O.P.C.S.S.L.
PLAYING
RULES
1. A
player is allowed to play for only 1 team
in the league, either Wednesday night OR Thursday night. NOT BOTH.
A player found to be playing on more than one team will be flown to
2. There
will be NO drinking of alcoholic
beverages at any games. Save it for the
bar.
3.a. Home
team will be arrived at through the toss of a coin by both captains prior to
the game. This means all games, regular
season and playoffs.
b. Prior to
the game captains will decide foul-lines, ground rule doubles, triples, etc.
based on the condition or size of the park.
(To be determined by the umpires during the playoffs.)
c. Each team must supply one game ball.
These are game balls and not team balls. Captains should agree on the type of
balls being used prior to the game. A team captain may insist that the balls
used are the type supplied by the league.
4. It
is the responsibility of the team captains to resolve any problems or disputes
when they occur during a game. During
the playoffs umpires will be present and any problems or disputes will be dealt
with between
captains and umpires - not players.
The
decision of the umpires is FINAL.
5. All
games during the regular season will run from
6. The
league does not carry insurance so all players must be informed that they play
at their own risk.
7. A
copy of the batting order must be exchanged between captains/scorekeepers
before the game in order to cut down discrepancies in scores.
Note:
We will not prosecute failure to comply with this practice during
the regular season, but the umpires will enforce it during all playoff games.
8.a. The
lineup must be prepared and given to the opposing team prior to the start of the game.
There can be no changes to the lineup after the start of the game.
b. The
lineup must consist of the batting order and may be any number of players as
long as the 25% rule is maintained (rule #9).
c. Defensive
substitutions are allowed during the game if:
i) substitution is made prior to the start of an inning
ii) players
are on the lineup and the 25% rule (Rule #9) is maintained
d. Any
player who is in the batting order for a team must play at least one inning on
the field.
e. An
injured player may be replaced by another member on the lineup provided rule #9
is maintained.
f. Players
arriving late may enter the game provided they are in the starting lineup. If the
late player has not arrived in time
for their first at bat then:-
i) substitution with an alternate player may be made (see
8g)
(note- the late
player will no longer be eligible to play) OR
ii) an automatic out will occur
g. In
addition to the lineup, alternate players may be listed at bottom of the
batting order.
i) alternates
may enter the game at any time but must play 1/2 inning on defence before the
game ends
ii) alternates
must be male for male/female for female only if necessary to maintain the 25%
rule
iii) once
an alternate player enters the game the player being substituted for is out of
the game
h. The
opposing team's captain (and, during the playoffs, the umpire) must be informed
of all player
replacements.
9. The
maximum number of players on the field at one time is 12. The minimum percentage of females on a team (offense and defence) is 25%
as outlined below.
Team Size Required
Females
1 - 4 1
5 - 8 2
9 - 12 3
13 - 16 4
17 - 20 5
21- 24 6
25 - 28 7
This
rule will not be strictly enforced during the regular season but WILL be
adhered to during the playoffs.
10. The
base paths will be 55 ft. in length with the bases not being pegged down in any
fashion.
11. All
games will be played with a safety base - the extra base pad at 1st base to be
situated on the foul side of the 1st base line.
This base will be used by the runner going to 1st base and should
eliminate any contact between the runner and the 1st baseperson. A batter going
to 1st base must step on the safety bag when there is a play at 1st base. The
batter is out if they step on the wrong
bag (even if they beat the throw). The only exception to this rule is if
the batter is attempting or considering going to 2nd. In this case the batter
would be rounding 1st and not overrunning 1st, trying to beat the throw to the
bag.
In the same situation as above, the batter is safe if the 1st baseperson is touching the safety bag instead of
the "inside" bag when receiving the throw.
Obviously, this will only work if both teams bring their base pads to
ALL games. This rule will be strictly
enforced during the playoffs; any team
that does not supply base pads will forfeit the game.
13. Absolutely
NO metal cleats are allowed during
play. Rubber cleats will be allowed on
running shoes as long as they are part of the sole of the shoe. So, any rubber cleats which are attached to
the sole by means
of screws or nails will NOT be allowed.
The cleats must be moulded into the sole.
14. Infield
Players cannot move in past the baseline on any batter until the ball crosses
the plate.
All Outfield Players must stay at least 10 feet behind the baseline for
female hitters until the ball crosses the plate.
15. Mercy rule:- there is a maximum of 15 at-bats per team per
inning.
16. Women
are allowed 4 pitches, men are allowed 3.
If the batter does not hit a fair ball during his/her turn at bat, then
the batter is out.
17. Lead-offs
and stealing bases are not allowed. If
you are on base, you cannot leave the base until the ball crosses the plate OR the ball is hit. Anyone caught leading off or stealing is
automatically out.
