NELSON MIXED SLO-PITCH LEAGUE RULES


1. Maximum 10 players on the field (6 males and 4 females).  May play with 9 players (6 males and 3 females).  No more than 6 males on the field at any time. If playing with 9 players, you must have 4 females in the batting line up, (one female may be in the lineup twice).  There is no limit to the amount of females allowed to play.  Batting line up must only have 6 males and 4 females in any order.

2. Games are 7 innings with a maximum of 5 runs per inning, except in the final inning, which is open.

3. Umpires to call balls (4) or strikes (3).  Fouls on third strike count as a strike.

4. Pitchers may be female or male.  Pitches must arc a minimum of three feet (from pitchers hand) before it passes any part of home plate and shall not reach a height of more than 15 feet at its highest point from the pitchers hand.  Effectively making the arc 5 to 6 feet at the low point and 17 to 18 feet at the peak.  

5. The pitcher must keep one foot in contact with the dirt at the front the circle until the ball is hit/bunted. Contact with the dirt inside the front part of the circle must be maintained after the pitcher releases the pitch, even when such an action which includes a step forward towards the batter. A pitcher may pitch from outside the circle  at the back only.

6. Only women may bunt.  Batter is out, if foul on third strike bunt. A batter is out if tagged before reaching 1st base.  A batter is out if, after the ball is bunted and the base runner does NOT run the three foot line; which is the designated running area at the latter half of the home to first base path, so as not to interfere with the first baseperson’s ability to receive a throw and safety to the runner.  Men that bunt are automatically out.

7. Any tip ball caught by the catcher is out, regardless of the height, or number of strikes.

8. No stealing.  Lead-offs are warned once, and then could be called out by the umpire.  Lead-offs on a miss swing, the runner would just go back, no warning.

9. No infield fly rule, the ball must be caught.  If the ball is deliberately missed then all runners are safe.

10. One base limit on a ball “thrown out of the playing area”.  Runners can not be tagged out.  On a throw out of play, runner can only proceed to the following base.  Going home on a ball thrown out of play will be allowed.

11. Runners may tag up, once any fly balls are caught.  This includes a foul ball.

12. An injured batter must run to 1st base, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by both teams.  You cannot use the same pinch runner each time; you must rotate through your line up. If a female batter requests a pinch runner they cannot bunt and if they bunt, then they are out. All other runners will return to their original bases.

13. Rubber or soccer cleats allowed, no sharp metal cleats.

14. Sliding is allowed, but umpires can call a dangerous or interference slide an OUT.

15. FIRST BASE FORMAT:  Runners going to first must tag the orange portion of the base, if they are not going to try to advance to second.  The first baseman must tag the white portion of the base, for the out.  A batter running to first base CAN BE TAGGED OUT.

16. HOME PLATE FORMAT:  Runners going home may tag the pitching mat for safety or run by upon agreement by both teams prior to start of game.  Catchers must tag home plate only.  The mat and home plate are considered one base, when runners are going home.  All plays at home are a FORCE PLAY, there is NO TAGGING.  Once the runner crosses the commitment line (there is NO tagging between the commitment line and home plate), they must go home. (Commitment line is 20 feet away from home plate).

17. 140 FT. LINE:  When a female is up to bat, all fielders must be behind the 140 ft line.  The fielders CANNOT cross the line until the bat makes contact with the ball.

18. Games to start at time posted.  Games are a FOREFEIT, 15 minutes after posted game time.  Rain-out games will be called off, by both teams, only at the field.  Any team that does not show up will lose by default, NO MATTER what the conditions are.

19. Games rained out before the end of the 5th inning will be rescheduled.  The teams playing will decide when to reschedule the game.  The home team is to contact the Nelson & District Recreation Office at 352-7257 to cancel the field.

20. Games rained out after the 5th inning will count.  Games that are called after the 5th inning, due to darkness, will count.

21. If postponing a game, teams are to reschedule their own game.  The home team is to contact the Nelson & District Recreation Office at 352-7257 to cancel the field.

22. Keep a list of all players, playing for the year.  To play in the play-offs, you have to play a minimum of three regular season games.

23. Captains should go over the rules and ground rules with team members before the start of the season.

24. SPN Pregnancy Rule – If it is evident and/or confirmed that a player is pregnant, then for reasons of safety, and possible detrimental effect that such participation may have on other players’ performance, SPN will NOT knowingly allow a pregnant player to play.

25. Fighting – will result in immediate suspension from the league; a disciplinary hearing will be scheduled with the Executive.

26. Bat Policy – Nelson Mix Slo-Pitch League will follow the SPN 2005 Bat Policy who complies with the ASA (American Softball Association) bat certification program.  Attached is the 2005 list of non-approved bats.

27. If an issue/situation arises and the appropriate rule is not found within our own league rules please refer to your current (2004) SPN Slo-Pitch National Official Rules booklet as our league also abides by these rules.

NEW

28.     If a team has more than 3 pick up players then that game will be rescheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.

29.     Prior to playoffs all Teams must have a complete roster of all players participating during the playoffs.