1 SOFTBALL 2014-15 last update June 4, 2014 The goal of these rules is to implement a friendly, competitive game based on hitting and fielding not pitching. In an ideal situation, every at bat would result in good contact between ball and bat. 1. OFFICIAL RULE BOOK The Canadian Amateur Softball Association (CASA) rulebook will govern except where noted in the section Special League Rules. 2. SCHEDULING Athletic Directors will be responsible for scheduling all league and exhibition games at the annual meetings. Any changes made to the schedule must be approved by both teams involved. 3. OFFICIALS The home team is solely responsible for the assigning of officials. Carded Softball Canada umpires are recommended, student officials should be avoided. 4. LENGTH OF GAME The length of a game will be seven innings plus extra innings if needed. Coaches may agree to a different number of innings due to time or other constraints. For standing purposes it is important that ties be avoided if at all possible. When a game is shortened due to rain, it is counted as a complete game if 4 full innings have been played. If less then 4 innings have been played, the game will be rescheduled, 5. SCORING With the exception of the final inning, there will be a five run limit for all levels. If the difference in runs is 15 or more at the end of five complete innings, then the game may be declared over by the losing coach. The game may continue if the losing coach agrees to keep playing. No Game can only be declared if the teams involved did not play the game because there was a problem with officials or weather. The no-game result will be
0-0 and entered into the standings as a tie. 6. ELIGIBILITY As per C.I.S.A.A. eligibility regulations Article XIII of the constitution. 7. UNIFORMS 2 Caps and jerseys are recommended. Catchers must wear face masks, helmet and may wear chest protector and shin guards. Batters and runners must wear helmets with ear flaps. Running shoes or rubber moulded cleats are the only acceptable footwear. Helmets and face masks are mandatory for pitchers at the U12. Helmets are mandatory for pitchers at the u14 level. Student base coaches must wear helmets. 8. EQUIPMENT The base paths shall be 60 feet (see U12 exception), homeplate to mound 46' Other dimensions are as per CASA rules A safety base shall be used at first base Senior Tier 1 and Senior Tier 2 will use a 12" ball Worth Gold Dot or Worth Hot Dot U-14 and U-12 will use 11" ball Worth Super Green Dot or Core 47 Dynaflight A pitching rubber will be used for the pitchers mound For Senior Divisions, the rubber mat (2' x 3' ) as per Slo-Pitch National (SPN) will be used 9. PLAYOFFS Playoff formats will be determined by the Athletic Directors at the annual scheduling meeting. 10. TIE BREAKING FORMATS a. Format and criteria i. point total from win/loss/tie record in league play ii. if still tied, result(s) of head to head competition between tied teams iii. if still tied, point differential in head to head competition between tied teams (this must be calculated as an average number of runs per inning played because of the different number of at bats that are possible this means that number of at bats must also be reported to the convenor) iv. if still tied, fewest points against in head to head competition between tied teams
3 v. if still tied, point differential using all league games in that season vi. if still tied, fewest points against in all league games in that season b. Process i. In the event that two or more teams are tied and the process is able to successfully rank the teams with no ties remaining, this ranking will be used to seed the teams. ii. If the process is only able to reduce the number of tied teams by one or more and a tie still exists; * the teams that are no longer tied will assume their new ranking * the process involving the remaining tied teams shall commence again from the beginning with a. i. c. The maximum point differential in any single game will be 10 runs. d. Forfeitures: see Constitution Article XV, section 1 11. ADDITIONAL PLAYING RULES The following rules replace their appropriate counterparts in the CASA rules. For clarifications of some CASA rules, see the next section: 1. Batting: For batting order, teams have a choice between using the regular softball re-entry rule or having their entire team bat and any 10 field. This choice must be made at the beginning of the game and cannot be changed part way through. Bunting is not permitted. Batters who bunt are automatically out. A hit batsman is not awarded first unless it is ball four. 2. Pitching: (Senior and U14 Divisions) Pitchers will pitch to the opposing team. Both feet must start on the rubber; the pitcher is allowed one step toward home only. No windmill or whip on the ball is allowed. The arc of the ball must be between 6' and 12'. the 3. Rubber Mat and Commitment/Home Lines (Senior Divison only): a) the size of the mat is a full 2' x 3'. It is to be made of rubber or some other flexible material. It is to be placed in line with front of home plate. b) any pitch striking the rubber mat on its first bounce will be called a strike. Otherwise, it is a ball. c) a batted ball that strikes the rubber mat is a foul.
