How it Works / FAQ

Is it actually free to play?

Yes. There is no cost to play. Thanks to Blackstone Bar & Grill all league costs were taken care of in 2024. We hope to secure a sponsor for our 2025 season as well. Join our listserv so you don't miss important details about the start of next season.

Equipment donations are accepted. If you have clincher softballs, softball bats, bases etc, that we can use, please let us know

Why do you have to be 16+ to play?

Our permit is mixed use and allows youth and adults to play. Given many of our players have the ability to hit the ball very hard, we want people who are at least 16 to play for safety reasons. (But no, we won't be asking for ID).

What kind of commitment is required?

There is no commitment requirement. This is a sandlot league meaning we play based on whoever RSVPs and shows up. There are no assigned teams. Your team will be different week-to-week. You can show up one week, or show up every week. We just require that you RSVP for games. You won't be able to play if you don't RSVP.

A minimum of 14 players will be needed for games to take place. In the event there are only 14 players, games will be 7 on 7 and the team that is batting will provide the pitcher and catcher. The same situation will arise if a team only has 8 players but the batting team will provide the pitcher only. 

What happens if "too many" people show up?

In 2024, we implemented a new system where players are required to RSVP and we cap responses to 50. This means we have two teams of 12, and two teams of 13. In the event that we are full, teams will have up to 3 subs sitting each inning. But anyone who doesn't RSVP, will not be assigned a team and won't be able to play. 

What are the rules of the game?

Riverdale Sandlot follows all the standard softball rules that USA Softball follows, but with the following exceptions/emphasis:

• Games are 7-innings each unless it is established otherwise before play begins. Slow-moving games may be shortened to 6-innings mid-game.
  
  

• This is slow-pitch softball. Pitches must have an arc to them and should be thrown with the goal of the hitter making contact. However, pitchers are welcome to get creative with their delivery (assuming they are legal) and can put some spin on the ball if they'd like. But pitches must be completely under-hand. As your arm comes forward, your elbow must remain directly under your shoulder.
  
  

•  Games should only be played with clincher softballs which will be provided by Riverdale Sandlot. They look like this. Nobody should be playing with the hard softballs. Those are designed for fast-pitch. You can warm up with a hard softball of course, but once games start, please ensure you are using one of the league provided clinchers.
  
  

• Batting helmets are not required (and won't be provided). If you would like to wear a helmet, please bring your own.
  
  

• 10 players will be on the field at a time as each team will have 4 outfielders.
  
  

• You must use a softball bat. No baseball bats.
  
  

• Just like in any other rec league, players can play various positions and switch back and forth. Pitchers (or anyone else for that matter) can be removed from the game and come back into the game later on.
  
  

• Batters who are injured are allowed to have pinch runners. However, the batter must run to first base themselves on their own batted balls. You cannot have someone stand at home plate and run for you once you make contact. The pinch runner can only take effect once the next batter comes to the plate. If you feel you are physically unable to get from home plate to first base in any capacity on a batted ball, then you are likely too injured to play at all.
  
  

• Bunting is not allowed.
  
  

• There are no walks. We want to encourage balls in play. Nothing is more boring than a hitter trying to draw a walk in slow-pitch softball. So go up there and swing the bat! You can strikeout.  (Note that the USA Softball manual linked above counts the strike zone for slow pitch as anywhere over the plate from a batter's back shoulder to a batter's knees). Hitters should be honest about called strikes. If you watch a ball sail right down the middle (or anywhere within the strike zone) and you don't swing at it for whatever reason, it should be ruled a strike. Pitches that hit home plate are balls.
  
  

• Counts start at 0-0 and batters get an unlimited number of swings and foul balls.
  
  

• If a batter is hit by a pitch, it will just count as a ball or no pitch. The at-bat will continue and the batter will not take first base.  
  
  

• There is no leading or stealing. Runners must remain on the base until a batter makes contact with the ball.
  
  

• Tagging up is allowed from any base at anytime with less than 2 outs.
  
  

• Balls thrown to first base or third base that go past the dugout fencing closest to the field will be a dead ball. All runners on base will then advance one base. If a ball hits the fencing and remains in the field of play, it is still a live ball and runners can advance at their own discretion.
  
  

•  Fly balls or pop ups are always in-play as long as the ball doesn't hit any obstruction (such as a tree). There is no "out of play" for balls hit in the air. They can be caught in any location and the batter will be out. Balls cannot be caught off a tree. If the ball hits a tree or any other obstruction surrounding the field, it is a foul ball.
  
  

•  The infield fly rule will take effect when applicable.  For those who don't know the rule: There needs to be a force at third base and less than two outs. If there is a pop up in fair territory and an infielder can make a play on the ball with ordinary effort (including on balls that reach the outfield grass), the infield fly rule is enforced and the batter is out. Runners can advance at their own discretion as soon as an infield fly is called. (The batter is still out even if the ball is not caught).
  
  

• Lineups will feature your entire team roster. If you have a 20-person lineup, you will bat in order without skipping anyone. Even if you have players sitting out in the field for an inning, they will still bat at their spot in the order.
  
  

• There will be a 10-run mercy rule per inning. All games will be completed regardless of the score, but if your team scores 10 runs in an inning, it will end, and the fielding team will come to bat. You can score more than 10 runs in an inning if you get more runs as a result of a particular at-bat. (For example, if your team has scored 9 runs in the inning, and you have runners on second and third, and a base hit scores both runners, both runs will count). In the final inning, there is no mercy rule.
  
  

• Runners and fielders should make their best effort to avoid collisions and dirty slides if there is a play at a base. Fielders should leave a lane to allow runners access to the base. Runners should slide or adjust their bodies accordingly if a fielder is blocking their path. Runners also should not make an attempt to jar a ball loose by barreling into a fielder.
  
  

• This league has no umpires. It is possible that we may have someone volunteer to be an umpire. Otherwise, games will be self-umpired. The honor system will be in place for called strikes and for plays at the bases. If teams/players cannot come to an agreement on a call, rock-paper-scissors will determine the call. It will be a best-of-one. We don't want to stand around waiting for you to do a best of three or best of five.
  
  

• Players who don't want to play the field, can be a DH (Designated Hitter) as long as your team has enough other players to play in the field. However, everyone on the roster is required to bat when their spot comes up in the lineup. The only exception to this is if a player gets injured and is physically unable to bat.
  
  

What else do I need to know?

The following rules are set by NYC Parks in general or in relation to our permit. Breaking these rules could result in the removal of our permit:

• Consuming alcohol is not allowed under any circumstance

• Smoking is not allowed in NYC Parks (smoking in parking lots or sidewalks outside the park is allowed).

• You must throw out all garbage

• You cannot sell items at the games (a separate vendor permit is required for this)

• You cannot hang banners/signage on the backstop or near the dugouts etc. (Again, this requires a separate permit)

Will Riverdale Sandlot expand to other sports?

This is something we are interested in doing. However, there are a few hurdles:

• Parks facilities are more in-demand with many youth sports leagues taking place in the fall and winter. This makes it harder to reserve outdoor spaces.

• For indoor sports, this would require us to rent space inside a school. Rental costs are much higher and the schools require liability insurance coverage of $4,000,000 which also drives up costs significantly. 

With that being said, we are exploring options to expand into other sports. We most likely will charge a fee to participate if we expand to other sports due to the cost of renting a space plus insurance. If you have suggestions of sports to play and potential locations, please email info@riverdalesandlot.com