Slowpitch Bylaws/Rules

Managers are required to read the following information prior to competing in the Illinois USSSA program: Membership of this association automatically constitutes the agreement hereunder; including team classification. The following are by-laws instituted by the state of Illinois for adoption to the USSSA Constitution and are in no way contradictory to the USSSA National Association.

Player Eligibility – A player is eligible to compete in the USSSA program as long as he abides by the USSSA Constitution, by-laws and playing rules when listed as a member of an eligible team.
1. Players are classified on the team which they play for (Major, A, B, C, D & E).
2. A player can only be listed on one roster for tournament participation.

Team Eligibility – No team will be allowed to compete in the USSSA program without paying the team membership fee. Slowpitch membership expires on December 31st. Fastpitch membership is from August 1 thru July 31. A team may not be composed of more than 20 players (coaches and managers must be included in the 20 in order to play). A team may always participate in a higher class tournament than what their team is classified. Teams wishing to participate in out-of-state tournaments must contact their State Director prior to travel.

The USSSA team classification system is the key to equalizing and balancing team competition in tournament play. The USSSA does not classify leagues. The USSSA does classify individual teams in leagues for tournament play. The main criteria for classifying teams is the overall strength of the team, both offensively and defensively, regardless of whether the team has ANY home run hitters. Example: Depending on the strength of the offense and defense, a team with NO home run hitters may be classified as Major, A, B, C, D or E. Note: A team/player will be classified even if they do not participate in the USSSA program.

The aforementioned is the maximum that any team can have on its roster to play in that classification. Borderline teams must play in the higher classification.

Note: Some teams will be required to participate in higher class tournaments until their team classification can be determined.

*Men’s Class C Homerun Rule – After a team reaches its home run limit, any batter who hits an untouched fair ball over the fence will be declared out. Each subsequent time that position in the batting line-up is due to bat, an automatic out shall be declared. The player may be substituted for and the substitute will be permitted to bat. The player shall be permitted to play defense if he remains in the game. The player may not re-enter if he is removed from the game.

**Men’s Class D Homerun Rule - Any batter who hits an untouched fair ball over the (300’) fence will be declared OUT. Each subsequent time that position in the batting line-up is due to bat, an automatic out shall be declared. This player may be substituted for and the substitute will not be permitted to bat. The player shall be permitted to play defense if he remains in the game. The player may not re-enter if he is removed from the game. Illinois Rule – (Except Nationals) There will be one homerun allowed. All subsequent home runs by the same player, or any other, will result in that person, or position in the batting order as being declared an out every time that player comes to bat. This will include all substitutes in that batting position.

***Men’s Class E Homerun Rule – Any batter who hits an untouched fair ball over the fence will be called out with no runner advancement. The batter will be declared out and an automatic out in the line-up each time that player or a substitute is scheduled to bat. And the INNING IS OVER. The penalty is to prevent homerun hitters and higher-class players from playing the E program. The above Men’s Class “E” homerun rules are only in effect for Illinois Tournaments The homerun rule for the Class “E” National Tournaments is the first batter who hits a homerun is declared out and no longer bats.

National/World Tournament Men's & Mixed Class "E" Homerun Rules - Any batter who hits an untouched fair fly ball over the fence will be declared out. Each subsequent time that position in the line-up is due to bat the batter shall automatically be declared out. The player shall remain in the game for defensive purposes only. This applies to any substitute in that batting position.

Men’s Major – Considered the “best” teams in softball. Any team that has 6 or more players on its roster whose names appear on the Major’s Players List shall automatically be classified as a Major team.

Men’s A – Any team that has 4 or more players on it’s roster whose names appear on the Major Players List shall be classified as “A”.

Men’s B – Highly competitive team with a majority of players having a skilled and polished offense and defense.

Men’s C – Competitive team with a majority of players having good skills and experience.

Men’s D – Competitive teams having some skills and experience. No untouched over the fence home runs allowed. In Illinois tournaments except Nationals – 1 homerun allowed.

Men’s E - Teams that play strictly for social, recreation and exercise and have few skilled players. No homeruns allowed. If a player has played higher than a Class D (USSSA equivalent) in the past 5 years, he is not eligible for Class “E”.

