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2008 SOUTH EAST MINOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES 1. Any rules or general concepts of the game not specifically outlined below by the South East Minor Softball Association Inc. will be governed by the Softball Canada’s official softball rules. In the rulebook, we are regarded as FASTPITCH. SOUTH EAST LEAGUE GAMES ARE ONLY FOR THOSE PLAYERS REGISTERED WITH SEMSA. The SEMSA board may decide to enter another league team if our division(s) needs the team(s) to host a tournament. The SEMSA board will set up all tournament schedules and rules. 2. T-ball and Mini-mite games begin at 6:30pm. T-ball and Mini-mite games are played to five (5) innings. Squirt, Pee-Wee/Bantam and Bantam/Midget games begin at 6:30pm. Squirt, Pee-Wee/Bantam and Bantam/Midget games are played to seven (7) innings The Mini-mite division will be parent pitch, meaning the SEMSA had decided that each team has a parent pitch to his/her own team. The child pitcher will pitch the first four (4) pitches and if required, the parent to pitch the remaining three (3) to a maximum of seven (7) pitches. The parent will stay on the field, but will not be allowed to help field any ball hit or thrown. The child pitcher must stay on the pitchers mound while the parent pitcher is pitching 3. Please check your Saskatchewan Softball Rule book for your division/age group diamond dimensions. Diamond Dimensions Between Between Pitching Bases Home & 2nd Distance T-Ball 40' 56' 26' Mini-Mites 45' 64' 26' Mites 45' 64' 28' Squirts 50' 71' 33' Pee-Wee 55' 78' 38' Bantam/Midget 60' 86' 40' 4. A game may be shortened by bad weather or darkness and will be called by the umpire. If after three (3) innings a game is called due to bad weather or darkness, that game will not be re-scheduled. A game is considered official after at least three (3) innings have been played Mini-mites and up – an inning consists of three (3) outs or seven (7) runs for each team, which ever comes first. No inning shall begin after 8pm for Mini-mites. There is no time limit for Squirts and up. 5. If, you as the home team coach have to cancel a game, please phone the visiting coach and then the Umpire/Scheduler, so that the umpire can be cancelled. If your umpire does not show up for a game, please notify the Umpire/Scheduler. To re-schedule a game, the home team coach must call the opposing coach first to determine a good date to play, and then call the Umpire/Scheduler. 6. All teams must field three (3) girls at all times. If you field two (2) girls, you may only field eight (8) players. If you field one (1) girl, you may only field seven (7) players. A team that has less than nine (9) players at game time may borrow a player/s from the opposing team (providing they have more than nine (9) players) to complete their nine (9) player line up. If enough players cannot be borrowed to complete a nine (9) player line up, then the game shall start with this team playing short and NO penalties imposed, UNLESS missing players are female – (i.e. team starts game with eight (8) players and has the right amount of girls there would be no out scored in the ninth spot in the batting order.) 7. All players available shall be in the batting order. Defensive teams field nine (9) players that can be freely substituted at the beginning of each inning, but not during the inning with the exception being in case of injury. Pitchers may be changed during the inning from the bench or the field. Any pitcher who has been removed from the pitching position may be freely returned to the pitching position any other time during the game. A player may pitch any amount of innings. 8. Coaches are responsible to keep all players, assistants and equipment out of the play, behind the screen or behind the line of sight created by the wings of the screen, when they are not involved in the game. Umpires will issue a warning to the offending coach on the first occurrence followed by ejection if required. The playing area will be clear of defensive teams equipment, coaches and extra players and offensive players that are not batting or running bases, on deck or base coaching 9. Catchers MUST always wear a helmet, mask, throat protector, shin guards, chest protector and a protective cup – even during a pitcher warm up. Batters and base runners must wear helmets with the straps completely fastened at all times. 10. Players must not wear jewellery of any kind during the game with the exception of medical alert jewellery. Refer to jewellery in the Soft Ball Canada rulebook. Umpires shall warn offending teams once, and then eject the offending player(s) and coaches. Please enforce this SEMSA rule. 11. On a third strike, if the catcher misses the ball, the batter is out and CANNOT run to first base. Exception: (Bantam/Peewee division) The base runners can advance at their own risk. For safety reasons only, Mini-Mite players must be hit home. Squirts division and up may steal home when safe to do so. Please enforce this SEMSA rule. 12. Any batter throwing a bat in a dangerous manner as determined by the umpire will be called out. Please enforce this SEMSA rule. 13. Bunting is allowed. No windmill pitching is allowed. 