SUNDAY NIGHT LADIES FUN LEAGUE – 2019 FINAL

AMENDED RULES

ALL RULES OF SOFTBALL CANADA OFFICIAL RULEBOOK 2015/16 WILL APPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS.

1.             All new players must be residents of Durham Region (2 players per team can live outside the region).  If a player has played on the League the previous year, and no longer resides in Durham Region, they may continue to play in the League indefinitely or until they quit (are not counted as 1 of the 2 allowed per team).  Once a player has quit the League they cannot join again unless they reside in Durham Region (or team does not already have 2 outside Durham Region). 

2.             All players must be 21 years of age by December 31st.  They must be able to show proof of age upon request at any game or tournament.  No ID and you cannot play.

3.              No player is allowed to play while pregnant.  If a team is found to have a player who is pregnant, all games in which that girl played will be forfeited.  Written medical proof will be required of anyone under suspicion.

4.              A team must field 8 players to start a game.  There is no penalty of an automatic out for the 9^th batter.

5.              All uniformed players sitting on the bench must play a minimum of 2 innings per game.  All players bat.

6.              There must be 3 out, maximum 7 runs or 9 batters per inning (whichever comes first), except the final inning there must be 3 out.

7.              Each team must call 9^th batter for their team.  If the 9^th batter is at the plate and the call has not been made by the team at-bat, after the first pitch has been released, the other team can call time out and the batter is automatically out.  In the event of a team having only 8 batters, they will go to the top of their batting order for their 9^th batter.

8.              The last inning, with unlimited batters, must be called between the 75 and 90-minute mark from the scheduled start time, and at the end of an inning.

a.    If the home team is behind by 15 or more runs at the beginning of the unlimited inning, they will bat first. (The away team will then only bat if the home team ties or pulls ahead)

9.              Eight innings are to be played, if the Umpire calls the game before the 8^th inning is completed, five complete innings constitute a game.

10.           Bases are to be 60 feet apart.

11.           Unnecessary deliberate roughness will not be tolerated and will result in suspension of player(s) involved and/or coaches and/or teams from the league.  The incident(s) must be submitted in writing as well as witnessed by the Umpire OR another impartial person who witnessed it first hand, for a protest or complaint to be acted on by the Executive.  This must be done on the “Incident form” included in your team package. It must be mentioned in the score email, and attached in PDF form, sent in within 24 hours.  If a PDF copy cannot be emailed, please contact executive to arrange to have this handed in.

12.           SEE ATTACHED PITCHING RULE – PASSED AT YEAR END MEETING NOVEMBER 17, 2013.  2 PAGES ~ amended in March 2016 to include:                                                           

a.     Illegal pitches i.e. sling shot.  If the pitcher pitches 3 illegal pitches in an inning, she will be removed from the pitching position for that inning.  If she has a 2^nd occurrence of being removed from the pitching position in the game, she will be removed from pitching the rest of the game. 

13.           Catchers must wear full catching equipment, which includes mask, helmet, throat protector, chest protector and full shin pads.                     See rule 3, section 6.  If the catcher is on base with two out, the catcher will call time and be replaced by the last person out.  The courtesy runner will not be counted as one of your five courtesy runners used during the game.  This will speed up the game.

14.           Eleven (11) inch leather balls must be used.  The league will supply balls to each team as covered in the league fees. The home team is to supply balls, one new and a good used ball. (Standard 11” Softball Canada approved softballs, or equivalent, will be provided by the league.)

15.           No fake bunts.

16.           Each team is required to own and have available a minimum of 4 helmets.  HELMETS MUST BE WORN BATTING AND ALL AROUND THE BASES AT ALL TIMES. 

After one pitch is thrown umpire will call out a batter without a helmet.  NO HELMETS BY A TEAM MEANS NO UMPIRES AND NO INSURANCE.

17.           If a player is injured during a game, her name is removed from the batting order but is not considered an automatic out.  Players that are ejected from a game are considered an automatic out.

18.           Team fee is $1400.  $700 of team fee (half) plus $100 Team security bond, and individual player registration fees ($20/player), along with original registration forms must be handed in to the executive at least one week before the season starts (April 21, 2019).  All teams must submit in writing their team rosters and final $700 payment by June 1st.

19.           Final date to add additional players is July 1st. However, if unusual circumstances arise where a team loses many players (due to illness, pregnancy, or injuries) and is in danger of not being able to complete the season, the team may appeal to the Executive for a decision on picking up additional players.

