Current ASA rules will govern play except for the following modifications.

I.                  GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

II.               PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES

Section 1: Team

1. Roster limit per team is 16.  Roster additions can be made throughout the regular season.  However, additions must be made by noon the day of a game in order to participate in that game.  Rosters are locked at the end of the regular season.
2. A team consists of 10 players, all of which must bat and play defense (CoRec: 5 males and 5 females with the batting order alternating between male and female).

a.       Shorthanded Rule:

-Teams in all divisions may begin the game with 8 players.

CoRec Combinations:   4 males and 4 females

                                          3 males and 5 females  

-Teams in all divisions may begin the game with 9 players.

      CoRec Combinations:   5 males and 4 females (automatic out)

                                          4 males and 5 females (automatic out)

-Once a player arrives, he or she can be added to the batting order.

b.      Extra Player Rule:

-   A team may have an extra player (CoRec: 2 extra players, one of each gender).  All 11 players must bat and any 10 can play defense (CoRec: all 12 players must bat and any 5 males and 5 females can play defense).

Section 2: Players or Substitutes

A player or substitute is officially in the game when he or she is entered onto the official score sheet.  A substitute may take the place of any player in the batting order of the team.  When a substitute is announced, after the substitute enters the game, nay play that the substitute makes is legal.  A substitute may take the place of any other player during a dead ball situation.

Section 3: Re-entry Rule

All players may withdraw and reenter a game once, but they must reenter for the person that came in for him or her.

III.           THE GAME

Section 1: Teams

Before the start of the game, the umpires will meet with the captains of each team to determine which team will be the visiting team and which team will be the home team.  In each inning, the visiting team bats first and the home team bats last.

Section 2: Regulation Game

A regulation game consists of seven innings or 55 minutes, which ever comes first.  If an inning has started before the time limit has expired, then the inning will be completed.  Teams need not play seven full innings if:

1.  The home team scores more runs in six and one half innings;

2.  The home team scores more runs before the third out in the last half of the seventh inning; or

3.  The mercy rule can be applied:

            a.  If a team is up 20 or more runs at the conclusion of the 3^rd inning;

            b.  If a team is up 15 or more runs at the conclusion of the 4^th inning; or

            c.  If a team is up 10 or more runs at the conclusion of the 5^th inning or later.

Note:  If the visiting team reaches the run-ahead limit in the top half of the inning, the home team still has the opportunity to reduce the deficit below the limit in the bottom half of the inning.  If the home team reaches the run-ahead limit while at bat, the game ends and the home team is declared the winner.

If the game is tied at the end of seven innings or after time expires, the teams continue to play until one team has scored more runs than the other team at the end of a complete inning or until the home team has scored more runs.

IV.            EQUIPMENT

Section 1: Approved Bats

All bats must meet the current ASA bat performance standard.  A list of certified and approved bats can be found at http://www.asasoftball.com/.  The Intramural Sports Program will provide a bat for teams to use during games for those that do not have an approved softball bat.

If a batter is caught using an illegal bat before the next legal pitch, the defensive team can take the result of the play or appeal the play.  If the defense appeals the play, the batter will be ruled out and all base-runners will return to the base in which he or she occupied before the illegal play occurred.  Appeals must be made before the next legal pitch or the play stands. 

Section 2: Official Softball

The Intramural Sports Program will provide all game balls.  These will be the only balls allowed for play.  In men’s games, 12 inch softballs will be used.  In women’s games, 11 inch softballs will be used.  In CoRec games, males will hit the 12 inch softballs and females will hit the 11 inch softballs.

It is the pitcher’s responsibility to make sure that he or she is pitching the correct ball.  If the incorrect softball is pitched, the offensive team can take the result of the play or replay from the last legal pitch; however, appeals must be made before the next legal pitch or the play stands.

Example: Team A’s pitcher pitches a men’s softball to a female batter with a 2 ball and 2 strike count.  This female hits a groundball to the shortstop and a force-out is made on a base-runner at second.  If the offensive team appeals the play before Team A pitches to the next batter or Team B enters the field to play defense, the offensive team can take the result of the play or replay from the last legal pitch.  If Team B wants to replay the situation, the female batter will return to the batters box with a 2 ball and 2 strike count and all base-runners will return to their original position.