14. After a pitcher hits three batters, he/she cannot pitch anymore in that game, but can still play in another position. 15. Any non-accidental contact on the base paths by fielders or base runners with the intention of hurting, injuring, intimidating, or “running the player over” will be considered un-sportsman-like conduct on the part of the player initiating the contact. The player initiating the contact will be ejected from the game along with any coach promoting this behaviour. Any base runner caught initiating contact will be called out and ejected. Any defensive player who intentionally moves into or trips a base runner will be ejected and the base runner awarded two (2) bases. Note: The base paths between first, second and third are six feet wide and fluid, which is they are defined only by the first pass of that base runner and are not the straight lines between those bases. Therefore a defensive player can stand anywhere in the infield between first and third and not be on the base line since the first pass of the base runner will be in front of or behind the fielder. Defensive players can be called for obstruction should they block an offensive player from running to or around a base unless the defensive player is fielding a batted or thrown ball. 16. Pinch runners are allowed only when the batter cannot run the bases due to a sprained ankle or other medical concern. The pinch runner may stand behind the back catcher towards third base. The batter must step back after the ball has been hit. The pinch runner must wear a helmet at all times. 17. A runner cannot be called out because they did not slide at home plate. THE SEMSA THANKS YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ OVER AND ADHERE TO THESE RULES. If you have any questions in regards to the rules and regulations please contact a member of the SEMSA Board. UMPIRE SPECIFIC 1. The umpire’s decision is final. Please discuss any contentious call after the game. The umpire will report any violations of the rule(s) or any abusive player(s) or coach(s) to the SEMSA board. 2. Foul language from a coach, player or spectator is an automatic warning or ejection from the game at the discretion of the umpire. The umpire has the right to default a game. 3. Spectators will not be allowed on the field during a game for any reason. If they do so, they and the coaches will be warned by the umpire that the next time the spectator will be ejected. If the spectator(s) heckle or argue, thus disrupting the game, from anywhere in the diamond area, including behind the backstop, the spectator(s) will be first warned and then on the second incident ejected by the umpire. If at any time the umpire believes that ample warnings have been given to any teams, coaches and spectators, the umpire will call the game and award the game to the non-offending team. If the umpire feels threatened in any way by a coach, player, parent of spectator, the umpire will call the game. All incidents are reported to the SEMSA board. 4. Cheering, Supporting and vocalizing the better play of your teams in the field or at bat is encouraged and acceptable. Insulting, chanting, yelling, gesturing or any other activity or communication directed at the other team’s players to embarrass, disrupt, threaten, intimidate or confuse the play of the opposing team before, during or after the game will be considered un-sportsman-like conduct. First offense will be a warning to the coach. The second offense will be prompt ejection(s) of the offending player(s), coach(s) or spectator(s). 5. During previous seasons there have been reported cases of ‘spitting in the hands and then shaking hands with the opposing team’. NOTE: players must not have any wet substance, whatsoever, in their hands when shaking hands with the opposing team. Umpires will stay and watch for any offenses and report the offending player(s), coach(s) or team(s) to the SEMSA board. The SEMSA board will indefinitely suspend any player, coach or team that is determined to have displayed such un-sportsman like conduct. 6. Umpires doing games for Squirt divisions and up will not be paid for the games if they are not wearing a mask during those games. Coaches should refuse to start a game until the umpire is wearing his/her mask. If the umpire doesn’t have a mask the game should not start until a mask is found for the umpire to wear. 7. Throwing of the bat is not allowed and will result in one (1) warning to the coach(s) of the player. If this continues, the player can be removed from the game. THE SEMSA THANKS YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ OVER AND ADHERE TO THESE RULES.
If you have any questions in regards to the rules and
regulations please contact a member of the SEMSA Board. |
