally and available for coaches and umpires to review.

F.      Roster checks will be completed by umpires for each playoff game.  Any player not included on a team’s playoff roster will not be eligible to participate. 

5.      AWARDS:

A.      First and second place trophies will be awarded to the top two regular season finishers in each division.

B.      Championship and Runner-up trophies will be awarded to the two teams in the final playoff series for each division.

C.      A special award will also be given out to the players selected as the Playoff MVP.

D.     For the regular season, these awards or recognition may be given out or acknowledged:

                       I.     League Sportsmanship Award - League President and/or Secretary will determine this award after conferring with the league officials, managers, coaches, players and umpires. Sometimes a vote of the managers will be held.

                      II.     League Manager of the Year - League President and/or Secretary will determine this award after conferring with the league officials, managers, coaches, players and umpires. Sometimes a vote of the managers will be held.

                      III.     Division Most Valuable Player Award - League President and/or Secretary will determine this award after conducting a private vote amongst the managers of each team in that division and if need be conferring with the league officials. In matters of league managerial votes, the League President also gets a vote.

                      IV.     Other Awards or Recognition - League President and/or Secretary at their discretion can conduct voting of division managers or determine by conferring with the league officials. Award are listed, but not limited to these:

        a.  Silver Slugger Award for most home runs in league and/or division

        b.  Offensive or Defensive MVPs for league and/or division

        c.   Rookie of the Year for any newcomer who makes an astounding impact in his first year

        d.  Special Recognition for any person who does something “above and beyond” for the league

        e.  Umpire of the Year that the players vote for having done the best job of the year

                        V.     All Awards will either be given out or announced prior to the Division Championship Series.

                        VI.    Each award will be entirely at the discretion of the League President and/or Secretary for each year

6.      6.      EQUIPMENT:

A.       Each team will supply their OWN 52 COR, 300 lb. Compression ASA/USA Approved Softball.  Ball must have an ASA/USA stamp.  During a game each team will hit their own ball and be responsible for chasing any balls that are hit out of the field of play.  If a team has been found to be using a non-approved softball (44/375, 44/500, etc), then the teams batter will be deemed “out” and an approved ball must be used. 

B.      All bats (wooden, aluminum, composite or any mixture of the three) are permitted as accepted by the ASA/USA National Governing Body in Oklahoma City, OK. The League President or designee(s) will perform the Bat Compression Testing to test for compliance for the first month of the regular season and before playoffs and have the official Norristown Approved Bat sticker applied to the bat.  Bats may be tested anytime during the season at random as deemed by the League President. If a player feels an opponent’s bat be over the legal limit of the approved tester, he will talk to the League President and state his case in private and that matter will be up to the League President to test that players bat prior to the next game. The President does not have to reveal who asked for the bat to be tested. The player’s bat is not being accused of being illegal or altered, this is done because of concerns that this bat may have broken in extremely well and although initially passed the compression testing, but through continued use, may have now exceeded the compression limits as set forth by the governing body and be non-compliant.  For any new players with new bats or existing players with new bats that require testing, please reach out to the league president or one of the designees to arrange for your bat to be tested. 

C.      During a game, each team shall be permitted to question any bat legality ONCE per game. The team must call timeout and talk to the umpire first and request the bat be re-tested.  The umpire will inspect the bat first to check for cracks in the barrel or end cap and ensure it has the legal ASA-USA stamp of approval and the Norristown League Stamp on it. The team requesting the re-testing must pay a $20 fee to the League President now. The League President or his designee will then test the bat and if it passes the compression test, the league keeps the $20 fee and the bat is given back to the player for continued use. IF the bat fails the compression test, the President refunds the $20 fee back to the team that requested the test be administered and keeps the bat so he can inspect it in detail the following day. If the League President feels that this bat has failed the compression test due to something other than regular use and normal wear and tear on a bat during its normal lifespan, he can call an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors and get their opinion on the bat. The board will examine the bat and look for anything that looks suspicious (i.e. crooked or loose end cap, pry marks on the end cap, excess end weight then normally seen or even discrepancies in the weighting of the bat. If the bat is marked to state it is 28 ounces and weighs only 25 ounces, etc.) The Board can then at its discretion meet with the player to discuss these things and resolve the matter. If the Board still, after all these scenarios have taken place, feel something is wrong, they can vote to send it out to an independent testing agency to determine if the bat has been altered in any way. The player is still allowed to play in his scheduled games. When the results of the testing come back and it is determined that the bat was not altered with in any way and if that bat was destroyed during testing, the league will compensate that player with either that same bat or the original cost of the bat.  If it is determined that the bat has been illegally altered, then a penalty will be invoked on the player.

