DAYS INN LADIES SLO-PITCH LEAGUE
RULES 2022
Rules
The Days Inn Ladies Slo-Pitch League follows the NSA Rules. This rule book can be found online at www.nsacanada.ca. The approved bat list can also be found on this website. As a league we also have a few “in house” rules which may vary from the rule book and are discussed below.
“In House” Rules
- Games will consist of 7 innings. A game is official after 5 innings have been played or the time limit of an hour and a half has been reached. Teams are allowed to quit before the 5 innings. Should 5 innings not be played due to bad weather or light issues the game will be rescheduled.
- Field Dimensions: Pitching rubber will be 45 feet measured from the back of home plate. All teams will pitch from the same rubber. Home plate will be a minimum of 15 feet measured from the back of home plate to the fence. Bases will be 60 feet apart. It will be 84 feet from the back of home plate to centre of 2nd base. The commitment line is 21 feet from home plate between 3rd base and home.
- Home team is responsible to set bases up and bases must be set up 5 minutes prior to game time. Home team is also responsible for giving the umpire the game balls for the game. We are using the official yellow Worth slo-pitch ball. These balls must be used for every game.
- Games will start on time. For every 5 minutes that a team is not ready to start the game, they will give up 2 points (ie. 07:00 – 2-0, 07:05 – 4-0, 07:10 – 6-0, 07:15 – 7-0). After 15 minutes, the game is forfeited and the score of the forfeited game is 7-0 to the winning team.
- No Bunting.
- Stealing is allowed after the ball has crossed home plate. Runners will be called on a “lead-off” if they leave the base prior to the ball crossing home plate. For purposes of stealing, any pitch is considered a live ball (ie. A ball that hits the plate).
- A runner will be called out at home if there foot has not made contact with the ground at home plate prior to the ball being caught at home. A players foot touching the line at home plate is considered safe as long as her foot touches that line prior to the ball being caught at home. Base runners are to “Use Caution” at home plate to avoid collisions with the catcher.
- Team rosters will be posted on the website and available to all teams at the beginning of June. There will be no switching teams after July 31st when rosters are due. Teams are allowed to pick up players from other teams in any division provided that the team is short players (the spare player must be the 7th, 8th or 9th player). If during the game someone from the original roster shows up to play, the spare must be replaced by the incoming player. Spares must bat last in the order and play catcher, right field or left field. Umpires and opposing team must be notified of the spare(s) at start of game. If they are not notified or teams aren`t following proper procedure game will be an automatic default. Protests must be made within 24 hours in writing to Megan. Teams must have 7 players to play a game or it will be a default. If teams decide to play short with 7 players, they are not required to take an out for the missing 8th and 9th batter. Come playoff round teams must use only the players listed on their rosters. **Please note spares must be on a teams roster in our league due to insurance purposes.**
- Each team is responsible for keeping score of their runs throughout the game. Every team has been reminded to check their scores with the other team at the end of every inning to avoid any conflict. If there are any discrepancies in the score the teams should bring it forward to the umpire at that time to deal with it.
- Commitment Line Infractions: A player has crossed the commitment line when her foot has gone completely over the line. If she goes back to
third, other than on a caught fly ball or long foul ball, she is out and the
call is made only when someone from the defensive team touches home plate while in possession of the ball. If she realizes that she crossed the line and returned to third, she can still go back home and if she beats the touch up at home, she is still safe. If she returned to third and no play is made on her and another pitch is thrown, then it is a non play and the umpire does nothing. Crossing the line and returning to third is not an automatic out. Please remember that the area between the commitment line and safety line at home is a NO TAG zone.
- Please remember to wear proper attire for baseball. Please wear proper footwear. Masks are recommended for back catchers. Also, jewelry (including watches) is not recommended.
- Tie Breakers: If a game is tied at the end of the game an extra inning will be played only if time permits (You cannot start another inning with 10 minutes or less remaining in the allotted time, so if there is less than 10 minutes, NO extra inning, and if more, then an extra inning could be played). The last runner out will go to second and there will be none out. The inning will be played like a regular inning other than the runner starting out at second base. If time does not permit the game will remain a tie and both teams will receive 1 point. Also, if after the extra inning no runs were scored the game will remain a tie.
- Absolutely NO DRINKING OR SMOKING on the playing field. The Smoke – Free Ontario act states that you cannot smoke or vape on the outdoor grounds of a community recreational facility and any public areas within 20 meters of it grounds.
- If a team forfeits a game, they will be fined $50 this is to cover cost of umpire and field. If payment is not received by the deadline that team will not be eligible to play a single game in the playoffs and will not be eligible to play in the league the following year until paid in full. There will be no exceptions.
- Pitch Runners: A pitch runner is a player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing an injured player on base. Once a player has declared that they will need a pitch runner, they must stop at first base each subsequent turn up to bat or they will be called out. The only exception to this rule is an over the fence home run. Players can still play the field. The pitch runner will be the last person out in the lineup.
- Social Media: any negative postings about the league, teams or players on any social media sites that can be proven will result in an automatic suspension to the individual posting
**Please remember there is a no tolerance policy and the umpires call is the final decision. Please respect the umpires and their calls. If you have any questions or concerns about the above information please contact Megan.**
