Rules of Play:

01. Official Rules:

1. Of this league are the rules of the Ontario Slo-Pitch Association, except as amended below. Any disputes shall be arbitrated by the involved team reps (with captains as alternates) and their decisions will be final. Any suggestions for rule changes are to be submitted to the executive at any General Meeting for consideration for the following season.

02. The Playing Field:

1. Please see Attachment ‘A’ for proper layout of diamond, including ‘Pinch Runner Start Line’, ‘Line of No Return’ and ‘Scoring Line’ (adopted May, 1991). No food, beverages or smoking is permitted in the field of play.

03. Equipment:

1. Metal spiked shoes are not permitted on the field under any circumstance.
2. Team shirts should be worn at all games.
3. Masks should be worn by catchers to avoid injury.
4. All personal bats must be marked with a BPF of 1.2 and/or Canadian Regulation Softball Bat designation. If not, they must be removed from the game. All personal bats shall be made available to both teams; else they must be removed from play. Neither the league, nor any player shall be held responsible for damage to any bat, as per Constitution Article 16.7.

04. Players and Substitutes:

1. A defensive team consists of maximum 10 players.
2. A team must field a minimum of 8 players. Players may be borrowed from another league team to play and record any game. If unable to field 8 players, the game will be forfeited 9 – 0.
3. Substitute players for regular season, tournament and playoff games may also be obtained from your corresponding opposite night team. If these players are ‘called up’, they must be allowed to play. Subs, please wear your regular team shirts.
4. Substitute players may only come from the league membership or the registered waiting list. Player requests from the waiting list must be made to the registrar at least 1 week prior to game day to allow sufficient time to contact those individuals. Opposing team rep/captain is to be made aware of participating subs.
5. All players present at each game and listed on score sheet must play equally in the game.
6. Players must advise their team rep or captain if they are going to be away. Three consecutive weeks of unadvised absence may be cause for revocation of league membership and fees shall be forfeited.

05. The Game:

1. All regular season games will start by 6.30. Round robin playoffs will start by 6.15. Tournaments and Super Sunday games as per schedules. Teams are urged to start play early if both teams have at least 10 players, particularly later in the season.
2. All regular season games shall consist of 9 innings. If tied after 9 complete, the 10th inning will begin with the next legal batter going to bat who shall be considered the third batter of the inning. The man before him goes to second base and the inning begins with one out.
3. Round robin playoff games are nine innings. After the completion of 7 innings, if there is a run differential of 21 or more, the game may be called at the discretion of the losing team. No extra innings if score is tied. Rained out playoff games must be made up prior to the third playoff game, else a coin toss will determine winner.  Final score shall be 7-0.
4. For playoff games teams are asked to limit the pitcher warm ups between innings.  The Umps will be empowered to call the games as a result of dark or other safety issues.
5. All tournament games will be 7 innings. If tied after 7 complete, the 8th inning will begin with the next legal batter going to bat, the man before him goes to second and there will be one out. Rainouts will be decided by a coin toss by the respective team reps/captains.
6. Opposing team reps may, upon agreement, call a game due to weather, unplayable field conditions or darkness. If 5 or more innings have been played, the team leading at the end of the last completed inning will be declared the winner and this will be the recorded score. If this is a tie score, work back one inning at a time until there is a non-tied score. An incomplete game is to be re-scheduled as per Rule 11 and replayed in its entirety.
7. Between innings warm-ups shall be limited to three pitches.
8. Regular season mercy rule is in effect for all tournaments, i.e. if the number of at bats cannot overcome the deficit or tie the score, the game may be called.

06. Pitching:

1. In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher shall not take more than one step toward the batter. At least one foot must be in contact with the ground from within the pitching area at time of delivery.
2. The ball must be delivered underhand to the batter at a moderate rate of speed.
3. The pitched ball, to be legal, shall be between 6 and 12 feet above the ground.
4. An illegal pitch counts a ball and shall be so called by the home plate umpire. If the batter swings at an illegal pitch, the play stands and the pitch are no longer illegal. As a courtesy, the pitcher should first be given a reminder of the height restrictions.
5. There are no balks.
6. A batter may not be walked until at least one strike has been recorded.
7. A strike is when:
   1. The batter takes a complete swing.
   2. A ball, correctly delivered, touches any part of the wooden plate.

