DRAFT COPY This document was created June st Amendment Feb 2011

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1 This document was created June st Amendment Feb 2011 VICTORIA MEN S MASTERS SLOPITCH LEAGUE (VMMSL) ARTICLE 1 NAME 1.1 The name of the organization shall be known as the Victoria Men s Masters Slopitch League (abbreviated VMMSL), hereinafter referred to as the League. OBJECTIVE ARTICLE To promote, administer and develop the recreational sport of Slopitch within the Capital Regional District. MEMBERSHIP ARTICLE Membership in the league s all Divisions shall be open to all males aged 40 years or older in the calendar year (Jan 01 Dec 31) of play. ARTICLE 4 EXECUTIVE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS 4.1 The league will be administered by the League Executive and Directors 4.2 The Executive shall consist of the following officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Scheduler. 4.3 The Directors shall consist of voted representatives from the league with a representative from each Division, A, B and C along with the Director of Fields and Web Manager. Further Directors may be elected as

2 the requirement allows. They shall be known as Directors at Large. 4.4 The Executive shall appoint standing and Ad Hoc Committees as required from among the Directors at Large. LEAGUE MEETINGS AND VOTING ARTICLE All meetings (including Annual General Meetings) shall be at the call of the League Executive. 5.2 League meetings shall be held as required with the minimum requirement being once per season. 5.3 Each Team will have one vote at Annual General Meetings (and each Executive and each Director shall have one vote at all other meetings). Executives and Directors shall not have votes at Annual General Meetings except as provided for in Article If a team representative is not present, and a member of that team is on the Executive, he may cast the team s vote. 5.5 A quorum for any meeting shall be one more than 50 percent of the Directors at Large/Executive, one of whom must be the President or the Vice President. 5.6 Every question before the Members except amendments to the Constitution shall be decided by a majority vote, amendments to the constitution require a 2/3 majority. Amendments to the Constitution must be submitted in writing to the Executive 30 days prior to the next AGM. In the case of a tie, the President, or in his absence, the Vice President, shall have a second or deciding vote.

3 STRUCTURE AND RULES A. STRUCTURE The league will be divided into different divisions based on the realignment requirements. The season will consist of round robin play with each team playing the same number of games as the other teams with a league season ending tournament. B. THE LEAGUE 1. A player must be rostered on only one team. 2. A team shall be allowed to sign an unlimited number of players on a league roster. 3. All league fees and initial team rosters including name, address, telephone number and year of birth of all players must be submitted to the League Executive prior to commencement of league play. Teams that fail to submit team fees by this date will forfeit all games scheduled until such time as their roster and league dues are received. Team lists may be modified during the year by written notification, either written or electronically submitted to the League Executive. 4. A team must field a minimum of 9 players by the scheduled starting time or the game will be forfeited to the opposing team. The 10 th batter s position is not an automatic out. 5. A maximum of 10 players will be allowed on the field at one time. C. BATTING 1. All players may be included in the batting order and shall bat in rotation subject to the agreement of both coaches. The batting order shall remain the same throughout the game.

4 2. A team is allowed 3 outs or a maximum of 5 runs per inning, whichever comes first. (For example, if the batting team has 4 runs scored, two base runners and the batter hits a home run, the total runs scored for the batting team will be five.) 3. A batted ball which hits the plate is considered a fair ball unless it rolls into foul territory. 4. A batter will be called out if, while in his swing, he steps on the plate and his bat makes contact with the ball. (Stepping on the plate while running to first base is not considered an out). A foul ball on the 3 rd strike shall constitute an out. 5. Fair ball and dead ball territory (re: foul balls) must be agreed upon by the Captains at the beginning of the game. 6. No bunting. 7. Home Runs. See field rules for individual fields and divisions. D. PITCHING AND BASE RUNNING 1. The pitcher shall deliver the ball from a designated pitcher's area not closer than 56 feet from home plate on a line between home plate and 2 nd base. 2. The arc of the ball must be over 6 feet from the ground and no more than 12 feet. If a pitch has an arc of less than 6 feet or more than 12 feet, the umpire must call it a ball before it crosses the plate. If the batter elects to swing, the ball will be in play. 3. No stealing. (Runner out) 4. No sliding at home plate. (Runner out) 5. A runner's commitment line shall be drawn across the third base line 20 feet from home plate. If any part of the runner's body crosses this line, he must proceed to