20.           New players added after the season begins (includes girls playing in executive tournament):  Registration fees of $20/player and registration forms must be handed in to the executive prior to a player going on the field. A picture of the form by text to 905-244-3691 or email sent to snlfl@yahoo.ca before the game starts is REQUIRED. The original form and money must be sent in immediately after the game.  You must receive an acknowledgement back by text or email that we have received your form.  If a picture of the form cannot be sent in then an original must be submitted before the player can play or the following penalty applies:

Any team found to be playing with an unregistered player will result in an automatic loss of that game and a $50 team penalty per incident. 

21.           Each player must play 60% of her regular season games in order to be eligible to play in the year-end playoff tournament.  The number of games required to be eligible is determined by the date the player begins her first season game.  The Executive will monitor attendance.

22.           Five courtesy runners per team per game will be allowed.  In the case of a player being injured DURING the game, the injured player may have a courtesy runner; this runner will not count as part of the five allowed.  The last recorded out during the game must be the courtesy runner. If there are no outs in the current inning, then it reverts to the previous inning(s).   Ninth batter rule counts as an out.  If it is the first inning, then the player furthest from the batter in the batting order is the courtesy runner. There will be no exceptions to the five-courtesy runner rule.

23.           A team will get 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.  Total team points will determine the different divisions in the year-end playoff tournament.  The winning team has 24 hours to email the score or the game is considered a tie. Both teams MUST email the score with the list of players in attendance as well as injured or absent players to snlfl@yahoo.ca.  Please also identify which team you are submitting the score on behalf of.  If there is a discrepancy in the scores between 2 teams, then both sheets must be delivered to 478 Sedan Cres before the discrepancy can be resolved.

24.           If a team cannot field a team for a regular scheduled game they MUST notify the other team as well as email snlfl@yahoo.ca before Saturday at noon prior to that game so that appropriate arrangements can be made to notify umpire, etc.  The team will forfeit the game and receive 0 points, and the other team will get 2 points for the win.  If proper notice is not given, a $25 fine will be imposed (in addition to appropriate umpire fees.)

25.           All teams must retain a copy of every scoresheet for the entire season in case of a discrepancy.  If a team’s score sheet is not legible, incomplete, or cannot be produced when necessary, then the team forfeits any points earned for the date or dates in question.   THIS RULE WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. Score sheets are to be done in ink for them to be official.  Absenteeism and injured players must be noted on the score sheet.  Prolonged absenteeism will be questioned, and proof will be required when any player is under suspicion of false absence.  False absenteeism will be dealt with accordingly at the Executive’s discretion.

26.           The original score sheet MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION to be considered LEGIBLE  and COMPLETE:

a.    First and last names of players – No nicknames – must match registration form

b.    Date of game

c.     Location of game (diamond name)

d.    Team names – PLEASE INDICATE WHICH TEAM IS SUBMITTING THE DOCUMENT

e.    Umpire’s name printed, (their # - if they have one.)

f.     Notes on Umpires, Teams, Players, Spectators, Diamond conditions, if there is an incident report attached (only if required)

27.           The last regular season game’s score must be handed in right after the last regular season game.

28.           A Most Dedicated Player name will be submitted by email at the end of the regular season by each team to snlfl@yahoo.ca.  The MDP awards will be presented at the year-end banquet.  If an MDP is not submitted by year-end tournament, a gift will not be purchased, and the offending team will be fined $10.00 (deducted from year-end winnings) for un-sportsmanlike conduct.

29.           Each team will be allowed an infield ball in the first inning only, and the pitcher will be allowed 5 pitches.  In each and every inning thereafter, only 3 pitches will be allowed and no infield ball. (THIS IS TO SPEED UP THE GAME)

30.           All games during April through July will begin at 6:00 p.m. In August and September, games will start at 5:30 p.m.

NOTE: Diamonds are booked from 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. during May to July, while diamonds are booked from 5:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for August and September. We will provide a copy of our contract to each team rep and we ask that you bring a copy to each game. IF ANY PROBLEMS ARISE, CALL PRESIDENT JULIE ANDREWS (905)244-3691 immediately. Alternately please call a member of the executive (listed below) – please be aware that executive members are also players so we may not answer immediately.  Please text if we do not answer immediately.

