VWFL Operating Rules

Last updated: April 2023

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Article 1 - Uniforms and Equipment

BC Amateur Softball (Softball BC) Rules and Regulations shall apply, except for dress.
Running shoes and soccer boots are allowed. Metal or hard plastic cleats are not permitted.
Catchers shall always wear full gear. This shall consist of helmet, mask, chest protector, and shin guards. No catcher shall play without full dress.
Catchers are required to wear a mask, at minimum, while warming up a pitcher, per the SBBC regulations.
Helmets shall be mandatory for batters and base runners, as per Softball BC Rules.
As a safety precaution to prevent injury, the VWFL highly advocates that members follow the Softball BC recommendations and remove all jewelry prior to the commencement of a game. If members choose to dismiss this recommendation, then wear at your own risk.
Teams are responsible to carry with them their own set of bases (home plate not needed), a spare pitcher’s mound, rakes and a shovel for any field maintenance that might need to occur at fields where access to these items is not available.
The league ball is the Worth Red Dot 12” Optic Raised seam. However, with supply issues balls and possible alternatives may be changes as needed.

Article 2- Field Etiquette

Teams are responsible for leaving the premises clean. The Executive requests teams report damages or poor conditions immediately to the Vice President of the league.
Absolutely no liquor is permitted on any premises.
Smoking is limited to the parking areas only as requested by the Municipalities.
Minor parks have specific set up/take down requests as many have drop-in bases and well-maintained infields. Please take the time to ask or review these parks guidelines.

Article 3 - Team Responsibilities

The Home Team shall:

Put the bases and pitching mound in by 6:00pm,
Provide a new game ball, and
Input a picture of the score sheet, the game score, MVP for the opposing team, and umpire’s name within 24-hours into the leagues website database. Send information to Statistician when website database not available or working.

The Visiting Team shall:

Rake the fields after the game and ensure garbage is cleaned up, and
Input a picture of the score sheet, the game score, MVP for the opposing team and umpire’s name within 24-hours into the leagues website database. Send information to Statistician when website database not available or working.

Article 4 - Games

In all games in the VFWL, seven (7) innings shall constitute a legal game. In playoffs, games shall continue until a winner is declared. Games which cannot be completed due to darkness or weather shall be rescheduled, unless five (5) innings have been completed. The team ahead after five (5) full innings shall be declared the winner.
The decision to call the game shall be made by the umpire.
When a team earns seven (7) runs in any one inning, that half of the inning shall be considered complete. Then the other half, or new inning shall begin. This does not apply to the seventh or final inning; the seventh or final inning is open.
If a team is ahead by fifteen (15) runs after four and one-half (4 1/2) innings, or any inning thereafter, the game may be declared over.
Games may be cancelled prior to 6:15 pm on game days, if done so for reason of rainout, by the Lower Island Softball Umpire's Association or allocator by telephone to the VWFL President by 4:00pm that day. Calls will then be made to the Team Representatives as quickly as possible, who will in turn notify their team members.
Teams failing to field a full complement of nine (9) players by 6:30pm shall forfeit the game. The score of a forfeited game shall be 7 - 0 in favour of the team not at fault. If a team is aware that a forfeit will occur, please notify the VWFL President so the umpires and the other team can be notified.
A rained-out game shall be re-scheduled to an evening organized by the Vice President depending on the schedule for the season.
Courtesy runners are a privilege in the VWFL for those who have minor injuries but are still capable to bat but unable to run long distances. Please indicate at the beginning of the game with the coaches, captains, and umpires who the injured player is/are. Out of courtesy the injured runner will go to only first (1st) base and the last available runner will replace that person. This rule will also apply should a player becomes hurt during the game and unable to run but is still able to bat. The other team and umpire are to be made aware of this before that player bats.
The pitching distance for the VWFL is 43-feet to match the increase that Softball BC made for ‘C’ provincials in 2020.
Teams will be allowed to bat all players at their own discretion. Teams must declare during the umpire and coaches meeting prior to the start of the game that their team will bat all players or bat 9 players. For teams batting all players, the batting lineup order is required to have the starting 9 fielded defensive players listed as the top 9 batters. Additional players must be recorded in the substitutions field in the lineup.
If a player arrives to the field late, the player will be added to the bottom of the lineup sheet as the last player in the batting order. If a player must leave the park before the game has ended, the player will be removed in the batting order. They are not an automatic out.
In the event of a player injury:
- On a team batting 9 players where the player is unable to continue playing, if no un-played spares are available, any player on the bench can be put in for the injured player without issue.
- On a team batting all players where the player is unable to continue playing, the player will be removed in the batting order. They are not an automatic out.
For all teams, regardless of batting 9 players or batting all players, defensive changes are not unlimited and must be recorded with the umpire. Any of the starting fielded players may be substituted for and re-entered once. A substituted player is defined as a player who does not play defensively in the starting 9 fielded positions. Once substituted from the game, a substitute may not re-enter the game.

For teams batting all players, the batting lineup order will not change, regardless of defensive substitutions. Defensive positions do not need to be declared on the lineup card.

Article 5 - League Tournaments

Per the VWFL Constitution: Article 6 – Performance Bonds: “Any team that does not participate in the league tournaments will be fined $100.00 per tournament. Teams participating in Provincial Championships over the scheduled tournament dates are exempt from this fine.”
Per the VWFL Constitution: Article 8 – Members: VWFL Tournaments: “Teams shall be permitted to borrow players from any other VWFL provided all regular team members are always fielded. An additional player, picked up for the Sue Beischer Tournament:

Must be insured by Softball BC,
May be registered in other Softball BC categories,
Shall not pitch in the tournament, and
Shall be fielded only after all available team players recorded on the Softball BC Roster have been fielded.”

For the Sue B, all VWFL teams, including those not participating (other than being away for Provincials) will be scheduled for various duties including washroom cleanings, beer garden coverage, and 50-50. Duties must be completed during the scheduled times by team members as set by the league’s Vice-President.
Tournament games:

5 run per inning limit per team.
5-innings or a 1.5-hour time limit, whichever is reached first, excluding the Sue B final.
BC Amateur Softball (Softball BC) Rules and Regulations shall apply, except for inning and time limits.
The Sue B final will be a full 7-inning game without a time limit. The 7th inning will be open. Should the game be tied at the end of the 7-inning, the game will go into Softball BC International Rules.