B’NAI BRITH SPORTS OF CANADA

MODIFIED FAST PITCH RULES- ABRIDGED VERSION 2024

Governed by The Official Softball Canada Rule Book for Modified Pitching except for the following:

1. All players must be B’nai Brith Canada members in good standing. Coaches are responsible to have team finalized by June 1^st, with a min. of 12 players registered by May 1^st.
2. Only team captains or designates who are on the team roster may approach the umpire during the game.
3. Home team will supply 1 new ball, visiting team 1 good second ball.
4. Teams to shake hands after the game while walking across the pitching mound.
5. Home team to have bases in 10 min. prior to game time. Safety bag must be used at first base. It is advised the second game take over the 1^st games bases and give them their bags. Visitor may take home team advantage if required to put in their bases. If no one has bases, it is a double default.

TEAMS   ARE   TO   SUPPLY   THEIR   OWN   BASES

6. Bases are 65 feet apart, and the pitching rubber is 46 feet from the plate. Women: Pitching rubber is preferred for safety at 46ft may pitch from 40’-46’.
7. Min. 7 players to start, (max. 9 on the field for men 10 for woman) 10 min. grace period for early game.

• Teams may use up to 4 POOL players in regular season ONLY to reach field maximum. Subs must be identified at the umpires’ conference.
• All players must bat and be rotated into the field. Games will end after 7 innings OR Mercy rule applied. No new inning after 1hr40. Game is over at max. of 1hr55 or lights curfew. If time permits and it’s a tie extra innings may be played. Women’s game: 1h30m duration or advised at game time. Scores revert to the last full inning played.
• Playoff games must finish at least 5 innings, if a tie, the game will continue till completion.
• Run mercy limit: Each team will be allowed a maximum of 6 runs for innings 1-4. The inning is considered OVER once the 6^th run has scored. Unlimited runs from 5th onward. After innings 5 and 6, if a team leads by 18 runs, the game is a MERCY.
• Unlimited courtesy runners for a maximum of 4 players.  The courtesy runner must be the person furthest from the batter (usually last out) in the line-up unless this is an injured player, in which case the runner would then be the next person. Women: Pinch runner for injured players only, batter must run to first base.

COACHES ARE NOTIFIED BY 4PM IF A GAME IS CANCELLED DUE TO FIELD CONDITIONS.

• Teams must show up at the park rain or shine unless told otherwise. Games called due to bad weather or poor field conditions will be considered official after 4 innings are played, or 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead in regular season.  Games stopped prior, will be rescheduled if time permits. Regular season games after Aug. 1^st cannot be guaranteed to be rescheduled. We try to guarantee a minimum of 12 season games.

• Pitchers may pitch up a division as a sub, but not drop to a lower div to pitch as a sub. If a player is registered on more than one team, they are not able to pitch in both divisions.
• Pitchers MUST wear a face mask, may wear a Trapper instead of a regular glove in all Divisions.
• Numbered shirts-REQUIRED BY JULY 1. Shorts are permitted but not recommended.
• Stealing is allowed only once the ball crosses the plate. Women: No steeling.
• Bunting is allowed. If shown a bunt and then you swing away, you are OUT. Second occurrence by any player is an EJECTION.
• Commitment Line is halfway between third and home. Safety Line is at home plate.  No tagging allowed past the Commitment Line; Runner cannot touch the plate except to avoid a collision. A runner may not slide at home. A runner sliding at home is out.
• POOL players must be added to the bottom of the regular line up. Players arriving late will be placed after the POOL.  Fill in players will not be sent home and are to be notified to the ump and opposition.
• A DEFAULT WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF 1 POINT AND A $100 PENALTY*. 
• Players may leave the game at any time without penalty if 7 players remain.
• No 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 may be worn but is not recommended.  A player may be asked to remove 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.
• Balls are supplied by BBSC:12 inch Hot Dots are used for all divisions.
• All bats must have one of the following symbols to be used:

Any bat that appears on the WBSC Softball Approved Bat List and has a current ISF certification stamp (2005 only), or that appears on the USA Softball Approved Bat List and has an ASA 2000 or 2004 certification stamp, will also be accepted for play.

GAME FLOW POLICY

• Pitchers will only get 3 warm ups per inning. NO INFIELD BALLS AFTER 1^ST INNING.
• MERCY RULES APPLIES TO REGULAR and PLAYOFF GAMES.
• Batters must be ready to bat following the warm up. If they are not, a warning is issued, followed by a call of a STRIKE, or BALL if the pitcher is delaying the game.
• Except for fill-in/POOL players, a team’s line-up must consist only of BBC members on their ROSTER.
• Mercy Rule of 6 runs per inning maximum for first 4 innings only. Any subsequent inning is “open”. Should any team lead after the 5^th or 6^th inning by 18 runs, the game will be called.
• Any ejected player will donate $20 to BBC AND ARE REQUIRED TO SIT OUT THE NEXT GAME.

MODIFIED Pitching Regulations

• The pitching action must resemble that of a straight bowling motion or a figure eight, NO BEND IN THE ELBOW AT THE PEAK OF THE BACKSWING.
• At no time can a pitcher’s arm rise above the shoulder or be more then (1’) one foot from the leg.
• At least ONE FOOT must start at or on the rubber (NOT IN FRONT with heel touching) with one clear and immediate step forward. If stepping back*, a pause must occur prior to proceeding forward. (no stepping to the side OR BACK if starting with Both Feet on the rubber*).  A Foot can drag after release of the ball, hop step is ILLEGAL.
• The pitcher may release the ball PALM facing down.
• No windmill/sling-shot pitch is permitted. Turning/twisting the body toward 1^st or 3^rd and bending the elbow during the backswing is defined as a slingshot pitch and is illegal.

• Charged defensive conferences - One charged conference per inning will remain in effect before a pitcher must be removed from the pitching position. A second conference will result in the pitcher being removed.
• An appealed call must follow proper softball protocol and be done by the Captain/coach or Pitcher.