CSPL 2023 League Rules of Play
NOTE
A: All rules/principals not specifically addressed in the following rules and amendments will be as specified in: SLO-PITCH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION: SLO-PITCH RULE BOOK
B: Any situation/incidents, etc. not covered will be decided by the League Executive.
C: Appeals, protests, etc. will be reviewed by the League Executive for further action. Only Team Representatives, Umpires, and Players involved may be in attendance.
D: Rules will not be updated during the course of the season, unless absolutely necessary.
E: Rule additions, changes, deletions, amendments, Constitution/By-Law must be forwarded to the League Executive, in writing, and must have the signed approval/support of at least TWO (2) other Team Representatives.
CSPL will adhere to the SPN Bat Rule as stipulated by Slo-Pitch National.
www.slo-pitch.com
SPN & CSPL play in 2023;
A batter is out and ejected for both games of the night if he/she enters the batter’s box with a non-approved/illegal bat; the coach or manager is also ejected for the night
UNIFORM Rule
All players must be in the same colour top (minimum requirement – Matching colour tops)
APPROVED BALL:
The ONLY ball to be used in League play YELLOW WORTH 12″ HOT DOT for Mens and Coed 11” for Ladies
Each team MUST supply ONE (1) and ONE (1) good used condition ball. Suitability of the balls will be in the Umpire’s judgment
LEAGUE COMMUNICATION:
League communication shall take place utilizing direct email with team reps, League Website www.cspl.ca and League Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/CentennialSloPitchLeague
Please ensure that your players are familiar with these sources.
THE GAME:
- Bases are supplied by the league
- 0-0 count
- Games will be SEVEN (7) innings OR 70 minutes, NO NEW inning will start after 1 hour (60 minutes). Once an inning starts it must be completed. TIE games are possible. FOUR (4) complete innings are required for a game (3 1/2, if Home team is ahead). Incomplete games will be re-played from the start.
- A maximum of SEVEN (7) Courtesy Runners will be permitted per game; a Courtesy Runner can only be used once per game.
- GAMES ARE PLAYED “RAIN” or “SHINE” – MUST SHOW-UP. Umpire(s) will decide if game can be played
- Games will start on time. Start time of the SECOND (2nd) game of Double-header will be decided by the UMPIRE(s) (usually FIVE (5) minutes after the first game has ended), if FIRST game was played. In the case of a default game, the team in default will have THIRTY (30) minutes, (from time of default) or GAME TIME in which to obtain the required minimum number of players, for the SECOND (2nd) game. SECOND (2nd) game will start 30 minutes after the first Default game, or until the DEFAULT team has sufficient players to start a game, whichever comes first. Start times may vary depending on diamond and/or permit times. Check Schedule
SCORE LINE:
Will be used in ALL Divisions. (No SLIDING at HOME PLATE. TAGGING IS PERMITTED between the scoring line and home).
BASE-RUNNING:
ANTICIPATION STEP is permitted. May leave bag, once ball crosses plate.
MAT WILL BE USED FOR BALLS and STRIKES:
THE MAT WILL BE 22″X 40″. THIRD strike FOUL rule is in effect. The batter is OUT.
MERCY RULE:
SPN RULE BOOK for game mercy and per inning:
6 RUN RULE MAX per inning and 12 after 5 innings is GAME mercy or 4.5 innings if Home Team is up by 12 or more runs going into the bottom of the 5 inning (home team does not bat)
THE ABOVE APPLIES TO ALL INNINGS, EXCEPT WHEN AN INNING IS DECLARED AN “OPEN-RUN” INNING BY THE UMPIRE.
HOME RUN RULE:
“2 HOME RUNS PER GAME”
Homerun Rule (which clears a fenced park untouched) per team, per game. All others will be treated as an OUT.
LINE-UP: MENS and LADIES Divisions
Each team MUST register at least NINE (9) players in the batting order. You cannot play with less than NINE (9) players.
It is NOT required that all players available to play be listed in the batting order. Players NOT in the STARTING batting order MAY ENTER the game as a SUBSTITUTE or COURTESY RUNNER only. When a player enters the game as a substitute, the RE-ENTRY rule will apply, to the ORIGINAL (STARTING) players ONLY. DOES NOT apply to the SUBSTITUTE. Any ORIGINAL (STARTING) player may be removed from the batting order and replaced by a SUBSTITUTE, and have the right to RE-ENTER the game, ONCE only. The RE-ENTERED player must occupy the same initial position in the batting order. The SUBSTITUTE is removed from the game and may NOT return to the batting order or field, but may be a COURTESY RUNNER. Only players in the batting order may field. Unrestricted substitution of players, in the batting order in the field. Maximum TEN (10) defensive players on the field at any time.RE-ENTRY may only be used in the batting order or in the field. May not be used to extend the number of courtesy runners beyond the maximum. IF A PLAYER IS REMOVED FROM THE BATTING ORDER DUE TO ANY REASON (EXCEPT INJURY) THEN AN AUTOMATIC OUT WILL BE DECLARED IN THE SPOT EACH TIME THE PLAYER IS DUE UP TO BAT.
Explanation:
If you have SIXTEEN (16) players available for play, the batting order may contain any number of players, from NINE (9) to SIXTEEN (16). If you start with THIRTEEN (13) players in the batting order, there are THREE (3) players available as SUBSTITUTES. If you start the game with NINE (9) players, you may NOT increase the batting order to TEN (10) or more, ONCE the FIRST (1st) batter has batted TWICE.
