ELIGIBILITY

  1. In order to be eligible to participate in intramural activities, players must be current UMass Lowell students enrolled in one or more credit hours of full time faculty/staff members.
  2. All students must present a valid UMass Lowell I.D. prior to participation in any intramural contest.
  3. Players may be added to the team roster at the beginning of a game if they are not on any other roster or are not on a varsity team in that sport.

EQUIPMENT

  1. Gym shoes or molded rubber cleats are allowed. No metal or screw-in metal cleats will be allowed. ALL PLAYERS MUST WEAR SHOES.
  2. Participants must remove all jewelry prior to competing.
  3. The Office of Campus Recreation will provide bases, bats and balls for each scheduled contest.
  4. Teams may use their own bats provided the bat:
    • Is not more than 34 inches in length and does not exceed 38 ounces.
    • Has a safety grip or cork or tape. (Not smooth plastic tape)
    • Is marked “Official Softball” by manufacturer.
    • Has all other specifications according to the ASA rules.

PLAYERS

  1. A team will consist of ten players.
  2. A team may play a game with as few as eight players.
  3. Varsity baseball or softball players are not eligible to play intramural softball.
  4. All players may bat, but only 10 can play in the field.
  5. Substitutions
    • Captains may substitute players at any time.
    • If a player comes to the game late, they have to bat at the end of the order.
  6. Re-Entry
    • Players can exit and re-enter the game provide they stay in the same spot in the batting order.
    • Violation of re-entry results in the use of an ineligible player. A forfeit shall be declared when the violation is brought to the attention of the umpire by the offended team.

FORFEITS

  1. Forfeit time is ten minutes from the scheduled starting time of the contest.
  2. The game will begin when eight players are present.
  3. In order to claim a forfeit, a team must have the correct number of players present and ready to play.
  4. If neither team is able to field the correct number of players, a double forfeit will be declared.

THE GAME

  1. The choice of “Home” or “Visitor” (first or last bat in the inning) shall be decided by a coin toss.
  2. The team roster and batting order must be listed on the score sheet prior to game time.
  3. A game consists of 7 innings or 50 minutes. No new innings can begin after the 50-minute time limit has expired.
  4. All games which are tied after the last inning or time has expired, will remain a tie.

PLAY

Play shall be governed by current ASA (Amateur Softball Association) Rules except where Intramural Rules may apply.

Pitching

  1. The pitcher shall take a position with both feet firmly on the ground and with at least one foot in contact with and both feet within 24 inches of the pitcher’s plate.
  2. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate until the pitched ball leaves the hand.
  3. The pitcher’s hand must be below their hip when the ball is released.
  4. The ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of at least six feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum of twelve feet.
  5. The ball must cross the plate below the back shoulder and above the front knee of the batter as if he/she were standing even with the plate and standing in a normal stance in order to be a strike.
  6. If a pitched ball hits the plate, it is automatically a ball.
  7. At the beginning of each half inning, or when a pitcher relieves another, not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than five pitches.

Batting

  1. The batter will start with a count of 1-1.
  2. The batter is out and base runners may not advance if:
    • The batter steps across, on, in front of, or behind home plate.
    • The batter enters the batters box with an illegal bat.
    • The batter intentionally attempts a bunt. (It is considered a bunt any time the batter holds the bat over the plate an allows the ball to hit the bat, no matter how the bat was put into position.)
  3. The infield Fly Rule will apply. This rule states that the batter is immediately out when an infield fly ball is hit with base runners on first and second, or first, second, and third bases, with less than two outs.
  4. A foul on the third strike will be an out.

Base Running

  1. Runners cannot lead off or steal bases. The runner cannot leave a base until the pitched ball crosses home plate or is contacted by the batter.
  2. Runners may tag-up on a pop fly.
  3. A runner is out when he is struck with a fairly batted ball in fair territory while off base and before it passes an infielder, excluding the pitcher.
  4. Base runners are responsible for avoiding collisions with fielders anytime the fielder is making a play on the ball (fielding the ball, throwing or catching a thrown ball). If the base runner does not avoid collision they are out and liable to ejection at the officials discretion.
  5. A base runner may not charge with great force into the defensive player hoping to dislodge the ball. The base runner will be called out if the action is flagrant and may be ejected from the game.
  6. Any fielder not making a play on the ball (hit or throw) is liable to ejection from the game if they interfere with a base runner or cause a collision with a base runner, (This includes “run down” situations).

Overthrows

When the ball is in play and is overthrown (beyond the boundary line) awarded bases will be determined by the position of the base runner at the time the ball is thrown. Base runners will be awarded two bases from the last base attained at the time the ball is released.

Protests

  1. Protests may be lodged concerning rules interpretations only. AT NO TIME IS AN OFFICIAL’S JUDGEMENT PROTESTABLE.
  2. Protests must be submitted at the time a question has occurred. A PROTEST WILLNOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER PLAY HAS RESUMED OR A CONTEST COMPLETED.

Appeals

  1. An appeal play is a play on which an umpire cannot make a decision until requested by a captain, coach, or player.
  2. The appeal must be made before the next legal or illegal pitch.
  3. The ball must be returned to the pitcher, he/she indicates to the umpire that they are appealing, then the ball thrown to the appealed base.

GROUND RULES

  1. If a ball rolls into an area which has been designated out of play, the base runner(s) will be awarded two bases from the last base touched at the time the ball entered the out of play area.
  2. Interference
    • A ball, which is touched, interfered by player(s), equipment, official(s) from any other adjacent area, will be called dead at the time and the runner(s) awarded bases as an overthrow situation.
    • A ball, which is not touched or otherwise interfered with, remains in play. (Official’s judgment).
  3. Track
    • If a ball is hit in the air onto the track it is automatically a ground rule double . If it is hit in the air over the fence it is a home-run. If the ball is hit on the ground and rolls onto the track, the baserunner you play “all you can get” the baserunner can advance at their own risk, and the fielder must go and retrieve the ball on the track.
  4. Cones
    • Cones at the 50 yard line separate the two softball fields on the turf. Any ball hit in the air over the cones will be a homerun.
    • Exception to this rule: If the ball is caught within 5 yards of the cone, the batter is out.
    • A ball hit on the ground that rolls past the cones onto the opposing field will result in an automatic ground rule double.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

  1. Unsportsmanlike conduct such as verbal abuse to officials, supervisors, or other players may result in ejections from the contest and possible forfeiture.
  2. Any player ejected from a game will also be suspended for one additional game and must meet with the Director of Campus Recreation before they are allowed to play again.

PLAYOFFS

In order to be eligible for playoffs, teams must:

  1. Have a 3.5 sportsmanship rating or better
  2. Not be removed from league play due to unsportsmanlike conduct.

MISCELLANEOUS

  1. Decisions concerning weather related postponements will be made by the Office of Campus Recreation no later than 3 p.m. each day. Captains/players should call the Intramural Office (X 2308) in order to get the daily rain out information.
  2. If contests are rained out during the course of play, causing cancellation of subsequent games, the supervisor(s) will attempt to contact representatives.
  3. All spectators, players, and equipment (bats and gloves) must stay in the “out of play area” designated by the umpire,
  4. Team captains are responsible for the conduct of their team’s players and spectators.
  5. No alcohol will be allowed on the playing fields.
  6. No Sliding.