At the beginning of the season, teams will be given a copy of the House Rules, a Scorebook and a SPN Rule Book and a 2-part Roster. 

Score sheets MUST be completed including date of the game, both team names and all substitute players names .  Incomplete score sheets will be considered invalid and will not be counted towards players’ 8 game eligibility. 

At the completion of regular season, PRIOR TO PLAYOFFS, scorebooks must readily available to the Executive if required. All information must be completed as needed. 

If at any time during playoffs, a protest may be filed against the eligibility of players on your team, by the opposing team; and your scorebook will be requested immediately by the Executive to investigate the challenge. 

If you are unable to provide your scorebook, immediately upon request, your team will forfeit the protest challenge; regardless of the validity of your player and will face a $35 forfeit fine. 

All rosters must be completed and handed in by June 30, 2017 or sooner. FULL COMPLETE NAMES are required on the roster; no nicknames! 

If your roster is not received by the June 30, 2017 at the latest, the team will be fined $35 and any future wins will be recorded as forfeits until it is received. If still not received by the end of the round robin, you will not qualify for a playoff schedule. 

All completed rosters will be kept on file with the league so that they can be referred to as needed. FULL COMPLETE NAMES are required on the roster; no nicknames. 

Teams are eligible to have players on their roster from opposing nights. For example, a player that is on the roster of a team playing Monday/Wednesday can also be on the roster of a team playing Tuesday/Thursday. Players cannot be on the roster of (2) two different teams that play on the same night. 

Changes can be submitted to your roster at any time prior to July 15th by sending an email with the complete name, address and phone number of the amending player. HOWEVER, keep in mind that players MUST have 8 games (verified by game score sheets) to be eligible for playoffs. 

Each team consists of 7 males and 3 females.  

A team MAY consist of a minimum of 9 players, 3 of which must be female.  The 10th player on the line-up will be an automatic out.   

If starting with 9 players and the 10th player shows up prior to the end of the 3rd inning, the player shall be permitted to enter the game.  Thus reverting to a 10 player line-up with no auto out. This person must be identified on the score sheet. 

Females CAN to go into the game in place of a male. 

Players can be borrowed from all divisions; i.e. Monday/Wednesday can borrow from Tuesday/Thursday and vice-versa. However, the eligibility rule comes into effect; players must have 8 games to be eligible for playoffs. 

All players must be able to present photo ID on request AT ANY TIME at the diamonds. 

PLAYERS CANNOT BE BORROWED DURING THE POST-SEASON PLAY (PLAYOFFS). 

Extra hitters are allowed and the line-up MAY consist of the following: 

If a team is using the EH rule and a player is injured and cannot be replaced, teams must revert back to: 

Scores MUST be reported by the winning team and MUST be reported within 24 hours. If your scores are not reported on a timely basis, this may affect your standings for the next round and/or playoffs.  

If scores are not reported within 24 hours, a 7-7 tie will be issued by the league. 

Teams are given a 4 digit password to report scores on-line. This password will be emailed to the captains at the beginning of the season. Captains or team contacts are responsible for notifying the league if they do not receive a code. 

Forfeits are recorded as a 7-0 by the winning team and/or the league  and ‘Forfeit by Home Team’ or ‘Forfeit by Visiting Team’ MUST be shown so that scores are reported correctly. A note in the heading is useful as to why there was a forfeit (e.g. not enough players, insufficient equipment, no show). 

Teams that forfeit their game will be fined $35 from their bond to cover the cost of the umpire for that game.  The only exception would be if a team notifies the league 24 hours in advance that they will be forfeiting their game due to I.E. lack of players. 

Ties should be reported by the BOTH teams to verify it has been done. 

All players must be at least 18 years of age to play in the league. 

Team must purchase their own set of bases (including an orange/white safety bag for first base) and all bases MUST BE DOUBLE PEGGED. So purchase extra pegs. It is also suggested that teams purchase extra cones so that foul lines, out-of-bounds, commitment line and safety line can be marked (this will make it easier for your umpire and yourselves). A 100 ft. measuring tape is also recommended as base lines must be measured out appropriately. 

Teams are provided with a wooden mat, balls (12” and 11”), foul line marker cones and a scorebook with roster. Teams are responsible for providing bases, including a safety bag with pegs as well as a 100 ft. measuring tape to measure out the base lines. 

Home team shall supply the wooden mat, marker cones, 2 bases and a safety bag for first base (including pegs). Home teams that do not provide at least the mat and bases (with pegs) at game time will forfeit the game.  ALL BAGS MUST BE DOUBLED PEGGED or TEAMS WILL BE FINED $35.00 AND YOUR GAME WILL BE FORFEITED. 

The mat measures 24 inches by 36 inches. The mat is to cover the complete triangle of home plate and CANNOT BE ALTERED (i.e. cut-out to match the plate). Any altered mat will result in a call of an equipment infraction and a forfeit may be issued at umpire’s discretion. Any altered mat MUST BE replaced before the next regularly scheduled game. 

Teams are provided with cones to mark out the foul lines on 1st and 3rd base. It is recommended that you use additional cones to mark the commitment line and safety line and the out-of-bounds. This will make the umpire’s job easier and less hassle for your team. 

A safety bag at first base must be used. The base runner MUST touch the orange portion of the bag whenever running to or if there is a play at first base. There is no sliding or diving into first base. If done batter is considered out.

The offensive team shall begin its half of the inning with one out and a runner on 2nd. 