Women’s A – Teams that can compete against other Class A teams in the highest level of competition.

Women’s B – Highly competitive teams with the majority of players having a skilled and polished offense and defense.

Women’s C – Competitive teams with the majority of the players having good skills and experience. Limited to 3 home runs per game.

Women’s D – Teams that play strictly for social recreation and exercise and have a few skilled players. No home run hitters allowed on a 250’ fence.

Women’s E (formerly D-Rec.) – Any team that has a 25% or less winning percent in tournaments and did not finish in the top ten in the “D” State Tournament the previous year; or a league team that plays NO tournaments and would not be able to compete against tournament teams.

APPEALS – Teams not reclassified by the By-Laws that want to appeal their classification may do so between February 1 and March 1 and/or June 1 and July 1. Teams reclassified by appeal between February 1 and March 1 may be reclassified by the State Director after the team plays (4) USSSA tournaments or June 1 whichever occurs first. Teams appealing between June 1 and July 1 must have played in four (4) USSSA sanctioned tournaments. Appeals must be filled out on official USSSA appeal form and submitted to the Division Vice President. The appeal will be review by the Division Vice President, Executive Vice President and Assistant Executive Director. Exception: Teams reclassified by the By-Laws, with extenuating circumstances may appeal their new classification between February 1 and March 1. Respective State Director, National Program Director and three (3) Vice President appointed by the Executive Director will review said appeals.

Teams reclassified by the By-Laws must participate in their new classification for a period of one (1) year. Any team that fails to participate the following year will remain at the new classification until such time as they participate and meet the requirements.

(Note: Any team reclassified by the By-laws with four (4) or more players from the previous year’s roster must participate in their new classification for a period of one (1) year; however, teams reclassified by the By-laws may make an appeal to be reinstated to it’s former classification only after the team has played a minimum of four (4) tournaments. Such an appeal can only be made between June 1 and July 1 and must be submitted on proper form. The appeal must be made jointly to the State Director, applicable Program Director and Vice-President. Teams not reclassified by the By-laws that want to appeal may do so between February 1 and March 1 and/or June 1 and July 1. All teams must have played in four (4) USSSA sanctioned tournaments. Appeals must be filled out on official USSSA appeal form and submitted to the Division Vice President. The appeal will be reviewed by Division Vice President, Executive Vice President and Assistant Executive Director. Exception; Teams reclassified by the By-laws with extenuating circumstances may appeal their new classification between February 1 and March 1. Respective State Director, National Program Director and three (3) Vice Presidents appointed by the Executive Director will review all appeals.

A State Director has the authority to re-classify any team during the current season except when a team has been reclassified by the By-Laws or the National Classification Committee. Note: National Classification Committee has final authority on classification of all teams.

The classification of all teams that are not moved up by the Association’s National By-Laws will be determined by the appropriate State Director. Teams are not exempt from being classified by their State Director according to the overall strength of the team simply because a national reclassification by-law does not affect their team. Any team that fails to participate the following year will remain at the new classification until such time as they participate and meet the requirements.

Note: If a team can not compete in the higher classification, they may be moved down after they have made an effort to play in the higher class.

A team that is classified to a lower classification during the season shall automatically have a frozen roster regardless if that team has qualified for a State, National or World Championship Tournament. No players will be added from that date.

No player may drop more than one team classification from the previous year.

TOURNAMENT PICK-UPS – To be used when teams wish to enter tournament but need to “pick-up” players other than their usual league or tournament team. The following is a guideline to determine a team’s classification. Only in effect if roster is not
frozen.
1. Players who play with a team 65% of the time are not considered pick-ups.
2. A player who has more than one classification will be considered the higher class for the pick-up rule (e.g. A player who plays for a Class B and a Class D team in league play during the season would be allowed to play for a Class B team only in tournament play).

