BRAMPTON MIXED MASTERS SLO-PITCH LEAGUE (BMMSL) 
RULES OF PLAY – 2026

1. Each team must have a minimum of eight players to play and at least three (3)  must be female, or the game is forfeited. 
2. Maximum team roster is seven (7) males and seven (7) females. 
3. A team may field a maximum of twelve (12) players: six (6) males and six (6) females. If a team cannot field six (6) males, additional female players may be used.
4. Absent players must be replaced by a spare to ensure 12 players on the field. A team may not elect to play with fewer than twelve (12) players, as this may impact league parity and team rankings.
5. There are to be a minimum of three (3) female players playing the infield. A female pitcher counts toward the infield requirement, allowing a male player to occupy another infield position.
6. There is no penalty for removing an injured player from the line-up. No out will be recorded. The spot in the order is just skipped and the team will continue to alternate male and female batters. 
7. Games will begin at 6:45 p.m. (early) and 8:15 p.m. (late). Players arriving late must be added to the bottom of the batting order but may take the field at any time. If a spare player is used and a regular player arrives late, the spare will remain in the lineup and the regular player will sit.
8. Playoffs: minimum of four females required or game is forfeited; no playoff game shall end in a tie. Extra innings must be played to result in a clear winner. 
9. Batting order must alternate gender. 
10. Foul on third strike is not an automatic out. 
11. Slo-pitch requires a pitch arc between 6 and 12 feet. Pitches outside this range will be called illegal. If the batter does not swing at an illegal pitch, it will be called a ball—even if it hits the board. If the batter swings, the pitch is no longer considered illegal and the result of the play stands.
12. All balls coming off the bat foul, back to the catcher, will be an out if caught, regardless of the height. 
13. A batted ball that hits the home plate is considered a dead ball and a strike is counted. 
14. Pinch runners are allowed at the request of the runner.  They must be of the same sex. Each player may use a courtesy runner a maximum of three (3) times per game.  A player who uses a courtesy runner in an inning may not act as a courtesy runner for another player in that same inning.
15. No anticipation rule: a runner is out, and the ball is dead if: on a pitched ball, the runner leaves the base before the ball has reached the plate, hits the ground, or is swung at by the batter. One anticipation step is allowed if the ball has crossed the plate, regardless of whether the batter swings. 
16. The infield fly rule does apply. 
17. If the first four (4) pitches to any batter are called balls, the batter will be awarded second base. The next batter must hit. If any strike or foul ball occurs during the at-bat, the batter will be awarded first base only.
18. The role of the pitcher is to deliver a hittable ball. If the umpire decides that the pitcher is intentionally walking a batter, the umpire can award a warning and 2nd base to the batter. Upon a third instance, the umpire can eject the pitcher from the game. 
19. A commitment (safety) line will be marked 35 feet from third base. Once a runner crosses this line, they must continue to home plate and may not return, except on a caught fly ball. Tagging at home plate is not permitted. Runners must cross the safety line. Any runner touching home plate will be called out.
20. Pitcher’s mound is a minimum 50’ to a maximum of 65’ from the back of home plate. 
21. Base lengths will be 65 feet. 
22. No defensive player, except the pitcher and catcher, may cross the baseline until the ball is hit. Outfielders must remain behind the 150-foot marker until contact is made. Pylon markers will be placed in left and right field to indicate this boundary.
23. An inning ends when either: three (3) outs are recorded OR five (5) runs are scored (whichever occurs first). In the seventh inning, runs are unlimited. If the home team is ahead after six innings, or takes the lead before the third out in the bottom of the seventh, the game ends. If the umpire declares an inning as the final inning, it will be played as an open inning with no run limit and will end after three outs.
24. If a game is cancelled due to rain, all scheduled games for that night are cancelled, regardless of innings played. This ensures scheduling consistency and statistical fairness for all teams. Up to two (2) rainout games will be rescheduled and replayed in the order they occurred.  Three (3) or more rainout games will not be rescheduled.  During playoffs, all games must be completed to be considered official. 
25. Any inning that starts AFTER 7:50 p.m./9:20 p.m. will be declared the last inning. At that time, the umpire will announce that the NEXT inning will be the last one OR will wait until the next inning begins and will declare "last inning" at the start of the inning. The last inning will be played to the natural conclusion of the game with no "stop dead" time. Exceptions - all playoff games to go 7 innings. 
26. Ten minutes grace period from scheduled start time. Otherwise, the game will be forfeited, or the team must play with the minimum eight players. 
27. Safety Bag: on the batter’s first attempt at first base and a play is made at first, they must use the orange portion of the double base. Once the batter has safely reached first base, they must now use the white portion. The defensive player always uses the white portion. 
28. Sliding is not permitted. Any runner who slides will be called out.
29. Outfielders cannot throw a batter out at first base (as per SPO/SPN rules). 
30. If a player misses 3 consecutive games and has no contact with the league, they will be considered a dropout player and will be replaced. No refund will be issued.
31. Smoking and drinking are prohibited within the sports activity area as per city by-laws and SPN rules. 
32. An Executive review is required if anyone is ejected from a game. 
33. Official umpires will be used. 
34. The governing body (SPO/SPN) will be used to decide on the cost of protesting a game. 

Use of Spares: 

1. Regular players may have their name added to the spares list. They may play in the event of a spare’s shortage. Regular players will be used on a rotation basis only and will not be charged a fee. 
2. Spare players will be supplied to allow a team to field a maximum of 6 players of each gender. If you are missing a pitcher and there is only one (1) pitcher on the team, teams can request a pitcher (from the Spares Co-ordinator) and play with 7 and 6 on the roster. 
3. Spares shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order on the roster. 
4. All spares will have the right to participate in the playoffs at the discretion of the Executive, if scheduled prior to the playoffs. With the exception of the Championship and Consolation final games, where full-time members will be given the opportunity to spare. Full-time players must not already be playing in the playoffs. 
5. A spare may play only two consecutive weeks with any one team. Exceptions will be at the discretion of the Executive. 

Updated: April 2026