Student Activities
Sports - Softball
Usual Locations:
Play-offs: The top four eligible finishers from this league will advance to a pre-determined playoff bracket.
Conduct and Disqualification : Good sports conduct is essential in Intramural Sports contests. Therefore, if a player or players are sent off from a game, they will receive a minimum, automatic one game suspension. The suspension of that player becomes effective immediately following the ejection and carries through the remainder of that game, and the following game. While on suspension, the player is not allowed to participate in any Intramural Sports-sponsored sport. In order to be reinstated for play, the player(s) must meet with the Director of Intramural Sports. Meetings take place at the availability of Intramural Sports Staff and must be scheduled appointments. Call (972) 825-4747 to schedule an appointment. Failure to meet with the above individual will maintain the suspension in full effect. In some cases where appropriate, the Intramural Sports Director may suspend the player(s) for a longer period. In extreme situations, the matter will be referred to the Office of Student Services.
- Number of Players: Ten (10) players are allowed on the field at any given time. A minimum of eight (8) players is needed to start and finish a legal game. All participants must sign their team's Release Agreement before participating in their first game.
- Roster Limit: Each team is allowed a maximum of eighteen (18) players on their Team Roster.
- Participant Attire: All participants must wear athletic-type shoes appropriate to the playing surface. No metal cleats, bare feet, street shoes, sandals, etc. are allowed. No cleats are allowed on any grass playing surface.
- Equipment: Intramural Sports will provide the game ball. Teams must bring their own bats and balls to warm-up with. Only bats stamped "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" will be legal. Catchers are strongly encouraged to wear a facemask.
- Length of Game: Game time will be fifty minutes. No new inning will begin after the completion of the fiftieth minute of play, however, any inning started before the fiftieth minute will be completed regardless of time. The game shall be 7 innings or end after 50 minutes of play, whichever occurs first.
- Ties: Any game that is tied after 7 innings or after an inning is completed after fifty minutes have been played, shall result in a tie. During the playoffs, extra innings shall be played until the tie is resolved after the completion of an inning.
- Mercy Rule: A game will end if a team trails by 10 or more runs if:
a.) The trailing team has had at least four innings at bat and as many innings at bat as the team in the lead.
b.) An inning is completed after the fortieth minute of play.
- Substitutions: Free substitutions are allowed but each substitute must play at least one half inning and bat at least once. All participants must bat in the order. Participants arriving late must be placed at the bottom of the lineup. Courtesy runners are not allowed. If a runner is injured, he or she may be replaced with the last male or female out (as the situation dictates) but may not return to the line-up.
If an injured player (or player who leaves the game for whatever reason) cannot continue to play and there is no substitute available to meet the minimum Number of Players Rule (i.e. eight players), the game shall be over.
In addition, if an injured player or player who leaves the game drops a team to less than 10 players (but they have at least eight players remaining), the game may continue but an out shall be recorded each time that player(s)' spot comes up in the line-up. If ten (10) or more eligible batters still remain after this action, no out is recorded when that player(s)' spot comes up in the line-up. - Count: Each batter will start with 1-1 count. With a two-strike count, each batter is allowed only one foul ball. The second foul ball will result in an out.
- Strike Zone : The strike zone is the area over home plate and between the batter's back shoulder and front knee when the batter assumes a natural batting stance. If the pitch is a legal pitch (between 6' and 12' arc) and passes through the strike zone, it is a strike. If the pitch lands on the plate it is an automatic ball unless swung at. The plate Umpire shall rule upon illegal pitches.
- Arguing Balls and Strikes: Participants may not argue balls and strikes. Any arguing the judgement of balls and strikes constitutes a team warning. A repeat offense by the same team results in ejection of that team member.
- Batter's Box: A batter is out if he/she steps out of the batter's box and makes contact with a pitched ball. One or both feet must be entirely outside the box and in contact with the ground to be considered out. If the batter has any part of both feet inside the box or on the line, the batter is considered to be in the box.
- Baserunning: No runner shall leave his or her base before the batter makes contact with the pitch. There will be no warning given by the umpires. If a runner is off the base illegally, he/she shall be declared out.
In addition, when a defensive player has possession of the ball, runners must attempt to avoid contact. Penalty: Runner is out, ball is dead, and all other runners return to the last base touched at time of collision. If the contact is malicious, the runner shall also be ejected. - Force Plays: All plays at home plate are force plays. The defensive player may touch the plate or the runner to record the out. There is a perpendicular line ("commit" line) crossing the 3rd base line approximately 20 feet from home plate - any runner touching or crossing this line with at least one foot is committed to home plate and this creates a force situation at home.
- Foul Balls: Each batter shall be allowed one courtesy foul ball after two strikes. Each team shall be allowed to hit two foul balls out of play per half inning. Every subsequent foul ball hit out of play shall be an out.