BASE BORDEN NPP SLO-PITCH LEAGUE

 

2024 Slo-Pitch BY-LAWS

 

Objectives

 

The Base Borden NPP Slo-Pitch League is established to:

 

a. To develop, encourage, and promote the game of Slo-Pitch at CFB Borden

b. To initiate and regulate competitions, games, and playoffs within its jurisdiction.

c. To Provide the opportunity for personnel to participate in the sport of Slo-Pitch.

d. To Provide unit morale and wellness through Sport at CFB Borden.

 

Terms Of Reference

 

1. League Convenor:

a.       this will be the base Sports Coordinator.

b.      they will manage the leagues scheduling & statistics; and 

c.       chair the discipline committee (DisCo). 

2. The Team Representatives shall:

a. represent their team at all Team Rep Meetings. (Pre-Season / Post season / emergency meeting during season)

b. be the communication link between the League Convenor and their team.

c. ensure that all players prior to playing any games have paid all/any fees and have been added to the team's roster. Failure to do so will result in suspension of the player and forfeit of any games played.

 

d. ensure that all players are eligible for the playoffs.

e. be responsible to ensure the games sheets are completed and legible.

f. Communicate all information from League Convenor to all players (Schedule change/cancellation due to weather etc)

g. read the BBNPP Slo-Pitch By-laws and clearly know and understand each by-law.

 

 

Reschedule/Forfeits

 

 Reschedule

If a Team contacts the League Convenor 24 hours in advance that they cannot play the league convenor will try to reschedule. If the match cannot be rescheduled the team that could not play will be given a loss and the other team will be awarded the win.  

 

 Forfeits - Team does not show for the scheduled game time.

           Each team is allotted 3 Forfeits for the season. Once team forfeits twice

the League Convenor will review the team participation. On the 3rd forfeit the team is eliminated from the regular season and the end of season tournament.

 

Regular Season Points:

 

Win 3 pts

Tie 2 pts

Loss 1 pts

Forfeit 0 pts

OFFICIALS

 This League will be self-officiated during the regular season.

 For Semifinals and Finals - Umpires will be provided.

 

Protests, Appeals, Discipline and Discipline Committee.

 

See CFB Borden NPP Sports League Constitution

TEAM COMPOSITION

 

1. Team composition shall be as follows:

 

a. each team must have a minimum of Twelve (12) players on the team roster.

i. A minimum of eight players must be present for a team to begin play.  There is a maximum of eighteen players allowed per game.

 

b. The NPPSPL is open to all Mil/Civ employees of CFB Borden as per CFB Borden NPP Sports Constitution.

 

c. Each team will be composed of Members from your Unit, any players from outside the unit must be approved by League Convenor.

 

d. all team rosters/players must be registered with the League Convenor and ALL fees must be paid BEFORE playing in the league.

 

e. players who are posted in during the regular season are eligible to play.

 

f. registered players may not go to other teams without permission from the league Convenor (each situation will be dealt with individually).

 

Season

 

 Slo-Pitch will run from Mid-May to the end of Aug

GENERAL

 

 The CFB Borden NPP Slo-Pitch league will be governed by the Softball Canada Rulebook and the CAF Sports Slo-Pitch Rules 

 

 Where the Softball Canada Rulebook and the CAF Sports Slo-Pitch Rules and the by-laws differ, the CAF Sports Rules/by-laws shall be the final authority.

 

League Format

 

 A minimum of eight players must be present for a team to begin play.  There is a maximum of eighteen players allowed per game.

 

 Start times for all games will be as specified in the schedule.  Teams not having the minimum number of players will be given a fifteen-minute grace period to have the minimum number of players present on the diamond. 

 

 Teams may have up to 15 players placed on the batting order for a given game.

 

 If a team has 15 players, all 15 players may appear in the batting order.  Maximum of 10 batters permitted per inning.  If a team has more than 10 players, additional players must be substituted into the game before the start of the 4 innings.  The player that is substituted in will assume the batting order of the player that is substituted out. Re-entry rule will apply. There will be no late players admitted playing after the 1st pitch of the 4th inning.

 

 If starting the game with 8 players, the 9th and 10th person in the batting order will be declared as an out. This will stay throughout the game unless these two positions are filled with players arriving late. 

