Winkler Mixed Slo-Pitch League - Rules (2023)

(New rules are highlighted in red)

1. General Rules

1. All league players play at their own risk.  Neither participants of the Winkler Mixed Slo-Pitch League, nor the league committee itself are liable for any injuries sustained during league or tournament play.
2. Please show good sportsmanship to the umpires and other teams. Any unsportsmanlike conduct or verbal abuse will not be tolerated. Persons found breaking this rule will be dealt with up to and including suspensions or banishment from the league.
3. The league reserves the right to disqualify any team from the tournament if they do not fulfill all of their umpiring duties.  Two umpires are MANDATORY at every league game. 
4. Winning teams are required to submit the final score either through the app as soon as the game comes to a conclusion using the following format: Away Team: Score vs. Home Team: Score (ie: Bomb Squad 14 vs. Long Shots 13). This way, league standings can be kept up to date on the website.
5. Home teams are to supply game balls. (Home plate mats are now supplied by the WMSPL)
6. Metal cleats are NOT permitted.

2. Standings

7. The League is divided into two divisions.  Divisions are determined prior to each season based on the standings from the previous season.
   1. The two teams that finished at the bottom of the A-side regular season standings from the previous season will move down to B-side for the upcoming season.  The two teams that finished at the top of the B-side regular season standings from the previous season will move up to A-side for the upcoming season.
   2. The placement of new teams will be determined by the League Executive and may require additional movement of existing teams
   3. Prior to the Spring Meeting, teams are allowed to request a division switch.  The executive may allow teams to switch divisions if mutually agreed upon by both teams.
8. Regular Season Tie Breaker Rules
   1. Scenario 1.1 – Two-way tie
      1. Win/Loss Record.  If tied...
      2. Head-to-head Record – the team winning the head-to-head matchup during the season will clinch the top seed.  If tied... 
      3. Runs for and against – the difference between runs for and runs against in all games played.  If still tied...
      4. Coin Toss
   2. Scenario 2.1 – Three-way tie
      1. Win/Loss Record.  If tied...
      2. Head-to-head Record – Teams will be ranked based on record against like teams.  If two of the teams have identical head-to-head records, refer to Scenario 1.1.2.  If all three teams have identical head-to-head records...
      3. Runs for and against – the remaining tied teams are ranked based on their Runs For and against differential from all games played.  Teams that were tied following the head-to-head will then be ranked based on run differential.  If still tied...
      4. Coin Toss
   3. Scenario 3.2 – Four-way tie
      1. Win/Loss Record.  If tied...
      2. Head-to-Head Record - Teams will be ranked based on record against like teams.  If two of the teams have identical head-to-head records, refer to Scenario 1.1.  If three of the teams have identical head-to-head records refer to scenario 2.1.  If two or more teams are still tied after the Head-to-Head record but one team is determined the top seed, then repeat head-to-head scenario using remaining teams.  If all four teams have identical head-to-head records...
      3. Runs for and against – the remaining tied teams are ranked based on their Runs For and against differential from all games played.  If still tied...
      4. Coin toss

3. Rosters / Subs

9. Teams must have a minimum of 8 players to play a game (Including 4 female players). Any missing player after that is an automatic out.
10. Once removed from a game, a player can no longer re-enter that game.  If a player is removed from a game with no subs listed on the line-up, that position of the batting order becomes an automatic out. 
11. **The batting line-up may NEVER consist of more than 2 male batters in a row. For example: You may set up your batting order like the following:  F-M-M-F-M-M-F-M-M-F-M (OR) M-F-M-M-F-M-M-F-M-M-F (OR) M-M-F-M-M-F-M-M-F-M-F
12. Teams are allowed to have a female DH as well as a male DH for a total of 12 batters in the line-up. Of course, only 10 batters are allowed to bat per inning until the 9^th inning.
13. Male players must play a minimum of 4 games and females 3 games, during the regular season to qualify for tournament play. Teams caught violating this rule will be dealt with accordingly; up to and including disqualification from tournament play.
14. Players must be 18 years of age or older to play unless the player’s parent or guardian has signed the league waiver and registered as an underage player.  NO underage players will be permitted to play in the league tournament. 
15. Players listed on the “Sub-List” will be the ONLY players allowed to play for more than one team during the season. These players may join a team fulltime and compete in the WMSPL Tournament IF they meet the following two conditions: 1: They have their names and contact information listed on the “Sub-List” AND; 2: They have to let the WMSPL committee know that they have committed to a single team before the Free Agency Deadline. Players on the Sub List must also have met the minimum game requirements in order to play with your team (4 games for guys, 3 for girls, with your team). Please contact the league executive with your Free Agent Signings before the deadline. This year’s Free Agency Deadline is August 7th.  ALL other players listed on the “Sub-List” are NOT eligible to play in the WMSPL Tournament.

