WOSPA By-laws

Meetings
Two business meetings will be held annually. The first meeting will be held at the beginning of the year where the Board of Directors will present budgets for approval. The second meeting on a date set by the Board of Directors as soon as possible after the end of the season. Closing Financial Statements will be presented at that time. Other meetings may be held if deemed necessary by the League Executives (Team Representatives). A quorum, for voting and meeting purposes will consist of at least five (5) team Representatives. The Board of Directors cannot double as Team representatives. Approval by simple majority is required to carry a proposal. The President of the Board of Directors will cast a ballot only in the event of a tie. Players, other than Team Representatives, wishing to discuss business must channel their request through their Team Representative. No player(s), other than Team Representatives will have standing at any League meeting.

Election of Board of Directors and League Executives
Executive members can be replaced upon resignation or by a simple majority vote of Team Representatives. Nominations for vacant positions will be accepted from all members of the League. The Team Representatives will vote in the case of one or more applicants.

Responsibilities of League Executive
The League Executive has the approval of the League to make all non-monetary decisions with the exception of disciplinary rulings. The League gives the Executive the power to make monetary decisions up to $500 without prior approval of the League. However, the Team Representatives must be notified of all such expenditures.

League Fees
League fees will be determined at the beginning of each year ($1000 for 2008) and must be in the possession of the League Executive no later than April 1. Failure to make payment in a timely and orderly fashion will result in a fine of $100 added to the League entry fee. The fee is inclusive the annual League banquet. The League will spend no more than $1,500 for the League banquet. Should the need arise in the future, the sum allowed for the banquet may be increased with the agreement of a majority of the Team Representatives.

Disbursement of League Assets
If the League decides to cease operation any assets of the League will be divided equally among the existing Teams. Payment would be made to the Team Representatives. This would be done only after all League debts have been paid. If a team voluntarily withdraws from the League during the regular season or playoffs no funds will be reimbursed. If a team were asked to leave the league payment would be made on a pro-rata basis of games played to total games. 

WOSPA League Rules
Slo-Pitch Ontario rules will apply unless West Ottawa Slo-Pitch Association rules state otherwise.

