Whitby Men’s Slo-Pitch League
League Rules
As
Amended March 8, 2023
The rules
as laid down by the Executive Committee apply to all members with no exceptions
and will be enforced by the Executive Committee.
- NSA Canada rules will apply unless superseded
by the following rules. NSA Rule Book: http://www.nsacanada.ca/rules/about.php
- A roster of all team
members must be submitted to the Executive Committee before the first game
of the playing season. The roster must include the name, address,
phone number and signature of each returning player. Completed New Player
Registration Forms must be submitted for each for each new player. . Games will be defaulted by
a team fielding any players with incomplete registrations and/or unpaid
fees.
- In order to avoid forfeiture of a game, a team
must start the game with no less than 9 players, of which 6 must be
registered players from that team. A team with 6 to 8 players may pick up
registered player(s) from any other team within the current season to a
maximum of 9 players. A team with 9 players may pick up a registered
player from any other team within the current season or have the opposing
team supply a catcher to a maximum of 10 players. Only one player may be
from the opposing team. One player must play catcher and the other can
play any position other than pitcher. Both must bat at the bottom of the
batting order. The player from the opposing team must play catcher and
will not be included in the batting order or be considered an automatic
out when it would have been his turn at bat. If any registered team member
arrives before the completion of the batting order once, he must replace
the 10th and then the 9th and then the 8th and then the 7th players
respectively. Approved Scenarios:
- 6 players + 2 pickups & other team must supply catcher (9
players - 3 outfielders)
- 7 players + 1 pickup& other team must supply catcher (9
players - 3 outfielders)
- 7 players + 2 pickups (9 players - 3 outfielders)
- 8 players & other team must supply catcher (9 players - 3
outfielders)
- 8 players + 1 pickup (9 players - 3 outfielders)
- 9 players & other team must supply catcher (10 players - 4
outfielders)
- 9 players + 1 pickup (10 players - 4 outfielders)
- After
team rosters have been established for the season any additional players required must be
obtained through the Draft List held by the Draft Committee.
- All
registered players present for a game must be entered in the line-up and
play both offensively and defensively. A team shall consist of a maximum
of ten players on defense at one time. While only ten (10) players
constitute a full defense, all players entered in the line-up must take a
regular turn at bat. In the
event a player is removed from the game due to injury or ejection and
there is a roster player available who has not previously been in the
game, the new player may replace that player and be added to the bottom of
the batting order. All players must
play at least two full innings defensively except for those players
replaced in the previous sentence; the penalty for violation of
this rule is forfeiture of the game. No
substitutions allowed.
- Players who started the season on the team roster and paid
full league fees are eligible for the playoffs regardless of the number of
games played. Players who join a team in midseason must play at least 50%
of the remaining games for their team and no players can be added to
rosters after August 15th. The
Executive Committee may approve specific cases of absenteeism, which will
override the general requirement.
- The
winning team is responsible for posting the score on the website, who will keep this record
on hand for reference. In the event of a tie
game the home team shall report the score. Each team must have
a competent scorekeeper. The home team is responsible for keeping the
official score of the game.
- The
Statistics and Media Committee shall be responsible for the rescheduling
of rained out games and games cancelled due to lighting failure. The home
team shall advice the Committee at which time a date will be selected. The
Committee will be responsible for advising the other team of the
rescheduled date.
- The
home team has the responsibility to set out the diamond including the
placement of mats and bases. The distance between bases is 65'.
- No
metal or plastic spikes are permitted during the game, either on offense
or defense. Non-metal soccer cleats are acceptable.
- No
body contact is allowed. The umpire will resolve any disputes, which arise
during a game. If the contact is
considered to be deliberate, the umpire shall eject the
player from the game. If any altercation arises during a game, the umpire
may, at his/her discretion, eject any or all participants in the
altercation. In any event, the umpire shall submit a written report on any
such incident to the League Executive. The report will be reviewed by the
Discipline Committee, which will decide what further action, if any, is
required. As part of their review, the Discipline Committee may require
representations to be made by the players involved before making a decision.
The following
guidelines will be used when issuing suspensions:
Verbal abuse of official,
teammate, opposing player, or fan:
1st Offence - minimum one
game suspension + review of Discipline Committee
2nd Offence - minimum three games
suspension + review of Discipline Committee
3rd Offence - minimum five
games suspension + review of Discipline Committee
Physical abuse of official,
teammate, opposing player, or fan:
1st Offence - minimum five
games suspension + review of Discipline Committee
2nd Offence – indefinite
suspension pending review of Discipline Committee
Reports for all
ejections/suspensions will be retained by the League indefinitely and
referenced by the Discipline Committee for any future altercations of similar
nature or involving the same player(s).
Player(s) cannot play for
any other team until their suspension(s) have been served.
- For
each game, the home team will supply a new ball and 2 used balls. League approved 52 core (Hot Dot) balls will be
used.
- Courtesy
runner, a team may use a maximum of five (5) courtesy runners per game.
The courtesy runner must be a roster player and cannot have previously
been used as a courtesy runner during this game. The courtesy runner must
be announced to the umpire at home plate before he takes his place on the
base. If the courtesy runner is due up to bat the team may substitute with
another courtesy runner. However, if this cannot be implemented (e.g. all five courtesy runners
have been utilized) the courtesy runner due up is out but remains on base
and the next batter in the line-up is due up.
- Carded Slo-Pitch Ontario, Slo-Pitch National or
National Slo-Pitch Athletics Enterprise umpires will officiate every game for the
League. For
Playoffs – 2 umpires will be used in all elimination games.
- Games will be 1 hour and 25 minutes. If the home team has not completed their
own at bats when curfew has been called, they have the option of leaving
the score as-is, or
reverting back to the last complete inning.
