Article 3 - Game Procedures

3.1 The Game

a) Home Team

i) In the Qualifying Round, home team will be determined by a coin toss at the Coaches/Managers meeting prior to the start of the championship.

ii) In the next round of play, Home teams will be determined by the previous round standings, the higher placing team will have a choice of inning.

a) If two or more divisions were in the previous round, the highest placed team from the division pairings will have choice of inning in the first game.

b) In subsequent games, the higher ranked team of all divisions (of the previous round) combined will have choice of inning.

c) If teams of all divisions combined (of the previous round) are ranked equal, a coin toss will determine the higher placing team.

EXCEPTION: In the Championship Game, if there is only one undefeated team in the Championship Round, that team will have choice of inning (i.e., home or away).

b) Game Length

In all Canadian Championship games, 7 innings will constitute a legal game, except if tied after 7 innings, it must be continued until a winner is declared.

EXCEPTION: Softball Canada Canadian Championship Supervisors can shorten games in the qualifying and championship round to 5 innings where weather threatens the completion of the Championship. The Championship game will be 7 innings except in the case where Playing Rule 5 sec. 3.d applies.

c) Game Interruptions

If for any reason a Canadian Championship game is interrupted prior to the completion of an official game, the game shall resume at the exact point in which it left off. (Includes number of outs, count on batter, etc.)

d) Run Ahead Rule

i) In all categories, games will end after 2½ or 3½ innings of play if the home team is winning by 15 or more runs. A game will end after 3 or 4 complete innings of play if the visiting team is winning by 15 or more runs.

ii) In all categories, games will end after 3½ innings of play if the home team is winning by 10 or more runs. A game will end after 4 complete innings of play if the visiting team is winning by 10 or more runs.

iii) In all categories, games will end after 4½ or 5½ innings of play if the home team is winning by 7 or more runs. A game will end after 5 or 6 complete innings of play if the visiting team is winning by 7 or more runs.

e) Tie Breaking

i) The tie breaking procedure used in extra inning games shall be applied in all Canadian Championship games except the final championship game (i.e., C10). See Fast Pitch Rule 5, Section 7 of the Softball Canada Official Rule Book.

ii) The procedure will come into effect after 7 innings have been played.

3.2 Protests

a) The Protest Committee for all Canadian Championships shall consist of three (3) people selected by the Softball Canada Supervisor as outlined below:

i) the Softball Canada Supervisor or Assistant Supervisor.
ii) the Umpire In Chief or Deputy Umpire in Chief.
iii) an individual appointed by the Softball Canada Supervisor.

b) All game play protests must be made at the time of the play in question (i.e., before the next pitch). The home plate umpire must announce the outcome of the protest.

c) There shall be no protests on:

• the rescheduling of games.

• the contents of a line–up card.

3.3 Smoking and/or Liquor Prohibitions

a) No smoking and/or liquor shall be allowed on the benches, in the dugouts or playing field area.

b) The offending person(s) will be given one warning and the team manager shall be advised that the warning has been given. A second incident will lead to the ejection from the game.