BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
MiteDivisionRules
TheMiteDivisionwillfocuson2Keyareasofdevelopment;
1. Hitting:PitchingMachinesshallbeusedduringthefirstpartoftheseason
toassistinthedevelopmentofgoodhittingmechanics.Coachesare
encouragedtousethemachinesatallpracticesaswell.
2. Pitching:Coachesshallencourageallplayerstotrypitching.IN-game
pitchingwillbeintroducedoverthecourseoftheregularseason.Thiswill
allowforearlyseasondevelopmentofskillswhilekeepinggamesmovingat
aquickerpace.
Contents:
SectionA: GeneralRules
SectionB: PlayoffRules
SectionC: SpecialRules
BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
SECTIONA:GeneralPlayingRules
1) FieldSet-Up-Thehometeamshallberesponsibleforsettingupthefieldasfollows;
a) Thepitchingdistanceis30feet.
b) Basesare45feetapart.
c) Adouble‘safetybase’(white/orange)mustbeusedat1stbaseforallgames.
d) TheMitedivisionwillusetheWorthorange21”wideplate.Itwillsitoverthepermanentplate,
linedupatthebackpoint.
2) BallSize–Theballsizeis11inches(softcover).
3) Bats-AllsoftballbatsusedshallbeinaccordancewithSoftballCanada.Referto
https://www.softball.ca/english/about/approved-equipment/bats.html
4) Coaches–Thecoachoftheteamatbatshalloperatethepitchingmachineandshallnotinterfere
witha‘live’ballatanytime.Allothercoachesarenotallowedinthefieldofplayexceptforthe1st
and3rdbasecoaches.Basecoachesmustnotmakecontactwithbaserunnerstoassisttherunnerin
anyway.
5) Shoes-Playersarepermittedtowearrubbercleats.Noplayerorcoachmaywearsteelcleats.
6) HelmetsandFaceMask/Cage-Battinghelmetsmusthaveanapprovedfacecageattached.Batting
helmetsmusthavechinstraps,whichshallbewornproperlyunderthechin.Allpitchersmustweara
battinghelmetwithfacecageoranapprovedfacemask.ThedefensiveplayeratFirstBasemust
wearabattinghelmetwithfacecage.
7) Jewelry-Exposedjewelrysuchaswristwatches,bracelets,anytypeofearrings,neckchains,orany
otheritemjudgeddangerousbytheumpire,maynotbewornduringthegame.Medicalalert
braceletsornecklacesarenotconsideredjewelry.Penalty:Aplayerrefusingtoremoveorcover
jewelryafterrequestedbytheumpire,willberemovedfromthegameandruledineligible.
8) ElectronicDevices–Playersarenotpermittedtousecellphones,iPodsorotherelectronicdevices
onthebenchordiamondoncethegamehasstarted.Uniforms-Allplayersmustwearidentical
shirtsandpants/shorts–theofficialBASAuniformdistributedatthebeginningoftheseason.
CoachesmustwearaBASA-issuedshirt.
9) GameTime–Allregularseasongamesshallbeplayedinaccordancewiththefollowing;
a) Gamesshallstartpromptlyatthescheduledtime.
b) Theumpireshalldeclarethe‘official’timeatthestartofthegame.
c) Nonewinningcanbestartedafter1hourand40minutesfromstartofgame.
d) ‘DeadBall’willbeat1hourand50minutesfromthestartofthegame.
e) Aregulationgameshallconsistoffiveinnings(upto7innings).
BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
f)
10)
11)
12)
13)
Ifafullgamecannotbecompleted,agamewillbeconsideredregulationifthree(3)fullinnings
havebeenplayedor90minutesofplayingtimehaveelapsed.
g) Agamethatistiedattheendofregulationwillberecordedasatie.Noextrainningswillbe
played.
h) Playwillstopandthegamewillbeoverifthevisitingteamhascompleteditsturnatbatandthe
hometeamisaheadwhenagamereachesthe“nonewinning”time.Thescorewillreverttothe
lastfullinningplayed.
MercyRule–The‘mercy’rulesareasfollows:
a) Innings1-4:Four(4)runmercy.
b) Innings5-7:Six(6)runmercy.
c) Inning7orLastInningofplay:Ten(10)runmercy.
d) TheLastInningmustbedeclaredbytheumpirebeforethefirstpitchoftheinning.
e) Agameistobeconsideredvalidandoverassoonasoneteamisaheadby15ormorerunsafter
threeormorecompleteinnings.Thehometeamwillnotcompleteitsturnatbatifthe15-run
differenceisreachedinthebottomofthethirdorsubsequentinning.
GameRoster
a) Teamsmusthaveaminimumofseven(7)playersbygametime,includingthe15-minutegrace
period,andatall-timesduringthegame.
b) Therearetendefensiveplayers.
c) Allplayersinattendanceatthegamewillbat.
d) Thebattingorderwillbemadeatthebeginningofthegameandwillonlyincludeplayers
presentatthegame.
e) Ifarosteredplayerarriveslateatanytimeduringthegame,shewillbeaddedtothebottomof
thebattingorder.