07. Batting:

1. The “Infield Fly” rule is waived.
2. The batter is called out if the ball is bunted or chopped downward intentionally.
3. A caught foul tip, to be recorded as an out, must be above the batter’s head.
4. The batter is out if he hits a foul ball on his third strike.
5. If a foul fly is caught ‘in play’ with less than two out, runners may tag and advance at their own risk, unless the batter is the 10th batter, at which point the inning is over.
6. A fair ball which goes out of play untouched by a defensive player is a Ground Rule Double. The batter will take second and if a runner was on first, he must stop at third.
7. A maximum of 10 players on each team may come to bat in the same inning, unless 3 outs are recorded first.
8. The 10th batter cannot be walked.
9. If the 10th batter is not announced, the defensive team has the option to either have the play replayed OR to allow the play to stand.
10. When the 10th batter hits a fair ball, play continues until:
    1. The third out of the inning is recorded.
    2. A defensive player, in possession of the ball, touches home plate.
    3. The ball is a Ground Rule Double [as per 07.f) above].
    4. If the ball is thrown out of play, all runners score.

08. Base running:

1. On a ball thrown out of play, the ball is dead and the runner(s) will be awarded two bases from the last touched base at the time the ball leaves the field of play, except for overthrows to first base in which case the batter will advance to second base. On the 10th batter only, a ball thrown out of play will allow all runners to score.
2. There is no leading off. Any runner leaving his base on anticipation of contact, is out and the play is dead.
3. Sliding is permitted, but only to avoid being tagged out.
4. All plays at home are deemed to be force plays. The runner must touch the ground on or beyond the line drawn from the front corner of the wooden plate, parallel to the 1st base line. A defensive player, in order to record an out, must touch any part of the wooden plate while in control of the ball. Tagging the runner is not permitted at any point beyond the 3rd base commitment line.
5. If the runner touches any part of the wooden plate or interferes with the catcher, he will be ruled out.
6. There is a “Point of no Return” line drawn halfway between 3rd and home plate. Once touched, or crossed, the runner must continue home, or be called out.
7. Substitute runner, when needed, will be the last man out. He shall start behind the extended 3rd base line. The batter will be called out if the runner touches or crosses this line before contact is made with the ball.
8. Infielders not involved in the play should make every effort not to impede a runner’s progress.
9. Runners interfering in any fashion with infielders shall be called out.
10. The safety bag at first is for the protection of both the runner and the infielder. If there is going to be a play at 1st, the runner must use the orange safety bag, or be ruled out. The infielder must use the white 1st base bag, or the runner will be called safe.

09. Umpires:

1. Umpires should be familiar with the rules of play.
2. All players are reminded that this is a recreational league and are asked to provide anyone umpiring with respect.
3. Calls and decisions of the umpires are final, unless both team reps agree to overturn.
4. There will be 2 umpires. One will call balls and strikes & plays at home and 3rd. The other, near 1st base, will call plays there and at 2nd.
5. For playoff games, where possible, alternate night (ie Tues or Thurs) brother teams will be asked to provide umpires for the games
6. For tournament games, where possible, following the third game with the elimination of teams from play it is desired that umps be established for the subsequent games.
7. Final Super Sunday games, where possible, 2 Umps per game are required.

10. Rainouts:

1. Players should make every effort to attend games, rain or shine.
2. Opposing team reps/captains should make the decision to call a game due to weather or unplayable field conditions.
3. The safety of players and fans must be the prime consideration.

11. Scheduling Rained Out Games:

1. If all league games are rained out on a specific night the games are not rescheduled/played that nights games are simply not counted towards the league standing.
2. If only some of the games on a particular night are rained out then the game will be scheduled to commence before 6:30 PM the next non-long weekend Sunday (ie. The Sunday immediately following the rainout unless that Sunday falls on a long weekend).
3. If the Sunday game is rained out the game is rescheduled to commence before 6:30 PM the next Sunday.
4. If the game is not resolved as per the rules above the game result will be recorded as a one run loss for both teams.

