The Official Softball Canada Rule Book Fast Pitch and Orthodox Pitching Shall Govern With The Following Exceptions:

• Div 2: Minimum 7 players to start, (maximum 9 on the field). Div 3,4,5: Minimum 7 players to start, (maximum 10 on the field). 15 minute grace period. HPSA has no gender requirements; all genders can play in all divisions with no co-ed specific rules in place.
• Pitchers may pitch for 1 team per division as long as they are on the roster. Substitute players may not pitch.
• Leading off and stealing allowed only once the ball crosses the plate, not when the ball leaves the pitchers hand.
• Bunting is allowed. However, the batter may not show bunt and then swing away. This will result in an automatic out; the next occurrence by anyone (either team) is out & ejected.
• Commitment Line halfway between third and home, Safe Line at home. No tagging allowed past the Commitment Line, i.e. always force play at plate. Runner cannot touch the plate except to avoid collision. A runner may not slide at home. A runner sliding at home will be out.
• Home team will supply 1 authorized new ball, visiting team 1 good used authorized second ball.
• When a batted ball is hit out of the field of play (home run or foul), the batting team must immediately send a player to retrieve the ball.
• A full game is 7 innings, and no new inning will begin after 1 hr and 40 min from scheduled start time. The maximum length of a game is the lesser of 1 hour and 50 min or lights curfew.  Scores will revert to the last full inning.  Ties will stand.
• Teams may give up their at bats for a full inning, or the remainder of an inning, in lieu of having batters/runners intentionally “get out” to speed up the game. Scheduled batters do not lose their at bats, they bat the next inning if their team takes their at bats. This can be done an unlimited amount of times per game.
• Teams must show up at the park rain or shine. Games called due to bad weather or poor field conditions will be considered official after 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead and after 4 innings if the visiting team is ahead or an hour of game time (excluding weather related delays) has elapsed, for both regular season and playoffs.
• Teams may use up to 5 eligible substitution players in any one game, to reach up to 10 (div 2) 11 players (divs 3, 4, 5). Substitution players must be identified to the opposing team prior to the start of the game.
• Substitution players may NOT be used as pitchers. Substitution players must bat last (after the regular team members) up until the pre-game officials meeting. After that any player who arrives goes to the bottom of the order in the order in which they arrive. They must be declared at the pre-game meeting
• Unlimited courtesy runners are allowed for a maximum of 4 players (injured or not). The courtesy runner must be the person furthest from the batter in the line-up unless this is an injured player, in which case the runner would then be the next person in the line-up.
• Players may leave the game at any time without penalty as long as the minimum number (7) are left.
• No soccer, hard plastic, or metal cleats are allowed. An umpire can ask a player to remove cleats should they feel they are a safety risk.
• Jewellery can be worn, but is not recommended. A player may be asked to remove their jewellery (excluding any medical id jewellery) if the umpire deems it unsafe or distracting. If the player does not comply they may be removed from the game.
• Bases MUST be 65 feet apart, and the pitching rubber MUST be 46 feet from the plate. The home team is responsible to ensure this is done correctly and in a timely basis using an accurate measuring tool.
• Bases are to be secured 15 minutes before start of game by the home team. Safety bases must be used at First Base.
• Shirts must have sleeves. Shorts are permitted but not recommended.
• Mercy Rule of 7 runs per inning maximum for first 4 innings only. Any subsequent inning is “open”. Should any team be leading by 20 runs after 5 full innings, the game will be ended.
• No smoking, including vaping, in the dugout, field, or spectator areas. No alcoholic beverages/marijuana use in the park at all.
• Only team captains, or a designated captain, may approach the umpire about any aspect of the game.
• Ball must be 12-Inch Worth SPN Grey Dot Optic Yellow.
• All bats must have one of the following symbols to be used:

Remember, each of these will come with a minimum one-game suspension at the very least

1. Question the umpires strike zone.
2. Bring league rules or softball Canada rule book onto the field.
3. Wear shorts that don’t go below the knee.
4. Don’t remove jewelry after an umpire’s warning.
5. Speak in a derogatory or disrespectful manner to an umpire.
6. Discuss a game situation or ask a question of the umpire without asking that umpire first if it is okay to do so.  (The umpire may prefer that the question or discussion be carried out by the captain)
7. Question an umpire’s subjective ruling such as a close play at a base (especially in a challenging or disrespectful manner or with excessive negative body language).
8. Sweat at anyone for any reason, even at yourself (say if you miss a ball).
9. Smoke, drink or take illegal drugs on the field or permit area.
10. Fight, threaten or intimidate anyone (or appear to do so).
11. assume that all umpires react exactly the same to a given situation.
12. Show up the umpire in any way.  (Example: draw a line in the dirt where you think the ball crossed the batter’s box after the ump calls a strike)
13. Partake in any illegal activity.
14. Excessively argue with anyone, even teammates or spectators.
15. Ignore an umpire’s warning.
16. Make a fake tag.
17. Throw a bat, glove or any equipment in anger or disgust (or lose your self control in other ways such as yelling if you don’t like a call).
18. Use an altered or banned bat.
19. Physical contact with an umpire, teammate, opponent, spectator, city worker or league official that’s meant to intimidate, instigate, elevate or respond.
20. Partake in unsportsmanlike or racist or anti-social behaviour.
21. Make personal comments, insults, yell or make other types of attacks or intimidation against an umpire, teammate, opponent, spectator, city worker or league official for any reason.
22. Make gestures or show disgust at an umpire’s call or decision.

NOTE: The right way to handle things is to have your captain or GM email the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner after the game.  We promise to deal with it as promptly as we can at the time.  (Lose the battle, win the war)

NOTE: Complaints appear more plausible coming from teams that also send occasional comments on satisfaction, especially by umpires.