PlayerSubstitutions
a) Thereisunlimiteddefensivesubstitution.
b) Noplayerwillsitoutformorethanoneconsecutiveinning,andnoplayermaysitoutasecond
inninguntilallplayershavesatoutonce.
c) Aplayercannotplaythesamepositionintwoconsecutiveinnings.(Note;all4outfieldpositions
areconsideredthe‘same’positionfortheprecedingstatement/rule).
Pitchers
a) Atthebeginningofeachgamethestartingpitcherisallowed5warmuppitches.Between
innings,orwhenachangeinpitcheroccurs,thenumberofwarmuppitchesisatthediscretion
oftheumpireusually3toamaximumof5.
b) Anyonewarmingupapitchermustwearacatchermask.
c) Apitchermaynotpitchmorethan2innings.
d) Apitchermaynotpitchinconsecutiveinnings.Onepitchcountsasaninningpitched.Aplayer
removedfromthepitchingpositionmayreturntopitch,butnotinthesameinning.
e) Anypitcherhittingtwobattersinthesameinningwillberemovedfromthepitchingpositionfor
theremainderoftheinning.
BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
f)
14)
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
Apitcherispermittedtwodefensiveconferencesperinning.Withthethirdconference,the
pitchermustberemovedfortheremainderoftheinning.
Injuries
a) Ifaplayerisinjuredandisunabletorunthebases,theinjurymustbementionedduringthe
pre-gamemeeting.
b) Acourtesyrunnerwillbepermittedatfirstbase.Iftherunnerproceedspastfirstbase,sheloses
therighttoacourtesyrunnerfortheremainderofthegame.Exception:ifarunnerisawarded
extrabases,shemayproceedtothebaseawardedwithoutpenalty.
c) Ifaplayerisinjuredwhilerunningthebases,acourtesyrunnerwillbepermittedatthelastbase
reachedsafely.
d) Thecourtesyrunneristhelastpersonout.Ifthecourtesyrunnerisduetobat,gotothenext
personinthebattingorderwithoutpenalty.Anotationmustbemadeinbothteams’
scorebooks.
Batting
a) Aninningwillbeoverwhen3outsarerecorded.
b) Apitchedballthatrollsorbouncesbeforehomeplateandisstruckbythebatterisinplay(if
fair)andthebatter/runnerscanadvance.
c) RefertoSection3whenpitchingmachineisused,otherwisethefollowingshallapply;
i) Theplayerpitchingtotheopposingteamuntilthebatterreceivesa4thball,whichwould
normallyresultinawalk;thisiswherethegamechanges.
ii) Afterthe4thball,thebatterwillhaveacountagainsther.Itwilleitherbe4ballsand0
strikes,4-1,or4-2.Thehitter'scoachordesignatefortheoffensiveteamwillnowcomein
topitchtohis/herbatterandcarryonthecount,resultinginthebattereitherhittingthe
ballorstrikingout.
iii) Whilethecoach/designateispitching,nobaserunnerwillbepermittedtosteal.Arunner
mayadvanceonlywhenaballhasbeenhit.
iv) Thecoachmustpitchfromthepitchingrubber.
v) Thecoachmustdohis/herbesttostayoutoftheplayandavoidcoachingthebaserunners
aswell.
vi) Thedefensivepitchermustremainintheeightfootcirclewhilethepitchisbeing
completed.
vii) NOTE:Ifabatterishitbyanopposingteam’spitcher,theymaybegrantedfirstbasebythe
umpireifanattempttoavoidtheballhasoccurred.
FirstBase–Battersrunningtofirstbasemusttouchtheorangebagunlesstheyare‘rounding’the
base(i.e.multi-basehit).
FoulBall–Mustbehitabovethebattersheadandcaughtbythecatchertobeconsideredanout.
InfieldFlyRule-Theinfieldflyruleisnotineffect.
ThirdStrike-Thedroppedthirdstrikeruleisnotineffect.Thebatterisoutonthethirdstrike
regardlessofwhethertheballiscaught.Theballremainsalive.
BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
20) Walks-Therearenowalks.
21) StealingBases-Thereisnostealingallowed.Arunnermayonlyadvancewhenthebattermakes
contactorisforcedtoadvance.
22) LeadingOff-Arunnercannotleavehis/herbaseuntilthepitchedballreacheshomeplate.
23) AdvancingRunners-Followingafairlyhitball,theadvancingofrunnersisconsideredoverwhen
theballisreturnedtoaplayer’spossessionintheinfield(insidethebasepaths).Runnersmay
continuetothebasetheyareheadingtobutthefieldersmayattempttothrow/tagtherunnerout.
24) Overthrows-Whentheballisinplayandoverthrownbeyondtheplayingareaboundaries,all
runnersareawarded1basefromtheirlastlegallyheldbaseatthetimetheballwasthrown.
