1. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. If any player is ejected from a game by the Umpire, that player will also be automatically suspended for the next two games. Any second such offence will receive an automatic suspension for the remainder of the season. A review of the circumstances will be conducted during the off season to determine reinstatement for the following season.


2.  Insurance is a requirement for all players.  Players get their own insurance for FREE by registering  at Slo-Pitch Ontario.  It is recommened that Team Captains  sign up for the Additional Benefits including Executive Coverage.


3.  LHCSL is a fun and volunteer run league and the role of the committee is primarily scheduling and co-ordination.  Any game decisions are at the discretion of the umpire, escalations go to Bob Desroches.


4. The game will be "Mat Ball". Any pitched ball having an arc of 6 to 12 feet and striking any part of the mat is a "strike" and anything else is a "ball".
    
5.  Warm Up Pitches:  Limit of 3 pitches to start the game.  Limit of 1 between innings.  New pitcher can have 3 warm up pitches.


6. The home team will be decided by a coin-flip by the Umpire before the game starts.  Each team provides 1 game ball.  The home team must provide the official scorer.  If the home team cannot provide a scorer they will forfeit their home team status.
    
7. No jewelry! (rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, etc.) Please ensure this rule is adhered to rather than being reminded by the Umpires. This is for your own safety in case of injury. Taping of jewelry is NOT acceptable and you will be called out.
    
8. If a male batter is pitched four consecutive balls the following batter will have the option to walk automatically. If the next batter chooses to walk the original batter will go to second base and the next batter to first base. If the next batter chooses to hit the original batter will go to first base. Note: At the discretion of the Umpire, if a pitcher is purposely walking any batter the team will be penalized as follows: the batter will be put on 3rd and the next batter on 2nd. Both captains must decide at the beginning of the game if they will use this rule or not!
    
9. Rainouts: If rain is imminent please check your email and we will have cancellation announcements out by 4pm whenever possible. In all cases the cancellation is made by the officials and the committee simply passes this information to captains. If the game is not cancelled and a team forfeits without notification they must pay the total $40 cost of the Umpire. If rain occurs, a game is considered complete if 3 innings have been played.
    
10. Rescheduled games: It is not acceptable for any Captain to contact another Captain or the Umpire to reschedule a game they cannot field. Rainouts take up much of the open timeslots in the schedule already and we do not have time for this. Your team must take a forfeit.
     
11. All games will be limited to seven innings unless interrupted by the weather or darkness.
     
12. Game One must be started by the Umpire at 1730 hours. No inning in Game One may be started after 1845 hours. Game Two must be started by the Umpire by 1900 hours. No inning in Game Two is to start after 2015 hours.  Later in the season game times are shortened due to limited daylight.  Game One is still started at 1730 hours by the umpire.  No inning in Game One may be started after 1815 hours.  Game Two must be started by the Umpire at 1830 hours.  No inning in Game Two is to start after 1915 hours.  
     
13. The ratio of females to males in the field is as follows: 4:6 3:5 2:5 1:4. A team will not be allowed to play any game without at least one female. There is no minimum number of players required to start a game. There is no maximum number of players that may appear in the batting order. The batting order must be alternating female and male. If unable to follow this batting order the team must taken an "out". Fielders may be substituted freely throughout the game.
     
14. A maximum of six runs may be scored each inning, except in the Last inning where as many runs as possible may be scored.
     
15. A player caught leading off will be called "out". You are not allowed to leave the base until the ball has been contacted by the bat.
     
16. A player who intentionally bunts will be called "out".
     
17. Two bases are awarded at the time of pitch and at the time of throw.
     
18. Fenced areas: If a fair ball clears any fenced area in the air that ball will be considered a home run. If a fair ball bounces over any fenced area that ball will be a ground-rule double. Any fair ball remaining in the field of play will be a live ball.
     
19. Non-fenced areas: If a fair ball leaves any non-fenced playing area in the air that ball will be considered a home run. If a fair ball leaves any non-fenced playing area in one bounce that ball will be considered a ground-rule double. If a fair ball rolls or bounces more than once and leaves the playing field that ball will be a live ball.
     
20. Safety base: Players running to first base must touch the outside half of the double-coloured base. This allows the first base player to have a foot on the inside half. The runner is automatically out for touching the inside half of the base when coming from the batter’s box. Exception: If there is no play at first base the runner may touch the outside or inside of the base. First base player must not touch outside half of base or the runner is automatically safe.
     
21. A pinch runner is allowed to run for an "injured" player. This runner will be the last female or male player that was "out" in the batting order (female runs for a female, male runs for a male). The runner starts from behind the Umpire on the foul side of the 3rd base line.
     
22. Sliding into any base is prohibited and will result in the runner being called out. This rule is for both the safety of the runner and the player stationed at the base. Sliding intentionally to cause harm to another player will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will be dealt with accordingly. Note: Permanent bases have been installed and sliding improperly may cause serious injury.
     
23. A runner going from third base to home cannot return to third once the line of commitment has been passed (15 feet from home plate).
     
24. A runner heading for home need only run across a line that runs from the 1st base line to the backstop. The runner never touches home plate. If runner touches home plate the runner is "out". The catcher has the right to stand on home plate waiting for the ball to be thrown in and the runner has the right to run behind the catcher to cross the line avoiding collision. Absolutely no touching of runner between lines is permitted for safety reasons.
     
25. Pitchers must pitch from pitchers box.
     
26. The use of metal cleats is NOT allowed.
     
27. Each team will be issued score sheets for the season. Before the game, each team will complete one side of their score sheet with their line-up then trade so that both teams have each others line-up.
     
28. Anyone setup as a Team Admin can submit the score using the App or Website. Captains will be responsible for reporting discrepancies.  Points will be awarded as follows: Reported victory = 3 points, reported tie = 2 points, reported loss = 1 point, no reported score = 0 points. Captains will not be called as a reminder and are only given 2 weeks leniency after the played game after which a 0 will be applied. Please retain your score sheets in case of dispute however there is no need to mail them in.


29. Please be courteous to other teams. If you know you cannot field a team please contact us so we can call the other Captain and the Umpire.
     
30. Any team drinking alcoholic beverages on the premises before, during or after the game will automatically default their game. There will be no smoking by players, coaches or Umpires on the field during the game.
     
31. All decisions of the Umpires are final. The Umpires are given full control of the game and are instructed not to tolerate any outbursts or inappropriate activities by the players.
     
32. If you have any problems, questions or concerns during the season please contact us by clicking on the link.
     
33. A defensive line of an arc 175 feet from home plate shall be used. No fielder (maximum of four) is allowed in front of this line until the ball is hit. If this is violated, the offense has the option of taking the result of the play or an award of one base to the batter and all runners. No outfielder may make a force out at first base.
     
34. If during a foul tip the ball goes straight back (does not have to go over the batters head) and directly into either hand of the catcher, the batter is out. If however the catcher bobbles the ball (ie does not go directly into catchers hand) it will be called a strike.


35.  It is expected that players that put the balls over the fence or in the bush should try and retrieve them after the game, in order to keep the costs down.