A resident is anyone who lives or works full-time in Golden Valley.

Men’s Teams

• All players must be at least 16 years old.
• Part-time or temporary employees are not resident players.
• Roster limit is 20.
  

Co-Rec Teams

• All players must be at least 16 years old.
• Part-time or temporary employees are not resident players.
• Roster limit is 26 for league play. Roster limit for teams advancing to state tournament is 20.

Teams wanting to participate in the MRPA Fall State Tournament must submit the berth fee of $150 at the time of registration. If your team is the league champion, the berth fee will be refunded.

The USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) rules and the MRPA (Minnesota Recreation & Park Association) rules will govern all play unless modified by local Golden Valley rules.

• Balls/strikes: The 3/2 (three balls/two strikes) rule, with one courtesy foul.
• Limit of three homeruns per game. After a team reaches its allotment of homeruns, all other homeruns hit over the fence shall be outs.
• No metal spikes shall be worn in Golden Valley sponsored softball games.
• Teams will furnish their own bats that conform to USSSA specifications.
• Courtesy runners may be used; however, managers must agree before the start of the game. Courtesy runner must be the last person out. In Co-Rec, the courtesy runner must be player of the same sex.
• In the case of a tie at the end of the season, the team(s) with the greatest number of victories against other teams involved in the tie would be used to break the tie. Next, the greatest difference between runs scored, less runs let in, will be considered—first with teams involved in the tie, and secondly, with all teams in the league. If necessary, a coin flip will be used to break the tie.

Games will be seven innings. No inning of any game may begin later than 60 minutes after the scheduled starting time. In the event that the umpire is late, the first game shall be 60 minutes from the time the umpire calls "play ball." The umpire’s watch will be the official time.

• In the event of a tie, either at the end of seven innings or after 60 minutes of the game, play will not continue. The game remains a tie.
• All games will play complete innings unless the home team is winning.
• All leagues will use the flip flop rule.
• A game shall be complete after four innings if called by the umpire for inclement weather, darkness, or time.
• League games rained out or postponed before four innings will be rescheduled from the point of interruption if time allows!
• A game shall be complete when a team is ahead by 20 or more runs after four innings of play; 15 or more runs after five innings of play; or 10 or more runs after six innings of play.

• There will be no grace period. Games will begin at the scheduled times. A team must have a minimum of nine players to begin and continue a game.
• Managers must declare whether they will use either the Additional Hitter (AH),  the Re-entry rule, or unlimited batting at the pre-game meeting of the managers and umpire. Home team shall declare whether they will use Re-entry, Additional Hitter, or unlimited batting first. 
  
• If the AH is used, a team must start the game with 11 players (12 for co-rec) and may, in the event of player injury, finish with nine players (10 for co-rec). Positions in the batting order will not be called an out.
• An injured player may not return to the game under any circumstances. If all players are batting and a player is injured, his place in the batting order will not be called an out. If a player leaves the game (not for injury), his place in the batting order will be called an out.
• A team starting with 11 players in the batting order may finish the game if a player(s) leaves. However, they must have at least nine players to finish the game, and positions left vacant by the player(s) will be called an out. If a team drops below nine players, they immediately forfeit the game.

• Managers should exchange line-ups before the game.

• Double forfeit will be declared if neither team has the minimum eligible players.

• Each team is requested to keep a scorebook. The home team is designated as the official scorer.

• The 11” softball will be used when a female is batting; a 12” softball will be used when a male is batting.
• A team may play with 8 players, there must be a minimum of 50 percent female players in the line-up at all times.
• When a male batter is walked, he proceeds to second base; the following female batter has the option to accept an automatic walk or to bat. The manager must announce to the umpire if the automatic walk is accepted.
• The Additional Hitter (AH) may be used adding one or two women. It cannot be used adding just one man or two men. If one man is added as an AH, there must also be one woman added as an AH.
• Outfielders shall position themselves a minimum of 10 feet beyond the skinned infield before the ball is hit.
• No short fielder may be used.
• Infielders shall position themselves behind the base path before the ball is hit to be accepted.
• There is no designation as to positioning in the field for males or females.
• No player from the defensive team, except the pitcher, can be in front of the base lines until after the ball is hit.
• During an inning, defensive players cannot switch positions (unless there is a pitching change or injury resulting in a player substitution); they also cannot physically overlap before the ball is hit. Fielding positions can only be changed between innings or whenever the line-up is changed due to a pitching change or injury.

