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PLAYERS and SUBSTITUTIONS
- Team rosters shall consist of not more than 20 registered players. Team rosters will not be amended after June 1, in any year, without Executive approval. Team reps must notify SPO of any changes. A player must be 19 years of age or older within the calendar year to play in the AMSA.
- Only registered players of the AMSA may play in a scheduled league game or exhibition game. Note: Players may register and be on the roster for only 1 A to D and/or 1 Sunday division AMSA team.
- Team uniforms shall consist of matching team shirts with individual and unique numbers (no two players on a team can wear the same number). Team uniforms must be worn by all players in scheduled league and playoff games. Failure to comply will result in player disqualification from the game. Failure to field at least 8 uniformed players will result in a default. The team uniform rule is in effect as of June 1st.
- All players in the game must be placed in their team’s batting order (players must be on team roster). No substitutions or re-entry in the batting order may be made. There is unlimited defensive substitution using players that are in the batting order. Team officials must attempt to play all players present, in defensive positions, on an equal basis to fulfill the objectives of the AMSA.
- Teams must exchange batting orders before the start of the game listing full name and unique uniform numbers. Players must be present (and in uniform - see uniform rule) to be in the starting batting order.
- All league games are to start at the scheduled start time. For regular season games, each team must have a minimum of 8 uniformed players present and listed in the batting order by the start time of the game or the game will be a default. There is no grace period, except for 10 minutes only for the 6:30pm weeknight start time (and that will cut into the actual playing time). If both teams have fewer than 8 players, it is a double default. There is to be a minimum of 9 spots in the batting order. A team starting with only 8 players will have an automatic out in the 9th spot in the order. If a team drops below 8 players during the course of the game, the game will become a default. If a player leaves the game and the team still has at least 9 players, the vacated spot in the batting order will be skipped without penalty. (Exception: Any vacated spot due to an ejection will be an automatic out). If the team is left with only 8 players, the minimum of 9 positions in the batting order must be maintained with the remaining vacant spot being an automatic out. In the playoffs any vacated spot is an automatic out, unless leaving is due to injury or illness. To start a playoff game, a team must have a minimum of 9 uniformed players present and listed in the batting order by the start of the game or the game will be a default. A player who has left any game and had his spot skipped in the order may not return to that game.
- A team that is short players for a game may add any additional players that are registered in the league in order to bring their lineup for that game to a maximum of 10. The team should supply an extra uniform shirt for each borrowed player if possible, or the player may wear his regular team shirt. Once the game has started, if any of the team’s own players show up they may be added and the borrowed players may still play to finish that game (the borrowed players would not be able to play the team’s second game that night if there is then enough regulars to play). This provision is for regular season games only and may not be used in playoffs (in the playoffs, a player must be on the team’s approved roster in order to play for that team).
- If a team is playing with less than 9 players, the other team (while at bat) is to provide a catcher solely for the purpose of returning pitches (he may not be involved in any other plays on defence). If he makes any contact with a fair batted ball, or affects a defensive play being made, interference may be called with a possible out on the play.
- In the case of a default, the game may continue as an exhibition game. However, the league does not allow its umpires to continue to officiate the exhibition game in such a case.
- Any player arriving after the submission of the batting order may be added to the bottom of the order as they arrive (umpire and opposing team must be notified). If the game started with a vacant 9th spot in the order (automatic out up to that point), the first late arriving player may fill that spot. Except for the first inning, late arriving players may not enter a defensive position during a half inning in progress.
- Any participant who is bleeding or has blood on his body or clothing must not participate until the bleeding is controlled and bandaged. If on base a replacement runner may be used (same as a courtesy runner but does not count towards courtesy runner limit). The soiled clothing must be changed and the replacement uniform need not conform to the official team uniform in this case. A player who is temporarily out of the game to deal with blood is not necessarily considered to have left the game, and he has until the completion of the current inning plus the following inning to deal with the blood and return to the game. During that time frame his spot in the batting order may be skipped without penalty. If not ready after that time this will be treated like any other injury and he may no longer return to the game if his spot in the order is skipped (if this drops the team below 8 players the game will unfortunately become a default).
- If there is an automatic out in the batting order, the defensive team may not, with 2 out, walk a batter to get to an automatic 3rd out. If a batter is given a walk in this circumstance (intentional or otherwise), the automatic out is skipped and play proceeds with the next person in the batting order.
