Imagine Pittsburgh


Tournament Rules

GENERAL
WAIVER OF LIABILITY
·         All participants must agree to the waiver of liability.  
·         All participants in the league assume the risk of injury.  The PSL, its volunteers, and employees shall not be liable for injury to person, loss or damage to personal property arising from or in any way resulting from participation in the league.
SPORTSMANSHIP
·         Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.
·         Any behavior that is deemed violent, harassing, and/or inappropriate in any way, as witnessed by the umpire, referee, or PUMP/PSL staff, will result in the actions outlined in our Sportsmanship Policy. 
·         A player who is ejected from a game must leave the premises immediately.  Play will not resume until the ejected player has left.
·         Officials reserve the right to end a game or call a timeout at any point if the overall sportsmanship is out of line.
·         Captains are to be the team liaison to discuss any call or rule with an official during game play. 
WEATHER POLICY
·         The decision to call a rainout will be made as early as possible and will be updated as per PSL Policy
·         We will endeavor to play in mildly inclement weather or in the grass outfield. Rainouts will not be called unless conditions on the field are extremely poor or the weather is deemed dangerous. 
·         Umpires have the jurisdiction to call a game due to darkness or weather at the beginning or during a game.    
 
TEAMS
SUBMITTING A ROSTER
·         Each team must submit a roster with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 14 players. 
·         No player may register for more than 1 team
·         Rosters must be submitted and a waiver form must be signed before any player may take the field. 
PLAYERS
·         A team consists of 10 players 
·         A team can start play with 8 or 9 players 
o    When playing with 8 players a catcher does not have to be provided but someone from the infield will need to cover plays at the plate.
 
GAME SCHEDULE
START TIME
·         Game will start at its scheduled time.
·         There will be extra balls on the side-line to warm-up with. There is no official time for warm-ups after the start time has passed. 
·         If a team does not have enough players to start the game by 5 minutes after the scheduled start time, they will forfeit.
·         Pitchers may take 2 warm-up pitches at the start of their first inning. 
·         If enough players to start the game after 5 minutes after the scheduled start time, the game will be officiated and played as a scrimmage but will still be recorded as a forfeit.
GAME LENGTH
·         Pool Play games are 5 innings. Games can end in a tie. 
·         Pool Play games are finls when:
                * 5 innings have been completed (4.5 innings for home team)
                * No new innings will begin after 35 minutes unless the game is tied.
                * All innings that have started will be finished
·         A game that is called before 5 full innings of play shall not be considered a regulation game and shall be rescheduled and restarted from the beginning. 
·          When the Mercy Rule comes into effect, teams may choose to continue the game as a scrimmage, noting that the umpire will no longer keep score. Teams may use the field to scrimmage until 5 minutes prior to the next game time.
EXTRA INNINGS
·         Regulation games can end in a tie, however, if there is still time remaining, innings will continue until there is a winner. 
·         During the regular season, if a game is tied after 7 innings AND there are at least 10 minutes before the next game’s scheduled start time, an 8th inning will be played.  If the game is still tied after 8 innings, the game will end in a tie. If a game is still in progress when the next game is set to start, the game will be called and the game score at the end of the last full inning shall stand.
·         During the post season, additional innings will be played until a winner is determined, however there will be no warm-ups between half innings.
 
