SECTION I — TEAMS
A. Teams will be selected by a draft and then reviewed and possibly changed by the Red Board. There will be 12 players per team. There will be four teams.
B. Managers will be selected by Red Division Committee.
C. SUB RULES: If you are down to 10 players, borrow a catcher. If down to 9, pick up 1 sub and borrow a catcher. If down to 8, pick up 2 subs and borrow a catcher. If only 7 roster players, you forfeit. If you are missing your primary pitcher, you may pick up a sub even with 11 roster players. Pitchers count as a sub. Managers playing each other are to seek agreement on subs and the Red Board will decide only if agreement cannot be reached between managers.
1. Should a team need a sub(s) the manager will advise the opposing manager the day before the game unless an unanticipated absence occurs on game day.
2. Subs must bat last in the batting order. A borrowed catcher does not bat for the borrowing team.
3. If a team is missing its primary pitcher (pitchers TBD), it may pick up a substitute pitcher regardless of how many roster players it has present. This borrowed pitcher is considered a sub, not a roster player and is subject to the same substitution agreement between managers, or The Red Board, if necessary.
4. If multiple teams need a sub for the same day, the team with the worst record has the first pick of available subs. If teams have the same record, they will flip a coin.
5. The issue of whether any subs will be permitted for the playoff game will be determined by the Red Board and communicated to managers.
6. #1 Draft Choices may not substitute for any other team.
SECTION II — PLAYING RULES
A. Rules will be Senior Softball USA rules, unless modified by the Jupiter Uniform Rules or the Red Division Playing rules.
B. Games will start at 9:00AM. Second game will be scheduled for 10:30.
C. During the game, a player may receive one walk. In any subsequent turn at bat, he has the choice to accept or reject another walk. If he rejects another walk, he must inform the umpire of his intention prior to stepping into the batter's box. If he walks again, a player from his team assumes first base and the batter remains at the plate. The count is re-set to 1-1. The player will bat until he puts the ball in play or strikes out. Each time he walks during his time up a runner will assume first base. A pinch runner who assumes first base during this at bat will still be able to pinch run one time later in the same inning and it does NOT count towards the maximum of two pinch runs per game by a player.
D. Home Run Rule: Except as provided herein, there is no limit on the number of home runs a player or team can hit per game. Neither the batter nor any base runners need to touch and round the bases for a home run over the fence.
E. Courtesy Runners:
1. A player can pinch run at most two times a game and no more than once an inning.
2. There will be no courtesy runner from home plate.
3. A courtesy runner, once he touches a base, cannot be replaced by another courtesy runner during that inning unless he becomes injured.
4. If the courtesy runner is on base when it is his turn to bat, he will be declared out on the base. He will be allowed to take his regular turn at bat.
Base Runners
A. It is the runner's responsibility, in all instances, to avoid a collision. (Interference) If in the umpire's judgment, a runner misses an otherwise reachable base to avoid a collision with another player, the runner will be called safe.
B. It is the fielder's responsibility not to block the bag or stand in the base path when the play is not involved at that base.
C. When the ball is hit on the ground or thrown to an infielder creating a force play at a base, if the runner sees he will likely be forced out at the base, he is required to veer away from the base to avoid the collision. If the infielder drops the throw at the base, the umpire may award the base to the runner if he feels the runner would otherwise have been safe if he had not veered away. If the runner attempts to obtain the base, he may slide or stay standing. However, if the standing runner does not avoid a collision with the fielder with the ball or he hinders the fielder from throwing to another base, he shall be called out for interference. If umpire determines that the interference resulted in the inability to complete a likely double play, he will declare both runners out. A runner cannot obtain the base by running past the bag to avoid the collision or by overrunning the bag.
D. A runner is allowed to slide into any base except home base to try to obtain the base safely or to avoid a collision. Where a sliding runner makes contact with the fielder, interference will not be called if in the umpire's opinion the contact was incidental. However, a runner may not slide into a defensive player in order to break up the play. If not incidental the sliding runner will be declared out. If umpire determines that the interference resulted in the inability to complete a likely double play, he will declare both runners out. SSUSA rules only allow you to slide into first after you have acquired first and seek to return. Any other slide into first is an automatic out. Also, only feet first slides are permitted.
E. When a defensive player has the ball and the runner remains upright and crashes into the defensive player, the ball will be dead and the runner is out. All runners must return to the last base touched. If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall be ejected.
