ALL PLAY SUSPENDED THROUGH MAY 3RD

Dated 3/31/20

As the Shelter-In-Place order has been extended for San Francisco, the suspension of our Spring season will also extend through May 3rd, 2020*. We continue to monitor and rely on government and health professionals’ guidance during these difficult times. We look forward to returning to softball as soon as it is in the best interest of our players and community.

*Updated from May 1st per update from SF officials

Dated 3/12/20

Dear SF Softball Players,

With the ongoing concerns and scary news regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have determined that it would be in everyone’s best interest to suspend play until the recommended date of March 31st. We will reassess the situation on a day-by-day basis and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Late Wednesday night, Gov. Gavin Newsome instructed all public gatherings to be cancelled. We are following this direction and suspending our Spring softball season effective immediately. All games on Thursday, March 12th through Tuesday, March 31st, are postponed.

We will work to reschedule all games that are missed. We do anticipate picking up where we left off to ensure the Spring season is concluded.

All forfeit fees from this season have been waived/reimbursed. We want to make it clear that we take the health and well-being of our players very seriously.

Throughout each major news update, we have stayed on top of the facts. We reviewed statements given from the CDC, OSHA, government officials, and the SF Rec & Park department to ensure we stayed current.

As difficult as this decision has been for us, we believe it to be a necessity. Please stay safe and healthy and we’ll keep on top of the situation and return to playing ball just as soon as it is prudent from a public health perspective.

Thank you to everyone who has voiced their concern.

Please educate yourselves and review the CDC’s recommendations.

Please call the rain out line (415) 831-6304 for updates when rain is in the forecast! You can also check the SF Rec & Park field rain out page.

FOR ALL INQUIRIES:  Email Matt: Leagueoffice {at} sfsoftball(.)com

UPDATES AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

NEW COURTESY RUNNER RULE IN EFFECT FOR THE SPRING 2020 SEASON:  Any eligible players that may participate on offense or defense and are on the official lineup, including available substitutes, may be used as a courtesy runner. In Co-Ed, courtesy runners must be of the same gender. 

A courtesy runner whose turn at bat comes up while on base:

a. The player who the courtesy runner is running for will be called out.

b. The courtesy runner will be removed from the base and take their turn at bat.

c. A second courtesy runner or a substitute is not permitted at this time.

A courtesy runner may be used once per inning. If a courtesy runner is used more than once, they will be called out and removed from the base.

EXTENSION OF PITCHING AREA:  When utilizing the 5 ft. extension behind the rubber, one foot needs to be touching within the 24″ parameter and the other foot may be in front, back or the side (outside) of the 24″ parameter.  You simply pitch the same as if you were at the pitcher’s rubber.

POINT FOR FIRST PLACE TEAMS IN PLAYOFFS:  The point for a first place team is only given in a single league division that has four teams only going to the playoffs; i.e. Open C and Open CC.  The first place team must be beaten twice by the fourth place team.

Any classification that has more than four teams in the playoffs does not have a point; i.e. Coed D, Coed DD, Modified Coed, Masters, Open D, Open DD.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FALL 2019 CHAMPIONS AND RUNNERS-UP!

Looking to join or fill in for a team? You can post your availability on the Message Board. Managers look there for players. The link to the Message Board is here  as well as on the left side of navigation menu. 

EQUIPMENT FOR EACH GAME:

Managers please make sure you bring to each game:

SOFTBALLS: Open, Masters and Modified Coed games (1) new ASA/USA yellow 12″ 52/300 ball, Coed games (1) new ASA/USA yellow 12″ 52/300 ball and (1) new yellow 11″ 44/375 ball. 
Only ASA/USA approved POLY CORE (not cork center) balls with the ASA or USA stamp may be used. 

CATCHERS MASK: For safety, catchers must wear a catchers mask, no exceptions.  A “Rip-It mask” or similar type of fielders protective face mask is acceptable.

LINEUP CARDS: A pack of 10 Lineup cards will be distributed to managers at their first league game. Each team must fill out information (players’ last names and positions) as requested on lineup card before game time. Lineup cards must be presented when called for by the Plate Umpire or the game may be forfeited. The umpire will keep the hard copy and will give the original one to the opposing teams.  All players listed must be present when the lineup cards are exchanged. Composite bats may only be used in C and LL Divisions.

METAL CLEATS ARE NOT ALLOWED: Football cleats, track shoes or soccer cleats are not allowed.

