Softball Rules OBU Intramural Softball Is Played Similarly to Most Church Leagues Or Coed Softball Leagues

Softball Rules OBU Intramural Softball is played similarly to most church leagues or coed softball leagues. Teams play with 10 in the field but may have a batting line-up of 12. Any players beyond the 12 in the line-up must substitute one for one. So if an extra player subs in for the first base player, when they sub back out it must be with the same player. Teams may play with as few as 7 players. In the coed league, there must be 4 females on the field at all times.

Games are played up through seven innings or 40 minutes, whichever comes first. No innings will be started after the 40th minute of play. If an inning has started when the 40th minute is reached, the inning (both top and bottom) will be completed before ending the game. Games may end in a tie during the regular season, but additional innings will be played during tournament play. A team may score no more than 10 runs in an inning, and a mercy rule will end a game if a team is up by 10 runs after 4 innings. Every batter begins with one strike and one ball.

Pitching: Pitches must be delivered underhand (slow pitch). The pitcher must have one foot touching the pitching rubber and must maintain contact with the pitching rubber until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. A strike is a ball pitched with an arch between six and twelve feet high, crossing the home plate within the strike zone and landing within the strike mat zone. If the ball slips out of the pitcher’s hand in the back swing of the pitch, the ball is declared dead, and the pitch is re-done.

Batting: All teams must fill out a batting order at the beginning of each game. In the coed league, batters must alternate female and male. If two males bat back to back, a penalty of one out will be earned. This penalty does not apply when rotating back to the top of the line up. Each batter begins with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. Batters are not given first base for being hit with a ball. Batters are given a walk and first base after receiving four balls. In the coed league, once a male batter is walked the following female batter may choose to either hit or to automatically take first base. Balls that are declared foul are counted as a strike for the batter (for a description of fair/foul balls see the definitions). Batters can foul out, but one “grace” foul ball is allowed before fouling out.

Chopping and bunting are not allowed; batters must take a full swing when attempting to hit the ball. Any batter that throws a bat while running to first base will receive a warning for the first offense and be called out for the second offense. A batter who loses control of the bat and lets go of it during a swing will be automatically called out.

Baserunning: Stealing is not allowed at any point. Base runners may only leave the base when contact with the ball has been made; leading off is not allowed. Any runner who deliberately runs into a fielder will be called out immediately and each runner will return to the last base occupied at the time of the collision. If the runner’s act is flagrant, he/she will be ejected. Other runners may be called out at the umpire’s discretion. Any runner who is not in contact with a base and is in fair territory when struck by a batted ball will be called out (the batter will automatically receive first base). A runner may choose either to slide into a base or simply avoid contact. In the case of a possible double play, the base runner must slide (or run) directly into the base (rather than the fielder) or get out of the way of the thrown ball or both he/she and the batter/base runner may be called out depending on the development of the play. A fielder may not interfere with a base runner

1 unless making a play on the ball.

Referees may audibly call an “infield fly” when a batted ball is in the air during force out situations. For this to occur, runners must be on first and second base - or on first, second, and third - and the batter must hit a “pop up” that an infielder could catch with reasonable effort. If an infield fly is called, the batter is automatically out, and the baserunners then have the option of remaining on base instead of being forced to advance. This rule exists so that fielders cannot intentional drop a catch in order to create a double- or triple-play opportunity.

Appeals: If a base runner makes an error (misses a base, leaves a base early, etc) the defense must appeal the play (calmly addressing one of the umpires), and the umpires will decide if the runner(s) made an error. It is not the job of the umpire to call an error. All appeals and disputed calls must be brought to the umpire’s attention by the team captain.

Field 1: Field 1 uses the OBU Band’s marching field. There is a creek that runs along the back of right field. If a ball is hit over the fence just beyond the creek it is an automatic home run. If a batted ball goes into the creek, or just beyond, an automatic ground rule triple will be called and the play is dead. There is also a tower in center field. If the ball strikes the tower or rolls under it, the result will be an automatic ground rule double, and the play is dead.

