Rules
Respect your fellow players, spectators
and Umpires !!!
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The rules surrounding the "Code of Conduct"Code of Behavior" are very clear and WILL BE adhered to.
The NFSPL has a "Code of Behavior" (see below Rule # 4)
Slo-Pitch National has a "Code of Conduct" http://www.slo-pitch.com/sites/slo-pitch.com/files/SPN%20Code%20of%20Conduct_0.pdf
The City of Niagara Falls has implemented "The R Zone" regarding Respect and Responsibility. https://www.niagarafalls.ca/pdf/recreation/rzone-policy.pdf
Any person(s) reported to the NFSPL to have been in violation of the above codes will be dealt with accordingly.
Please read each code and familiarize yourselves with the consequences.
Ignorance of the codes will never be considered a defense against the codes.
NO ALOCHOLIC BEVERAGES OF ANY KIND IN THE PARK
RULE # 1 - Since some teams & coaches don’t follow the league rule on alcohol in the park, we have been forced to change the rule.
IF ANYONE is caught with alcohol in the park, that player & the coach will receive a 2-game suspension. If this does not solve the problem, the game will be forfeited as well as the next game.
Enough is Enough - Leave the alcohol outside the park
RULE # 2 WINNING TEAM
MUST report the score via email (or phone) within 24 hours or a penalty of points lost will be implemented. One point per team will be awarded (treated as a tie game)
RULE # 3 TEAM WAVERS
So that your team has insurance, waivers MUST be completed through the SPN website before your first game. Additions/deletions can only be made up until August 1st. Keep your players insured.
RULE # 4 CONDUCT
Any player, coach, manager, team representative, etc. who initiates a fight, an incident, an altercation, etc. will be ejected immediately from the game and will be suspended from further League play indefinitely. The Umpire will be required to write a report on each and every ejection. Each suspension will be reviewed by the LEAGUE EXECUTIVE to determine the length and type of suspension. The term of the suspension may be up to and including a permanent suspension. Any team using a SUSPENDED player, coach, manager, team representative, etc. in any capacity related to the playing of the game, will forfeit that game(s), and will be assessed further disciplinary action, which may include SUSPENSION and/or FINE.
Any ejection from the FIRST game of a doubleheader, also applies to the SECOND game.
THAT PLAYER/S MUST LEAVE THE PARK. Failure to do so will result in that team’s forfeit. THESE PENALTIES ARE TO BE VIEWED AS AN AUTOMATIC RULING AND ARE TREATED AS MINIMUMS.
NO WARNINGS, ZERO TOLERANCE.
RULE # 5 THE GAME
All games will be SEVEN (7) innings, or ONE (1) HOUR whereby no NEW inning will start after fifty-five (55) minutes. Except in 5a below, once an inning starts it must be completed. TIE games are possible. FOUR (4) complete innings are required to be considered a complete game (3 1/2, if home team is ahead). Incomplete games will be re-played from the start.
5a) GAME STARTS:
Teams may start a game with a minimum of 8 players. There is NO 'automatic' outs for the ninth or tenth player. Extra players (up to 10 players) may be added to the bottom of the batting order at any time before the end of the game - after 10 players, regular substitution rules apply.
Any team that starts a game with ten (10) or more players may drop to the minimum of 8 players to finish the game, but those spots will be classified as an automatic OUT.
5b) MAN RUNNER:
ONLY 1 "man-runner" may be used per game per team in Co-Ed ONLY.
It will be the last player that was out. (Co-Ed, guy for a guy, girl for a girl)
Starting from the back stop on the extension of the 3rd base line.
If the last out is unable to be a runner, then the previous out will be the runner.
This rule is not to be abused.
5c) COURTESY RUNNERS:
All Co-Ed divisions get three (3); All Men's divisions get five (5)
Courtesy runners are allowed at anytime per game. Each courtesy runner MUST be a different person. No person can be used as a runner more than once per game, except in the case, of “SUBSTITUTE RUNNER” due to an injury, on the play. In this case it MUST be the LAST RUNNER OUT. If last runner OUT is on base, revert to last runner out in sequence. Courtesy runner may be used for a courtesy runner.
5d) GRACE PERIOD:
TEN (10) MINUTES will be allowed for the FIRST (1st) game, of the evening ONLY.
