2008 IBM Canada Recreational Mixed Slo-Pitch League Rules

Team Captains are responsible for ensuring the integrity of the playing rule guidelines in a sportsmanlike manner, in the spirit of Fun, Fitness, and Fellowship!!

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
Games are on unless it is raining at game time. You must be prepared to field a team or risk default. Check http://2008ibmcanmixedrecslopitch.blogspot.com/ for game status information.
Home team provides and sets up bases. They must also draw safe line, commit line, and dead ball box.
Everyone playing in the field must bat.
Outfielders must stay off the infield until the ball is hit. At least 5 paces behind the infield bases if the infield to outfield is not distinguishable.
Prior to game start (6:30pm prior to September, 6:00pm in September), Captain's may agree on any amendment of these rules that improve the safety and conditions of the game. (ie. parking lots become out of play, determine validity of bats to be used)
Score sheets must be retained by team captains until end of season and must be provided to the League Director's as requested. Final scores must be sent next day via Lotus Note to Chris Monti and Grant McQuinn.
Tie-breaker: Head to head record, run diffential in games between the teams that are tied in the standings, run diffential against the entire league, fewest runs allowed, coin toss
No metal cleats allowed.
Bats are not to be thrown under any circumstances - automatic out.

TEAM:
The batting order shall consist of a minimum of 8 players
All teams must field a minimum of 2 female and 6 male players.
If this minimum is not maintained, the missing player's name is kept on the score sheet and an automatic out is given when that person's turn at bat is reached.

The official default time is 6:45pm. A forfeit score of 7-0 is entered. Play may or may not continue at Captains discretion.
The number of players in the field (infield and outfield combined) cannot exceed 13. Additional players are permitted on the roster. If more than 13 players from your roster attend a game, each player should take a turn in the field in at least 3 innings.
If 13 or less players from your roster attend a game, all of them must take a regular turn in the batting order and play in the field.
If a player is unable to continue in the game and no legal substitution is available when he/she is due up, he/she is declared out and play continues with the next batter in the batting order. The team Captain is responsible for notifying the opposing team
Captains should advise the opposing Captain if another player or players will be arriving after the game has started. Any players that arrive late must be added to the bottom of the batting order. Players not at the field by the end of the 3rd inning may not enter the game..

PLAYING FIELD GUIDELINES:
Bases are 20 paces equally between all bases and home plate; performed by home team.
Double base shall be used at first base.
Home Plate Safe Line -- a line drawn in foul territory starting at the top left hand corner of home plate perpendicular to the third base line. A runner attempting to reach home must do so by touching the ground in foul territory on or beyond the SAFE line. The runner is out if he/she touches home plate whether or not a play is being made. A runner is not out if the plate is touched to avoid a collision.
Commitment Line -- a line in foul territory drawn from the back of home plate half way to third base. When a runner crosses this line by touching the ground beyond the line but does not reach home plate, the runner shall be called out when the ball is legally held by a defensive player in contact with home plate. Runners who have NOT crossed the line may return to third base.
Dead Ball Line -- a line in foul territory drawn from the back of home plate half way to first and third bases. The lines are drawn through the infield and meet at the pitchers mound.

DURATION:
Games must start by 6:30pm sharp otherwise risk being incomplete due to darkness. In September, a 6:00pm start time may be instituted.
A game consists of 7 innings. The game ends if the home team (batting second) has scored more runs in six innings or before the third out in the last half of the seventh inning than the other team has scored in seven innings.
A tied game will continue with 1 extra inning if both captains agree to play and extra inning prior to the start of the game. If game continues to be tied after the extra inning, each team will be awarded one point and the tie deemed final. Also subject to natural lighting conditions.
A game stopped by the captains will be considered complete if 5 innings (four and one half innings if the second team batting is leading) have been completed.

FORFEITS:
A game shall be declared a forfeit if a team fails to field the required number of players prior to or during the game, refuses to continue the game after suspension of play, intentionally tried to delay or hasten the game or intentionally violates a rule of the game after being warned. Please see disclaimer at the end of these rules.

BLOOD RULE:
Any participant who is bleeding may not participate until the bleeding is controlled. If the cleanup can be accomplished quickly, play would be suspended until the participant is ready to play. If this cannot be done quickly, the player is removed for the remainder of the inning in progress and the following complete inning. When the player has the bleeding controlled he/she must resume his/her place in the game. If a player is removed due to blood and the team does not have a legal substitute/replacement available when needed, his/her place in the batting order is simply missed and there is no penalty.

COURTESY RUNNER:
Last out of the same sex: Male for male, female for female.
The courtesy runner must be a legal player on your roster.
The courtesy runner must be announced to the opposing team Captain before he/she takes his/her place on the base.
All batters must reach base successfully before a courtesy runner substitute can be used.
If the courtesy runner is due up to bat, the team may use a second courtesy runner, following these same rules. If this cannot be implemented, the courtesy runner due up is out but remains on base and the next batter in the lineup is due up.

MERCY RULE:
Maximum 8 runs in an inning, except for the 7th inning.
A team may voluntarily withdraw from the game if they are losing by 15 or more runs any time after 3 innings (two and one half if home team).