Equipment: OBU RecLife will provide softballs and at least two softball bats for each game. Teams must bring their own gloves (or share with other teams) and can bring their own bats if they desire. Bats must be American Softball Association certified and may be checked by any RecLife prior to being used. Shoes must be worn at all times, and cannot be open toed. Rubber cleats are allowed, but spikes are prohibited. The bases for all leagues are 60 feet apart. The pitcher’s mound for Men’s Upper and Coed Upper is 45 feet from home plate. For all other leagues the pitcher’s mound will be 35 feet from home plate.

2 Definitions ● These definitions are provided by: http://www.fuzilogik.com/ ● Appeal: When a player and or manager talk's with a particular umpire because he claims there was a violation of the rules by the opposing team. The player and or manager will make his appeal to the umpire who called the play or to the crew chief. If the talking / arguing goes on too long the player or manager could be tossed out of the game.

● ASA: This stands for the Amateur Softball Association. ● Assist: When a fielder throws the ball to another player and that player gets an out against the other team. The player who threw the ball gets an assist, however it is possible for two players to get assist on the same play.

● Ball: A pitch that is not a strike. There is a strike zone in softball. (See Strike Zone) When a ball is above the batters knees but below his shoulders and over home plate, any part of home plate, that is a strike. So a softball that does not do these things is called a ball. If a batter swings at a pitch and misses this is also a strike. If a batter hits a ball and it goes foul this is also a strike, unless the batter already has two strikes against him, then this just counts as a foul ball. Also remember the home plate umpire is calling balls and strikes and if the umpire calls a pitch a strike, then it is a strike. Disagreements do come about if a pitch was close as to whether or not the pitch was a ball or a strike, but the umpire always gets his way and arguing about a pitch very long at all will get a player tossed out of the game. Also remember if the batter gets 4 balls then they go to first base, but 3 strikes against a batter and they are out.

● Base: There are four bases in softball. First, second, third and home base. First, second and third are canvas bags, home plate is made of rubber. When a player is running the bases he must step on each base and if he / she does not touch a base they can be called out.

● Baseline: This is the line that is marked with chalk or paint that connects or runs between each base and the line that runners should generally run along.

● Base runner: A base runner is a batter who has gotten on base. (See Batter / Runner) ● Bases Loaded: When the bases are loaded means that there is a runner on each of the three bases.

● Bat: A softball bat is usually made out of titanium with aluminum alloys. Wooden bats can be used but not many players use them. Bats can't be longer than 34 inches and can't weigh more than 38 ounces but the average bat will weigh between 24-26 ounces. The bat can't exceed 2.25 inches in diameter and the bat must have a safety grip that must be between 10 and 15 inches long but it can't extend more than 15 inches from the bottom of the bat.

● Base Coach(s): He is one of the coaches on the team and when his team is batting he stands in the coach's box at first or third base to direct the batter and the runners.

● Base Hit: When a player is able to hit the ball and reach 1st, 2nd or 3rd base. If there is an error that allows the player to reach base, then it is not a base hit.

● Base Line: The base line is an area 3 feet either side of the chalk line that runs between the bases. A runner is not supposed to run outside the base line and if he does to avoid being

3 tagged out or for some other reason they will be called out. An exception to this rule is, if a fielder is in the base line and the runner has to go around him so he does not interfere with a play, then he will not be called out.

● Base on Balls: Is when the pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone, and the batter goes to first base. (See Ball)

● Base Runner: A player who runs between the bases. This could be a player who was just at bat and got a hit or it could be a pinch runner.

● Batter: He is the offensive player, who is batting, who is trying to hit the ball when the pitcher throws it.

● Batter / Runner: The player who was just the batter and then got a hit. ● Batting Order: The order that the batting team must send its players up to bat. The batting order is given to the Home Plate Umpire before the game starts. The batting order does not change after the game has started.

● Called Game: This is a game, which for any reason, the umpire ends play. This usually happens because of bad weather.

● Called Third Strike: When a batter has two strikes and does not swing at the next pitch and the umpire calls the pitch a strike.

● Catch: You would think this would be straight forward, but there are a few instances when a catch is not a catch. A catch does occur when a fielder catches the ball in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and holds on to it. He can't use his cap or any other part of his uniform to catch the ball. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately after catching the ball, he collides with a player, or with a wall, or he just falls down, and because of this he drops the ball. If the fielder has made the catch and then drops the ball while in the act of throwing, it is still a catch. The umpire will make a judgment call if the fielder held on to the ball and had control of the ball before he started his throwing motion. A catch is legal if any fielder holds the ball, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. A fielder is allowed to reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of demarcation to make a catch. A player can jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. No interference will be called when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, or into the stands to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk.