TEAM ELIGIBILITY - Any Men's Class "B", "C", "D" or "E" team that has four (4) or more players from any combination of teams moved up within the same classification, or players from a team from the previous season of the same or higher classification of the team's new classification must participate in the new classification for a period of one year with the same restrictions of a team moved up by the National By-Laws. (see USSSA Rulebook for detailed information)

TEAMS AVOIDING CLASSIFICATION - A new policy regarding teams who have been automatically moved up by the By-Laws but continue to play in their previous class will have their berths revoked, team will be reclassified into proper class, team forfeits all points and awards, team remanded to last place in all previous tournaments, team may be subject to disbarment proceedings, etc. Complete policy to be posted on www.usssa.com

FROZEN ROSTERS – When a team qualifies for State, National, World or World Series or Men’s Grand Finale, the team roster is frozen whether the team accepts the berth or not. Players will be bound to this qualified team up to and including the team’s respective State, National or World Tournament, including the World Series. A team may decline a National or World Tournament berth that is passed down. Player(s) from the qualified roster are not allowed to play with another team in a USSSA tournament for the remainder of the season.
(a) A team Manager shall be allowed to add only four (4) players to the qualified team’s roster. One of the additions must be by July 1. The three (3) additional players may be added as late as 72 hours prior to the State, National or World Tournament. No player may be added to a roster within 72 hours of any championship tournament. Such additional players can only be added to rosters that have openings to allow for such add-ons. (Note: Do not wait to add players to your roster 72 hours prior to a Labor Day or the World Tournament. If you can’t reach the Classification Director, you can’t add the player(s).)
(b) A team manager may release up to three (3) players from his team’s qualified frozen roster. A team manager cannot replace a released player with an add-on. No player will be allowed to be released from a qualified team’s roster after August 20.
(c) Note: Teams advancing to the Men’s Major World Series, Mixed World please refer to the USSSA rulebook for more information.
(d) All players added to qualified frozen rosters must meet the following requirements:
- Players can not be on another qualified team's roster within the same program. Note: A qualified team's roster remains frozen until the conclusion of the highest possible tournament in that team's respective program.
- Players who are added to a roster of a qualified team must not have played for a team of higher classification during the current season within the same program.
- Any additions to the roster must be of equal or lesser classification than the team they are joining and must not change that team's classification.
- The Classification Director must approve all roster changes.

Note: The maximum number of players is 20. If the Manager lists 18 players on his roster and qualifies for further advancement, he would only be eligible to add 2 players; 17 players – add 3 players. You may only add up to 3 players or drop 3 players. You cannot drop players to make room to add players. A team with a frozen roster may play in a higher-class tournament, but individual players are not allowed to play with any other tournament team except the team they are qualified with.
- Each team Manager is responsible for informing his/her players of the above frozen roster rules. Failure to do so may result in a player playing for another team and disqualifying your team from All State, National, and Invitational or World Tournament participation.

The Men’s Class A or Open State Tournament is open to any USSSA registered team in good standing with the USSSA and teams do not have to qualify to compete. Teams that are classified lower than A may also participate. All Men’s Class B, C, D, & E and Women’s Class B, C, D, & E teams must qualify through league or tournament play in order to participate in their respective State tournament. Berths will be given in league and tournaments where ALL teams and Umpires are registered and is governed by the USSSA Rulebook. League berths must be awarded 3 weeks prior to the appropriate State Tournament.

League berths – League teams must make arrangements with their respective League Director for entry. League berths must be awarded 3 weeks prior to the appropriate State Tournament.

Note: Any team who has qualified for a National or World Tournament, including the World Series and/or Grand Finale must participate in the State Tournament or a State Tournament of a higher classification in order to maintain said berth. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of said berths.

Multi-State Tournament participation - Men’s Class B, C, D and E teams may now play up in classification for double National Ranking Points in only two State Tournaments. Teams may play in a total of three State Tournaments: one in the same class and two in a higher classification. Teams may play in Slow Pitch State Tournaments outside of their respective state only if the event is not held within their respective state, and with the approval of the host State Director.

All Men's Northern Class B/C/D teams must confirm with Mike Peura. Northern Men's E teams must confirm with Mark Pawlowski, Southern IL teams confirm with Norm Faulkner and all Women's teams must confirm with Lori Conro. All Mixed teams must confirm with Dave Harmes. All other programs must confirm with Program Director. Failure to confirm will result in forfeiture of berths and sponsor travel reimbursement expenses.