To help ensure that only eligible players participate, all team managers must sign and turn in the Eligibility/Conduct Verification Sheet along with a personal check (payable to the City of Golden Valley) or VISA/MasterCard information for the sum of $100.

This $100 will be held and not cashed providing the team does not use or roster any ineligible player or become involved in unsportsmanlike conduct as defined by the Golden Valley Park and Recreation Department and the MRPA/USSSA.

If a team uses or rosters an ineligible player:

• manager's $100 personal check is deposited

• player and manager are suspended from all Golden Valley athletic programs for one year after $100 deposit is paid

• team will forfeit the games played before date of infraction and, if ineligibility is discovered during play-offs, the team shall be removed

• the team will not be allowed to play future games until another $100 personal check from new manager is received in the Park & Recreation office

If any team member, manager, coach, or associate of the team demonstrates unsportsmanlike conduct:

• player shall be immediately ejected from game

• manager's $100 personal check is deposited

• player may be suspended for up to one year from all Golden Valley athletic programs beginning when $100 deposit is paid

• the team will not be allowed to play future games until another $100 deposit is received in the Recreation office

If a team cannot play a game and notifies the Park & Recreation office by 4:30 pm the day before that game, it will not be considered a forfeit. Each team will be allowed one forfeited game without penalty.

If a team forfeits a second game, $25 will be automatically taken from the Eligibility/Conduct fee. Teams must replace the $25 forfeit fee to the Golden Valley Park & Recreation Department.

Teams may initiate protests on violation of eligibility, rules, or regulations. A protest must be filed in writing within 24 hours of the game day. Proof of protest must be furnished by the protesting team.

• Protests on rule interpretation must be lodged at the time the infraction occurs. Both the umpire and other manager should be made aware that the game is under protest and a careful study of circumstances may be made.
• Each protest must be accompanied by a $25 deposit. If the protest is upheld, the $25 will be refunded. Otherwise it will be deposited in the league fund.
  
• A Protest Board will act on all protests.

• Assaults and indignities to players or officials will result in ejection from the game, plus a minimum of the next game, and forfeiture of the $100 manager's check.
• Any player fighting or throwing a punch will be ejected from that game, plus a minimum of the next two games, and the $100 manager's check will be forfeited. Second offense results in suspension from all Golden Valley leagues for a minimum of one year.
• Umpires have the authority to remove or ban a player and/or manager from the game and the park should the situation warrant it.
• Swearing or cursing can be grounds for ejection from the game or park.
• The team manager will represent and be responsible for all actions of the team he represents during or after a game.

On days when weather makes play doubtful, call the Recorded Information Line at 763-512-2350, after 4 pm concerning cancellations.

• Where playing conditions are questionable, games may be called off at the playing field by the umpire.
• The two team managers may supersede the umpire in the event that weather conditions, field conditions, or ability to see are such that health, safety, and welfare of the participants are threatened. This must be an agreement of both managers. There will be no penalty of forfeit under this rule.
• If a game has been postponed, it will be rescheduled if possible. Teams should realize make-up games will be scheduled on any available day of the week.
• If an official umpire fails to show up, managers should mutually agree on an umpire and play the game. Please notify the Recreation office the next day of this situation and the game result.

The Golden Valley Park & Recreation Department is not responsible for injuries sustained to participants.

The City of Golden Valley does not carry any medical insurance; players should have family, company, or team insurance.

The City of Golden Valley has ordinances prohibiting any consumption of alcohol and prohibiting smoking in all Golden Valley parks.