D.     All bats have a compression rating defined by the ASA/USA.  The approved bat list will be used during bat testing. Keep In mind that different bat manufacturers have different measurements on certain bats, so be sure the exact bat is identified prior to testing.  The Official site to determine a bat’s compression rating is listed on the USA Softball National Web Site found at: https://www.usasoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/120/2026/03/3-30-2026-Non-Linear-Bat-Thresholds.pdf. (if you print this out, it is 27 pages)

E.      Penalties for the use of illegal, altered or non-compliant equipment are addressed below:

                       I.     Anyone caught USING an illegal bat (not having the Norristown Approval Sticker) will have their bat thrown out of the game. Whether done intentionally or by accident. It is the batter’s responsibility to ensure the sticker is on the bat. It is the responsibility of the opposing team to protest this to the umpire who will check for the sticker. If the bat is discovered after the player hits, that hit will not count, whether it is a home run or double play. It will be an automatic out and the bat removed from the game. If the same bat is used again the player using the bat will be removed from the game.  If the team does not have a legal substitute for the player, the umpire can declare a forfeit.

                     II.     Anyone caught and PROVEN (determined by an independent testing agency as mentioned in Rule 6C) to be using an altered bat may be banned from the Norristown Men’s Softball League for life if deemed necessary. This league will not tolerate such actions that jeopardize the safety of others. This penalty and anything pertaining to dealing with an altered bat will be decided and imposed upon by the Board of Directors as mentioned in Rule 6C. (Charter Article VIII, Section 1)

                    III.     If a legal ASA/USA bat with a Norristown Approved Sticker on it fails the bat compression testing, it is NOT illegal or altered. It is determined to be Non-Compliant and not allowed to be used in the Norristown Softball League. The Sticker will be removed. If the bat is determined to be non-compliant during the game per the procedures described in Rule 6C, then the only penalty at THAT time is to remove the bat from the game. If the bat was requested to be re-tested after a player hits with it, the hit still counts as at that time the bat was used, it still was league approved. Nobody knows if the bat became non-compliant before that hit or during that hit, so the league will not penalize that player at that time. The game continues or ends as is. The outcome of that game will forever remain as is. The only thing that may happen is described in Rule 6C, if the bat is later to be found altered in any way.

                  IV.     All these scenarios apply to the player USING the bat, not the owner of the bat. It is the player’s responsibility to be aware at all times whose bat he is using. If any of the scenarios develop as mentioned in Rule 6C, it is still the player that used the bat that will be penalized.  The owner of the bat MAY be requested to appear in front of Board of Directors and be subjected to any questions. If the player admits he knew the bat was altered and allowed the player to use it, the Board has the right to impose a penalty on him as well as the player using it. If the player says he does not know the bat was altered, the Board may request all his bats be re-tested and to give that person a warning and he be advised that the next time that ANY of his bats are proven to be altered and used by somebody else, he will be immediately receive the same penalty as the player using the bat receives. Bat altering is a serious offense and not tolerated by any softball governing body or any bat manufacturer. Either could bring criminal charges against the person for falsifying what the Bat Manufacturer said their bat was and if somebody seriously injured, could face criminal charges and subsequent civil charges by the bat company. 

F.      The league allows, but does not advise the use of metal spikes. Any type of shoe, turf shoe, trail shoe or sneaker may be worn except golf or track shoes. No one will be permitted to play in stocking or bare feet.

G.     It is recommended that each team in all divisions of play have matching shirts (team sponsor or insignia on all shirts) by the team’s fifth game of the season. Baseball pants and shorts are also permitted as part of the team uniform. If you wear a hat, wear it right. 