Section 3: Gloves

All defensive players must wear gloves.  The Intramural Sports Program does not provide gloves.

Section 4: Shoes

All players must wear shoes.  Shoes may have cleats made of soft or hard rubber, but METAL CLEATS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Section 5: Headgear and Sunglasses

Hats and visors can be worn during intramural softball.  However, no headgear with knots can be worn.  Sunglasses can also be worn but should be place on your face only.

Section 6: Jewelry

Jewelry, casts, or any items deemed dangerous MAY NOT BE WORN during the game.  Jewelry consists of rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, studs, bracelets, and any other such similar form of jewelry.  Each team will receive a warning without penalty.  Following the warning, any player from a team in the game found to be wearing prohibited equipment when he or she enters the batters box will be assessed an automatic out.  If the player is in the field, he or she will be removed from defense for one play.  No player can replace him or her for that play so the defensive team will play shorthanded for that play.   

V.               PITCHING

Section 1: Preliminaries

The pitcher must begin with both feet firmly on the ground and with one foot or both feet touching the pitcher’s rubber.  The pitcher’s pivot foot must stay in contact with the pitcher’s rubber throughout the delivery.  The pitcher must not perform any motion to pitch while not touching the pitcher’s rubber.

Section 2: Start of Pitch

Before the delivery, the pitcher may hold or grip the softball in any manner.  The pitcher must use a definite underhand motion in delivering the pitch.  The pitcher may release the softball in any type of manner using any type of motion.

Section 3: Legal Delivery

After making any motion to pitch, the pitcher must immediately deliver the ball to the batter.  The pitcher must perform the delivery in a continuous motion.  In delivering the pitch, the pitcher must not stop or reverse the pitching motion.  The pitcher may not pitch the ball through the legs or behind the back.  The pitcher must deliver the ball with a perceptible arc.  The ball must reach a height of at least 6 feet from the ground and cannot exceed a height of 12 feet from the ground.  If the ball does not reach the height range, an illegal pitch will be call.  For illegal pitches, a ball will be awarded if the batter does not swing at the pitch.

VI.            BATTING

Section 1: Batting Order

1. The official score sheet must list the batting order of each team.  The captain must fill out the batting order with the scorekeeper before the start of the game.
2. Players must bat in the order that they are listed on the score sheet unless a substitute enters the game.  The substitute must appear in the batting order in the place of the player that he or she is replacing.
3. The first player who bats in each inning shall be the player whose name follows the last player who has completed a turn at bat in the previous inning.  When the 3^rd out of an inning occurs before a batter has completed his or her turn at bat, that player will be the 1^st batter in the next inning and will start with a count of one ball and one strike.
4. The batting order for CoRec games must alternate from male to female.

Section 2: Ball and Strike Count

The batter starts with a one ball and one strike count.

Section 3: Foul Ball Rule

If a batter with two strikes hits a foul ball, he or she will be called out.

Section 4: Strike

The umpire calls a strike:

1. For a legally pitched ball between 6 and 12 feet from the ground that strikes any part of the plate or the strike zone mat and is not swung at by the batter.
2. For a legally pitched ball that the batter swings at and misses.
3. For a foul ball not caught by a fielder.
4. When a batted ball hits any part of the batter when he or she is still in the batter’s box.

Section 5: Ball

The umpire calls a ball:

1. For a pitched ball that does not hit any part of the plate or the strike zone mate.
2. For an illegally pitched ball (not between 6 and 12 feet from the ground) not swung at by the batter.
3. For a pitched ball that hits the batter when he or she is outside of the strike zone.

