Molson’s CBS Masters Softball League

April 10, 1988

Newest Revision: September 2019

Other Revisions: May 2008, June 2008, Jun. 2010, Oct. 2010, Sept. 2015, Sept. 2016 ,Sept. 2017, Sept 2019, Oct 2021

BY-LAW 1 - CONDUCT

1.1 Fighting, attempt to injure, use of alcohol on the field, or in the dug-out, foul language, or any unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Any player who in the discretion of the umpire falls into one of these categories and who requires disciplinary action will be suspended until the Executive Board rules on such conduct, based on the report of the umpire and the team representative involved. Any player who (a) continually uses unsportsmanlike conduct either as a player or a spectator, (b) does not observe parking regulations, (c) utters threats of physical violence towards Executive Board members or other designated officials shall receive a suspension for the balance of the year plus another full year suspension.

1.2 No smoking on the field or in the dugout. Umpires will give a warning if caught smoking and players will be subject to ejection.

1.3 All members must follow the SPN Code of Conduct. Any player who in the discretion of the umpire or executive violates the Code of Conduct will be suspended until the Executive Board rules on such conduct, based on the report of the Umpire and team representative or executive involved. The penalty shall be suspension for the balance of the year plus another full year suspension.

BY-LAW 2 - PLAYING RULES

2.1 The league will follow the official slow pitch rules as outlined by Slow Pitch National unless specifically stated in these by-laws.

2.2 Each player shall play a minimum of 3 innings in the field if he chooses and must bat in order of the game line-up.

2.3 All players will be included in the batting line-up.

2.4 A maximum of seven courtesy runners per game may be used, but cannot use the same runner twice. The courtesy runner can be anyone listed on the lineup. A courtesy runner can run for a courtesy runner.

2.5 Any player arriving after the game has started may only be permitted in the line-up at the end of the batting order. A player cannot be added to the line-up unless he is present at the field for that game.

2.6 Where it can be proven a coach has treated a player unfairly either by (a) failing to play him in his required innings, or (b) trying to procure his resignation, the coach shall be suspended for the remainder of that season and the total of the following season.

 2.7 A second home plate shall be used for the base runners. No tag is necessary on a player attempting home. To be safe at home, a player need only to place one foot on the second home plate before the catcher catches the ball. The catcher must touch the main home plate. There is no sliding at home plate - the runner is out. The base runner should avoid all collisions or be subject to ejection, based on the umpire's judgment. Runners are out if they touch the main home plate.

 2.8 A commitment line 20 feet from home plate, between home and third, shall be drawn to mark a point of no return to third. Any player placing one foot on or across this line must continue towards the scoring line (at home plate), unless circumstances dictate that he must return to third base (for example: to tag up).

 2.9 Home runs will score when the batted ball passes over the outfield fence.

 2.10 All players should be dressed in their proper team uniform by the start of Round 2.

 2.11 Exposed metal braces and casts are prohibited. Metal braces used as a protective aid must be covered with a soft pliable material.

2.12 Players can use league supplied wooden bats or they can bring their own 100% wooden softball bat provided. League do not have to supply bats and teams do not have to share.. A player 60 years or older (turning 60 in the calendar year) will have the option to use a league supplied aluminum bat.

 2.13  If a player has 2 consecutive years with less than 10 games played that player is off the team. They will not be eligible for the draft for 1 year.  If a player is on leave for a year, he must play in the first week before the draft in order to stay with his team. Also, if a player with less than 10 games played in the previous year he also must play in the first week before the draft in order to stay with his team. This is subject to appeal to the executive by the player.

 2.14 A player has to play at least 10 games in a season in order to play in the playoffs, unless sick or injured. This is subject to appeal to the executive by the player. “In the case of an injury Executive should be notified as soon as possible via email effective immediately.”

2.15 Team uniform colors must be approved by the executive.

BY-LAW 3 - NEW PLAYER RULE

3.1 New players entering the league must register through the Executive ONLY. Players asked but receive no repsonse will be removed and they will have to re-register.

The new player must pay a $100.00 registration fee when he registers.

All new players must play in the opening tournament and be placed at the top of the batting order (a minimum of 3 games with any team, of which one must be in a crossover game).

Each team must submit their team roster to the Executive Board 1 week before the draft. This will determine how many players each team needs, and subsequently how many openings there are in the league. The number of new players will be picked from the registration list. New players will be placed on the new player list in the order that they registered and paid, and any new player registered beyond the number required to complete the team's rosters will be placed on a waiting list in successive order and their registration refunded.

3.2 Teams needing new players must pick from the new player list, with the last place team, as per last year's standings, having the first pick, then the second last place team having the second pick and so on. After each team needing a player has one pick then a second round is started as before.

 3.3 No teams will be permitted to pick up players after the end of the draft unless either through player injury or transfer out of the community or the team has insufficient players to avoid defaulted games. The team will be assigned the player that is at the top of the waiting list. Teams to determine how much a new player pays a team as the league registration should/may have been paid. That player will remain with that team for the remainder of the season. However he will remain in the same position on the draft list for the following season's draft. No new players can join the league after the second round.

3.4 Any player that is added to a team after the draft, has to follow the rules for a New Player in the following draft year i.e.: has to contact the league indicating that they want to enter the draft, has to play in the opening tournament (a minimum of 3 games with any team, of which one must be a crossover game), and has to provide the league registration fee prior to the draft.

