Tottenham Ladies Lob-Ball

RULES

The rules of play will be the official Slo-Pitch rules of Slo-Pitch National (SPN). Any deviations from this set of rules must be provided in writing to each team representative and the umpire-in-chief. Current deviations include:

Exceptions to the SPN Rules:

1. Games will be 7 innings or up to the Umpire's discretion (due to daylight and playing conditions) or time limit which is 1½ hours - no new inning shall start after 1¼ hours.
2. Players may spare for other teams according to the Substitution Rule.
3. Players may join the team any time during the game providing they play a minimum of two (2) innings.
4. Anyone leaving during the game must have played a minimum of two (2) innings and make her departure known to the scorekeeper in order not to be considered an automatic out when her name appears on the batting order.
5. Courtesy runners will be allowed at first base only, unless it is obvious that an injury has occurred during the play. The courtesy runner will be the last player out or if there are no players out, last player in the batting order. Once a batter uses a courtesy runner, they must continue for the remainder of the game. Unlimited courtesy runners.
6. In the event of rain, a game is complete after 4 innings (Umpire's decision). If the home team is leading, only 3½ innings are required. A game called by the umpire before four (4) innings are completed shall be replayed in its entirety.
7. Mercy Rule - in each inning each team is allowed a maximum of seven (7) runs, except in the last inning which will be open.
8. A baserunner who touches and/or crosses the commitment line, between 3^rd and home plate, must continue on towards the scoring line, with a force out rule at home plate. The catcher is required to play the plate while the runner is required to touch or cross the scoring line which is the extension of the first base line behind home plate.
9. HIGHLIGHTS of SPN Rules
10. There will be no sliding at home plate or the baserunner will be declared out.
11. First Base: The defensive player must use the white base only. The batter/baserunner must touch the orange base. If the baserunner decides not to advance or when tagging up, he must return to the white bag. If the baserunner decides to advance further, she/he need not retouch the white bag.
12. Catcher's masks or batting helmets are not mandatory. Use of this equipment is recommended for safety purposes.
13. Pitcher's Zone will be 24 inches wide, located 50 to 60 feet from the rear corner of home plate. The pitcher may place his pivot foot anywhere within this zone.
14. Arc for pitching is 6 - 12 feet.
15. Every member of the team is included in the batting order.
16. A player will be declared out if she hits a foul on the third strike.
17. Blood Rule: Any player who is bleeding from an injury must be removed from the playing field. The umpire will determine a reasonable amount of time to have the bleeding controlled, cleaned up and the wound completely covered. If there is blood on any of the players clothing, then the clothing must be changed before a player is allowed to participate in the game.
18. No Jewelry! Exception - Medical Alert Identification Taped jewelry is not allowed.

Umpires

1. The umpires will accept no physical or verbal abuse. Expulsion from the league may occur.
2. Profanity is unacceptable.
3. Only the President is allowed to approach the Umpire in Chief with any problems. Any complaint about an umpire must be directed to the Captain who in turn will notify the President of the League in a timely manner.
4. All decisions made by the umpire will stand, unless appealed in writing by the captain to the executive where a final decision will be declared by the league captains.
5. Players ejected by the umpire are suspended until the league captains can deal with the matter (within 7 days).
6. One Umpire will be provided per game.

Captain & Co-Captain Responsibilities

1. Captains & Co-Captains will be referred to as "Captains".
2. League Meetings - all teams should be represented by either the captain or co-captain
3. Each captain is responsible for obtaining the substitute players (see Ratings & Substitutions)
4. The home team is responsible for placing the bases and providing the official scorekeeper for each game.
5. When making up the rosters for each game, be sure to indicate who the substitute players are used for.
6. Home team is responsible for the official score. It must be handed to the statistician so she can mark the attendance and prepare the statistics. The statistician will inform the Captains of the place to drop the scores off, usually at the Legion in a specified envelope.
7. Home team will provide one (1) new ball that was provided by the league and (1) used ball in good condition.
8. Attempts should be made to play all players equally.
9. Ties are ties for League Play and Round Robin Play. The International Tie Breaker Rule only applies to Elimination rounds.
10. All equipment and keys are the property of the league and must be returned at the end of the season.
11. Captains must rate their players at the end of the season.
12. The League would like all teams to show up to the park prepared to play when it's raining and the umpires and captains will decide whether the game is playable due to safety issues. Captains must cancel game with the Umpire in Chief. Game must be rescheduled with the Vice-President who will contact the Umpire in Chief. If possible, try to cancel game one hour before the game (no fees will be charged to the league). If games are not scheduled within two weeks, the Vice-President will reschedule and the game must be played or it will count as a loss for the team defaulting.

Protests

13. Any protest must be handed in to an executive member in writing before any action can be taken. This must be done within 48 hours of the incident.
14. Any protest during play-offs must be made at the time of the incident during the game. Protest must be ratified by 2/3 of the majority of available members of the executive. The protest must be done within 1/2 hour after the end of the game in which the incident occurred.

Standings

15. Standings are determined on the basis of points earned during the regular season games. The team with the greatest number of points will finish first.
16. 1. Win is 2 points, b) Loss is 0, c) Tie is 1 point
17. In the event of a tie in the standings, the higher placed team will be determined by:
18. 1. The most overall wins, b) Who has the better record, runs for and against, c) Revert back to last game's completed inning, runs for and against

Ratings and Substitutions

17. In order to field a team, a minimum of seven (7) team players must be present. Substitutions are allowed to a maximum of ten (10) players.
18. 1. Exception - In the event that both the pitcher and back-up pitcher are away, the team may pick up a pitcher as their 11^th player within the same rating or lower.
    2. Exception - If teams have eleven (11) or less players on their roster, a minimum of five (5) team players must be present.
19. Each player is rated at the end of the season by their Captains. At a scheduled meeting the whole executive will vote on the rating of each player.
20. Ratings for new players will be re-assessed at a meeting of the executive after the Community Week Tournament. A list of the new ratings will be printed for each team and substitutions will be based on the following example.
21. 1. If Jane from Team #1 has an original rating of Group 10 and her rating changes to Group 2, then Team #1 has 2 players in Group 2, the following will apply:
    2. If Jane is absent, Team #1 can only pick up a player from Group 10 since they already have a Group 2 player.
    3. Other teams can pick Jane up as a Group 2 player.
22. A substitute player can be anyone willing to spare. Captains must be fair in choosing a spare. They can only pick someone from the same rating group or lower.
23. Substitutions during play-offs will be decided on by the executive.

Picking Teams

22. Each year all registered, paid-up players are put on a list according to their ratings for the draft.
23. Team Numbers are put in a hat and each Captain will draw a team number. This will determine the order in which Teams pick their players. Round #1 starts with Team #1, Round #2 starts with Team #2, etc., etc..
24. Players are grouped according to the number of teams, e.g. if there are eight teams, group #1 will consist of the top eight players.
25. The first players to be drafted will be the pitchers and back-up pitchers.
26. The first few draws will be set out to even out all the teams.
27. Team Names will be chosen in the same manner, keeping in mind that some players go with certain sponsors, e.g. Team #1 drew Jane's name who works for Beeton Auto, that team will not have to draw a name.

Return to the top

mailto: joce3232@hotmail.com