● Catcher: He is the player whose position is behind home plate and he catches the ball thrown by the pitcher.

● Catcher's Interference: This is when the catcher, in some manner keeps the batter from swinging at a pitch. This is usually unintentional.

● Chopped Ball: This is an illegal hit in slow-pitch softball and happens when a batter attempts to hit the ball in a way that will make it go downward and bounce high in the air. If a batter does this they are ruled out.

● Count or Strike Count: This refers to the balls and strikes that the umpire is calling on the batter. For example the count might be 1 and 2, which just means that 1 ball and 2 strikes have been called against the batter. Just remember that when you hear an announcer say the count is 2 and 1 that balls are first and strikes are last. So that is 2 balls and 1 strike. A full

4 count is 3 and 2, meaning that the next pitch will either be a ball and the batter will get a walk or it will be a strike and the batter will be out. Of course there could be a lot of foul balls before either one of these things happen or the batter could get a hit.

● Cut Off Man: This is when one fielder throws the ball to one player (the cut off man) and then he relays the ball on to another player. This is usually an outfielder throwing the ball to an infielder and then the infielder throwing the ball on to another player.

● Dead Ball: This just means that the ball is no longer in play. Play has been stopped for some reason and until play is resumed the ball is dead.

● Defense: The defensive team is the team that is in the outfield. ● Diamond: Diamond is short for softball diamond and is how a softball field is shaped, like a diamond. See also Field.

● Double: A hit by the batter that lets the batter reach second base. ● Double Play: A double play is getting two men out on the same play. ● Extra Innings: (only played during the tournament) If the tie is scored after the bottom of the 7th inning has been played, then the game goes into extra innings. The game continues until one team wins.

● Extra Player (EP): In slow-pitch softball a team is allowed to have 2 extra players but this is optional. These players can bat but can't play in the field.

● Fair Ball: A fair ball is a ball that has been hit, and stays in-bounds. There are chalk lines that mark the out of bounds. The umpires will call whether a ball is fair or foul. If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a ball settles on foul territory or is touched by a player in foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball hits the ground on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory, it is a fair ball. A ball may also be hit and after crossing directly over or inside the first or third base line then lands in foul territory this ball is fair. This is almost always a judgment call and will be called by the home plate umpire.

● Fair Territory: Fair territory is the playing field which includes the first base and third base lines, from home base to the bottom of the outfield fence and perpendicularly upwards. All foul lines are in fair territory.

● Fast-pitch Softball: This is a type of softball where the ball will be pitch very hard and very fast. As opposed to Slow-Pitch softball.

● Field: A softball field as an infield and an outfield. The infield is where the four bases are located. The outfield begins where the dirt of the infield behind 1st, 2nd and 3rd base ends and the grass begins. The outfield ends when there is a wall and the player can go no further.

● Fielder: Any defensive player. ● Fielder's Choice: This happens when a fielder who catches or handles a fair ground ball and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter runner, he throws to another base in an attempt to put out another runner. The term is also used by scorers to keep track of when the batter / runner takes one or more extra bases when the fielder who handles his safe hit, 5 attempts to put out a preceding runner. This also helps the scorer to keep track of the advance of a runner (other than by stolen base or error) while a fielder is attempting to put out another runner; and also to account for the advance of a runner made solely because the defensive team allows a runner to steal. This is called an undefended steal.

● Fly Ball: A batted ball that is hit into the air. ● Fly Out: This is when a batter hits the ball in the air and it is caught before it touches the ground.

● Force Play: This is a play in which a runner loses his right to be on a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner. Lets look at an example: there is a man on first, one out, and the ball is hit to first baseman who touches the bag and the batter / runner is out. The force is removed at that moment and the runner advancing to second must be tagged to get him out

● Forfeited Game: When one team does not show up to play. Teams are given five minutes after the scheduled start of the game before the game will be called.

● Foul Ball: A foul ball is a ball that has been hit and lands in foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base. Home plate is foul territory.