7.      7.      UMPIRES:

A.      The league shall operate with one paid Umpire per game, supplied by the Montco Umpires Association. This includes playoffs.

8.      8.      PLAYERS:

A.      All players listed on each team’s roster must contain full names. A player is permitted to only play for ONE (1) roster in the league. If he appears on more than one (1) roster, then the first team he plays with will be the team he is locked into for the entire season. - NOTE: There is no such thing as a Release in the League. Once you play for a team, you are locked to that team’s roster for the entire season, unless  your team drops from the league entirely. This league, due to its insurance will only allow players 18 and over to play. ASA/USA rules allows a player that is 16 or over to play if his parents sign and approve the roster, but this only applies to advanced play and/or invitational tournaments. In the event a team drops from the league entirely, their players will be eligible to be added to rosters immediately by all other teams in the league.  These players will only be eligible for playoffs if they are picked up prior to the playoff roster cut-off timeframe and added to a team’s roster (to be determined at season start).  No other exceptions.

9.      9.      GAMES:

A.      First games of the season will be scheduled in the middle of April. This varies from year to year pending on the weather.

B.      All games will start promptly per the league schedule. Forfeit time in these games will be 15 minutes after scheduled game times. (Ex. 7:15 for a 7:00 game and 8:15 for a 8:00 game)

C.      Games will start if there are nine (9) rostered players  present at game time. All teams must field at least nine (9) players to start a game or the game is a forfeit. At no time may a game continue with less than the number of players that started the game whether it is 9, 10, 11 or 12, UNLESS it is caused by an obvious injury to a player (as determined by the umpire, for example; Any injury requiring a doctor's care or hospitalization, A Fracture or break, Severe strain or sprain, Severe bleeding or Any other medical emergencies such as heart attack, seizure, etc.) or a justified home emergency. Violation of this rule, shall constitute a forfeit if protested. No matter the situation involved, no team can go down from 9 players to 8.

D.     If you do start a game with nine (9) players, you can add a 10^th player if he arrives at ANY time. You cannot add an  11^th or 12^th player.

E.      IF a player is injured to the point of not being able to play the remainder of the game, these scenarios will happen:

                      I.     If nine (9) players were participating, the game would be over and a forfeit would be declared (no game may continue with less than 9 players as defined in Rule 9C.)

                      II.     If ten 10 players were participating, the player would be removed and the game continues. The injured player’s batting spot would be vacated with no penalty. If another player arrives later, he may only be used as a substitute for the other nine (9) players. This rule is in effect for teams starting with 11 and 12 players also. The newly arrived player may only be used as a substitute.

                      III.     If 11 players were participating and the injured player was one of the ten (10) defensive players, the EP may play defense with the injured player’s batting spot being vacated with no penalty.

                      IV.     If 12 players were participating, the injured player’s batting spot is vacated with no penalty.

F.      In case of a player being injured on the base paths, and the courtesy runner rule is not available to be used at this time, he may be replaced by another player chosen by the opposing manager, a player who has no chance of batting while he is on the bases. If it is the courtesy runner who is the one that is injured, then the player he ran for must be inserted back in to run.

10.   10.      PROTESTS:

A.      A Protest will only be allowed on a violation or infraction of a rule, either the Norristown Men’s Softball League Constitution, Rules and By-Laws, The Current ASA/USA of Pennsylvania Code or the current National ASA/USA “Official Rules of Softball” Code. All of these are book rules and can be protested.  These Protests are handled by the League President in a timely manner..

B.      Protests will NOT be allowed on any Umpires judgment call. You can ONLY protest a book rule, not a decision the umpire makes on the field regarding ball or strike, safe or out, fair or foul, catch or no catch, running out of the baseline, catch and carry or how many bases on an overthrow.  These are just examples, there are many more.

11.   11.      FIELDS AND THEIR FITNESS FOR PLAY:

A.      In case of games being called off or cancelled before 5:00 PM for any reason at all (rainouts, administrative forfeits, schedule changes, field damage, etc.), both managers will receive a call informing them that the game has been cancelled. It will be the duty of each manager to inform the members of his team. The League President on the “Official Norristown Area League Message Board” will provide field condition information if available. All game cancellations will also be posted on this message board also to try to help the managers get the message out to his team members.

