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 Rules |
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Tuesday, April 24
MMSPL 2007 Rules
MAPLE MEN’S SLO-PITCH LEAGUE
2006 EDITION
A: League Policies
This League was created to provide adult men with an alternative to softball and enable them to play the game we all grew up playing. Adult attitudes must always prevail. No matter how competitive any league is, the responsibility that this ethic sustains will remain as the responsibility of the League President and the Board of Directors and anyone who abuses the League’s code can be suspended or expelled from the League. The League President and the Board of Directors shall have the power to make decisions on any point not specifically covered in the League Policies.
1) Residency and Age Requirements - Each team shall be comprised of a minimum of 75% residents of Maple age 35 years and older, for both the regular season and the playoffs. For the purposes of clarification the following shall apply:
• 12-13 player roster – 3 non-resident players allowed
• 14-16 player roster – 4 non-resident players allowed
2) Team Requirements – Each team shall be responsible for their own equipment excluding balls and bases. Home team participating in the 7:00 p.m. game shall be responsible for setting up the bases and the home team participating in the 9:00 p.m. game shall be responsible for removing the bases and returning them to storage.
3) Playing Schedule – Season shall be comprised of 16 regular season games, with no games to be played on any long weekend, with playoff games to follow. No games are to be cancelled unless officially called off by the game umpire as a result of weather conditions. Players must play 10 regular season games in order to be eligible to play in the playoffs. If such a player fails to meet the requirements due to an injury or special circumstances, the player must get approval from the Board of Directors.
4) Game Start – All games shall be played on Friday nights – one to begin at 7:00 p.m. and the second to begin at 9:00 p.m. with a 15 minute grace period to be allowed for a team to field the 8 minimum number of players. Once the 15 minute grace period has passed the umpire shall call a forfeit.
5) A Regulation Game – Shall consist of eight innings, unless otherwise listed below.
(a) Eight full innings are not played if the team second at bat scores more runs in seven innings or before the third out is made in their half of the eighth inning;
(b) A game called by the umpire, during regular season play which cannot be resumed within 30 minutes, may be regulation if five or more innings have been played, or if the team second at bat has scored as many or more runs during the incompleted fifth inning, or after four full innings, than the team first at bat has scored in their five complete innings; or
(c) For 7:00 p.m. games, no new inning will commence after 8:45 p.m. and for 9:00 p.m. games, no new inning will commence after 10:45 p.m. with the Umpire to advise when a last inning is beginning.
(d) In any one inning the batting team can score up to a maximum of Seven (7) runs, with the last inning of each game to be an open inning.
(e) The mercy rule (20 runs) is in effect after five or more complete innings (or four and a half innings, if the home team has scored the 20 runs to mercy).
6) Rainouts or Suspended Games
All parks are considered unplayable when conditions present a physical danger to the players. This includes wet fields and the presence of lightening. Other conditions such as hail or severe weather may also make the parks unplayable.
A decision as to field conditions can be made at anytime up to and including game time. Whenever possible a rainout notice will be posted on the website. It is the team’s responsibility to check the web site for this notice. If no notice is posted then the teams are required to go to the park, at the scheduled time, prepared to play ball. The umpire will make the final decision before or during the game as to the safety of the fields. The umpire’s decision is final.
(a) Any games rained out will be rescheduled by the League President based upon field availability and if they have an impact upon the final standings prior to the playoffs.
(b) Final League standings will be determined by total points. Two (2) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss.
7) Forfeits -- A game shall be declared a forfeit by the Umpire if:
(a) a team fails to field the required number of players prior to or within 15 minutes of game time;
(b) refuses to continue the game after a suspension of play;
(c) intentionally tries to delay or hasten the game;
(d) intentionally violates a rule of the game after being warned by the umpire;
(e) a player, ejected from the game by an umpire, does not leave the park immediately. When a player is ejected and must leave the ball park, that player must move far enough away so that they may not be seen or heard by the participants of the game and may not participate with the game in any manner; and
(f) reschedule - each team will be allowed one game per season to be rescheduled with the following criteria ; 1) must notify the league within 2 weeks prior to scheduled game 2) pay a $50.00 administration fee prior to game 3) league will reschedule game according to field availability.
