1. IM Softball
Spring 2018

2. Check-In Checking Teams In:
Those without proper ID may not participate
What are acceptable forms of ID?
Student ID Card
CRU Card
Driver’s License or other photo ID
NO OASIS!!!!
Those who are NOT on the printed roster may NOT play
Experienced Players
Open: Unlimited
Competitive: 5
Rec, ResHall: 0

3. Scorecard
Teams will be in charge of the scorecard when their team is at bat, but score will be checked by the home plate umpire after every half-inning.
For CoRec teams, you will create separate men's and women's line-ups and will alternate genders for every at bat.

4. Forfeits & Gender Ratio
10 players on the field
Minimum # of players to play: 8
Open: no ratio!
CoRec
Competitive: 5:5, 5:4, 5:3, 4:4
Recreational: 6:4, 6:3, 5:5, 5:4, 5:3, 4:4
ResHall: no ratios!
Ratios hold for players on the field
If team does not meet the minimum of 8 and/or the gender requirement = forfeit ($20 fine)
Forfeit score: 7-0

5. Equipment Balls and bats are provided by IM Office Dangerous Equipment
Teams may only use the bats provided
NO personal bats
Dangerous Equipment
NO METAL CLEATS
NO jeans or open-toed shoes
NO jewelry

6. Definitions Appeal Play Base Path Catch
A play in which the umpire does not make a call until prompted by a player BEFORE the next pitch.
Missing a base
Batting out of order
Leaving a base before fly ball is caught
Base Path
Imaginary 3 feet on either side of the foul line between bases
Catch
Occurs when the fielder catches a thrown, tossed, pitched, or batted ball with their hands or glove

7. Definitions Fair Ball Foul Ball Dead Ball Infield Fly
Any ball that is hit within the foul lines, or hit in foul territory and touches a defender or umpire in fair territory
Foul Ball
A ball hit outside foul lines, caught in air is an out
Dead Ball
A foul ball hit over the Dead Ball line, ball is DEAD even if caught (no out)
Infield Fly
A pop up is hit in the infield with 0 or 1 outs and runners on 1st; 1st & 2nd; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

8. Definitions Interference Obstruction Legal Touch Overthrow
Act of offensive player that hinders or confuses defensive player attempting to make a play
Runners MUST avoid contacting a defensive player
Obstruction
Act of defensive player which hinders an offensive player from hitting a ball or reaching a base when that player does not have possession of or actively fielding ball
Legal Touch
Fielder is holding ball securely in hand (not glove) and touches a base runner that is not touching a base
Overthrow
Ball is thrown beyond the dead ball line or behind backstop

9. The Game - General 5 innings or 45 minutes (whichever ends first)
10 defensive players
MUST have a pitcher and catcher
4 maximum in the infield
Minimum of 8 players to start
165’ Arc
ONLY for CoRec Competitive & Recreational
ALL outfielders must remain behind the line until the ball is hit
Violation results in batter gifted first base and runners moving to the next base

10. The Game - Pitching
Every batter starts with a 0-1 count (0 balls,1 strike)
Strike Zone: ball hits white and/or black extension of home plate
Pitches must be between 6’ and 12’ in height
If a batter swings at a illegal pitch, play continues and the result of the swing shall count (i.e. a swing and a miss is a strike)
Hit by pitch
If batter does NOT attempt avoid pitch = OUT
Intentional Walk: must tell umpire - does not have to throw 4 balls
Foul Out: once batter has 2 strikes, 2 foul balls = 3 strike = OUT

11. The Game - Batting and Baserunning
Batting line up (Alternating genders for Recreational Leagues only)
NO bunting or throwing bats
Batter must have BOTH feet inside the batter’s box when ball is hit
All plays at home plate are a force play
Runners/offense touch the extension plate
Catcher/defense touch white plate
NO stealing
Sliding
OK at 2nd and 3rd base
NOT at home
Overthrows result in 2 bases (attempted base + 1)
Catch and Carry (defensive player catches ball in foul but then runs into dead ball territory): 1 extra base awarded to each runner
Commit Line: marked by cone 15 feet down the third base line and once runner passes, they must run home
Once runner passes 15ft line, MUST run to home

12. The Game - Extra Innings
Tied game results in International Tie Breaker
Visiting team places the last out of the previous inning on 2nd base
The inning will start with 1 out
The game shall continue this way until there is a winner at the end, with home team getting last at bat