Any player, manager, coach, sponsor or team in violation of these By-Laws will be suspended for a period of one full year from the time of the incident and all berths, sponsor travel reimbursement and entry fees paid to future tournaments forfeited.

The Illinois USSSA has the right to amend, change or strike any by-law or rule to better the program in equal fairness to its members, but must be within the guidelines set forth in the USSSA Constitution.

2. Only bats may be used in loosening up (including weighted bats for this purpose). Only bats, weighted bats, or USSSA approved weight attachments may be used. Nothing such as a do-nut, lead pipe, or fan may be used in loosening up.

3. Additional Hitter Rule – can be used in the entire USSSA program. A team may insert an Additional Hitter into its line-up. The batting order must remain constant; however, any 10 of the 11 players can take a defensive position throughout the game. If an AH is used, the team must finish with 11 players or the game is forfeited unless the program uses the short-handed rule. In the Mixed program when the AH is used a male and female AH must be used. If additional hitter is inserted into line-up after the game has started, the player will be ejected.

4. Re-Entry Rule – 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 they are in the lineup. A substitute who is withdrawn may not re-enter. Important: All re-entry by any starter must be reported to the umpire and scorekeeper at the time of re-entry. Note: There is no penalty for unannounced proper re-entry. Refer to the USSSA Rulebook for situations and penalties regarding proper re-entry.

5. Less than Ten Players in a Tournament – A minimum of 9 players can start a game. However, an out shall be declared when the 10^th position in the lineup is scheduled to bat. A 10^th player may be added in the 10^th position anytime before the end of the game. Any team that starts a game with 10 or 11 players may drop down to the minimum of 9 players to finish the game. All vacant spot(s) in the lineup will be declared an out every time that position is due to bat. If a player is ejected from the game for any reason, the ejected player’s team must have a substitute available to replace the ejected player or that team will forfeit the game. If the team starts with 9 or 10 players, they are not allowed to add the 11^th player at a later time. Any player that leaves the game for any reason may not return to the game. Exception: A player who has left the game under the blood rule may return. Note: This rule is not allowed in the Men’s Major or A programs.

6. An altered bat is one in which the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed. Inserting material inside the bat, changing/replacing manufacturer’s markings or replacing the handle of a metal bat with a wooden handle are examples of an altered bat. Replacing the safety grip with another safety grip is not considered altering the bat. The USSSA is taking a hard line to rid the program of altered bats. The USSSA will no longer tolerate the use of altered bats.

Rule 4 - The Game Section 11.
If a bat is protested as being altered during a game, the suspected offending player may either:

7. An illegal bat is one that does not meet the requirements/specifications of Rule 2, Section 2 in the USSSA Rulebook. Effect: The penalty for using an altered or illegal bat is as follows: If the batter hits the ball with an altered or illegal bat, the ball is dead, the batter is out, ejected from the game and/or tournament, and immediately reported to the State Director for consideration of Disbarment proceedings.

8. Profanity Rule – Managers, coaches, players, substitutes, trainers, batboys or other team members or occupants of the bench, shall not, from any place, including the coach’s boxes: Incite, or try to incite by word, sign or demonstration, either opponents or spectators. Use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect upon opposing players, the Umpires, Directors or spectators. Note: Use of profane or abusive language or taunting will not be tolerated. Players violating the above can be ejected from the game without warning.

9. Tournament Directors have authority to eject a player or team anytime during a tournament.

10. In tournament play, when an ineligible player is discovered during the game, the offending team loses the game, is ejected from the tournament, placed last in the standings and forfeits all awards, sponsor travel money and berths that would have been awarded at that tournament. If this ineligible player is discovered after the completion of the game (but during the tournament) the game shall stand as played. However the offending team is ejected from the tournament, and assumes the same penalties as above. Any paid berths, sponsor travel reimbursement, etc will be forfeited. Any awards or trophies must be returned to the Tournament Director. If awards and trophies are not returned, the suspension is indefinite. This is in effect for one full year if an ineligible player or team is discovered.

