RULES

SEMSL follows the SPN rules for all of our general season and league play, with superceding house rules detailed below.

• Link to 2026 SPN rules: https://slo-pitch.com/content/rulebook 
  • Hint: try pressing CRTL + F (Command + F on Mac) to keyword search to find what rule you are after faster. 

SEMSL House Rules
FULL SEMSL HOUSE RULES CAN BE VIEWED HERE: SEMSL Full House Rules

House rules supersede any contradictory SPN rule.

Summary of 2026 Changes:

1. Batting Backwards/Inning Mercy Rule (We will be reinstating the batting backwards rule to reduce the rate of mercied games and to increase sportsmanship/prioritize the fun and inclusion of our game. However, there will still be an inning mercy rule and a full game mercy rule outlined below.)
2. Pitching from the Rubber (We will be removing the requirement for pitchers to pitch from any existing rubber on the diamond. This creates a more universal rule and removes confusion for pitchers who have their own “routine”)
3. Umpire (Umpires will now be required to do the job without having anything [ie. beverages] in their hands besides an umpire indicator or paper tracker.) 
4. Day of Game Ground Rules (Teams must decide on boundaries prior to game start and may not change them until the last play is completed and both parties agree.)
5. Diamond Setup (Strike Mats and Boards must NOT have a home plate cut out.)
6. Walk Rule (A woman up to bat after a man is walked 4-0 will now have to bat if there are one or zero outs counted at the time. If there are 2 outs, she may choose to bat or walk. Any male batter given 4 straight balls with no strikes will always get 2nd base if there is a woman up to bat next.)
7. Mask Rule: As of this year, ALL pitchers are required to wear masks under SPN regulations (Sec. 8 of SPN rules). Without a mask, pitchers will not be eligible to play the position in tournaments which are SPN regulated. This is a matter of insurance compliance - if a pitcher is not wearing a mask at any point during the season, they are ineligble to be covered by the SPN insurance whenever they are not wearing a mask.
   1. Because of the above point, SEMSL will be encouraging all infielders to wear masks to increase the safety of our league.
   2. Because Pitchers will now be required to wear visible protective gear, Pitchers may be swapped out for a pinch runner if there are 2 outs and they are on or get on base. This provides time for them to “suit up” and ensures game play continues smoothly and without delay.