25) InclementWeather-Theplateumpirewillimmediatelysuspendthegameifshehearsthunder
within30secondsofseeingalightningflash.Theumpirewillnotresumethegameuntil30minutes
havepassedwithnolightningfollowedbythunderwithin30seconds.
26) GameScoresandReporting–BothcoachesshallreportthegamescoretoBASAwith24hrsofthe
game.
BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
SECTIONB:PlayoffRules
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
General-AllRegularSeasonRulesasdescribedinSectionAshallapplytoPlayoffGamesexceptas
notedbelow.
Format
a) BASAwilldecidetheplayoffformat.
b) BASAwillannouncetheplayoffformatattherespectivepre-seasoncoachesmeeting.
c) BASAreservestherighttomodifytheplayoffscheduleasrequired.
Call-Up’s-Acallupmayonlybeassignedtooneteam’srosterfortheplayoffs.ThecallupmayONLY
befromalowerdivisionteaminBASA.
GameTime-Allplayoffgameswillhavenonewinningstartmorethan1hour45minutesafterthe
firstpitchexceptChampionshipGameswhichwillbefullgames(fiveinnings)subjecttothe‘Mercy
Rule’asdescribedabove.
Score–Playoffgamescannotendinatie.Thefollowingshallrulesshallapply;
a) Startingwiththefirstinningafterregulationthe(international)tiebreakerrulewillbeused.
b) Theplayerwhoisscheduledtobatlastintheinningwillbeplacedonsecondbase.
c) Pitchingrestrictionsareliftedwhenextrainningsarerequiredtobreakatie.
Protests-Protestsarepermittedinplayoffgames.Theprotestmustbemadeimmediatelybefore
thenextpitch.
Reporting-TheteammanagerorcoachofeachteammustreportallejectionsandproteststoBASA.
BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
SECTIONC:SpecialRules
PitchingMachine
Thefollowingruleshavebeendevelopedtoprovideasafeenvironmentforallplayerswhenpitching
machinesareused.CoachesandUmpiresareencouragedtouseproperjudgementinapplyingthese
rulesandensurethatthesafetyofallplayersisparamount.
1) PitchingMachineUse
a) ThepitchingmachinewillbeusedexclusivelyforallgamesplayedpriortotheendofJune.
b) StartinginJuly,thepitchingmachinewillbeusedforthefirsttwoinnings.Thebalanceofthe
gamewillbelivepitching.
c) Livepitchingwillbeusedexclusivelyforallplayoffgames.
2) PlayerPositioning a) Thepitchercanbenoclosertohomethanthepitchingrubberandmustbewithinthepitching
circle(seebelow).
3) Pitcher’sCircle
a) Acircleof8’radiusmustbeclearlydefinedaroundthepitchingmachine.
b) Onlythepitchermaybewithinthecircletoplayaball.
c) Ifadefensiveplayerentersthecircletoplayaball,theumpiremustimmediatelycall“Time”
andallrunnersareawardedonebase
4) Batting
a) Battersareallowedfivegoodpitchesinwhichtohitaballintofairterritory.
b) Ifthefifthgoodpitchisnothit,thebatterisout.
c) Apitchconsideredbytheumpiretobeastrikeyetnotswungatbythebatterisconsideredone
ofthefivegoodpitches.Likewise,abadpitch(notconsideredastrike)thatisswungatisalso
consideredoneofthefivegoodpitches.
d) Apitchswungatandmissed,orabattedballdeclaredfoulisastrike.Abatterisoutifshe
reachesthreestrikeswithinthefivegoodpitches.
e) Abatterisnotoutifshehitsafoulballonthefifthorsubsequentgoodpitch.
f) Ifaplayerunintentionallyhitsanycomponentofthepitchingequipment,thatplayerisawarded
firstbaseandanyotherrunnersonbaseareawardedthenextbase.
g) Abattedballpassingthroughthepitchingcircleisinplay.
h) Ifabattedballhitsthepersonoperatingthepitchingmachine,itisimmediatelycalledadead
ball.Thebatterhitsoverandthepitchdoesnotcount.
i) Abattedballthatcomestorestinthepitchingcircleisimmediatelycalledadeadball.The
batterhitsoverandthepitchdoesnotcount.
j) Thepitchingmachinecanonlybeadjustedatthestartofeachfullinningunlessagreedtoby
bothcoaches,withtheexceptionoftheheightadjustmentscrew.
5) StoppingthePlay(PitchingMachineOnly)
BASA–MiteDivisionRules(revisedFeb8-17)
a) Iftheball(otherthanabattedball)comestorestinthepitchingcircle,theumpiremust
immediatelycall“Time”andeachrunnergetsthebasetowhichshewasproceeding.
b) Iftheball(otherthanabattedball)comesincontactwiththepitchingmachineortheperson
operatingthepitchingmachineduringplay,theumpiremustimmediatelycall“Time”andeach
runnergetsthebasetowhichshewasproceeding.