JAM rules for Softball - Mixed-Gender Officiated Self Pitch

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Softball - Mixed-Gender Officiated Self Pitch

There is only one format of Mixed-Gender Officiated Self Pitch under JAM rules. It is described in its entirety below. This ruleboook covers Mixed-Gender and Open programs. 

Click here for a score sheet (Adobe PDF version).  

 

JAM is for Everyone – Inclusion Statement

Our program offerings are designed to be inclusive for all members of the JAM community. Our goal is to create a welcoming gender policy that uplifts and supports each player where they are at. To ensure we can offer something for everyone, our programs may be offered in the following formats: Mixed-Gender, Women's, Men's, and Open.

Many of our league rules specify gender-based roster requirements, the goal of which is to ensure that each player has an equal opportunity to be included in gameplay.

Everyone participating in a JAM program is welcome to compete based on their gender identity and gender expression; regardless of their gender assigned at birth. Members whose gender identity does not align with the binary man/woman construct are welcome to play in all our mixed-gender and open programs.

Nonbinary, trans, genderqueer, and all other players who identify as a gender minority can count towards the roster minimums for either men or women in our mixed-gender leagues

 

Game Time

Games are seven innings in length with a time limit of 85 minutes. Please arrive early to ensure you get the full use of your allotted diamond time. Regardless of when your game begins your game will always end on time to allow the succeeding games to begin at their scheduled time. No new inning may be started after 75 minutes. There is a hard cap at 85 minutes.  If the home team is trailing in the game and the current inning is not completed by the 85-minute mark, the score of the game will be the score at the end of the previous completed inning.  If the score is tied, or the home team is ahead at the 85-minute mark, the score will be taken as is at the time of the 85-minute curfew. NOTE: This format will also be used for games that are forced to be cut short due to dangerous playing conditions (i.e. weather).  The home team does not bat if they are ahead going into the bottom half of the final inning.  All games will be officiated by carded SPO/SPN Umpires.

 

Players

Teams are comprised of nine (9) players (1 rover). A default will occur if a team cannot be fielded by 15 minutes after the offcial start time.  

Roster Numbers: All teams must have at least two (2) men or gender minority players and two (2) women or gender minority players on the field at once. A team must supply their own catcher. 

Defaults:  A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad by 15 minutes after the official start time. A team may play with 7 players if they are shorthanded but must supply their own catcher AND the roster minimums must be met.

Poor Weather Conditions: Games that are forced to be cut short due to dangerous playing conditions (i.e. weather), or are not complete in the 85 minute game time will end with the final score being the score at the end of the previous completed inning as long as 30 minutes or 3 innings have been played. 

Eligible Players: During the regular season, team captains can use ANYONE as a player for their team as long as they are listed on a JAM team roster. This includes adding last minute players from games just completed prior to the start of your game. When adding players in this manner, it is good sportsmanship to let your opponents know. As well, it is also sportsmanlike to only add players of the same approximate skill level. i.e. please do not add superstars to your recreational team.  In compliance with the above player eligibility rule, players are able to play in multiple games on any given day (as full time or substitute players), but once a commitment is made to play for a specific team, for a specific game, that player must remain with that team for the duration of the game.  A player cannot move from one team to another during the course of a game.  Exception: if a team acquires a sub from another team to achieve the minimum number of players until their teammates arrive.  In this scenario, that player can return to their original team, once the team is able to field a full lineup.

 

Playing Area

All softball diamonds vary in size and there is no set standard for JAM Softball Surfaces, however, all bases must be set out to JAM standards. The on-site JAM Ambassador or the Umpire is responsible for setting up the bases. Please inform the Umpire or JAM Ambassador if the field needs to be adjusted.  

 

Equipment/Set Up

Team captains are responsible for bringing three (3) softballs as well as copies of the field permits to all games (if necessary). It is the teams' responsibility to bring their own gloves to all games as well as any extra softballs if the original three are lost. 

 

Softballs:

• The official softball of JAM leagues is a 12" yellow softball (.52 COR/275 LBS).

Base Distance:  

• Softball bases should be placed roughly 65 feet apart, or whatever works best given the size of the diamond. Both teams should agree on the placement of the bases.