B.      If the Managers have not heard of any cancellation by 5:00 PM, the teams will report to the field, regardless of weather.

C.      The two managers, the umpire and the League President shall be the judge of the fields for the fitness of the grounds for play. This league will always lean towards the side of safety. Once the game has started, the Umpire shall use his judgment on the continuation of play. If the League President is there, it can fall back on his determination as well.

D.     The Norristown Men’s Softball League managers are solely responsible for maintaining order on the fields and the protection of property and persons on the field. He is responsible for his player’s actions and also the actions of any fans supporting his team. If a member or members of his team while using the field willfully damage the fields, the manager is responsible. All field rules are strictly in the manager’s hands and he is responsible for the conduct of his players while on the fields and in the surrounding area. Each team is responsible for the removal of trash to the proper trash receptacles and any cans, bottles, paper cups or any other garbage left by your team during the game.

E.      The home team shall occupy third base side at all games and the visiting team shall use the first base side. If a team is scheduled a double header as part of a makeup and already has occupied one of the sides, then the opposing team shall go to the empty side regardless of who is home or away.

F.      The League President or his designee will reschedule all cancelled or postponed games and proper notice given to each team of the new date and time.

G.     The League President will establish ground rules at the beginning of the season and teams must adhere to all rules set forth. We use the same field all year, once ground rules are in effect, they will not change.

12.    12.      CONDUCT OF PLAYERS:

A.      The punishment for any player, coach or manager making physical contact with an umpire or opposing player by deliberately bumping shall be automatically suspended from the league for three (3) games. The second offense by the same man shall be an additional ten (10) games. For deliberately pushing or hitting, it will be an automatic suspension for the balance of the season and possibly one year after. All suspensions will carry over into playoffs or ASA advanced play tournaments. A repeat of any of these above violations may result in banishment from the Norristown Men’s Softball League for life. The rules above also apply to umpires committing the same offense. This rule will be governed and administered by the League Board of Directors (Charter Article VIII, Section 1)

B.      The ejection rule is for any player that verbally abuses or continually argues with an umpire, especially after he has been warned (and umpires do not have to give a warning) or causes any disruption that results in his being thrown out of the game by the umpire. The first offense will be a suspension of one (1) game. The second offense for the same person will be a suspension of two (2) games and the third offense by the same person will be a suspension for the remainder of the season, including playoffs. This rule will be governed and administered by the League Board of Directors. (Charter Article VIII, Section 1)

C.      Conduct that may also be subjected to penalties imposed by the League include: fighting, using racial and ethnic slurs and inappropriate comments, physical behavior or gestures that may be construed as any kind of harassment or threat. And this conduct not only counts towards the opponent or umpire, but also their fans. This type of behavior is also subjected to an ejection by the umpire. This rule will be governed and administered by the League Board of Directors. (Charter Article VIII, Section 1)

D.     No intoxicating beverages will be allowed on or near the playing fields or dugouts at any time by any member of the teams. Players may NOT participate in league sanctioned activities while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. IF an injury occurs and it is found that the person was under the influence, he may be denied the accident and/or liability insurance we have.

E.      To avoid as much of this potential trouble as possible, it is suggested that if there is a play or situation that an ensuing argument occurs between that player and the Umpire. It is advised that after that play has officially been completed, the Umpire immediately calls time out. If whatever happened up to this point has caused the umpire to throw out the player, then so be it.  At that point, the umpire is only obligated to speak to the Team Manager and only the Team Manager. That manager now has the responsibility to calm down his player(s). If other players come out of the dugout or come over from the fielding positions to join in on the argument, the Umpire can and will throw the offending players out of the game as well. It is the Manager’s responsibility to control his players always.

F.      Any manager purposely falsifying their score sheet to get players eligible will be subjected to a Penalty determined by the Board. This undercuts the whole fabric of integrity we are trying to set.

