BISL League Rules

LEAGUE BYLAWS

ANY RULES NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE OFFICIAL RULES OF SOFTBALL - AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOC. OF AMERICA

ORGANIZATION
THE ORGANIZATION IS COMPRISED OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE AND/OR SUPPORT THE GAME OF SOFTBALL IN THAILAND.  THERE IS NO MONETARY PROFIT SOUGHT FROM THIS ENTERPRISE, ONLY THE VALUE GAINED BY PARTICIPATING IN THE GAME.  THE LEAGUE IS MANAGED BY A SELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE TEAMS.  MOST MAJOR DECISIONS IN THE GOVERNING OF THE LEAGUE REQUIRE A QUORUM VOTE.  THE BOARD POSITIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

COMMISSIONER                                          VICE COMMISSIONER
SECRETARY                                                 CONTROLLER
WAYS AND MEANS
ADVISOR

IF A TEAM DOES NOT HAVE A PLAYER REPRESENTATIVE ON THE STANDING BISL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THEY SHOULD NOMINATE ONE PERSON TO ACT AS A VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

NORMALLY, THE LEAGUE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO SCHEDULE A REGULAR PLAYING SEASON ANNUALLY FROM JANUARY TO MAY.  THE LEAGUE MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO SPONSOR THE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN NOVEMBER IN WHICH TEAMS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WILL BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE.  THE GOAL OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS PRIMARILY TO PROMOTE THE GAME OF SOFTBALL  AND PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE ARENA FOR ATHLETES IN ASIA.

REGULAR SEASON FORMAT
DURING THE REGULAR SEASON EACH TEAM WILL BE SCHEDULED TO PLAY A “BOARD DETERMINED” NUMBER OF GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.  THE FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS WILL DETERMINE THE SEEDING FOR THE SEASON  ENDING TOURNAMENT.  TIEBREAKERS FOR THESE STANDINGS WILL BE BASED ON:
            1)  HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION
            2)  COIN TOSS

GAME STARTING TIMES
GAMES PLAYED AT THE BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (CHAENG WATTANA) WILL START NO EARLIER THAN 19:30 DURING THE WEEK FOR THOSE TEAMS TRAVELING FROM THE CITY.  THERE WILL BE A 10 MINUTE GRACE PERIOD GRANTED TO ANY TEAM WITHOUT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO BEGIN, AFTER WHICH TIME, SAID TEAM WILL FORFEIT THE GAME. “IF SAID TEAM IS KNOWN TO HAVE A PLAYER OR PLAYERS WHO WILL ARRIVE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, THE GAME SHALL BE DELAYED WITH THE CONSENT OF THE OTHER TEAM AND THE UMPIRES”.  IF BOTH TEAMS DO NOT HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO START AFTER THE GRACE PERIOD THEN THE GAME WILL BE POSTPONED AND RESCHEDULED “PENDING FIELD AVAILABILITY”. 
A)  ANY GAME THAT IS CANCELLED DUE TO ONE OF THE TEAMS (THE “LOSER”)  LACKING ENOUGH PLAYERS TO PLAY THE GAME, WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC FORFEIT AND WILL REMAIN A FORFEIT LOSS ON THE BOOKS UNTIL THE GAME IS PLAYED.  THE TEAM THAT "WON" AS A RESULT OF THE FORFEIT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO RESCHEDULE AND/OR PLAY THE GAME.
B)  IF THE GAME IS TO BE PLAYED, THE LEAGUE SCHEDULER WILL ADVISE OPEN DATES BUT THEN THE TWO TEAMS SHOULD HANDLE THE RESCHEDULING TASK THEMSELVES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.  ONCE THE COACHES AGREE TO PLAY THE GAME AND IT IS RESCHEDULED, BOTH TEAMS AGAIN BECOME RESPONSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE GAME AS IF IT WERE AN ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED GAME. IF ONE TEAM OR THE OTHER DECIDES TO FORFEIT THE RESCHEDULED GAME, THEN THE SITUATION REVERTS BACK TO POINT ‘A’.

