THUNDER BAY GIRLS SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYING RULES 2010

1. Rules:

1.1       All softball Canada rules are in effect. . NOTE: ALL TBGSA IN HOUSE Rules supersede the above rules and shall be dealt with accordingly.

1.2       If there are any concerns or problems within the division, they must be addressed to the Director of that division. If he/she is unable to solve them, then the League President will be approached.

2. Uniforms:

2.1       All players must wear their team uniform, which consists of TBGSA jersey and pants. Runners or rubber cleats must be worn. NO STEEL CLEATS ALLOWED

2.2       If a player does not wear their proper jersey, she will not be allowed to play until she receives one of the extra ones that is her team colour. Players are permitted to wear jackets over their jersey.

2.3       Sunglasses are permitted, although the league does not recommend it.

3. Pre-Game:

3.1       All games take priority over practices.

3.2       Only girls who are registered in the TBGSA are permitted to play. 

3.3       Remember to have your copy of the field permits, accident forms, TBGSA Rules, and Softball Canada rule books at EVERY game and practice.  If an accident or injury of ANY occurs at any time during the game or practice, an accident form MUST be filled out and reported to the President of the league immediately.  If extra forms are needed, please contact your Director for them or league.

3.5       A minimum of 7 players are required to play a game. If not, the team forfeits the game. A team that is short players may pick up as many players as necessary to play as long as those players are registered and are from the same age group (DIVISION). NOTE - if a forfeit occurs the teams can still play an exhibition game for fun, at the discretion of the Umpire.

3.7       Minor/Major Division games are 6 innings in length. No inning shall start past 8:15 pm.

            Peewee, Bantam and Midget are 7 innings in length, time permitting. No innings will start past 8:30pm. If any of the games are tied at the end of the final inning during regular play and daylight permitting, then extra innings may be played to determine the winner. If not, the game is called a tie. This is at the discretion of the Umpire.

3.8       Rainouts are an Umpires decision.  Teams must go to the field unless contacted ahead of time by the Umpire or the League. Remember it could be raining on the Southside and sunny on the North side of town! Please communicate with your umpire.

3.9       A game that is called due to weather conditions will be considered complete if 4 complete innings have already been played. If 4 innings have not been played then a game will be rescheduled entirely for a later date. The rescheduling of the game is the coach’s responsibly. Please notify the scheduler.

3.10     Prior to game time, the coach must have his/her team’s batting line-up ready with the player’s names and sweater numbers. ALL PLAYERS GO ON THE BATTING LINE UP AND BAT. This order must be maintained throughout the entire game. Players arriving late will be included on the end of the batting line-up.

3.11     There are no restrictions as to the number of substitutions made during a game. This includes the pitcher. Players can rotate in and out of any positions as many times as they  wish. No player is to sit out the entire game.

3.12     MINOR/MAJOR DIVISION  - Coaches must rotate their players to both the infield and outfield. It is recommended to rotate the Players every two innings.

3.13     Coaches, please ensure that ALL athletes warm up before the game begins. This reduces the risk of injury.

3.14     MERCY RULE: the maximum number of runs that can be scored per inning is 5. This goes for ALL innings of play including the last inning.          

3.15        All jewellery ie. Watches, Earrings, must be removed before the game starts. Earrings can taped up. This rule is to prevent injures during the play, ie the tagging of a player.  

4. Pitching:

4.1      

4.2       Pitching must be underhand; windmill pitching is permitted, except in the Minor Major Division.

4.3       In the MINOR/MAJOR DIVISION the pitch must be made at moderate speed with a arc.

4.4       NOTE:  the concept of pitching in MINOR/MAJOR DIVISION is for the Pitcher to facilitate the hitting of the ball and not to prevent the batter from hitting.  This will give the fielders and the pitcher a chance to put the batter out.

4.5       The pitcher must have one foot on the pitching rubber at beginning of the pitch and during the pitch, Once the ball is released from her hand, she may take her foot off the rubber.

4.6       Minor/Major – The Pitcher must wear a helmet.  This is for the safety of the Pitcher.

5. Batting:

5.1       All catchers MUST wear the protective gear provided by the league (face mask, chest protector, and shin guards)(The TBGSA recommends that catchers where a Jill). This rule will be enforced in ALL divisions during games and practices.  Coaches, please watch that your catcher is not too close to the batter otherwise she may get hit with the bat.

5.2       Helmets MUST be worn by all batters, base runners, and player base coaches  NO EXCEPTIONS.

5.3       The strike zone is between a batters knees and shoulders.

5.4       A no-pitch ball is called if the batter is not ready in her batting position OR a base runner has not fully returned back to her base, for example, after a foul ball has been hit.

5.5       A batter is automatically OUT when she is standing on home plate and hits the ball. The batter must be standing in the batters box.

5.6       Bunting is NOT allowed in Minor/Major but is allowed in all other divisions.

5.7       A batter is OUT if she hits a foul ball or tip ball that is caught any player.

5.8       FOUL BALL RULE. A batter can hit as many foul balls as she wants to, until safe or out.

5.9       A batter that is HIT by a pitch and made an attempt to get out of the way will be awarded one base.

5.10     The home plate umpire will give ONE warning to any batters that throw the bat.

5.11     PEEWEE MINOR/MAJOR DIVISIONS ONLY! If the Catcher drops the ball on the 3^rd strike, the batter is out .Base runners may advance at there own risk.

