softball 2016
SOFTBALL 2016 ELIGIBILITY The following eligibility regulations have been established to protect the intramural athletes and to insure them ample opportunity to participate. It is important that all participants observe the rules equally so that no team or individual may gain an advantage over those abiding by the rules. Each participant is responsible for the verification of his/her own eligibility. Each team captain is responsible for the eligibility of his/her team members. In order to be eligible to participate in Intramural Sports, an individual must fall into one (1) of the following categories: o All Oklahoma State University (Stillwater Campus) and Northern Oklahoma College Gateway Undergraduate and Graduate students who are enrolled during the current semester. The key to being eligible is that a student who has paid the Student Activity Fee (correspondence courses or audited course work do not make participants eligible). o Faculty/Staff members are also eligible to participate. Before participation in an Intramural Sport, individuals must be registered online at IMLeagues.com. o For each Intramural Sport(s) there is a maximum and minimum number of players allowed. These numbers vary per intramural sport/activity and they are known as roster limitations. At no time will the Intramural Sports Office accept an entry form that does not fit within the roster limitations. o Roster additions and deletions may be made throughout the sport season in the Intramural Office, or they may be completed at the game site. During scheduled contest(s), new players’ full names may be added at the game site up to the roster limitations assuming they are registered online. If there is no space remaining on the team roster, names must be deleted and the new name of the team member(s) inserted into that roster spot. If this procedure is completed properly the Intramural Sports Office will add and delete the player(s) to the permanent team roster. Note: Roster deletions are permanent. The deleted player will not be eligible to compete unless she/he is added back to the roster. For all intramural activities the final opportunity to add/delete a player(s) is during the first contest played in playoffs. o Substitutions in individual/dual sports must be made before a player’s first scheduled game/match. The original player cannot re-enter the tournament after the substitution is completed. An individual may not participate for more than one team within a division in a given sport. For example: a male may not play in Men’s A league and Men’s B league, but is allowed to play on a Men’s team and a CoRec. team. o If a player wishes to change from one team to another, he/she must do so in the Intramural Sports Office before their current team’s first contest played. o A player listed on two rosters will be considered a member of the team he/she first plays for. *Any player signed in on a game score sheet will be considered to “have played.” Any person playing under an assumed name or ID number shall be barred from intramural competition during that season and the team penalized with losses for all the games in which the violator participated. Any person who is a member of a varsity or junior varsity squad shall not be eligible to participate in that sport or corresponding sports. Any person who has competed as a professional in a sport shall not be eligible to participate in that sport or corresponding sport(s) until the lapse of seven (7) years from their last season on a professional roster. In order to participate for a fraternity or sorority an individual must be associated with that organization as a pledge, member or alumni. In order to compete on a residence hall team, a player must be a current or past resident of the hall. The maximum number of past residents on a team’s roster is two (2). Independent teams may be composed of persons who may or may not belong to a previously mentioned group. Consequences for using an ineligible player(s): o The team shall forfeit all contests in which the ineligible individual(s) played. o Players participating illegally are referred to the Intramural Sports Coordinator for further disciplinary action.
Softball Rules I. Equipment A. Gym shoes or molded rubber cleats are allowed as well as hard plastic cleats. No metal or screw-in cleats with metal tips are allowed. All players must wear shoes. B. Participants must remove all jewelry before the contest begins. C. The Intramural Office will provide bases, bats, catcher's mask and balls for each scheduled contest. D. Teams may use their own slow-pitch bats provided that the bat is ASA approved, and is inspected by the intramural supervisor. E. Catcher's masks will be provided and their use is strongly recommended. Catchers assume all risk of injury when not wearing the catchers’ mask. II. Players A. A team will consist of ten (10) or eleven (11) players. B. A team may start and play a game with as few as eight (8) players. If a team plays with eight (8) or nine (9) players they do not have to take automatic outs. C. The Extra Player (EP) rule will be used. If a team uses the EP, only ten (10) players play the field but eleven (11) are allowed to bat. A different ten (10) can play the field each inning provided the same batting order is kept. Note: The extra player cannot be used in co-rec. D. Substitutions 1. The captain making the substitution will immediately notify the plate umpire when the sub enters. 2. A Player shall be officially in the game when his/her name has been entered on the scoresheet. 3. An illegal substitute is handled as a protest by the umpire or opposing team. E. Re-entry 1. Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered once, provided the player occupies the same batting position they were originally in the line-up. 2. Violation of the re-entry rule will result in the use of an ineligible player. A forfeit shall then be declared when the violation is brought to the attention of the umpire by the offended team. III. Forfeits A. Game Time is Forfeit Time. All teams must be signed in and ready to play at game time in order to not receive a thirty ($30) dollar forfeit fee. The supervisor’s watch is official game time on the field. B. In order to claim a forfeit, a team must have the necessary amount of players and be ready to play at game time (8 players). C. If neither team is present and ready to play then a double forfeit will be declared. D. A second forfeit within the same sport will result in that team being dropped from league play and becoming ineligible for the playoffs. An additional forfeit fee will also be charged. E. Forfeit fees not paid in the Intramural Office within 24 hours will be charged to the Captain's Bursar's account.
