The Amateur Softball Association of America, or ASA, governs many softball leagues across the country. This organization has developed the rules and regulations used during both tournament and league play, which makes these events fair and safe for all. The ASA also breaks players down into segments based on skill level, which prevent teams from dominating lesser competition.
Equipment Rules
Players cannot alter bats in any way, which includes shaving, painting, adding weight or modifying any characteristics. Players can, however, engrave the bat for identification purposes. The bat must have official ASA approval for you to use it in a game. The safety grip must have a length of between 10 and 15 inches and a tape, cork or synthetic composition. The bat cannot weigh more than 38 oz. nor have a length of more than 34 inches.
Ejected Player Rules
If the umpire ejects a player from the game, the player can remain on the bench and can act as a base coach. If that player committed a flagrant act, however, he must leave the ground immediately and cannot return. Teams will forfeit the game if found using a disqualified player. If the umpire issues a warning for arguing balls and strikes to a player, it applies to the entire team and any additional arguing will result in a player's disqualification from the game.
Classifications
Organizers use a rating system to break men's slow pitch teams down into classifications of A, B, C, D and E, as well as over 35, over 40 and over 45. You can have a pre-determined number of players from the group above you on your team, but organizers keep this rating system in place to ensure that competition remains fair. In women's slow pitch, you will find women's open, women's C and women's D as the classifications. Co-ed slow pitch features open, C and D divisions.
Requirements
Teams must start each game with the minimum number of players required, although they can complete a game with one less player. A male team must have only male players and a female team must have only female players. Co-ed teams must feature five males and five females, with at least two players of each gender lining up both the infield and outfield. In fast pitch and modified pitch, they must be nine players, unless playing with a designated player. Slow pitch features 10 or 11 players, depending on the rules followed in that individual game.
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