Rules

  2026 TOWN OF SMITHTOWN RULES  

 

2026 TOWN OF SMITHTOWN RULES

 

 

ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE TOWN OF SMITHTOWN RECREATION PROGRAMS PLAY AT THEIR OWN RISK.

ANY INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM IN VIOLATION OF ANY OF THESE RULES, AS DETERMINED BY THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY PLAYOFFS OR AWARDS AND MAYBE LIABLE TO A PENALTY. All fee (S.U.A. and Recreation), plus Notarized Roster and Non-Resident player fees, must be submitted as a complete package. Failure to do so will result in teams being dropped from the league and placed on the bottom of the waiting list.

 

RULE 1. ROSTERS

  1. All managers are required to sign indicating that each player on his team's roster has listed his correct address. THE SUBMISSION OF A ROSTER WITH INCORRECT ADDRESSES WILL RESULT IN THE TEAM BEING DENIED ENTRANCE INTO THE LEAGUE.
  2. Any player not on a roster or having a player agreement card on file will result in the player and team being suspended from the program indefinitely.
  3. NEW!!!! All rosters & players cards will be done electronically. (instructions to come). Manager's will be responsible to add players to the roster & have players complete player agreement cards. If this is not done you will NOT play. Players cannot play without a player agreement card signed. If you have a player play without a player card signed the manager & player will be suspended. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
  4. Each team will be allowed Unlimited number of players on their roster.
  5. All players must play in a minimum of 12 games (Not including Forfeits) to qualify for playoffs. (ONLY EXCEPTION IS A MEDICAL EXCEPTION WHICH REQUIRES A DR.’s NOTE, OTHERWISE NO EXCEPTIONS)
  6. Teams may have unlimited non-resident players on their roster. Any non-resident who lists a falsified Smithtown address on the roster sheet will be barred permanently from all Smithtown Recreation programs.
  7. Once a player is in the box score for one team, he may not change teams and play with another team - penalty forfeit for the second team.
  8. Player additions, after initial roster is turned in MUST be called into the League Director for approval. That player MUST fill out a player card before playing.

   9. This league is for Adult Men 18 & over.

 

RULE 2. LINE-UP PROCEDURE

  1. All teams must start and finish with at least (9) players.
  2. The 10th player can be added any time. (See rule 10 for information about adding additional hitters.)
    Any team who does not have enough players to field a team may request the borrowing of players from the opposing team, an option the opposing team may decline. Borrowing of players MUST be from the roster of the opposing team. If your ninth player arrives after the game begins, he may be substituted for the borrowed player (who then may return to his own team. The team that is borrowing the player may not play at anytime in that game with more than (9) players.
  3. Players must be at least 18 years old by the date of the first game to be eligible to play. Masters League Players must be at least 40 years old.
  4. VIOLATIONS OF RULES WILL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF GAMES PLAYED.
     

RULE 3. GENERAL RULES

  1. No drinking of alcoholic beverages by players participating in a game or at the field under penalty of forfeit - umpire judgement - no appeal - the night is over. Spectators may not drink at the field either. Teams are responsible for their spectators. There will also be a Town field supervisor at the field.
  2. NO seeds of any kind, tobacco (chewing or smoking) and gum are permitted at the field.  Anyone caught will be removed from the complex.
  3. CATCHERS MASKS ARE MANDITORY EQUIPMENT AND MUST BE WORN PROPERLY. Teams are not required to share masks. PITCHERS ALSO MUST WEAR MASKS.
  4. Children are not allowed on the field during the game or pre-game warm-up.
  5. Players are requested not to interfere with baseball games in progress on the softball field or adjoining fields. Players are requested to observe all Parking regulations at the fields. Games will be delayed if cars are parked illegally. Managers are expected to control their spectators and players.
  6. Thrown Bats - In an effort to ensure everyone's safety, thrown bats will result in stiffer penalities. A batter who throws bat in a forceful and/or dangerous manner will be ejected from the game and will also be suspended for one additional game. This will be the umpire's judgement and cannot be appealed. There is never a good reason to throw a bat.
  7. Any player who, in anger, makes any physical contact or verbal abuse with an umpire, scorekeeper or League/Town Official will be subject to being expelled from the league. A player has the right to appeal such a penalty. The player may not play until an appeal is decided, pending results of Hearing Committee.
  8. Any player ejected from a game by an official will also be suspended for that games that night plus the following week. The umpire & scorekeeper will notify the Recreation office the next day with all the details. The player involved and team manager will be notified the following day if there is any further suspension.
  9. The Recreation Department and League Directors reserve the right to suspend a player from further participation.