3.5 If, after new player registration day, [after the draft] a person wishes to play, he may place his name below the last player on the registration list.

3.6 If a new player refuses to play with the team that picks him, he is dropped from the new player list and the waiting list for that year. He also forfeits his registration fee.

3.7 All new players entering the league must provide adequate proof of birth, e.g. driver's license. Attempt to defraud will carry a two year suspension.

3.8 If a player, already in the league, either leaves or gets a release in writing from his team, he must re-register as a new player in the next year.

3.9 Any player who wants a release but cannot obtain it from his team may apply to the Executive Board for a decision.

3.10 Any player who is dropped from last year's roster for any reason must be notified in writing 30 days prior to registration date. He shall have five days to respond at which time the Executive Board will rule on the appeal.

3.11 Any player, who because of work commitments or medical reasons, shall be granted one year of absence by the Executive Board. That year ends at the start of his team’s first game in the next season. A player taking a year off cannot come back and play in that year.

3.12 If a player wishes to take a leave of absence, he or his team representative must indicate this intention to the Executive Board.

3.13 New Drafted Players: Drafted players are on probation and must play 10 games in their draft year to be eligible to play the following year. Subject to executive review. 

BY-LAW 4 - SCHEDULING OF GAMES

4.1 Regular games are to be scheduled on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

4.2 The schedule will commence one week before the opening tournament weekend.

4.3 Executive Board shall approve the schedule and provide a copy to each team representative prior to the start of the season and a copy will be placed on the website.

4.4 Individual teams will not be permitted to cancel or re-schedule games. The league Executive ONLY may postpone games.

4.5 If the umpire cancels a game because of weather, a makeup game is to be played the following Sunday, as set by the league.

4.6 Cancelled games are not to be played on the Sunday of a long weekend. Any such games shall be played on the following (available) Sunday.

4.7 If either team fails to field a team, it shall lose by default. The other team will receive two points. If both teams fail to field a team, each team shall receive zero points.

4.8 The regular season schedule will have the first game starting at 6:00pm each evening.

4.9 If the first game is running late the umpire will call last inning if the time is within 5 minutes before the scheduled start time of the next game. It will be considered the last inning and will be an open inning for runs being scored.

BY-LAW 5 - GAME DEFAULTS

 5.1. During the regular season teams will be permitted to play with seven players plus two pickups without defaulting. The opposing team shall supply a catcher and third baseman who would continue to play for his own team. At all league tournaments all teams must have 9 players from their roster to have a game. Only exception is the opening tournament where teams can pick up extra players who are in the draft. During the playoffs teams must have a minimum of nine players and no pickups.

5.2 No team may pick up players from the bank.

5.3 Fifteen minutes grace will be given to field a team of 7 players. The game will start at the scheduled time or as soon after both teams have at least 7 players, provided the umpire is present.

 5.4 The onus is on the individual teams to have enough players available to avoid default. Executive Board will take appropriate action against defaulting teams.

5.5 A team gets zero points in the league standings for defaulting a game but gains two points for the purposes of draft ranking for the next season.

BY-LAW-6 - STANDINGS

6.1 Each team winning a game shall be awarded two points. Games will normally be 7 innings. Each team will receive one point for a tied game.

6.2 A six run rule per inning, except the seventh inning, will apply. A twelve run differential after five full innings shall constitute a full game.

6.3 All elimination and playoff games to be decided by extra inning(s). SPN rules apply.

6.4 Overall Season Winner(28 games) gets 6 dz beer

BY-LAW 7 - PLAY-OFF TOURNAMENT

 7.1 The executive will decide on a playoff format and schedule to include all teams before the beginning of the season. Any team that chooses not to play in the playoffs will be suspended from the league for one year.

 7.2 The winning team of the play-off tournament shall be known as the league champions and be awarded the Tom Hynes Memorial Trophy.

7.3 Regular season standings determine round robin seeding. Round robin results determine crossover seeding. If two first place teams are in championship game a coin toss is required.

7.4 Teams in final tornament will be in the following divisions based on season ending standings... A = 1, 4, 5, 8  & B = 2, 3, 6 , 7

BY-LAW 8 - THE WAYNE BATTEN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

8.1 The opening tournament, to be known as the Wayne Batten Opening Draftee Memorial Tournament, will occur on the weekend immediately following the Victoria Day Weekend.

8.2. The format shall be decided by the Executive Board.

8.3 The overall winning team shall receive a perpetual plaque to be known as the Wayne Batten Memorial Plaque.

8.4 New Players joining the league to be placed at the top of the order of their assigned team for every game they play

 BY-LAW 9 - QUORUM

 9.1 A quorum for Executive Board meetings shall be a minimum of 3 executive members (must include President or Vice President) and 4 team representatives.

BY-LAW 10 – REGISTRATION

10.1 Team registration will be $1300 per season if necessary, (up from $1,100). New player registration will be $100. Increase is to fund defibulator purchase if necessary.

10.2 SPN insurance will be purchased for the league at the start of each season.

BY-LAW 11 - UMPIRES

11.1 All umpires must be registered with the Umpires Association.

11.2 For all elimination games in our three tournaments two umpires will be used.

Added Jul 15, 2008

Last Updated Apr 7, 2017