• Please arrive at the field 15 minutes prior to the start time indicated on the schedule. This will allow time for teams to warm up and have the game start and end on time.
• Games are 7 innings or 1.5 hours long. Games must start and end on time, as there are other scheduled games on the same field.
• Team Captains are responsible to ensure that games start and end on time.
• There will be NO games on long weekends for Sunday Leagues (unless necessary). Games will be made up with double headers.

• A full team is 10 players. Teams may play with 7 players without defaulting the game.
  • A team can also play with 2 females without defaulting, but they must take an automatic out where the third female would bat.
• Teams are also encouraged to have subs if needed.
• Teams can add to their roster at any point. Player info for every additional member must be sent to The League prior to them being allowed to play.
• If a team does not have 7 players or 2 females by the scheduled start time, they may wait 10 minutes if the opposing team agrees. If after ten minutes, the roster is not full they will default the game and a score of 10-0 will be recorded.
• If a team defaults one game then they will be required to pay a default fee by e transfer before their next game. If this is not paid then all games will be updated as a default loss and the team will not be scheduled their playoff games.
• If a team misses two games then another default fee will need to be paid in order to have any future games scheduled. A meeting with the league will occur to determine if this league is the right fit for your team. If a second default fee is not paid then the players on the roster will not be allowed to play in any future sports.
• If a team misses more than two games then this is not the right league for your team. You need a drop in league and the players on the roster will not be allowed to play in any future sports.
• If both captains agree, the minimum requirement rule can be waived and the game will count towards the standings. This must be decided upon before the start of the game and teams cannot change their minds once the game has started.

• Fields are rented from the city. The league and the city has a no tolerance policy regarding open alcohol.
• The Rec League does not allow open alcohol at any sanctioned league or event.
• Please be courteous to homeowners and the community. Be respectful when it comes to noise levels and garbage.
• If approached by someone regarding any issue be polite and report any issue to the Rec League.
• No Smoking on the fields.
• The first team to arrive to the diamonds should set up bases. Since all teams have bases this will ensure games start and end on time.

Equipment

• Bats must meet NSA approved list. You can find this list at nsacanada.ca
• The home plate mat should be approximately 3 feet long by 2 feet wide and placed with 1 inch of the front of the plate showing. If you have a home plate mat with the triangle cut out it should be placed at the back of the plate to form a rectangle.
• All teams must have the required bases. They can supply their own or rent from the league for a rental fee.
• Cleats are allowed but can not have metal spikes

• All teams get two playoff games, but only the top four teams are eligible to win the league
• If a playoff game is tied after 7 innings teams will play extra innings. Once one team is winning at the end of full inning the game is over.

• A coin toss will determine which team takes the field first.
• Captains should discuss any obstruction in the field prior to the game and determine what course of action will be played if the obstruction interferes with the play. For example - an automatic double or homerun etc... 
• Team captains will bring a score sheet to all games
• Teams must track the batter results each inning for their own team and runs scored by the other team. Captains should confirm with each other at the end of each inning what the score is.
• A team can score a maximum of 7 runs per inning except the final inning there is no maximum.
• In the bottom of the 7th inning, once the batting team scores a run to take the lead the game is over. If the team batting last has the lead after the top of the 7th inning, the score is final at the end of the top of the inning. If there is time, you may play the bottom of the 7th inning, but the score does not change.
• A tie is a tie. Due to time constraints extra innings are not to be played, except for playoff games.
• Bats must meet NSA Approved list. You can find this list at nsacanada.ca
• The home plate mat should be approximately 3 long by 2 feet wide and placed with 1 inch of the front of the plate showing. If you have a home plate mat with the triangle cut out it should be placed at the back of the plate to form a rectangle.
• Home and Away does not mean anything. It is used for scheduling purposes only.

