Lethbridge Slowpitch Association Rules


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Here are the rules for the Lethbridge Slowpitch League:

New or updated rules are highlighted in red

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Unless otherwise stated, Slo-pitch National rules will apply.

NOTE: Unattended children are not the League or Riverbottoms' responsibility. Please look after your own and know where they are!

1) No alcohol whatsoever can be brought to the river bottom complex. Teams caught bringing alcohol to the complex will result in the team being suspended from the facility for the rest of the season. LMSA will not refund any monies to teams suspended from the facility. No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the playing field.

2) Appeal process: If a team is using an illegal player, or in violation of any other rule, the following process must be followed:

  • Inform the umpire before, or immediately after the conclusion of the game that you intend to proceed with an appeal, stating the reason. If, as in the case of B,C,D division, there is no designated umpire, inform the coach of the other team.
  • Inform the LMSA executive that same day at 380-2797. Leave a message with all pertinent information (teams playing, umpire/coach name, reason for appeal.
  • Each team involved in the appeal must put up a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) bond with the league. Team winning the appeal will receive their twenty five dollars ($25.00) back and team losing will forfeit their twenty five dollars ($25.00).
  • Each team involved will present their side to the three member appeal board in writing. After a discussion with each of the teams involved the appeal board will make a ruling.
  • The appeal board will inform the teams of their ruling at the earliest opportunity.
  • The appeal board will consist of three impartial members of the executive
  • APPEAL BOARD RULING WILL BE FINAL.
  • Appeals based on umpire rulings will not be considered.
  • If through the process of appeal, a team is found to have used an illegal player, they will forfeit all points gained in every game that the illegal player appeared.


  • 3) Player eligibility:
  • A Division may have an unlimited number of men and ladies ball players form other leagues.
  • B, C, D Division may have only two (2) males that play A Men's or A Mixed Ball. All females from other leagues are eligible.
  • Players in the LMSA league may play for a team in every division but cannot play for two (2) teams in the same division


  • 4) Game cancellations:
  • LMSA executive will try to make a decision on cancellations due to inclement weather with as much notification as possible.
  • If games are cancelled well enough in advance, the league will notify the radio stations to announce the cancellations.
  • If the city or softball valley cancels the games, they will try to have them on the radio as soon as possible. Softball valley (327-6393) and the league (380-2797) will put a cancellation message on their answering machine. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THEIR ANSWERING MACHINE ASKING IF THE DIAMONDS ARE OPEN.
  • If at all possible, LMSA will post cancellations on the web site (www.lethmixedslowpitch.com).
  • In A Division, if two teams decide to cancel a game, it is the responsibility of the home team to notify the umpires.
  • Available MAKE-UP time for games is extremely limited. If you try to re-schedule a game, there are NO guarantees due to the limited available diamonds.


  • 5) Game times are 6:15 PM and 7:35 PM. There will be NO GRACE PERIOD. No new inning will start after the sound of the horn.

    6) All home teams must provide a NEW game ball, provided by the league. Home teams in B, C, D Divisions must provide a strike mat 2'x3'.

    7) At the start of the game, the minimum number of players to constitute a team will be eight (8) players, with a minimum of four (4) women. The team must forfeit an out for each player missing in the batting order. The team may designate which spots will be outs. If a team is unable to meet these requirements the game is a forfeit. Any team forfeiting a game will forfeit their fifty ($50.00) dollar performance bond. The team will not be allowed to play any more games until the fifty ( $50.00) dollar bond is replaced. ALL TEAMS WILL BE ALLOWED ONE FORFEIT AT NO COST EACH SEASON. All A Division Teams forfeiting a game must pay the Umpiring fee as well. IN B, C, D DIVISIONS, IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY, HAVE SOMEONE COME FROM ANOTHER DIAMOND TO HELP OUT. An un-biased observer will make things better for everyone.

    8) Runners must cross the safe line at home. If the runner touches the strike mat or home plate, that runner will be declared OUT. All plays at home are force plays.

    9) To be eligible to play playoffs, players must have played eight (8) regular season games with the Mixed team that they are playing playoffs with. Their name must also be on the roster submitted to the league.

    10) A team may use twelve (12) batters as long as there is a minimum of five (5) females. Any ten (10) of these twelve (12) players may substitute in and out defensively as many times as the want, as long as there are four (4) females on the field.

    11) Game winners must phone the score into the stats line (380-2797) by 9:30 PM. Please advise your team name, the division, the score and who you played against. In the event of a tie game, the home team must phone in the score. All scores will be posted on the schedule on the website each week. Please check to make sure your game scores are on there and if not e-mail or phone them in again giving date, team played and score. IT IS ALL TEAMS RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THEIR SCORES AND RECORDS ARE CORRECT.

    12) Anytime a male batter is walked and is followed by a female in the batting order, he is automatically awarded second base. The female must bat.

    13) SPORTSMANSHIP: Teams are responsible to ensure that all their member act in an acceptable manner. Teams forfeit their fifty dollar ($50.00) performance bond if any of their members engage in activities such as violence, or extreme verbal abuse. This is at the discretion of the LMSA executive.

    14) Mercy rule: Teams ahead by twelve (12) runs or more after four and a half (4 !/2) innings if home or five (5) innings if visitors will be declared the winners.

    15) Each inning has unlimited runs.

    16) No team can be more than two (2) out of the park home runs ahead of their opponents. Subsequent home runs are an automatic out.

    17) A defensive player cannot stand any closer than fifty feet (50') from the front of home plate, in fair territory, as each pitch is delivered.

    18) A base runner is out when a coach physically holds or pushes a base runner, to assist him to return or to leave a base.

    19) A team cannot use the same courtesy runner twice in a game.

    20) No metal cleats are allowed.

    21) We will be using the big ball, small ball format with females being pitched the small ball. These balls are to be used for your HOME games only

    22) Positions 7, 8, 9 and 10 (all outfield positions) cannot throw anyone out at first base from the outfield.

    23) All re-scheduled and cancelled games will be updated through E-MAILS ONLY (there will NOT be any phone calls made this year!) Make sure you submit your e-mail address to Barrie Ferguson [email] so you're kept informed of any changes.

    24) It is the responsibility of all players to know whether their bat has been altered or is on the non-approved bat list. if a bat is not listed on the approved or non-approved bat list, then it shall be considered a non-approved bat.
    SPN uses the ASA approved and non-approved bat lists (link). Teams should dwonload and print the list and have it with them if they wish to appeal a bat.
    Effect: the batter is out and ejected from the game if he enters the batter's box with a non-approved bat. in addition, the coach/manager is ejected as well.