2024 COED SLOWPITCH

LEAGUE RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Regular USA Softball rules will be followed except for any league rules stated here.

2. Home Team: The team whom the other team is playing at. Notated with an “@” symbol on
the schedule.

3. Game Times:
Thursday: 6:15 / 7:20 / 8:25
Friday: 6:15 / 7:20 / 8:25
Sunday: 3:30 / 4:40 / 5:50 / 7:00

4. Balls: League will play with an 11" - .52 softball and a 12" - .52 softball. The Home team will
bring one new 11" and one new 12" game ball to the field as well as back up softballs if
needed. At the conclusion of the game, the home team gets the softballs.
5. Rain Out Games: If the maintenance crew determines the fields to be unplayable all games
scheduled on those fields for that night will be cancelled. This decision is made at
approximately 3:30 p.m. weeknights and by 2:00 p.m. on weekends. Team Captains may
also call the rain out number at Civic Field (360-778-7055). The umpire may also cancel a
game at any time due to poor field conditions. Once one game has been cancelled on a field,
the remainder of games on that field will also be cancelled. All rained out games will be made
up at the end of the schedule. Affected teams will be notified.

6. Time Limit: No inning will begin after 1 hour of play unless the game is tied.

7. 10 Run Rule: If a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after the 5th inning, they shall be
declared the winners.

8. Forfeits: Minimum number of players needed to start a game is nine (must have at least 5 of
one sex (male or female).
NOTE: A team may achieve required 9-player minimum with non-binary individual but
must still take an out for the missing male/female player each time their spot is passed
in the batting order. A tenth player can be added to the lineup at any time. Teams
playing the first games of a scheduled day are allowed a 10-minute grace period (by the
umpire's watch) from the scheduled starting time of the game before a forfeit is
declared. If the game is forfeited, a practice game should be played. All grace period
time used is deducted from the 1-hour time limit of the game.

9. Batting Order: Teams may bat any number of players (minimum of 10) as long as they
alternate sexes. Note: should a team have any non-binary individuals, they should follow the
sequence of: M, F, NB. (Ex. M, F, NB, M, F, M, F, M, F, M, F). A team may bat 1 extra male
or female but must take an out in the spot where the opposite sex would be if they were
batting an equal number. These players may play defensively with free substitutions. Players
not listed in the batting order may substitute into the game per normal substitution rules.

10. Scores: The HOME team must report the score to the Parks and Recreation Department staff
that will be at the fields or send in to [email protected] by 5pm the following day. If the score
is not reported, both teams shall receive a loss.

11. Scorebook: The HOME team will keep the official scorebook. Both teams should have a
scorebook and keep and compare scores throughout the game.
 Scorebook Tips:

1. Captains should be comparing books/scores at the end of each inning and in

2. People are most likely NOT trying to cheat you. Assume the best in others and
act civilly if there is a difference in books.

3. If possible, have someone in the stands who can keep book for your team which
may minimize errors.

12. Rosters: A 20-person maximum roster is due before 2nd week of season. Roster becomes
final after the second week of games. All players must be 16 years old or older to be eligible
to play. (Note: Only one female, male or non-binary individual under the age of 18 may be on
the field at one time and may only participate if a parent or guardian are present on the
bench or field). Players may only play on one coed team per division.

13. Protests: Protests may not be made on umpire judgements, only rule violations. A ruling
should be made at the field immediately by the umpire if possible. Protests must be made
verbally to the umpire before the next pitch and followed with a written protest within 24
hours, accompanied by a $10.00 fee sent to Patrick Ulinski. The fee will be refunded if the
protest is decided in favor of the protesting team.

14. Defensive Positioning: There must be no more than 5 males or females defensively at any
one time. There are no restrictions on where the players play defensively (ex. you can have 4
males in the outfield and 4 females in the infield).

15. Walking Rule: Any walk to a male batter will result in a two-base award (batter goes to 2nd
base-must touch 1st base on the way). The next batter (a female) will bat. Exception: With 2
outs, the female batter has the option to walk or bat, which must be declared before she
enters the batter’s box.

16. League Representatives: Each team captain will be a league representative. If there is
an even number of representatives, the program supervisor shall have voting power.

17. Footwear: No metal cleats/spikes are to be worn at the City of Bellingham fields.

18. Courtesy Runners: Courtesy runners may be used for league play and are allowed at any
base with the consent of the opposing team captain. The courtesy runner will be the player of
the same sex who made the last out, or if there is no player of same sex available, the
courtesy runner will be the player who made the last out. All players must safely reach a base
on their own before they can request a courtesy runner. The opposing team captain is the
only person who can authorize the use of a courtesy runner. The umpire has no say in the
decision-making process with regard to courtesy runners.

19. Casual Profanity Rule: Any player or coach using casual profanity (expletives not directed at
an umpire(s) or opposing player(s) and loud enough to be heard by spectators) will result in a
warning to both teams for the 1st offense. Subsequent offenses will result in an out charged
to the next batter for that team.

20. Alcohol and Smoking Rule: Alcoholic beverages and smoking are not allowed in the dugout
or on the playing field. Teams will be given 1 warning. Further violation of this rule will result
in the ejection of the offending player. If the offending player cannot be determined or is not a
player in the game the next scheduled batter will be ejected. Teams violating this rule will be
given 1 warning and then dismissed from the league. Bellingham City Ordinance prohibits
alcohol and smoking anywhere in park facilities.
20. Progressive Home Run Rule: Each team is allowed 2 over the fence home runs per game.
Once both teams have obtained 2 over the fence home runs, no opponent shall be more than
1 home run greater than their opponent. A dead ball out will be charged for any excessive
over the fence home runs.

21. Strike/Ball Count: Bellingham Coed Softball League will play with the traditional 4 balls/ 3
strikes count for all hitters.

22. Tie-Breaker Rule: If the game score is tied after the completion of 7 innings, the following
tiebreaker will be played to determine a winning team. Starting with the top of the eighth
inning, and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the
player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning being placed on second base
(e.g., if the number five batter is the lead-off batter, the number four batter in the batting order
will be placed on second base).

23. Stealing is not permitted in league play.