• Pitchers should wear protective gear to protect their head and face.
• The pitch must be between 6-12 feet high. If it is over the batters head, generally this is high enough.
• If the ball arc’s less than 6 or more than 12 feet and the batter swings, the pitch counts. If the batter does not swing, the pitch is declared a no pitch and the captain should politely let the pitcher know the pitch was too high or too low.
• A strike occurs when a batter swings and misses, a foul ball, a foul tip or if the ball lands on the strike mat the 1 inch portion of the plate or any part of the home plate that is showing. (If a mat with a triangle is used, the entire plate is showing and the entire rectangle area is a strike).
• A Foul Tip is when the ball goes directly from the bat to the back catcher’s glove and is caught and held, with no arc and does not rise above the batters head. A Foul Tip is a strike in all instances. If the batter has two strikes and then a foul tip the batter is out. The batter does not get a second attempt as they would with a normal foul ball. If the ball has an arc and rises above the batters head before it is caught by the back catcher the batter is out.
• If the ball hits any part of the home plate it is deemed a strike. The home plate mat should form a rectangle with the home plate. The entire mat including the plate is a strike.
• Each batter can receive up to three strikes or 4 balls. On the fourth ball the batter walks to 1st base on the third strike the batter is out.
• Captains can decide on the pitching mound prior to the game if this is not clearly identified.

• Batters should wear helments
• A Maximum of three males may bat in a row once at any time in the batting order, this includes going from the top of the order to the bottom. So a team cannot finish the order with 2 males and then start at the beginning with 3 males. If a team is short females they will take an automatic out where the female should be in the batting order.

• Teams can have more than 10 players on the batting order as long as there are enough females in the rotation to not have three males batting consecutively more than once.
• Teams can also have players take turns rotating in, both batting and defence
• In field Rule applies. When the ball is hit at least 8 feet in the air and does not go past the infield with less than 2 outs and a player on 1^st, 1^st and 2^nd or 1^st, 2^nd and 3rd, the batter is automatically out. (This eliminates the infielders from purposely dropping the fly ball to force an out).
• Captains should agree prior to the game on automatic home runs or ground rule doubles
• No Bunting
• If a male batter is walked with 4 balls in a row and zero strikes or fouls and a female batter follows, she has the option to bat or automatically go to 1st (the male batter will go to 2nd base if the female batter opts to go directly to first)
• If the batter has two strikes, then hits a foul ball, the batter is not out, but if the batter hits a second foul ball with two strikes he or she is out.

• Base runners should wear helmets
• No lead offs. If a runner leaves the bag before the bat makes contact with the ball, the runner is out.
• If a runner leaves the bag when a batter swings and does not make contact, the runner is out.
• Sliding into 2nd and 3^rd only is permitted
• Tagging up and running on a caught outfield fly is permitted
• 3rd out fly out – If the third out occurs on a fly out the inning is over once the ball is caught. No runs can be scored.
• Pinch hitting/running is allowed for injured players. The last male/female out should run for the injured player of the same sex. The runner can start from the home plate.
• The batter running to first must run to the orange safety base. After over running 1st base, the batter must return to the white portion of the base.
• The batter may round first using the white portion of the base when the ball is hit through the infield or outfield.
• When tagging up, you may use the white portion of the base.
• Bases will be 60 feet apart and the home plate will be 40 feet from the pitching mound.
• Team Captains need to draw a safe line from the home plate for runners to run to.
• Captains should draw a commitment line 2/3 the way between third base and home plate. Once a player has crossed the commitment line they can't turn back. 
• Runners are to run to the safe line not the home plate.
• If a base runner is hit by a fair ball when off the base, before the ball passes any defender other than the pitcher, the runner is out and the play ends with all remaining runners returning to the base they were at prior to the hit ball.

• Infielders must stay on the base line and cannot pinch in until after the ball is hit. Outfielders must stay approximately 30 paces from the infield lines. This rule does not apply to the rover.
• If an overthrow occurs, the runner may advance one base from the last base made (excluding 1^st base) if the overthrown ball is thrown out of bounds. Out of bounds is 10 feet beyond the baselines or in line with the corners of the backstop.
• A ball caught out of bounds is a foul ball not an out. Out of bounds is 10 feet beyond the baselines or in line with the corners of the backstop. A foul ball caught in bounds is an OUT.
• The back catcher must stand on the home plate to get a runner going home out. 
• The back catcher cannot tag the runner. Any other player may tag the runner. (For example: If the pitcher catches a throw from the outfield and tags the runner on the third base line the runner is out).
• When a runner is forced to run you don't need to tag the runner, you only need to be on the bag first with the ball. A play that is not forced requires the defence to tag the runner. (For example: If a player is on 2nd base and no one on first base, when the ball is  hit, the player on second base is not forced to go to third. If the player goes to third, in order to get that player out, the runner must be tagged). 