Bats:

• Only bats approved by the ASA or the USSSA, and which don’t appear on a list of banned bats, will be deemed legal.  All bats must be softball bats (cannot be baseball bats). 
  • ASA Banned bat list: http://usa.asasoftball.com/e/build_batlist_one_page.asp 
  • USSSA Banned bat list:  http://web.usssa.com/usssa/usssa-general/Withdrawn&Non-CompliantBaseballBats.pdf 
  • More info: http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Play-ASA/Certified-ASA-Equipment.aspx 
• No throwing of the bat at any point during the game. Players are required to be mindful of everyone's safety and prevent any possibility of injury. 
• Most approved softball bats have the following logo's:

Head Protection:

• A mask is available for back catchers - this is a strongly recommended piece of equipment. Softball helmets for batters, base runners and pitchers are not mandatory. However, it is strongly recommended that players or teams supply and wear their own helmets if they chose to do so in the interest of safety.

Cleats: 

• Metal cleats are not allowed

Jewellery:

• Players may not wear any jewellery during the game. All jewellery must be removed (cannot be taped over). Umpires will be very strict about this rule.

 

Uniforms

Teams are required to bring both light and coloured shirts to every game. Team colours are posted on the JAM website in your schedule. If two teams have the same colour the team captains should contact each other to ensure that each team knows what colour to wear.

Defaults: There is no default for players that don’t wear the right colour. However, that player must do everything they can to ensure it’s not confusing for the opposition. Whether this means wearing a pinny, a hat, a teammate’s shirt, etc. Under no circumstances can a player purposefully deceive the opposition.

 

Ground Rules

Captains should discuss with the umpire and decide prior to the start of the game if they are going to play any ground rules with regards to boundaries. Please make sure that both teams are aware of these rules so there is no confusion.

 

Batting Order (Starting Fall 2022)

Softball 101

This league will be governed by the SPO Rules, with the following exceptions/highlights:

