2008 Executive

President: Steve Effer

Vice President: Rick Young

Secratary: Karen Pugsly

Tresurer: Carolyn Effer

Umpire-in-Chief: Stan Janes

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RULES .doc

Constitution and Rules
(Last revision: April 12 2011)
Rules on the website will be considered current
LEAGUE FEES:
2011 total fees for each team will be $1,650.
Teams that provide own Jerseys $1,400.
ADMITTANCE OF NEW TEAMS:
The criteria used to admit new teams into the league shall be as follows:
(1) Existing teams which are splitting shall be given first priority; and
(2) Second priority shall be based on a consideration of chronological order of application, maintaining a high proportion of Scarborough based players and on maintaining the competitive balance of the league.
LEAGUE RESPONSIBILITIES:
The league shall provide:
(1) One umpire for all regular season and playoff games.
(2) Bases and board to the games. Home team will be responsible for the setup of the bases for the 6:30 games, home team for the 9:30 games will be responsible for the removal of the bases.
(3) All game balls for both regular season and playoffs.
(4) Team roster form and liability waiver to be signed by all players.
(5) Liability insurance to cover the league officers and teams.
TEAM ROSTERS AND LIABILITY WAIVER:
Team rosters will consist of a maximum of twenty players and a minimum of 15 players. Each roster will have at least 5 female players. No New players to be added after Aug 1 of current season.
Team liability waiver forms must be signed by all players prior to participating in their first game. These liability waivers are to be submitted to the league until August 01, 2010 when original copy is due. Any player for whom a signed liability waiver has not been submitted shall be ineligible to play. The use of an ineligible player shall result in forfeiture of the game by the offending team.
SCHEDULED GAMES:
For single game diamonds, regular season games will be 7 innings per game, unless tied, then continue until won by either team (time restrictions apply). 5 innings (for losing team) constitutes an official game if halted in progress by rain or darkness. Darkness will be at the judgment of the umpire. Final inning as declared by the umpire will be completed. All playoff games will be 7 innings.
For games scheduled 1 hour 30 minutes apart, no inning shall start after 1 hour and fifteen minutes of the regularly scheduled starting time. Any inning started prior to the time limit shall be completed in its entirety.
FORFEITED GAMES:
For games scheduled at 6:30, a team will be allowed a grace period of up to 15 MINUTES from the scheduled start of their game to field their team which must consist of a minimum of 8 eligible roistered players (three female players). For 8:00 and 9:30 scheduled games, grace period will only be 5 MINUTES. A team with 8 eligible players and only 2 female players will play with a ghost in the roster spot of the missing female. An out will be recorded on the batting order and the team will have an empty field position. No more than 7 male players can play field positions.
DEFAULTED GAMES:
If a team is in default, a recreational game can be played by the teams. The umpire will stay and officiate. The opposing team is awarded a win by a 7-0 score.
RAIN OUTS:
A rainout will be called by the league executive by 5 p.m.. All captains will be notified by phone or email or both. Rainouts will be called no later than 2 hours before game time.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
The points obtained by a team during the regular season will determine their standing for the playoffs. Two points is awarded for each win, one point for each tie and zero points for each loss.
In case of a tie, final regular season standings shall be determined firstly on the record of all tied teams in games against each other; secondly , on the run differential of all tied teams in games amongst themselves; and lastly on a coin flip.
APPEALS:
Any grievances, protests or problems, will be settled by the league executive. These submissions must be documented in writing and presented to any member of the League Executive within 72 hours of occurrence. At time of protest, both teams will have the umpire record the game situation and sign their scorebooks, before the next pitch. The umpire will later make his report on the back of his copy of the eligibility sheet that will be forwarded to the league. A protest may be lodged by a team manager or co-manager only.
UMPIRES:
The SSSL Executive will be responsible for the engaging and paying of all umpires. The umpire will have complete control of the diamond 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time until the completion of the game. The SSSL provides umpires for all its league games during the regular and playoff seasons. There are circumstances however when an umpire does not show up to work a game. When no umpire appears at the game, it is both teams' responsibilities to select an umpire to work the game. Both teams will select a responsible player from their teams to work home plate while their team is at bat
The umpire fee to be split between the number of team umpires.
SSSL LEAGUE RULES:
The rules of the league shall be those contained in the Slo-Pitch National handbook unless specified below.
Regular season games - will be 7 innings per game, unless tied, then continue until won by either team (subject to time) A game will be considered LEGAL after 4 complete innings or 3.5 innings if home team is ahead.
No inning will start 15 minutes prior to the start of the next game.
Equipment - With the exception of metal and hard plastic cleats, any standard article of softball equipment is allowed. Any player found with improper equipment will be ejected from the game.
ASA bat policy will be followed
Illegal Bat House Rule
If an non-approved bat is seen in the dugout, ONLY the team manager or co-manager is allowed to bring it to the Umpires attention. If the bat is non-approved by the Umpire it will be removed from play.
If a Player comes to the plate with an non-approved bat, that player will be ejected from the game along with the team Manager and the League Executives will determine if further action is required.
http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp
Uniforms - All team players must wear similar jerseys (tops). They must have the team name on the jersey. In inclement weather, a player may wear clothing over their jersey if desired. If a jersey is covered, it is the player's responsibility to show the umpire that they have a jersey.
