Rules

GENERAL RULES

1. Softball Canada/Softball B.C. rules will govern all games played in North Delta Parks, except where NDSA house rules apply.

2. All tournaments will be governed by NDSA Rules.

3. Cup Day will be played under NDSA Rules.

4. All players must wear full uniforms supplied or approved by the Association at all games. No skirts or jeans. If in the Girls Division they decide to wear shorts, they all must be identical. If the player has no reasonable excuse for not wearing the uniform, he/she will be removed from the game unless this means forfeiting the game. This rule will be enforced by the umpire.

FOOTWEAR: Shoes must be worn by all players. No hard plastic, nylon, or polyurethane spikes similar to a metal sole and heel plate, or shoes with detachable cleats are allowed in any division 

EXCEPTION: Junior

5. All league games will start no later than 6:00 p.m. The second game will start no later than 8:15 p.m. No new inning after 1hr 45min., and the inning will be completed. NOTE: Interlock game times will be dependent upon the interlock schedule.

6. Pitching distances and base lines:

• Boys Girls Base Lines
• Junior 43 feet 43 feet 60 feet
• Midget 40 feet 40 feet 60 feet
• Bantam 42 feet 40 feet 60 feet
• PeeWee 40 feet 38 feet 60 feet
• Squirt 35 feet 35 feet 55 feet
• Mite 30 feet 30 feet 45 feet
• Mini-Mite 30 feet 30 feet 45 feet

7. No division may change or introduce rules or regulations. Any requests for changes must be presented in writing to the division Coordinator who will present requests to the Rules Committee.

8. RAINOUTS: Coaches must contact their division coordinator within 7 days to reschedule games.

NDSA HOUSE RULES EXCEPTIONS TO CASA

1. DESIGNATED PLAYER - Not to apply to house teams, e.g. No designated player, everyone bats.

2. SUBSTITUTION RULE- House and league. All players bat, unlimited substitution.

3.

• a. Choice of first or last at bat to be decided by home team, except playoffs and tournaments when tournament rules and/or the toss of a coin will apply.
• b. Home team is to take third base side dug out.

4. Home team to lay out the diamond and be responsible for bases, etc.

5. FIELDING A TEAM - Failure of one team (8 players) to take the field within 15 minutes of starting time will cause forfeiture of the game to that team on the field: 7-0 will be the score. A team with 7 players can pick up one player from the opposing team and play an exhibition game. Teams with six or fewer players will not compete. The ninth batter is an automatic out. A mercy game can be continued as an exhibition game at the discretion of the losing coach.

6. INFIELD FLY rule starts in Squirt division. THIRD STRIKE rule starts in PeeWee division.

7. At the discretion of the plate umpire, players, parents and coaches may be asked to leave the game and the park for the use of profane language and/or unsportsmanlike conduct.

8. Every player in the house league must receive equal playing time through the season, based on game attendance.

Coaches refer to the format that follows.

This simple schedule will give each player the same amount of playing time and will work with any number of players, playing 5 or 7 inning games.

NOTE:

• The 3 inning and 2 inning must be changed every 4th game
• For 7 inning games substitute 7 for 5; 4 for 3; 3 for 2
• A helpful hint - don’t put your 2 pitchers in the same group

Player # 19-Apr 21-Apr 26-Apr 28-Apr EXAMPLE: How to rotate 12 players through 5 innings over 10 regular games

9. A pitcher in Mites shall not pitch more than 2 innings per game. Pitchers in Squirt and Pee Wee shall not pitch more than 3 innings per game.  A pitcher in Bantam shall not pitch more than 4 innings per game. Midgets are unlimited in innings pitched.

This change will help with pitcher development.

10. 5 RUN RULE All league games will use the 5-run rule, e.g. after the fifth run scores, the side is retired.

11. Trapper mitts may be worn by only the catcher and first baseman.

12. All players are to ensure that their shirts are tucked in before the game begins and kept tucked in during the game.

13. Helmets with chinstraps must be worn by offensive players from dugout to dugout. Players coaching 1st or 3rd must wear a helmet. Strictly enforced by umpire. One warning only.

EXCEPTION: Junior

14. CATCHERS: All catchers must wear chest protectors and athletic-supporter with protective cup (male and female). During practice and games, catchers must wear protective masks and throat protectors and equipment. ANYONE warming up a pitcher must wear a mask and throat protector while taking pitches (see rule3, section 9a of Softball Canada).