4. Scheduling / Cancellations / Mercy Rule / Extra Innings

16. All games are to start at 7pm unless otherwise stated in the regular season schedule.
17. Games cancelled due to inclement weather or poor field conditions must be rescheduled by the HOME team. The HOME team is also responsible for the following:

• Informing the umpires that the game is cancelled.
• Informing the executive that the game has been cancelled.
• Re-scheduling the game with the other team and Winkler Parks & Rec (204)325-8333 or jdriedger@cityofwinkler.ca.
• Please NOTE: If you are unsure if the diamonds are playable due to bad weather please call Parks & Rec (204)325-8333 or check the website for the latest diamond information (www.winklerslopitch.com).

18. Teams that cancel games are responsible for paying the lighting costs ($20.00 + $20 Refundable Deposit) and picking up the key from the Rec department for use during late games.  Any team that re-schedules more than two games, for a reason other than weather, will be fined $40
19. Please schedule practices through Winkler Parks & Rec.  The cost to rent the diamond for a practice is $37.14.
20. After 5 complete innings a 10-run mercy rule is an option to the losing team.
21. If a game is tied after 9 innings, the international rule is in effect. The last out of the previous inning gets to go to second base to start the 10^th inning.
22. Once five (or more) complete innings have been played, the game becomes official; whichever team is leading, after the game is called due to weather, wins.
    1. However, If the home team is leading after the visitor's have completed their half of the fifth inning, the home team is declared the winner and does not have to complete the bottom half of the fifth inning.
    2. However, if a game is suspended after the fifth inning and the visiting team has scored to take the lead in the top half of the inning before the home team has a chance to bat in the bottom half of the inning, the game will be suspended and completed at a later date.
    3. A game suspended before five innings are complete is determined by the umpire to be a No Game and must be replayed in its entirety at a later date.  The reason for this is that if we continue the games from where it was left off, teams would need to have exactly the same roster.  This may be difficult to do. 
    4. If one team is losing by 10 runs at the time of the weather delay, that team has the option to call the game complete, regardless of inning. 

5. Playoff Rules

23. Tournament date is always during the Corn and Apple Weekend in August (this year that is Aug. 22nd-24th).
24. All players playing in the tournament must have their minimum number of Games played during the regular season as read in rule 13.  All male players must play in a minimum of 4 regular season games and females 3 regular season games with your team to qualify for tournament play, this includes Free Agents signed off of the Sub List. There are absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. Teams caught violating this rule will be dealt with accordingly; up to and including disqualification from tournament play.
25. Any team that does not show up for their game for any reason automatically forfeits that game.  Teams are given a 15-minute grace period to show up.  The team that does not show up gets a minus 15 and the winning team receives a plus 15.  Any team that does not show up for a tournament game will be dealt with accordingly.
26. For all round robin games, a 15-run mercy rule is in effect after 7 innings of play.  Teams do not have the option to continue play.  In semi-final and final games, the mercy rule is optional for the losing team. 
    1. The mercy rule will apply following the completion of the 7^th or 8^th inning. 
    2. If the home team is winning by mercy, the game will be complete following the top of the 7^th, 8^th or 9^th inning. 
27. All playoff games will be complete after a winner is determined.  Therefore, the bottom of the ninth inning will not be played if the home team is winning after 8.5 innings.  Runs for and against will still be calculated based on the final score. 
28. The infield fly rule is in effect for all playoff games.
29. In the event of a tie game, international rules will be in effect for extra innings.
30. Teams will be re-seeded following the round robin to determine home field in final and semi-final games.
31. Ties in the standings will be resolved using the following tie breaker rules:
    1. Head-to-head match-up in round robin
    2. Runs for and against
    3. Regular season standings
32. Umpires should check the score and homerun totals after each inning.
33. Teams are responsible for collecting their home run balls.

6. Game Play Rules – Below are specific WMSPL rules. The SPN rule book applies to anything not covered here: https://www.slo-pitch.com/sites/default/files/2020_SPN-Rulebook-WEB%20OP.pdf.

