Section 1. Number of Players
Teams shall consist of ten (10) players. A minimum number of eight (8) players must be present to start a game.
Section 2
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST PRESENT A CSULB PICTURE I.D. BEFORE PARTICIPATING. NO EXCEPTIONS! NO I.D., NO PLAY! -------- NO ALUMNI
Section 3. Equipment
Athletic shoes are required at all times. Metal spikes are prohibited. Teams are responsible for supplying their own gloves and bats. Only bats clearly marked “Official Softball” are allowed.
Section 4. Starting Time
At least eight (8) players must be ready to start at game time. Game time is forfeit time. Team Managers are encouraged to report early to complete the scoresheet. Participants arriving late may be added to the bottom of the line-up.
Section 5. Length of Game
A regulation game shall consist of seven innings or 50 minutes, whichever comes first. No new inning may start after 50 minutes. Tie games will remain a tie during the regular season. Extra innings will only take place in the playoffs.
Section 6. 12-Run Rule
A 12-run rule is in effect for all games, except playoff Championship games. If a team is ahead by 12 or more runs after 4 innings or 45 minutes, the game shall end.
Section 7. Home Plate
Home plate will consist of a plate and plate extension. Any legal pitch not swung at that hits any part of the plate or the plate extension will be called a strike. A runner should touch any part of the plate extension.
Section 8. Pitching
The pitching plate will be located 50 feet from home plate. Pitchers must start with at least one foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. One foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate until the ball is released.
Section 1. Legal Pitch
A legal pitch is a pitch delivered in a continuous motion and at moderate speed. The ball must be delivered with perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of 12 feet from the ground.
Pitches not meeting these requirements will be called illegal pitches. Illegal pitches remain live and all batters may swing at their own risk. Illegal pitches not swung at will be ruled automatic balls. Arguing the height requirement of pitches with the umpire is considered arguing balls and strikes and is cause for ejection from the game.
Section 2. Balls and Strikes
Each batter will start with a 0-1 count. With two strikes, each batter is allowed one uncaught foul ball. A second uncaught foul ball with two strikes will result in a strikeout.
If the pitcher desires to walk a batter intentionally, he/she may do so by notifying the plate umpire who will award the batter first base. If two batters are to be walked intentionally, the second walk may not be administered until the first batter reaches first base.
Section 3. Batting Order and Substitutions
Teams may bat an unlimited number of players. A team may use an Extra Player (EP) who only bats. If an EP is used, it must be used the entire game. If the EP is injured and no legal substitute exists, the team will take an out each time the EP position comes up. This is also true for any other position in the batting order. All starters may re-enter the game once but only in their original batting position. Substitutes may not re-enter once substituted.
FOR COED THE BATTING ORDER MUST BE MALE – FEMALE, MALE – FEMALE, ETC.
Unless a player is injured and cannot continue, pinch runners will not be allowed under any circumstance. In the event an injured runner is substituted, the last recorded out shall pinch run. An injured runner may not re-enter the game if replaced with a pinch runner.
Defensive substitutions are unlimited.
Section 4. Bunts
The ball is dead and the batter is out when the batter bunts or chops down the ball.
Section 5. Base Running
Runners may not leave their base until the batter makes contact with the pitch or the ball crosses home plate. Violations of this rule will result in a dead ball and the runner being declared out.
Section 6. Halfway Rule/Commit Line
There is a marker placed halfway between third and home plate; any base runner passing the halfway point (marker) is committed to home plate. All plays at home plate are force plays. Sliding into home plate is not allowed and will declared an automatic out.
Section 7. Infield Fly Rule
An infield fly is a fair ball (not including a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort with runners on first and second or first, second, and third and less than two outs.
On an apparent infield fly, the umpire will immediately call “infield fly, the batter is out” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the foul line, the umpire shall declare, “infield fly, if fair”. Runners may advance at their own risk.
Section 8. Overthrows
When the ball is in play and is overthrown into a dead ball area, all runners are awarded two bases. The award will be governed by the position of the runners at the time of the throw. If two runners are between the same base, the award is based upon the position of the lead runner.
Section 9. Catch and Carry
When a live ball is unintentionally carried by a fielder from live ball territory into dead ball territory, the ball is dead and each runner is awarded one base from the last base touched at the time the fielder entered dead ball territory.