5 home plate and a force play automatically comes into effect (no tag is necessary). 6. No leading. A base runner that leaves the base before the batter makes contact with the ball shall be called out. 7. Runners may tag up and run on a caught foul or fly ball. 8. Safe Line. A line drawn in foul territory starting at the top left-hand corner of home plate perpendicular to the third base line. A runner attempting to reach home plate must do so by touching the ground in foul territory on or beyond the Safe Line. The runner is out if he touches home plate whether or not a play is being made. A runner is not out if the plate is touched in an attempt to avoid a collision. 9. Base paths shall be sixty-five (65) feet. E. GENERAL 1. Ground rules regarding home runs, (fences, long grass, trees, etc.) shall be agreed upon by the two team Coaches before the game. 2. The infield fly rule applies. 3. Only regulation bats as per league website shall be used. 4. a) No metal cleats shall be permitted at any time. b) Any ball glove may be used in any position at any time. 5. Teams shall be awarded 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie. (If time permits and both team Coaches agree, extra innings may be played to break a tie.) 6. Both team Coaches shall submit the score to the League website on completion of the game. Failure to comply may result in no point being awarded for that particular game.

6 7. In all Divisions, umpires may be supplied. (to be discussed within each division at AGM) 8. The home team Coach shall notify the League Scheduler within 24 hours after a rained out game. However, the visitor team Coach should also contact the League Scheduler within 24 hours to ensure the game is rescheduled. 9. If it begins to rain during a game, in the absence of an umpire, both team Coaches have to agree as to whether the game shall continue (within reason). Five full innings constitute a completed game. The home team Coach shall notify the League Scheduler within 24 hours after the rained out game. However, the visitor team Coach should also contact the League Scheduler within 24 hours to ensure the game is rescheduled. 10. League tournament shall consist of a round robin play with all teams participating. A playoff format after round robin play within divisions will follow. A Notice of Intent not to Participate must be submitted to League Executive 2 weeks prior to tournament commencement. Failure to do so will result in a $ fine. 11. In all playoff games the home team shall be determined by coin toss for round robin play. 13. All league rules may be modified at any time by a majority decision of the Team Coaches and the League Executive at a League meeting. 14. At the discretion of the umpire, or in the event of no umpire, as agreed between the Coaches, batting mats may be used. It is the responsibility of the home team to have the mat available.

7 APPENDIX 1 PROTEST PROCEDURE In the event of a rule dispute the League has adopted the following protest procedure. 1. Decisions based solely on the accuracy of an umpire, e.g.; safe out, fair or foul ball, failure to touch a base, etc. will not be received or considered. 2. Matters concerning misinterpretation of a playing rule, failure to apply the correct rule to a given situation or failure to impose the correct penalty for a given violation shall be received and considered. 3. The notification of intent to protest must be made at the time of the infraction and before the first pitch of the game or immediately before the next pitch if the infraction occurs during the game. NOTE: In the absence of an umpire, the protesting Team Coach shall notify the opposing Team Coach of his intent to file a protest at the time of the infraction, (both parties should take notice of the circumstances surrounding the disputed decision). 4. The Official Protest must be filed in writing with the League Executive within 48 hours and shall be accompanied with a $25.00 cash deposit (the deposit will be returned if the protest is upheld). 5. Formal Protests must be in writing and should contain the following information: The date, time and place of the game the names of the two teams involved, the decision and the conditions surrounding the making of the disputed decision and all other essential facts involved in the matter protested. 6. The League Executive will form the Protest Committee to review the appeal and make a decision which must result in one of the following: (a) The protest is found invalid. (b) The protest is allowed. (See following NOTE)

8 NOTE: If the protest was for misinterpretation of a playing rule, the game may be replayed if possible from the point at which the incorrect decision was made, with the decision corrected. When a protest for ineligibility is allowed, the game points shall be awarded to the offended Team. ALL PROTEST COMMITTEE DECISIONS ARE FINAL APPENDIX 2 FIELD RULES THESE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Central Saanich Diamond 1: Over the fence to the right of the pole is a strike. Left of the pole is a home run. Hitting the pole is a home run. Drop over fence off of players glove is two (2) bases. Ed Fisher (new ball park off of Happy Valley Road): Over the fence in any field is a home run. In left field if the ball is hit onto the trail in the air or over the trail in the air it will be considered a home run. In left field if the ball is playable on the ground and gets by the fielder and goes onto or over the trail, it should be considered a triple.