RULES
PLAYING FIELD
·         Like a softball field the pitching strip is in the center of the diamond, 42 feet 5 1/8 inches or 14 paces from home plate, and directly aligned with the first/third base diagonal.
LINEUPS
·         A lineup must be submitted to the umpire before the game begins and all teams must kick in the written order. 
·         All players get a spot in the kicking order. 
·         If a player is ejected, injured, or becomes ill and cannot continue the lineup will continue in the same formation unless minor adjustments are needed to maintain the proper gender rules. The missing player will not incur an out when their spot in the line-up is reached. 
PINCH RUNNERS
·         Players needing a pinch runner must let the umpire know before their first at bat.
·         Players may not use a pinch runner if they advance past first base on a fairly batted ball.
o    The exception to this is if a runner injures themselves running to a base; in this case a pinch runner may be awarded at the umpire’s discretion.
·         Once a player uses a pinch runner, that player must use a pinch runner for the remainder of the game.
·         The last player of the same gender who has been called out shall be the pinch runner.
o    If no player has been called out, the player of the same gender farthest away from the player needing a pinch runner in the batting order will be used as the pinch runner.
§  For example, if the first male batter in the batting order needs a pinch runner, the male batting last would be his pinch runner.
o    Pinch runners will likely change inning to inning based on the last player to be called out.
GAME PLAY
·         Only captains may discuss or clarify calls with the umpire.
·         The team captain may request a time-out from the umpire that can be granted at the umpire’s discretion. All action in progress must be completed before a request may be made. 
·         Play ends and the umpire calls time when the umpire deems that all immediate play is completed. 
·         A count of 3 outs by a team completes the team’s half of the inning. An out is the following: 
o    Any combination of strikes/fouls 
o    A runner touched by a kickball at any time while not at base
o    A fielder throwing a ball and hitting a runner with soft-to-medium force below the shoulder
o    Any kicked ball that is caught in the air in fair or foul territory. 
o    A fielder with control of the ball and tagging a base to which a runner is forced
o    A runner off his/her base before the ball is kicked. 
o    A bunted ball (after 1 team warning is issued)
·         The umpire will decide if unnecessary force was used to throw a ball at a runner. In this case that player may be ejected and the runner will be called safe. 
PITCHING & CATCHING
·         The strike zone extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high. 
·         A legal pitch is delivered underhand. 
·         At least 2 bounces on a pitched ball are required.
·         Pitch speed may range from slow to moderately fast.
·         Pitching ‘fireballs’ with excessive speed shall be determined a ball at the umpire’s discretion. 
·         A ball that is kicked foul but rolls into fair territory before 1st or 3rd base will be considered a fair ball as long as no player has touched the ball in foul territory. 
·         A ball that is bobbled and then caught will be considered an out, so long as it doesn’t touch the ground before the player catches it. Runners tagging up may advance once the ball comes in contact with the fielder, whether they make a clean catch or bobble the ball before catching it. 
·         It is considered a catch if the ball bounces from one player to another without touching the ground or any other surface. If it hits a fence, tree, or anything else first it is not considered a catch. 
KICKING
·         All kicks must be made by foot or the foot region. 
·         The kicker must take a full kick at the ball. There is not bunting. Each team will be issued a warning before outs are assessed for bunting. Once each team has been warned the play will result in an out and the ball is dead. 
·         All kicks must occur at or behind home plate. A kick in front of home plate is a foul (strike)
·         A count of 3 strikes constitutes an out. A strike is the following: 
o    A pitch within the strike zone not kicked
o    A pitch missed by the kicker
o    A foul ball. 
·         A count of 4 balls advances the kicker to first base. A ball is the following:
o    A pitch outside of the strike zone
o    Any fielder or pitcher advancing on home plate before the ball is kicked
o    Any catcher crossing home plate before the kicker or failing to field behind the kicker. 
·         A foul ball is counted as a strike. A foul is the following:
o    A kick landing out of bounds. 
o    A kick landing in bounds but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base; a kick where contact is made with the ball in front of home plate. Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play. 
RUNNING
·         Runners must stay within the base line. Fielders must stay out of the base line unless they are fielding a kicked ball. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the baseline. Runners hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running. 
·         Neither leading off base nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner cannot leave the base until the kicker has made contact with the ball or the runner on the base will be out. 
·         Hitting a runner with the ball above the shoulder level with a direct throw or kick by a fielder is not allowed. Any runner hit above shoulder level in this matter is safe. If the runner intentionally uses the head to block the ball and is so called by the umpire, or if the runner slides and is hit above the shoulders, the runner is out. 
·         If the runner is advancing after a kicked fly ball is caught, runners must tag their originating base before running to the next base. If the runner has not moved before the ball is caught, the runner may simply run forward without a tag up. 
·         All ties go to the runner. Runners may overrun first base, but if they are not attempting to advance to 2nd base they must stay in foul territory while returning to first base. 
·         Baserunners must not interfere with the play in progress. A baserunner who does interfere will be charged with interference resulting in both the baserunner and the batter-runner being called out on the play. 
·         When a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner, and the runner remains on his feet and deliberately runs into the defensive player, the runner is declared out. The ball will be declared dead and all runners must return to the last base they legally occupied. If the act is to be judged flagrant by the umpire, the offending player will be declared out and ejected from the game and the runner closest to home will also be called out. 
·         Ball out of play: In taking advantage of the time loss from an overthrown ball that travels out of play, a runner may not run beyond the subsequent base to the one originally running toward when the ball was thrown. 
·         If a runner intentionally touches or stops the ball the play ends.
EQUIPMENT
·         Athletic shoes are required. Metal cleats are not allowed. 
·         A game kickball (8.5 inches) and bases are provided by the PSL.
PLAYOFFS
SEEDINGS
·         Playoffs are based on win/loss record.
TIEBREAKERS
·         All teams tied in the standings will use the following tiebreakers, in order, to determine seeding:
o    Most regular season wins.
o    Head to head.
o    Least runs allowed.
o    Most points scored.
o    Least points given up vs highest ranked common opponent.
§  If teams play a common opponent an uneven amount of times, the next highest common opponent is used.
§  If teams have same runs/points given up vs common opponent, the next highest common opponent is used.
o    Coin toss.
 
3-way tiebreakers:  When 3 or more teams are tied; all teams will be ranked on the same criteria as opposed to knocking a team out then returning to the top of the tiebreaker list.  Tiebreakers will be applied until all teams that are tied can be ranked using the same criteria.  If the teams did not play one another in an even amount of games then “head to head” will be skipped. 
 

Announcements

LOGIN ISSUES

Many of our login issues stem from errors in the emails of invited players and can be easily resolved.

Reminder: please use your email address (the one associated with your PUMP account) as your username.

If the emails do not match it will not work.

If you cannot login, FILL OUT THIS FORM. 

 

UPCOMING REGISTRATIONS

 

Summer 2024 Registration Dates! Registration will open at 12pm each day for the sport listed. Click on each sport for more information!

 

Thursday, April 25th: BowlingCornholePickleballVolleyball


Wednesday, May 1st: Flag Football and Kickball

 

Thursday, May 2nd: Basketball and Softball 

 

Wednesday, June 5th: Tennis

 

 

UPDATED GENDER POLICY

We are very excited to share our newly updated PSL Gender Policy for Inclusive Game Play

Any feedback on this policy can be voiced here!

 

PSL Staff's hours of league correspondence: 

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday: 9:00 am - 11:00 am

*Note these are the hours that PSL staff is usually available for email and/or phone calls. We will do our best to respond to you as soon as possible and appreciate your patience. 

 

If your team needs to forfeit please notify us here