Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League

Rules of Play (as of March 2006)

1. Eligibility

Priority will be given to residents of Kanata.

2. Rules (general)

The league will be operated in accordance with rules of play adopted by the Canadian Amateur Softball Association (CASA) with the exception of:

  1. Miscellaneous rules (ie. uniforms etc); and
  2. Local rules (as outlined in section 4).

3. Umpires

  1. Regular umpires will be employed by the league and will enforce all rules in accordance with sections 2 and 4.
  2. An umpire-in-chief will be selected annually by the league executive.
  3. The umpire-in-chief will schedule umpires in accordance with the league schedule.
  4. No game is to be played unless a plate umpire, scheduled by the umpire-in-chief, is in attendance.
  5. Scheduled umpires will be at the diamond at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled starting times and will make all efforts to start games on time. Captains are expected to co-operate fully in this regard.

4. Local Rules

  1. All efforts should be made to commence games at the time indicated on the league schedule. If one or both teams do not have seven players present, the starting time will be extended by up to 15 minutes. In the event of rain or other inclement weather, players should report to the designated diamond at the appropriate time unless advised otherwise by their team captain.
  2. No new inning will commence after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the starting time (1 hour and 20 minutes on three game nights). A game is considered complete following the expiration of the appropriate time limit when the inning being played is finished (top only if home team is ahead).
  3. CASA rules will be applied with regard to determining whether or not a game is complete in the event that a game is called by an umpire because of weather, darkness etc.
  4. To be eligible to be captain of a league team, a player must be eligible to be protected by that team. Exceptions to this rule under extraordinary circumstances require executive approval.
  5. Teams will be restricted to twelve registered players, one of which will be the captain. All changes to team rosters following the completion of the draft (and the agreed upon trade period) are subject to the approval of the league executive.
  6. Team captains may protect up to six players (in addition to themselves) from the previous year's team.
  7. All players have the option of not being protected and/or drafted by the team that they played for in the previous year.
  8. The process governing pitcher/team match-ups will be determined on a year-to-year basis.
  9. During the draft, each team will pick from a list of available (ie. unprotected and new) players.

    Order of selection will be based on final standings from the previous year (with the team finishing with the fewest points selecting first and so on). Each team will make a selection in the first round. Only teams that have protected fewer than the maximum permitted (6 plus the captain) will draft in the next round. In subsequent rounds, only those teams with fewer than eight players (including the captain) will make a selection until all teams have eight players on their roster. Each team will make a selection in subsequent rounds until rosters are completed.

    At draft time, players are placed in one of four categories:
    1. Returning Players. Anyone who was a member in good standing of the league during the previous season.
    2. Legacy Players. Players who were members in good standing at some time in the past, but were not members during the previous season.
    3. Returning Spares. Players who signed up for the previous season but do not meet the requirements of category #1 or #2.
    4. New Players. Players who have never been in the league and did not sign up for the previous season.

In the event that more than the required number of players register, players in the highest numbered categories are not guaranteed a spot, but they are available in the draft.

For example, if the league needs 144 players and there are 120 returning players, 10 legacy players, 10 returning spares, and 10 new players (150 total), all of the category 1-3 players will eventually be drafted, but only 4 names can be selected from the 10 new players. Once the 4th new player is chosen, the new players list is off limits and drafting is constrained to players in categories 1-3.

If the numbers were 130 returning players, 10 legacy players, 10 returning spares, and 10 new players (160 total), then none of the new players would be available in the draft and only 4 names could be selected from the returning spares list.

  1. Players are encouraged (but not required) to wear their team sweater for all league games.
  2. No player will be permitted to play in shorts. Shorts are considered to be any trousers which do not extend below the player's knee. Short pants (just below the knee) are only permitted if the player is wearing long socks or other clothing such that there is no exposed skin on their legs.
  3. Each team must field a minimum of six regular players for each league game.

    Spares may be used during regular season and tournament games if a team can field more than 5 but fewer than 9 players from their roster. Spares cannot be used if a team has 9 regular players before the commencement of a game. A maximum of 2 spares may be employed by one team during any game (ie. if a team has only 6 of its own players, they may add 2 spares and proceed with 8.) Spares may be drawn from the spares list (if applicable) or from other league teams.

    Spares (other than a pitcher) must play left or right field and bat at the bottom of the order.

    Pitching spares are permitted. Drafted starting pitchers may be used as pitching spares by other teams, but a team is only permitted to use a given starting pitcher as a spare pitcher once per season. Notwithstanding specific executive exceptions to the contrary, any other player in the league (ie. back- up pitchers) may be used as a pitching spare. If a team has 6 of its own players and does not have its designated starting pitcher present at the start of the game, they may use a pitching spare plus two outfield spares.