 

RULE 4. GAME PROCEDURES

  1. 3 Balls/ 2 Strikes (NO EXTRA FOUL) On Strikeout Foul the ball is Live & in play (runners can tag up). 3rd. ball, you walk; called second strike, you're out.
  2. Home Run Limit, there will be a 5 Home Run limit per game per team. Must be hit over the fence. Inside-the park Homerun's do not count. After 5 Home Runs, it will be recorded as an out. The team that hits the homerun should either retrieve the ball or supply the umpire with another ball. Home runs over the fence are now automatic. You do not have to run it out. Neither do any runners on base.
  3. Run rule is 20 runs after 3 innings, 15 after 4 innings & 12 runs after 5 innings.


RULE 5. FORFEITS

  1. 10 minutes past game time by officials watch. If (9) ball players are present at game time, the team must begin to play. Team cannot use forfeit time to wait for 10th. player.
  2. In the event of forfeit for the first game of a double-header, forfeit time for the second game shall be 10 minutes after the first game forfeit time.
  3. Scheduled and rescheduled games WILL NOT BE CHANGED.
  4. Each team will be responsible to post a $100.00 forfeit bond. This will eliminate any issues with the town, umpires and scorekeepers. If your team does not forfeit, the $100.00 will carry over from season to season. If your team does forfeit, you will lose your $100.00 and you must post another $100.00 bond before your next game. You will not be allowed to play until the $100.00 bond is posted.
  5. If you notify and give the League Director 24 hours’ notice you will not be charged a forfeit fee, if you forfeit the day of you will be charged, no exceptions. 

RULE 6. RAINOUTS

  1. Teams are to check the website after 6:00pm regarding rainouts. If there is no message, it is the team’s responsibility to appear at the field under penalty of forfeit. Rainouts may be rescheduled on "off" nights. Also check the website http://www.smithtownsoftball.com .
  2. Managers ONLY should contact Vinny to inquire regarding a rainout. NOT players.
  3. League Director will contact manager’s if a game is rained out, f no message then games are on.


RULE 7. GAME RESULTS

  1. Managers do not have to report scores. The scorekeepers will report them to the league office. The results and the Standings will be posted on the website after each night along with player stats. http://www.smithtownsoftball.com

 

RULE 8. TIME LIMIT

  1. All games - have 75-minute time limit. No inning will start after 75 minutes.
  2. After the 1st inning the pitcher will have 1 warm up pitch and the ball goes right back to the pitcher. After an out you may not throw the ball around the infield. The 1st time the umpire sees this, the team will receive a warning, the next time will be a ball on the next batter. All players must hustle out to their positions after inning has ended, the umpire will give you 1 warning next time will be a ball the batter.
  3. The second game of a double-header shall start within 5 minutes after completion of the first game. 
  4. Playoff games will have a NO time limit. No Extra inning rule in playoffs. Play until someone wins.
  5. If a game is called due to light failure, it will be considered a suspended game, and will be picked up from the point of suspension at a later date. Games called due to curfew will be considered an official game.
  6. NEW! No games will end in a tie, if the game is tied after time limit, the next inning will start with a runner at 2B. This will occur until a team wins.

