|
West Island Softball Umpire Association |
| RULES & REGULATIONS |
| All games shall
be played according to the rules outlined below. Any situations not
specifically addressed by the rules in this document shall be judged by
Official Softball Canada Rules. Conduct and Commitment |
| * | In the spirit of good sportsmanship and teamwork players are asked to inform their Team Representatives of all absences. If a player does not show up 3 times or more without prior notice the team may ask the Executive to have that player taken off their roster. |
| * | Players are asked to leave all inappropriate language and behaviour off of the ball field. Maligning of the umpires, coaches or fellow players will not be tolerated. |
| * | Any coach or player involved in a physical altercation with another coach or player receives an immediate ejection from the game; their status in the league will be reviewed by the Executive and may receive further disciplinary action. |
| * | The following
unsportsmanlike conduct are also grounds for both ejection from a game
and possible disciplinary action: o Profane or abusive language toward an Umpire, coach or other player. o Visible displays of temper o Intentional and violent collision with an opposing player o Fighting |
| Equipment
& Play Area |
| 1. | The ground rules establish the playing limits for each park used by the league. The league shall prescribe these ground rules before the beginning of the season and each umpire shall reconfirm the individual park ground rules at the beginning of each game. |
| 2. | All players must wear the numbered team shirts provided by the league; spares must wear a similar colored shirt. A player is permitted two "grace" gamesto allow for forgotten game shirts, but after that may be benched until a game shirt is worn. Extra shirts may be worn underneath a team shirt; however, pitchers are not permitted to wear a long-sleeved white or beige shirt. Extra team shirts should be kept in each team's equipment bag. No metal cleats permitted. |
| 3. | Catchers must wear protective equipment including mask with throat protector, chest protector and shin guards. |
| 4. | No equipment shall be left lying around the playing area, in either fair or foul territory. |
| Weather |
| 5. | Scheduled games may be postponed due to inclement weather only. Both team captains must agree on the decision to cancel a game at least one hour before the scheduled start of the game. The home team captain is responsible for and must inform both the umpire-in-chief and Coordinator of Scheduling & Umpires. In the event of a dispute, both teams must show up at the field and the final decision will rest with the Umpire. |
| 6. | Players are expected to show up at the diamond ready to play if they have not heard from their Team Representative by half an hour prior to game time. |
| 7. | Once at the diamond the umpire has the sole discretion to cancel the game. |
| 8. | Once a game is in progress, the umpire has the sole discretion to call the game due to darkness or weather conditions. |
| If a game is cancelled: |
| •
If 5 innings or more have been completed, the game will be considered
complete and the score will revert to the last complete inning. • If less than 5 innings have been completed, the game will be rescheduled and played from the beginning. • The Coordinator of Scheduling & Umpires will reschedule any cancelled games and inform the appropriate team contacts. |
| Overall Game Play |
| 9. | A regulation game shall consist of 7 innings. If, after seven innings of play the game is tied, an eighth inning will be played. If after eight innings of play the game is still tied, the tie will stand. |
| 10. | Points are awarded as follows: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, zero points for a loss. |
| 11. | Official, registered umpires must ump every game. If an umpire has not arrived by 10 minutes before game time, the home captain must call the umpire-in-chief to determine if an umpire is on the way. A grace period of 15 minutes after scheduled game time is to be allowed. If at that time no umpire has arrived, the game is to be considered cancelled and will be rescheduled. The score of a forfeited game shall be 7-0 in favor of the team not at fault. |
| 12. | The umpires are representatives of the League and are authorized to enforce each section of the rules. They have the power to order any and all participants of the game to comply with the rules. The Plate Umpire shall have the authority to make decisions on any situation not specifically covered by the playing rules. |
| 13. | Decisions based on the accuracy of judgment shall NOT be questioned or appealed by any member of either team. |
| 14. | Each team shall name a designated Umpire liaison and only these members are permitted to speak with the umpire about a made call. |
| 15. | Teams must field a minimum of 8 players within 15 minutes after scheduled start time, or the game is defaulted and counts as a win for the opposing team. Games will start at the time stated on the schedule, or as soon as 8 players are present thereafter. |
| 16. | Decisions based on the accuracy of judgment shall NOT be questioned or appealed by any member of either team. |
| 17. | Each team shall name a designated Umpire liaison and only these members are permitted to speak with the umpire about a made call. |
