2008 INTERLOCK LEAGUE RULES

1.         C.S.A., O.A.S.A. AND P.W.S.A. playing rules will prevail in all divisions. The following are the ONLY ACCEPTABLE exceptions to the stated rules.



2.         All games are free re-entry and all players must be in the batting order. Each game must start and end with a minimum of 8 players. A maximum of 16 players may be registered on a team. Teams must have a minimum of 11 players in order to commit to the Interlock Program.


EFFECT:  Any team with less than 11 players could be subject to suspension for the balance of the season.



3.         No player can sit out for two consecutive innings except for disciplinary reasons or injury.


EFFECT:  If a team is found to have committed an infraction of the rule, the president of the offending team’s league shall be notified of the infraction and required to rectify the situation.  In the event that notification of the team’s league president fails to satisfactorily resolve the matter, it shall be referred to the Scarborough Softball Association (“SSA”) for resolution which may result in suspension of coaches and/or teams, forfeiture of games and/or such other disposition as the SSA may deem appropriate.



4.         A pitcher can pitch a maximum of 4 innings per game. The starting pitcher must be noted on the line-up and all subsequent pitching changes must be made through the umpire and opposition’s scorekeeper.

 

EXCEPTION:  No maximum innings pitched for Bantam and Midget Boys & Girls Divisions



5.         A maximum of 2 overage players are permitted on each team provided the League they represent does not have a team registered in the next older division. The overage players may not play in the pitching position and may only be one birth year older.


NOTE:  Overage Players MUST be indicated on the Score Sheet
EXCEPTION:  Overage players are not permitted in the Midget Division

 

 

6.         The mercy rule is 5 runs per inning except in the last inning which will be unlimited runs. The designation of the last inning is the responsibility of the coaches. If coaches cannot agree on the last inning, the umpire will make the decision and his decision will be final.


EFFECT:  If the game cannot be completed due to darkness, weather, curfew or other allowable reason and the home team is at bat and leading, the score will stand at that time. Otherwise, the final score will revert back to the last complete inning.



7.         Home team will supply bases and a new game ball (CORE 47). The visiting team will supply a good second ball.


EFFECT:  Failure to supply bases and/or a new ball by the home team will result in the loss of the home team advantage.



8.         Pitching and Base Distances are as follows: 

 

DIVISION

PITCHING

BASES

Novice

38 feet

60 feet

Bantam & Midget Girls

40 feet

60 feet

PeeWee

40 feet

60 feet

Bantam Boys

42 feet

60 feet

Midget Boys

46 feet

60 feet

 

 

9.         Players signed to OASA and PWSA certificates are not eligible to play. Players released from PWSA or OASA certificate may play after receiving approval from Scarborough Softball Association Registrar. Boys are not eligible to play on girls’ teams’.



10.        A maximum of 3 Players may be called up. The call ups can not be more than 2 birth years younger than the division they are being called to (or 3 birth years younger if there is no affiliated team playing in the division immediately below the division to which the player is being called up) in order to allow the team to meet a maximum of 10 players and the called up player(s) must play. Call-ups are still subject to all rules of sitting innings out. The called up player(s) must be indicated as such on the score sheet and cannot play more innings than the regular team members. Players can only be called up a MAXIMUM of 3 times during regular season play.

EFFECT:  Failure to comply will result in a forfeit.



11.        The home team is the official scorekeeper. Score sheets of the winning team must be signed by the umpire and kept until the end of the season. The final score must be telephoned or emailed to the convenor within 48 hours of the end of the game by the coach of the winning team

EFFECT:  Failure to call in the winning score within the 48-hour period will result in your League President being notified. A second offence  will result in a forfeit by the offending team and a score of 7-0 will be entered.

 

RESCHEDULING GAMES


12.        Games will be rescheduled for the following reasons ONLY:

            a)  weather

            b)  Games ordered to replayed as a result of protests; or

            c)  rosters reduced due to school graduations (Peewee Boys/Novice Girls Divisions only)

 

13.        The process for rescheduling games will be as follows:

            a)  S.S.A. will re-schedule all Interlock Games

            b)  The Convenor will give both teams a minimum of 48-hour notice.