(g) forfeits will result in the following disciplinary action(s):
• 1 forfeit - A $100.00 fine payable by the forfeiting team, or
• 2 forfeits – A $200.00 fine payable by the forfeiting team, or
• 3 forfeits – Upon review by League Board of Directors the forfeiting team
could suffer a season suspension and loss of all league fees and
• playoff game forfeit – A $ 500.00 fine payable immediately, or expulsion.
All fines must be paid within 72 hours.
8) Roster – Each team shall submit their final game roster by game time which roster will show only players who are actually at the field at the start of the game. Any players arriving after the start of the game shall be added to the bottom of the roster. No new player shall be allowed to participate in a game after three full innings have been completed. The maximum number of players on the field at any one time is 10 players. Each team should have a minimum number of 12 players per team and cannot exceed 16 players per team. All players must be listed on a team roster, must have signed the MMSPL Release and Indemnity and all required fees must have been paid prior to the first game. No new players can be added to a team roster after the sixth completed game of the season. After the sixth completed game teams can add additional players to the roster only if the additional player is replacing another player on the team roster as a result of injury which replacement must be approved by the MMSPL Committee. If a team needs to replace more than two players in any season, the team must draw such additional players from the Leagues official waiting list. As a SPN sanctioned League we are registered as an E (Rec.) League, therefore no team is allowed to carry more than three players that are ranked or have played above an E (Rec.) level. For clarification purposes, level of play includes both Tournament and League play inclusive of Masters Intermediate or Comp. Division (SPO) within the last seven (7) years. Any falsification on registration forms will lead to automatic expulsion from the league of said player and any wins acquired with said player on the roster will be taken away from the team involved.
In order to maintain balance and parody within the League the MMSPL Executive reserves the right to allow or disallow any player on any team.
9) Managers’ Responsibility –
(a) It is the manager’s responsibility to see that each player on his roster receives, reads and understands the rules and regulations of the League. When a player intentionally disregards the rules, it is the manager’s responsibility to take immediate action to remedy the situation by removing the player from the game. Where a manager disregards any rules, he may be suspended from the game and, with approval by the Board of Directors of the League, he may be removed from his position as manager.
(b) It is the manager’s responsibility to see that all of the spectators at any game behave in a manner which is in compliance with the acceptable behavior as provided under the terms of these rules and policies.
(c) It is the team manager’s responsibility to deliver the score sheet properly filled out to the league score sheet box 24 hours of the conclusion of the game. Failure to do so may result in the game being recorded as a loss .
10) Players –
(a) No player may switch teams without consent of both his manager and the League Executive.
(b) In the event a player wishes to leave his existing team and form a new team, he may do so. No other player can be taken from the existing team without the consent of the existing team’s manager. No other players may be taken from any other team without their respective team manager’s approval.
(c) Each year all players on the League’s waiting list will be invited to a draft. The annual draft will be conducted in a manner to allow parity in League by having the prior year’s teams with the lowest finishing records drafting first.
11) Uniform & Equipment –
(a) All teams must have full baseball uniforms (shirts in pants, hats on).
(b) No player without a uniform will be allowed to play.
(c) Metal cleats are not permitted.
(d) Gloves may be worn by any player.
(e) Trappers may be worn by the catcher, pitchers and first baseman only.
(f) Only official League baseballs will be permitted. Each Home Team to provide game balls.
(g) Each team to provide their own bats, practice balls and score books.
Bats must comply with SPN Rules and or MMSPL banned bats list. Any illegal or banned bats used will carry a $100.00 fine.
(h) Each team is responsible for having accessible to the players their own first aid kit.
12) Protests -
(a) Only a Team Manager shall be allowed to protest a game.
(b) If a Team Manager feels there has been an infraction of the Playing Rules he may:
• Protest to the umpire at the time of the infraction
• Submit a written protest to MMSPL within
(c) If a Team Manager decides to protest a game he must:
• Notify the umpire of his intentions
• Mark the score sheets accordingly
• File a protest with MMSPL within 24 hours after the game
• File a $25.00 security with the protest (cash, money order or certified cheque only, made payable to MMSPL)
• If the protest is won, the security will be returned and appropriate action will be taken regarding the protested game
• If the protest is lost, the security will be forfeited.