| 18. | Teams must field a minimum of 8 players within 15 minutes after scheduled start time, or the game is defaulted and counts as a win for the opposing team. Games will start at the time stated on the schedule, or as soon as 8 players are present thereafter. |
| 19. | No new innings will start after 10:30 PM due to `lights out'. |
| Batting and Base Running |
| 20. | All players on the batting list must be present at the start of the game. Late players (after a game's first pitch) may be added at the bottom of the batting order at any time during the game, in the order of their arrival at the field. If there are less than 10 players in the field, a late arrival may take a position in the field in the same inning. No delay will be permitted, however, to wait for said player. |
| 21. | All players must bat. Any player who misses her spot in the batting order is counted as an "OUT" for that inning. ** If a player is injured during a game situation she must remove herself from the game otherwise she is considered an OUT at each turn at bat. |
| 22. | There is no leading or stealing. A base runner is OUT for leading off if she fails to remain in contact with the base until a bat hits a pitched ball. There are no "steps" allowed. |
| 23. | A double (safety) bag will be used at first base. When there is a play made at first base, the batter must touch the outside (orange) bag, and the fielder must touch the inside (white) bag. The player's status (safe or out) at the bag will be affected if either the fielder or the batter touches the wrong bag. |
| 24. | In the event of an injury, a batter must make it safely to first base before being replaced by a pinch runner, therefore limiting the injured batter to a single. If the injury is pre-existent to the game, the umpire and coach of the opposing team must be notified before the start of the game. The pinch runner will be the previous 'out'. Once a batter has requested a pinch runner in a game, she must have a pinch runner at every subsequent at bat for the duration of that game. |
| 25. | Sliding is allowed at any base. In the event of a close play, the batter cannot remain on her feet and crash into a defensive player, and therefore must always make ever attempt to avoid collision or she will be called out automatically. Malicious contact always supersedes obstruction, regardless of whether the fielder does or does not have the ball. |
| Pitching and Fielding |
| 26. | The infield fly rule does not apply however, should the umpire feel that a ball was dropped intentionally in order to turn a double play; s/he may call every base runner safe, including the batter. |
| 27. | The pitcher must present the ball held in the palm of the pitching hand in a full stop position prior to beginning the pitching motion. The ball must be visible to the batter at all times. The pitcher shall lob the ball with a perceptible arc. It is up to the umpire at each game to decide on whether any pitch is legal. |
| 28. | If a pitcher should wish to leave the game a substitute will be allowed immediately with 5 warm up pitches. The initial pitcher is allowed to return anytime thereafter |
| Playoff Games |
| 29. | Final standings will be determined by total number of points at the end of the regular season. Should there be a tie between teams, the tiebreaker will be awarded to the team with the most wins for the season and then games head to head and then run differential. |
| Spare Players |
| 30. | Spare players are allowed to be called in if: 1) a team will be less than 10 players. 2) A team is missing both their main and spare pitchers and have no player available who is qualified to pitch an entire game, regardless of the number of other players. |
| 31. | Every attempt must be made to replace the missing player (or players) with a spare player of the approximate level of ability (or lower) of the player missing, or of the combined average ratings of the missing players. |
| 32. | If a team calls for a spare and ends up with more than 10 players, then the spare(s) shall play the game and the player(s) scheduled to be replaced must sit out. |
| 33. | A maximum of 3 spares per game per team is allowed. |
| 34. | If a spare is required, the Captain must make the request to the Spares Coordinator AT LEAST 24 hours in advance of game time. Late requests may result in the team playing with less than 10 players. Under no circumstances is a team permitted to take or invite a friend or other league member `from the stands' to make up their minimum eight players. |
| 35. | Spares bat last in the batting order. |
| 36. | In general there are no spares in the playoffs, although in extenuating circumstances, use of spares in the playoffs will be reviewed by the Executive. |
| Refund Policy |
| If a player cannot continue to play due to injury, pregnancy, job transfer, etc. notification must be given to the LEAGUE REGISTRAR. A refund will be given as follows: |
| •
BEFORE APRIL 15: Full refund • APRIL 16- JUNE 15: Refund of registration fee less $5.00 administration fee and less $4.00 per scheduled game; plus return of shirt deposit upon return of shirt • AFTER JUNE 15: No Refund; return of $20 shirt deposit upon return of shirt • If a player is asked to leave by the Executive due to non-participation, or other reasons, no refund will be given. |