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Rules for Intramural Sports

9-9 Softball

The 2006 & 2007 NIRSA Slow Pitch Softball Rules shall govern play for all intramural softball games with the exceptions listed in these rules; the Assistant Director-Intramural Sports and Special Events has the authority to modify said rules at his discretion.

GENERAL RULES:
1.      Players furnish their own gloves.  Bats will be provided by the Department.
2.      Rubber cleats (of molded variety) and tennis/running shoes will be permitted.        
ABSOLUTELY NO METAL/PLASTIC SPIKES, SCREW-INS, BARE FEET OR SANDALS OF ANY TYPE!!!  
3.      Bats must be regulation softball bats. Baseball bats are not allowed.    
4.      All catchers must wear a catcher’s mask (will be provided by the Department).

IMPORTANT RULE CLARIFICATION & MODIFICATIONS:

1.  Each team must have 9 players to start the game. In the case of an injury, the
     team can finish with less than nine players (but must take an automatic out for that spot  
     in the batting order if no substitutes are available). 

2.  SLOW PITCH RULES: Ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of at 
     least 6 feet from the ground, while not exceeding maximum height of 12 feet from the
     ground.  The umpire will call a “no pitch” if the ball does not meet these requirements.
     Strikes and balls will be determined by the pitcher’s mat (umpire makes the call).
         1 No Pitch = 1 ball                        2 No Pitches = walk (base on balls)

  • The batter has the right to swing at a No Pitch.  After swinging it will no longer be considered a No Pitch, and the result of the play will count.

3.      The pitching count will start at 1 ball and 1 strike for every batter.
         3 strikes = an out  after 2 strikes, then a foul ball = an out          4 balls = a walk


4.      Games will be six innings or 60 minutes (whichever occurs first).  Games called on account 
        of darkness, rain, etc., after 4 complete innings shall stand as full games. 


5.      Mercy Rule: The game will end if one team is leading by 15 runs or more after the 5th 
        inning. 


6.     NO STEALING, NO LEADING: Umpire(s) will immediately declare a runner out for leaving
        early. Runner(s) must wait for the swing. If the player is standing off the base when the
        ball is pitched, the runner is immediately declared out.


7.     NO BUNTING ALLOWED.  Players must attempt a full swing; bunts of any kind (including 
        slap bunts) are illegal. The batter is immediately declared out and all runners must  
        return to the base previously occupied before the pitch.     


8.     INFIELD FLY RULE:  A fair fly ball that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort
        when there are base runners at first and second, or first, second, and third bases, and less
        than two outs.  The umpire will immediately declare an infield fly as soon as it is apparent,
        and the batter is automatically out. Should the ball go foul, it is played as any foul ball.


9.     COURTESY RUNNERS ARE ILLEGAL.  If the individual cannot run due to an injury prior to
        batting, they should not bat.  The only exception is an occurrence of an injury while  
        running to a base. If a base runner is injured while running to a base the team may replace
        them with a substitute runner not in the line-up. The replacement runner must play a
        complete inning before being removed. The injured player cannot re-enter the game if they
        are replaced. When no eligible substitutes are available the last player who recorded an out
        on that team will be the replacement runner. 


10.   SUBSTITUTION IN BATTING ORDER.  If someone is taken out of the batting order, they 
        must sit out a full rotation from the time they exited the line-up before re-entering.  
        After sitting out a full rotation the player may re-enter in any spot in the line-up.


11.   INJURY OR LOSS OF PLAYER.  Once in the batting order, if a player leaves the game for 
        whatever reason(s) and there are no substitutes, the team receives an automatic out 
        each time that player should bat for the remainder of the game.


12.    Home team will be decided by a coin toss.


13.   Safety on close plays:  A runner must try to avoid contact with the catcher/fielder (s) on close playsat all bases.  If they do not attempt to avoid the fielder, the runner will be automatically called out. (This is at the umpires’ discretion, with safety the priority).  Sliding is not mandatory. Players may choose to avoid contact by either sliding, going around the fielder(s), jumping over them, or giving themselves up. Regular interference and obstruction rules will apply at the umpires’ discretion.                                               

GROUND RULES:

AG Field

  • All balls hit over the fence, into the gazebo or the garden area (marked by cones), or into the bushes and trees in left field on the fly will be an automatic double.
  • All balls that roll into the bushes or trees will be declared dead and bases will be awarded accordingly (please have the outfielder(s) alert the umpire(s) by raising their hands to notify the ball is not playable).
  • Please keep all equipment and players as far up the 1st and 3rd baselines as possible to keep the baselines near home plate clear.

Jungle Field

  • All balls hit over the fence to the right of the pole (of the stairs) in right field will be an automatic double.
  • All balls hit over the fence to the left of the pole (of the stairs) in right field will be an automatic home run.
  • All balls hit onto the volleyball or basketball courts on the fly or on the ground will be an automatic home run. All balls that remain on the grass to the left of the volleyball courts will be a live ball (all you can get).
  • All balls hit into the left field trees will be an automatic double.
  • Please keep all equipment and players (besides the on-deck batter) behind the fences to help keep the first and third baselines clear.

E.O. Smith Field

  • All balls hit over the fence in left or left center field will be an automatic double.
  • All other balls will remain live (all you can get), unless they roll into the woods, at which point the umpire(s) will declare a dead ball and award base(s) accordingly.
  • Please keep all equipment and players behind the fences to help keep the first and third baselines clear.

All fields

  • On dead balls or overthrows all runners will receive the base(s) the umpires viewed in their judgment they would have reached at the time the dead ball was called.
  • There will be areas that will be out of play regardless of whether the fielder can make a play or not. These areas will be discussed during the captains’ meetings.
  • Anytime the ball hits any equipment, any player/spectator not in the game, trees (that are located out of play), or goes out of play (i.e.… over the fence or behind the backstop) the play will immediately be called dead and all base runners will advance to the base(s) at the umpires’ discretion.