The runner on 2nd shall be the player who PRECEDES (is before) the legal batter in the order up to bat.  

The defensive team shall begin its half of the inning in the same manner. 

A player must be on the team roster and have played at least 8 games to be eligible for post-season play.   

Each player MUST have photo ID and be on hand to present at a league representative’s request. 

Any player that is not on a league roster; or whose information was on the roster but is incorrect, unreadable or incomplete; or whom cannot produce photo ID (during playoffs) if requested will be deemed ineligible to play.  

The City field closure line will be used to determine of a game is a rainout or not.  

The line is updated every day by 4:00pm. 

If it is raining and the announcement states that the fields are OPEN or OPEN At User’s Discretion; the teams MUST SHOW UP AT THE DIAMONDS.  

If it begins raining on the way to your game, you must show up at the diamond, DO NOT CALL THE LEAGUE, the umpires will make the final decision regarding whether or not the game will be played. 

Teams are responsible for checking the website regularly and informing their players under these conditions.  

All games will start at 6:15pm or 7:45pm. There will be a 10 minute grace period allowed for early games only. Additional grace time is at the discretion of the umpire. 

Games will consist of 7 innings. No new inning will start after 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

Should a game have to be called early due to bad weather or darkness, then a game may be considered a complete game after 5 complete innings, 

If 5 complete innings have not been played then the game will be rescheduled. 

A team may only score a maximum of 5 runs in the first 6 innings (with the exception of last inning). 

If either team is losing by 15 or more runs after 5 or 6 complete innings, it will be considered a mercy and the game will be over. 

Home team does not bat if they are up by 15 runs in the bottom of the 5th or 6th inning. 

A strike shall be called when the ball comes in contact with any portion of the wooden mat, provided the pitch is legal or swung at by the batter. 

While a batter’s box is not ‘chalked’, an “intentional box” is measured and MAY be enforced by the umpire: 

When the ball is hit and lands on the mat, remains on the mat or rolls forward, it is considered a LIVE BALL. 

When the ball is hit and lands on the mat and rolls to the side or back, it is a DEAD ball. 

The distance between all bases shall be 65 feet. 

The distance from home plate to 2nd base shall be 92 feet. 

The commitment line shall be drawn 20 feet from the top left hand corner of the home plate mat and perpendicular to the 3rd base line. 

Home plate plays shall be considered a “force out” and a tag need not be made.  NO TAG IS TO BE MADE AT HOME! 

If the runner has not passed the commitment line, he/she has the option of returning to 3rd base. 

A safety line shall be drawn perpendicular to the 3rd base line, from the top right hand corner of the PLATE straight across to the backstop. 

The runner must cross the safety/scoring line before the ball is caught at home. 

If the runner touches the mat they will be called out. 

The catcher gets the entire mat at home as the plate is covered. 

A runner shall be called out for leaving the base (ACCIDENTALLY OR INTENTIONALLY) before the ball is hit. No anticipation! 

A team is allowed a maximum of 3 pinch runners per game. 

With any 4 balls and 0 strike pitches to a male with a female batter following in the order, the male can proceed to 2nd base and the female MUST bat. 

On a walk that includes a strike, even with a female next in the batting order, the male only gets to go to 1st base and the female MUST bat. 

NO BUNTING ALLOWED! 

Teams will have 1 (one) representative to conference directly with the umpire with ALL concerns or questions. This representative must be the player that attends the captains meeting at the plate prior to the start of the game.  

Umpires are obligated to give 1 (one) verbal warning before an ejection if a serious offence occurs. Repeat offenders will be treated as follows following an issued verbal warning: 

Physical abuse of an umpire will result in a formal complaint being filed with the sanctioning body and the umpire association. The offending player MAY face further suspensions at the discretion of the sanctioning body and umpire association.  Assaulting an umpire is serious offence which has serious consequences. 

Any conflict occurring between umpires and/or players must be brought to the attention of the league, in writing, following the end of the game. 

OCSA will not be held liable for any female player participating in the league while pregnant! 

Jewellery is allowed but must be covered by medical tape. It is recommended that loose jewellery is removed. 

The umpires and Oil City Slo-pitch Association will not be held liable for any player injured due to wearing jewellery while playing. 

All official softball bats, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF: 

the Miken Ultra II,  

the Jak’d Nemysis,  

the Jak’d Blackout, 

and the Krankenstein, 

UMPIRES WILL DO A “BAT CHECK” PRIOR TO THE START OF EACH GAME – illegal or damaged bats will not be allowed. 

All stamps (including USSSA, ASA, NSA, ISF, or any combination thereof) are allowed. However, the league reserves the right to amend the list at any time. 

Any bats deemed to be of concern should be brought to the attention of the league and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 

Players caught using an illegal bat that is not approved for play shall receive a warning and the bat will be immediately removed from the game. If the player brings out the bat again in the same or future game, the player and the bat will be removed from the game and the player will be suspended for 8 (eight) games. 

Players caught using an illegal bat that is not approved for play and that bat is involved in any loss or injury to another player will be treated as follows: 

The “illegal” bat will be immediately confiscated by the Umpire. 

The player caught using the “illegal” bat will be suspended for the remainder of the current season. 

If the player returns to the league following suspension (i.e. next season); and commits a second offence; the player will be suspended for life from the league. 

Players involved in any loss or injury to another player may also be held liable for said loss or injury by the injured player. 

Under no circumstances shall there be alcohol on the diamonds or park area before, during or after the games. The league will discipline any player or umpire caught violating the rules set out by the City of Edmonton.