● Foul Lines: These are the lines that start at home plate and run through first and third base and continue into the outfield until they stop at the outfield fence.

● Foul Territory: This is that part of the playing field outside the first and third base lines extended to the outfield fence and perpendicularly upwards.

● Foul Tip: This happens when a batted ball is tipped sharply backward and goes directly from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher's glove or hand. If this happens while the batter already has two strikes then the batter is out.

● Glove: The leather piece of equipment that ball players wear on their hands to catch the ball with. No kidding. A catchers and first baseman gloves are different than the rest of the teams. The catcher's glove does not have individual places for each finger, but is a mitt. The first baseman may also wear a mitt.

● Grand Slam: A home run when there are 3 men on base, so four runs are scored. ● Ground Ball: This is a batted ball that hits the ground and then rolls on it. ● Ground Out: The batter hits the ball along the ground and an infielder gets the ball and throws it to a baseman before the batter / runner has time to get to a base.

● Ground Rule Double: When a batter hits a ball and it bounces over a wall or goes someplace where a fielder can't get to it. The runner can only go to second base.

● Hit: When the batter is able to hit the ball and then get to a base safely. If there is an error on the ball then the batter is not given a hit.

● Hit and Run: A play on which a runner runs as soon as the pitcher goes into his windup. The batter will try to make contact with the ball, and even if the batter gets out the runner will have been able to advance a base. This is the theory at least. It is often used to stay out of a

6 double play.

● Home Plate: This is a 5-sided piece of rubber that serves as one of the four bases. The width of home plate is used to determine the strike zone. A ball has to travel over home plate in order for it to be called a strike.

● Home Run: A ball that is usually hit over the outfield fence and which is worth one run by itself. RecSports softball does not use fences so a home run is scored when the ball is hit far enough.

● Home Team: This is the team on whose stadium or grounds the game is being played. If the game is played on neutral ground, the home team shall be designated by mutual agreement. This is important because the home team has the advantage of batting last.

● Infield: The area of the field that includes home plate, the pitcher’s mound and first, second and third base.

● Infielder: This is a player who plays a position in the infield. ● Infield Fly Rule: No one really understands the Infield Fly rule, but we will try and explain it as best we can. An Infield Fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are full and there are less than two outs. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. The IMPORTANT part of the rule is that when the umpire declares the rule is in force, the batter is automatically called out. Even if the defensive player misses the ball or drops it the batter is still out. This is to keep the fielder from intentionally dropping the ball and thus possibly forcing a double play on the other team.

● In Flight: This describes a batted, thrown, or pitched ball that has not yet touched the ground or some other object other than a fielder. You hardly ever hear this.

● Inning: An inning is that part of a game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three putouts for each team. Each team's time at bat is a half-inning. There are 7 innings in a normal softball game. The home team bats in the last half of the inning. Bottom of the 1st, Bottom of the 2nd and so on, this gives them an advantage because if they are ahead in the bottom of the 7th then the game is over, or if they are behind or the score is tied and they can get the lead, then the game is over and they win.

● Interference: Offensive interference happens when the team at bat interferes with, obstructs, impedes, or hampers any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners must return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference. In the event the batter runner has not reached first base, all runners must return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch. Defensive interference is an act by a fielder that hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch. Umpire's interference can also happen and occurs when an umpire hinders, impedes or prevents a catcher's throw while he is attempting to prevent a stolen base, or when a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory before passing a fielder. Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball. On any interference the ball is dead.

● K: This is the letter that is used to indicate a strikeout in the official score sheet. You will often see people in the stands hanging up paper K's to show how many batters a pitcher has 7 struck out. A backward "K" means the batter struck out looking. They did not swing at the pitch and it was a strike.

● Lead Off Hitter: This is the batter who is first in the batting order. ● Line Drive: This is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the filed or right to a fielder without touching the ground.

● Live BalL: This is a ball that is in play. ● Obstruction: This happens when a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, obstructs the progress of any runner. If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball". It is up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball or not. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, it is likely that he has obstructed the runner.

● Offense: The offense is the team, or any player on that team, that is at bat. ● Out: When the defensive team puts out an offensive player this means that he was not successful in reaching base. Each team gets three outs during its time at bat during an inning. After they have three out's the team batting goes to the outfield and becomes the defensive team and the now offensive team gets to bat.

