Rules and Regulations 2003
April 14, 2003
1. Registration
a. An individual registration fee of $120 is due by April 14. Registration fees include playing time and non-refundable banquet ticket. Team shirt costs are the responsibility of each team. Fee after April 14 will be $130 and must be paid in full before the player can play - exception to this rule is player who wants to Pay-Per Game (see below)
b. Pay-Per-Game: A player can pay $10 per game for a maximum of 3 games.
c. Any resigning players will be entitled to a refund of ½ of their registration fee before June 16th. After June 16th, there will no refund given. New players on or after this date will be required to pay $100.
2. Eligibility for playoffs
a. Players must have played in half the regular season games plus one in order to be eligible to play in the playoffs unless injured and unable to play.
b. Any player acquired on or after June 16th must play ¾ of the remaining regular season games in order to qualify for playoffs. No new player is eligible for playoffs if acquired after July 1st.
3. Playoffs
a. All teams will make the playoffs. The number of teams in the league will determine playoff structure.
b. The team with the higher standing at the end of the regular season will start with home field advantage.
c. In the case of a tie, the international tie-breaker rule will be in effect in all playoff games except the finals, which will be played until a winner is determined.
d. If darkness prevents further play (ie: the lights go out), the winner will be determined by reverting back to the last completed inning that did not end in a tie.
4. The Softball Canada Official Rulebook (2003-2004) will be adhered to except for the following amendments:
a. Eight players: A team can play with eight players without defaulting a game. The ninth batter will be considered an out only after the play has officially stopped and the batter has been officially addressed in the batter's box. If the ninth player shows up and her team is on defence, she is allowed to go out in the field when a stoppage in play occurs regardless of how many outs there are.
b. Tie game: A tie is accepted in regular season play.
c. Footwear: Metal spikes are not permitted.
d. Injury rule: The starting lineup can re-enter the game once in case of an injury, which is judged serious enough by the umpire that the injured player cannot continue to play.
e. Blood rule: A substitute player will enter the game for an injured player in order for that injured player to tend to an open wound and then re-enter the game immediately upon doing so.
f. Minimum playing time rule: Each player must play a minimum of 3 innings during the regular season, unless at the discretion of the coach, the following applies:
i. The player does not attend practices and games regularly.
ii. The player is abusive to the coach or fellow players. Once a player begins playing, she must play out 3 innings unless she is ill or injured.
g. Courtesy runners: Courtesy runners are used in the case of injuries only and will always be the last out. Umpires and opposing coaches should be notified at the beginning of the game if the game will be played using courtesy runner rule. There will be a maximum of two courtesy runners per game.
h. Catcher's rule (optional): After 2 outs in the inning, if the catcher is on base they may be replaced with a courtesy runner, that being the last person out. If a team wishes to use a courtesy runner for their catcher, both umpires and opposing coaches must be made aware before the game begins.
i. Mercy rule: If a team is winning by 15 runs or more after 5 complete innings, then the game is over. This does not include the playoffs.
j. Uniforms: EYLSA uniform rule differs from Softball Canada rules - please see #15 below.
NOTE: The Designated Player rule exists as per Softball Canada rules and will count as a game played (see Softball Canada Rule 4, Section 5). Specification of bats and balls will also be in accordance with 2003-2004 Softball Canada rules, with exception of optical yellow balls (white balls can be used).
5. Regulation games
a. All regulation games will be seven innings, excluding rainouts. Five innings can be considered a regulation game if weather or darkness prevents further play (four and one half innings is a regulation game if the home team is winning).
b. Rainout games will be rescheduled on any weeknight chosen by the executive between the regular schedule and the playoffs. Once a game has commenced, the umpire will officially call rainout games.
6. Game times
a. Games must start on schedule with a 15-minute allowance for default time. No new inning is to start one hour and forty minutes after the start of each game, and this includes the 15-minute default time.
b. Curfew will not be extended if games start late due to late-arriving players. The home plate umpire's watch will be the official time.
c. Start times for all games at Dieppe Park: Early games will start at 7 pm sharp. Late games will start at 9 pm sharp.
7. Home team
a. The home team will sit in the third base dugout.
b. The home team is responsible for setting up the bases and locking up the equipment. Team reps can delegate this duty to other team members.