4 d) two lines will be drawn. One will be an extension of the first base line to the back stop and be called home line. The other will be a line perpendicular to and intersecting the third base line and 20 feet from the home line called the commitment line. e) runners cross the home line to score. Any runner that touches the rubber mat is out. Runners have crossed the home line when any portion of their body is touching the ground beyond the home line. f) if a defensive player has possession of the ball and is touching the rubber mat after a runner crossed the commitment line but before the runner has crossed the home line, then the runner is out (forced play). g) any runner that crosses the commitment line is forced to go home. If he does not go home, he can be called out on appeal at home. Exception: a runner who is forced to return to a base that he left before a fly ball is caught or that he missed is not also forced to go home. (Such a runner would still be out if he were forced out at home while he was between the home and commitment lines or if he did not actually have to return to the base and the defence appeals.) h) defensive players may not attempt tag plays at home. Runners may slide at home so long as no contact is made with the rubber mat. Home Plate and Commitment/Home Lines (U-14 and U12 Only): a. Two lines will be drawn. One line will be an extension of the first base line to the back stop and be called the home line. The other will be perpendicular to and intersecting the third base line and 20 feet from the home line called the commitment line. b. Runners cross the home line to score. Any runner that touches home plate is out. A runner has crossed the home line when any portion of his body is touching the ground beyond the home line. c. If a defensive player has possession of the ball and is touching home plate after a runner has crossed the commitment line but before the runner has crossed the home line, then the runner is out (forced play). d. Any runner that crosses the commitment line is forced to go home. If he does not go home, he can be called out on appeal at home. Exception: A runner who is forced to return to a base that he left before a fly ball is caught or that he missed is not also forced to go home. (Such a runner would still be out at home while he was between the home and commitment lines or if he did not actually have to return to the base and the defence appeals.) e. Defensive players may not attempt tag plays at home. Runners may
5 slide across the line at home so long as no contact is made with home plate. 4. Base Running: A base runner must run to first base in foul territory, touching the safety base only. If the base runner runs in fair territory and interferes with the play or if he touches the white base instead of the safety base, he will be called out. Any runner leaving his base before the ball is batted is out (no lead offs). A runner who intentionally removes his helmet is automatically out. 5. Game Length: For games that have time limits, the umpire has the authority to lengthen the game if he/she feels that a coach or a player of either team is intentionally attempting to delay the game. In addition any coach or player who intentionally delays the game or unduly hastens its ending (purposely getting out) could be ejected. 6. Fielding: In U-12 and U-14 divisions, at least four players designated as outfielders will be prohibited from positioning themselves in the infield area until the ball is hit. They must be positioned 80 feet or more from home plate. CLARIFICATIONS OF SOME CASA SLO-PITCH RULES The following is intended as a synopsis of some of the rules of CASA slo-pitch. There are many rules not listed here that are in force and so coaches are encouraged to obtain and read their own rulebook. 1. An illegal pitch (excessive speed, no arc on the ball) has an effect only IF THE BATTER DOES NOT SWING. If he does not swing, it is a ball. If he does swing the pitch is then legal and play continues as if there was no illegal pitch. (There is an exception to this rule at the U12 level: see U12 rules.) 2. If a batted ball is caught, runners may tag and advance. 3. The play will be called dead when the ball is in possession of a defensive player in the infield and all play has ceased. 4. Once the pitcher has the ball in a 2 metre circle around the pitchers rubber, runners must return to the previous base or proceed to the next base. Runners who then change direction after the pitcher has the ball in the circle are out. However, as long as runners do not change direction, they could continue to advance to as many bases as they wish.
