FCSSC is gearing up for another awesome season of softball - and we can’t WAIT to see you all out on the diamonds again!
In order to get you ready to PLAY, we’ve put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions to let you know what to expect leading up to and during the season. Don’t see your question answered here? Send us an email at info@fcssc.ca!
Registration
Equipment
Other FAQs
Rules
When does softball registration open for the summer?
Registration for all of our Summer leagues opens on April 2, but returning players will be able to register one week early, starting March 26.What days will be offered?
FCSSC will be playing Sunday afternoons and Monday-Friday evenings.What leagues will be offered?
FCSSC offers co-ed leagues that are non-competitive, recreational and for-fun. In addition to these leagues, we’re also excited to be offering a Masters (40+), Rookies and 2SLGBTQIA+ league in Summer 2025!Where can I expect to play?
Leagues will play at a number of diamonds around the city, so you can expect to rotate between a handful of facilities from week to week.I have a group of friends wanting to play together. Should we sign up as a team or as Indys?
Great to hear that you’ve got a group that’s excited to play! For smaller groups, friends wanting to play together can sign up separately and invite the others by sending them an invite link. Anyone that registers through this link will be automatically connected so we know to place you on the same team. (For a video walkthrough of where to find this link, check out our Help page here).
Larger groups (9+) are definitely welcome to sign up as Indys, but we recommend signing up as a team for a few reasons:
- If the league sells out before everyone has a chance to register, we may not be able to accommodate those that are waitlisted in the league.
- Signing up as a team gives you more control over your roster size! If you sign up separately, it’s very likely that we will add a few additional Indys to your team’s roster (up to the max roster size) to make sure everyone gets to play.
How do I request to play with friends?
Players that sign up as indys but would to play with friends can request a teammate! The easiest way to do so is having one player register, then invite the others to sign up using the blue "invite friends" like you'll find on your player page. Anyone that registers through this invite link will be automatically connected so we know you'd like to play on the same team. For a video showing you where to find this link, check out our help page here!How/when will I know which team I'm on or what my schedule for the season is?
We will begin the rostering and scheduling process after registration closes on May 20. It takes us a few days to work through all of our leagues, and we prioritize the order based on league start dates. Team assignments and schedules will be available on your player page a minimum of 3 days before your first game - but it's often available even sooner! I'm interested in signing up a team. What are the minimum gender requirements I should keep in mind when putting together the roster?
The standard team has 9 players on the field, with a minimum of 3 players of the non-majority gender (ex. A team with a majority of men must have at least 3 players that aren’t male on the field). We recommend carrying a few extra NMG players on the roster to give yourself some wiggle room if anyone needs to miss a game!
Please note that our 2SLGBTQIA+ league is an open league with no gender minimum requirements!I'm signing up as an indy. How many people will be on our team roster?
The maximum roster size for indy softball teams is 13 players for Monday-Thursday leagues. In order to give teams a little more wiggle room on the weekends when attendance can be more inconsistent, teams playing on Sundays and Fridays could be rostered up to 15.I'm signing up as a team. Why am I being charged a $75 deposit in my registration?
All teams will be responsible for an equipment bag each season, which contains 3 bases, 3 spikes, 1 hammer, 2 softball and ice packs. This equipment bag must be picked up before the start of the season. These must be brought to every game and returned at the end of the season. Your deposit will be returned at that time.
Summer 2025 Base Pickup Dates
Bases will be available for pickup at the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, April 8 from 11:30am - 7:30pm at FCSSC Office (463 King St.)
- Thursday, May 8 from 11:30am - 7:30pm at FCSSC Office (463 King St.)
- Sunday, May 25 from 9:30am - 1:30pm at Diamond (Exact Location TBD)
What equipment are teams responsible for providing?
All teams must provide gloves and bats. Cleats are recommended, but not required - but metal cleats are not permitted.
Bats must be official softball bats of legal size, weight and shape. They must conform to the standards and bear the stamp of a softball regulatory association (including but not limited to ASA, NSA, ISA or USSA). In case of any uncertainty, it is at the discretion of FCSSC as to whether or not a bat is in compliance or not, and whether it is safe it use in our leagues or not.
What equipment will be provided to me by FCSSC?
