Hamilton Civic Rules / Bylaws

Rules

March 12, 2024

Pitching Height

Six feet to unlimited

 Safe And Commit Line

Can not tag between the safe and commit line 

 No Anticipation

If a player jumps off the base the runner is out

 - Jewelry is permitted

 - Five run limit per inning (Unlimited for last inning)

- Any ball hit which rolls into the high grass, is an automatic double (whether it hits somebody or they don't play the ball) No Exceptions

 - Throwing a ball out of play (whether infield or outfield) results in runners on base advancing two bases at time of throw 

 - Catching a ball in fair territory and carrying it out of play results in every player who's on base advancing ahead one base

 - A game can start with a minimum of eight players ( Effective immediately any team that has only 8 players the other team will supply a catcher for them and he or she must participate in the game by making plays on thrown balls or batted balls .)

 - Unlimited courtesy runners can be used for the regular season.

- During Playoff games, each POD can have 7 courtesy runners per game.

- Any players 55 years or older may request a courtesy runner. (Which doesn't affect the original 7 courtesy runners during playoff game)

Time Limits (No Exceptions) & Double headers

-  6:30 PM (single game)

- Double headers are to begin at 6:00 and 7:30PM

-Games that fall between those dates are to begin at 6:00 and 7:30 PM 

(please make sure to check your starting times each week)

-No mercy for 7 inning games

- No new inning will begin one hour and 20 minutes from schedule starting time on a 130 minute game 

• No mercy for 7 inning games

• No  souce of music on the benches or behind the benches

-The league recognizes different associations have different rules about time limits, in these cases the association rules will prevail. (exception when home team comes back and ties the game up, the game will be deemed a tie due to time constraints).

  - A player is eligible for league playoffs  as long as they have played in  5 league games  minimum .

Conduct

 Players are expected to use acceptable deportment in their relations with umpires other players and the league

Officials

Players using unacceptable conduct shall be subject to discipline

Under no circumstances shall any team consume alcoholic beverages or pot in a public park  if this happens during the game the ump will stop the game and the team will come under discipline action which will result in the team being removed from the league without any money being returned to the offending team 

Any player or players that get ejected from a game before it starts during the game or after the game will receive a 1 game suspension .  No player shall verbally abuse a player official spectator  or a representative from the league.  If ejected for the first time a 1 game suspension will be made the second time will be a 3 game suspension and the third time will be a 5 game suspension.  After the third time being suspended  the next offense the player will be told he or she will  not be able to return to the league.  These ejections will stay on the players record and will be carried over to the next year.  It is the responsibility of the captains to control players on there team.

Tie Breaking Formula

In the event that two or more teams finish tied, the higher place shall be awarded based on the following criteria

1) Head to head ( Regular season or round robin) 

2) run differential during head to head matchups ( And if the teams dont play each other in the season then #3 will be followed )

3) total run differential for the season ( WHOEVER HAS THE HIGHER PLUS MINUS TOTALS WILL PLACE ABOVE THE OTHER TEAM )

Suspensions

- Any player and/or coach who threatens an umpire (as reported by the umpires association) shall be suspended for 10 games or be removed from the leaque permanently as determined by the leaque

- Any player and/or coach who strikes an umpire (as reported by the umpires association) shall be suspended for life and will be reported to The City Of Hamilton

- Any player and/or coach ejected from a game will be automatically suspended for the next team game.

- Should the ejection occur in the final regular season game the player and/or coach ejected will be suspended from playing the first game of the weekend tournament

- Any player and/or Coach who is ejected from a game for fighting will automatically be suspended for the teams next 10 games or possibly a suspension for life.

- Should the  ejection occur in the final regular season game the player and/or coach will be suspended for  the weekend tournament depending on what type of suspension has been issued .

• Any player suspended may not sit on the bench stand or sit behind the bench keep score be a base coach and help out at all before during or after the game.

• Any team that is removed from the leaque because of discipline action will lose $500 of the deposit to play in the leaque for the year.

• Any team being removed from the leaque because of discipline action all players will be band from that team and not be eligible to play on any teams from that leaque no exceptions 

• Number Of Players

 Team(s) that field less than 8 players shall default the game

 - 7-0  For A  7 Inning Game

A Team May Play With Only 8 Players the opposing team has to supply a catcher and he has to make a play on any balls

Inclement Weather

Umpires are scheduled to attend all games and it is their responsibility for cancelling games due to inclement weather (Not the teams)

(If any player(s) or team(s) play on diamonds when an umpire has cancelled the game because of the diamond condition the league will be held responsible for the repair and/or damage to the diamond, so please keep off of them)  

 If a game does not complete 5 innings then the game will be considered a 7-7 tie . No make up game will be done  

Line-Ups

- Eight or more players (No Maximum) can be in the starting line-up

- The starting line-up must be written with only the players physically at the park . Players expected cannot be shown in the line-up until their arrival. If a player is not present and shown in the line-up there shall be an automatic out at his turn at bat.

 No player can be taken out part way through except if the following situations arise;

1) A player is legitimately injured and/or becomes ill part way through the game

2) A player who  must leave for work  

Late Arrivals

 A late arrival may enter the game whenever he arrives at the park, but must be placed last in the line-up

Girls Are Allowed To Play In The League (Nobody under the age of 21)

 Substitutions

Any 10 from the starting line-up may play defensively. There shall be unlimited defensive substitution of those in the line-up.

 3 Strikes and you are out  (There is no extra strike anymore in our league)

                                                PLAYOFF WEEKEND 2026 SEPT 12TH AND 13TH STARTING BOTH DAYS AT 8 AM

PLAYOFF WEEKEND WILL BE A ROUND ROBIN THE TEAMS WILL BE BROKEN INTO 4 PODS OF 4/5 TEAMS DETERMINED BY THE END OF THE YEAR STANDINGS . EACH TEAM WILL PLAY EACH OTHER 1 TIME.  AFTER THAT  DEPENDING ON THE  STANDINGS IN THE POD 1ST WILL PLAY 4TH AND 2ND WILL PLAY 3RD  WINNERS OF THOSE GAMES WILL PLAY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR EACH POD.

IF 2 TEAMS ARE TIED YOU WILL GO WITH A HEAD TO HEAD FROM THE ROUND ROBIN

IF  3 TEAMS ARE TIED YOU WILL GO WITH A PLUS/ MINUS WITH THE PLUS BEING THE BETTER

IF THIS IS STILL TIED YOU WILL GO TO THE HEAD TO HEAD IN THE REGULAR SEASON 

AND IF 3 TEAMS ARE STILL TIED THEN THE PLUS / MINUS WITH THE PLUS BEING THE BETTER   

Protests

 The umpires decision shall be deemed FINAL. There shall be no protests based on an umpires call

 If your team walks off the field because of umpiring calls EXT, the game will be a forfeit, and everyone on that team will be suspended for the next game (as a forfeit). If this occurs .  This rule does not take effect for any team that uses the mercy rule for a game

It is recommended that all pitchers from each team wear a helmet and face mask while pitching in a game. It is also recommended that all batters running from home plate to first base should also wear a helmet to prevent injury.