Fort McMurray Mens Slo Pitch League House Rules:
Last Update: June 13, 2021
ALL NSA Canada rules apply with the exception of any noted below. The rulebook can be found here: https://nsacanada.ca/rules/
*** ALL 2021 RULE CHANGES WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED ***
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: WIll be updated ASAP.
BATS:
TESTING & STAMPS: The league has adopted the NSA Canada Offical and Altered Bat Policies for the 2021 season. They can be found here: https://nsacanada.ca/bats/
*Anyone found using an illegal bat will be ejected for that game and reported to the umpire in chief and commissioner*
(illegal = wrong stamp/no stamp; altered bats are covered under NSA's policy mentioned above)
The player will be disciplined as follows:
* First Offense: 3 game suspension.
* Second Offense: Suspended for the remainder of the season.
GAME RULES:
All batters will start with a 1-1 count.
MASKS: A mask is mandatory for the pitcher. Infielders are strongly recommended to wear a masks, but are not required.
TIME LIMIT: A 15 minute grace period will be in effect for the start of all games. All forfeited games should be entered as a 12-0 win for the team that was able to play. Please note that the lights on the diamonds are scheduled to turn off at 11:45 P.M.
MERCY RULE: 20 runs after 5, 15 runs after 6. If the home team is ahead, they do not bat the bottom half of the inning.
GAME LENGTH: Games are 7 innings in length. The 7th inning is an open inning.
HOME RUN RULE: There is a maximum home run allowance of 5 per game. Once both teams have reached the 5 home run rule the match + 1 rule will come in to effect. Any home run over the allotted 5 (or +1 if applicable) the batter will automatically be called out. In the last inning, the home team will only be permitted to match the visiting team in home runs.
Example:
- Both teams have hit 5 home runs after 6 innings.
- The visiting team hits a home run in the top of the 7th inning giving them 6 total for the game.
- The home team can only hit one home run in the bottom of the 7th inning. If they hit a 2nd, the batter will be called out.
WALK OFF HOME RUNS: All Home Runs are now walk off; no running of the bases required.
ANTICIPATION RULE is not in effect. The base runner can only come off the base when contact is made with the ball. The base runner will be called out if he leaves the bag and no contact has been made with the ball.
MINIMUM/MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF PLAYERS ON LINE UP SHEET: A team can start a game with a minimum of 8 players with no maximum amount of players allowed in the batting order. Defensive substitutions are unlimited as long as the players are in the batting line up. This rule does not change for playoffs as in years previous.
Please Note:
A team must finish the game with the same amount of players that they started with. If a player is in the batting line up and has to leave the game due to injury or any other reason, unless a substitute player can be inserted in his place, this will be an AUTOMATIC OUT each time he is due up to bat. Please remember this when deciding how many players to put in your line up.
NO METAL CLEATS ALLOWED: If a player is found wearing them during the game they will be automatically ejected from that game.
The COMMITMENT LINE is in effect between 3rd base and home. The base runner may be tagged at any point between 3rd base and home.
3 COURTESY RUNNERS TOTAL for each team. (may be the same runner each time as long as they are on the batting line up sheet)
STRIKE ZONE and ARC: The mat will be used to determine a strike. If the ball hits any area of the mat, it will be called a strike. Each pitch must have a minimum of 6 ft. and a maximum of 12 ft. arc otherwise the pitch will be called illegal. The batter does still have the option to swing and hit an illegal pitch.
EXTRA INNING: In the event of a tie after 7 innings of play, teams will play one extra inning. International Tie Breaking Rule is in effect: Each team will start with 1 out and the last batter from the previous inning will start on second base.
INJURIES: Any injury caused by a batted ball , or anytime the ball hits the pitcher anywhere but the glove, the batters bat will be confiscated by the umpire and re-tested by the league. In the event the game has no umpire, the captain of the opposing team will be responsible to confiscate the bat and turn into a league rep for testing. This rule is still in effect for the 2021 season.
BATTERS BOX: 
MISC. RULES:
SUBMITTING SCORES: Please remember to submit your scores immediately following your game. All scores must be submitted by noon on the Friday following the weeks games otherwise games will be marked as a 0-0 tie. Each team captain should have access to the website by now. If you would like me to add another team member or two as an administrator please send me an email.
ROSTERS: All Rosters will be locked on Monday, August 1st. After this date, these rosters will be set in stone and no changes will be made unless approved by the commissioner after being discussed with the captains.
FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES:
Please add everyone to your roster on the Home Teams Online website that is playing with you. Anyone not on your roster, does not have insurance through NSA and is therefore ineligible to play. After the rosters have been locked on August 15th, I will go through them and make sure of no duplicate players before playoffs are to begin.
Please Note:
No females are allowed to play in mens league. This is due to insurance reasons and must be strictly enforced. If a female was injured during one of our games they would not be covered and it could prove difficult for our league to obtain insurance in the future. PLEASE FOLLOW THIS RULE!!!!!
REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS TIE BREAKER: In the event of a tie in the regular season standings, the tie will be broken the following way:
1) Best Head to Head Record between tied teams.
if still tied
2) Most Wins
if still tied
3) Highest Run Differential
if still tied
4) Coin Flip