18. There
will be no wanton escapades dodging tags around the base paths. There is no
rule on the exact distance someone must be from the base path to be running off
it so captains, and umpires, please use your judgement if someone is called for
this infraction. Hint: Someone running from
1st to 2nd through right field is definitely a candidate.
There will be NO BLOCKING of
the base paths. It is the responsibility
of the fielder to avoid the runner and to stay off the basepath when there is
no play at their position. Failure to do so is interference on the part of the
fielder and the runner will be safe or awarded the base at the discretion of
the umpire.
Similarly, it is the responsibility of the runner to avoid the fielder
attempting to make a play. In this case the runner will be out.
Above does not apply when there is a play at a base or a tag of a
runner.
19. On
a flyball that is caught for an out, a player can advance after he/she has
tagged up (after the ball is caught, of course). You can tag up from all bases, including
third.
20. All
batters must take a FULL swing at each pitch.
Any attempts at half swings or bunts will be considered strikes.
NOTE: any player abusing this
rule will be photographed and made fun of.
21. During
the game, if a batted ball hits the pitcher it is a strike against the
batter. If the batted ball hits a base runner who is off the base, then
the runner is out. If a runner is hit by
lightning, then he is dead.
22. Any
foul balls hit behind the plate, within the area of the cage (if there isn't
one, imagine one) and caught by the catcher count only as strikes. Any ball hit in front of the plate and still
behind the foul lines are outs if they are caught. Any ball caught past the out of play line (an
imaginary line extending from the back screen - if there isn't one, imagine
one) count only as strikes.
23. If
a player slides into a base and the base is dislodged from its position then
the following applies:-
i) if
the runner remains in the vicinity of where the base was originally and the
opposing player has not yet tagged the runner out then the runner is safe.
ii) if
the runner decides to keep running then the runner is on their own and can be
tagged out.
24. There
is NO infield fly rule so we are all
on the honour system as far as dropped fly balls in the infield.
NOTE: flagrant abuse can be
called at the umpire's discretion during the playoffs.
25. Out of Play: a ball is considered to be
out of play if it goes over the
screen or past a projection of
one. Once a ball goes over a screen, or
past a projection of one, the play is dead,
even if it goes off someone's glove on the way there. When
a ball goes out of play the runner is awarded the base he/she was advancing to,
plus one additional base (i.e runner going to 1st when ball goes out of
play is awarded 1st and 2nd).
NOTE: If a ball hits the screen on a play at first or third and remains within the
playing area (screen or projection of screen), the ball is live and the runners
proceed at their own risk. This is not
an overthrow.
In the event that a ball going out of play at 1st base leads to a FORCED
advancement of a runner from third, then the run will count (ie. bases loaded
when ball goes out of play at 1st).
No fielder may intentionally carry/kick/throw or allow a ball to go out
of play in an attempt to halt runners. We are on the honour system. Flagrant abuse will result in the automatic
award of bases at the umpires discretion.
26. Plays at the plate:
To avoid collisions and possible injuries at home plate all plays at the
plate are force plays - ie. by drawing an imaginary line (being the extension
of the first base line) from the plate to the back screen.
i) A runner is safe by simply
crossing that line prior to the ball being caught at home plate by a player
with one foot on the plate.
ii) A runner stepping
on home plate is out.
27. Commit Line:
The commit line will be drawn between home plate and third base and will
be 25 feet from third base.
i) Once
a runner crosses the commit line they must go home - they cannot go back to 3rd
base.
ii) Once a runner crosses the commit line they cannot be
tagged out.
NOTE: If a player tags up from 3rd and
crosses the commit line he/she must go home. If a player at 3rd crosses the
commit line after a fly ball has been hit, and did not tag up, the player
cannot go back to 3rd and is out on appeal by the defensive team.
28. Fees:
All teams must pay their league fees by
June 1st of each year. Failure to
pay these fees will result in exclusion from the schedule (in other words,
dropped from the league).
29. Cancellation of games:
In order to comply with the City of
a. first
contact the scheduled 'bye' team and try to arrange for that team to play the
game. If this is acceptable to both
captains then the 'bye' team assumes responsibility for the permit on that
date.
b. if this is not possible, then the
scheduled team must contact the league president or vice-president 72 hours prior to the game to be missed. If the president or vice-president agree that
the reason for missing the game is justifiable they may call City Hall and
cancel the permit for that day in accordance with City Hall's cancellation policy.
Only the president or
vice-president are authorized to cancel permits. If the reason for missing the game is not justifiable,
then the game must be played.
A team missing a regularly scheduled game without authorization will be dropped from the league.