6 5. SAFETY BASE: a) Runners who round first base must return to the white base. The orange base is no longer considered to be first. b) Only the white base is considered to be first for defensive players. 6. BALL OUT OF PLAY: a) when a ball is thrown out of play, all runners are awarded TWO bases from the last base touched AT THE TIME OF THE THROW. b) when a ball is batted out of play off a defensive player, under, through or bounces over a fence all runners are awarded two bases from the time of the pitch. c) when a ball is carried out of play unintentionally by a defensive player, all runners are awarded one base from the time the ball goes out of play (two bases if intentionally carried out) 7. INFIELD FLY: a) must be runners on first and second, or first, second and third b) must be a fair batted fly that can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder or an outfielder who positions himself in the infield. c) runners may advance at their own risk but are required to tag if the ball is caught. defensive d) if a defensive player has the ball and is waiting to tag a runner and the runner remains on his feet and deliberately collides into the player, then the runner is out. 8. THIRD STRIKE Batters fouling off the off the third strike will not be called out. There is an exception to this rule at the U12 level: see U12 rules. C.I.S.A.A. Under 12 Softball Rules The goal of these rules is to implement a friendly, competitive game based on hitting and fielding not pitching. In an ideal situation, every at bat would result in good contact between ball and bat.
7 1. The pitcher will finish his pitch with a palm up delivery and follow through, and will thus avoid putting exaggerated spin on the ball. The batter may request that the speed of the pitch be reduced. This request should be made to the umpire. If, in the umpire s opinion, a pitch has excessive speed or exaggerated spin or lacks an appropriate arc, he shall call a no pitch, and extend his left arm to indicate a no pitch. The pitch will be taken over. However, on a "no pitch" call by the umpire, if contact is made between the bat and the ball and the ball stays fair, the ball is "live" and the play will stand regardless of the result (safe or out. If the ball is hit foul, the pitch will be taken over. Three hittable (as defined by the umpire) pitches will be delivered. No walks will be issued. A foul on the third hittable pitch is an out. If a pitcher receives a second "formal" warning from the umpire, after a pattern of deliberate pitching which does not adhere to the U-12 pitching guidelines, the pitcher must be replaced by any player for the rest of the inning. 2. Bunting is not permitted. 3. A hit batsman is not awarded first base. The ball is dead as soon as it hits the batter. 4. All players attending the game bat through an extended batting order (recommended that there be at least 15 players on the roster). Any player may leave and later re-enter the game at any fielding position, provided that he bats in his same place in the batting order. See the CASA rulebook under Re-Entry Rule for clarification. 5. The dimensions of the field from: Home plate to the pitcher=s mound Between bases 35 ft. 50 ft. 12. CONVENOR RESPONSIBILITIES See convenor responsibilities in main body of constitution appendix 9 The convenor is appointed for a 3 year period. 13. SPORTSMANSHIP & CONDUCT See CISAA code of sportsmanship and goal at the beginning of this constitution.
