Unified Rulebook & Field Standards

Unified League Policies & Standards

Clear rules. Published authority. Field-specific regulations for participating ballfields.

Base Responsibility & Equipment Standard

v2.1

Authority: Verrazzano Harbor League Operations·Effective: 2026-08-01

Clarifies who brings bases, game balls, and safety equipment per game.

The designated Home Team is responsible for supplying ASA/USA Softball-approved safety bases (including double first base) and two new optic yellow 12-inch 52/300 softballs. The Visiting Team provides one playable backup ball.

Miller Field — Federal NPS Park Regulations

v1.4

Authority: Gateway National Park Service & JFK League·Effective: 2026-09-01

Federal Gateway National Park Service rules: participants must NOT groom or alter fields.

Per Gateway National Park Service permit terms: Participants, captains, and league staff are strictly prohibited from raking, adding drying agents, or modifying dirt surfaces at Miller Field. Playability is judged exclusively by NPS staff and official league coordinators.

Marine Park Field 7 — Local Team Preparation Guidelines

v2.0

Authority: Brooklyn Meadows Softball Operations·Effective: 2026-08-15

Teams collaborate on pre-game base setting; lighting schedule.

At Marine Park Field 7, cooperating teams may lightly rake standing surface puddles using on-site storage equipment. Field lights switch on automatically at 7:00 PM and remain lit until 10:00 PM.

Official Rainout & Weather Decision Checkpoints

v3.0Material Update

Authority: Unified Cross-Borough Weather Board·Effective: 2026-08-01

Binding decision deadlines by 7:30 AM (SI) and 8:00 AM (Brooklyn).

For morning games starting between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, authoritative weather cancellation decisions will be published no later than 7:30 AM for Staten Island fields and 8:00 AM for Brooklyn fields. If under review, a secondary update will be posted 45 minutes prior to scheduled start.

Standard Mercy Rule (15 After 4 / 10 After 5)

v1.2

Authority: NYC Metro Softball Cooperative·Effective: 2026-07-01

Universal run-ahead rule protecting scheduled doubleheaders.

A game is considered final if a team is leading by 15 or more runs after 4 complete innings (3.5 if home team leads) or by 10 or more runs after 5 complete innings. Both captains and the plate umpire must sign the official box score card.