League Rules
NOSPA Local Rules
Slo-Pitch Ontario rules will apply unless Nepean Oldtimers Slo-Pitch Association rules state otherwise.
Rosters and Age Limits
Team Rosters must be locked in no later than June 1 of each season. A detail list must be submitted to the League at that time. The list must include the player’s name, date of birth, address and phone number. A team may carry a maximum of 17 players, with up to three players between the ages of 45 to 50. All other players must be over 50 years of age. A minimum of six (6) games played is required to make a player eligible for the playoffs. It will be up to each team to provide proof, by way of score sheets, to verify a player has sufficient games played to qualify for the playoffs.
Compressed Batting Order
Batting orders may be compressed only in the event of an injury where the injured player cannot continue in the game.
Maximum Runs/Home Runs
The maximum number of runs per inning that can be scored is five (5). In the final inning of a game unlimited runs are allowed. One home run per inning per team is allowed. The mercy rule is in effect after five (5) innings of play. If a team is leading by more than twelve (12) runs the game is considered complete.
Miscellaneous
Each team is allowed four (4) courtesy runners per game. Each team may also designate a team member who requires a runner. This designated runner will start at home plate, must stand opposite to the batter and cannot leave till after contact with the ball has been made. This will be allowed and will not count against the four runners per game rule. If a player arrives late for a game he must be inserted at the bottom of the batting order unless he is the ninth player and then must bat in the position of the loaned player.
Schedule and Playoffs
Each team plays a twenty eight (28) game schedule based on a double round robin system. The early games begin at 6:15 and the late games start at 8:45. At the end of the season the top four (4) teams form the “A” Division and the bottom four (4) the “B” Division. The first round of playoffs consists of a two week (2) round robin play within the Division. The top two teams in each Division advance to the Final, which is a best two (2) out of three (3) affair. All playoff games will start at 6:30. Home field advantage for the first game of the Finals is given to the team finishing higher in the regular season standings. It alternates after the first game.
Defaults and Rain Outs
Play may begin with a minimum of eight (8) players. In this event, the shorthanded team can request a player from their opponent, who must comply, if they have an excess of ten (10) players. Should the shorthanded team add a player of his own during the game, the loaned player is returned to his team and will bat last. The new arrival will take his place in the batting order. The rule does not apply to a team with nine (9) players. In either case, there are no automatic outs for missing players. Teams who cannot field at least eight players at the beginning of a game (there will be a five (5) minute grace period timed by the umpire) will default the game and a score of 7-0 will be posted. All games that are rained out will be considered ties and a score of 7-7 will be recorded. Teams are to inform the league Executive as soon as possible, in advance if necessary, if a game is to be forfeited.
Playoff Rules
The first round of the playoffs will be a round robin format with each team playing all the teams in their division once. At the end of the round robin, the top two teams will advance to play a best 2 out of 3 series for the Division Championship.
Any ties resulting from round robin play will be broken in the following manner:
- Most points
- Most wins
- Greatest run differential (runs for minus run against)
- Most runs scored
- Least runs allowed
- Stilled tied? ……. Flip a coin
The maximum winning differential is limited to 7 runs. As an example an 11-3 game will be recorded as 10-3. However, for tie breaking purposes, if there were a tie at the end of the round robin and we had to go to point #4 above, the actual score would be used. A team may bat in the bottom of the seventh inning even if leading, in order to extend their lead to the maximum of twelve. The mercy rule is in effect during all playoff games. Ties are permissible during the round robin portion of the playoffs. The team finishing higher in the standings during the regular season will be the home team during the round robin. In the finals they will be home team for games one and three.