WHERE TO BUY REGULATION SF SOFTBALL LEAGUE SOFTBALLS: 

Presidio Store (610 Old Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94129) Bryant Street Store (1590 Bryant & 15th St., San Francisco, CA 94103)**

OPEN C AND LAWYERS LEAGUE MANAGERS & PLAYERS 

Click here for some VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION regarding Composite Bats ::  Do NOT purchase or bring a new Composite Bat to the field before reading this!

BAT CERTIFICATION Composite bats used in Open C and Lawyers League must be certified by the league office.  To have your bat certified you must make an appointment with Anna Louie at ajlouie {at} comcast(.)net or text her at 415-350-8788.  Anna will check your bat and place a sticker on it so it will be legal to use in these divisions.

RULES AND POLICIES ILLEGAL BATS: ANY PLAYER STEPPING INTO THE BATTER’S BOX WITH AN ILLEGAL BAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE OUT, EJECTED, AND SUSPENDED FROM THE NEXT GAME.  IT IS THE MANAGERS’ RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE NO ILLEGAL BAT IS USED BY THEIR TEAM.  THIS IS FOR ALL DIVISIONS. ONLY C AND LAWYERS LEAGUE DIVISIONS ARE ALLOWED TO USE ASA/USA APPROVED COMPOSITE BATS THAT HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND CERTIFIED BY THE LEAGUE.  COMPOSITE BATS ARE NOT ALLOWED FOR USE BY ANY OTHER DIVISIONS.  THE ONUS IS WITH THE PLAYER/TEAM WHETHER THE UMPIRE CHECKED THE BATS OR NOT.

WANT TO BECOME AN UMPIRE IN SAN FRANCISCO?

The NCUA (Umpires Organization)  is now accepting new applications. The mandatory Umpires school will be held on February 15 & 16, 2020. Please contact the NCUA for more information or an application:Chuck Louie, USA Softball of SF Umpire-in-Chief:  chuckyspride {at} gmail(.)com
Anna Louie, School Coordinator: ajlouie {at} comcast(.)net

YOU MUST HAVE A MANAGER ACCOUNT TO REGISTER A TEAM

Please email Leagueoffice {at} sfsoftball(.)com with your first/last name, home address/zip code, email address and cell phone #.  The system will email you your User Name and Password.  You will then be able to go on the system during the dates of registration to register your team.

San Francisco Municipal Softball
755 Stanyan Street * San Francisco, CA  94117
Phone: 415 831-6316 email: leagueoffice {at} sfsoftball(.)com
Twitter: @SFSoftball :: Find us on Facebook

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK :: 2015 SF SOFTBALL SURVEY We’re currently hard at work preparing for SF Softball 2016 and your opinion is an important part of that process. Please take a moment to answer a few simple questions about your 2014 experience in SF Softball. It’s quick and there’s space to add free form comments of your own:  2015 SAN FRANCISCO SOFTBALL SURVEY. Do these surveys have an impact? DEFINITELY. The SF Softball Board is composed of active players and managers just like yourself. We consult the survey to get a broad, inclusive view of how the League is working and ideas for improvement. Example: the League rule changes we have made over the past couple of years have been changes that SF Softball players and managers asked for, based on your survey feedback. These include: expanding the Mercy Rule from 12  to 20 runs,  going to a 1-1 count and adding a strike zone mat and double first base bag. These were all changes that got an average 70% support level from SF Softball managers and players on the annual survey. So take a moment to let us know what’s working and what can be improved (and how)… Your feedback is important to us. Our survey takes just a couple of minutes and all responses are kept anonymous: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LL2WCZ6

New Rule 2015 – FOR WEEKNIGHT GAMES ONLY:

In the first (1st) inning, pitcher gets not more than one minute to deliver no more than three (3) warm-up pitches.

Effect: For each warm-up pitch in excess of three (3), a ball is awarded to the batter.

In the second (2nd) inning and each subsequent inning thereafter, pitcher gets no more than one (1) warm-up pitch. Ball is to be returned directly to the pitcher to start immediate play. NO warm-up balls are allowed in the infield or outfield in the second (2nd) inning and thereafter.

Effect: For each warm-up pitch in excess of the one (1), a ball is awarded to the batter.

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Speak Up For Softball!

If playing Softball, good safe fields, working lights, and clean (and open) bathrooms are important to you (they’re certainly important to us), consider taking a minute during this season to let us know if you see a problem.  Contact our league director at 415 831-6316 or email the league office at leagueoffice {at} sfsoftball(.)com

San Francisco Softball League Personnel registering teams at “Registration Night” at Sports Basement.

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(c) 2020 San Francisco Municipal Softball Association
Kezar Pavilion Complex 755 Stanyan Street San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 831-6316