2026 Tiverton Men's Softball League Rules
Section 1 - Eligibility - Players must be eighteen (18) years old on or before the first day of games in order to be eligible to play. Sixteen and seventeen year old's may ONLY participate with parental consent. A player is only eligible to play for one team for the entire season. Transfers of players during the season are not allowed.
Section 2 - Uniforms - All players must be in a team jersey with there team name. If you have a home and away jersey that is ok as long as the team name is the same. This also applies to jersey's with no numbers. Jerseys can be covered by sweatshirt or long sleeve. If a umpire requests to see your jersey that is covered you must comply. No vulgar or suggestive jerseys will be allowed. No sweat pants, pajama pants, jeans, jean shorts or khaki shorts will be allowed.
Section 2.1 - Uniforms - All players will be required to be in there team jersey after the July 4th break. Any player that is not in there team jersey can pay a $10.00 fine before the game starts. If the player that is not wearing his team jersey will not be eligible to play for that game.
Section 3 - Cleats - No player is allowed to wear metal cleats period. Any player found wearing metal cleats will be immediately ejected.
Section 4 - Field Preparation - It will be the responsibility of the “home team” of the first game, to retrieve and set the bases and retrieve the numbers and operate the scoreboard. The “home team” for the second game is responsible for operating the scoreboard and securing (in the equipment shed) all bases and scoreboard numbers after completion of the game.
Section 5 - Forfeits - Every team is allowed a total of five ( 5 ) forfeits. The first two are free. Anything after that will subject in a twenty five dollar ( $25.00 ) fine and will have to be paid before the start of your next game. If any team reaches a total of five ( 5 ) forfeits you will be dropped from the league.
Section 6 - Credits for Games Played - To receive credit for a game played, a player must meet one of the following requirements:
1 - Must play one full inning. That requires getting an at bat and playing in the field. If your team is batting first and you take your at bat and then leave you will not be credited for that game.
2 - Be on the roster, in uniform, present for the entire game and be in the lineup (filling one of the twelve possible line up positions), prior to the first pitch of the second inning.
3 - Be on the roster, in uniform, present for the entire game and be indicated on the line up as a reserve or replacement player.
4 - Be on the roster, not in uniform, present for the entire game and have your name recorded by the official scorer as being present but not playing.
5 - Players arriving after the first pitch of the second inning or players leaving prior to the completion of the game will not be given credit for the game. This includes players not in uniform & not participating.
6 - In the event of a forfeit that occurs at game time (due to a team not having at least 9 players), the players who are present will be recorded by the official scorer and be given credit for a game played. It is the coach/managers responsibility to relay the names of the players present at the field to the official scorer. If names/lineup is not turned in then credit for forfeit game will not be given.
7 - In the event of an “early” forfeit (those forfeits that a team is aware of up to 24 hours prior to game time), the forfeiting team’s manager will notify Ken Dias and the opposing manager of the forfeit. In order for a player from the forfeiting team to receive credit, he must show up at the field and have his name recorded by the official scorer. All players on the “winning team” will receive credit for the game and do not have to report to the field.
Section 7 - Cleaning - It is the responsibility of both teams to clean their respective dugouts of any trash that has accumulated after their game. It is the responsibility of the team to ensure no trash has accumulated in the parking area after the conclusion of the game (ei. bottles, cans, cups, etc.)
ARTICLE XII ~ PLAYING RULES
Section 1 - Rules - All games will be conducted under official USSSA rules for slow pitch, except for provisions herein. Game play situations that are not addressed in USSSA rules or TMSL bylaws will be left to the discretion of the Umpire in Charge.
Section 2 - Game Times - Games will begin at 6:30pm and 7:30pm. There will be a ten (10) minute grace period for the 6:30pm game only. For the 7:30pm game there will not be a grace period. Lineups for the 7:30pm game must be ready and turned in immediately after the end of the first game. Teams are responsible for being at the field for scheduled games unless notified by a TMSL board member.
Section 3 - Minimum Number of Players - All games must begin and end with a minimum of nine players. A team that does not have nine (9) players at the scheduled starting time will forfeit the game. If the game starts with 9 players the 10th player will be added at the end of the half inning upon arrival, to the respective batting order position. The 10th player must be added.
