JAM rules for Softball - Slo-Pitch 10s (Mixed-Gender)

Softball - Slo-Pitch 10s (Co-ed) 

There is only one format of Mixed-Gender Slo-Pitch under JAM rules. It is described in its entirety below. 

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 game is tied at the top of the inning at the time of the 85-minute curfew, then the game will end in a tie. Whoever is leading after the last fully completed inning (I.e., top and bottom of innings finished) that team will win the game. You should be using the score at the end of the previously completed inning. The home team does not bat if they are ahead going into the bottom half of the final inning. 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. 

 

Players 

Teams are comprised of ten (10) players (1 rover) with a minimum of three (3) men or gender minority players and three (3) wpmen or gender minority players on the field at once. A team can play with a minimum of 8 people, as long as there is a minimum of two (2) men or gender minority players and two (2) women or gender minority players are on the field. 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 8 players if they are shorthanded but must supply their own catcher. 

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 can 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 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. Captains must set up their own bases. The bases should be 65 feet apart.  Please inform the 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 and bats 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).  

 

Uniforms 

Teams are strongly encouraged to list their team colour on their team profile on the JAM site. Doing this will help avoid confusion when teams arrive at the diamond. 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 and decide prior to the start of the game if they are going to play with any ground rules in regards to boundaries. Please make sure that both teams are aware of these rules so there is no confusion. 

The area behind the backstop, dugouts, home run fences and/or the fences running along first/third base is out of bounds, and the ball is dead when it goes in those areas. Additionally, for the fence line that runs along first and third base, when the fence stops, imagine a line if it kept going (parallel to the foul line). If the ball goes behind this line, then it is out of bounds and play is dead. If the ball goes out of bounds while an active play is going on (I.e., an overthrow to first base) then the baserunner(s) will advance one extra base. 

 

Batting Order (Starting Fall 2022)

Softball 101 

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

Teams pitch to their opponents (this is not 3-pitch), with a mat being used as the basis for balls and strikes (Slo-pitch). The mat will be approximately 2ft x 3ft and the entire 2ft x 3ft area is considered to be the strike zone. If the mat has a "V Cut-out" area, the mat must be pulled up so that the front edges of the mat align with the top edges of the plate, creating a 2ft x 3ft rectangle. With this setup, the exposed part of the plate is part of the rectangle and thus, part of the strike zone. Pitches must have a minimum arc of 6ft (1.83m) and a maximum arc of 12 ft (3.65m).  

Teams are comprised of ten (10) players on the field. A team may play with 8 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. 

We strongly suggest the catcher wear the provided mask. 

Metal cleats are not allowed. 

A foul ball caught out of bounds is an out.  

A foul ball on a third strike is an out. 

Sliding into 2nd and 3rd is permitted 

No lead offs. If a runner leaves the bag before the bat makes contact with the ball, the runner is out. 

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. All plays at home are force-outs (the runner may not be tagged once they pass 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.  

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. 

Stealing is not allowed. 

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 ends. 

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 off an infielder prior to hitting the runner (NOTE: This does not include the pitcher) 

A "force out" will always be in effect between home plate and first base. (i.e., the defensive player only must touch their base to record an out). A baserunner CAN also be tagged on the way to first base for an out. As well, a force out will always be in effect between 3rd base and home plate once the runner has crossed over the commitment line. ALL plays at home are force-outs (the runner may not be tagged once he passes the commitment line). The catcher must stand on home plate for plays at home. There is no force out at 2nd or 3rd base unless the bases before them are full (e.g., runner on 2nd must run to third since runner at 1st base is coming to 2nd) - these players must be tagged. 

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. The pitcher, along with the first and third base coaches may call the infield fly. (I.e., If there is a force out at 3rd base, then the rule applies). An infield fly is to be called when a player uses “normal effort” to reach a fly ball from an infield position. Normal effort is determined by a player being able reach a fly ball without the need to run at full speed to make a catch, or they are able to easily settle underneath the ball before it lands on the ground.  

This means infield fly can be called on a ball that is caught in the outfield grass 

Note, a good general rule of thumb in regards to an infield fly being caught in the infield is that any player that has to turn their back to home plate to run and get into position to make the catch has not used “normal effort”, and an infield fly should not be called. 

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. 

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 running is allowed if the player makes it to first base.  

No pinch hitting. In the case of an injury, take the player out of the batting order and move directly to the next person in line.  

An outfielder is permitted to throw the ball to first base. 

**Fenced Diamond Home Run Rule** - This rule applies to fenced diamonds only - The Maximum number of over the fence homeruns per game is 5. Once a team has maxed out their 5 over the fence home runs, each additional ball hit over the fence is an OUT. 

If a batter is walked with 4 balls in a row and zero strikes or fouls, the following batter has the option to bat or automatically go to 1st (the first batter will go to 2nd base if the second batter opts to go directly to 1st base) 

 

Regular Season Matches 

All regular season matches can end in a tie. 

Playoffs 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 tiebreaker until a winner is determined: 

Games can end in a tie during the regular season. For playoffs, if a game is tied after 7 innings or 75 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. 

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 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. 

Gate Fees 

Some venues charge a gate fee to enter the fields. This is a fee the facility charges and the league does not have any control over this fee. There is no option for the league to pay this fee as the facilities have structured this fee to be over and above the rental costs and maintenance costs that the league already pays. We try not to use these facilities when possible; due to a shortage of fields it is not possible to avoid these fields completely.