2009 Tournament Rules

Team Captain's are responsible for ensuring the integrity of the playing rule guidelines in a sportsmanlike manner, in the spirit of Fun, Fitness, and Fellowship!! All regular season rules apply in conjunction with the following:

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
All games are 60min. or 7 innings, which ever comes first. Do not begin the last inning unless there is at least 5min. left., and, if started, the inning is permitted to complete.
All games must start at the pre-designated start time. The 60min. limit begins at the designated start time.
Games are on unless it is decided and communicated by your league directors. You must be prepared to field a team or risk default.
Teams must start a game with at least 8 players and at least 2 of them must be female (if only 2 of 8 are female, auto out at top of line up rule in effect, if less than 8 players available and/or less than 2 females, then team forfeit 7-0).
Final scores must be entered immediately after the game in the control centre (gazebo).
3 points awarded for a win. 1 point awarded for a tie. 0 Points for a loss.
Tie-breakers to be determined by: 1. Tournament Head-To-Head Results 2. Difference in Runs For and Runs Against; 3. Total Runs For; 4. Higher ranked team in final season standings.

UMPIRES:
A Home Plate Umpire and Field Umpire must be present at pre-delegated games. Captains are responsible for ensure umpire allocations.
Home Plate Umpire is responsible for: fair/foul calls, play at home, dead ball, infield fly, crossing commit line, and play at third base.
Home Plate Umpire must also monitor the 60 minute play clock.
Field Umpire is responsible for play at first base, second base, and outfield.
All decisions made by the Umpires during the game will remain final.
In the event Umpires are not present, the pitcher will resume judgment call responsibilities.

INFIELD:
INFIELD FLY RULE: The batter is out if he/she hits an infield fly and there are less than 2 outs and runners are on first and second or on first, second and third. An infield fly is a fair ball which can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder.
Only a position player at 1st, 2nd, shortstop, or 3rd base can throw a live ball to first base in an effort to get the batter out (ie. Outfield or rover can't field the ball and throw to get the batter out on their way to first. Once the batter has touched first and is rounding the bag, any fielder can make a throw to first base.)
Dead Ball Zone clarification:
If the ball comes to a complete stop before reaching the line drawn to the left and the right of the pitcher's mound, then the ball is considered dead and the hit by the batter counts as one of their 3 or 5 respective swings per at bat

If the ball is still in motion and it is fielded within the dead ball zone prior to it coming to a complete stop, then the ball is live, the batter can run to first and the runners may attempt to advance.

If the ball comes to a stop in the groove in the infield that was created to make the dead ball zone, then the ball is live and the runners and batters may advance.

OUTFIELD:
Outfielders must stay at least 10 paces behind the infield bases before the ball is hit (cones to be placed down the left and right field line at each diamond 10 paces behind 1st and 3rd base)
A pop fly caught in foul territory is an out. There is NO Out of Play rule from the outfield fence to home plate. Foul balls that are hit beyond a park's fence line are out of play. If field conditions require an adjustment to the NO Out of Play Rule (ie. the field is wet, or other safety issues with obstacles (i.e. parking lots)), this rule can be reviewed by the team captains and the umpires prior to any game.
One base is awarded on an overthrow to first, third, or home if the ball goes past the screen, if the ball hits the screen it is still in play and the runners can advance (regardless of where the ball was thrown from or when the ball is thrown).