Batting order - All players bat. Each team shall provide the other with a copy of batting order prior to the start of the game. If a player is present but is not included in the batting order, they may be added later. Players who arrive late (anytime) may be added to the bottom of the order. Deletions from the batting order shall be permitted (without recording an out) for legitimate reasons only at the discretion of the umpire.
Sitting/Substitutions - Player substitutions will be the discretion of the team Captain.
Courtesy running - Each team shall be allowed a maximum of five (5) courtesy runners during the game. The courtesy runner must be the last out of the same gender. If the courtesy runners position comes to bat, then another courtesy runner must be utilized. If maximum have already been used, then batter will be out.
At the start of the game, a courtesy runner can be declared for the duration of the game for another player. That runner will not be counted against the 5 courtesy runner limits. The hitter must reach first on their own.
Base running - No anticipation step allowed. A runner on base may not leave that base until the ball is hit, or forced to leave base because of a walk. The runner is out if he leaves the base before the ball is hit. If that runner is the 3rd out, The batter at the plate will bat again the next inning.
No outfielder (including the rover) can make a throwing out to first base.
Sliding:
Sliding will be allowed at 2nd and 3rd base only. The slide should be used with discretion to maintain the safety of the players. DO NOT use a slide to break up a double play. Remember, we are a Recreational league.
Encroachment Rule: Infielders are not permitted to step over the baseline until the ball is hit. Outfielders, including the rover, must be on the grass until contact.
Commitment / Safe Lines - The commitment line and the safe line have been added to all games for safety reasons in order to prevent injuries and make the game enjoyable for everyone.
The commitment line is to be drawn on the third base line 20 feet from the corner of home plate closest to third and will be perpendicular to the third base line and extend to the screen.
Once a base runner steps past the commitment line, they cannot return to third base. No tagging is allowed past the commitment line. All plays at home plate are force plays.
In addition to the commitment line, a safe line will be drawn in foul territory at the corner of home plate closest to third base and would run perpendicular to the third base line and extend to the screen.
A base runner must come in contact with the ground on or past the safe line without touching home plate or the mat prior to being forced out at the plate in order to score a run. If a base runner touches the plate they are out.
Any player on the defensive team can make the out at home plate
Hitting - Bunting and chop hitting are not permitted and shall result in the batter being out.
A foul ball on the third strike shall result in the batter being out.
Pitching arc - The pitched ball must have a discernable arch of at least 6 feet from the ground before it passes any part of home plate and shall not reach a height of more than 12 feet at its highest point from the ground.
An illegally pitched ball shall be called immediately when it occurs and a ball will be awarded to the batter. The umpire, base or plate, will call the illegal pitch loud enough for the batter to hear. However, if the batter swings at any illegally pitched ball, the pitch will immediately become legal. The ball is alive and in play if hit by the batter. Foul tip caught by the catcher is an out, regardless of height of the ball.
Intentional Walk: If the first 4 pitches are balls (including illegal pitches), the batter receives 2 bases regardless of gender. Runners on base are forced only.
Safe base - A safe base shall be used in all games. On any force play at first base, the white half of the base is the fielder's base and the coloured half of the base is the base runner’s base. Consequently, on force plays at first base, the runner must touch a portion of the coloured base to be safe. If the runner touches only the white portion of the base, they will be called out. The opposite is true for the defensive player who must touch a portion of the white base to get an out. If the fielder only touches the coloured base, the base runner will be called safe.
Board - a board shall be used in all divisions to determine balls and strikes. A pitched ball that hits the board is a strike. Home plate will not form part of the board. Any hit ball that contacts the board will be a foul ball. On plays at the plate, the catcher must be in contact with Home Plate or any part of the board to record an out.
Home run rule - In games with fenced diamonds, each team's first 3 balls hit fair over the outfield fence will be counted as a home run. All subsequent balls hit fair over the outfield fence will be counted as a ground rule double.
No home run rule will exist for any game played on an unfenced field. All home runs will count. An exception is when there are obstructed areas that restrict the defensive player from making a play for the ball.
Mercy rule - An inning shall consist of three outs or seven runs (7 runs maximum per inning). The final inning will have a maximum of ten (10) runs. The game is over when 7 innings have been completed. If the home team is leading in the bottom of the last inning, that half inning will not be played.

Boundaries - The umpire shall advise the teams of the foul lines and out of play areas prior to the start of each game.
Home team is responsible for setting up the bases and having a completed game form for reference.
BOTH TEAMS are responsible for submitting the game results through the website.
Bridlewood Rules: Rolling up the hill is a live Ball .  Hit the ball over the hill is a Home Run. Players may be restricted from playing the hill on wet days at the Umpires discretion.
Unsportsmanlike conduct
PLAYERS’ AND COACHES’ AND SPECTATOR CONDUCT
1. Umpires are providing an important service to those participating in softball. Under no
circumstances should they be hassled, threatened, or physically abused.
2. Teams and players have a further responsibility to prevent their fans from abusing the officials and to help control their spectators so that the game is not disrupted.
3. Any player/spectator ejected from a game must leave the grounds (includes parking lot). Failure to leave the grounds immediately will result in a default for the team that the player/spectator is associated with.  
4. When a player/spectator gets ejected from a game, a review will be made by the league executive to see if further suspensions are required.
Jewelry Rule
Exposed Jewelry is NOT allowed. Jewelry cannot be taped. If any player is seen wearing jewelry while on the field, it is to be reported to the umpire, who will request that the jewelry be removed. The only exception to this rule is medical alert jewelry.