15. Protests must be submitted in writing to the Coordinator within 48 hours of conclusion of the game. When submitting a protest refer to the Softball Canada Rule Book, rule 11. All protests must be accompanied by a $25 deposit, which will be refunded if the protest is successful.

16. SPECTATORS: Coaches will control their respective team’s spectators. If spectators become abusive, time will be called by the umpire until spectators behave or leave the stands.

17. FIELD BOUNDARIES: Coaches and the umpire discuss boundaries of the playing field before the game.

18. PLAYER SUSPENSION: Upon notification and obtaining approval from the coordinator, a coach may give a one game suspension to a player who has given behavioral concerns at practices and/or games.

19. Learn To Play players may run more than one base and continue to run until an infielder has control of the ball.

20. PICK-UPS: Teams may pick up house players from the tier division below them to enable them to field a team. A player may be brought up to a higher tier or division, a maximum of three league games per season. The coordinator of each division must be advised of the pick-up within 24 hours. The pick-up coach must notify the team coach of the player being brought up. Any coach or official found misusing this rule will be dealt with by the Discipline Committee. Pitchers may be brought up to play, but not to pitch.

21. Learn To Play, Mini-mites and Mites - Games shall be 5 innings maximum.

22. MINI-MITE ONLY

• a) Coaches or assistant coaches are to pitch to their own team the entire game.
• b) When coaches pitch, a maximum 4 pitches are thrown, and then if no hit has happened a T is put on the plate and the ball is put into play
• c) No Walks
• d) LEAD OFF: Runners may lead off and steal a base after the catcher has control of the ball following the pitch.

DELTA INTERLOCK RULES

1. Softball BC and CASA rules will govern all games played in the Delta Interlock with the noted exceptions below.

2. Games will be a max. of 1 hour and 45 minutes. No new inning will be started after time has elapsed. Designated player - Not to apply to house teams, everyone bats

3. Substitution rule - All players bat, free substitutions

4. Home team has choice of first or last at bat and occupies 3rd base dugout

5. Home team to layout diamond and be responsible for bases etc.

6. Fielding a team - Failure of one team (8 players) to take the field within 15 minutes of starting time will cause forfeiture of the game. (Coaches can agree to an extension or a team with 7 players can pick up a player from the opposing team.) If playing with 8 players the 9th batter spot is not an automatic out. Teams can pick up players as per SBC rules.

7. Infield Fly rule starts in Squirt. Third strike rule starts in Pee Wee

8. Every player in the Delta Interlock to receive equal playing time.

9. Pitching - Pitchers in mite shall not pitch more than 3 innings per game. Pitchers in Squirt shall not pitch more than 3/4 innings per game. Pitchers in Pee Wee shall not pitch more than 5 innings per game. Pitchers in Bantam shall not pitch more than 5/6 innings per game. Pitchers in Midget may pitch the whole game.

10. All league games will use the 5 run rule, e.g. after the fifth run scores, the side is retired.

11. Mercy rule is in effect at the discretion of the losing team.

12. All players are to ensure that their shirts are tucked in before the game begins and kept tucked in during the game.

13. Helmets with chinstraps must be worn by the offensive players from dugout to dugout.

14. Players coaching 1st or 3rd must wear a helmet.

15. All games are no protest games.

16. Umpires - Any abuse of an umpire will not be tolerated in any form by players, coaches, parents. It is the coaches responsibility to control parents. Should a complaint be registered by an umpire the incident will be immediately investigated by an executive committee and the appropriate response will be enforced. Rulings by the executive committee are final.

COACHES remember it is a game: do not try to assist the umpires, do not discuss calls or judgments with the umpires during or after the game. If you have a question or a concern speak to the appropriate Umpire in Chief and allow the UIC to discuss it with umpires.

17. As per CASA rules: trappers can only be worn by first baseman and catchers

18. No jewelry except medic id bracelets will be worn.

19. No metal cleats.

20. Uniform jerseys must be tucked in.

21. It is the home teams responsibility to inform visiting coach of rainout.

22. Delta Cup: A knockout tournament will be held to decide who represents
Delta in the “C” Provincials for each division. Official Softball BC rules will govern the Delta Cup.