IV. Play A. Play shall be governed by 2015-2016 ASA Rules except where special Intramural Rules apply. B. The Game 1. A game consists of seven (7) innings or fifty (50) minutes whichever comes first. No new innings can begin after the fifty (50) minute time limit has expired. An inning that continues past the fifty (50) minute time limit will be completed. 2. The choice of "home" and "visitor" (first or last bat in the inning) shall be decided by a coin toss. 3. The team roster and batting order must be listed on the score sheet prior to the game. 4. Games may end in a tie during the regular season. No extra innings will be played. 5. In case of rain, four (4) or 3 ½ innings (if the home team is ahead) will constitute a complete game. C. Pitching 1. The pitcher shall take a position with both feet firmly on the ground and with at least one foot in contact with, but not on the side of, the pitcher's rubber. 2. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher's rubber until the pitched ball leaves the hand. 3. The pitch shall be released at a moderate speed. The speed is left entirely up to the umpire's judgment. 4. Pitches must make an arc with a minimum height of Six feet (6’) and a maximum of twelve feet (12’) with the ball being released below the pitcher’s waist. Any pitch outside of these parameters will be considered an illegal pitch, and called a ball. The umpire should immediately call “illegal pitch” and the play is immediately dead. 5. If a pitched ball hits the plate it is automatically called a ball. 6. When a new pitcher enters the game, no more than one (1) minute or 5 practice pitches may be used for warm up. D. Batting 1. Batters will enter the box with a "1-1" count. 2. One “courtesy foul” will be given to batters at two strikes. If a subsequent foul occurs after the courtesy foul at two strikes, the batter is out. 3. The batter is out and base runners may not advance if: a. The batter steps across or on home plate. b. The batter enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat. c. The batter bunts, chops or attempts to bunt the ball (It is considered a bunt any time the batter holds the bat over the plate and allows the ball to hit the bat, no matter how the bat was put into the position). d. The infield fly rule will apply. This rule states that the batter is automatically out when an infield fly is hit with runners on first and second, or first, second, and third bases, with less than two outs. An infield fly is any ball that is considered easily routine catch by an infielder (ball does not have to be caught for this rule to apply). 4. A 20-run rule will be in effect after the 3rd inning, a 15-run rule after the 4th inning and a 10-run rule after the 5th inning, providing the team behind has had its turn at bat. 5. If the umpire calls an illegal pitch, the batter as the option of hitting and taking the result of the hit or allowing the ball to pass and it will be considered a ball. 6. 10 Run Rule limit per inning, except the last inning when it becomes unlimited. E. Out Of Play/Overthrow 1. If the live ball travels into “out of play” territory (painted line – it will be treated just like if a fence was there), the ball is ruled dead and all runners will be awarded two (2) bases from the last base touched from the time the ball was released. 2. If a ball travels into the street untouched or unintentionally touched, the ball is ruled dead and a ground-rule double will be awarded. As the fielder, please raise both hands above your head to let the officials know that the ball is in the street. Do not chase the ball into the street during play! 3. If the ball travels into the street because a fielder intentionally knocked it into the street, the ball will
be ruled dead and two bases will be awarded to all runners from the last base touched at the time the live ball went into the street. As the fielder, please raise both hands above your head to let the officials know that the ball is in the street. Once again, do not chase the ball into the street during play! 4. One base is awarded from the last base touched at the time a live ball in possession of the fielding team (not on the throw) is unintentionally hit out of play by the batting team into any dead ball area. Ex. A tag play at third base and the batting team slides into the tag and unintentionally knocks the ball out of the glove and rolls into the dead ball area. Award is made from the time the ball enters the dead ball area. F. Base Running 1. Runners cannot lead off or steal bases. The runner cannot leave a base until the pitched ball is contacted by the batter. 2. A runner is out when he is struck with a fairly batted ball before it passes through the infield, excluding the pitcher. 