SOFTBALL REGULATIONS

Last update 28/07/16

1. Organization

a.      The Softball Committee of the 20^th Maccabiah will be responsible for the Softball competitions of the 20^th Maccabiah.

b.      The Softball competitions will be conducted according to the fast pitch rules of the International Softball Federation (I.S.F.). The English text will be binding.

c.       Participation in the competition is open to any athlete who is in possession of a Participant Card, issued by the Organizing Committee of the 20^th Maccabiah, and is registered for the Softball competitions.

d.      Each country may enter one team for the Softball Male competition one team for the Softball Female competition and  one team for the Softball Masters (35+) competition.

e.      Each team may consist of a maximum of 17 players.

2. Venues and times

The Sport department of the 20^th Maccabiah will determine the venues and times of the Softball competitions and teams will be notified accordingly.

3. Game ball

a.      The Softball being used is the DIAMOND "FLYER" FASTPITCH BALL, 12WFP-47NFHS, white stitch.

b.      The Softball Committee is authorized to select the brand name of ball according to ISF Regulations, and these decisions will be final.

4. System of competition

SYSTEM A: with the participation of up to 6 teams

a.      The competitions will be played on a basis of a double round robin.

b.      In the event of two or more than two teams tied, rank them as follows:

1)   Results of games among themselves in round robins.

2)   Runs against themselves in round robins. Team with lowest runs against ranked ahead of others.

3)   Random selection – first team picked is rated above others.

c.       The top four teams enter Semi-Final and Final rounds. In case of six teams in the competition, the teams placed 5^th and 6^th in the league will play a game for their final place.

d.      First Semi-Final – teams ranked 3^rd and 4^th in round robin, play for a chance in final game. Loser is 4^th in the championship.

e.      Second Semi-Final – teams ranked 1^st and 2^nd in round robin, play for a place in the Grand Final.

f.       Final – winner of first Semi-Final and loser of second Semi-Final, play for a place in the Grand Final. Loser of this game is 3^rd place in the championship.

g.      Grand Final – winner of the second Semi-Final and the winner of the final play for the championship title. Loser is second in the championship, and winner is first place champion.

SYSTEM B: with the participation of 7 - 8 teams

a.      The competitions will be played on a basis of a single round robin.

b.      In the event of two or more than two teams tied, rank them as follows:

1)   Results of games among themselves in round robin.

2)   Runs against themselves in round robin. Team with lowest runs against ranked ahead of others.

3)   Random selection – first team picked is rated above others.

c.       The top four teams enter Semi-final and Final rounds. The teams placed 5^th and 6^th in the league will play a game for their final place. The teams placed 7^th and 8^th in the league will play a game for their final place.

d.      First Semi-Final – teams ranked 3^rd and 4^th in round robin, play for a chance in final game. Loser is 4^th in the championship.

e.      Second Semi-final – teams ranked 1^st and 2^nd in round robin, play for a place in the Grand Final.

f.       Final – winner of first Semi-final and loser of second Semi-final, play for a place in the Grand Final. Loser of this game is 3^rd place in the championship.

g.      Grand Final – winner of the second Semi-final and the winner of the final play for the championship title. Loser is second in the championship, and winner is first place champion.

SYSTEM C: with the participation of 9-11 teams

a.      The teams will be divided into 2 groups.

b.      The first team in the 19^th Maccabiah will head group A.

c.       The second team in the 19^th Maccabiah will head group B.

d.      The teams placed third and fourth in the 19^th Maccabiah will be drawn for second place in the groups. All the other teams will be placed in the groups by a draw.

e.      In the event that after the draw, one or more teams will not appear and a situation arises whereby a group is short of two teams, then the team drawn last will be moved from one group to another.

f.       Semi-Final and Final rounds will be played as in System A. Teams in each group that finish round robin in 1^st and 2^nd places will play as follows:

1)   First Semi-final – 2^nd place teams will play for 3^rd and 4^th. Loser is 4^th place.

2)   Second Semi-final – 1^st place teams will play with winner to Grand Final and loser to play winner of 1^st Semi-Final. Loser of this game is 3^rd place, winner plays in Grand Final.

g.      Teams who do not play Semi-Finals will play for 5^th-8^th positions.

5. Completion of games

All games will be according to ISF rules in regard to completion.

NOTE: The run differential and tiebreaker rules will apply where necessary.

Run Differential 20/15/7 tiebreaker after 7 innings.

6. Reporting to playing site

Teams preparing to play must report to the head scorekeeper one hour before time scheduled to play and submit their line-up at that time. The line-up will be official when copy is presented to H.P. umpire at pre-game meeting.

7. Umpires

The Softball Committee will select the Umpires Committee, which in turn will appoint the umpires of the competition.

8. General

a.      These regulations are but one part of the complete 20^th Maccabiah Regulations, and must be read along with the instructions found in "Basic Regulations and Disciplinary Procedures".

b.      In the event of a discrepancy between the regulations written here and those appearing in the "Basic Regulations", the regulations written here will apply and be binding.

c.       NOTE: Check Rule Book of ISF for safety base Regulations.

1)   Safety Base Regulations.

2)   Blood Rule.

3)   DP Rule.

4)   Any changes in 1004-5, ISF Rule Book.