12. Ground Rules:

1. Ground Rules for Quad, Earl Brimblecombe and Margaret Greene and Norm Jary parks have been standardized and listed in the Ground Rules section. For other diamonds used for opening night, tournaments and make up games, reps/captains should agree upon these prior to start of game.

13. Sight of Blood:

1. Any injury which draws blood must immediately be properly treated (no visible blood on bandage or player). Player may re-enter game once wound has been properly covered.

14. Fair Play and Consideration:

1. Any deliberate attempt to injure another player will result in immediate suspension pending a hearing by the executive.
2. Players are asked to control their tempers and language. Repeated incidents may cause the player to be removed from the league as per the Constitution, Article 15, and Section 15.5. League funds will be forfeited.
3. No smoking on the field of play.
4. The law states that no alcohol is permitted in any public parks. Any infraction could result in our diamond permits being revoked. We cannot overstress the seriousness of this policy. No personal alcoholic beverages will be allowed on or near any diamond, parking lot, treed area, or any place with 100 meters of a Guelph Men’s Recreational Slo-Pitch League event. 479 other ball players are counting on you!

Special Rules and Courtesies

1. UNIFORMS – Our team jerseys are the only thing that distinguishes us from the other teams, please make player identification easier and wear your league jersey.
2. UMPIRES - We all make mistakes and they will balance out over the year, so give the benefit of the doubt to the umpire.
3. BATS -Must be regulation softball bats only. If a bat is borrowed, make sure it is returned before you take to the field.
4. NO INTENTIAL WALKS - Pitchers! The batter paid his fees to hit the ball, so let him do so. No batter may be walked on four consecutive pitches until at least one pitch is called a strike. In the event that a pitcher is having difficulty hitting the plate, after 10 consecutive balls, it is recommended that the pitcher’s rep consider replacing the pitcher with another player in the interest of moving the game forward.
5. SUBSTITUTE RUNNER -If a substitute ‘runner’ is needed, he must remain behind the extended third base line until contact is made by the batter. If he touches or crosses the line with either foot before contact, the batter is out.
6. THE POINT OF NO RETURN -Referred to in rule 09, is deemed to have been reached when the player touches on or beyond the drawn line.
7. HOME PLATE -Stay as far away from home plate as possible to avoid the catcher. He may have to move to catch the ball.
8. SLIDING -Sliding is permitted, but only for the prevention of being out. The safety of a runner and fielder should be the first priority.
9. CONTACT -When running the bases or playing the field, avoid collisions with other players at all costs. We would rather see a ball drop in for a single than to have to call for an ambulance.
10. FOUL LANGUAGE -Not necessary. There are a lot of wife’s and children that come to watch our games and they do not come for a lesson in profanity.
11. CONTROL YOUR TEMPER -This is not the WORLD SERIES.
12. COMPETITIVENESS - Sure we all want to win, but this league is designed to let everyone play, both good and not so good players, so don’t get on anybody, for example for dropping a fly ball. If it is that important to win, there are other leagues in town.
13. SMOKING -There is no smoking or beverages on the playing field by any player, umpire or base coach. Smoking should be done behind the benches or down the baseline in the ‘out of play’ area, with courtesy given to the enjoyment of the game by the players and fans.
14. NO ALCOHOL - The law states that no alcohol is permitted at public parks. Alcohol found in possession could result in league suspension from public diamonds. We cannot over stress the seriousness of this policy. Our league can not operate if we do not have ball diamonds. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed on or near any diamond, parking lot, treed area or any other place within 100 meters of a park or diamond rented or used by The Guelph Men’s Recreational Slo Pitch League.
15. CONDUCT -The onus will be on the player to abide by the rules of conduct and fair play. Failure to do so could result in the offending player being removed from the league as per our Constitution, article 15 sub section 15.5 and there will be no refund