3. Base runners are responsible for avoiding collisions with fielders anytime the fielder is making a play on the ball. This includes fielding or throwing the ball and catching a thrown ball. If the base runner does not try to avoid a collision they are liable to an ejection at the officials'/supervisors’ discretion. 4. Any fielder not making a play on the ball is liable to ejection from the game if they interfere with a base runner. (This includes "run down" situations). 5. The penalty for leading off or leaving a base before contact is made with the ball: 1. First Offense – warning for the entire team. 2. Next offense – runner is declared out. G. Appeals 1. An appeal play is a play on which an umpire cannot make a decision until requested by a captain, coach, or player. 2. The appeal must be made before the next pitch. 3. The ball must be returned to the pitcher, he/she indicates to the umpire that they are appealing, and then verbalizes the incident being appealed. H. Sliding 1. Players may slide feet first. Players must slide directly into the base; “take-out” slides will be forbidden and can be subject to immediate ejection. 2. Dive-backs and sliding head first is not allowed and will result in an immediate out. 3. Sliding at home is not allowed and will result in immediate out. 4. Defensive players may NOT block any of the bases from a base runner. Any blockage will be considered obstruction and will result in the runner being safe. V. Protests A. Only protests that concern rule interpretations or player eligibility will be considered. B. Rule interpretation protests 1. OFFICIALS'JUDGEMENT IS NOT PROTESTABLE. 2. Rule protests must be filed at the time a question occurs and will be settled at that time by the Supervisor. 3. NO contests or portions thereof will be replayed due to improper rules enforcement. If you have a question, ASK it. C. Player eligibility protests 1. Eligibility protests will be decided at the time the question is raised whenever possible. 2. Players found to be ineligible after the contest will result in that contest being forfeited and/or that player being suspended.
VI. Player and coach conduct A. Team captains and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans. B. Only the Captain is allowed to speak to the officials in an appropriate manner during play. C. Coaches may not speak to officials and must stay at the team bench or in the first/third base coaching areas during play. D. Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct will be reprimanded with a Yellow or Red card whenever necessary. A sportsmanship rating will be given according to the Sportsmanship Policy. E. Any player ejected from a game will be ineligible to participate in any intramural sport until he/she meets with the Graduate Assistant in charge of the sport. VII. Playoffs A. Teams are eligible for post-season play provided they do not forfeit out during the course of the season, win at least one game and they complete the season with the required sportsmanship rating of 3.0. B. Games may be scheduled at any time. C. Extra Innings: Teams will play one extra inning to decide winner. The International Tie-Breaker will be used. At the beginning of each inning (top and bottom), the last person out will start at 2nd base. If game is still tied after one inning, then extra innings will be played until winner is determined. VIII. Miscellaneous A. The Intramural Office will make decisions concerning weather related cancellations at 2pm each day. Captains/players/umpires should call the Rec. Check line at 744-7533 in order to get daily rain out information. NO TEAMS WILL BE CALLED. Rain-outs will not be made up during the regular season. B. If contests are rained out during the course of play, causing the cancellation of subsequent games, the supervisor(s) will attempt to contact team representatives. C. All spectators, players and equipment must stay in the "out of play area" designated by the umpire. D. No alcohol, glass containers, or pets will be allowed on the playing fields. IX. Co-Rec Modifications A. Teams can use a max of ten (10) players in the field (five (5) males & five (5) females). Teams may use nine or eight players as long as there is no more than a one person difference between males and females. B. Batting order must alternate male/female. There is no extra player (EP) in Co-Rec. C. If a male is walked, the next female has the option of walking or hitting. D. A 150 foot restraining line will be used for three (3) of the four (4) outfielders in Co-Rec. The three (3) outfielders must remain behind the line until the ball is hit. If the three (3) players are not behind the line at the time of the pitch, a free base will be awarded to the batter. This will be announced by the field umpire. If this happens with a male player, it will be treated as a walked batter and the following girl will have the choice to either walk or bat.