    Should a team be able to field nine regular players subsequent to the commencement of a game, spares may continue to play for the balance of the game.
  4. Spares cannot be used during the playoffs.
  5. Teams using unregistered players will forfeit any games in which such players have participated.
  6. Players who miss two consecutive games without advising their team captain may be replaced by a player on the spares list (if applicable).
  7. The HOME team in the final game on any evening is responsible for gathering up the equipment and ensuring it is returned to the diamond in time for the first game on the next scheduled evening. The HOME team in the late game is also responsible for ensuring that diamond lights are shut off.
  8. During the playoffs, the team with the better regular season record will be deemed the HOME team for games one and three.
  9. Any pitcher deemed to possess skills that are markedly superior to league standards may be deemed ineligible (to pitch) at the discretion of the league executive.
  10. Metal spikes may only be worn by an outfielder or a pitcher while playing defence. Infielders may not wear metal spikes while on defence and only the pitcher may wear metal spikes while batting or running the bases. If any other player is caught wearing metal spikes it will be an automatic out for the offending team.
  11. No player may be forced to sit out two or more consecutive innings.

5. Equipment

  1. Helmets are mandatory for all batters, base runners, and on deck players.
  2. Masks, throat protectors, and helmets must be worn by all catchers.
  3. The double base is mandatory, with the white portion being placed in fair territory and the orange portion being placed in foul territory.

    A batted ball hitting the white portion of the base is declared fair. A batted ball hitting only the orange portion of the based is declared foul.

    When proceeding from home to first base, the batter must use the orange portion of the bag. Henceforth, the baserunner must use the white portion of the bag (including instances when he is tagging up on a fly ball). If the batter is proceeding beyond first base after hitting the ball (ie. when there is no play on him from the infield) he may use either the white or orange portion of the base.
  4. If, in the opinion of the umpire, a player deliberately damages equipment in any manner, the player is to be immediately ejected from the game.

6. The Game

  1. In the event that one or both teams are unable to field a complete team during regular season or tournament games, spares may be used within the limitations outlined in Section 4(L). A game should commence on time or as soon as both teams have a minimum of 6 players. Games may not be delayed longer than 15 minutes.
  2. The following will result in a forfeited game being assessed against a team:
    1. not having at least 6 regular players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time
    2. refusing to begin play or resume play (within two minutes) after being instructed by the umpire to do so
    3. employing tactics to delay the game
    4. wilfully violating the rules of the game following a warning by the umpire
    5. whose player(s) fail to obey an order of ejection within one minute.
  3. The score of all forfeited games will be recorded as 7-0.
  4. Pinch runners are permitted. The player who made the last official out preceding the player requesting the runner will pinch run.
  5. Regular season games can end in a tie, with one point in the standings awarded to each team.
  6. In the case of a tie following seven innings, or the expiration of the time limit, of a tournament final or a playoff game, each subsequent inning will begin with a runner at second base. The player making the last out of the previous inning will be positioned at second base and the regularly scheduled batter will be at the plate. A pinch runner may be used at second base only if that player has used a pinch runner previously in the game.
  7. When after 5 complete innings, or subsequent complete innings, a team is ahead by 10 or more runs, the mercy rule shall take effect.

7. Pitching Regulations

  1. All pitchers will be judged on the legality of their pitching techniques at the discretion of the umpire.
  2. A player who registers as a pitcher and decides before the draft that he doesn't want to pitch has the option of being protected by their last team or being placed in the draft. In either instance, he is not eligible to pitch at all in the upcoming season. Following this period, he may pitch in a back-up role only unless re-registering as a pitcher.
  3. A starting pitcher who decides during the course of the season that he no longer wishes to pitch has the option of remaining with his team or being placed on the spares list. He will not be eligible to pitch for the balance of that season and the following season.
  4. No player entering the league as a new player is eligible to pitch unless he has indicated on his registration form that he is a potential pitcher.
  5. A designated starting pitcher should normally remain in the game as a pitcher through 4 complete innings. There is no penalty to the team if the starting pitcher does not complete 4 innings, however the decision to step aside before the 5th inning must be the pitcher’s. Captains may not remove a designated starting pitcher against their will before the 5th inning.

8. Tie Breakers in the Final Standings

Ties in the final standings will be broken according to the following criteria:

  1. most wins
  2. head-to-head record
  3. run differential in head-to-head games
  4. coin toss

9. Suspensions

  1. Following the ejection of any player, reports on the incident will be submitted within 48 hours to the executive by the umpire and both team captains involved. The player ejected has the right to submit a statement if he wishes.
  2. Any suspension for objectionable conduct will be reviewed for possible further action by the executive.
  3. Players ejected from a game for wilfully damaging equipment are subject to an automatic one game suspension. Re-instatement will occur only after restitution for the cost of damaged equipment has been received by the league.
  4. Players ejected from a game for a deliberate attempt to injure will be (subject to appeal) suspended for the balance of the season. If the incident takes place in the last third of the season, the suspension will cover at least half of the following season.
  5. If a suspended player disrupts game proceedings, a one minute warning to leave the ball diamond will be issued. If the player ignores the warning, his team will forfeit the game.