If, in the judgement of the umpire, a fielder intentionally carries, kicks, pushes or throws a live ball from playable territory into dead ball territory, the ball is dead and each runner is awarded two bases from the last base touched at the time the fielder entered or the ball was kicked, pushed or thrown into dead ball territory.
Section 1. Appeal Play
An appeal play is a play on which an umpire may not make a decision until requested by a manager, coach or player. The appeal may not be made after the next legal or illegal pitch, after the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory or after the umpires have left the field of play.
Appeals are either live ball appeals (taking the ball to the base or tagging the runner) or dead ball appeals (orally appealing to an umpire once all runners have completed their advancement and time has been called).
Section 2. Batter’s Box
There is no definitive batter’s box, however, any exaggerated effort which results in a player hitting the ball while obviously out of the batter’s box will result in a dead ball and the batter being declared out. A batter who steps on or across home plate while making contact with the ball will be declared out. In all instances, the umpire’s judgement is final and may not be appealed.
Section 3. Sliding
Sliding or diving toward bases is permitted. All sliding or diving must be done in an attempt to avoid a tag. No sliding will be allowed at home plate. Penalty: The runner is out.
Section 4. Base Running
Base runners are not allowed to attempt to “break-up” a double play. Penalty: Umpire will declare interference and call one or more runners out.
Runners are entitled to advance without liability to be put out when a fielder not in possession of the ball, not in the act of fielding a batted ball or not about to receive a thrown ball impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases.
If the runner is put out prior to reaching the base which would have been reached had there not been obstruction, the ball is dead and the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction will always be awarded the base or bases they would have reached, in the umpire’s judgement, had there not been obstruction. An obstructed runner may not be called out between the two bases where obstructed unless properly appealed for missing a base, leaving a base before a fly ball was touched, for an act of interference or for passing another runner.If the obstructed runner is put out after passing the base which would have been reached had there not been obstruction, the obstructed runner is out. The ball remains alive.
Section 5. Intentional/Malicious Contact
The runner is out when a defensive player has the ball or is about to receive the ball and the runner remains on his feet and deliberately or maliciously crashes into the defensive player.
With less than two outs, if the runner deliberately crashes into a fielder holding the ball before he is put out, and in the umpires judgement, it was an attempt to break up an obvious double-play, the immediate succeeding runner will also be declared out. If the deliberate crash occurs after the runner was called out, the runner closest to home plate will be declared out.
In all instances, if the act is determined to be malicious, the offender shall be ejected.
Section 1. No Designated Catchers
There are no designated catchers. All teams must supply their own catcher. If a team is short players, they must play short-handed in the field.
Section 2. Over-running First Base
To be in jeopardy of being put out, the batter-runner crossing first base must make an effort to advance towards second (e.g. a feint towards second base is considered an effort). Merely turning to the left in returning to first base does not necessarily constitute an effort.
Section 3. Dugouts/Fans
All spectators must remain in the stands and are not permitted on the field or in the dugouts. All offensive players and coaches must remain in the dugout with the exception of the batter, on-deck batter, and base coaches.
Section 1. Player Conduct
Actions that are potentially dangerous to participants, spectators, game Officials or Supervisors and/or conduct that is detrimental to the mission of the Intramural Sports Program will not be tolerated.
No player(s) may physically intimidate or verbally abuse Intramural Sports Staff. Violations of this nature are considered unsportsmanlike conduct and at the discretion of the game Official or Supervisor may result in an ejection. Any player ejected from a contest may not participate in his/her team’s next two full games.
Section 2. Aggressive Acts
Acts of aggression or physical violence will not be tolerated. These include but are not limited to throwing a punch, kicking an individual or any other aggressive act. Any player guilty of such an act immediately before, during or after an Intramural Sports contest shall be expelled from further participation in Intramural Sports for one calendar year (365 days).
Section 3. Leaving the Bench Area or Defensive Position to Participate in an Altercation
A player, coach or bench personnel shall be ejected if he/she leaves the bench or coaching area to participate in an altercation. In addition, any player who leaves his position to participate in an altercation, regardless of his/her intentions, shall be ejected. The penalty is an automatic two-game suspension / Or may also be subject to being expelled depending on the severity of his / .her actions.