11. All players participating in the Adult USSSA Tournament Program shall have a photo I.D. available. Failure to do so will result in Rule 4, Section 11-5 in the USSSA Rulebook to be applied. (The offending team loses the game, is ejected from the tournament, placed last in the standings and forfeits all awards, sponsor travel money and tournament berths that would have been awarded in that tournament.) Exception: If the loss incurred by the offending team was its first loss of the tournament and if the player(s) in question can subsequently furnish a valid photo ID prior to their next scheduled game, the offending team may remain in the tournament.

12. In all programs, non-duplicating numbers will be required at State, National and World Tournaments. The numbers must be a minimum of 3 inches in size and clearly visible.

14. Most qualifying tournament fees must be paid by the Tuesday prior to the weekend of the tournament. Failure to do so will exclude your participation in the tournament. Adhere to all other deadlines for State and post State Tournament play.

15. Any Class B, C or D team that receives a berth to the World Tournament must participate in the appropriate National Tournament on Labor Day Weekend.

16. BATS– The performance standard for all non-wooden bats will be a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.20, or less under the ASTM BPF test as applied under the standard USSSA Bat License Agreement. A list of those bats licensed and complying with this standard and therefore legal in USSSA play shall be kept by USSSA and published and made available by means including, but not limited to, the USSSA Website. Only bats on the published list will be legal for USSSA play. In addition, no bat shall be legal in USSSA play unless it is marked “USSSA BPF 1.20”; bats manufactured before January 1, 2004, are to be marked “1.20 BPF” or BPF 1.20.”

17. In Illinois tournaments only – In the Adult Slow Pitch Programs, the pitched ball must arc at least 5 feet from the ground (but not higher than 10 ft from the ground) after leaving the pitcher’s hand and before it passes any part of home plate. (No flat pitches)

18. Any team/player can be classified by the USSSA even if the team or player does not play the tournament program. The reason for this is to prevent higher class players and teams that normally do not play USSSA from dropping down to lesser teams.

19. Rule 8 - Baserunning, Section 4 - (Carrying bat to first base and into dead ball territory)
A batter-base runner is out under the following circumstances.
(G) When after hitting a fair ball, and while the ball is still alive, the batter-runner carries the bat and touches first base or runs beyond first base while carrying the bat.
(H) When, after hitting a fair ball, and while the ball is still alive, the batter-runner goes into dead ball territory.

20. Flip/Flop Rule (All Programs). Only goes into effect when mercy rule goes into effect. In the inning when the run rule is exceeded (after the 2nd inning) and the home team is losing, the Home Team will remain at bat and become the Visiting team. If the team (new Visiting team) does not score enough runs to reduce the run difference below the run rule the game is over. If they reduce the run difference to below the run rule the new Home team will bat. If they subsequently score enough runs to exceed the run rule the game will be over. If they do not the game will continue under that format. If the situation reverses, the team would flip/flop again.

21. All teams that accept berths to State, Nationals, World Tournament, including the World Series must have their roster entered into the ISTS program at www.usssa.com. This must include the birth date of each player. Team Manager receives an ID# and password from the National Office. Contact stacy@usssa.com if you have not received an email with this information. Click on the link to the left for instructions on how to add a roster online.

22. MEN’S C NIT’S WITH D WORLD TOURNAMENT BERTHS – Selected Men’s C NIT’s may now award a D World Tournament berth. If a C NIT offering a D World Berth has 17 or more teams, and a D team wins the tournament, the D team will only be awarded the $600 travel expense if the D team accepts the C World berth; D teams can only win $600 travel expense from the USSSA Headquarters in one NIT; if a D team wins a paid berth in a C NIT offering a D World berth, it can subsequently win $600 travel expense in a D NIT; if the highest finishing D team in a C NIT offering a D World berth already has a paid D World berth, $250 travel expense will be awarded to the team at the D World Tournament; an unpaid D World berth will be passed down to the next highest finishing, previously unqualified D team; if no C teams enter the C NIT offering a D World berth, double points will not be awarded; the class C home run rule will be used in all games; any situation that occurs that is not addressed above will be decided upon by the appropriate Vice-President or Executive Vice-President.

The top ranked Men's Class B, C and D team from each State will be awarded a World Tournament berth at the conclusion of all Illinois State Tournaments.