Game Rules

Intramural Softball

These rules are adopted from the American Softball Association.

I. Team Captain Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Make sure the team roster has been submitted to the Intramural Office and that substitutes are added.

2. Fill out the game roster at least five minutes before game time.

3. Meet with the game official(s) for coin toss and last minute instructions.

4. Must be on the playing field or sidelines at all times. Must designate an on-file captain if he/she is not playing.

5. Only captains may address officials for interpretations of rules.

6. File protest of game if needed. Protests may only be filed concerning an ineligible player or a misinterpretation of a rule. The protest must be submitted in writing to the Intramural Office by 4:30 p.m. the day following the contest in question.

7. Make sure that a ref is provided for the game following each of your games.

II. The Game

1. Timing

   1. All games will be played through 7 innings or 50 minutes – whichever comes first

   2. Should time expire, an inning that has started will be completed.

   3. If the game is tied at the end of regulation during regular season league play, it will be recorded as a tie.

   4. During the playoffs, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined.
       

2. Infield Fly Rule
   The Infield Fly Rule will be in effect when there are less than two outs and:

   1. There are runners on first and second or

   2. The bases are loaded

   The umpire will announce, “Infield Fly” when one of the above conditions exists and a batter hits a pop-fly in the infield. Please note that an infield fly is a judgment call by the umpire and NOT subject for controversy. When the Infield Fly Rule is declared, the batter is automatically OUT. The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught. The runner may also tag-up and advance after a defensive player has touched the ball.
    

3. Equipment

   1. Metal cleats are prohibited! THEY MAY NOT BE WORN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! All cleats should be molded rubber, soft sole, or turf.
       

4. Players

   1. Teams will consist of 10 players.

   2. The minimum number of players required to begin and finish a game is 7. Players arriving late may be added to the bottom of the batting order at any time.

   3. If playing coed, the men must outnumber the women on the team.
       

5. Homerun Rule

   1. If a male hits the ball over the fence, it is an out.
       

6. Base Running

   1. Under no circumstances are runners permitted to steal. If a player leaves the bag before the batter hits the ball, he/she will be out.

   2. Runners must slide feet first or give-up on all non-forced outs that are close.

   3. Overthrow Rule: Runners will be awarded two bases on an overthrown ball. In determining the awarding of bases, the two bases are from the last base touched at the time the ball left the thrower’s hand.

   4. Injured Runner Rule: If a player reaches base safely but is too severely injured to run, the player sharing that spot in the batting order will replace the injured runner. If that spot is not shared, the last man or woman to make an out will replace the runner.
       

7. 15-Run Rule

   1. The 15-run rule will be enforced after 5 innings.

   2. NOTE: The Home team always gets to complete their half of the inning, even if the away team gets ahead by more than 15 runs.
       

8. Batting

   1. When playing coed, the batting order should be male-female-male….

   2. If a player bats out of order, that player is called out

Missouri Western State University Intramural Rules

1. Injuries and Insurance: Students, faculty and staff are reminded that their participation in intramural sports and free-time recreation activities is completely voluntary and the intramural/Free-time Recreation staff assumes no liability or responsibility during participation. It is strongly recommended that all participants have a satisfactory health status and appropriate personal accident insurance coverage for any injury which might occur during participation in these activities. Insurance is available for students through the Dean of Student Affairs Office.
   
   In the event of an injury, the injured player is required to sit out one play and then re-enter the game at the referee’s discretion. In the event of a serious injury, the player is required to sit out the rest of the game.
    

2. A student must be currently enrolled for at least one hour of credit at Missouri Western State University to be eligible for intramural participation. A faculty or staff member is eligible as long as they are officially recognized by the University as faculty or staff.
    

3. Any person who has been red-shirted or a member of a freshman, junior varsity or varsity athletic team in the fall or spring at any college or university is ineligible to participate in that specific intramural activity or related activity. They may not participate in the activities listed above until two years following their last collegiate play attempt.  Only one former varsity athlete is allowed on any one intramural team. If the team has a former athlete on it the team must play in the upper division if there is one.  For further clarification contact the Intramural Office. An individual is considered to be a member of a varsity squad if he practices with the team, his name appears on a roster for a regular season game or if he plays spring ball.
    

4. A player may not transfer from one team to another during a particular activity once they have played in the first game. At the start of a new activity, he/she is then able to transfer to a new team.
   

5. A player ejected from a game may not play again in that activity and he/she may not be substituted for in the game he was ejected from. If a player is ejected from two contests, he/she may not participate in Intramurals again.
   

6. Additional names may be added to the roster as an activity progresses, provided the names are added to the roster 24 hours before the player participates in their first game. Names may not be added to the roster after the last regular season game.

More detailed information on eligibility for Intramural Sports can be obtained from the Intramural Sports Handbook.