 

RULE 9. ADDITIONAL HITTER(S)

  1. At the option of each manager, 1 or 2 Additional Hitters may be inserted anywhere in the batting order before the game starts, for a lineup of 11 or 12 batters. NEW - Additional Hitters may also be added after the start of a game; however, they must be added to the bottom of the order. This must be announced to the scorekeeper, umpire and to the opposing manager. Once an Additional Hitter has been added, the batting order can never be reduced. You may bat up to 14 players.
  2. If a team loses a designated player to injury and cannot replace him, his turn at bat is an automatic out only once.
  3. If a player is ejected and the team does not have a replacement that spot in the lineup is out every time that spot comes up.

 

RULE 10. RE-ENTRY RULE

  1. Re-entry is permitted in all programs; any of the starting players may withdraw and re-enter once, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever he is in the lineup. A substitute who withdrawn may not re-enter. Re-entry by any starter must be reported to the scorekeeper and umpire at the time of re-entry.

 

RULE 11. COURTESY RUNNERS

  1. A Courtesy runner may be used for (2 Men’s, 4 Masters) batters each inning. Runners may be any rostered player of the offensive team whether they are listed in the current batting order or not.
  1. If the same batter reaches base twice in an inning, you may run for that batter again.
  2. If a courtesy runner is on base when his turn at bat comes up, he is out. He is removed from the base and take his proper turn at bat. If that is the 3rd out of an inning, he will be the first batter of the next inning.
  3. If a courtesy runner is not able to continue as a runner while on base because of an injury. He may be replaced by the original runner only or a legal substitute in the runner’s spot in the batting order. In either case, the injured player will be ineligible for the remainder of the game.
  4. The courtesy runner CANNOT be removed from the base before his turn at bat comes up in the batting order to avoid being called out for being on base when his turn comes up.
  5. A courtesy runner may only be granted if requested before a pitch is thrown to the next batter.
  6. Players & Umpires CANNOT agree to allow additional runners.

 

RULE 12. FOUL LANGUAGE

  1. ALL PLAYERS ON YOUR TEAM ARE TO BE INSTRUCTED THAT FOUL LANGUAGE AND PHYSICAL THREATS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. TEAMS WILL CERTAINLY FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO PLAY IN THE LEAGUE IF SUCH INCIDENTS OCCUR.
     

RULE 13. PLAYOFFS

  1. Any ties (won-lost record) at the end of the year will be resolved in the following way:
    A. Best won-lost record against each other during the season.
    B. Run Differential
    C. Any forfeits during the season.
  2. The top 4 teams from each division qualify for the playoffs.
  3. Playoffs start immediately following the regular season and rain reschedules (usually in August). Please remember that playoffs are 2 out of 3 series and must start at 7:15 pm SHARP.
  4. The highest seeded team will have the choice of home team in 1st or 2nd game, if any playoffs go to a deciding third game, the higher seeded team has their choice of being Home or Visiting Team.
  5. Playoff games will have a NO time limit.

 

RULE 14. PROTESTS

  1. Officials are in complete control of the game; protests will not be accepted for an umpire's judgement call.
  2. A protest must be made in accordance with the rulebook and must be reported and mailed to the Recreation Department within 24 hours. Umpires must also mail protest reports within 24 hours. 
  3. A fee of $100 (cash) must accompany every protest. Money will be returned if the protest is upheld.
  4. Opposing managers may require any player to sign a line-up sheet (maximum of 3 names). If the signature is not the same as on the registration card, the Recreation Department will declare a forfeit.
  5. The Recreation Department will make the final determination on all protests.
  6. Playoffs, there will be NO roster protests. The league will provide an approved roster for their team and a copy will also be given to the scorekeeper’s. If a player is playing and is not on the approved roster that team will forfeit.

 

RULE 15. MAKE UPS

  1. If you have a make-up and do not show up AND do not email or call us and the opposing manager, it will count as a forfeit. The manager will be suspended for the next double header.

 

RULE 16. ACCIDENTS/INJURIES

  1. Whenever there is an injury and a player is removed from the game a incident report must be filled out by the corekeeper & field manager. The report must be sent immediatly to Vinny Simeone League Director.