(d) The Protest Committee shall consist of the following members:
• Two members of the Executive
• Umpire-in-Chief
(e) The decision of the committee will be final and cannot be appealed.
13) General Rules –
(a) No children shall be allowed on the playing field or in the dugout;
(b) No beer or alcoholic beverages shall be consumed by any player during the game – if this situation arises and the player notified refuses to comply, this player is subject to expulsion;
(c) No smoking on the playing field or in the dug out;
(d) No physical violence will be tolerated. Violation will result in player ejection and immediate indefinite suspension pending Board decision and a $50.00 fine payable by the player or team prior to the start of the next game.
(e) No profanity or unsportsmanlike conduct will be allowed. Violation will result in player ejection; continued verbal abuse and or threats will result in further disciplinary action, the end result depending on the extent, the severity and nature of abuse.
(f) Official game sheet including roster for both teams must be handed in to the league president within 24hrs. after each game by the winning team including forfeited games. Failure to do so, will result in the game being scored as a tie.
(g) Fake Tag is an act performed by a fielder who carries out all the appropriate motions of making a tag but he does not have the ball. This will be considered obstruction and the offender may be ejected.
(h) Homerun Rule (Match Plus 2): At no time during a game will the number of over the fence homeruns (untouched) allowed hit by one team, be more than two (2) above the number hit by the opposing team. Any homerun in excess of two (2), the batter will be declared out.
(i) Tiebreaker for final standings:
• Most wins
• Head to head results
• Runs scored differential
14) Team and Player Suspension
The Board of Directors may disqualify any team or suspend any player without compensation from the League for:
(a) Using ineligible or fraudulently represented players; cheating, attempting fraud; NSF cheques or any other flagrant act(s) that may make a mockery of the game and/or the League; and
(b) Abuse (verbal or otherwise) to umpires, organizers or executive members of the League whether by a player or spectator.
(c) Ejections – 1st ejection results in one (1) automatic game suspension,
2nd ejection results in a five (5) game suspension and review.
All team members, including players and/or managers are considered responsible and may be held liable for any of the above. All appeals to any suspensions must be made in writing within 48 hrs.
B: Playing Procedures
In addition to the League Policies the following playing procedures shall be applicable.
1. Playing Field
? Bases are 65 feet apart.
? Pitching distance will now be a zone 24 in. wide between 50 and 65 ft. from the rear corner of home plate. Pitcher is able to place foot anywhere in zone.
? Double base will be used at first base.
2. Strike Zone – is that space directly above home plate which is neither higher than the batter’s highest shoulder nor lower than the bottom of the batter’s front knee, when the batter assumes his natural batting stance. Any part of a pitched ball that passes through any part of the strike zone shall be considered to be a strike.
3. Team
The batting order shall consist of a minimum of eight (8) players.
(a) If any player is injured during a game and is not able to continue play as a result of this injury, the player will be removed from the line-up and the next batter in the order will take his turn at bat. In the event the injured player decides to stay in the game and asks to be removed at a later time during the game as a result of the same injury, the injured player will not be declared out when he is due at bat unless he removes himself from the game during the open inning of the game. Should such an injured player remove himself from the game during the open inning such player will be considered an out when he is due up at bat. Should a player need to remove himself for any other reason from the game, as long as it is prior to the open inning, he will not be declared out when he is due at bat.
(b) The manager of the player unable to bat is responsible for notifying the plate umpire of this situation. Failure to do this will result with the manager being ejected.
(c) A team must have a minimum of eight (8) players to start and to continue the game. If a team has less than eight (8) players the game is forfeited.
(d) If a team does have the required minimum eight (8) players to start the game, they may request a player from the opposing team in order to field nine (9) players, with the loaned player to play back catcher. The opposing team is in no way obligated to grant this request and in doing so it is as a courtesy only that the loan will be made. Upon the arrival of a ninth player, the loaned player will return to his own team. This request can only be made if the opposing team has more than ten (10) players in attendance and only during regular season play.
(e) In order to comply with the League code of ethics, every player on the roster, if physically able must actively participate in all games, both offensively and defensively for a minimum of 4 innings.
4. Courtesy Runner
(a) A team may use a maximum of four (4) courtesy runners per game.
(b) The courtesy runner must be a legal rostered player, the SAME runner cannot be used twice. and a courtesy runner can be used for another courtesy runner.