• The team at bat provides their own pitcher. We strongly recommend a minimum pitching distance of roughly 12 paces from home plate. If a hit ball touches the pitcher, the ball is declared dead and the pitch is redone - base runners return to their previous bases and the pitch count is restored. (Pitchers should do their best to avoid making contact with a hit ball, but may protect themselves if necessary on a hard-hit ball). Every batter can receive a maximum of three (3) pitches. All foul balls, wild pitches, strikes and balls count as one of the three pitches. The only exception is a ball that hits the pitcher.
• Teams are comprised of nine (9) players on the field. A team may play with 7 players if they are shorthanded but must supply their own catcher.
• Teams must bat in a set order, with no limit to the number of batters. Late arriving players will be placed at the bottom of the batting order.
• There is no set fielding line-up (players may switch positions from inning to inning), but all players must field at least every other inning (cannot sit for 2 innings or more in a row). The only exception to this rule is due to an in-game injury, and the opposing captain must agree to waive this rule.
• There is absolutely no sliding into any base, offensively or defensively. Any base runner that slides is automatically out.
• We strongly suggest the catcher wear the provided mask.
• Metal cleats are not allowed.
• 1st base will have "safety bases". As such, there will be a base for the first baseperson to touch and a separate base for the runner to step on. This is only on ground balls to first (i.e. if a batter hits an outfield single and there is no play at first, they may touch the white base). Once a player has safely reached first base, the safety base will then be considered to be the ground, so the runner may only use the white base as their base.
• A player can overrun 1st base ONLY.
• A scoring line and commitment line will be used for plays at home. The commitment line will be halfway between 3rd base and home, and once a runner crosses that line, they cannot return to 3rd base. If they do, it is an automatic out (no appeal to the umpire is necessary). All plays at home are force-outs (the runner may not be tagged once he passes the commitment line and the runner must cross the scoring line and NOT touch the mat/home plate). On plays at home plate, the catcher/fielder can stand on the mat or the exposed portion of the plate to register an out.
• There is no bunting or faking to bunt. However, a ball that is hit with a full swing, but does not go past the pitcher IS a live, playable ball. Intentionally "chopping" the ball (so it bounces high) is not allowed. This will be at the umpire's discretion.
• Mercy rule: If a team is up by 15 runs or more after the 5th inning of play, the losing team has the option of calling the game or choosing to continue.
• A team can only score a maximum of eight (8) runs in one inning.
  • EXCEPTION: A team has no run limit in the final inning of the game.
• There are no leadoffs for base runners; you must wait until contact with the ball is made. Baserunners that leadoff will be called out. Stealing is not allowed.
• The "home" team will be determined by a coin toss (rock - paper - scissors is welcome as well). In the Playoffs, the home team will be the higher-placed team in the regular season standings.
• The infield-fly rule will be in effect.
• Players may not wear any jewellery during the game. All jewellery must be removed (cannot be taped over). Umpires will be very strict about this rule.
• Games can end in a tie during the regular season. For playoffs, if a game is tied after 7 innings or 80 minutes, teams will utilize the following format: The visiting team will start the inning by placing the last out from the previous inning on second base with one (1) out. Once 3 outs have been reached, the home team will then place their last out from the previous inning on second base, also with one (1) out, and proceed to bat until 3 outs is reached. Teams will take turns doing this until the score is settled upon the completion of a full inning. This format is continued until the tie is broken.
• An outfielder is permitted to throw the ball to first base.
• A base runner who is hit by a batted ball in fair territory is declared out for interference. This ruling stands even if the base runner is in contact with a base (the base is not a safe haven and is in fair territory). Any other runners on base at the time interference is called must return to their base. In addition, the batter is awarded first base, as long as the interfering runner is not the third out of the inning.
  • EXCEPTIONS:
    • Please Note: if a ball is deflected off an infielder and hits a baserunner, the ball is live and play continues until the play is dead.
    • A runner is not out if they are touched by an infield fly, so long as they are in contact with a base
    • If a fair batted ball touches two runners, only the first runner is out, as the ball is dead as soon as it touches the first runner
    • A runner is not out if an infielder makes a play on the ball and misplays it prior to the ball hitting the runner.  This includes: intentionally or unintentionally allowing a ball to pass by, a deflection of any kind of an infielder prior to hitting the runner (NOTE: This does not include the pitcher)
• As per SPO rules, there is no longer a height requirement for an out to be recorded if the catcher catches a batted/foul ball. If the ball makes contact with the bat and the catcher makes a legal catch on the ball, an out will be recorded. 
• Pinch Runners: A team may use a maximum of three (3) courtesy runners per game (can be any player).  If the courtesy runner is due up to bat, they must be replaced with another courtesy runner and the original courtesy runner will come up to bat. The replacement courtesy runner counts toward a total of three per game. If all three courtesy runners have been used and a courtesy runner on base is due up to bat, an out must be taken.)
• Outfielders must not encroach within 6m (20 feet) of the baselines (the baselines spanning 1st and 2nd or spanning 2nd and 3rd) while the ball is being pitched to a batter. As soon as the ball is batted, outfielders may move anywhere on the field in reaction to a play (i.e. they may move towards the infield). The Rover may position themselves in the infield if they choose to.
• Only one infielder may encroach from the baseline before the ball is batted to a maximum of 5 feet in front of the baseline. All other infielders must remain on or behind the baseline until the ball is hit.
• Home Run limit for diamonds with home run fences: there is a maximum of 2 home runs per team per inning. If a team that hits 2 home runs in an inning hits another home run, then that batter is out. This rule does not apply to diamonds without a home run fence, so if a player runs out a home run (i.e. the ball is fieldable) then that does not count towards this limit.
• An outfielder is permitted to throw the ball to first base.

 

Regular Season Matches

All regular season matches can end in a tie.

 

Playoffs Eligibility and Tiebreak

There must be a winner in a playoff match. In the event that the match ends in a tie, teams will partake in the following tie-breaker until a winner is determined:

For playoffs, if a game is tied after 7 innings or 80 minutes, teams will utilize the following format: The visiting team will start the inning by placing the last person to complete their at-bat from the previous inning on second base with one (1) out. Once 3 outs have been reached, the home team will then place their last person to complete their at-bat from the previous inning on second base, also with one (1) out, and proceed to bat until 3 outs is reached. Teams will take turns doing this until the score is settled upon the completion of a full inning. This format is continued until the tie is broken.

 

Rough Play

Any rough or physical play will result in immediate expulsion from further league play and may result in a lifetime league expulsion. Please see the JAM policy sheet for our official policy on this subject. It is recognized that incidental contact between players is inevitable; however, all players should go out of their way to avoid creating an unsafe play.  This rule supersedes all others. 

Please note that on-site staff and referees have full autonomy when supervising games. Games may be stopped entirely, players may be asked to leave the playing area or be removed from the game entirely under their discretion.

 

Alcohol

There are absolutely no alcoholic beverages permitted on JAM property. Any offenders will be asked to leave the league without refund. No exceptions.