RCBA Rules 2015
These are additional rules to the generally accepted rules of baseball that the Royal Canadian
Baseball Association has adopted over the years.
1.
All games are for fun.
2.
All disputes to be handled by the captains only.
3.
Home team is determined by the schedule.
4.
The game is nine innings long unless weather or sunset create a condition where it is
unsafe to play. Team captains must agree to play to the end of an inning or take the score
from the last complete inning.
5.
A team must have eight players by the end of the third inning, including three girls
otherwise the game is considered a forfeit.
6.
Up to 12 players on the field at a time. A team must play 3 girls every inning, 1 of whom
must be in the infield (1b, 2b, 3b, SS).
If there are only 3 girls and one gets injured during the course of the game, then
when that girl's turn in the batting order comes around, it will be considered an
automatic out. As well, if down to 2 girls, then one is required on the baseline and
one in the outfield. If down to 1 girl, then she is required to play on the baseline.
If the team does not have 3 girls prior to the start of the 4th inning due to absence
(not injury), that team automatically loses by default.
If a team has fewer than 3 girls during the first 3 innings, each time it is the absent
girl's turn in the batting order, it will be considered an automatic out.
7.
In the outfield you are allowed a maximum of 3 rovers.
8.
As per City of Toronto insurance regulations all players must be at least 18 years of age.
9.
Players must play half a season in order to be eligible for the playoffs. If a players has
played fewer than 7 games, then that person must be brought forward as an exception to the
league.
10.
Pitch to your own team - 3 pitches to each batter.
11.
There is a "Bunt Line", the circumference of pitchers mound from home plate, that a ball
must travel by in order to be alive. If it doesn't cross the line, it's considered a strike. If the
fielding team decides to play it within the boundary while it's rolling, it's alive.
12.
Pop ups If a back-catcher catches a popped up ball in foul territory, it is considered a
strike. If caught in fair territory, it is an out.
13.
Bats All bats must have an ASA logo on them - old or new. Bats may have a USSSA logo
as well, as long as they also have the ASA logo. A bat must NOT have the USSSA logo
Only. If an illegal bat is identified at any point in the game, it must be removed. One
warning will be issued - any additional warnings will result in forfeit.
Balls Softballs used are 'Hot Dot', supplied by the league to all teams.
14.
Bat throwing will result in one warning, then an out.
15.
The batting order must remain consistent throughout the game. All players must bat.
16.
A pinch runner may be employed if the batter reaches base safely. The runner must be the
person of the same gender most recently called out. Pinch runners are not allowed from
home plate.
17.
Runner from home to 1st base when called safe, must turn (left or right) in foul territory
and remain in foul territory to return to 1st base safely. If the runner turns in fair territory, to
return to 1st, the player can be tagged out.
18.
Lead-offs - There are no lead offs allowed. You can only leave the bag when the bat makes
contact with the ball (foul balls included). If you leave the bag before the batter hits the ball
or if you leave and the batter swings and misses the ball for a strike that is considered a
lead off. The first time doing so will result in a warning, any other time will result in an out,
no limit. There are no warnings in the playoffs for leading off - it will be an automatic out.
19.
When a fly ball is caught, a player must "tag-up" and then may advance.
20.
Infield Fly rule will be enforced. Please ensure your team understands the rule. (Please see
addendum at bottom of this page for an explanation)
21.
No sliding. If a player slides into any base, the player is out. If you overrun second or third
base, you may be tagged out. You must slow down safely in order to stop in time and avoid
sliding. The intention is that you must be in control when running the bases, and avoid
unsafe actions. Falling back to a base without any momentum would not be considered
unsafe in most situations. Common sense should prevail.
22.
Defensive players may not interfere with the base runners unless they are making a play on
the ball, this includes staying clear of bases and base paths when not making a play. If a
runner is called out due to interference by a defensive player not in the play, they are safe.
23.
The infield cannot move within the base paths until the ball is hit.
24.
When a female is batting, the 4 deep outfielders cannot move in or encroach until the ball is
hit. The demarcation point will be in line with orange pylons down the 1st base and 3rd
base lines. Captains to determine the exact position for each field. 1st and 3rd base umpires
must call any infractions.
25.
Any base coach must not intentionally interfere in any way with the ball (or the batter is
out), runner or defensive player, whether in foul or fair territory.
26.
To avoid collisions at home plate: when a player is running home they are to run behind
home plate, avoiding any contact with home plate. Any player will be called out if contact
is made with home plate.
27.
