After a lengthy discussion in a meeting of the minds last night, Softball America has decided to institute a coed league all-star cap to work in conjunction with the current all-star/eddie rule and 4-4-3 eddie requirement rule. This cap will be effective with the start of the upcoming spring season.
I am grateful to the managers of the more potent teams in the coed leagues for their willingness to recognize the need for a power cap in the coed leagues. I truly believe this new cap rule will make for a better softball experience league wide.New Coed League All-Star Cap Rule
A coed league team may roster more than 5 all-stars but can never play with more than 5 all-stars in the batting line-up at any given time. If, at any time during the current season by any member of Softball America, a team is found in default of the All-Star Cap rule, that team will forfeit all games in which the infraction occurred. All-stars are determined by the league and shall be adjusted yearly. It is the sole responsibility of the coed team manager to maintain a legal coed league line-up with respect to the all-star cap rule.
Existing All-Star/Eddie Rule
A coed team batting line-up containing more than 4 all-stars shall abide by the all-star/eddie rule and must at all times maintain a batting line-up that contains at least an equal number of eddies. A team with a batting line-up containing 4 or less all-stars will abide by regular coed rules. If, at any time during the regular season, by any member of SBA, a team using 5 or more all-stars is found to be in default of the all-star/eddie rule, that team will forfeit all games in which the infraction occurred. All-stars are determined by the league and shall be adjusted yearly. A coed team cannot use a non-roster eddie sub to satisfy all-star/eddie requirements.
Existing 4-4-3 Rule
All coed teams must adhere to the 4-4-3 rule. The 4-4-3 rule states 4 eddies must be in the batting line-up and 4 eddies must be in the field at all times. BATTING: At least 3 of the 4 batting eddies must be female. Failure to comply will result in a batting out for each infraction (maximum of 2).
As is always the case, a male player that reaches the age of 52 shall become a male eddie; however, becoming an all-star in the men's league will no longer affect a male eddie's status as a male eddie in the coed leagues.