Section 6: Outs

The batter is out in the following circumstances:

1. When the batter enters the batter’s box with an altered or illegal bat or is found using an altered or illegal bat.  If the batter hits the ball with an altered or illegal bat, the batter is out and base runners return to the bases that they occupied before the batter hit the ball.  Alternatively, the defense may accept the results of the play.  (Note: once the next pitch legal pitch has occurred, all plays before are legal and can not be appealed)
2. When the batter bunts or chops at the ball.
3. When the batter’s entire foot touches the ground completely outside the batter’s box when the batter hits the ball.
4. When the batter hits the ball and any part of his or her foot is touching home plate.
5. When a member of the team at bat interferes with a defensive player who is attempting to field a batted ball (Individual will be ejected).
6. When the batter hits a fair ball with the bat a second time in fair territory no matter if it is on accident.
7. When the batter’s own batted ball hits him or her outside the batter’s box in fair territory.
8. When a batter hits a fly ball in the infield that can be caught with ordinary effort with less than 2 outs and runners on first and second or bases loaded.

VII.        BASERUNNING

Section 1: Advancement

A base runner can advance or return only by touching the bases in legal order, from first base, to second base, to third base, to home plate.  A base runner advances to the next base by touching it before being put out.  The player may hold a base until he or she legally touches the next base or until the batter becomes a base runner and forces the player to leave the base.

Section 2: Batter Awarded First Base

The batter-runner is awarded first base in the following circumstances:

1. When the umpire calls four balls
2. When the pitcher requests that the umpire intentionally walk the batter
3. When the catcher or other defensive players interferes with the batter’s attempt to hit a legal or illegal pitched ball

Section 3: Batter- Runner Call Out

The batter-runner is called out in the following circumstances:

1. When the batter-runner’s own batted ball hits him or her when the batter-runner is in fair territory and out of the batter’s box
2. When the batter-runner drops the bat in fair territory and the bat makes contact with a fair ball
3. When the fielder catches a fly ball with his or her feet within the boundaries of the field
4. When after the batter hits a fair ball, a fielder holds the ball on first base before the batter-runner touches first base
5. When after reaching first base, the batter-runner attempts to go to second base and is tagged or put out
6. When the batter-runner runs out of the 3 foot running lane and interferes with a fielder taking a throw or attempting to make a play

Section 4: Base Runner Called Out

A base runner is called out in the following circumstances:

1. When a base runner leaves the base before a pitched ball contacts the bat
2. When the base runner interferes with a thrown ball or interferes with a fielder who is attempting to field a batter ball, catch a ball, or throw a ball
3. When a fair batted ball hits a base runner or a base runner intentionally interferes with a ball
4. When a base runner intentionally kicks a ball that is in play
5. When a coach intentionally interferes with a live ball
6. When a base runner is attempting to score and the next batter or another teammate interferes with the play
7. When a fielder touches a base runner with the ball when the base runner is not on a base and the ball is in play
8. When a fielder tags or holds a ball on a base to which the base runner is forced to advance before the base runner reaches that base (force play)
9. When the base runner runs more than 3 feet outside the path between the bases to avoid being tagged
10. When a base runner passes the base runner ahead of him or her before that runner is put out
11. When a base runner does not return to a base after a suspension in play caused by a dead ball situation
12. If a base runner leave a base before a caught fly ball and a fielder holds the ball on the base and correctly appeals the play, or if a fielder tags a base runner before he or she returns to the base
13. If a base runner fails to touch a base and a fielder tags or holds the ball on the base before the base runner returns to the base
14. If a base runner intentionally and forcefully makes contact with a defensive player who is clearly holding the ball. The base runner is called out. The ball becomes dead, the base runner is ejected, and other base runners return to the last bases that they occupied at the time of the collision

Section 5: Base Stealing Not Permitted

No base runner may steal a base.

1. A base runner must stay in contact with a base until the ball crosses the plate or the batter hits the ball.
2. A pitch that the batter does not hit is dead. Base runners must return to their bases. They cannot leave again until the ball crosses the plate or the batter hits the ball.

Section 6: Courtesy Runners

1. A courtesy runner may run for any player who is injured during the play and is unable to run the bases safely.
2. When no eligible substitutes are available, the courtesy runner must be the player who made the last out of the previous inning.
3. The umpire must be notified before a courtesy runner replaces a teammate. This replacement can occur only during a dead ball and before the first pitch to the next batter.