Games cannot exceed their scheduled end time regardless of how
many minutes have been played. Games scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. must
end at 6:25 p.m.,
6:30 p.m. games at 7:55
p.m.,
8:00 p.m. games at 9:25 p.m.
and
9:30 p.m. games at 10:55
p.m.
If the game has reached the time limit and there hasn’t been 5 innings of play (or 4 1/2 innings of play, if
home team is ahead) completed, the game will be considered a complete
game. If there were delays encountered in the game due to rain, lights, etc… and there hasn’t
been 5 innings of play (or 4 1/2 innings of play, if home team is ahead)
completed then the game will be replayed.
If the game is reaching end of scheduled time and the visiting team
has taken the lead, they can inform the umpire that they are declaring their
remaining outs as automatic.
- If
after fifteen (15) minutes past the starting time, a legal team cannot be
fielded; the game shall be defaulted.
- In the event that you are aware you will not be able
to field a team, notify the Executive Committee
at least 24
<REMOVE: 48> hours prior to the game. The Executive Committee will
notify the opposing team representative after the 24 <REMOVE:
48> hour deadline has passed. This will be considered a
cancelled game, still a 7-0 loss, with no financial penalty to the team,
which cancels. If the subsequent game is rained out or cancelled for
any other reason the game will be rescheduled.
- Each
team is allowed a maximum of one default game (less than 24 hours notice) with no
financial penalty. Subsequent default games will cost the defaulting team
$40 per default, payable to the Whitby Men’s Slo-Pitch League. All owed
money must be paid prior to the playoffs; otherwise the team will not be permitted to play
in the playoff championship tournament. Doubleheaders that are defaulted will
be treated as 2 games. Team Reps
will be emailed after each default whether the defaulted game(s) were
subject to penalty or enough notice given.
Details will be provided when the penalty payment is due and
payment method.
- Alcoholic beverages will not be consumed before,
during, or after any games on park premises. Players found drinking on
park premises and reported to the League Executive are subject to an
immediate and automatic suspension as follows:
a) First offense -
suspended for the next 5 consecutive games on the team schedule.
b)
Second offense - suspended for the balance of the season including playoffs.
c)
Third offense - life suspension from the Whitby Men’s Slo-Pitch League.
These offenses are cumulative from one
year to the next. In each case the individual involved may appeal the
suspension, however, if the appeal is not successful, the suspension will
stand.
- Offensive
and defensive players will obey the following:
Commitment Line - A line in foul
territory drawn 21 feet from the back of home plate and perpendicular to the
third base line. When a runner crosses this line by touching the ground beyond
the line but does not reach home plate, he shall be called out when a defensive
player in contact with home plate legally holds the ball. Runners, who have not
crossed the line or who cross the line but must tag up on a caught fly ball,
may return to third base with liability to be put out.
Safe Line - A line drawn in foul
territory starting at the top left-hand corner of home plate perpendicular to
the third base line. A runner attempting to reach home must do so by touching
the ground in foul territory on or beyond the SAFE LINE. Sliding into home
plate is not allowed. The runner is out if he touches home plate or the mat whether or not a play is being
made. A runner is not out if the plate is touched in an attempt to avoid a collision.
Tagging the runner between the
Commitment Line and the Safe Line is not allowed.
- The
only acceptable jewelry is a Medic Alert and a wedding band otherwise the
player is not allowed to play offensively or defensively.
- Home run rule: The league has a
2-plus home run rule. This means once a team has hit 2 home runs they cannot hit another
until the opposing team hits one. If the opposing team has not hit
one and the team with the home runs hits a ball over the fence it will be
considered an out. All runners will not advance.
Balls
deflected over the fence by a fielder is considered a 4-base award and not a
home run and therefore would not count toward the home run total.
Inside-the-park home runs will not count toward the home run total
in the application of the 2-plus rule.
A ball hit over the fence as an out will not count toward the
individual player’s season home run total.
Homeruns Hit by Pick-up Players will not count towards the
individual's HR Totals, nor will they be applied to any team’s HR Totals.
The hitter of a legitimate home run will immediately retrieve the
ball without the need to touch any bases. Any baserunners shall return to the
dugout without the need to touch any bases.
- Team bats must comply to the USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association)
& ASA (American Softball Association) standards and must appear
on the legal bat list as posted on their website
the “Legal Bats” http://www.wmspl.com/Documents/Misc/WMSPL_ApprovedBats.pdf link on the WMSPL
website. Standard NSA rules apply to players using illegal bats.
- A trapper can be worn by any in-field player.
- Equipment: Minimum uniform shall be similar
coloured shirts.
Caps, if worn, may be worn however the player decides.
- Mercy Rule: Up by more than 15 runs at the
end of 4.5 or 5 innings. Trailing team’s discretion to end game and score
submitted as-is.
The maximum number of runs in each of the first four innings by
each team shall be 6 runs. Thereafter each inning is an open inning.
27. Strike Mat / Home Plate: A 2 feet by 3 feet
board.
A strike is a legally pitched ball that makes
contact with the board, any pitched ball swung at and missed by
the batter, or a batted ball that is ruled foul. A ball is a legally pitched
ball that lands outside the strike board and not swung at by the batter or
an illegally pitched ball that the batter does not swing at. Home plate,
covered by the board is considered a strike.
- The
arc of a legal pitch:
The
ball must be delivered with an arc and reach a height between six (6) and
twelve (12) feet from the ground.
- Pitcher’s
Box:
Is
defined as, a two (2) foot wide x fifteen (15) foot long area including the
pitcher’s plate that starts 50 feet from the back of home plate.