COED
Coed 7 Males + 3 Females
Lineup – Coed: SIX (7) Guys / FOUR (3) Girls, Minimum three (3) girls to play; an AUTOMATIC OUT will be declared in missing F batting order spot; no penalty if batting 5F + 5M. Minimum nine (9) players to play the game. You may start batting with less; Unlimited batting order. Maximum twenty-two (22) players. Maximum ten (10) players in the field at any one time. You must have a minimum of nine (9) players to continue a game; Substitution, in all cases MUST be GUY for GUY, or GIRL for GUY/GIRL. MAXIMUM SIX (7) GUYS on field.
A team MUST have NINE (9) players, in the field to start or continue a game, if HOME, or the game is a FORFEIT (Fine will apply). If VISITOR, you may start to bat with less than NINE (9) players, but if the FIRST (1st) batter is due up before the NINTH (9th) batter is available, a FORFEIT is declared (Fine will apply).
If you do NOT bat around, you MUST have NINE (9) players, to take the field, else a FORFEIT is declared (Fine will apply).
IF BOTH TEAMS DO NOT HAVE AT LEAST NINE (9) PLAYERS, THEN A “DOUBLE DEFAULT” WILL BE DECLARED. (FINE WILL APPLY). UMPIRE(S) WILL NOT OFFICIATE ANY GAME THAT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL CSPL GAME
Coed batting order – maximum of three male batters in a row.
- 7 males + 3 females
- 8 males + 3 females
- 9 males + 3 females
- 10 males + 4 females
- 7 males + 2 Females (FORFEIT)
Coed playing field a defensive line of arc of 175 feet from home plate-mat shall be used.
No outfielder (minimum of 3 and maximum of 4), is allowed in front of this line until the ball is hit. If this is violated the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or an award of 1 base to the batter and all runners.
No outfielder may make a force out on the batter/base runner at first base.
PROTESTS:
A FIFTY ($50.00) DOLLAR fee must accompany each protest. The protest fee will be refunded, if the protest is upheld. Protests MUST be in WRITING and MUST be received by the League Executive within TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS, of the game (working day; excluding Saturday, Sunday and Holidays). UMPIRE and the OPPOSING team MUST be notified, at the time of the protest and both the Umpire and the opposing team MUST sign the game (score) sheet.
INCLEMENT WEATHER AND RAIN-OUT POLICY:
Rainout Games & Inclement Weather Situations – The Centennial Weather Alert – will be posted on the league Facebook Page – please follow this page. Trish will be in touch with each team to create a messenger group also so that team reps can be alerted when games need to be cancelled due to inclement weather. The weather alert will be posted before 4pm on your game day.
If no weather alert gets posted onto the Facebook page all teams MUST show-up at their scheduled diamond, regardless of weather. If the first series of games are cancelled, The umpire will remain at the diamond until a representative from each team is present, at which time the umpire will decide on the suitability of play. Umpire(s) have the final decision on the suitability of the field conditions. Do NOT call the League or UIC to determine if games are cancelled Check CSPL Facebook page until 4 p.m. You MUST show-up at diamond.
IF YOUR TEAM IS GOING TO FORFEIT THAT NIGHT YOU MUST PHONE FIRST TO DAVE MANTELL OR TRISH HARROW BEFORE 12 NOON OF THAT DAY (DO NOT EMAIL UNTIL YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO SOMEONE ON THE EXECUTIVE). IF YOU EMAIL AFTER NOON WITH PHONE CONFIRMATION YOUR TEAM WILL BE FINED THE NORMAL RATE FOR YOUR DIVISION AND MUST PAY BEFORE START OF YOUR NEXT GAMES(S).
NO UMPIRE NOTICE: If there is no umpire at your game – teams must call Fatima 416-949-1341
CONDUCT:
THERE IS A STRICT NO DRINKING, NO VAPING, NO SMOKING AND NO TAILGATING POLICY. NOT ADHERING TO ANYONE OF THESE WILL RESULT IN GAME FORFEIT(S) AND POSSIBLE EJECTION FROM THE LEAGUE
“NOTE ONLY ONE COACH CAN TALK TO UMPIRE ANYONE ELSE WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAMES”. Any player, coach, manager, team representative, etc. who initiates a fight, an incident, an altercation, etc. will be ejected immediately from the game and will be suspended from further League play indefinitely. The Umpire(s) will be required to write a report on every ejection(s). Each suspension will be reviewed by the LEAGUE EXECUTIVE to determine the length and type of suspension. The term of the suspension may be up to and including a permanent suspension. Any team using a SUSPENDED player, coach, manager, team representative, etc. in any capacity related to the playing of the game, will forfeit that game and will be assessed further disciplinary action, which may include SUSPENSION and/or FINE. Any ejection from the FIRST game of the doubleheader, also applies to the SECOND game. IF YOU ARE EJECTED FROM THE SECOND GAME OF A DOUBLEHEADER YOU MUST SIT-OUT THE FIRST GAME OF THE NEXT DOUBLEHEADER. THAT PLAYER/S MUST LEAVE THE PARK. Failure to do so will result in that teams forfeit. NOTE THERE ARE NO PLAYER OR TEAM WARNINGS.
THESE PENALTIES ARE TO BE VIEWED AS AN AUTOMATIC RULING AND ARE TREATED AS MINIMUMS.