PROFANITY/INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT:
Any team or team member openly using profanity or demonstrating inappropriate conduct (deemed as behaviour contrary to the spirit of the league - sportsmanlike manner, in the spirit of Fun, Fitness, and Fellowship - as determined by the Captains) during a game shall be reported to the activity Director's who will review for league fines and/or possible ejection from further participation. Game forfeits may be imposed for violating teams.

JEWELRY:
A batter or runner is expected to remove exposed jewelry (watches, bracelets, necklace, rings) to prevent the risk of injury. NOTE: facial jewelry should not be covered with tape.
Medical Alert jewelry is the only exception.

SCORING:
A run is scored when a player safely touches in order: first base, second base, third base and crosses the Safe Line.
A runner may not score ahead of a preceding runner who has not been retired.
A run may not score if the last out of an inning is a force out or a preceding runner declared out.

HOME RUN RULE (parks with fences only):A limit of 2 over the fence home runs per inning will be used per game.
A batter hitting a ball over the fence in a game in excess of the limit, will be rewarded a double, the ball is deemed dead and all players will advance 2 bases from their starting positions (ie. A runner at first base will advance to third base, a runner at second base or at third base will advance to home and a run will be counted). Note: A player who hits the ball over the fence after the 2 home run per inning limit has been exceeded will have a home run rewarded to them in the league home run standings.
A batter hitting a home run (over the fence) but does not reach home because the mercy rule is invoked is credited with a home run for statistic purposes. Mercy rule limits apply.
Any ball touched by a defensive player which then goes over the fence in fair territory shall be a four base award and not considered a home run.
If a player hits an over the fence home run, but then misses a base and/or does not score, it will count towards the teams home run total.

PITCHING:
The offensive team supplies the pitcher who must pitch from between 40 ft and 50 ft in line with second base. The pitcher must be a legal player on your roster.
If a batted ball hits a pitcher, the ball is dead, and the runners return to the last base legally possessed at the time of the pitch. A Dead ball = a strike, unless it is third or fifth strike as you cannot strike out on a Dead ball.
The pitcher may not touch the ball while the defensive team is making a play. Balls from the outfield must go to an infielder who will return it to the pitcher when play has ceased. If the pitchers interferes with the play by the defensive team, the ball is dead and the runner nearest home plate is out.
Before each pitch, the pitcher must stand facing the batter with the ball held in one hand. This position must be maintained for 5-10 seconds.
NO PITCH is declared if the pitcher pitches:
During a dead ball,
Before the batter is ready,
When a runner is out for leaving the base too soon.
The ball is dead after a strike is called (runners cannot advance).
Maximum 3 pitches to men to hit a fair ball, 5 pitches to women to hit a fair ball.
Pitcher calls the safe/out plays at first, second, third, home and outfield.
A ball is considered dead if it does not pass the diagonal plane between third and first base before being touched. If touched, the ball remains live.

BATTING:
Players must bat in the order listed on the score sheet.
A strike is a legally pitched ball that is swung at and missed by the batter, or a batted ball that is ruled foul.
A batted ball may be classified as one of the following:
Fly ball -- a batted ball that has not yet touched the ground or any object other than a fielder.
Line drive -- a fly ball that is batted sharply and directly into the playing field.
Bunt -- a tapped ball not swung at but met with the bat.
Chopped ball -- a batted ball intentionally directed downward so that the ball bounces high into the air.
Ground ball -- a batted ball that touches the ground in fair territory
Infield fly -- a fair fly ball that can be caught by an infielder with a normal effort.
Foul tip -- a batted ball that goes directly into the catcher's glove and does not go above the batter's head.
Batted balls are ruled fair (batter and runners may advance) or foul (strike) by the bat catcher.

A BATTER IS OUT. THE BALL IS DEAD AND NO RUNNERS ADVANCE IF:
He has three strikes
She has 5 strikes
He/she illegally bats the ball
He/she bunts or chops downward on a pitch
A fielder deliberately drops a fly ball with at least a runner on first base and less than two out
The batter, before reaching first base, retreats towards home plate to avoid a tag
Fly ball (fair or foul) is legally caught
The batter hits an over the fence home run in excess of the team limit
The batter is discovered to be wearing exposed jewelry

A BATTER IS OUT. THE BALL IS ALIVE AND RUNNERS MAY ADVANCE IF:
On a fair ball not caught on the fly, the ball is held by a fielder (any) while touching first base before the batter touches first base
He/she hits an infield fly with less than two out and runners on first and second or first second and third