9 In left field if the ball is nonplayable on the ground and gets by the fielder and goes onto or over the trail, it should be considered a double at the discretion of the umpire. Juan De Fuca: A Division teams: First ball over the fence is a homerun. All other balls over the fence will be deemed a strike. When an A Division team plays a B Division team the new rule will be in effect for the A Division team only. This rule change came into effect on June 5, B Division teams: First ball over the fence is a homerun. All other balls over the fence will be deemed a single. C Division teams: All balls hit over fence: Homerun. Colville 1 (Fenced Diamond): A & B Division: First ball hit over fence: Homerun. Each ball thereafter, Single. C Division Teams: All balls hit over fence: Homerun. Each team can catch up 1 homerun +1. Homeruns count as singles until "catch up" happens. For example: Team A hits a ball over the fence = Homerun. Consecutive balls over the fence by Team A = Single. Team B must hit a homerun before Team A can count another homerun. Team B may, however, hit a second homerun but must wait until Team A hits a "catch up"

10 homerun before a third homerun can be counted for Team B. Colville 2 (Colville Road): Field wide open to all Divisions. Backstops are guidelines for Out of Play. Colville 3 (Golf Course): Field wide open to all Divisions. Backstops are guidelines for Out of Play. Glasgow (Topaz): All Divisions. Ball lands on slope: Double. Ball rolls up on slope: Double. Ball hitting stump or trees on right side of stump: Double. Ball is hit on left side of stump: Playable. Ball hit on top of hill right side of stump: Homerun. All balls hit in the air to the field that are caught are: Out. If ball hits branches on third base line: Dead Ball. Benches: Out of Play. Backstops are guidelines for: Out of Play. Topaz (Topaz Upper Fenced): Field wide open to all Divisions. Pavement on third baseline: Out of Play. Catch and Carry rule in effect. Ball hit to right side of field: Fair if going beyond foul line. Over fence on first base foul line or past is a Foul Ball Out of Play. The ball may be played off the fence at anytime. Any ball hit over the Blanshard Street fence: Homerun. Any ball hit over the Topaz fence: Homerun.

11 Macdonald (Change Room Field): All fences are in play, over fence: Homerun. Pavement on first base line: Out of Play. Ball hits branches in trees: Dead Ball. Note: The City Parks Department has issued a directive that No Dogs will be permitted on City owned fields unless they are leashed and licensed. RUN-BY RULES (C Division) APPENDIX 3 The Run-By Rule is officially incorporated into the Victoria Men s Masters Slopitch League to provide a SAFE, no-contact game for those C Division teams wishing to use this rule. Teams will decide to use the rule or not. If one team wants to use the rule then it must be used. It is a common sense rule and the details below are guidelines for game umpires to make decisional calls when the rule is in use Standard league rules involving the base runner and plays at first base do not change when the Run-By Rule is in use In all cases, the maximum distance for running by shall be 3 feet inside or outside of the base with the exception of home plate where a minimum of 5 feet to the outside of home plate will be required When a ball is hit to the infield or outfield and a runner is advancing: Runner Advancing from 1 st to 2 nd Base

12 If the runner does not intend to advance to 3rd base during the play, the runner will run by (not touching) 2nd base, on the opposite side of the base from the ball in play, so as not to come between the ball in play and the defensive player. Neither the base runner nor the defensive player shall interfere with each other. The runner must make every attempt to avoid interfering with defensive player attempting a throw to 1st base in the event a double play is being attempted. The runner will then return to 2nd base and await the next play. Runner Advancing from 1 st to 2 nd Base with intent to Advance If the runner decides to advance to 3rd base while running to 2nd base during the play as it is obvious a play at 2nd base is not likely, he must tag the base on his way by as per normal rules. Neither the base runner nor the defensive player shall interfere with each other. Runner advancing from 1st base to 2nd base with intent to advance after run-by: If the runner decides to advance to 3rd base after he has already run by 2nd base then the runner must return to and touch 2nd base before proceeding to 3rd base. Neither the base runner nor the defensive player shall interfere with each other. Runner Advancing from 2 nd to 3 rd Base If the runner does not intend to advance to home during the play, the runner will run by (not touching) 3rd base on the opposite side of the base from the ball in play, so as not to come between the ball in play and the defensive player. Neither the base runner nor the defensive player shall interfere with each other. The runner will then return to 3rd base and await the next play Runner advancing from 2nd base to 3rd base with intent to advance: If the runner decides to advance home while running to 3rd base during the play as it is obvious a play at 3rd base is not likely, he must tag the base on his way by as per

13 normal rules. Neither the base runner nor the defensive player shall interfere with each other. Runner advancing from 2nd base to 3rd base with intent to advance after run-by: If the runner decides to advance to home plate after he has already run by 3rd base, then the runner must return to and touch 3rd base before proceeding home. Neither the base runner nor the defensive player shall interfere with each other. Runner advancing from 3 rd Base to Home: The runner will run by and not touch home plate. The runner is to run by home plate on the right side of the plate so as to keep clear of the back catcher and the ball in play. Sliding into bases or home: Sliding into bases is not allowed unless returning to a base to avoid being tagged out. Consequences for violations: If the base runner does interfere with the defensive player, he will be called out. If the defensive player interferes with the base runner, the base runner will be awarded one base. Infractions are a judgment call on the part of the umpire. If the umpire does not observe the infraction, he will so indicate and play will continue with no consequence. In all cases, the judgment of the umpire will be final.