 

 If a player is injured another player will be able to be substituted into the game at any time.  The Player that is substituted in will assume the batting order of the injured player. If no Sub for injured player, no out will be given when that player is to bat.

 

 Each team will keep score on the authorized common sheet and the winning team will be responsible to drop the game sheet, signed by both team reps, to the Front Desk of the Buell.

 

Duration of play will be governed as follows:

 

 A one hour and 20-minute time limit, no new inning will start after this time. If the score is tied at the end of the game, the game is considered a tie. 

 

 Mercy rule: if a team is leading by 15 or more runs any time after the completion of the 5th inning the mercy rule applies. 

 

 If seven innings have been completed prior to the time limit the game is over regardless of the score.

    

 GAME PLAY

 

 

1. The CFB Borden NPP Slo-Pitch league will be governed by the Softball Canada Rulebook and the CAF Sports Slo-Pitch Rules

 

2. Authority to cancel game due to weather will be the responsibility of PSP up to 1600. After 1600 the authority rest on the team reps and/or PSP Staff.

 

3. If a game is called due to weather, every attempt will be made to rescheduled. If  4 and a half innings were completed and the home team was winning, this is considered a completed game. If a game is delayed due to weather the 1 hr and 20-minute time limit will apply. 

 

4. A player must participate in 25% games in regular season to be able to participate in the Playoffs.

 

 

SAFETY

 

5. JEWELLERY IS NOT TO BE WORN ON THE FIELD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEDICAL ALERT WARNING JEWELLERY! 

 

6. Runners and batters must wear helmets. 

 

7. Pitchers must wear a pitching mask/helmet

 

8. : Scoring Line: To avoid collisions at home plate a scoring line shall be drawn from the foremost closest corner of the plate perpendicular to the third base line and extended to the backstop. To record an out at home a player from the defensive team must be in possession of the ball and in contact with home plate, while a runner has passed the commitment line and before the runner crosses the scoring line.  The defensive player will not be able to tag the base runner between the commitment line and the scoring line. 

 

9.   Sliding or diving over the scoring line is not permitted. The runner must be on their feet when crossing the line.

 

 

10. COMMITMENT LINE:  a line shall be drawn 2/3 of the distance (approx. 20 feet) from third base to home plate. Once a runner has passed that commitment line with any part of the body, he/she may not return to third. If so, it is a forced out at home.

 

11. If a base runner touches home plate while attempting to score the run will not count and the runner will be out. The pitching mat is not home plate.

 

12. A pitched ball must be delivered with in the 4-foot area between the pitcher's mound and the back chalk line. Pitcher can not be outside the width of the regular pitcher's mound when pitching the ball. 

 

13. As per the CAF sports rules all Batters/Runners MUST always wear a batting helmet. 

 

14. Any Team that is caught drinking during play will forfeit the game immediately and the team will be eliminated for the rest of the season and their unit will be contacted by the disciplinary committee through the PSSO. 

 

15. There is no Smoking or Vaping ANY place around the ball diamonds. (BBSAI 1028) The closes smoking area in locates in the parking lot by the bowling alley.

 

16. Rubber cleats are the only cleat permitted to be used.

 

OFFICIATING

 

17. At the start of each season the Sports Office will provide a 30-minute officiating clinic on the first night of play. All team MUST have 2 members of the team there to take this clinic.

 

18. Members of the two teams playing will officiate the game. Teams shall select a primary and secondary official who will officiate from behind the plate while their own team is batting. When the primary official is batting or running the teams secondary official shall umpire.

 

19. With shared officiating responsibilities fair play is an absolute necessity. Polite reminders of playing rules, if deemed necessary, shall be the responsibility of the coach/team reps only. Others shall not become involved; otherwise they will be at risk of ejection from the game and playing area. Officials are acting in a strict voluntary capacity for the benefit of all.  Intimidation and/or confrontation will NOT BE TOLERATED!

 

20. Over-zealous players shall be brought to the attention of the league convenor using e-mail.  The e-mail will outline the incident, so that their contributions to the recreational/fun nature of the league can be assessed. The league Executive has the right to suspend players/teams from further participation in the League.

 

Only the team reps and/or team captain may handle disputes on the field.