A team starting with 9, 10, 11, or 12 players must end the game with the same number. Failure to maintain the same number of players results in an automatic “out” call in the lineup position. If a player is injured an unable to continue, his roster spot will be skipped in the lineup if the team has no replacement. However, a team must have 9 players to continue or the game is forfeited. The coach has the option to play or sit the 11th and 12th man.
Players arriving late can be entered as a "pinch" player replacing someone in the lineup; however they do not get credit for the game if they arrive after the first pitch of the second inning.
Re-entry Rule: No limit, player must bat before leaving the game.
Any player faking an injury and caught playing in another league that night will automatically be ejected from the league.
Section 4 - Game Length - All games will be seven innings in length, with the following exceptions:
1 - If a team is ahead by Twenty (20) runs after three (3) innings the game will be called. A game must go at least (4) innings. (3.5) complete innings if the home team is winning.
2 - If a team is ahead by fifteen (15) runs after four (4) innings the game will be called. A game must go at least five (5) complete innings (4.5) complete innings if the home team is winning.
3 - If a team is ahead by twelve (10) runs after five (5) innings (5.5) complete innings if the home team is winning.
4 - Home team always gets last AB.
5 - Weather considerations force the game to be called.
Section 5 - Official Game - A game will be considered an official game if five (5) innings have been played (4 1/2) if the home team is winning. If a game gets called in the middle of an inning, after five, the score will revert back to the last completed inning, unless it is the bottom of the inning and the home team is winning. If a game is stopped before it is an official game, the entire game will be replayed at a later date.
Playoff games called off for any weather related conditions will be suspended at that point and continued at a later date from the point the game was called. The lineup will remain the same at the later date. In the event that different players are present at the re-start date, then the following procedure will be utilized:
1 - All players in the original lineup will move up in the lineup to cover the gaps created by the original player’s absence.
2 - The replacement players will be added to the bottom of the restart lineup.
Section 6 - Balls - A league approved .44 core ball will be provided by the league and used for all league play. Balls must be yellow in color. No other balls are authorized to be utilized during league play. It is the responsibility of the Umpire in Charge to ensure a league approved ball is being utilized.
Section 7 - Bats - Bats utilized during league play must be on the TMSL approved “bat list” as indicated on the TMSL website. Bats must be accessible for umpire inspection for the entire game – umpires are required to check all bats prior to start of game. All bats being used must have a visible Utrip logo. If the logo is not visible that bat will not be eligible to use. There will be severe penalties for teams caught using unacceptable bats. In the event that a team or player is found to be using an illegal or modified bat, the bat will be removed from the game. If said bat is found to be illegal, the team using the bat will forfeit the game. Second offense will be team ejection from the league. It is the responsibility of the Umpire in Charge to ensure a league approved bat is being utilized and the league approved bat list is being followed. Also use of an illegal bat that results in an injury will result in prosecution.
Section 8 - Courtesy Runners - You are allowed 1 runner per inning. The runner can be anyone in the lineup. If you use a runner that is due to be up and that runner gets stuck on base he will be declared an out.
Section 9 - Pitching & Safety - All pitchers must wear a mask. The pitcher may pitch in back of, and within the width of the pitching rubber & (but must have at least one foot in line w/ the rubber) with the distance not to exceed the pitcher’s circle (6ft behind rubber). The pitcher must pitch the ball towards home plate once motion has begun. There will be no faking or hesitation of pitching allowed. There will be no pitching between the legs, no behind the back allowed and no kneeling (no trick pitches). Any illegal motion will result in a ball being awarded to the batter.
Section 10 - Pitching Arc - The pitching arc will be 4 feet to 10 feet. The ball after leaving the pitchers hand must reach a minimum of 4 feet from the ground and not travel higher than 10 feet from the ground.
Section 11 - Mat - Any ball that is pitched and is in the 4 foot to 10 foot arc and hits the mat or the dirt spot between home plate and the mat will be a strike. Home plate is not a strike. Any pitch that is called illegal will not be a strike. You can hit a pitch that is called illegal but it will be live if you put it in play.