● Outfield: The area that is all grass that starts at the edge of the infield and is in-between the first and third base lines. This is where the outfielders play. (See below)

● Outfielder: An outfielder is a fielder who plays in the outfield. There are three outfielders: Left, Center and Right fielders.

● Overslide (or oversliding): When an offensive player slides into a base, other than when advancing from home to first base, or third to home, with such momentum that he loses contact with the base, and then he can be tagged out.

● Pinch Runner: A player who replaces another player and takes over running the bases for him.

● Pitch: A ball thrown by the pitcher to the catcher that the batter tries to hit. ● Pitcher: He is the fielder whose job it is to throw the ball to the catcher. ● Pitcher's Plate: This is a piece of rubber that is on top of the pitcher's mound that the pitcher must stand on before he/she throws a pitch. The pitcher starts their delivery on the pitch with both feet on the Pitchers Plate and they must have one foot on the plate when they release the ball. The rubber itself is 24 inches long (61 cm) and 6 inches wide, (15 cm).

● Pivot Foot: Refers to that part of the pitchers foot that must be in contact with the pitcher's rubber as he throws the pitch.

● Play Ball: The umpire's order to start the game or to resume action following any dead ball.

8 ● Roster: The manager of a softball team must give to the head umpire a list of players who will be starting the game and the positions they will be playing. This is called a roster.

● Run (or score): A run is made by an offensive player who advances from batter to runner and then touches first, second, third and home base in that order.

● Run Batted In (RBI): This is when a batter is able to hit the ball and one of his teammates then scores a run.

● Run Down: This happens when a runner gets caught between bases and is tagged out. ● Runner or Base Runner: A base runner is an offensive player who is advancing toward, or touching, or returning to any base.

● Sacrifice: This is usually a fly ball that allows a runner to advance a base. The batter is out, so he has sacrificed himself.

● Safe: This is a call by the umpire that a runner has reached a base safely. ● Scoring Position: This usually refers to a runner being on second or third base because, with a base hit, it is a good chance that the base runner will score.

● Single: A ball that is hit and the batter is able to get to first base safely. ● Slide: When a player runs toward a base and then slides into it. ● Steal: When a base runner is able to go from one base to another even though the ball is not hit. This is illegal in slow-pitch softball.

● Strike: Again you would think this would be a simple thing, but that is not always the case. A strike is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, when the ball: (a) Is struck or swung at by the batter and is missed (b) Is not struck at, but the ball, any part of it, passed through any part of the strike zone (c) Is fouled off by the batter when he has less than two strikes (d) Is bunted foul (e) Touches the batter as he strikes at it (f) Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone; or (g) Becomes a foul tip.

● Strike Out: When the batter swings at the third pitch and does not hit the pitch. The batter has struck out.

● Strike Zone: The Strike Zone officially is: that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the lower level is a line at the hallow beneath the kneecap. The Strike Zone is supposed to be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball. The home plate umpire has a lot of discretion on calling balls and strikes.

● Substitutions: One player may be replaced by another player. ● Tag: A tag is when a fielder touches a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball with his hand or glove holding the ball.

● Tagging Up: This is when a base runner waits for an outfielder to catch a fly ball and then leaves the base he is standing on to move to the next base. The base runner can't leave the base he is standing on before the outfielder catches the ball. If he leaves the base early then

9 the defensive team can throw the ball back to the base he just left, step on the base and the runner will be called out.

● Tie Game: This is a regulation game that is stopped when each team has the same number of runs.

● Time: This is really a time out, and is a statement by an umpire of a legal interruption of play, during which the ball is dead.

● Touch: To touch a player or umpire is to touch any part of his body, his clothing or his equipment. If a player or coach touches an umpire, during an argument for example, he will be thrown out of the game. No questions asked.

● Triple: When a batter is able to hit the ball and run all the way to third base. ● Triple Play: A triple play is a rare event in a softball game. It is a play by the defense in which three offensive players are put out on the same play.

● Umpire: One of the people in charge of enforcing the rules during a softball game. ● Walk: This is when the pitcher throws four called balls. The batter then gets to go to first base.