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ESSPA Division #1 RULES
2026 Season
The following rules have been adopted by ESSPA Division 1 (formerly referenced as Hansen Division).
1. BATS: Legal bats must be stamped with the USSSA 1.2 BPF ‘Thumbprint’ logo.
Bats shall be marked with “Official Softball” or “Slow Pitch Only” NSA Rule 3 Sec 1(d)
NSA Approved Bat Policy (https://nsacanada.ca/bats/).
The BATTER IS OUT if he/she enters the batter’s area with an illegal, non-approved or altered
bat. NSA Rule 9, Sec 1(u).
The batter is NOT ejected for using an illegal bat NSA Rule 1 Sec 20, Rule 7, Sec 1(c).
Only the batter is ejected from the game for using an altered bat NSA Rule 7, Sec 1(d)
2. UNIFORMS: ALL players MUST wear the same uniform Tee in the appropriate colour as provided
by the league. NO tee, NO play. NSA Rule 3, Sect 6 (Note: Similar coloured Tees can be worn as a
minimum).
3. WALKS: If a male batter is walked, intentional or otherwise with a count of FOUR balls and ZERO
strikes, and if a female follows that male batter, the male batter will be awarded second base, and
the female must bat. If the female batter is not occupying the on-deck circle at the time of the
walk, the male batter is awarded first base only. Specific to ESSPA Division 1, amended from
NSA rule 7, Sect 2(b).
Exception: if the female that should be in the on-deck circle is base coaching or pinch running,
she must be identified to the defending team BEFORE the male batter is pitched to. If the on-deck
female is identified, the batter will still be awarded second base.
4. FIVE RUN RULE: Runs per inning are limited to 5 per team, except for the declared final inning,
which will be unlimited runs for each team (Specific to ESSPA Division 1)
5. MERCY RULE: 12 runs after FIVE innings. Specific to ESSPA Division 1, NSA Rule 5, Sec 3.3
6. PLAYER INJURED DURING GAME: For an open injury, bleeding must be stopped before a player
can continue, NSA Rule 4, Sec 6. A player removed due to injury does not result in an automatic
out when their turn to bat comes around. An injured base runner can be replaced immediately
with courtesy runner per ESSPA Division 1 rule number 9.
7. LEAD OFFS: There will be no lead offs by base runners. A base runner can only come off the base
after the bat makes contact with the ball. A base runner who comes off the base prior to this
contact is automatically OUT unless time has been called by the umpire. modified from NSA Rule
5, Sec 5(c)
8. TAGGING AT HOME PLATE: Not allowed after the runner completely crosses the commitment
line. NSA Rule 2, Sec 3(f)
9. COURTESY RUNNERS: A player used as a courtesy runner must be the last available batter (lady
or man) on the team. A base runner can be “courtesied” any number of times. The same person
can only be used as a courtesy runner once per inning. If a player uses a courtesy runner, they are
not eligible to be a courtesy runner.
Specific to ESSPA Division 1, amended from NSA Rule 4, Sec 7
10. COURTESY RUNNER FROM HOME:
Commencing with the 2026 season, Division 1 has elected to remove the option for a pinch runner
from home.
All players must be able to obtain first base on their own.
If a player is injured during the game and can no longer accomplish this, they can be removed from
the lineup without penalty, per Rule 22 below.
11. STRIKE MAT - BATTER'S AREA - ON DECK BATTER: The STRIKE MAT is located within
the BATTER'S AREA (formerly the batter's box). The strike mat is twenty-two inches wide and an
appropriate length (3 feet) and is in its entirety, IN FAIR TERRITORY NSA Rule 1, section 38.
The BATTER'S AREA (regardless of the markings on the pad on which the strike mat rests at our
diamonds) extends three feet on either side of the of the strike mat for the length of the strike mat.
A batter when taking their batting position must have at least one foot inside the batter's area. The
batter IS OUT IF THE BAT CONTACTS THE BALL, fair or foul, when: either foot is in contact with
the strike mat; either foot is completely within the twenty two inch area in front of or behind the
strike mat; when both feet are outside the three foot area on either side of the strike mat; if the
leading foot is completely behind the trailing edge of the strike mat; or, the trailing foot is
completely in front of the leading edge of the strike mat. The batter will also be called out if, after a
called ball/strike/or foul ball leaves the batter's area and takes longer than ten seconds to re-enter
the batter's area when called to bat. NSA Rule 7, Sec 1(a).
