Softball Rules

    

 

      

 

 

 

   Columbia College Intramurals                 Co-Rec Softball Rules
 

1.      Only registered students, staff and faculty may participate.  A valid Columbia College ID is required to play and must be shown to the supervisor prior to the game.

2.      No shoes with metal cleats or metal tipped cleats can be worn. 

3.      Each game will last seven innings or 55 minutes, whichever comes first, with an equal number of innings batted for both teams. 

4.      Thirteen Run Rule.  Teams leading by 13 runs or more after the opponents’ “at bat” will be declared the winner and the game will be terminated at that point.  This rule goes into effect only after three full innings of play.

5.      A maximum of TEN players (5,5) may play in the field at any one time.  Extra players may be substituted freely (for a player of the same sex) at the beginning of any inning.  A team must consist of at least EIGHT players (4 women, 4 men) in order for play to begin.  Notify the opposing team of any line-up changes.

6.      If a team has 5 men and 4 women, at the end of the batting order they must take an AUTOMATIC OUT between the two men batting in succession. This rule will be in effect no matter if it is the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd out of an inning. (Example: M1, W1, M2, W2, M3, W3, M4, W4, M5, Automatic out, M1, W1, M2, W2,…) You can save yourself the headache by playing 5 women!

7.      Field positioning:     2 women and 2 men in the outfield
                              2 women and 2 men in the infield
                              1 woman and 1 man in the pitcher/catcher combination

8.      The order of batting must remain the same throughout the game and begins an inning where it left off.  Substitutes keep the batting order of the replaced player.  Defensive positions may be changed at any time.

9.      A batter is allowed 4 balls for a walk and 3 strikes for an out.  The batter will be OUT on any foul ball with two strikes.

10.  The pitcher must pitch the ball underhand with an arch of no less than 6 feet and no more than 12 feet.  A pitching mat behind home plate will determine if the pitch was good.  A pitch too high or low will be called a ball.   Overhand pitches and wind-ups are not allowed.

11.  A plate umpire will call balls and strikes.

12.  No bunting is allowed.  Batters attempting to bunt (failed attempt) will be warned by the umpire.

13.  The Infield Fly Rule is in effect.

14.  If the ball is hit into the air and is caught before it touches the ground, the batter is out and runners may advance from their respective base ONLY after the ball has been caught by the fielder.

15.  To consider a person “out”, one of the following must occur:

                                    -  the ball is caught before it touches the ground.

                                                   -  runner is tagged with the ball (or glove) while it is in the ”tagging hand” of                                                           the fielder AND the runner is not on a legal base.

     -  the ball is securely in the hands/glove of a fielder standing on a base, where

         the ball arrived before the runner.  (Only if the runner is “forced” to that base.)

16. Runners deliberately interfering with fielders making a tag will be called out.  Fielders blocking the base or tagging violently will result in the runners being called safe.  Unsporting behavior may result in a player(s) ejection from the game. 

17. A batter may over-run first base.  If the runner does not stop ON second or third base, she/he may be caught off base and tagged out.

18. A runner may NOT leave a base until a ball is hit. (No leading off, no stealing.)  She/he will be called out if caught by the umpire doing so.

19. Four “over the fence” homeruns are allowed by any one team per game.  Any balls hit over the fence beyond the fourth one will be called an automatic out!  Note: Yes, an OUT not a ground rule double.

20. If a male batter is walked the following female batter may choose to walk or bat.

21. If the batter hits the ball into the air and the catcher catches it, the batter is out if the ball rose above the head of the batter before it is caught.  Otherwise, it is called a strike.

22. On all overthrows the base runner can advance one base past the base she/he is approaching or standing on.

23. If the batter intentionally throws the bat, she/he will automatically be called out.

24. Sliding into a base will be legal this year.  Anyone aggressive sliding with the intent to injure or “take out” an opponent will be called out.  NO HEADFIRST SLIDING.

25. The umpires have the final call on all plays and cannot be disputed.

26.  You may bat 12 or 14 people in a batting order as long as everyone is getting a chance to play in defense at some point.  (To utilize this rule you must have 6 women and 6 men or 7 women and 7 men., otherwise play your normal 10 in the field with normal substitutions.

27. A supervisor/umpire may disqualify a player at any time he/she feels the player’s behavior or actions are inappropriate. 

28. No swearing is allowed!

29. Any player ejected from a game will have to leave the playing area (field, dugout, stands etc.) The player will NOT be eligible for the remainder of the current game AND the following game.  In addition, ejected players must coordinate meeting with the Intramural Coordinator prior to playing again.


 

Note- Softball season may be affected by inclement weather and schedule changes on short notice may be required.  Captains should check with the Shelby (IM Coordinator - 875-7437) prior to game time if there is questionable weather.