Section 11 - Home Run Limit – Each team is allowed five (5) home runs per game. Any home runs hit after the allowed amount will be inning ending. Each team is responsible for getting the home runs they hit. Even if it is hit in the woods please make an effort.
PLAYOFFS
Section 1 - Qualifications - All teams qualify for post season playoffs. The Board of Directors has the authority to withhold a team from the playoffs if the team has a history of forfeiting games or displayed negative behavior through the season. If for any reason you still haven't payed your league fee's for the season you will not play in the playoffs. Fee's must be paid in full.
Section 2 - Player Requirements - Players must play 11 games to qualify for playoffs.
Section 3 - Ties - If two or more teams are tied in the final standings the following tie breakers will be used:
1 - Teams record head-to-head.
2 - Total runs scored in head-to-head games.
3 - Team’s total runs scored for the season.
4 - Coin flips.
Section 4 - Rain Outs - If a regular season game is rained out it will be moved down to the end of the season. If a playoff game is rained out, the game will be moved to the following night. No exceptions.
BEHAVIOR / EJECTIONS / SUSPENSION'S
Managers and assistant managers are responsible for there players on and off the field. If an umpire at any given point during a game asks either manager to control a unruly player it is your job to do so. If you cannot control them they can be ejected from the game. If a manager asks the umpire to eject a player because he/she cannot control them, the umpire can eject only the offender.
Any profanity, verbal threats or assaults toward any umpire, scorer keeper, opposing player or league official during or after a game will not be tolerated. Any fighting before, during or after a game will not be tolerated as well.
Any player that is ejected / suspended during a game for any reason will be served immediately and will get a minimum of a three (3) game suspension.
Any player that is ejected / suspended before, during or after a game for verbal threats or an assault will result in a minimum of a three (3) game suspension. At this point there will be an emergency board meeting. At that time the board members will speak to the involved parties and any witnesses if possible. Then it will be determined if the parties involved will be expelled from the league and from any further participation in activities offered by TMSL. Additional criminal charges will also be filed against any person involved in this type of behavior.
Any player that has been ejected / suspended must leave the premises immediately. Players that are serving there suspension are not allowed to attend there next games until there suspension is finished.
Any player that has been ejected / suspended from 2 separate games in one season must sit out the rest of the season.
PROTEST PROCEDURES
Protests can only be made concerning player eligibility, rules and violations of the bylaws. Official’s judgment is not subject to protest. If a coach wishes to protest an incident, the following steps must be taken:
1 - The coach must notify the umpire, official scorer and opposing coach of the protest at the time of the incident. Protests must be recorded by the official scorer prior to the end or immediately following the completion of the game. The official scorer shall note in the book that the game is being played under protest.
2 - The coach must file a written protest (e-mail accepted) with the Board of Directors by 4:30 P.M. the next working day after the incident occurs.
The Board of Directors will convene a special meeting to hear and make a determination on the protest.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
In case of inclement weather, the TMSL board members will inform managers before 5:00 P.M. via text that a game is being postponed. Game status will also be posted on the TMSL Facebook page.
If at any point during a game it's raining and thunder and lightning is visible. Players, coaches, fans and umpires should take shelter immediately. The “Flash / Bang” method should be used to count seconds between lightning flash and thunder and then divide by five. This will give you distance of the lightning in miles. If the count is 30 seconds or less take shelter immediately. Safe places for shelter would be fully enclosed metal vehicles with windows up, enclosed buildings or get as low to the ground as possible. Unsafe shelter areas would include outdoor metal objects like flag poles, fences, high mast light poles, metal bleachers, etc. If anyone is struck by lightning, Call 911 immediately. People who have been struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to handle. Apply CPR if you are qualified to do so.
SAFETY
In the event that a player suffers a non-life threatening injury that produces blood, the bleeding must be stopped, open wounds must be covered and clothes with blood on them must be changed.
In the event of an injury to any player, official or spectator requiring immediate medical assistance, CALL 911 immediately.
