Mabel League Playing Rules – 2013
- Regular Season Playing Rules
- Tournament Rules
- Softball Canada Orthodox Pitching Rule – Key Points
The current Softball Canada Rule Book will be adopted by the Mabel League and all rules and regulations of Softball Canada will be followed and applied to league play unless otherwise stated.
Regular Season Playing Rules
(1) All divisions will use the orthodox pitching style as outlined in the current Softball Canada Rule Book, rule 6.
(2) A minimum of 8 players is required to start or the game is forfeited. A 15 minute grace period from Game Time is permitted. If game is played with 8 players, the 9th position in line-up is an automatic out. The 9th player may enter game at any time with notice to the Umpire.
(3) The official 2012 Mabel League ball will be used for all games: Worth Pro Leather Red Dot Fastpitch .47 core in Optic Yellow, or executive approved alternate. The Mabel League will supply each team with 12 of the League approved balls at the beginning of the season.
(4) The Home Team must supply two balls to the Umpire: two new balls, or one new ball and one used ball in good condition.
(5) No new innings will start after 1 hour 45 minutes into Game Time.
(6) The Umpire will announce the beginning of the last inning.
(7) Run Rule: teams are limited to scoring a maximum of 5 runs per inning, except for the last inning which may be an open inning announced to both teams by Umpire.
(8) Mercy Rule: the Umpire will immediately end a game, regardless of time remaining in the game, if a team has a lead of 10 runs over the opposing team and if the opposing team has had at least 5 complete opportunities at bat. The Mercy Rule does not apply in the 7th/last inning.
(9) Games may end in tied scores and points will be awarded accordingly. There is no tiebreaker rule in effect.
(10) All permanent non-removable jewellery must be taped and completely covered for safety.
(11) Only softball shoes with rubber cleats and soles are to be worn by players and coaches; no exposed metal from soccer shoes permitted.
(12) No bat throwing is allowed, regardless of intention. The first offence in a game will receive a verbal warning. The second offence in a game will result in that offending player being ejected from the game, regardless of which player/team committed either offence.
(13) Slap bunts are permitted in the competitive division. Slap bunts will be permitted in the intermediate division only when agreed upon by both teams, prior to game start. Slap bunts are not permitted in recreational division.
(14) Batter-runners must run the bunt line if there is a play at first base.
(15) Courtesy runners are permitted in all divisions at any base in the spirit of good sportsmanship. The Courtesy runner must be the last out from the batting order.
(16) All Protests must be made in accordance with the procedure set out in the Softball BC Handbook. The Handbook defines a Protest as “a dispute that must be dealt with at the game site, or by a league executive, tournament protest committee, or Softball B.C. Representative, prior to the game continuing” and states that Protests must concern:
(a) Misinterpretation of a playing rule,
(b) Failure of an umpire to apply the correct rule to a given situation, or
(c) Failure to impose the correct penalty for a given violation.
(17) Any Complaint (other than a “Protest” under rule 11(16)) must be submitted in writing within 96 hours of Game Time, to the Chair or Co-Chair or a member of the Rules and Grievances Committee, who must consider the Complaint at the next regularly scheduled Rules and Grievances Committee meeting or within 96 hours if such a meeting is not scheduled.
(18) The Home Team must set up the bases prior to the game, and each base must be securely fastened into position on the field with two spikes.
Tournament Rules
(1) Games may end in tied scores and points will be awarded accordingly. There is no tiebreaker rule in effect.
(2) Participation and placement in each division’s tournament finals will be determined as follows:
(a) By first counting wins and losses for each team;
(b) If any teams in a division have the same number of wins and losses, placement will be determined by counting runs for each team; and
(c) If any teams qualify for the same slot after counting wins and losses and runs for, then placement will be determined by counting runs against.
(3) Mercy Rule: the Umpire will immediately end a game, regardless of time remaining in the game, if a team has a lead of 10 runs over the opposing team and if the opposing team has had at least 5 complete opportunities at bat. If a game should have been called due to the mercy rule and was not, the scores will be adjusted to reflect the appropriate scenario by at least two of the UIC, Chair, Co-Chair and Statistician to ensure fairness.
(4) No new innings will be started after 1 hour and 10 minutes of game play. If, at 1 hour and 9 minutes, a new inning was started, then it will be played out to completion.
(5) Umpires will keep time based on stop watches attached to backstops or on their person.
(6) The winning team is responsible for submitting game scores, which must be clearly signed off by both teams’ scorekeepers, and must clearly show the runs scored in each inning by each team.
(7) Discrepancies in game scores will only be considered if the game score has not been signed off by both teams’ scorekeepers and has not been submitted. No discrepancies regarding game scores will be considered if the discrepancy is identified after game scores have been signed off by both teams’ scorekeepers and submitted.
(8) Each base must be securely fastened into position on the field with two spikes.
Softball Canada Orthodox Pitching Rule – Key Points
(1) Preliminary to delivery, the pitcher must have possession of the ball in either hand or glove and take the signal with hands separated, both feet in contact with pitcher’s plate and hips in line with first and third base.
(2) After taking the signal, the pitcher must bring the body to a full and complete stop facing the batter with the ball held in one hand or glove and both hands held together in front of the body. This position must be maintained for a minimum of one second.
(3) The pitcher may take the ball behind the back on the backswing but the elbow must not bend and the body must not turn toward first or third base.
(4) In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher shall not take more than one step, which must be forward with the other foot maintaining contact with the pitcher’s mound.
(5) The ball must not be outside the pitcher’s wrist and the wrist must not be farther from the body than the elbow on the downward motion and during the complete forward delivery.
(6) On the forward swing of the pitching arm, the elbow does not have to be locked at the point of release. The driving hip must be squared to home plate when the ball is released.
(7) The delivery must be an underhand motion with the hand below the hip; the palm may be pointing downward or upward.
Softball Canada Official Rule Book, Pitching Regulations (Orthodox), Rule 6, Sec. 1 – 8.
Click on this link to see the list of non-approved bats:
http://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist_one_page.asp
Click on this link to read more about ASA certified bats:
Stay in Touch