TRANSPORT CANADA MIXED SOFTBALL LEAGUE

 

2008 RULES

 

 

OVERALL

 

Please remember that this is a FUN league.  The league executive will not entertain protests.  Team Managers and the umpire should resolve their problems and/or disputes on the field and complete their games.

 

 

Team Manager’s Responsibilities

 

  1. Team Manager’s are responsible for informing their players of any changes from the official schedule for regular season or tournament games.
  2. The home team Manager is responsible for deciding and informing the visiting team Manager and the scheduling director of any rescheduled game or game cancellation no later than NOON the day before the game.
  3. Cancelled/Rescheduled games: All games will be cancelled at the field.  Cancelled games shall be rescheduled by the home team manager and played no later than 3 weeks after the originally scheduled game.  Both Managers shall notify the scheduler who shall provide a selection of available time slots in that time period.  The statistician shall also be cc’d on the rescheduled game.
  4. Rainouts:  Games shall be cancelled at the field and played no later than 3 weeks after the originally scheduled game.  Both Managers shall notify the scheduler who shall provide a selection of available time slots to play a rained out game. The statistician shall also be cc’d on the rescheduled game.
  5. Defaults: If a team does not show up at the field with a minimum of 7 players (see Section B, Item 1) to play a regularly scheduled game, the game will be defaulted and a win awarded to the opposing team. Any defaulted games should be brought to the attention of the League Executive.
  6. Team managers and/or team representatives must familiarize themselves with the playing rules of the game.  Managers should also ensure players are familiar with league rules.  Only the team manager or team representative can discuss Judgement calls or league rules with the umpire.
  7. Team Captains shall review all rules and line-ups prior to the game.
  8. Team managers are responsible for the conduct of their team members.  The manager should discuss matters of sportsmanship with their players.
  9. Team managers must ensure that all team members who turn out for a game get to play.  Marginal or beginning players have the right to play their allotted position.
  10. A player must be 18 years of age or older to play in the league.
  11. All games must start at 18:30 sharp.

 

 

A.                 Setting up the field

 

1.                  The officials for each game shall be the two team managers or their delegates.  They should review any ground rules applying to that diamond.  (See Item 9 below).  Each team is responsible for providing an umpire who is knowledgeable about the league rules.

2.                  The home team is responsible for supplying and setting out the bases, as well as placing out-of-bounds markers (i.e. cones), the commitment line and the limit line.

3.                  All teams will have out-of-bounds markers (i.e. cones) as part of their team equipment.

4.                  Bases shall be placed 60 feet apart.  If they cannot be properly anchored, appropriate ground rules will have to be established.  First base will be a clearly marked double bag.  The white half of the bag is to be placed inside the base line in the normal position and the second half (orange) outside the base line.

5.                  The pitchers mound shall be a circle that is centred by the intersection of a diagonal from first to third base and a diagonal from home plate to second base.  The diameter of the circle is 10 feet.

6.                  A visible commitment line shall be drawn in foul territory perpendicular to the third base line, 20 feet from home plate.  This line shall extend at least 4 feet away from the infield.

7.                  A visible limit line shall be drawn perpendicular to the third base line form the top left corner of home plate in a straight line to the backstop.

8.                  The out-of-bounds/out-of-play lines shall be the extension of the backstop except in cases where there is a fence outside the backstop with no obstructions (i.e. benches) in which case the extension of the fence is the out-of-bounds/out-of-play line.

9.                  A ball hit to the field limits shall be ruled a ground rule double with the following conditions:

 

a.       A ball is out of play if it rolls to the field limits UNLESS the Umpire judges that the outfielder intentionally allowed the ball to roll out when it could have been played.  Captains will discuss this rule PRIOR to game start.

b.      The Umpire will make the call on whether a ball is in play or a ground rule double loudly and with due dispatch.  The play should be allowed to happen and, if necessary, Captains can call a time-out to discuss the play if there are any concerns.

 

 

B.                 Managing the Fielding Team

 

1.      The minimum number of players to start a game is 7 of which 2 players must be female.

2.      The maximum number of players on the field at any one time is 11.

3.      There will be a maximum number of 7 men and a minimum number of 2 women on the field at all times.

4.      Females must play a minimum of 2 infield positions (pitcher, catcher, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and shortstop).  If a team is short players, they can play 7 males/3 females or 7 males/2 females.

 

C.                 Managing the Batting Team

 

1.      No more than 2 men can bat in a row.

2.      If there are not a sufficient number of females to individually fill all the required female batting positions, managers must rotate the females in consecutive order among their batting positions.  (This technique would be used for male batters if there were insufficient male players).

3.      Batters who cannot bat in their assigned positions because they are base runners shall be called out.  The runners shall stay on base while play continues until the third out.

4.      A substitute base runner cannot be placed to allow another base runner to bat.  The substitute base runner is the last previous OUT of that gender.

 

 

D.                Playing the Game

 

1.      The pitcher must have 1 foot inside the pitcher’s mound when the ball is delivered.

2.      The pitcher must deliver the ball with a palm forward underhand pitch such that the ball continues with a natural forward rotation.  The pitcher must not attempt to apply any undue backspin or sidespin on the ball.  The umpire will be the final arbitrator of what constitutes undue spinning of the ball.

3.      The arc of the ball must be over 6 feet from the ground.  If a pitch has an arc of less than 6 feet, the umpire must call it a ball before it hits home plate.  If a batter elects to swing, the ball will be in play.

4.      A strike shall be called if the pitched ball strikes any part of home plate (4 feet in length by 2 feet in width) with the proper arc or if the batter swings and missed the ball.

5.      A ball shall be called if the pitched ball misses home plate without the batter swinging or if the arc of the ball is less than 6 feet from the ground.

6.      A team can intentionally walk a batter if the team declares to the umpire, before the first pitch, that they wish to do so.  That batter shall be awarded second base on the intentional walk.

7.      An intentional walk shall also be awarded, at the discretion of the umpire, if it is clear that the pitcher is intentionally throwing balls (i.e. too short, too long, too wide of home plate or rolled along the ground) such that the batter will be unable to hit the ball.

8.      NO METAL CLEATED shoes may be worn.  Soft-soled shoes with flexible cleats are permitted (i.e. turf shoes).

9.      Batters cannot bunt the ball.  A batter intending to hit the ball must use a full swing.  If a ball is bunted, fair or foul, the batter is out.  If the ball is missed, it is a strike.

10.  If the batted ball strikes home plate then enters fair territory, it is ruled a dead ball and treated as a foul ball (i.e. a strike is awarded the batter if there are less than 2 strikes on the batter).

11.  On the play to first base of a batted ball, the defending player must touch the inside bag (white) and the base runner must touch the outside bag (orange).  Contacting only the other bag will be considered as missing the base.  This is designed to prevent collisions at first base.  Note:  In the event that there is no chance of a play at first base, the defending player must yield the right of way to the runner who is allowed to touch the inside bag (white) while rounding first to proceed to second base.

12.  Outfielders cannot enter the infield before the ball is batted.  Infielders (except the pitcher and catcher) must stay behind the base lines until the ball is hit.  An infielder that enters inside the base line before the ball is hit and who fields the ball shall be charged with interference.  In this case, the batter will be awarded first base.  No other base runners will advance unless forced off their base as a result of the batter being awarded first base on the interference call.

13.  FIELDERS SHALL NOT BLOCK A BASE OR BASELINE unless attempting to field the ball.  Runners must yield right-of-way to a fielder attempting to play the ball.

14.  The base runner is called out if struck by a fair batted ball while off the base and before it passes an infielder (excluding the pitcher) providing a fielder has not touched the ball.  RESULT: The ball is dead; the batter is awarded first base; and no other base runners can advance a base unless forced by the batter becoming a base runner.  NOTE:  If the base runner is behind the infielder when hit by a batted ball and doesn’t interfere with another infielder making a play on the ball, play continues and the base runner is not called out.

15.  NO SLIDING IS ALLOWED IN THIS LEAGUE.  Base runners sliding into any base shall be called out.

16.  A runner between bases must make every effort to avoid being hit by a thrown ball.

17.  NO STEALING.  The runner will be called out.

18.  NO LEADING OFF.  A base runner that leaves the base before the batter makes contact with the ball shall be called out.

19.  Base runners may tag up on a caught fly ball (fair or foul) and may proceed to the next base at their own risk.  After the ball is caught, a ball over-thrown or an error committed by the fielder in an attempt to throw out a player allows the base runner to proceed at his own risk as long as the ball is in play.

20.  A ball over-thrown out-of-play will result in the base runner getting the base they were going to plus 1 additional base.  The base runner must be clearly attempting to advance to the next base in order for the additional base to be awarded.

21.  When a base runner touches or crosses the commitment line between home plate and third base, the runner MUST continue towards home plate.  Stopping is permitted.  However, the base runner shall be called out if he/she attempts to return to third base.

22.  The base runner shall be called out if he/she steps on home plate.  Upon entering the home plate area, the base runner need only cross the limit line before the defending player at home plate catches the ball.

23.  The player fielding the ball at home plate must be touching home plate when the ball is caught to complete the force play.  NOTE: The base runner does not have to be tagged to be called out.

24.  During a play at home plate, the player fielding the ball may do so away from home plate.  However, in this case, he/she must tag the base runner or touch home plate before the base runner crosses the home plate limit line.  In all cases, the runner must avoid a fielder attempting to field the ball.

25.  A play is considered dead once the pitcher has control of the ball and has returned to the pitchers mound.  A player caught off the base at this time must immediately return to the base or proceed directly to the next base and the pitcher can make a play.

26.  Games will normally be 7 innings in length.  Games tied after 7 innings must be played for 1 or more innings (conditions permitting) in an attempt to break the tie.

27.  Games called (upon decision of the two team managers and the home plate umpire) because of weather after 5 innings shall be considered complete games.

28.  Games stopped before 5 full innings have been played will be rescheduled.  Teams will resume play at the point where the game was stopped.

29.  A maximum of 7 runs per inning will be allowed for the first 5 innings with no limits from the sixth (6th) inning on.

30.  A mercy rule may be applied at the two managers discretion after 5 complete innings (or 4 and a half innings where the home team is leading) and there is a fifteen (15) run differential between the two teams.

31.  The Canadian Amateur Softball Association rulebook shall govern rules of play not defined above.

 

 

THE DECISION OF THE UMPIRE IS FINAL!

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