To avoid collisions at 1st base:
when a player is running to first base they may not be tagged by the fielder.
Fielder may touch bag only.
fielder when covering 1st and fielding a grounder to 1st must refrain from running
across the 1st base bag and interfering with the batter running to 1st base. If any
contact is made by the fielder with the runner, the runner shall be considered safe.
if the fielder touches the safety portion (orange section) of the 1st base bag before
the batter, the batter is considered safe.
if the fielder touches the safety portion (orange section) and then touches the
white portion of the of the 1st base bag before the batter, the batter is considered
out.
please make sure that infielders who are not in the act of making a play stay off
the bases and basepaths and out of the way of baserunners.
28.
Once a player crosses the commitment line on the way home they must continue.
Returning to third base will considered an out.
29.
For all overthrows, everyone advances one base unless you are playing at a diamond
where there are fences behind first and third base that keep the ball in play.
30.
A ball hit near an obstacle (i.e. building, tree, etc.) will be considered to be a ground rule
double unless it is very clear to all parties the ball is playable.
31.
Riverdale East, Out of play area. Captains to agree before the game where the out of play
line is situated. If a foul ball is caught beyond the out of play line, it is considered a strike
unless it is the 3rd pitch. Out of play lines for the remaining fields are those that are in line
with fences.
32.
Pitcher and live/dead balls
Pitcher must attempt to move out of the way. If the batted ball hits the pitcher, it
will not count as an out, but as a dead ball and a strike. All runners return to their
original base.
If a ball is being thrown in to a bag/home and pitcher is hit by the ball, the play is
dead and all runners will return to the most recent bag crossed. For example, a
runner trying to make it home and the pitcher is hit, that runner will return to
third.
Only an infielder may throw the ball to the pitcher. If an outfielder throws the ball
to the pitcher, the pitcher does not have to catch the ball, if they choose not to
catch it, it is considered a live ball.
33.
When a fielder catches a fly ball or an infielder makes an out at a base on a throw, the batter
or runner is considered out even if the fielder drops the ball in the transfer of the ball from
glove to hand when making another throw. i.e. double play ball from 2nd to 1st. The fielder
must have control of the ball in the glove when caught.
34.
Umpires
1st base umpire (1st base coach) calls first and home, 3rd base umpire (3rd base
coach) calls third and second, including the commitment line. The catcher calls
the foul balls.
In the finals, there will be 3 umpires as opposed to 2. 1st base, 3rd base and home
(calling foul balls).
35.
Mercy Rules
Maximum of 9 runs in an inning. The last inning is open and unlimited.
After the 7th inning a team that is losing by 15 or more runs has the option to call
a halt to the game.
36.
Rain Outs - 4:30 PM will be the time IF games are to be cancelled. The commissioner will
send an email out at that time based on weather forecast and field conditions. IF no
cancellation email is sent out and you do not show up for the game, you will have defaulted
the game and given a loss.
Infield Fly Rule
The infield fly rule applies only when there are fewer than two outs, and there is a force
play at third (runners on first and second base, or bases loaded). In these situations, if a fair
fly ball is a hit that, in the umpire's judgment, is catchable by an infielder with ordinary
effort, the batter is out regardless of whether the ball is actually caught in flight. The rule
states that the umpire is supposed to announce, "Infield fly, if fair." If the ball will be almost
certainly fair, the umpire will likely yell, "Infield fly, batter's out!" or just "Batter's out!"
Umpires also typically raise one arm straight up to signal to everyone that the rule is in
effect.
Any fair fly ball that could have been caught by an infielder with ordinary effort is covered
by the rule regardless of where the ball is caught. The ball need not be caught by an
infielder, nor must it be caught in the infield. For example, if an infielder retreats to the
outfield in an effort to catch a fly ball with ordinary effort, the Infield Fly Rule would be
invoked, even if an outfielder ultimately caught the ball, and even if no infielder attempted
to make a play on the ball. Similarly, a fly ball within the infield that could have been
caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, but is caught by an outfielder, would also be
covered by the rule.
On a caught infield fly, a runner must tag up (i.e., retouch, at or after the time the fly ball is
first touched by a fielder, the base the runner held at the time of pitch) to be eligible to
advance, as on any catch. If the infield fly falls to fair ground untouched, or is touched and
dropped, runners need not tag up. In either case, because the batter is out, the force play on
runners is removed.
Standings
Standings are determined by points accumulated - 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie
Tiebreakers in order - Wins, Runs Scored, Runs Against