• Captains are responsible to ensure that games start and end on time.
• Team captains should assign someone to be in charge of keeping time and they should let everyone know when there is five minutes remaining in each half.
• If a game starts late, it does not run late. Games are scheduled back to back, so games must end on time.
• Teams and players must make their own calls.
• Teams should not be making calls on the other team, but if necessary please do so in a polite and respectful manner.

• All games are self officiated.
• The batting team must provide the home plate umpire and may provide 1st and 3rd umpires if they choose. These players must know the rules and be prepared to make quick calls.
• If the two captains disagree with a wrong call and they agree to change the decision or to replay they may do so. Only the captains can make this decision. There is to be no arguing between players.

• The league and the city does not allow any open alcohol at any public venue.
• Any player or team found to be under the influence of alcohol, or other controlled substance, will be automatically ejected from the league without refund. 

Weather

• Because the season is short and field availability is limited, rescheduling games is very difficult.
• If it is raining prior to your game, teams are to show up at the field regardless and wait 15 minutes for the rain to stop. If the rain does not stop and it is raining too hard to play, the two captains are to agree on a day to reschedule
• If it has been raining for a prolonged period of time, the fields will probably not be open and you may not want to bother showing up, but out of respect you should contact the opposing team captain.
• If it begins to rain after you started the game. If you can play though it you should do so. It is up to the captains to decide if the game cannot continue. After 4 innings the game will not be rescheduled and the leading team after the last completed inning will be declared the winner.
• If you do not contact the other team to let them know you are not going to make it and they show up then it will count as a default to your team. If the fields are open games should take place and will not be made up.

To be sure the fields are closed check the:

• Weather Closure Icon on our website
• The City of Edmonton weather hotline @780-496-4999
• These should be used as a guide as they are not updated past a certain time of day and conditions can improve or change very fast.

Games cancelled due to weather must be reported to the league within 24 hours of the game. If they are not reported within 24 hours then they will not be made up by the league.
 
Rescheduling

• The Rec League will not reschedule games for any other reason than weather.  Should you cancel your game you will lose by default.
• Games cancelled due to weather must be reported to the league within 24 hours of the game. If they are not reported as cancelled then they will not be made up.
• All makeup games will be scheduled by the league for 6pm the following week. Regular scheduled games will be bumped to 8pm on days where make up games are needed. 
• Teams are responsible for checking the schedule on game days for changes. No changes will be made past noon.
• Teams will need to travel between diamonds when there is a double header.
• All games must be made up prior to the final regular season game. If they are not made up before the final game then the score will not count towards the standings.
• If the final regular season games are rainout then the game can be rescheduled but the playoff schedule will be made without it.

 
Sportsmanship
 
This is a Rec League and we expect all players and teams to have a fun first attitude. To help enforce this style of play we ask all teams to report the sportsmanship rating of the opposing team after every game.
 
 2 – Good, fun spirited team, respected their opposition and made the game enjoyable
 1 – Was not unsportsmanlike, but didn’t go out of their way to make the game enjoyable.
 0 – Was not a fun team to play. They made the game less enjoyable and did not respect the opposition

If a team gets two 0 ratings in one season the league will decide whether the team is fit for this league and may remove them from the schedule.

Scores

• Captains are responsible for sending scores and sportsmanship rating within 24 hours of the game.
• Captains should keep scores for both teams and confirm scores between each inning.
• If scores are not reported then they will not count towards the standings
• Not reporting score will have a negative impact on your teams sportsmanship rating and standing in the league.

Scores should be emailed to scores@edmontonrecleague.com

Refunds

Registration fees are fully refundable, minus a $20 processing fee, up to 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the season. After this, the league assumes you have committed and all fees are non-refundable. We require this time frame in order to create teams and to complete scheduling.