Saskatoon Mixed Slo-pitch League

EXECUTIVE HAS THE ABILITY TO MODIFY, REMOVE, OR CHANGE RULES FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE LEAGUE OPERATIONS.

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New Rules for 2024

1. EP(extra players) in the batting order may only be used if there is one more of each sex being used. Batting orders may be 12 batters or 10 batters only.

2. Year end tournament is the 2nd weekend in august. (10th&11th)​

Main Rules

1. All teams may field a maximum of 10 players for each scheduled game with a minimum of 8 players.

2. All teams must field 3 members of the minority sex. However, if a team does not have enough minority players, they may still play with 2, but must record an automatic out each time the third minority player would have appeared in the batting order – therefore only fielding 9 players. When teams have only 1 member of the minority sex, they will default the game

3. There is free substitution throughout the game; however you must play in the field in the inning prior to batting in order to take your turn at bat. It should be clear that a change in position (i.e. from 2nd base to outfield) for a player will not change his/her place in the batting order. This must be marked on the scoresheet for each substitution

4. Absolutely NO STEEL CLEATS or BARE FEET will be allowed in any game. Rubber molded shoes are permitted. Players assuming a competitive position on the field of play wearing steel cleats will be ejected from the game. THERE WILL BE NO WARNING!

5. A completed inning will consist of 3 outs or once through the batting order(Based on batters in the line-up. 9 Players means 9 batters)

6. No Stealing allowed.

7. On an overthrow the batter/runner will be awarded the base they were going to at the time of the throw plus one more base. The overthrow rule DOES NOT apply to the 10th batter in the inning. The ball is live and the play will continue until the out is made.

8. Bunting is not allowed. Anyone who bunts is automatically out.

9. Lead off rule: The base runner is out when he/she fails to keep contact with the base he/she is entitled to until a legally pitched ball has reached home plate or a swing has been attempted

10. Pinch runners can only be used in case of injury. Any existing injuries must be declared and identified to the other team before play begins. Where a pinch runner is required for previously disclosed injured player, the original batter must reach 1st base and remain on 1st base prior to substitution. If the batter is able to reach 2nd or 3rd base, a pinch runner is not allowed. A pinch runner must be the most recent out of the same gender. If there are no outs of the same gender in the inning, the pinch runner substituted would be the player furthest from the hitter in the batting order of the same gender (the number 2 hitter would be replaced by the number 10 hitter if they are both the same gender).

11. Where a fake tag has been made, the faking player will be ejected from the game and the umpires rulings as to the position of the remaining runner(s) will stand.

12. All pitches will be release at a moderate speed and must be delivered with a perceivable arc of 6 to 12 feet (for all divisions) from the time it leaves the pitchers hand until it crosses home plate. Any pitches, in opinion of the umpire, not adhering to this rule shall be deemed a ball by calling "No Pitch" and stating low or high. Any ball hit after this declaration is considered to be live and judged accordingly.

13. Batters will gain 1st base without hitting, when in the opinion of the umpire, 4 pitches are judged to be balls.

14. If a batter is walked on 4 pitches or less (the first 4 pitches – no strikes), the batter advances to second base (a ground rule double). If there are runners on any bases, they will advance to the next base accordingly. (i.e. if there is a runner on second base, they would advance 1 base to third base and if there are runners on 1st and 2nd base, the runner on 1st base advances to 3rd base and the runner on 2nd base goes home).

15. If the third strike results in a foul ball, the batter is out.

16. Umpires and team captains must discuss ground rules before each game.

17. The infield fly rule will apply in all games. An infield fly is a fair ball, not including a line drive, which can be caught by an infielder when 1st and 2nd, or 1st, 2nd, and 3rd bases are occupied before two are out. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly – Batter is Out!” The ball is live and the runners may advance at the risk of being caught on re-touch after the ball is touched or caught. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul ball.

18. ALL DIVISIONS – The distance between home plate and 1st base and between 2nd base and 3rd or 1st base must be 60 feet. The distance from home plate to the pitcher’s mound must be approximately 50 feet. These are marked accordingly by the anchors where the bases go.

19. Line of Commitment

    • The "line of commitment" rule will be effect for all divisions.

    • If the runner touches home plate instead of the safety line, the runner is out. The base runner must run behind the strike plate. The commitment line will have an additional line drawn out at the mid-way point between third base and home plate. A runner crossing the mid-way line must continue to home plate.

20. The batter’s box may be described as an area extending 3 feet back and 4 feet ahead from the two mid-rear corners of the plate, and 3 feet wide on either side of home plate with a 6” buffer in between. Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet inside the batter’s box. If the batter steps out of the batter’s box while hitting the ball or if the batter steps on the home plate(or the strike plate) when the ball is hit, he/she is automatically out.

21. Live Ball

    • If a live ball is deflected off a player in the playing fields and goes out of play UNINTENTIONALLY, it will be ruled as ground rule double and the runner/batter will advance the base he/she was moving towards plus one base.

    • If a live ball is deflected off of a player in the playing field and goes out of play (i.e., it is thrown or kick out of play by the player) INTENTIONALLY (as determined by discretion of the umpire), the ball will be considered to be a live ball and the player who intentionally caused the ball to be redirected will be ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

22. A batted ball striking either plate (home base and the strike board) is considered a foul ball.

23. Use of illegal bats is strictly prohibited. It is up to each team to ensure that they are not using illegal bats. (Correctly stamped, without any modification or rolling) Any team(s) and /or player(s) found to be violating this will be dealt with at the discretion of the Executive. Any issues of bat modifications should be brought up to the executive immediately

24. No smoking or drinking on the diamonds while playing or umping.

25. The batter running to 1st base may be tagged out in the base path. But not between Third and Home

26. Foul Tip

    • A foul tip is a batted ball, which goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter’s head, to the catcher’s hands or glove/mitt, and is legally caught by the catcher.

    • A foul tip is a strike. The batter is out if it is the third strike. A foul tip is a dead ball once it hits the ground.

27. All league games must be played as required. Games that are not completed by year end deadlines WILL NOT be awarded points in the standings. Teams CAN NOT split games and/or points for games not played. These games will be listed as UNPLAYED. Score sheets will be checked by the Executive.

28. Obstruction is the act of a fielder, while not in possession of the ball, or in the act of fielding a batted ball, or about to receive a thrown ball, impedes the progress of a base runner that is legally running the bases. In the umpire’s judgement, the base runner shall be awarded the lead base at the time of obstruction.

29. A base runner obstructed in a rundown shall be awarded the lead base at the time of the obstruction. Any preceding base runner, forced to advance by the award of bases for obstruction, shall advance without liability to be put out.

30. A batter that bats out of turn in the line-up shall leave the batter’s box as soon as it becomes known. The actual batter shall take his/her place in the batter’s box while assuming the count taken by the ineligible batter.

31. A team shall have no more than 4 home runs than the opposing team during a game. Any additional home runs hit by a team in excess of 4 home runs greater than their opponent will have the home run disallowed and the batter will be out. Definition of Home Run is any ball hit over the outfield fence and between the foul line poles. A ball hit within the fence and in the field of play that results in the batter scoring a run in the same play shall not be considered a home run.

32. PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE - ZERO TOLERANCE OF PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE OF AN UMPIRE. EFFECT Suspension from all SMSL League and Tournament Events. First Offense - One (1) year. Second Offense - Three (3) years. Third Offense - Life time suspension.

33. A home run over the fence will be considered a walk off home run. There will be no running of the bases. Mark your score and immediately retrieve the ball. Each team is responsible for retrieving the ball they hit over immediately.