REGULATION GAMES
A REGULATION GAME SHALL BE 7 FULL INNINGS OR 6 1/2 INNINGS IF THE HOME TEAM IS AHEAD.  NO NEW INNING SHALL BE STARTED AFTER 60 MINUTES.  HOWEVER, ANY INNING IN PROGRESS MUST BE COMPLETED.  IF THE GAME IS CALLED AFTER 5 FULL INNINGS (OR 4 1/2 INNINGS IF THE HOME TEAM IS AHEAD) DUE TO THE TIME CONSTRAINT, RAIN OR POOR FIELD CONDITIONS THEN IT SHALL BE RECORDED AS A COMPLETE GAME. 

IF A GAME IS CANCELED OR STOPPED BEFORE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF INNINGS ARE PLAYED FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE GAME SHALL BE RE-PLAYED IN ITS ENTIRETY AT A LATER DATE.

RUN DIFFERENTIAL RULE  //  HURRY-UP RULE
AFTER 5 FULL INNINGS (OR 4 1/2 INNINGS IF THE HOME TEAM IS AHEAD) THE GAME SHALL BE CONSIDERED A “MERCY” IF ONE TEAM IS AHEAD BY 12 OR MORE RUNS.   IF THE SCORE IS TIED AT THE END OF REGULATION PLAY THE GAME WILL CONTINUE.   EACH TEAM WILL START EACH NEW INNING WITH A RUNNER ON SECOND BASE (HURRY-UP RULE).  THIS RUNNER WILL BE THE LAST PLAYER TO HAVE MADE AN OUT IN THE PREVIOUS INNING.

ROSTERS

EACH TEAM MUST SUBMIT A ROSTER TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON.  MALE OR FEMALE PLAYERS LIVING IN THAILAND MAY BE INCLUDED ON ANY ROSTER.  EACH TEAM IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM FOUR (4) PLAYERS NOT LIVING IN THAILAND.  “LIVING IN THAILAND” IS DEFINED AS HAVING A RESIDENCE IN THAILAND AND RESIDING IN THAILAND THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.  IF A COACH IS NOT CERTAIN ABOUT “LIVING IN THAILAND”, THE COACH SHOULD SUBMIT THE DETAILS TO THE BISL BOARD FOR APPROVAL.  PLAYERS MAY BE ADDED AT ANY TIME DURING THE SEASON BUT THE COMMITTEE MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE ADDITION AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE GAME IN WHICH THE NEW INDIVIDUAL WILL PLAY.  A PLAYER CAN BE ON ONLY ONE TEAM ROSTER DURING THE SEASON.  IF A PLAYER WANTS TO CHANGE TEAMS DURING THE SEASON, A REQUEST MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY THE BISL BOARD.  FOR A PLAYER TO BE ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE LEAGUE ENDING TOURNAMENT THEY MUST BE ON THE ROSTER AT LEAST 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SEASON (FINAL GAME) AND HAVE PLAYED IN AT LEAST 8 REGULAR SEASON GAMES.  A PLAYER MUST ONLY BE PRESENT AND HAVE HIS NAME ON THE TEAM ROSTER IN ORDER TO QUALIFY AS HAVING "PLAYED" THE GAME. IN THE CASE OF A DOUBLEHEADER, HE MUST BE PRESENT FOR BOTH GAMES. IF THE PLAYER IS PRESENT AND THE GAME IS POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER OR CANCELLED DUE TO AN OPPONENT FORFEITING, THE PLAYER IS STILL CREDITED WITH THE GAMES. A PLAYER WHOSE TEAM FORFEITS DUE TO A LACK OF PLAYERS DOES NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE GAMES.  PLAYERS NOT RESIDING IN THAILAND WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 1-PITCH TOURNAMENT MUST HAVE BEEN ON ONE OF THE BISL TEAM’S ROSTERS THE PREVIOUS SEASON AND QUALIFIED FOR THE SEASON ENDING TOURNAMENT. TEAMS USING INELIGIBLE PLAYERS WILL FORFEIT ALL GAMES IN WHICH SAID PLAYERS PARTICIPATED.  BISL WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL GAMES PLAYED, THEREFORE IF A TEAM REQUIRES AN EXTRA PLAYER(S) TO PLAY A GAME, THE OPPOSING COACH MAY APPROVE A ROSTER EXEMPTION (TEMPORARY PLAYER).  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE OPPOSING COACH BE ADVISED OF THE SITUATION AND THE OPPOSING COACH MUST APPROVE THE TEMPORARY PLAYER.