 

RULE 17. BATS

  1. ALL COMPOSITE BATS ARE ILLEGAL.
  2. Any player who uses a non-approved bat will be ejected and receive a two-game suspension.
  3. The bat list will be on the website http://www.smithtownsoftball.com .

 

RULE 18. SAFTY BASE

  1. SAFETY BASE--MUST TOUCH ORANGE BASE ON ANY BALL HIT IN THE INFIELD, even if there is no play. This is a live ball appeal; the fielder must tag the runner before he returns back to first base and appeal to the umpire the runner did not touch the safety base.

 

RULE 19. STRIKE ZONE MAT/PITCHING RULE

  1. THERE WILL NOW BE A MAT BEHIND HOME PLATE. A STRIKE WILL BE CALLED IF AN LEGAL PITCH HITS THE PLATE, INCLUDING THE BLACK AND ON THE MAT. THE ARC WILL BE FOUR FEET MINIMUM FROM POINT OF RELEASE TO TEN FEET MAXIMUM FROM THE GROUND.
  2. Once the pitched ball hits home plate or behind the ball is dead and cannot be batted.

 

RULE 20. SCOREKEEPERS

  1. 15 minutes prior to the start time, lineup cards must be handed to the scorekeeper. List all possible substitutions. This will be enforced, All managers are responsible for being organized.
  2. During the game, any substitutions must be reported to the scorekeeper and umpire.
  3. Abuse or disrespectful comments to the scorekeeper will result in 2 game suspension and possibly additional suspension.

 

RULE 21. AWARDS

  1.   Champions from each division will receive a Trophy and individuals Awards (Custom team Shirts).

 

RULE 22. OVER 40 LEAGUE

  1. The commitment line is between third base and home plate once a runner touches or passes the commitment line they must continue to home plate.
  2. There is a second home plate the runner must touch the second home plate before the catcher catches the ball touching the official home plate.
  3. Teams will be allowed 1 DH per game. Once the DH is removed from the game the fielder must bat.
  4. Runners may slide into the scoring home plate.

 

RULE 23. PITCHING SCREEN (OVER 40 LEAGUE)

  1. It is the team’s choice to use the Pitching Screen.
  2. A pitching Screen cannot exceed 7’ Tall & 3’ 6” Wide.
  3. Pitching Screen (only when screen is used) – Any batted ball that hits the pitching screen will be treated as a dead ball. If the batted ball hits the screen the 1st time it is a do-over, if it hits it a 2nd time no matter if there ia a strike on the batter, the batter is out.
  4. A pitcher cannot field a batted ball. Once the ball is pitched, he must go behind the pitching screen. If the pitcher fields a batted ball, the umpire will call time & award the batter & runners 1 base. (“Pitcher cannot field a batted ball”)
  5. Pitching Screen must be provided from the team using it, a team may allow the other team to borrow their pitching screen (this is optional).
  6.   The pitcher can cut off or back up a play. If a thrown ball hits the screen it is live like hitting a fence, live and in play unless it goes into dead ball territory.

 

RULE 24. NEW!!! Live Stream by HiCast Sports

  1. All games at Flynn Park will be Live Streamed on HiCast Sports.
  2. A subscription must be purchased to watch live or recorded videos. www.hicastsports.com
  3. The league office will NOT take any complaints regarding umpire calls that were missed & caught on camera. Anyone who does so, a possible suspension will take place.

 

RULE 25. Music & Electronic Devices

  1. Music is not allowed to be played during the games at Flynn Park.
  2. Electronic devices (Ear Pods, Eye Glass recording devices, speakers, video & camera etc.) at NOT allowed to be worn or used by an umpire or player on the field of play.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

  1. DEPENDING ON YOUR SEASON STANDING YOUR TEAM MAY BE MOVED UP OR DOWN TO KEEP LEAGUES BALANCED.
  2. Once schedules are made there will be no refunds for any reason.
  3. All questions and complaints will go to Vinny Simeone thru phone call or email. The Smithtown Recreation office will NOT take any calls or emails regarding any softball matters.
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