Rules The DCSA serves church teams throughout the Dallas area in meeting the need for fellowship opportunities between churches within the context of Christian fellowship. USSSA Slow Pitch Softball rules will be in effect with the exception of the following rules listed below, subject to revision and amendment during the annual Spring DCSA business meeting.
General League Officers are elected each Spring for the Spring and following Fall seasons. They are President, who is responsible for proper running of the League; Vice-President, who assists the President and serves in his absence and Secretary-Treasurer, who handles the fees and keeps the minutes and records of the league. Each League Officer is on the Executive Committee.  In the event there is no Vice President or Secretary-Treasurer elected, then the full responsibility of the league will fall on the President. 1. Each league's schedule will be posted on the website.  Any conflicts or issues with the schedule, should be reported to the President for resolution. Eligibility 2. Player eligibility is determined by each coach. 3. A player must play in at least one (1) game during the regular season to be eligible for any playoff games. 4. Girls may play on men's teams, but men may not play on girl's teams. 5. The allowed age for both men's and coed teams shall be fourteen (14) years and older. 6. There is no limit on the number of substitutions. 7. A minimum of seven (7) players are required to begin play for men's teams and eight (8) for coed teams. 8. Extra Hitter Rule: a) There is no limit on the number of batters. All fielding players must bat. b) Any ten (10) of these players may play a defensive position. 9. Shoes must be worn by all players. No steel cleats are allowed. 10. All players are required to sign a "Player Waiver / Release of Liability / Indemnification Agreement". League 11. Softballs for each game will be provided by the league.  12. Each appropriate batter will come to the plate with a one (1) ball and one (1) strike count.  Two fouls on the third strike is an automatic out. 13. A tie game shall be played until a winner is declared. After seven (7) innings or when time has expired in a tie game, each appropriate batter will come to the plate with a three (3) ball and two (2) strike count. 14. Rain-out procedure: The website will post the field conditions after 4:00 PM on game days. If there is no obvious message on the "Home" page, then assume you are playing.  The website is the official status for rainout information.  Do not call Northway Christian Church at any time for schedule or field condition information.  If your game is rained-out, the League will reschedule your game. 15. All games will be played at Northway Christian Church, unless otherwise posted on the website. 16. Player lineups must be turned into the opposing coach five (5) minutes before game time. Additions can be made to the lineup, as players arrive. 17. League fees are due and payable at time of the first game.  Fees are determined by the Executive Committee. Teams that have not paid, will forfeit the game and each subsequent game until the fee is paid.  Any exceptions must be authorized by the Executive Committee in writing. 18. "Player Waiver / Release of Liability / Indemnification Agreement" forms must be completed by each player via the website and submitted to the webmaster no later than the first ball game.  If it is determined that a player has not signed the waiver and is playing in a game, that team will immediately forfeit the game.  The Dallas Church Softball Association and/or Northway Christian Church are not liable for any injury to a player, coach, manager, bat boy, bat girl, or any other individual in the playing area during pregame, game, or postgame activities. Individuals assume any and all risks associated with playing softball. 19. Playoffs:  Only the top four (4) teams in each respective league will be eligible to participate in the playoffs, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Executive Committee.  Tie breakers for the playoffs are determined by head to head competition.  If there is a three-way tie, then the best runs against will be used.  If that is tied, then the best runs for will be used.  If that is tied, then the best run differential between the tied teams will advance.  20. Northway Christian Church is waived of any responsibility for injury to any person or property as a result of allowing the Dallas Church Softball Association to use their facility. 21. There will be no alcoholic beverages allowed on the premises. 22. Any interference with a defensive player by an offensive player during active play of a game will result in the runner and the batter being called out. 23. Coed:  The defensive field may be played in any combination of the following:  four (4) males & four (4) females, five (5) males & five (5) females or any combination, if you have more girls than guys. 24. A player may only be on the roster of one team per league. 25. Coed:  When a male batter receives a walk, the female following is an automatic walk unless she chooses to bat.  After seven (7) innings or when time has expired in a tie game, each appropriate batter will come to the plate with a three (3) ball and two (2) strike count.  Both male and female batters are required to bat if a game is tied after time has expired or after seven (7) innings. 26. Coed:  A six (6) run rule will be in effect for all coed games. If a team scores six (6) runs in an inning, the other team will come up to bat. However, if the losing team is behind by more than 6 runs, they can score as many runs at necessary to tie the game.  27. Any ball hit over the left field fence, including foul balls, will be ruled an out and no runners will advance.  Fair balls that bounce over the left field fence will be ground rule doubles.  Any player that hits more than one (1) ball over the left field fence during a game, will be ejected from the game.  Any ball that is hit over the right field fence will be ruled a home run, assuming it is fair. 28. Coed:  A 5-4 alignment of 5 men and 4 women will be allowed when only 9 players are present.  No 6-5 or 7-6 etc...will be allowed. 29.  Coed:  No sliding will be allowed at any time during a coed game to prevent possible injuries. If a player slides, they will be out. Game/Times 30. Game times will be scheduled on an hourly basis.  An inning may not begin fifty-five (55) minutes after the official time unless a tie score exists. There is a five (5) minute grace period for the first game of each day. If the grace period is used, a fifty (50) minute time limit will be administered by the umpire / scorekeeper.  The time limit begins with the first pitch. 31. If a game is suspended because of weather, it will be considered complete if four (4) innings have been played.  If four (4) innings have not been played, it will be rescheduled and played in its entirety.  32. Inclement weather:  In the event that inclement weather develops during a game, it is the judgment of the umpires whether to suspend a game because of safety reasons, i.e. lighting, high winds, hail, heavy rain, etc...If a game is suspended, then rule thirty-one (31) applies as to whether it is an official game or not. Protest Procedure (Appeals) The umpires are the sole judgment authority for interpretation of the rules and calls during a game.  In the event a team disagrees with a call or outcome, a protest procedure will go into effect following the coach filing a written protest to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee will then review with the umpires and/or any other requested party to examine the nature of the protest, and will subsequently make a determination and notify the involved teams and/or other pertinent individuals of the ruling. Latest Revision Date: 05/09/2008