31.           Jewelry is allowed  NOTE:  Medical Alert ID is an exception All hard plastic and metal on Braces – must be covered

32.           All Umpires are to be paid in cash by the Home Team BEFORE the game begins ($48 for 2019).  The Umpire must print his/her name on the Home Team score sheet upon receipt of monies, and that bats have been checked.  (Umpires name acts as receipt of payment for Home Team).  The Umpire must also sign the Home Team score sheet at the end of the game to verify score.

           NOTES:

·         If Umpire arrives more than 20 minutes later than the scheduled start time of the game, no payment is to be made and no game will be played.  Each team will receive one point.  Notify the executive as soon as possible within 24 hours.

·         If the umpire does not show up, the home team will receive their next home game free.  No fees are to be paid at their next HOME game.

·         When no umpire is present, teams may elect to play a “fun game” if both teams agree.   Teams will be awarded one point each in this instance unless agreed upon (IN WRITING) on the score sheet by both teams.

·         One pitch thrown constitutes full payment of game.

·          Game called with no pitches is half Umpire fee

·         (Umpire should only be paid $24 – half team fee for 2019)

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY CONFRONTATION WITH THE UMPIRES.  IF ANY PROBLEMS ARISE, PHONE THE PRESIDENT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF YOUR GAME.

33.           If a team is short-handed at game time, or within the 15-minute grace period, the opposing team can elect to lend a player(s) to bring the short-handed team up to 8 players to allow them to play.  If both teams agree to this, then the game is to be played and COUNTED as a regular season game.  If this is not agreed to, it is a forfeit and no game is played and the FULL Umpire fee is to be paid by the forfeiting team, regardless if it was their home game or not.  Any team that cannot field 8 players and forfeits the game is responsible for appropriate forfeit fees for the Umpire fee; let executive know ASAP. 

UN-SPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT FINES

34.           Any team refusing to pay an Umpire for any reason will have the FULL fees deducted from their year-end winnings ($25.25 for 2019 including league portion) and will also be fined $10.00 for un-sportsmanlike conduct.

35.           If any team is found to be sending slanderous/unsportsmanlike emails to any or all teams; or copies any or all teams on any in-writing issue that should be addressed to the executive committee ONLY, will be assessed a $10 un-sportsmanlike fine and this will be deducted from the team’s year-end winnings.   This also will apply to any social media websites (such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, et al).

36.           Teams must give one week’s notice (the previous Saturday at noon prior to tournament) to the executive if they do not plan to participate in either the Executive or Year-end tournaments.  If they fail to give this notice and withdraw from the tournament with less than a week’s notice, they will be assessed a 3-game umpire fine.  For 2019 the umpire fee is $50.50 (including league-paid portion) so the fine would be $151.50. This fine will come out of the team’s year-end winnings.  Cut off dates for this season, are June 1st (exec tournament) and September 21st (year-end tournament).

37.           There is a strict NO Alcohol/DRUGS consumption policy in effect for all teams of SNLFL while playing in any capacity as a player representing the league on the fields or in the parking lots.  Any player found to be contravention of this rule will be immediately banned from the league.  If any team of players is found to be in breach of this policy, due to the potential for it to affect the status of our entire league, any such team will be immediately removed from the league for the remainder of the season to protect the integrity of our league. Re-admission will only be by unanimous vote at the next Spring Membership meeting.  BALL DIAMONDS ARE NON-SMOKING – PLAYERS MUST NOT SMOKE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BALL DIAMONDS

38.           Fines and penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior: (deducted from team performance bond).  It is the team’s responsibility to collect from the offending player (if applicable).

First offense:                $10 fine

Second offense:            $25 fine

Third offense:   $50 fine and suspension for remainder of                                                                                               season

Fourth offense: Expulsion from the league.       

THE EXECUTIVE WILL NOT ACCEPT PHONE CALLS BEFORE 9AM OR AFTER 9 P.M.  ANY ISSUES THAT A TEAM FEELS MUST BE ADDRESSED ARE TO BE WRITTEN OUT IN DETAIL USING THE INCIDENT REPORT PROVIDED AND DELIVERED TO A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE within 24 hours of the incident EMAIL to snlfl@yahoo.ca 

THESE RULES WILL APPLY FOR ALL TOURNAMENTS, unless otherwise specified.

HAVE FUN!!!

HAVE FUN!!!

HAVE FUN!!!

HAVE FUN!!!

Let’s keep the FUN in the Sunday Night Ladies FUN League!!

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY CONFRONTATION WITH THE UMPIRES.  IF ANY PROBLEMS ARISE, PHONE THE PRESIDENT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF YOUR GAME.

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