Softball Rules I. Equipment A. Gym shoes or molded rubber cleats are allowed as well as hard plastic cleats. No metal or screw-in cleats with metal tips are allowed. All players must wear shoes. B. Participants must remove all jewelry before the contest begins. C. The Intramural Office will provide bases, bats, catcher's mask and balls for each scheduled contest. D. Teams may use their own slow-pitch bats provided that the bat is ASA approved, and is inspected by the intramural supervisor. E. Catcher's masks will be provided and their use is strongly recommended. Catchers assume all risk of injury when not wearing the catchers’ mask. II. Players A. A team will consist of ten (10) or eleven (11) players. B. A team may start and play a game with as few as eight (8) players. If a team plays with eight (8) or nine (9) players they do not have to take automatic outs. C. The Extra Player (EP) rule will be used. If a team uses the EP, only ten (10) players play the field but eleven (11) are allowed to bat. A different ten (10) can play the field each inning provided the same batting order is kept. Note: The extra player cannot be used in co-rec. D. Substitutions 1. The captain making the substitution will immediately notify the plate umpire when the sub enters. 2. A Player shall be officially in the game when his/her name has been entered on the scoresheet. 3. An illegal substitute is handled as a protest by the umpire or opposing team. E. Re-entry 1. Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered once, provided the player occupies the same batting position they were originally in the line-up. 2. Violation of the re-entry rule will result in the use of an ineligible player. A forfeit shall then be declared when the violation is brought to the attention of the umpire by the offended team. III. Forfeits A. Game Time is Forfeit Time. All teams must be signed in and ready to play at game time in order to not receive a thirty ($30) dollar forfeit fee. The supervisor’s watch is official game time on the field. B. In order to claim a forfeit, a team must have the necessary amount of players and be ready to play at game time (8 players). C. If neither team is present and ready to play then a double forfeit will be declared. D. A second forfeit within the same sport will result in that team being dropped from league play and becoming ineligible for the playoffs. An additional forfeit fee will also be charged. E. Forfeit fees not paid in the Intramural Office within 24 hours will be charged to the Captain's Bursar's account.
IV. Play A. Play shall be governed by 2015-2016 ASA Rules except where special Intramural Rules apply. B. The Game 1. A game consists of seven (7) innings or fifty (50) minutes whichever comes first. No new innings can begin after the fifty (50) minute time limit has expired. An inning that continues past the fifty (50) minute time limit will be completed. 2. The choice of "home" and "visitor" (first or last bat in the inning) shall be decided by a coin toss. 3. The team roster and batting order must be listed on the score sheet prior to the game. 4. Games may end in a tie during the regular season. No extra innings will be played. 5. In case of rain, four (4) or 3 ½ innings (if the home team is ahead) will constitute a complete game. C. Pitching 1. The pitcher shall take a position with both feet firmly on the ground and with at least one foot in contact with, but not on the side of, the pitcher's rubber. 2. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher's rubber until the pitched ball leaves the hand. 3. The pitch shall be released at a moderate speed. The speed is left entirely up to the umpire's judgment. 4. Pitches must make an arc with a minimum height of Six feet (6’) and a maximum of twelve feet (12’) with the ball being released below the pitcher’s waist. Any pitch outside of these parameters will be considered an illegal pitch, and called a ball. The umpire should immediately call “illegal pitch” and the play is immediately dead. 5. If a pitched ball hits the plate it is automatically called a ball. 6. When a new pitcher enters the game, no more than one (1) minute or 5 practice pitches may be used for warm up. D. Batting 1. Batters will enter the box with a "1-1" count. 2. One “courtesy foul” will be given to batters at two strikes. If a subsequent foul occurs after the courtesy foul at two strikes, the batter is out. 3. The batter is out and base runners may not advance if: a. The batter steps across or on home plate. b. The batter enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat. c. The batter bunts, chops or attempts to bunt the ball (It is considered a bunt any time the batter holds the bat over the plate and allows the ball to hit the bat, no matter how the bat was put into the position). d. The infield fly rule will apply. This rule states that the batter is automatically out when an infield fly is hit with runners on first and second, or first, second, and third bases, with less than two outs. An infield fly is any ball that is considered easily routine catch by an infielder (ball does not have to be caught for this rule to apply). 4. A 20-run rule will be in effect after the 3rd inning, a 15-run rule after the 4th inning and a 10-run rule after the 5th inning, providing the team behind has had its turn at bat. 5. If the umpire calls an illegal pitch, the batter as the option of hitting and taking the result of the hit or allowing the ball to pass and it will be considered a ball. 6. 10 Run Rule limit per inning, except the last inning when it becomes unlimited. E. Out Of Play/Overthrow 1. If the live ball travels into “out of play” territory (painted line – it will be treated just like if a fence was there), the ball is ruled dead and all runners will be awarded two (2) bases from the last base touched from the time the ball was released. 2. If a ball travels into the street untouched or unintentionally touched, the ball is ruled dead and a ground-rule double will be awarded. As the fielder, please raise both hands above your head to let the officials know that the ball is in the street. Do not chase the ball into the street during play! 3. If the ball travels into the street because a fielder intentionally knocked it into the street, the ball will