EFFECT:  Failure to abide by the conditions set above will result in a forfeit by the offending team and a Score of 7-0 will be entered.

14.          The determination of whether a diamond is playable is the Umpire’s and the decision is final.



15.          The supply of umpires is the responsibility of SSA.  Every attempt will be made to have 2 qualified umpires but if only one shows, it is not grounds for suspension of play or protest. Coaches or convenors cannot umpire in their own division. The Plate umpire must be a minimum of 2 years older than the players in the division playing and must be sufficiently competent to carry out the job.

NOTE: Each team will be responsible for payment of one Umpire. If only one umpire shows, Payment is 1.5 times the single Umpire rate. SSA umpires are paid $8.00 travel expenses if the game is called due to weather before it starts.



PROTEST AND SUSPENSIONS


16.        Protests will be ruled on by the Discipline Committee as soon as possible. Protest will only be accepted in writing by the division convenor, within 48 hours and with a $25.00 deposit. If the Protest is upheld, the money will refunded. The decision of the discipline committee is final.



17.        Players or team officials ejected during play or at the conclusion of play by the umpire will leave the playing field and if so designated by the umpire the park. A first ejection carries an immediate suspension of 1 complete game played. A second ejection in the same season results in an automatic suspension of 3 games. An additional ejection in the same season will result in a suspension for the balance of the season and review by the Discipline Committee which may alter the suspension either by increasing or decreasing the penalty. The coach of the team with the ejected player is responsible for communicating the ejection to the divisional convenor.
EFFECT:  Failure to report an ejection to the convenor prior to the next game will result in a forfeiture of the subsequent game and any additional games until the ejection is reported.



18.        Players, coaches, managers and team fans expected to behave in a sportsmanlike manner.  If in the opinion of the umpire, the principles of sportsmanship are not being adhered to, the umpire has the authority to eject these individuals from the game and or the park. Teams are responsible for the removal of ejected fans.

EFFECT:  If, after a fair period of time, ejected players, coaches or fans refuse to leave the park as directed by the umpire, the team to which they belong will forfeit the game. Umpire decision is final.



19.        Interlock suspension will carry into playoffs and SSA hosted tournaments.



20.        Casts (plaster, metal or other hard substances in its final form) may not be worn in the game. Jewelry, taped or otherwise such as wristwatches, bracelets, any type of earring, neck chains or any other items judged dangerous by the umpire may not be worn during the game.  Medic alert bracelets or chains are not considered jewelry (CSA rule 3-9).  Players are not permitted to wear shorts or pants which do not completely cover the leg.


EFFECT: If a player is requested by the umpire to remove jewelry, illegal shoes or illegal parts of the uniform and they refuse, the player will be removed from the game and ruled ineligible.

 


21.        GAME TIMES

 

First Game:                  6:30PM Default Time 6:45PM No new Inning after 8:15PM
                                    Game over at 8:30PM


Second Game:             8:45PM Default Time 9:00PM No new Inning after 10:30PM
                                    Game over at 10:45PM.



22.        If when playing on a diamond without lights, in the opinion of the umpire, it is to dark to safely proceed, the game will be declared, by the umpire, as complete.

EFFECT: If the home team is at bat and leading the score will stand at that time. Otherwise, the final score will revert back to the last complete inning.

 

23.        All games will be considered complete if:


(a)  it completes 7 innings (6 ˝ if the home team is winning)
(b)  after 2 or more complete innings (1 ˝ if the home team is winning)
(c)  the game has progressed to curfew time
(d)  the mercy rule (if a team leads by 14 runs anytime after 5 innings (4 ˝ if home team

       is winning)
(e)  when playing on a diamond without lights, in the opinion of the umpire, it is too dark

       to safely proceed with the game.

EFFECT:  If the home team is at bat and leading, the score will stand at that time. Otherwise, the final score will revert back to the last complete inning.


SCARBOROUGH SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION, April 2008