FCSSC will provide all captains with an equipment bag containing 3 bases, 3spikes, 1 hammer, 2 softball and ice packs. These must be brought to every game and returned at the end of the season. A $75 deposit for this equipment is required, and is paid for as part of the registration process.
Catchers masks are available to borrow upon request.
When/where can I pick up my bases?
Bases must be picked up before the start of the season. Anyone can pick-up or drop-off equipment; it does not have to be the Team Captain, just someone who can represent the team.
Summer 2025 Base Pickup Dates
Bases will be available for pickup at the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, April 8 from 11:30am - 7:30pm at FCSSC Office (463 King St.)
- Thursday, May 8 from 11:30am - 7:30pm at FCSSC Office (463 King St.)
- Sunday, May 25 from 9:30am - 1:30pm at Diamond (Exact Location TBD)
I'm an indy player. Do I need to pick up equipment from FCSSC?
Indy players are not required to pick up bases before the start of the season, as they will be distributed at the diamond in your first couple weeks of play. If you're an indy play that would like to be a captain, and would like to pick up bases during the base pickup date, you're welcome to do so!
Indy captains do not pay an equipment deposit, but will instead receive a $50 credit to be used in a future season once the bases have been returned to us.
When will be deposit/indy captain credit be returned to me?
Captains will have the deposit returned to them once the bases have been returned to our office.
For Indy captains, the $50 credit is in lieu of an equipment deposit, and will be added to your account once your bases are returned.
This means that if you return for the fall season and keep your bases, you won’t receive the credit/deposit until after the end of the fall.How do I set up bases?
- Bases should be placed in a perfect square around the diamond, approximately 28 paces apart (some diamonds with smaller infields may be less). Place them all before hammering to confirm spacing/placement!
- Start by hammering the spike into the ground, before feeding the strap through the S hook on the spike. To keep the base as secure as possible, it should attach to the inner strap (closest to the base)
- The bases at 1st and 3rd should be placed inside the foul line (in play). The safety base at 1st should be placed directly next to the other (touching), but on the outside of the foul line.
- Commitment line: drawn in the ground halfway between 3rd and home plate.
- Home plate safety line: drawn in the ground adjacent to home plate.
- At the end of the game, please remove the base from the spike BEFORE pulling it up from the ground in order to preserve our bases!
Who is responsible for setting up bases?
Diamond set up requires 4 bases (1st, 2nd, 3rd and an extra safety base at 1st), and each team is responsble for setting up 2 of them for each game. Team's equipment bags will contain 3 bases, which must be brought to every game.
Can we use a pitching screen?
FCSSC does not provide pitching screens, but teams are more than welcome to provide their own if they would like to use one! If you choose to use one, you must give your opponent the opportunity to use it when they are at bat as well.
If a batted ball hits the pitching screen (either a ground ball or a direct hit), the ball is declared dead and the pitch is redone. Base runners must return to their bases and the pitch count is restored. Can we switch bases with another team playing before/after us?
Yes, definitely! If you have a game scheduled before or after another FCSSC game, you are more than welcome to swap bases to avoid having to pull up/put down bases between games. Always double check to make sure both teams have the correct number of bases, a copy of the rules, captain's cheat sheet, and balls when you make the swap!What do I do if I lose a ball or my bases are damaged?
Softball equipment is expensive! Please do your best to keep track of and take care of the equipment you receive. This means if a ball is hit into long grass, trees, etc., please try to find it to the best of your ability after your game.
If you are unable to find a ball, or if any of your equipment becomes damaged (beyond typical wear and tear), please notify us by texting us at 519-439-4263.
As a team captain, what are my responsibilities during the season?
FCSSC Game Hosts are assigned to multiple diamonds throughout the night. While you can expect to see them or an FCSSC representative at some point during your game, softball Team Captains are expected to play a larger role at game time, including:
- Picking up bases before the start of the season
- Bringing and setting up bases
- Reporting Score (for a video walkthrough of how to do this, please see our help page here)
- Managing sportsmanship at game time
- Communicating with the other Captain, or Club Representatives (as needed) This could include agreeing on ground rules or gender minimum adjustments BEFORE game start, contacting Evening League Facilitator with any issues during game, communicating with Game Host during their visit, etc.
What do I do if we have issues during our game (rule disputes, unsportsmanlike conduct, injuries, etc.)?