(c) The courtesy runner must be announced to the home plate umpire before he has taken his place on the base.
(d) If there is no courtesy runner available to replace a courtesy runner on base when that player is to bat, an out shall be declared.
5. Pitching
Before each pitch the pitcher must stand with one or both feet in the zone, facing the batter with the ball held in one hand. This position must be maintained for one to ten seconds.
The delivery starts when the Pitcher makes any motion of his windup after the required pause.
The pitch shall be delivered with an underhand motion and at a moderate speed.
If the pitcher desires to walk a batter intentionally, he may do so by notifying the plate umpire who shall award the batter first base.
The ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc of at least 6’ from the ground. The pitched ball shall not reach a height of more than 12’ at its highest point from the ground.
An illegal pitch shall be declared when the pitcher attempts a quick return of the ball before the batter has taken his position or is off balance as a result of a previous pitch.
The pitcher may now use a trapper glove if he so wishes.
6. Batting
A strike is a legally pitched ball that crosses through the strike zone, any pitched ball swung at and issued by the batter, or a batted ball that is ruled foul. A ball is a legally pitched ball that lands outside the strike zone and not swung at by the batter or an illegally pitched ball that the batter does not swing at. On a third strike foul the batter is out.
7. Running
When the batter runs to first, he may over-run first base and safely return to the base provided he does not try to advance to second base.
On the batter’s first attempt at first base on an infield hit, he must use the orange portion of the Double Base. Once the batter has safely reached the first base, he must now use the white portion. The defensive player always uses the white portion.
(a) A runner may run the bases when:
? a fair ball is hit;
? a caught fly ball is first touched;
? the ball is overthrown and remains in play.
(b) A runner is advanced:
? when a fair batted ball goes out of play
? when a thrown or batted ball is contacted by a thrown glove
? if forced when the batter is awarded a base on balls.
? when a live ball is carried or dropped out of play
? when the ball is overthrown and goes out of play (two bases from the last base at the time of the throw)
? when a defensive player obstructs the runner as he progresses around the base path. The Umpire will award the placement he felt the runner would have made had there been no obstruction.
(c) A runner must return to the base when:
? the pitcher is ready to pitch (if he is not in contact with the base, he is declared out for a leadoff)
? a fly ball is caught. He may advance when the ball is first touched by a fielder.
(d) Scoring Line/Commitment Line
There will be no sliding while attempting to touch and/or cross the scoring line at any time. A player is to be called out if he slides while attempting to touch and/or cross the scoring line at home plate. Sliding may occur at all other bases. A base runner may be tagged out between third base and the scoring line. All base runners attempting to score a run must do so by touching or crossing the scoring line. Runners are out if they touch home plate or cross over home plate. A base runner who touches the commitment line with one foot or places one foot on the ground past the line, must continue on towards the scoring line (home plate).
Base Stealing is not Permitted
? If a base runner fails to keep contact with the base to which he is entitled until a pitched ball has bounced in front of, reached or passed home plate or is batted, the ball is immediately dead, “No Pitch” is called and the base runner is called out. Base runners who have left the base legally (after a pitched ball has bounced in front of, reached or passed home plate) but the ball has not been hit, are not declared out but must immediately return to their base and the ball is dead.
9. Dismissals
A runner is out, and the ball is dead if:
? while off the base, he is hit by a fair batted ball before it has passed an infielder
? he deliberately runs into a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to tag him
? he interferes with an attempt to field a ball or with a thrown ball.
A runner is out, and the ball is alive if:
? he runs more than 3 feet (1 meter) outside the established basepath to avoid a tag
? he overtakes a preceding runner
? a coach physically assists him.
A runner is not out if:
? he is touched by a fielder who does not have or does not maintain control of the ball
? he runs outside the baseline to avoid interfering with a fielder making a play
? he is unintentionally hit by a batted ball while on a base.
10. Jewelry
Any jewelry of any kind MAY NOT BE WORN during the game. A player may wear a medical alert bracelet. A player who enters the batters box with any jewelry on will be an automatic out.
NOTE: for all other rules not mentioned above revert to SPN Rule Book
MMSPL BANNED BATS LIST
MMSPL will follow SPN Banned Bat List, if it is not ASA approved it is not a legal bat.
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