Batting

34. WMSPL Bat Policy:
    1. All legal bats used in WMSPL play will NEED to have one of the following compliance stamps. ISF 2005, WBSC, ASA 2000, ASA 2004, USA SOFTBALL, USSSA.
    2. All Bats appearing on the USA Softball Non-Approved Bat List will NOT be approved for play in the WMSPL
    3. For the safety of our league, should a bat have the USSSA stamps and appear on the Non-Approved List, the Non-Approved List will be upheld.
    4. Altered or Modified Bats are strictly prohibited from play in the WMSPL
    5. The bat must pass a visual inspection per the current Softball Canada rulebook. (Playoff Tournament Only***)
35. A maximum of 10 batters or 3 outs per inning. Except in the 9^th inning which is open and is only completed when the defensive team completes 3 outs.
36. The 10^th batter cannot be walked. If the 10^th batter does receive 4 balls ALL base runners advance 1 base and the batter gets a new count. 
    1. In the case of a last batter receiving a walk on 4 balls (0 strikes), the runners who are forced can move up two bases. 
37. Each team is allowed 5 (over the fence) homeruns per game. After 5 homeruns, any additional homerun will count only if the homerun count for the two teams is within 2.  For example, Team A cannot hit a 6^th homerun until Team B has hit 4 homeruns.  Any homeruns hit after the limit will be a single and will count towards the team’s total homeruns.  All other runners may take a base ONLY If FORCED to.
38. Teams hitting a homerun are required to get the ball. This is not the responsibility of the home team. Balls are expensive so please try to find any and all homerun balls.
39. If a batter receives 4 straight balls it is an automatic double. If a female batter is next, they have the option of batting or going to 1^st base.  If two female batters are hitting back-to-back and the first batter receives 4 straight balls the female batter behind her can choose to either hit or take the walk to first base.
40. Males only: Any ball (line drive or grounder) hit up the middle in line with the rubber pitching mound that makes contact with the pitcher or causes the pitcher to move of the way in self defense will be called out.  This play results in a dead ball and runners cannot advance.  This rule applies to males only. However if the pitcher decides to move off of the rubber (moving either left or right) before the ball is hit to act as a 5th infielder for defense, any hit over the rubber that doesn't cause the pitcher to defend themself will be considered a live ball.
41. Batters are encouraged to wear helmets. 

Fielding

42. Only one person in the outfield is allowed inside the 165 ft line when a female is batting.
43. Tagging at home is not permitted.  Tagging at first base is allowed.
44. For plays at home, the fielder must have their foot on the actual home plate and not just the strike mat in order for the runner attempting to score to be called out.

Pitching

45. Pitchers must obey the following pitch arc rule: 12-foot maximum height and a 6-foot minimum height. Umpires make the final call.
46. Pitchers must touch the pitching rubber or an area directly behind the pitching rubber at some point during the pitch.
47. Any legal pitch that lands on the exposed part of home plate, in front of the strike mat, will be called a ball, unless of course the batter swings.

Base Running

48. No touching home plate or mat. Any player touching home plate or the mat is automatically out. Running a safe distance behind the plate is mandatory.
49. A line will be drawn perpendicular to home plate by the umpire. All players at home plate will be considered on a force basis. A runner must pass this line prior to the touching of the plate by a defensive player in possession of the ball.
50. Commitment line will be enforced. This is a line that is about 2/3rds the distance from 3^rd base to home plate. Once a runner passes this line he or she cannot go back to 3^rd and must go home.
51. Runners must touch the orange part of the 1^st base if there is a play at first base, failing to do so will result in the runner being called out. Players playing first therefore must use the white part of the bag during a play at first, failing to do so will result in the runner being called safe.
52. When a ball is hit and there is no play at 1^st base, the 1^st base person must get out of the way of the runner. All other infielders are also responsible for not obstructing the base runner while they are advancing around the bases.
53. Sliding is permitted at 2^nd, 3^rd, and back to 1^st base only. There is no sliding into first base or home plate, doing so will result in the base runner being called out on the play.
54. A team is allowed to use up to 3 pinch runners during a game. The last female out or the last male out has to go in to pinch run. There are no exceptions.
55. A baserunner will be called out if their foot leaves their current base prior to the ball being contacted by a batter’s swing.

 

For any situation not clarified above, please refer to the Slo Pitch National Rule Book: https://www.slo-pitch.com/sites/default/files/2020_SPN-Rulebook-WEB%20OP.pdf