12. The ON-DECK BATTER is the next batter in the batting order following the at-bat batter and must
occupy the on- deck circle. When the on-deck batter is called to bat he or she has twenty seconds
to enter the batter's area or will be called out. NSA Rule 7, Sec 11. NOTE: There is no provision
for a substitute player in the on- deck circle because the listed batter is absent.
13. HOME RUN RULE: A team can have a maximum differential of two, over the fence, home runs.
Each home run in excess of the differential will be allowed as a single only. All preceding base
runners will only advance one base on the hit. Inside the fence home runs will NOT count against
the differential nor will a home run (over the fence) that resulted from a defensive player deflecting
the ball over the fence. NSA Rule 5, Sec 10.
14. MISCELLANEOUS: It is incumbent upon team managers and coaches to read and
understand NSA rules and additional rules that apply to ESSPA Division 1.
15. Allow only players who have a reasonable understanding of NSA rules, ESSPA Division 1 rules,
and a traditional understanding of the game in general and a sense of fair play to be umpires.
16. Have a player or responsible non-player to maintain their score sheet and to keep their respective
teams ready to bat and confirm scores after each half inning. Non-player score keepers must
understand they have NO say in how the game is played outside of their respective dugouts. Upon
completion of the game, the manager of the HOME team will enter the final score on the ESSPA website
or text/email a designated individual.
17. Maintain order on their bench and ensure their team respects the other team, the umpires and
their own teammates.
Additional ESSPA Division 1 Regular Season Rules
18. When fielding, a team is allowed to place 11 defenders on the field
19. The defensive team can have a maximum of 9 male players on the field.
19a. Each team is required to have a minimum of two females in their batting order.
If there is only one female, the team will have an automatic out. If there are no females, the game will be a forfeit.
20. All healthy team members are to be placed in the batting order.
Each team member is responsible for informing their coach if they are not healthy enough to bat.
21. Team members who show up after a game has started are to be placed at the bottom of the
batting order and if a spare was playing at the time the spare can continue to play.
If a team intends to remove a spare player when the late team member arrives, they must discuss
this with the opposing team prior to the game.
22. A team member injured during a game is to be removed from the batting order (no automatic out).
23. Teams are allowed to play with 8 players, at least 1 of these 8 must be a female.
When fielding substitutes, the number of players that are on the team roster must exceed the
number of substitutes recruited, e.g. If 9 players are being fielded, 5 must be on the team roster.
24. Substitute players may be recruited from either the Spare List, ESSPA Division 2, ESSPA Division 1,
or the 45+ Women’s Division to ensure a team has a roster of 11. Substitutes will be placed at
the bottom of the batting order.
When utilizing a division 1 substitute, the substitute may be a maximum of 2 rankings higher
than the player they replace.
The first time a non-division 1 substitute is used, the coach must notify all other division 1 coaches
so they have an opportunity to watch the substitute play. Coaches that view the substitute play will
then provide a ranking of that substitute which will be used for any future utilization of that specific
non-division 1 substitute. In addition, when a non-division 1 substitute is used for first time, the coach
will provide the substitute's contact information (phone number/email) to all coaches so that all teams
have access to use the substitute.
If the player missing is a team's primary pitcher, and the team has no other pitchers on their roster,
the 2 rankings higher maximum is waived to make it easier for that team to get a pitcher.
Substitutes may also be recruited from outside of ESSPA, but prior to play, must complete a form
to register as a substitute and approve sharing of their contact information. This form will include a
league waiver.
25. Guest players have been incorporated into rule 24 - substitute players.
26. Female batters have the option of choosing the small ball to hit. The umpire will announce to the
defensive team that small ball is being used.
27. For early games, no new inning can start after 7:20 p.m. The “flip” batting rule has been removed.
Early games must be completed by 7:30 pm. If the game is not complete at 7:30 pm, the game will
be called and the result of the game will revert to the previously completed inning.
28. The ESSPA Division 1 Coordinator will assign and track the dates for games postponed (rained
out/’smoked-out’/’heat-out’ games). This assignment will be based on postponement date
order approach, i.e. the two teams playing the first game that is postponed will be the first two
teams assigned to play the next available date on the make-up game schedule.
Dispute/Disciplinary Resolution
Players should first bring any complaint to their team coach/manager. If the complaint cannot be
resolved by the team coach/manager, it should be escalated to the ESSPA Division 1 Coordinator. If the
matter is not resolved by the ESSPA Division 1 Coordinator or if the team coach/manager does not agree
with the ESSPA Division 1 Coordinator’s decision, the matter will then be escalated to the ESSPA
Disciplinary Committee, whose decision shall be final and binding.