be ruled dead and two bases will be awarded to all runners from the last base touched at the time the live ball went into the street. As the fielder, please raise both hands above your head to let the officials know that the ball is in the street. Once again, do not chase the ball into the street during play! 4. One base is awarded from the last base touched at the time a live ball in possession of the fielding team (not on the throw) is unintentionally hit out of play by the batting team into any dead ball area. Ex. A tag play at third base and the batting team slides into the tag and unintentionally knocks the ball out of the glove and rolls into the dead ball area. Award is made from the time the ball enters the dead ball area. F. Base Running 1. Runners cannot lead off or steal bases. The runner cannot leave a base until the pitched ball is contacted by the batter. 2. A runner is out when he is struck with a fairly batted ball before it passes through the infield, excluding the pitcher. 3. Base runners are responsible for avoiding collisions with fielders anytime the fielder is making a play on the ball. This includes fielding or throwing the ball and catching a thrown ball. If the base runner does not try to avoid a collision they are liable to an ejection at the officials'/supervisors’ discretion. 4. Any fielder not making a play on the ball is liable to ejection from the game if they interfere with a base runner. (This includes "run down" situations). 5. The penalty for leading off or leaving a base before contact is made with the ball: 1. First Offense – warning for the entire team. 2. Next offense – runner is declared out. G. Appeals 1. An appeal play is a play on which an umpire cannot make a decision until requested by a captain, coach, or player. 2. The appeal must be made before the next pitch. 3. The ball must be returned to the pitcher, he/she indicates to the umpire that they are appealing, and then verbalizes the incident being appealed. H. Sliding 1. Players may slide feet first. Players must slide directly into the base; “take-out” slides will be forbidden and can be subject to immediate ejection. 2. Dive-backs and sliding head first is not allowed and will result in an immediate out. 3. Sliding at home is not allowed and will result in immediate out. 4. Defensive players may NOT block any of the bases from a base runner. Any blockage will be considered obstruction and will result in the runner being safe. V. Protests A. Only protests that concern rule interpretations or player eligibility will be considered. B. Rule interpretation protests 1. OFFICIALS'JUDGEMENT IS NOT PROTESTABLE. 2. Rule protests must be filed at the time a question occurs and will be settled at that time by the Supervisor. 3. NO contests or portions thereof will be replayed due to improper rules enforcement. If you have a question, ASK it. C. Player eligibility protests 1. Eligibility protests will be decided at the time the question is raised whenever possible. 2. Players found to be ineligible after the contest will result in that contest being forfeited and/or that player being suspended.
VI. Player and coach conduct A. Team captains and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans. B. Only the Captain is allowed to speak to the officials in an appropriate manner during play. C. Coaches may not speak to officials and must stay at the team bench or in the first/third base coaching areas during play. D. Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct will be reprimanded with a Yellow or Red card whenever necessary. A sportsmanship rating will be given according to the Sportsmanship Policy. E. Any player ejected from a game will be ineligible to participate in any intramural sport until he/she meets with the Graduate Assistant in charge of the sport. VII. Playoffs A. Teams are eligible for post-season play provided they do not forfeit out during the course of the season, win at least one game and they complete the season with the required sportsmanship rating of 3.0. B. Games may be scheduled at any time. C. Extra Innings: Teams will play one extra inning to decide winner. The International Tie-Breaker will be used. At the beginning of each inning (top and bottom), the last person out will start at 2nd base. If game is still tied after one inning, then extra innings will be played until winner is determined. VIII. Miscellaneous A. The Intramural Office will make decisions concerning weather related cancellations at 2pm each day. Captains/players/umpires should call the Rec. Check line at 744-7533 in order to get daily rain out information. NO TEAMS WILL BE CALLED. Rain-outs will not be made up during the regular season. B. If contests are rained out during the course of play, causing the cancellation of subsequent games, the supervisor(s) will attempt to contact team representatives. C. All spectators, players and equipment must stay in the "out of play area" designated by the umpire. D. No alcohol, glass containers, or pets will be allowed on the playing fields. IX. Co-Rec Modifications A. Teams can use a max of ten (10) players in the field (five (5) males & five (5) females). Teams may use nine or eight players as long as there is no more than a one person difference between males and females. B. Batting order must alternate male/female. There is no extra player (EP) in Co-Rec. C. If a male is walked, the next female has the option of walking or hitting. D. A 150 foot restraining line will be used for three (3) of the four (4) outfielders in Co-Rec. The three (3) outfielders must remain behind the line until the ball is hit. If the three (3) players are not behind the line at the time of the pitch, a free base will be awarded to the batter. This will be announced by the field umpire. If this happens with a male player, it will be treated as a walked batter and the following girl will have the choice to either walk or bat.
