Coed Mushball Rules
@ Oz Park
Coed Wednesday Night Oz Park Mushball League Rules
-
First and most importantly, this is a SELF-UMPIRED league! It has been like this since S3 took over running the league from the Chicago Park District, and believe it or not it has run pretty smoothly ever since. Team fees are much less too without umps, so that’s a plus. With there being no umpires, teams are expected to be fair and honest, to know the rules for making their own calls, and respect the other teams so that the games run smoothly.
- Games are 7 innings, official after 4 innings if rain
- Playoff seeding based on regular season record
- First tiebreak for standings is head to head
- Second tiebreak for standings is run differential
- Third tiebreak for standing is runs allowed
- Fourth tiebreak for standings is runs scored
- Game Roster Rule : Standard lineup is 5 guys and 5 girls. Can play with fewer players but at no time can more than 5 guys be on the field. Can play with as few as 3 girls but in that case would only have 8 players on the field. Must have a catcher at all times so if play with 9 then only 8 outside of catcher. If play with 8 then only 7 outside of catcher. Batting order must alternate guy-girl-guy-girl. Batting lineup must stay in order the entire game and DH’s are allowed (unlimited lineup size but must keep same hitters in same order all game unless injury). Every player on field must be in batting lineup entire game (ie can’t play defense only).
- Pitching and Strike Zone Rules
- Start with 1-1 count
- Foul ball with 2 strikes is an out
- No Ceiling on Pitch Height
- 5 Foot Floor on Pitches (pitch under 5 feet is ball)
- Called Strike : Any pitch not swung at that is 5 feet or higher and lands on ANY PART OF THE PLATE OR THE ORANGE MAT BEHIND PLATE
- Double Walk Rule : For any guy who is walked without having a strike pitched to him a double walk is issued whereby the guy and the subsequent girl in the lineup both receive walks. The next guy up in the lineup is then up to bat. If a strike is pitched to a guy via called strike or foul ball he is not eligible for the double walk.
- No blocking home plate (or any base deliberately) without the ball
- No mandatory slide rule
- Dead ball at end of play when pitcher has ball
- No leadoffs or stealing. Runnercan go on the swing.
- Call Dispute Rule : Not having umpires, teams will have to decide the call on the field. If an agreement cannot be made on a call then a coinflip will ensue to determine who gets the call. Calls are usually pretty obvious so everyone make the calls with integrity.
- Playoff “Ringers” Rule : Every player in a playoff game needs to have played in at least 3 regular season games
- No baseball gloves (Mitts) for any players (soft mush ball). Batting gloves good.
- Maximum 7 defenders on infield at once including catcher. Northwest field the grass is the outfield barrier. Southwest diamond orange disks will be placed on dirt to mark where the outfield begins (same distance as Northwest)
- Infield Fly Rule : we will not have a traditional infield fly rule but this rule will be handled as such – with runners on first and second and less than two outs if the ball is dropped by an infielder only one runner can be forced out (no double play allowed unless someone advances beyond one base and is then tagged out). In summary, a dropped ball is live for all runners and only one runner can be forced out. There can be no double play as a result of two runners not advancing at least one base.
- The score of a forfeited game will be 10-0.
- Playoffs Semifinals : 1 seed Vs. 4 seed on Northwest Diamond, 2 seed Vs. 3 Seed on Southwest Diamond
- Playoffs Finals : Championship game on Northwest Diamond, 3rd place game on Southwest Diamond