You can expect a Game Host to visit and check in at some point during the game, but if somethings comes up when they're not onsite, we encourage you to contact the Evening League Faciltator by texting FCSSC at 519-439-4263. They can answer any quick questions you have regarding rules clarifications or disputes, or send a staff member to you right away if in person support is needed.What do we do in the event of severe weather?
FCSSC plays rain or shine, but not in lightning or thunder. All decisions about game cancellations are made at the game location, at game time by team captains. In the event of severe weather (thunder, lightning, etc.) please take cover and wait 15 minutes for the weather to pass before reassessing if play is possible. In the event that play can not continue, please email the office at info@fcssc.ca with your final score and what inning the game ended.
For our full Foul Weather policy (including details about makeup games) please visit our website here.
As always, softball games are self-officiated. FCSSC’s rules may be different than those used in other leagues. Please be kind to newer players who may need reminders/education on these rules, especially at the beginning of the season. You can find a full copy of the rules on our website here, but we've highlighted some the notable differences below:
Gender Minimum Requirements
The standard team has 9 players on the field, with a minimum of 3 players of the non-majority gender (ex. A team with a majority of men must have at least 3 players that aren’t male on the field).
Teams can play with less than 9 players without forfeit, as long as the following is met:
- Teams with 2 non-majority gender players must play with only 8 players on defense
- Teams can play with a minimum of 7, as long as they have 2 non-majority gender players
- Batting order rules must still be maintained (max of 2 players of the same gender batting in a row).
There are no restrictions or rules about where Non-Majority Gender players must play when on defense (there is no rule that requires a certain number to be in the infield vs outfield).
Pitching
Teams pitch to their own team, and all batters can receive a maximum of 3 pitches. All foul balls, strikes and balls count as one of those three pitches (with the exception of a batted ball that hits the pitcher, which is a dead ball and doesn't count towards the 3).Calling Close Plays on Base
Teams on offense should place extra players at 1st and 3rd to act as base coaches. These base coaches are responsible for making calls about any close plays. Close plays at 1st and home should be called by the base coach at 1st, and plays at 2nd and 3rd should be called by the coach at 3rd. If base coaches are not being used, all controversal or close calls should be made by the pitcher.Calling Fair or Foul Balls
The back catcher is responsible for calling whether a ball lands fair or foul.Safety Base at 1st
The outside base is for the runner, and the inside base is for the base person. This is to avoid collisions!Commitment Line
A line drawn into the dirt halfway between 3rd base and home. Runners that cross this line can’t return to 3rd and must go home. A "force out" is in effect at home once the runner has crossed this line.
Safety Line at Home
A line drawn in the dirt behind home plate. Home plate is for the catcher, while the line is for the runner. Runners must cross the line to score, and a runner that touches home plate will receive an out. This is to avoid collisions!Overthrown Ball at 1st or 3rd
An overthrown ball at 1st or 3rd that goes out of play (beyond the extended back stop) gives base runners one free base.Bunting
Intentional bunting is not permitted, and batters must make a full swing. However, if a batter makes a full swing but the ball does not pass the pitcher, the ball is live and still in play.
Ball Hits the Pitcher
A batted ball that hits the pitcher is a dead ball. The pitch doesn’t count as a strike and must be re-pitched.
Infield Fly
FCSSC does not play with an infield fly rule, but it is considered unsportsmanlike to intentionally drop a ball to try to get a double play.
Ground Rules
Captains should agree on any ground rules with regards to boundaries BEFORE the game starts (for example, a forest on the edge of the outfield that players are likely to hit into where the ball will be hard to find).Infielders Not Allowed Within Baselines
Infield players must stand outside of the baselines until contact is made with the ball.
Leadoffs & Sliding
Leadoffs are not permitted. Base runners must be touching the base until contact is made with the ball.
Sliding is also not permitted. Any base runner that slides will automatically receive an out.
Throws to 1st from Outfield
While some leagues don’t allow players to throw a runner out at first from the outfield, this is NOT a rule in FCSSC.Home Run Limit
*New Summer 2025* A home run limit is in effect for diamonds with home run fences. Teams may score a maximum of 2 over-the-fence home runs per inning, and any hit over the fence made after that will be awarded a single (all runners can advance 1 base). Please note that this rule does not apply to diamonds without a home run fence or hits within the fence, so any home runs scored this way does not count towards the limit.