TEAM UNIFORMS / EQUIPMENT
ALL PLAYERS SHOULD WEAR A UNIFORM SHIRT WITH INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS AT LEAST 5” IN HEIGHT.  THESE SHOULD BE EUROPEAN DIGITS (ex: 1, 2, 3 …) CLEARLY DISPLAYED ON THE BACK OF EACH UNIFORM SHIRT.   OTHER TEAM EQUIPMENT SUCH AS HATS OR PANTS ARE OPTIONAL.  METAL CLEATS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

PROTESTS

ALL PROTESTS SHOULD BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID HAVING TO REPLAY THE GAME AT A LATER DATE.  HOWEVER, IF THE CONTROVERSY CANNOT BE RESOLVED ON THE FIELD A WRITTEN PROTEST SHOULD BE FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER.  EITHER THE LEAGUE BOARD MEMBERS OR THE COMMISSIONER HIMSELF WILL ANSWER THE PROTEST AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE GAME SHOULD BE REPLAYED.  PROTESTS ARE NOT ALLOWED REGARDING AN UMPIRE’S JUDGMENT CALL. 

OFFICIALS
THE LEAGUE WILL PROVIDE 2 UMPIRES AND 1 SCOREKEEPER FOR EACH GAME.  IF A SCOREKEEPER AND/OR BOTH UMPIRES ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT GAME TIME THEN THE CAPTAINS OF BOTH TEAMS WILL MAKE AN AGREEMENT AS TO THE SOURCES OF OFFICIATING THE GAME AND STAND BY THE OUTCOME.  ANY UMPIRE WHO HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY ASA WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL STIPEND FOR THEIR SERVICES.

LINEUPS
THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO START A GAME SHALL BE 8.  PLAYERS MAY BE ADDED AT ANY TIME DURING THE GAME WITH NO MAXIMUM IN THE BATTING LINEUP BUT MAY ONLY BE USED DEFENSIVELY IN THE GAME IN ACCORDANCE WITH  ASA  SUBSTITUTION RULES. “THIS MEANS THAT A MAXIMUM OF 10 PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED IN THE DEFENSIVE LINEUP AT ANY TIME AND OTHER PLAYERS ENTERING THE LINEUP WILL ALWAYS BE PLACED AT THE END OF THE BATTING LINEUP; I.E. THE 11TH PLAYER WILL BAT 11TH NO MATTER WHAT PLAYER IS CURRENTLY BATTING”.  IF A TEAM WANTS TO START A GAME WITH 8 PLAYERS AND RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT ADDITIONAL PLAYERS WILL BE ARRIVING FOR PLAY DURING THE GAME, THE LINEUP WILL  BE FORMED BY 1 OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
A) THE ENTIRE DEFENSIVE GAME WILL BE PLAYED BY ONLY THE ORIGINAL 8 PLAYERS AND ADDITIONAL PLAYERS MAY ENTER THE GAME UNDER THE ASA SUBSTITUTION RULES,
OR
B)  THE LINEUP WILL BE FORMED WITH AS MANY ADDITIONAL ‘PLAYER SLOTS’ AS REQUIRED BUT EACH OF THOSE SLOTS WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC OUT WHEN IT IS REACHED IN THE BATTING ORDER IF THE ADDITIONAL PLAYER HAS NOT YET ARRIVED.