All subsequent games will start on time.
Grace period reduces the game time. Starting time of the SECOND (2nd) game of Double-header will start right after the 1st game, if the FIRST game was played. In the case of a defaulted first game, the team in default will have 30 minutes, (from time of default) in which to obtain the required minimum number of players, for the 2nd game. The 2nd game will start 30 minutes after the first Defaulted game, or until the DEFAULTING team has sufficient players to start a game, whichever comes first.
5e) FORFEITS:
If a team forfeits THREE (3) times, that team will be reviewed & may face suspension from the Niagara Falls Slo-Pitch League
5f) RAIN-OUTS:
Rain-outs will be re-scheduled on nights that we have open available diamonds. IF rain out games cannot be rescheduled, then each team will receive 1 point per game.
5g) ROSTERS:
Players can be on ONE (1) Roster ONLY within a division. (i.e. Men's E, Men's D, Co-ed E)
Teams may borrow players from other teams within their OWN division for Regular Season games ONLY (NOT for Playoffs) so that the game is not defaulted.
Any borrowed players, MUST be on an NFSPL roster.
No borrowing fans / spectators / people not registered in the NFSPL.
5h) UMBRELLA RULE:
Any rule not covered above, or outlined in the SPN rule book, will be ruled by the League Executive and be final.
RULE # 6 GAME SCHEDULE:
It is the policy of NFSPL NOT to re-schedule games once the schedule has been distributed. Any team unable to play a scheduled game will be given a loss and may be subject to default. If you are unable to field a team for any reason, you MUST advise the League Executive via email or phone, at least 24 hours prior to scheduled game TIME AND DATE. Failure to comply with this rule, will be treated as a forfeit by the offending team and result in the offending team being responsible for both teams umpire fees.
6a) Playoffs:
Playoffs in a non-COVID altered year will be played as scheduled. Round Robin format will be used.
CO-ED DIVISIONS
RULE # 1: Games may be played with 6 male and 4 female. A minimum of 4 females to a maximum of 6 females, defensively and a minimum of 4
males to a maximum of 6 males, defensively, must be maintained in a Co-ed Game.
1a) If you begin the game with fewer than 10 players (ie, 4 & 4, or 4 & 5) the 9th and 10th players may be added to the bottom of the batting order upon their late arrival. Other team's scorekeepers must be notified.
After 10 players, no other late arrivals may be added without following the regular substitution rules.
1b) Unlimited free substitution on defense only, but the batting order MUST remain even numbers at all times (10, 12, 14, 16, etc), you can
have more girls than guys i.e.….If you have 7 guys & 5 girls, the guys can play defense only without making a substitution, however, when
put into the batting order, substitution rules apply (must be announced to the umpire and the player he is substituting for must come out of
the batting order) max 6 guys in the field at any one time
All players may play defensively only at any time, as long as there are minimum 4 females and a maximum of 6 in the field and a max of 6
females and a minimum of 4 males and a maximum of 6 males.
RULE # 2 CO-ED BATTING ORDER
If an unlimited batting order is used, there must be an equal number of males and females added to the batting order. ie. A 6-4 team may
become a 7-5, 8-6 etc.
a) A team may have more females in the batting order than males
b) The batting order for Coed slo-pitch no longer has to alternate sexes. Guys can bat back to back, and girls can bat back to back.
c) A team may start a game with 8 or 9 players without taking an out, minimum of 4 females.
RAIN OUTS
Our rain-out policy is: if the weather is "iffy", check the website!
The City will inform the League Executive by 3:00pm on game day if fields are unplayable.
If you have not received notifications, check the NFSPL website again before you leave for the park.
No messages or notifications means that you MUST show up at the park. Games are still on (at the discretion of the umpires.)
You can call the City of Niagara Falls Field Closure hotline 905-356-7521 ext 3399 after 3:00 p.m.
You have to continue listening as they go through all city parks, until they get to the park you are looking for.
When the City of Niagara Falls decides to close the parks due to weather, there is absolutely nothing the Niagara Falls Slo-Pitch League can do about it. Playing or practicing at a closed park is strictly prohibited by both the City of Niagara Falls and the NFSPL due to insurance and liability reasons.
Respect your fellow players, spectators and the Umpires !!!