DSU Intramural Sports Rules

Intramural Sports

Homecoming Softball

Teams will play with ten players on the field. A team must field at least eight players by game time or forfeit the game. If a team has less than ten players, an out must be taken each time the missing player comes to bat.

Men and women must alternate in the batting order. No team may have a situation where men bat back-to-back without taking an out.
Men and women must alternate field positions. No team may have a situation where men are side by side on the infield or in the outfield. The pitcher and catcher must also be alternated.

A regulation game will be five innings in length or 45 minutes. Games called because of weather or darkness are subject to the following rules.

A game called by the umpire will be regulation if four or more complete innings have been played or if the home team is at bat and has scored more runs than the visiting team has scored in four or more innings.
A regulation tie game shall be declared if the score is equal when the game is called at the end of four or more complete innings, or if the home team is at bat and has equaled the score of the visiting team in the incomplete inning.
When a game has exceeded the 45 minute time limit, it will be called by the game administrator when the inning is completed or at the half inning if the team batting in the bottom half of the inning is ahead.
If both captains agree, the completion of any inning may terminate play and the game becomes official and final. This agreement is usually made when there is a great difference in the score.

If one team is ahead by 10 runs or more at the completion of three innings, or any time thereafter, the game will be ended.

The choice of first bat or taking the field will be determined by a coin toss between team managers and the umpire.

The Intramural Sports Department will furnish one game ball and one bat per field. Each team manager is responsible for keeping their own score and their opponent's score.

Rubber spiked shoes (soccer style) will be permitted for use in Intramural play. Shoes with metal cleats will be illegal.

No stealing - everything is closed. The base runner may not leave a base until the ball has been contacted by the batter. The base runner may not advance to another base or attempt to advance home on past pitches. Batter may not at any time advance to first base on the third strike when the catcher misses the ball. No leading off.

All batters start with a one ball and one strike count. There will be walks (intentional or otherwise). However, if a male batter is walked, the female who is batting next has the option of walking also or batting away. A batter can be called out on strikes. We will be using "carpets" behind home plate to aid in calling balls and strikes. When the batter hits a foul ball on the 3rd strike, the batter is receives a "courtesy strike". A second foul ball on the third strike will be declared an out.

The ball must be delivered at a moderate speed underhand, below the hip with a perceptible arch (from the time it leaves the pitchers hand) at least six feet, before the ball reaches home plate. The pitched ball shall not reach a height of more than 12 feet at its highest point above the ground. Speed of the pitch and height are left entirely to the judgement of the game administrator.

Sliding is allowed only if the runner needs to protect themselves. Sliding may not be used (or intentionally not sliding) to intimidate or otherwise "break-up" a play on another base runner. Conversely, an infielder may not block the base. Baserunners may not "run over" a catcher or fielder. The runner will be ejected from the game immediately. Also, fake tags are illegal.

Free substitutions are allowed but the person leaving the game may not re-enter the game. An exception to this rule would be in the case of injury and no other replacements were available.

The batter is out if he intentionally bunts or chops the ball downward, or throws the bat. A batter will be declared out if he/she steps out of the batter's box.

The baserunners advance is limited when a fair ball or thrown ball bounds or rolls over, under, or through fence or other field markings along the boundaries of the playing field. The ball is dead and the baserunners are awarded 1 base; the baserunner on first could move to second, a baserunner on second base could move to third, a baserunner on third could move to home.