IN SUCH A GAME WHERE ONLY 8 PLAYERS ARE PRESENT, THE OPPOSING TEAM “MAY, BUT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO”, PROVIDE A CATCHER.  THIS CATCHER WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN RETURNING PITCHED BALLS ONLY AND NOT BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY DEFENSIVE PLAYS.

A COURTESY RUNNER MAY BE USED AT ANY TIME DURING AN INNING BUT ONLY ONCE PER INNING PER TEAM. SAID RUNNER WILL BE THE LAST PLAYER TO HAVE MADE AN OUT.  TEAM LINEUP CARDS SHOULD BE TURNED IN TO THE UMPIRE NO LATER THAN 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO START OF THE GAME.

GROUND RULES
GROUND RULES WILL BE DISCUSSED AMONG THE UMPIRE(S) AND EACH TEAM CAPTAIN PRIOR TO THE START OF EACH GAME.  DURING THE GAME THERE SHALL ONLY BE ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH TEAM ALLOWED TO CONFER WITH THE UMPIRE OVER RULE INTERPRETATIONS / PROTEST.  ANY ADDITIONAL PLAYERS WHO ARGUE WITH AN UMPIRE, OR INSIST ON PARTICIPATING IN SUCH DISCUSSIONS, MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION, INCLUDING EJECTION FROM THE GAME (AT THE DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE). 

SPONSORS
THE SPONSORSHIP FEES WILL BE 40,000 BAHT PER SEASON.  THIS MONEY WILL PROVIDE FOR NEW SOFTBALLS, GAME UMPIRES AND SCOREKEEPERS.  PAYMENT OF THESE FEES SHOULD BE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 17TH.

PLAYING RULE MODIFICATIONS
1)  BATTERS WILL ADVANCE TO THE PLATE WITH A 1 BALL AND 1 STRIKE COUNT IN ALL REGULATION GAMES. “PITCH HEIGHT WILL BE MINIMUM 6’ AND MAXIMUM 12’ (ASA RULE 6 SECTION 3-H)”.

2) THE SIZE OF THE STRIKE MAT (STRIKE ZONE) WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 20” WIDE AND WILL COMPLETELY COVER HOME PLATE.  BALLS AND STRIKES WILL BE CALLED BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT THE PITCH TOUCHES ANY PART OF THE MAT. A RUNNER MAY SCORE BY TOUCHING ANY PART OF THE STRIKE-ZONE MAT.

3)  “ONCE A BATTER HAS ACHEIVED A 2-STRIKE COUNT HE WILL BE ALLOWED TO HIT 1 FOUL BALL WITHOUT BEING CALLED OUT.   IF A BATTER HITS ANOTHER FOUL BALL AFTER THAT, HE SHALL BE RULED OUT BY STRIKEOUT.”

4)  “NO LEADING OFF - RUNNERS MUST REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE BASE UNTIL CONTACT IS MADE BY THE BATTER (ASA RULE 8 SECTION 8-R).”

5)  “A POSTURE OF ‘SLIDE OR AVOID’ WILL BE IN EFFECT AT ALL TIMES. (ASA RULE 8 SECTION 8-Q)”.  THIS MEANS THAT WHEN A BATTER/RUNNER APPROACHES A DEFENSIVE PLAYER(S) WHO CAN POTENTIALLY MAKE A PLAY ON THE BATTER/RUNNER, SAID RUNNER MUST EITHER SLIDE INTO THE BASE BEING DEFENDED OR CHANGE DIRECTION AND RUN AWAY FROM THE PLAY GIVING HIMSELF UP IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID ANY CONTACT. 
A DOUBLE BASE OR “SAFETY BASE” WILL BE USED FOR FIRST BASE. NOTE THAT THE BATTER-RUNNER MUST USE THE ORANGE COLORED SIDE OF THE BASE WHEN THERE IS A PLAY BEING MADE AT FIRST OR THEY MAY BE CALLED OUT (APPEAL PLAY).  FOR THE ENTIRE RULING, REFER TO RULE 8, SECTION 2-M.  FAKE TAGS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

6)  DISCIPLINE - PLAYERS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THIS LEAGUE EXISTS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO PERFORM ATHLETICALLY IN A COMPETITIVE MANNER AND SHOULD ACT IN SUCH A MANNER TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT OF GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP FOR EVERYONE.  ANY ADVERSE SITUATION NOT SPECIFICALLY CITED IN THE LOCAL OR THE ASA RULES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. THESE ACTIONS MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: FORMAL REPRIMAND, SUSPENSION AND/OR EJECTION FROM THE LEAGUE DEPENDING ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INFRACTION.

