Please keep a copy of these rules with you at games!!!
COACHES – To discuss ground rules before game, i.e. out of play lines, pitcher distance to home, 1st base persons position during plays and possible obstructions on the field etc. & inform all players. *Coaches are to settle all disputes.
HOME TEAM – Is determined by schedule. It is the responsibility of the home team to put out bags, cones and supply new game balls.
BASES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT – The distance between bases is 65’. Please carry a long tape or premeasured rope. Distance from home plate to pitcher’s mount is 40’ to 44’. Please mark with a line or small cone. This is for pitcher safety! Soft cones should be placed on both foul lines in the outfield unless clearly lined. *MAKE SURE YOUR TEAM HAS PROPER GEAR (SPIKES FOR BASES, CONES FOR FOUL LINES)!!!
GAMES – Start at 6:30. 7 innings long; maximum of 5 runs per inning in 1st 6 innings, unlimited runs in 7th. *If both teams agree ahead of time, games can start by 7:00.
TIE GAMES – Games can end in a tie but can continue to play if both coaches agree. Each team gets 1 point for the tie and if a winner is determined after 1 extra inning then they get 1 extra point.
PLAYERS – Unlimited on roster – Maximum 10 on the field, minimum 7. Default if less than 7. No more than 6 of any sex allowed at one time. 6 men/ 4 women, 5/5 or 6 women/ 4 men
BATTING ORDER – Must include all players. Batting order can’t exceed 2 consecutive male batters. Can’t change order during game unless injury or late arrival. Teams having more than 2 males consecutively may result in game forfeit.
SLIDING – Head or feet 1st. Only non-replacement cleats – no metal or replacement cleats.
BATTING TEAM – Supplies home plate umpire & 2 base coaches. Home plate umpire to call strikes, balls, fouls & out of play balls. *Umpire has the final call on all plays and the calls must be loud so everybody knows what’s going on.
HITTING – Foul lines are 1st and 3rd base lines. Out of play lines are typically parallel to the foul lines and start at the end of the backstop (if there is one) or coaches decide prior to the game.
PITCHERS – Must stand no less than 40 ft & no more than 44 ft from plate (please pace this out for the safety of your pitcher) and pitches are to be between a 6 to 12 ft arc. A strike is called if ball crosses plate between batter’s knee & shoulder & hits any part of mat. Pitcher may pitch overhand or underhand, but must have natural backspin *NO EXTRA SPIN OR JUNK ON THE BALL, THIS IS A PITCH TO HIT LEAGUE. DON’T BE A DICK.
STRIKES, BALLS and FOULS – 3 strikes for an out and 6 balls for a walk – Intentional walks are not allowed (be honest). For female batters: if third strike is a foul, it is not an out. One more foul or strike for an out.
ILLEGAL PITCH – When an illegal pitch is called “no pitch” or “dead ball” before it reaches the batter and the batter hits it anyway, it IS a live ball. (Rule 9, Sec 1, sub rule C). The only exception is if there is No call from the ump prior to the hit or the call was late enough that the batter cannot stop his/her swing.
BATTERS – Must stand across plate, not mat, & make every effort to avoid hitting up the middle.
OUT OF PLAY – A ball CAUGHT in “out of bounds” is a Dead ball (Rule 9, Sec 1, sub rule i) and the batter is NOT out. A strike is called. A ball caught in “foul territory” is an out unless the player who caught the ball walks it out of bounds. If this happens, it’s a strike only.
OVERTHROWS – If ruled out of play (ball is ruled out of play when it crosses the out of play line), runner advances to the base they were running to plus 1 base. If ball is out of play and the runner was already advancing past the original base, when the ball went past the out of play line, then they advance to the next base plus 1 more.
NO INFIELD FLY RULE – Be honest.
LEAD-OFFS – Runner must remain in contact with base until the batter makes an attempt to hit. If a runner leaves the base and no attempt has been made by the batter, the runner is out. Base coaches and coaches to make these calls – use honor system and DON’T BE A DICK.
HOME PLATE – All plays at home are a force. Catcher doesn’t need to tag runner, but must touch home plate while in possession and control of the ball. Catcher must stand on front plate or runner is safe. There is no Commitment Line during regular season play.
1st BASE – Must use safety base, fielder to use white part of bag, runner to use orange. Fielder cannot touch the orange base or runner is safe, likewise for the runner unless they are advancing to 2nd. Infielders are not to block advancing runners if there is no play at that base.
PINCH RUNNER – If a pinch runner is required, they must start from First base, but if runner advances to Second base or beyond, no pinch runner is allowed unless an injury occurs between bases. Pinch runner must be last out male or female (depending on batter) in order that isn’t on base.
RAIN-OUT – If both coaches agree. Both teams must show up to field to determine a rain-out or game deemed a default loss to the team that doesn’t. Must play at least 5 innings to declare a winner, if less than 5, must make up game later.
GROUND RULE DOUBLE – If the batter hits a double, all the runners on base advance two bases as well.
INSURANCE – Insurance covers players in our league only. I.E. if you play a team not in our league on a field we have scheduled, this team is NOT covered. It covers all SCHEDULED games and practices at fields in our league. The coverage is personal and property but we will not pay out broken car windows etc due to premium increases and that the car’s deductible (typically $300) is less than ours. These claims will be considered though and must be reported to us immediately. Please use common sense when parking your car.
COMMITMENT LINE – will only be enforced during tournament.
TOURNAMENT PLAYERS – If teams require extra players for tournament due to a lack of regular season players, then they can use players from the other bracket (I.E. A div teams can use B div players and vice versa). In this case, you cannot acquire more players than you need to field a team (10 total) and you cannot bench regular players for pick up players (aka, Ringers). * IF TEAMS GET TO SMOKERS LEVEL, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO VACATE THEM. Don’t be a Dick.
FIELD RULES – Braefoot west – Trees on right are out of play if hit. The 2 tall trees in left field are a double if they roll in or fly in past the tree line. Any hit to the right of the 2 tall trees is open play except if small trees get in the way of play. Coaches to discuss this prior to the game.
Braefoot east (school)– The only issue here is the hill on the left. If the ball flies into any part of the hill it’s a double. Roll up is open play. Out of play over the fence on either line.
Cedar Hill Rec – Left field issues. Place a cone in left centre field along the shallow ditch that follows the right field fence line of the opposite field. If a ball flies past that line to the left of the cone it’s a double. If it rolls past its open play unless its buried in long grass. Coaches to discuss prior to game.
Windsor – Any hit that flies into the gardens in left field is a double, anything to the right is open play except if a goal post is in the way, then it’s a double.
Macdonald N.W. Trees on left field line are a dead ball if hit.
Beacon Hill – Any hit flying or rolling on the road in right field is an auto out.