 

21. Protest may be lodged with the league convenor as per para. 21 of the CFB Borden NPP Sports Constitution.

 

PLAYING RULES

 

STRIKE ZONE: 

 

22. A pitched ball must be delivered between the pitching rubber and the 6 foot line drawn behind the rubber on the field, pitchers must be with in this rectangular boxed area to deliver a pitch and it has to be between a six and twelve foot arc to be a legal pitch;

 

23. An illegal pitch must be called by the umpire before the ball crosses the plate; 

 

24. The ball must touch any part of the easy mat and/or the plate to be called a strike;

 

25. Illegal pitches and balls missing the mat shall be declared balls; and a batter may choose to swing at an illegal pitch, and if so the ball becomes a legal pitch. (Pitch height 6ft to 12ft)

 

OUTS. A batter is out when: 

 

26. A third strike occurs including a ball hit into foul or dead territory after two strikes. 

 

27. The batter steps outside of the batter's box while striking the ball with the bat (one foot outside the batter's box in contact with the ground, stepping on home plate, or the pitch mat); and

 

28. The batter intentionally bunts or chops the ball downward. 

 

29. INFEILD FLY RULE:

 

a. The infield fly rule applies when a fair fly ball is hit in the air and can be easily caught by an infielder. The rule only applies if there are runners on 1st & 2nd or 1st, 2nd, or 3rd with less than 2 out. The batter is called out and the runners may advance at their own risk. If the ball is caught the runner must tag up before advancing or if the ball is not caught, they may advance without tagging up;

 

b. The batter is out even if the ball is not caught;

 

c. This rules stops the infielder from intentionally dropping the ball to get the double play; and

 

d. The umpire must yell "Infeild Fly Batter is Out if Fair" right away.

 

 

BASE STEALING:

Any runner leaving a base before the batter swings at the ball shall be called out. One courtesy runner will be allowed per inning per team. If a courtesy runner is required it must the last eligible player in the batting order or a person waiting to be substituted into the game.  

 

BASE RUNNING:

 

30. base runners may attempt additional bases when a ball is hit into fair territory; after a fly ball is caught in either fair or foul territory; or when a ball is overthrown and remains in fair territory;

 

31. runners leaving before a fly ball is caught are out if the ball is thrown to the original base prior to the runner's return (Appeal play);

 

32. sliding is allowed at 2nd and 3rd and back into first only; 

 

33. the orange bag must be used by runners trying for first base only. The defensive player may not touch the orange bag. If a defensive player comes in contact with the orange bag the runner will be called safe.  Offensive Players attempting first base can only touch the orange bag if there is a play at first base. Failing to touch the orange part of the bag will result in an out if there is a play at first base. If a runner is trying for second or more on a hit, they may use the white bag if turning toward second base. If there is no play at the base the first base man CAN NOT stand on the bag if they do it is obstruction, and the running is awarded second base; 

 

34. Players attempting first base will only be permitted to overrun first base and may turn in any direction to return to first base; 

 

35. Any running trying for second base after over running the base can return to first base but if tagged prior to touching first base would be considered out;

 

36. if a ball is overthrown and proceeds out of bounds a base runner is entitled to 1 base from the last base touched at the time of the throw and;

 

37. if a ball is overthrown and proceeds out of bound from and outfielder the base runner gets 2 bases.

 

BATTING: 

 

38. up to 15 batters can appear in the order, substitution are permitted by other players if available;

 

39. either five runs, or three outs per inning except in the last inning of the game, where 3 outs must be recorded by the defensive team as this is an open inning to score as many runs as possible;

 

40. All teams must notify the apposing team of the 10th batter of the inning. The 10th batter cannot walk. This does not apply in the last inning of the game as it is an open inning;

 

Bats

 

41. All bats must meet Softball Canada Rules which is the governing rules for the Canadian Forces. All bats being used in the NPP program must meet the ASA or ISF standards. All new bats will be stamped ASA or ISF which will deem them legal to be used in the NPP Program;

 

42. All bats must be stamped one of the following: 

 

43. All other bats are deemed illegal and cannot be used in the NPP program; and

 

44. Any bat that appears on the ISF approved bat list and has an ISF certification stamp will be accepted for play at a Softball Canada event. Some bats may also have the 2000 or 2004 ASA certification mark which would also continue to be acceptable for Slo-Pitch play.

Playoffs

 

45. playoff each year which will be a tournament style;

 

46. All players on each team's roster must have played 25% of the regular season game to be eligible for the playoffs; and

 

47. Play off format will be determined at the mid-season.