-8-14. COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES & HOST SCHOOL Senior, Junior and Midget host and visitoring schools are responsible for calling in, FAXing or e-mailing in the match results to the league convenor the following day. 15. AWARDS CISAA plaques or trophies at all levels of play will be awarded to the champion at each level. Individuals on the championship and finalist teams for all Senior, Junior and Midget teams will receive gold or silver medals. 16. GUIDELINES FOR OFSAA REPRESENTATION See appendix 2 of the constitution. Eligibility Rosters must be sent in for all Senior Div 1 OFSSA bound teams to the convenor before the first C.I.S.A.A. league game. 17. Softball and Slo-Pitch Safety Guideline Equipment A fully stocked first aid kit must be readily accessible. A working communication device (e.g., cell phone) must be accessible. Determine that all equipment is safe for use. Safety bag must be used at first base. Wooden bats must not be cracked. All bats must have proper grip. Bats must comply with the current Slo-Pitch Ontario Association (SPO) rules (e.g., Amateur Softball Association bat policy [ASA2004]). The batter, on-deck batter, bat boy/bat girl, base runners and athlete base coaches must wear a properly fitting batting helmet with flaps, covering both ears certified by a recognized safety standards association. Where helmets are equipped with chin straps, they are to be done up; otherwise, the helmet must fit such that it will stay on the head. All defensive players must wear baseball gloves. Umpires must wear mask and chest pad when positioned behind home plate. Catcher must wear shin protectors, chest protector and a mask with throat protector. Boys SOFTBALL 2014-15
-9- The catcher is to wear suitable pelvic area protection. Use softball appropriate to the skill level of the athletes. Bases must be properly secured. All equipment not in use must be kept out of the practice/playing area. All equipment must be checked regularly by the coach/instructor to determine that it is in good working order. Where pitching machines are being used they must be inspected prior to use and be under the direct supervision of a teacher/coach. See CASA regulations with regard to catchers equipment and batting helmets. At the U12 and u14 levels, the pitcher must wear a helmet. Clothing/Footwear Appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn. Molded baseball cleats or running shoes must be worn. No jewelry. Facilities Determine that all facilities are safe for use. For indoor practices, playing surface must provide sufficient traction and surrounding area must be free of all obstacles (e.g., tables, chairs). Goalposts must be padded if in field of play. Playing area must be inspected regularly, be free from debris and obstructions, and be well removed from traffic areas. The playing surface must provide suitable footing and proper traction. Holes and severely uneven surfaces must be brought to the attention of the coaches, convener, athletes and officials. Notify appropriate school officials. Special Rules/Instructions Skills must be taught in proper progression. Games must be based on skills that are taught. Parents/guardians must be made aware of any off-campus activity and the means of transportation used. A student athlete s fitness level must be commensurate with the level of competition. Training must include flexibility, strength and cardiovascular-enhancing activities. Players must be physically prepared for contact. Non-fielding players must be on the bench or in the designated area of bench. To avoid dangers of a slipped bat, non-fielding players must stand well back of the batter s box or behind a screen or fence. (Keep fingers away from screen.) Boys SOFTBALL 2014-15
-10- Use a commitment line on third-base line. All plays at home plate must be force plays. No tagging at home plate. Players must be instructed to drop or lay the bat down after hitting, not release it during the follow through of the swing. Before sliding is permitted, appropriate sliding techniques must be taught to minimize the risk of injury. The location of spectators must not present a safety concern. When practicing indoors with a regulation bat: use a pitcher behind a protective cage or batters hit off a tee (in each case batters hit into a cage) all non active players must be behind cage, no fielders allowed Before involving athletes in outdoor activity, coaches must take into consideration: environmental conditions (temperature, weather, air quality, humidity, UV rays, insects) use a batting cage accessibility to adequate liquid replacement (personal water bottles, water fountains) and athlete hydration before, during and after physical activity previous training and fitness level length of time and intensity of physical activity Athletes must be made aware of ways to protect themselves from environmental conditions (e.g. use of hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, personal water bottles, insect repellent, appropriate clothing Athletes must receive instruction on safety procedures related to severe weather conditions (e.g., lightning, funnel clouds, severe winds, tornadoes) Be aware of athletes whose medical condition (e.g., asthma, anaphylaxis, casts, orthopaedic device) may affect participation. Any exposed orthopaedic apparatus (e.g., knee brace, cast) that presents a safety concern to other players must be soft or padded. Such devices must be approved by the official prior to the commencement of the game. Interschool competitions must follow the regulations and rules of the local governing body (e.g. CISAA, OFSAA) and/or Provincial Sport Organization for the activity. Link to the Provincial Sport Organization for this activity is: www.softballontario.ca Supervision On-site supervision is required. Boys SOFTBALL 2014-15