7) ALL BATS DEEMED ILLEGAL BY THE ASA WILL NO LONGER BE PERMITTED IN ANY BISL COMPETITION.  THE UMPIRES WILL FOLLOW PROCEDURE AS PER ASA RULES WHEN ILLEGAL BATS ARE FOUND TO BE HAVE BEEN USED IN COMPETITION.

Attached is a list of bats which are NOT approved by ASA.
Attached is a list of ASA approved bats.
The above lists will be updated anytime ASA updates their official lists.
The following is the official ASA web site on the subject.
http://www.softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp

SEASON ENDING TOURNAMENT

THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE A DOUBLE ELIMINATION FORMAT WITH THE TEAM SEEDINGS BASED ON THE FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS.  IF AN UNEVEN NUMBER OF GAMES IS PLAYED THE TEAM WITH THE GREATER NUMBER OF WINS WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHER RANKING. IF TEAMS HAVE IDENTICAL RECORDS HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION WILL BE THE DECIDING FACTOR.  THE NEXT FACTOR WILL BE BY COIN TOSS.

THE HURRY-UP RULE WILL BE USED IN GAMES EXCEEDING THE TIME LIMIT IN WHICH THE SCORE IS TIED.

HOME  AND VISITING TEAMS FOR ALL GAMES WILL BE DECIDED BY COIN TOSS INCLUDING THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.  IF A SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS REQUIRED, THE VISITING TEAM IN THE FIRST GAME WILL BE HOME TEAM.

THERE WILL BE NO TIME LIMIT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME(S) ONLY.

1-PITCH TOURNAMENT 

THIS TOURNAMENT IS DESIGNED TO START OFF THE SEASON AS A ‘CEREMONIAL OPENING DAY’ AND WILL HAVE NO BEARING ON THE REGULAR LEAGUE STANDINGS.  SEEDINGS AND BRACKETING FOR THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE VICE-COMMISSIONER USING GOOD JUDGEMENT BASED ON ALL TEAMS’ PAST PERFORMANCE.  THE #1 SEED WILL BE THE WINNER OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR’S SEASON ENDING TOURNAMENT.

REGULAR SEASON RULES WILL BE APPLIED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PITCH STATUS.  THE BATTER WILL BE PROVIDED WITH 1 PITCH TO WHICH HIS REPONSE WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF HIS PLATE APPEARANCE.  A FOUL BALL ON THE PITCH WILL RESULT IN AN OUT BY STRIKEOUT.

NO NEW INNING WILL START AFTER 40 MINUTES. ANY INNING IN PROGRESS MUST BE COMPLETED WHICH TIME THE GAME WILL BE CONSIDERED COMPLETE UNLESS THE SCORE IS TIED.  IF THE SCORE IS TIED, PLAY WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ONE TEAM IS AHEAD AND SHALL BE DECLARED THE WINNER.  THE HURRY-UP RULE WILL BE USED IN GAMES EXCEEDING THE TIME LIMIT IN WHICH THE SCORE IS TIED.

HOME  AND VISITING TEAMS FOR ALL GAMES WILL BE DECIDED BY COIN TOSS INCLUDING THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.  IF A SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS REQUIRED, THE VISITING TEAM IN THE FIRST GAME WILL BE HOME TEAM.

THERE WILL BE NO TIME LIMIT IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME(S) ONLY.

Tournaments will based on the Amature Softball Association of America(ASA) guidelines.
Local ground rules: