NCAMSL Rules

The Nepean Christian Adult Mixed Softball League rules are listed below. You can get a PDF version of the rules by click on the following link: PDF copy of rules

BASIC RULES
1. Enjoy the season and be sure to welcome newcomers.
2. Always remember that the purpose of this league is to have fellowship with others and to exhibit good sportsmanship. When out on the field you are an ambassador for Christ and for your church. Be competitive! Strive to win! Do your best! Have fun!
3. C.A.S.A. rules apply unless otherwise stated.
4. Any complaints or questions about the game or rules of the game should be brought to the attention of the league convener.
   
   BASIC FIELD RULES
5. Bases are to be measured out at 55 feet apart.
6. Pitchers mound is to be measured from home plate (37-1/2 feet).
7. All bases must be spiked down. First base is a safety bag with the white portion in fair territory and the orange portion in foul territory. Third base is in fair territory.
8. An official home plate must be used during games.
9. Home team must furnish the safety bag at first base.
10. Home team is responsible to set up the diamond they are scheduled to play on.
11. The umpire is responsible for supplying and placing the orange cones on the foul lines approximately 90 ft. from first or third base.
    
    BASIC TEAM RULES
12. TEAM UNIFORMS: Team sweaters (with numbers) are mandatory from the roster date on.
13. UNIFORM DATE: Teams ordering new shirts will have until the roster date to do so.
14. GAME RESULTS: Team reps or captains must report the outcome of their game to the league convener no later than the day after their game.
15. PLAYER PARTICIPATION: The team rep. is responsible for ensuring that each Rostered player that plays in the tournament must have played at least 33% of games
    
    BASIC GAME RULES
16. THREE PITCH: This is a three pitch league
17. GAME LENGTH: All games will consist of (7) seven innings. Six and a half (61/2) in the event the home team is ahead.
18. COMPLETE GAME: In case of rain or darkness, five (5) innings completed will constitute a game.
19. TOURNAMENT GAME: During Tournament games only, teams must complete the full seven (7) innings. In case of rain or darkness, the games will be re-scheduled at a later date.
    
    PLAY - GENERAL
20. LAST BATTER FLIES OUT: With less than two out (0-1) and the last batter of the inning goes out on a caught fly ball, the base runners can score after the catch but before the ball is thrown home to make the final out.
21. COMMITMENT LINE: if runner crosses over the commitment line, he must continue home. This is considered a force play at home. He may not go back to third, as in a run down situation. If the catcher has the ball in his/her possession, and touches home plate prior to the runner crossing the safe line drawn at home plate, then the runner is out. EXCEPTION: if the runner leaves third base on a hit ball and the ball is caught before hitting the ground (fly ball), and if the runner has already crossed the 3rd base commitment line, he/she must tag up at third with the risk of being put out (commitment line rule not in effect in this case).
22. BALL HIT INTO ANOTHER FIELD: The ball will still be in play if it is hit into any other playing field. (This may vary depending on the field you are playing in. Check this rule out with every new umpire).
23. PLAY BALL: All players should be ready to play ball when the umpire says, "play ball". All batters should be ready and waiting in the batters on-deck circle. No delays will be tolerated.
24. PLAY START: Play does not officially start until the umpire says "Play ball"
    
    PLAY - DEFENCE
25. DISTANCE FROM BATTER: For safety reasons, an infielder cannot be any closer to home plate than 1 yard from the baseline until the ball is hit. It is at the umpire's discretion to decide if the defending team gained an advantage from the player's position. If he so decides, the batter is awarded first base.
26. TAG AT HOME PLATE: if the catcher tags the runner coming home, the runner will be considered safe. There is to be no contact after the runner has crossed the commitment line between third and home.
27. OVERTHROW: In the event of any over throw, the runner will be awarded the base they were going to plus one. They may score on an overthrow.
28. PITCHER INTERFERENCE: The pitcher may not interfere with the ball once it has been released. They may not in any way either by attempt or by motion, interfere with any play on the ball once they have pitched it. This would constitute an intentional interference and the batter will be called out and all runners who may have advanced at the time of the infraction must return to their base(s).
    
    PLAY - OFFENCE
29. NO LEAD OFF: Runners will be called out immediately.
30. RUNNING & TAGGING UP: The runner must tag-up on a caught fly ball and then proceed at their own risk to the next base(s). Exception: see Play General 20
31. NO BUNTS ALLOWED: No bunts or chops downward are allowed. Play stops on a bunt and the ball is a dead ball counted as a strike against the batter. All runners will be returned to the last base legally occupied.
32. NO SLIDING: Runners will be called out immediately. Umpire discretion.
33. HOME PLATE: if the runner coming home crosses or touches home plate, he/she will be called out automatically for interference. The runner has to follow the runners' lane and cross the safe line at home plate.
34. IN-FIELD FLY RULE: A fly ball (not a line drive) that can be caught with considerable ease by an infielder while runners are on 1st and 2nd, or 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases with less than two out. For the purpose of our league, we have declared that an infield fly ball will be considered a dead ball, the batter is out (whether the ball is caught or not) and base runners do not advance.
35. PITCHER TEAM: The pitcher pitches the ball to his own team.
36. PITCHER HIT BY BALL: If the pitcher is hit by a batted ball, the ball will be considered dead, the batter assumes the count before the ball was hit, and any advance on the base(s) as a result of the play will be called back. This is considered an unintentional interference. No penalty.
37. BATTING HELMETS: C A.S.A. rules are in effect unless otherwise stated by the league. All teams are encouraged to wear batting helmets
38. RUNNER HIT BY BALL. if a batted ball hits a runner who is not on the base, the runner is out. If the runner is on the base, the ball is a dead ball and all runners are safe. The play may be re-played at the umpire's discretion.
    
    TEAM RULES
39. EQUIPMENT: Each team must have its own equipment. All equipment must be considered safe to use or will be deemed unsuitable be the umpire. Helmets must be intact and not cracked or broken; bats must have safety grips, not dented (if metal) and must be regulation softball bats...not baseball bats; catcher must wear catchers mask.
40. PLAYER AGE: All team players must be 18 years or older to be eligible to play.
41. PLAYER ELIGIBLITY: All players must be registered to the church roster they represent and/or be part of that church's outreach opportunity in order to play all league and tournament games. EXCEPTION: Any player wishing to use the league for outreach purposes must first report to the umpire in charge at center field and register their 'casual guest' before the game begins. (This exception does not apply to tournament games).
42. TEAM MAKEUP: Each team must field a minimum of seven (7) players. If the team does not have any female players, it will be considered an automatic forfeiture but can be played for fun.
43. NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Each team may field a maximum of (10) players.
44. FEMALE PLAYERS: Teams must field a minimum of three (3) women. If a team has only two (2) women playing, they will be penalized by having an AUTOMATIC OUT at the beginning of the first inning and after every 10 batters from then on If two women are missing, the penalty will be TWO OUTS at the beginning of the first inning and after every 9 batters from then on . Also, for every woman missing, the same number of positions on the field must be left open. In the event that a team cannot field a single woman, the team at fault will forfeit the game but may play for fun.
45. NUMBER OF BATTERS: Once around the batting order: If a team has only seven (7) players show up for a game, only seven (7) players can go up to bat and then that 1/2 of the inning is over. A minimum of seven (7) and a maximum often (10) batters an inning. You may only bat the number of players on the team to a maximum of ten.
46. BATTING LINE-UP: The batting order must never have more than three consecutive male batters Also, at least three women batters must be in the first 10 batters. From 44 above with one woman missing the beginning of the batting order must at least have female batters included as follows (O = Automatic out) OMMMFMMMFM and so on. If two women are missing the order would be as follows OMMMOMMMFM and so on. The missing women are treated as "ghost" players and are out every time that "ghost" player is scheduled to bat.
47. ROSTER & CUTOFF DATE: Teams are not allowed to add new players to their roster after this date. Rosters will have a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 30 players. Any team may bring casual guests to play league games for the purpose of OUTREACH. These guests must first be registered at center field with the umpires and team reps. Refer to rule # 11 (casual guest)
48. STEEL CLEATS: NO STEEL CLEATS are to be worn for games.
49. TEAM NO-SHOWS: Two "no shows" (unless there is a Church sanctioned activity planned on the night of the game) will constitute a team being asked to meet with the executive to determine their status within the league. Team reps must notify the league convener if there is a problem fielding their team for any given night.
50. INTENT TO INJURE: Any player trying to injure another player shall be subject to ejection by the umpire. Note: this can include throwing the bat.
51. GAME SPEED: Coaches should keep the game moving and players organized and ready to play at any given notice.
52. GAME TIME: Games will begin at 6:30 p.m. sharp. A 15 min grace period will be given. However, if both teams have enough players to start a game, the game must start and the stragglers can be added to the bottom of the batting order as they come m. So be sure you always have enough women to begin play at 6:30 p.m.!
53. PRE-GAME PRAYER: Before all games, all members of the teams must meet at center field to pray and get any last minute instructions.
54. MERCY RULE: If one team is in the lead by more than 15 runs after the fourth inning, the other team can ask the umpire that the game be called and considered complete.
55. COACH INTERFERENCE: First and third base coaches may not interfere with the play. Any call will be at the umpire's discretion.
56. DESIGNATED RUNNER: A designated runner may be used for any player. The designated runner must be the person of the same sex who made the last out. The designated runner can only run for the batter after the batter has reached first base.
57. BLOOD RULE: Any participant (player, coach or umpire) who is bleeding or has blood on his uniform from bleeding may not participate until the bleeding is controlled.

Updated: April 29, 2006