Rule 1 - Playing Field & Game Times

Rule 1.1 - Field Specifications

Rule 1.2 - Game Times & Innings

Rule 1.3 - End of Games

Rule 1.4 - Rain out Games

Rule 2 - Equipment and Uniforms

Rule 3 - Player/Call-Ups

Rule 3.1 - Player Eligibility

Rule 3.2 - Line-Ups

Rule 4 - The Game

Rule 5 - General

Rule 5.1 - Governance

Rule 5.2 - Rules and Standings

Rule 6 - Playoffs

Rule 7 - Division Specific Rules

Rule 7.1 - U11 / U13 / U15

Rule 7.1.a - U11 - 5 pitches

Rule 7.1.b - U11 - Competitive

Rule 7.2 - U17 / U24

1   Field Specifications

Ball size, pitching distance, base paths, and extended plate vary by division:

2   Game Times & Innings

The Scheduler, Division Convener, Umpire, the WGSA Board or its assignee(s) may adjust these times as required (i.e., environmental conditions).

3   End of Games

1. No new inning is to start after curfew.

2. Once an inning is started, the inning must be completed unless

   1. The Home team is ahead or goes ahead in the last inning, the game is over
   2. Curfew is reached and the Home team is ahead, the last half inning is not played.
3. A suspended or called game shall be considered regulation and complete as per the schedule.

4   Rain out or Unplayable field

It is the responsibility of the Home team coach to declare a rain out, or a field unfit to play, until 90 minutes prior to the scheduled game. At this time, the host team Coach/Convenor or Scheduler is to advise their opponent's team Coach, the Convenor, and the Umpire Scheduler of the decision to cancel. After this time, the decision to cancel rests with the umpire at the diamond. For the current season, the Umpire Scheduler is Al Betts – contact at 905-809-6201.

5   Double bag at first base

1. Batter-runner is safe at first base if touching the orange part before being tagged or before the defensive player make contact the white part of the bag once catching and holding the ball.

2. On outfield hits with no play at first, runner may touch either part of the bag.

3. The batter/runner, progressing through first base, shall not be declared safe until she has legally obtained a base and the umpire has called time.
4. A batter/runner who contacts the orange part of the bag may progress to second base on her own initiative, and at her own risk, when a defensive player over-throws the base at first. It shall not be necessary for the batter/runner to tag the white part of the bag in the latter circumstance.

1. No jewelry (except Medic Alert). Metal hairclips count as jewelry).
2. Equipment supplied by the WGSA is official. Equipment that is "Softball Canada, ASA 2000 or 2004, USA Softball certified, WBSC certified or ISF 2005 Approved" may be used. Hardball, baseball, Little League and T-Ball bats must not be used.
3. Players must wear team sweaters and proper pants/shorts. No jeans or pants with metal (ex. track pants with zipper legs).
4. Sweaters must be visible and tucked in, unless weather requires jackets.
5. All players need batting helmets with face mask and chin strap.
6. Catchers must wear full protective gear (incl. mask, helmet, throat protector shin pads and chest protector) as per Softball Canada Rule 3 Section 6.
7. A pelvic protector is strongly recommended for all players.
8. Any person catching for a pitcher warming up must wear an catcher mask or an umpire mask.
9. Coaches must wear WGSA coach shirt at all games.
10. Everyone on the field must wear fully enclosed shoes.
11. No metal cleats allowed on the field in any division. Only running shoes or plastic/rubber moulded cleats.
12. On field coaches, players and volunteers must wear fully enclosed shoes.
13. To be allowed on the field of play, bats must have one of the following labels visible:
    

1  Player Eligibility and Call-Up:

1. Only registered WGSA players may play.

2. Any players playing Rep ball (or carded as a Rep player) during the current season are ineligible to play in the WGSA.

3. Call-ups may only come from the division immediately below and must be played.

4. All player call-ups must be approved by the convenor. The coach is responsible for notifying the convenor of their need for call-ups at the earliest opportunity. A player may only be called up if her regular team is not playing.

5. To avoid a default, if one team has sufficient players and additional call-ups, that coach will designate call-ups that are to be transferred to the opposing team. This is the essence of good sportsmanship. Any abuse of the call-up rule as deemed by the Convenor may result in forfeiture or the game may be replayed with board approval.

6. Call-ups must use their regular team jersey from their own division.

2  Line-Up:

1. All present players must be listed in the batting order; late arrivals go to the bottom of the batting order, provided they are joining the team prior to the first batter starting her second at bat.

2. Call-ups must be placed at the bottom of the batting order.

3. If a player is sick or injured and cannot play a defensive or offensive position, she must be removed from the game but is not considered an "out". The player may re-enter provided they do so before a complete inning has passed. (i.e., if the player is injured in the middle of the 3rd inning she must return before the beginning of the 5th inning or she will not be eligible to play).

4. Coaches will use a standard line up form. A sample line up form will be provided at the beginning of the season and will be made available on the website. As requested by the convenor, this form must be available for review at any game.