RUNNING:
When the batter runs to first, he/she may overrun first base and safely return to the base provided he/she does not try to advance to second base. Note: The Captains may agree prior to the start of the game whether a base runner may run past the first base bag instead of making contact with the safety bag when running to first base (to provide add'l safety). It is mandatory to touch a portion of first base prior to advancing to second base.
On the batter's first attempt to first base and the play is made at first, he/she must use the orange portion of the double base. Once the batter has safely reached first base, he/she must now use the white portion. The defensive player always uses the white portion.
A runner may run the bases:
When a fair ball is hit
When a ball is overthrown and remains in play
A runner may NOT advance to the next base:
When a caught fly ball is first touched
A runner is advanced (only one additional base is awarded):
When a ball is overthrown after a caught fly ball and goes out of play
When a fair batted ball goes out of play
When a thrown ball is contacted by a thrown glove
When a live ball is carried or dropped out of play
When a defensive player obstructs the runner as he progresses around the base paths.
A runner must return to the base:
When the pitcher is ready to pitch
When a foul ball is hit
When the batter or another runner interferes with the defensive team (unless forced by the batter being awarded first base)
When the ball is batted illegally
When a fly ball is caught
During a live ball, a runner may return to touch a base unless he/she has left the field of play or a succeeding runner has scored. He/she must proceed in reverse order touching all intervening bases.

General rules to be obeyed at each diamond:
1) A ball hit in foul territory can be caught on the fly for an out within or beyond the Home and Visitor bench fence lines
2) Prior to the start of a game, both captains must agree to play an 8th inning if the game is still tied after the completion of the top and bottom half of the 7th inning. If both captains do not come to an agreement to play an 8th inning prior to the start of the game, the game will be over after the 7th inning if the game is tied and each team will be rewarded a point.
3) Any diamond that has a tree in the field of play (ie. Within the foul lines):
If the batted ball makes contact with a tree on a bounce, the batter will be assigned a ground rule double and all runners on base should advance two bases from the base they started at.
If the batted ball makes contact with a tree on the fly, the batter will be assigned a Home Run

A RUNNER IS OUT, AND THE BALL IS DEAD IF:
On a pitched ball, he/she leaves the base before the ball has reached the plate, hits the ground or is swung at by the batter
He/she fails to return to their base following a halt in play
While off the base, he/she is hit by a fair batted ball before it has passed an infielder
He/she deliberately runs into a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to tag him/her
He/she interferes with an attempt to field a ball or with a thrown ball
The runner is discovered wearing exposed jewelry


A RUNNER IS OUT, AND THE BALL IS ALIVE IF:
He/she runs more than 1m, outside the established base paths to avoid a tag
On a force out, the fielder, while holding the ball, touches the base before the runner
While off his/her base, he/she is touched with the ball by a fielder
He/she overtakes a preceding runner


ADDITIONAL INFIELD RULES:
Infielders must stay behind the baselines until the ball is hit.
Minimum of one women per team must play an official infield position, either first, second, short stop or third.
Catcher calls the fair and foul balls and cannot play any ball hit by the batter.
No intentional sliding or diving into any base - automatic out.


ADDITIONAL OUTFIELD RULES:
Outfielders must stay off the infield until the ball is hit. At least 3 paces behind the infield bases if the infield to outfield is not distinguishable.
One base on an overthrow to first, third, or home if the ball goes past the screen, if the ball hits the screen it is still in play, regardless of where the ball was thrown from.


PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
TIC Member: 5 non-TIC members per team are permitted without penalty.
If you have more than 5 non-TIC members on your submitted roster, your team will need to pay an extra $15 fee for each non-TIC member on your roster above the 5 person limit (ie. 6th and 7th non-TIC member).
However, no team can have more than 7 non-TIC members on their active roster.
Signed waiver: A player cannot participate without a signed waiver.
Waivers must be submitted to the League Director prior to the season beginning.
Players must be registered with the league as part of your submitted team roster to be eligible to play in the year end tournament.

Rain Out/Rain Delay Guidelines:
Q: What if both Captains declare that the field is unplayable or the weather conditions are not safe to play the game before the game even starts?
A: The game will be canceled, each team will be awarded a 0-0 tie, and each team will receive 1 point each in the standings (note: you must have a legal roster at the field in order to earn 1 point, if you do not have a legal team at the field by 6:45pm and the other team does at the time the mutual decision is made to cancel the game, then the team with the legal roster present will be awarded a 7-0 win).

Q: What if the game starts and one of the Captains decides that the game should be stopped due to poor field conditions/bad weather?
A: Once a team Captain declares they want a stoppage in play due to poor weather, the two Captains will agree to wait 10 minutes to see if the field/weather conditions improve.

If both Captains agree not to restart the game before or after the 10 minute waiting period is up, then one of 3 situations would apply:

a) The visiting team will be declared the winner if 5 full innings have been completed prior to the stoppage of play and the visiting team has the lead
b) The home team will be declared the winner if the visiting team completed a minimum of 5 turns at bat and the home team has the lead
c) If the game is tied or option a) and b) do not apply, the game will be declared a 0-0 tie and each team will get 1 point in the standings [all HR's hit in this scenario will not count in the standings]

Note: If both teams have not completed their at bats during the 6th or 7th inning when the mutual agreement to cancel the game is made, the final score will default to the score at the end of the last completed inning.

DISCLAIMER:
All decisions made by the team Captain's during the game will remain final.

If a game situation cannot be resolved satisfactorily by the Captain's during the game, both teams will receive a score of zero for that game regardless of the result. Captains must find a compromise to continue the game, and will also notify the league's Directors the next day. The Directors will review the situation and provide direction within two business days.