*** GVMSA Elite Division Rules can be found here.
Greater Victoria Mixed Slo-pitch Association Rules
1.1 CONDUCT
1.2 Have fun and play safe.
1.3 Any action that may jeopardize property on or near the playing fields or the safety of other players, the umpire, spectators, and any person living in the area surrounding the playing field, will not be tolerated.
Penalty: Ejection of player from the game.
1.4 All garbage must be cleaned up after every game, including cigarette butts on fields where smoking is permitted.
1.5 Bathrooms are to be used at all times. Urinating anywhere outside of a bathroom will not be tolerated.
Penalty: Ejection of player from the game.
1.6 During league games, consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
a) During tournaments, alcohol must not be consumed outside the fenced beer gardens. Any alcohol not purchased at the League beer garden is prohibited.
Penalty: Team will be immediately disqualified from the tournament.
2.1 FIELD RULES
2.2 Colville 1 (homer dome)
a) Home Run Rule: i. Men: teams can hit up to 3 home runs, then go up one, when /if the other team also hits 3 home runs. Any additional ball hit untouched over the fair territory fence will be an out. ii. Women: Unlimited. If a female hits a ball that is untouched and lands over the metal section of the fence it is a home run.
b) If a ball gets stuck or hung up in the top section of the mesh netting it will be a ground rule double. i. Any balls that stop between the metal fence and the mesh netting are live and playable.
c) All federal rules set out by DND must be complied with:
Penalty: Possible suspension from league, pending discussion amongst Executive
2.3 Bullen 3 (Lacrosse Box Field)
a) Home Run Rule:
i. Any ball hit into or over the bench in left field is a home run.
ii. No Home Run limit.
b) If a ball rolls past the bench it will be called a ground
2.4 Vic West Field
a) If a ball hits the rock in the air it is a HR. If it rolls onto the rock, last base plus two bags.
b) If a ball is hit into the skate park in the air, it is declared a HR. If it rolls up the skate park hill, it is live. If it rolls into the skate park, last base plus two bags.
3.1 THROWING RULE (RECREATION & "D" DIVISIONS ONLY):
3.2 OUTFIELD TO FIRST BASE RULE: Outfielders, including Rovers, may not directly throw out batters at first base on an initial hit.
- Runners who attempt to advance or turn toward second base may be thrown out.
- Outfielder or Rovers are permitted to relay the ball to Infielders, other than first base, to throw out batters at first base.
4.1 THE GAME
4.2 All players must be rostered by the deadline of July 31st in order to be eligible for playoffs.
4.3 Governing rules. SPN rules will apply except where overruled by these League Rules.
4.4 Called Strike:
a) Any legally pitched ball that comes in contact with any part of the mat will be deemed a strike.
b) Mercy. A mercy will have occurred if after 5 complete innings a team is ahead by 10 runs or after 4 complete innings a team is ahead 15 runs.
4.5 Reporting scores.
a) All scores will be submitted via the website score submission.
b) Score submission is to happen no later than 72 hours from the end of the game played.
c) The home team of the first game will report the scores from both games.
d) To minimize score discrepancies, umpires will be provided with a score card to confirm the score each inning, with each team.
Penalty: The game is recorded as a tie.
4.6 A ‘normal’ line up will be considered 7 males and 3 females.
a) The line up may not have more than 3 males in a row
4.7 Teams may play with a minimum of 9 players and avoid a forfeit, but the missing spot in the lineup will be recorded as an automatic out.
Exception: females can replace males at no penalty and/or automatic out.
4.8 If a team wants to bat more than 10 batters, 1 male and 1 female must be added to the line up, for a total of 12 batters, or 14 batters, etc).
4.9 Bunting. No bunting.
Penalty: Time will be called and the batter will be called out. Any runners that advance will return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch.
4.10 Courtesy Runners:
a) Courtesy runners are only allowed from first base and must be male for male, female for female or female for male.
Exception: courtesy runner may be allowed from 2nd base:
• if batter/base runner is forced to 2nd as a result of a ball going out of play or a male batter was walked in front of a female; or
• if a runner was injured during play on his/her way to 2nd base or 3rd base.
b) Courtesy runners can be anyone listed on the team roster.
c) Unlimited courtesy runners are allowed; however, the same player may only be a courtesy runner once per inning.
4.11 Safety bag. If there is a play at first the runner must use the orange bag.
Penalty: the runner will be called out if they have any contact with the white bag unless the umpire determines that the white bag was used to avoid a collision with a fielder.
4.12 Runners cannot vacate their base until the pitched ball has broken the plane of the strike zone.
Penalty: Runner will be called out.
4.13 Safe line and commitment line are in effect.
a) A Commitment line will be measured out by the umpire prior to the start
4.14 Sliding. Is allowed at 2nd base, 3rd base and returning to 1st base. No sliding at home plate or going to 1st base for the first time.
Penalty: Runner will be called out.
4.15 Ejections. If a player is ejected from the first game of a double header, for any reason, they are automatically disqualified from the second game. If a player is ejected in the second game of a double header, they are disqualified from the next available game. Any person ejected from a tournament game will serve that game and the following game. All ejections will be reviewed by the Executive.
4.16 Walk rule: If a male is walked with any combination of balls and strikes, in front of a female, he will be awarded 2nd base, but the female must bat.
4.17 A team may have a same gender pitcher/catcher combination.
4.18 A batter may not come in contact with home plate while he/she is hitting the ball nor step in front or behind home plate while hitting the ball.
Penalty: Time will be called and the batter will be out, runners may not advance.
4.19 All league games and round robin play in tournaments will be a maximum of 7 innings. No new inning may start after 70 minutes. The last inning of play will be an open inning (no run cap in the inning) and all the previous innings will have a 5 run per inning cap per team. In the event of 7 innings not being able to be played, the umpire will call “open inning” at the top of the last inning.
a) At the sole discretion of the umpire “open inning” may be called before 70 minutes if he/she deems daylight will not allow for safe play.
b) Play-off games will continue until there is a winner with each inning after the 7th being “open”.
c) Extra innings will be played under the international rule (see SPN rulebook).
4.20 If the minimum number of players (9) is not present at the official start of the game, a 10-minute grace period will be awarded before a forfeit is declared. In the case of a double header, an additional 30 minutes will be allowed before the second game is forfeited as well. Both coaches are to notify the Executive if a game is forfeited.
a) To avoid being fined for a forfeited a game, teams must cancel games no later than 24 hours before the official start time of the game by contacting the Executive.
b) A loss will be recorded for any team failing to field a team; the official score for a forfeited game will be 0-7.
4.21 Rainouts: Games will be called at the discretion of the Executive and Umpire in Chief by 3:00 PM on game day.
a) Games called due to weather will be the only games rescheduled and this will be based on field availability.
4.22 Umpire No Shows:
a) If a scheduled umpire does not show up for the game, the teams will be provided credits for the following season.
Appendix 1: One flap softball/baseball helmet.
Appendix 2: Two flap softball/baseball helmet.
Appendix 3: Area in which the team hits a ball and damages a vehicle is held liable in.