13.    13.      RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE:

All persons, whether manager, coach, player, bat boy, scorekeeper, sponsor, umpire, league official or spectators shall play, perform their duties or watch the games entirely at their own risk. The same guideline follows parking. The parking lot is a convenience not a privilege. When you park your vehicle there, you do so at your own risk. The Officers of the Norristown Men’s Softball League, the Borough of Norristown, Norristown Parks and Recreation Department employees or any other township, borough or municipality employee assume no responsibility for any injury, accident or any damage to any personal property or any person or the loss or theft of anyone’s possessions while engaged in these league games, practices or ASA/USA advanced play tournaments or while watching these endeavors. Everyone mentioned above will be covered by whatever insurance policy the League acquires. Players are only covered in this league. This will be determined by the League President.

14.    14.      RULES REGARDING PLAY:

A.      All ASA/USA Playing Rules apply for the Norristown Men’s Softball League, except these listed below:

B.      The League will use the ASA/USA courtesy runner rule and the courtesy runner for the pitcher rule

                      I.     The Runner may be any player on the team, one time per inning for one player. If that player should happen to get on base again in that same inning, the courtesy runner can run for that same player again.

                      II.     If the person designated to be the courtesy runner comes up to bat and he is still on base, then you cannot substitute for the courtesy runner. The umpire will call an out.

C.      Each team may field a hitting lineup with as many hitters as they’d like. 

D.     The Designated Hitter rule can be used in this League. The manager can designate a player to hit for any defensive player on the field for the entire game. Once that defensive player does bat (in place of the DH), the designated hitter is out of the game.

E.      There is a mercy rule that is (15) runs after four (4) innings and ten (10) runs after five (5) innings.  (Home team can bat if the visiting team reaches the mercy rule in the top of an inning.)

F.      If an Umpire fails to show up, you may play the game with a substitute umpire if both managers agree. The League President may either fill in or designate somebody to umpire. The game score will count for league records.

G.     If a regular season game is rained-out prior to the (4th) inning, the game will be replayed in its entirety as the schedule permits. If the game is curtailed after the (4th) inning (3 ½ innings if the home team is winning), it will be considered a complete game. If the game is curtailed after the (4th) inning and it is tied, the game will be continued at the exact point it was initially stopped.

H.     If a regular season game is curtailed by other elements (emergency or light malfunction, etc.), revert to Rule 16-G.

I.        During Playoffs, all games must go seven (7) innings, unless the mercy rule comes into effect. All curtailed games will continue from the point of stoppage, be it in the first (1st) inning or the seventh (7th) inning.

J.       In case of a ties for two teams in the standings with the same record, the protocol is that head-to-head play during the season be the tie-breaker. The second tie-breaker is fewest total runs allowed between the two teams, the third is most total runs scored between the two teams.

K.      If three or more team are tied for a position in the standings, head-to-head will NOT be used, we go right to the fewest total runs allowed tie breaker and then most total runs scored and if need be, a coin flip

L.       Over the fence, Home Run rule and their penalties for HRs in excess is as such: Each team is allowed (7) Home Runs and then Home Runs more than this rule will be outs.

M.    On any over the fence Home Runs, the batter does not have to touch first base. All base runners do not have to advance at all; they can just walk off the field.

N.     Any ball going over the fence will be counted as a home run, regardless if touched by a defender or his glove or any other body part, except in the judgment of the umpire, the defensive player intentionally knocked the ball over the fence. This will be solely the umpire’s judgement call.

O.     The Pitching Arc will be 6-10 foot. There is a pitcher’s box extending 10 feet behind the mound. Pitchers have the choice of pitching anywhere inside that box, but remember, the further back you go, the harder it is to keep the arc under 10 feet and over 6 feet. A Mat is used to indicate balls and strikes and a 1-1 count is also used. There is no extra foul. NOTE – the area between the Plate and the Mat, if separated will be a strike.

P.      A and B flight playoffs will be determined based on final league standings.  6 teams will be included in the A Flight and 4 teams in the B Flight.

Q.     Any team that has won the B Flight for 2 consecutive years will automatically placed in the A flight the next year.

R.      This League will not use the ASA/USA stealing rule.

15.    15.      MISCELLANEOUS

A.      Any other scenario that does not fall under the guidance of the league rulebook or USA/ASA rulebook will be decided on by the Board of Directors.