8. Official scorekeeper
a. The home team is the official scorekeeper.
b. All score sheets must include both first and last names and shirt numbers for all players. All substitutions must be listed on score sheets for proper attendance records.
c. Score sheets must be handed to an executive member within 24 hours of the game's completion. A score sheet is not considered official unless signed by the umpire. Failure to meet with any of the above will result in a 2-point penalty.
9. Field measurements
a. Pitching distance is to be 40 feet, measured to the back of the home plate to the front of the pitching plate. (This follows Minor Female category Softball Canada dimensions.)
b. Bases are to be 60 feet apart.
10. Defaults
a. A default is the inability of a team to field the minimum eight players by the scheduled game time, with a 15 minute allowance for late arrivals.
b. Authorized defaults are defaults whereby 24 hours' notice is given by the Team Representative to an Executive Member (Team Rep Coordinator) and the opposing team representative prior to the scheduled game time and is not subject to a fine.
c. Unauthorized defaults are subject to a fine of $50.00 (to offset cost of umpires), and a loss of 2 points and the other team is assigned a win (2 points). The players of the defaulting team must pay this penalty before they can resume regular season play.
d. A maximum of 2 defaults (authorized or unauthorized) will be allowed; should defaults continue, the Executive will decide the future of the players of the defaulting team.
11. Regular season schedule
The schedule will be created by the Executive Committee and is not subject to change.
12. Standings
a. For each regulation game during the regular season, teams will be awarded 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss, and -2 points for an unauthorized default. These points will be used to determine league standings.
b. In the case of a tie in the standings at the end of the regular season, the following statistics will be used to determine final standing:
i. Total wins
ii. Win/Loss record between the respective teams
iii. If still tied, there will be a one-game playoff
13. Protective equipment
a. A catcher must always wear a mask with a throat protector, a chest protector, shin protector, and a helmet. Any catcher playing without this equipment will be removed from the game.
b. Regulation helmets are mandatory for batters, runners, and on-deck batters. Batting helmets must have a foam liner, two ear flaps and a peak.
14. Jewelry
a. Any type of jewelry is not permitted while playing (medic alert excepted). Hair clips must be of a soft texture and not metal.
b. The Umpire will give one warning prior to game start. After this warning, an out will be called on any player wearing jewelry. If a player refuses to comply with this rule, or cannot comply, she will be removed from the game.
15. Uniform
a. Full team uniform must be worn during games: Team uniform consists of solid-colour baseball/softball shorts or pants (no cutoffs) and a team shirt.
b. All players on a team must have shirts that match in colour; matching-colour shorts/pants are also required.
c. Uniform shirts must be tucked in. The umpire before each game will advise Team Reps. If a player does not comply with this rule, the player will first be warned. After this warning, an out will be called on any player who does not comply with this rule. If a player refuses to comply with this rule, or cannot comply, she will be removed from the game.
d. Sliding or compression shorts and undershirts can also be worn; these are optional, and not part of the team uniform.
16. League Conduct
a. There will be no smoking on the dugout bench or on the field by coaches or players.
b. If any player or coach appears to be drunk or under the influence of drugs, they will be ejected from the game at either the discretion of the Executive, the umpires, or the coach.
c. Any player or coach who verbally abuses or threatens an umpire or player during the course of the game, which results in an ejection from that game, will be suspended. All ejections must be noted and signed on the home team score sheet.
i. First offence=1 game suspension (not including game ejected from)
ii. Second offence=3 game suspension (not including game ejected from)
iii. Third offence=expulsion from the league These penalties are in effect for any and all ejections from games.
d. Should a player or coach appeal an ejection to the Executive, all Executive members who are not directly involved in the appeal will resolve the appeal.
17. Protests
a. The EYLSA Executive will settle any grievances, protests or problems.
b. At the time of a protest, both teams will have the umpire record and sign their scorebooks before the next pitch. A game played under protest continues until a winner is determined. If the losing team wins the protest, a new game will be replayed from the start.
c. All protests must be submitted in writing, to the Executive within 24 hours of the conclusion of the protested game. One hundred dollars cash must accompany all protests that are brought before the Executive.
d. A meeting of the Executive, reps from two involved teams, and umpires will be convened. Executive members not directly involved in the protest will vote to decide the outcome, and their decision will be given to both teams in writing.
e. If the protest is upheld, the money will be refunded and a new game will be replayed from the start. If the protest is denied, the money will remain in the league.
18. Umpires
Any complaints or concerns about umpires not adhering to the Rules and Regulations as listed here need to be submitted to the Executive in writing. This includes any inappropriate behavior.