F. Infield Fly: A fair fly ball (not including a line drive) which can be caught by any infielder, pitcher, or catcher with "ordinary effort" when first and second, or first, second, and third bases are occupied with less than two outs. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare, "INFIELD FLY — BATTER IS OUT" to aid the runners. If the ball is near the foul lines, the umpire shall declare, "INFIELD FLY — IF FAIR". The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or re-touch and advance after a fielder touches the ball. If the hit ball becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any other foul ball. Failure of the umpire to call "INFIELD FLY" does not negate the infield fly. If the error is discovered prior to the next pitch, the Infield Fly Rule may still be called.
G. If a fielder intentionally drops, or let's drop, a fair fly ball, including a line drive, which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second, and third bases occupied with less than two outs the batter is out. This is an umpire's judgment call. The ball is dead. Runners cannot advance.
H. If a batted ball hits the pitching screen, it is a strike. There is no courtesy rule.
I. A base runner may stand in foul territory at first and third base. The runner must announce his intention to the umpire and the defensive team, and retouch the base in order to advance. A runner can be tagged out by any player between third base and the courtesy line but once he crosses the courtesy line the runner cannot be tagged out — the play must be made to a defensive player at the regular home plate.
J. When a player is ejected from the game, his turn at bat is recorded as an out. He must leave the playing field. The umpire has the discretion to instruct an ejected player to leave the entire premises. If a player is ejected for throwing a bat while swinging at a pitch, his subsequent turn at bat WILL NOT be recorded as an out.
K. COMMITMENT LINE: A minimum six (6) foot (1.83 m) commitment line shall be marked across and perpendicular to the foul line and placed thirty feet from home plate. Once a runner touches or crosses the commitment line he: [a] cannot return to third base; [b] must continue home; [c] can no longer be tagged out by the defensive player; the defensive player must touch the strike zone mat. A runner may not stop short of the commitment line, waiting to be tagged so he can touch or cross the line just before he is tagged. If in the umpire's judgment this deception occurs, he shall call the runner out. The ball remains live.
L. UMPIRES — For the Fall, Ron Nolan will umpire the 9am games. The Umpire for the 10:30 games will be supplied by the Home team for the 9am game on each date. While 1 umpire will be sufficient for each game, a 2nd umpire may be used if there is a volunteer and the playing managers agree.
1. The umpires must be respected at all times. Any questioning of an umpire's call can only come from the manager. Questions should only be related to the rules, not judgment calls. Once a decision is made, after conferring, there will be no further discussion by the manager and play will resume promptly. Any player abusing an umpire will be ejected from the game and may be subject to a suspension and other disciplinary actions. Managers are responsible for informing their players of the importance of this rule and must control their players in this regard. A manager should always encourage good sportsmanship.
2. The umpire's decision is final. There are no protests. This applies even if an umpire interprets or applies a rule incorrectly.
3. Should a game be tied after nine innings the game will proceed to the tenth inning. The player who made the last out in the previous inning will assume second base. A player will not be allowed to pinch run for him until he reaches third base safely. This situation will apply for the eleventh inning (if necessary). Under no circumstance will a game go beyond eleven innings.
M. Rainouts: If a player is injured during the game such that he is unable to continue, his inability to bat is not recorded as an out. If his team is left with 10 players, it is discretionary with the opposing manager whether to permit a sub. The sub may act only as a non-batting catcher for the remainder of the game. If no sub is available and the opposing manager consents, the opposing team will supply a catcher.
Rainouts will not be made up.
PLAYOFF
There will be a one game playoff between the top two teams on 12/18/2026, with the 1st place team as Home. The playoff game winner will be declared the 2026 Red Division Fall League Champion.
ADDITIONAL RULES
1. The pitcher on the mound at the end of the game will be responsible for breaking down the "pitcher's screen" and returning it to the storage box.
2. The losing team will be responsible for returning the scoreboard, home plate and other equipment to the storage box.
3. The winning manager of the game must text the score to Gary Newman by 3pm that day.
4. MERCY RULE: If at any time in the game the losing team is unable to be down by less than 12 runs before commencement of the final, open inning (9th, unless otherwise agreed in advance), the game is over at that point. For instance, if a team is down by 12 after batting 8 times, down by 17 after batting 7 times, etc, the game is over as soon as the losing team is unable to close the gap to less than 12 before the open inning.
The JSSA plays by Senior Softball USA rules except where these division rules modify them. Questions about a rule or how it's applied go to your team manager or division director first.