5.12       The infield fly rule is not in affect. PLAY THE BALL AT ALL TIMES, ie All flies hit in the infield.

5.13    On ball four the ball is still in play unless the ball is the possession of pitcher in the pitchers circle.    The base runners may advance at there own risk.

Runners:

6.1       1^st BASE SAFETY BASE: there is a safety base at 1^st base.  The orange half is for the runner ONLY and both the 1^st baseman and the runner use the white half. The 1^st baseline should pass through the center of the safety bag. This means that the orange part will be in foul territory and the white part will be in the fair territory. The purpose of the bag is to prevent collisions at 1^st base. Therefore if the 1^st baseman touches the orange part of the bag, the runner is safe, provided the runner hits 1^st base before the 1^st baseman tags the white part of the bag.

If a runner, running to 1^st base, touches the ORANGE part of the safety bag before the ball reaches 1^st base, she is safe regardless if she turns to the right or left. However, if she touches the white part of the bag she can be tagged out regardless of which way she turned. This is because she is indicating to the 1^st baseman that she is advancing towards 2^nd base. Keep in mind that before a runner can advance to 2^nd base, she MUST touch the white part of the bag.

6.2       Runners MUST touch every base. A runner cannot over run a base. If this occurs it is up to the umpire to make the call.

6.3       The runner is automatically out if she runs off the baseline. This rule is at the umpire’s discretion.

6.4       On any caught fly-ball, the runners must tag-up before advancing to the next base. This advancement is done at the runner’s own risk.

6.5       OVERTHROW: when an overthrow is made to first and third base, the runners are allowed ONE base only,  if it is an open field. If the field is fenced-in, the runners can advance to as many bases as they wish. This will be an umpire’s call if the ball is not out of play.

6.6       When the pitcher is returning to the pitchers circle. THE PLAY IS STILL ACTIVE. Once the pitcher steps into the pitchers circle, and has possession of the ball, the PLAY STOPS.  This is at the Umpires discretion.

6.7       If a batted ball strikes a runner, the runner is automatically OUT. This is called interference. Play is dead and the runners, if there are any return to the base they were at the beginning of the play.

6.8       A runner who interferes with a defensive play is automatically OUT. For example, a runner cannot run into the shortstop who is trying to catch a ball. As well a runner, running from third to Home plate CANNOT interfere with the catcher who is trying to catch the ball. If she does, she is automatically OUT.  Sliding is recommended.

6.9.      A defensive player is NOT allowed to obstruct a runner unless making a play for the ball. The runner, in this case, advances to her next base.

6.10     LEAD-OFFS ARE NOT ALLOWED. This means that the batter MUST make contact with the pitched ball before the runners can step off the base. If this did not occur then the runner is OUT. This is the primarily the 1^st base umpire’s call. 

6.11     STEALING – Stealing is allowed in all divisions.  NOTE!  The ball must be pitched and must cross the plate before the runner leaves the base.  REMEMBER when the ball is in the pitchers circle, in the pitchers possession, the play is dead. NOTE! In the Minor Major Division runners can not steal home. They must be hit home. They can not go home on a pass ball also.

6.12     BOTH coaches must approach the umpire on any discussion of a questionable call.

NOTE:   Most umpires will be volunteers and may not know all the rules for TBGSA. It is both coaches responsibility to inform both 1^st base and Home plate umpires of the rules. Please settle all concerns regarding pitching, passed balls, overthrows, etc. PRIOR to game time. This will eliminate hassles that usually occur during the game. Make sure both coaches, players, umpires and even the spectators are clear on ALL rules BEFORE you begin play. Keep a copy of these rules with you at all times so you can refer to them when needed. Remember the decision of the umpires are FINAL. Any protest MUST be taken up with the Director of your division. If the Director is involved with the team then he/she must forward protest to next director or president of the league.

6.13          On ball four the batter becomes a runner after she reaches first base. If the pitcher does not have possession of the ball in the pitchers circle the walked runner and any other runners may advance at their own risk.

7. Conclusion of The Game:

7.1       At the end of each game, once the scores have been confirmed. It is the responsibility of the HOME TEAM COACH to call the scores into the League Scheduler.

7.2       ALL PLAYERS AND COACHES MUST SHAKE HANDS AT THE END OF THE GAME WITH THE OPPOSING TEAM. The league will discipline anyone who does not shake hands, spits, or punches another player during the handshake. Coaches please tell these athletes to shake with their hands and not their gloves.

7.3       If a team wishes to protest a game, please notify your umpire first, then notify your Director. If the Director cannot make a decision, then the League’s President will be contacted.

8. Etiquette:

8.1       FOUL LANGUAGE OF ANY KIND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Any coach or player caught swearing, mouthing-off, or name-calling will be ejected from the game. If a problem persists they will be ejected from the league. THIS RULE WILL BE ENFORCED.

8.2       Sunflower seeds are not permitted in the field. Coaches discretion whether their players can have them on the bench or not.

8.3       Smoking during games and practices is PROHIBITED! This includes smoking on the field, in the dug out , and on the sidelines. Anyone, including coaches and players, caught smoking during a game will be ejected from it. This rule will be enforced.

8.4       Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Any infraction to these rules by any player or coach may be suspended or even expelled from TBGSA.

8.5       Any problems or clarifications of these rules can be taken up with the Director. Remember these rules can be modified.