30. Umpires:
Umpires are to provided by each team for the playoffs. Each team will be responsible for 2 games during the opening rounds of
the playoffs (ie. Wednesday teams (division b) will umpire Thursday games
(division a) and vice versa). Team
captains are responsible for ensuring sufficient umpires are at the assigned
games.Team captains (or delegate) shall:
a. notify president or vice president with names of umpires
b. umpire(s)
shall notify president or vice-president of game results
MEMORANDUM TO: TEAM CAPTAINS
O.P.C.S.S.L.
FROM: CINDY
BINT
BRYAN OZORIO
RE: REVISED
PLAYING RULES
________________________________________________________________
Attached are the
revised playing rules, including amendments agreed to at the Captains meeting
on April 25th. The following changes are highlighted below:
1. Bases are now 55 feet apart
2. Balls hitting the screen and
staying within area of play (within screen or projection of screen) at 1st and
3rd base are live and runners proceed at their own risk. This is no longer considered an overthrow.
3. Outfielders must stay 10 feet
behind the baseline for all female hitters until the ball is hit or crosses the
plate.
4. Runners can now tag up and
score from 3rd base on a fly ball.
5. Commit line will now be
situated 25 feet from 3rd base.
Please read the
revised rules for further clarification on the new rules and ensure that your
teammates are aware of these changes and are provided with a copy. We will have
alot of arguments if you don't do it.
Captains will be
polled at mid-season to determine feasibility of new rule concerning balls being
live after hitting screen at 1st and 3rd.
If you have any
questions please call
1999
O.P.C.S.S.L. Playoffs:
This year’s playoffs (by majority vote) will be
similar to last year’s format. Each
division (Wednesday and Thursday) has been divided into two pools. Each team will play 4 games against the teams
in their pool. You should already have
your schedule for the next four weeks.
Note that some teams will have a “bye’ week and will have to play two
games in 1 week. Please check carefully.
The results from each game must be called or e-mailed
to me by Monday of the following week.
E-mail to Bintc@fin.gov.on.ca or leave a message at 325-8012.
A team will receive 2 points for a win (including a
win by default), 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss or default.
No games can be made up from the round robin (there
simply isn’t space or time available).
In the event of a rain-out, each team will receive 1 point and no runs.
All games will be 7 innings and there should be no tie
games unless:
a. The weather has turned bad and it is unsafe
to continue
b. The game started on time but a team with a
permit is waiting for the diamond
In these 2 situations, a minimum of 4 innings will
constitute a complete game. The score
will be the score at the end of the last complete inning played. Otherwise, you must play all 7 innings, extra
innings and past
If player(s) must leave they may be removed
from the line up, after
All playoff games start at
You may add late players, as they arrive, to the bottom
of your line-up provided:
- they arrive prior to the start of the 4th
inning (start of the 4th inning is when the first pitch is thrown
for the top half if the inning)
- the
male/female ratio for fielding and batting is maintained
The opposition must be informed before the game begins
of your intention to add late players.
The opposition must be informed upon arrival and prior to a late player
taking the field or batting. Late
players may not interrupt a game in progress but must wait for a suitable break
in play to take the field. If you choose
to put a late player in the middle of your line-up, it will be an automatic
“out” for that spot in the order, until the late player arrives.
For the round robin, there will a maximum of 12 runs
for the plus/minus. You must play
complete innings, regardless of the score, unless the maximum has been
reached. The default score will be 7 -
0.
At the end of the round robin teams will be ranked,
with the 2 pool winners 1st and 2nd and the rest from 3rd
thru 10th, based on the point
totals from the round robin. Ties will
be broken by head to head record (if applicable), plus/minus (your run
differential), runs for and finally, a coin toss if necessary. All teams then begin the Elimination Round.
- 2 -
We will hire
umpires for the elimination round, main event.
Each team is required to provide an umpire for 1 consolation game. Failure to do so will result in a league
fine. During the round robin, we are on
the honour system. Base coaches will
make the calls at the bases. No base
coach means close calls go the fielding team.
No calls will be made from the benches.
Catchers will call the foul lines for batted balls. (Make sure your catcher knows how to do
this).
I have to take this opportunity to remind everyone
that this is a recreational league.
Safety comes first. If a
situation occurs that is not covered by our rules, then the executive will
apply standard softball rules. The
following is taken from the Softball Canada Official Guide and Rule Book:
“When
a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner and the runner
remains on his/her feet and deliberately, with great force, crashes in to the
defensive player, the runner is to be declared out.
Effect:
The runner is out, the ball is dead and all other runners must return to the
last base touched at the time of the collision.
Note:
If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall be ejected.”
Please use common sense. A recreational league has, and should have,
people who don’t play very often and are here to have fun and learn a bit about
the game.
For the remainder of this year a Disciplinary Panel, comprised of team
captains or their representatives, will be called, if required, to rule on any
issues/situations/grievances that the executive is unable to resolve.
Thanks everyone.
Good luck in the playoffs and have fun.
Cindy Bint Bryan
Ozorio