5. Coaches will keep line-up sheets for every game, including any revisions, to verify compliance with any Fair Play rules. If either of the Fair Play rules are abused, it shall be brought to the attention of the Division Convenor for further action.

6. Fair Play Rule 1 – During the course of each game no player will sit a second inning until every player has sat at least one inning (and no player shall sit a third inning until all players have sat a second inning, etc.). Where it may be necessary for a player to sit more than 2 innings per game, due to the size of the team, the coach will distribute such requirements equally among players from game to game. For detail on Fair Play Rule 2, please see division specific rules.

7. Failure of a coach to comply with fair play rules may result in forfeiture of the game and/or suspension of the coach as determined by the Protest Committee. In the event of a breach of the fair-play rules during a game, time will be called and an opportunity to rectify the breach will be permitted, at that time. In the event that a resolution is not reached, the game is to be continued with the coach who initiated the complaint having the option to protest to the convener.

1. If no umpire is available, the game will be cancelled.

2. Intentional walks are not allowed in any division.

3. Outfielders must stand on the outfield grass before the pitcher has released the ball. Infractions will be ruled as a “No Pitch”.
4. Unlimited defensive substitution, including the pitcher and catcher, is allowed.
5. In the event of a default, and upon the desire of the teams, an exhibition game will be played to normal game time limit. A minimum of 16 registered players must be available to play. A score of 7-0 will be recorded against the defaulting team. If both teams have insufficient players (including call-ups), then both teams are considered in default and will be charged with a loss. This game will not be rescheduled.
6. Only a WGSA coach (wearing a WGSA coaching shirt) may address an umpire. Only 3 coaches are allowed in the dugout or bench area. The scorekeeper will reside in a designated area near the dugout. An adult volunteer is only allowed to assist with controlling the players off the field if one of the official team coaches is absent.
7. The Home team score sheet is the official record of the game.
8. Withing 24 hours of completion of the game, the Home team must report the score on WGSA scoring application, the Visitor team will verify and report any error to the division convenor.

1  Governance:

1. All coaches must adhere to the WGSA Vulnerable Sector Check Policy. This includes any adult volunteers if they are performing team duties on a regular/consistent basis.

2. All coaches are accountable to the Division Convenor and the Protest Committee. Any controversy regarding the application or interpretation of these rules must be announced in the form of a protest to the game umpire before the next pitch occurs and then referred to the Protest Committee, whose decision shall be final. Referral must be made through the Division Convenor in writing following the game in question.

3. The Umpire shall have complete discretion and decision concerning the conduct of any game and shall be given a copy of these rules by the umpire in chief prior to the commencement of the game. The coaches have a responsibility to remind the umpire of any division specific rules prior to the start of the game and may not be ejected for showing league rules to the Umpire.

4. In an effort to ensure that Select players honor their house league commitments Select players who miss a house league game may be ineligible for their next select team tournament unless 5 and until the player receives permission from their House League Division Convener to participate

2  Rules and Standings:

1. Softball Canada rules shall govern the conduct of any game except where house league rules, listed in this document, have amended Softball Canada rules.
2. Final standing tie breaker rules will be as follow (and in order) if 2 teams are tied:

1. Head to Head between tied teams.

2. Run Differential in all the games played (runs scored less runs allowed).

3. Total runs allowed in all games played.

4. Total runs scored in all games played.

5. Flip of a coin.

If 3 or more teams are tied, points b2 to b5 will be used to determine final standings.

All the aforementioned rules are in effect except as follows:

1. The team finishing lower in the division standings will set up the diamond.
2. “Home team” will be decided prior to the start of the game by a coin toss.
3. If a playoff game is tied after regulation or the time limit, the game will continue inning by inning until the tie is broken subject to the umpire’s decision. A tiebreaker rule will be used where a team’s last out in the previous inning will start as a runner on second base.
4. The game will be ended once the result of the game has been mathematically determined. This means that the home team may not be allowed to complete their last at bat.

1   U11 / U13 / U15

U11 – 5 pitches Rule

Batters will be granted 5 pitches to hit a fair ball or will be declared out.
• There will be no walks issued.
• The defensive player in the pitching position must stand on either side of the offensive pitcher until the pitch is released. If the coach is hit with a batted ball it will immediately be called dead and will be counted as a pitch or swing against the batter. If a pitcher makes a play in the 3rd inning, it is a dead ball and will not be counted as a pitch or swing against the batter.

U11 – Competitive Rule

• A maximum of 2 appearances per game per pitcher or catcher, with no consecutive innings.
• One pitch is considered as an appearance or inning pitched (or an inning caught).
• If the pitcher hits 3 batters in one inning, she must be replaced for that inning.
• A pitcher must wear a pitching mask or helmet with a cage.
• A call-up is not allowed to pitch the first inning.

2   U17 / U24

 WGSA House Leagues Rules.pdf