League Rules

League standings combine game results and Social Points. Points are awarded as follows:

• Win: 10 points.
• Tie: 5 points.
• Loss: 0 points.
• Weekly Team Photo: 5 points after approval. Upload the photo through the Team Photo section of the GCSS app.
• Mini-Game Win: 5 bonus points.
• Team Hang: 5 bonus points after the Team Hang submission is approved in the GCSS app.

• Teams must be ready at start time.
• Duration: 55 Minutes.
• Not ready 10 min after start = Lose one at-bat.
• Last inning (or potential last): Team behind bats first.

• Runners have right of way. Give them room!
• No standing on bases when play is elsewhere.
• 10 players max:
  • Max 4 in outfield.
  • Gender Minimum: A team fielding 10 players must include at least 3 female players.
  • Short-Handed Play: Teams may play with 9 players if they have at least 2 female players on the field.
• Overthrow: Ball out of play = Runner gets base + extra bag.
• Throwing at Runner: Allowed to get them out. Use reasonable force.
• Head Hits: Above standing shoulder height = NOT OUT (unless runner ducks/slides).

• Max 10 players on field.
• General Subs: If under 10 players, up to 2 subs allowed.
• Female Subs Exception: A female substitute may be used to reach the applicable gender minimum—3 with 10 fielders or 2 with 9—regardless of total count (doesn't count toward the 2-sub limit if the team otherwise matches).
• League Subs: Notify us if using existing league players.
• Outside Subs: Must check in and sign online waiver.

• No more than 3 men in a row in lineup (without a female).
• Any combination of 2 strikes or fouls = OUT.
• All arrived players hit (even if not fielding).
• No Happy Gilmore "Running Swings".
• Fields with fence: No over-the-fence Home Runs.

• 9 players = Catcher optional.
• Catcher position: Behind plate OR along 3rd base line (outside bunt area).

• Home-Plate Collision Buffer: Home plate is a dead, open collision-buffer zone. It may not be used as a scoring base or fielding position.
• Runner Zone: The marked runner zone behind home plate is for baserunners only. A runner scores by touching the runner zone. A runner who touches home plate or enters the catcher zone is out.
• Catcher Zone: The marked catcher zone in front of home plate is for the defensive player covering home; any defensive fielder may cover this zone. To record an out, that player must possess the ball in the catcher zone before the runner touches the runner zone.
• No Tags at Home: Home is a force play using the marked zones. Throwing at a runner is allowed under the league's reasonable-force throwing rule, but a defensive player may not tag a runner at home. A defensive player who blocks the runner zone or occupies home plate awards the runner home.
• Commit Line: A commit line will be drawn halfway between third base and home plate. Once a runner crosses this line, they cannot return to third base and must continue toward the runner zone at home. Caught Fly Ball Exception: A runner who must tag up after a caught fly ball may cross back over the commit line to return to the base occupied at the time of the hit. After legally tagging up, the runner may advance toward home.

• Max 6 runs per inning.
• Winning by 10+ after 5th inning = WIN.
• "Catch-up" Rule: Losing team can score >6 runs to escape run rule (e.g., down 17, can score enough to reduce deficit under 10).
• Last Inning: No run limit.

• Touched by fielder in foul territory = Foul.
• Beyond 1st/3rd: Hits ground in foul territory (untouched) = Foul.
• Between Home & 1st/3rd: Hits ground then...
  • Settles in foul territory = Foul.
  • Bounces over/touches base = Fair.
  • Rest of way in fair territory = Fair.

• Week 3: Shirts expected.
• No shirt after Week 2? Must check in with referee.
• Ensures proper rostering and fair play.

• NO GLOVES on the field.
• Only league bats used.
• Rubber cleats allowed.
• NO METAL CLEATS.
• Shoes required.

• Rules not listed default to MLB Rules.