ROSTERS AND AGE LIMITS
Team Rosters must be locked in no later than June 1 of each season. A detailed list must be submitted to the League at that time. The list must include the player’s name, date of birth, address and phone number and email address. Players are encouraged to use the web site form to register with the league. A team may carry a maximum of 17 players including upto a maximum of 4 spare players, with up to three players between the ages of 45 to 50. All other players must be over 50 years of age. A minimum of six (6) games played is required to make a player eligible for the playoffs. It will be up to each team to provide proof, by way of score sheets, to verify a player has sufficient games played to qualify for the playoffs.
COMPRESSED BATTING ORDER
Batting orders may be only be compressed in the event of an injury where the injured player cannot continue in the game. Disputes will be decided by the game umpire and are not subject to appeal.
MAXIMUM RUNS PER INNING
The maximum number of runs per inning that can be scored is five (5) with the exception of the final inning. In the final inning of a game unlimited runs are allowed. The Final inning will be determined by the umpire and may be an inning other than the 7th inning based on game time constraints or the umpires weather concerns.
HOME RUN RULE
All games shall be played using the 1+1 rule. Either team may hit the first home run. The team (A)hitting the home run is not allowed to hit another home run until the other team (B)has hit at least one home run. Team B is allowed to hit 2 home runs in a given inning since they are allowed to tie and go ahead of team A by 1 home run. A team may never hit more than 1 home run more than its opponent. All other home runs by the batting team will be a single base hit. In the event of a home run being designated as a single all base runners will advance one base whether they are forced or not. Inside the park home runs do not count against the 1+1 rule.
MERCY RULE
The mercy rule is in effect after five (5) innings of play. If a team is leading by more than twelve (12) runs after 5 or more complete innings the game is considered complete.
COURTESY RUNNERS
Each team is allowed four (4) courtesy runners per game. The courtesy runner may be any member of the team's game lineup. Each team may also designate a team member who requires a runner (Team GIMP Rule). The designated runner (does not have to be the same runner each time) will start at home plate, and must stand opposite to the batter, at the screen on the first base side of the diamond. He cannot leave till after contact with the ball has been made. This runner will not count against the four runners per game rule.
LATE PLAYERS
If a player arrives late for a game he must be inserted at the bottom of the batting order unless he is the ninth player and then must bat in the position of the loaned player.
GAME TIMES AND STARTING RULES
Games during the regular season will start at 6:15, 7:30, 8:45, and 10:00. Each game will be of 75 minutes duration. Teams must play a minimum of 4 complete innings (the home team is not required to bat if leading) for a game to be deamed a complete game. Teams who cannot field at least eight players at the beginning of a game (there will be a five (5) minute grace period timed by the umpire) will default the game and a score of 7-0 will be posted. If the home team has only 8 and if both captains are agreeable in starting the game as scheduled, they may swap home field advantage and start the game at bat with only 8 players. The late player must be available to play in the field after 3 outs have been recorded by the batting team. The last inning will be called by the umpire no earlier than 65 minutes after the scheduled start of the game (ex. 6:15 game last inning cannot be called before 7:20).
SCHEDULE AND PLAYOFFS
Each team plays a twenty eight (28) game schedule based on a double round robin system. The early games begin at 6:15 and the late games start at 8:45. At the end of the season the top four (4) teams form the “A” Division and the bottom four (4) the “B” Division. The first round of playoffs consists of a two week (2) round robin play within the Division. The top two teams in each Division advance to the Final, which is a best two (2) out of three (3) affair. Playoff games will start at 6:30, 8:00 and 9:30. Home field advantage for the first game of the Finals is given to the team finishing higher in the regular season standings. Home field alternates after the first game.
DEFAULTS AND RAINOUTS
Play may begin with a minimum of eight (8) players. In this event, the shorthanded team can request a player from their opponent, who must comply, if they have an excess of ten (10) players. Should the shorthanded team add a player of his own during the game, the loaned player is returned to his team and will bat last. The new arrival will take his place in the batting order. The rule does not apply to a team with nine (9) players. In either case, there are no automatic outs for missing players. All games that are rained out will be considered ties and a score of 0-0 will be recorded. Teams are to inform the league Executive as soon as possible, in advance if necessary, if a game is to be forfeited and defaulted. All defaulted games shall be recorded as a score of 7-0 for the non-defaulting team.    

WOSPA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND RESULTS (2011)

RAINOUT DATE WILL BE September 26

NOTE:

Bradleys is declared to be the winner of the Round Robin on the B-Side based on the WOSPA playoff rules below

WOSPA PLAYOFF RULES
The final standings of round robin play shall determine the top 4 (A-Division) and bottom 4 (B-Division) teams. The first part of the playoffs will be a round robin format with each team playing all the teams in their division once. At the end of the round robin, the top two teams in each division will advance to play a best 2 out of 3 series for the Division Championship.

Any ties resulting from round robin play for both regular season and playoffs will be broken in the following manner

1. Most wins
2. Greatest run differential (runs for minus runs against)
3. Most runs scored
4. Least runs allowed
5. Stilled tied? ……. Flip a coin

All games will be seven innings but the mercy rule (12 after 5) will still be in effect. There will be no time limit. The home team will bat in the bottom of the seventh inning in an effort to attain a plus seven (+7) for the game.The maximum winning differential is limited to 7 runs. As an example an 15-3 game will be recorded as having a 7 run differential not 12. However, for tie breaking purposes, if there were a tie at the end of the round robin and we have to go to point #4 above, the actual score would be used. The mercy rule is in effect during all playoff games. Ties are permissible during the round robin portion of the playoffs. The team finishing higher in the standings during the regular season will be the home team during the round robin. The two teams from each side with the best record after the round robin will play a best two out of three playoff for the A and B championships. These final games will be played starting at 6:15 on September 19th. For the playoff finals the team finishing 1st in playoff round robin will be home team for games one and three.