Softball Rules

 

Softball 2009

League Commissioners

TBA

Registration

Registration Days are Monday -Wednesday, September 7-9, 2009 in the CUB Lobby from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, in BWH room 111 during office hours or online at the Campus Recreation website.

Registration Fee

Each team is required to pay a one-time $10 registration fee. This must be paid in cash or dorm/organization check (no personal checks accepted) during the registration period. The registration fee does not carry over from sport to sport.

Captain's Meeting

The MANDATORY captain's meeting will be held at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 in BWH 100. If a team manager or representative does not attend this meeting, the team will lose their forfeit fee and must repay the entry fee before participating in any games. Make sure someone from your team is there! Come to the meeting prepared with any times/dates that may cause problems for your team to participate.

Divisions of Competition

Men's                           Women's                      Co-Rec                                     

Format

This is a nine player outdoor league. You must have a minimum of seven players to start a game.(Four women on a full team and three women on an eight or seven person team must be on the field at all times in the Co-Rec division.) Exact format of the league will be determined based on the number of teams registered. Games are scheduled in the afternoons (after 2p.m. Sunday and after 4pm Monday through Thursday. The league will run over four weeks plus one week for playoffs. Teams should be prepared to play any day, though we will do our best to honor requests for days/times of play.

Roster Restrictions

Participants are subject to the Intramural sports eligibility rules as stated in the Intramural handbook (page 5), and the Captain's Contract (to be signed by all team captains at mandatory captain's meeting). The following roster restrictions apply:

Playing on more than one team

• An individual may not play on more than one intramural team within the same division (i.e. on two Men's teams, on two Co-Rec teams, or two Women's teams, simultaneously).
• Individuals may play on one Men's and one Co-Rec team, OR one Women's and one Co-Rec team

Varsity Players

• Individuals on the current (2009-10) intercollegiate baseball or softball rosters are ineligible to participate.  

Eligibility and Adding Players

• All players must sign the "Agreement to Participate" form in order to play. If a team is adding a new player (someone whose name is not on the score sheet), that player must first sign the "Agreement to Participate" form before s/he is allowed to play.
• Players must play in at least ONE regular season game in order to be eligible for the playoffs.
• No new players may be added to a roster during the playoffs.

Valid ID Cards

Before anyone may participate, each player must present a GETTYSBURG COLLEGE PICTURE IDENTIFICATION as listed on the score sheet. Intramural Supervisors reserve the right to not allow any player to participate who does not present a valid ID before the game.

Forfeit Fee

In an attempt to discourage teams from not showing to scheduled contests, each team is required to pay a non-refundable $20 forfeit fee if their team forfeits a game (see Intramural Handbook page 4). This must be paid in cash or dorm/organization check (no personal checks accepted) before the team is eligible to participate in their next game. If the team does not pay the forfeit fee, the price for the fee will increase to $40 and the team will be dropped from the league. STUDENT ACCOUNTS WILL BE CHARGED IF NOT PAID.

Forfeits

A team forfeits a game when they are unable to assemble the minimum seven (7) necessary eligible players (or minimum 3 female players in the coed league) at the time the game is scheduled to begin, or if a team attempts to reschedule a game with less than 24 hours notice.

 Game time's/Forfeit time

• You are required to be present and ready to start the game at the scheduled time. A team may choose to wait until their opponent arrives to compete.
• The Intramural Supervisor reserves the right to call a forfeit due to a team's tardiness or inability to assemble the required minimum seven players at game time (or three female players in the coed league).
• If, at the regularly scheduled game time, one team has failed to produce the minimum required number of players, the opposing team will earn a win by Forfeit
• Any attempt to reschedule a game without proper advance notice will result in a loss-by-forfeit for your team, unless appropriate measures can be taken by the Campus Recreation Department to reschedule the game. Proper notice is the following: The request must be made with at least 24-hour notice on weekdays, or by noon on Friday for Sunday games.
• If both teams do not show up for a scheduled game, both teams will receive a loss by forfeit and will be required to pay the forfeit fee. If each team fails to produce at least seven eligible players to begin a game, and has failed to give proper notice (see above paragraph) to reschedule the game, the game will be ruled a "double forfeit" and both teams will be required to pay the forfeit fee.

Rescheduling Games

Teams may not be able to make it to all their scheduled games, due to academic or other commitments. During the season possible reschedule dates will be posted on the Campus Recreation Web site. If your team needs to reschedule, the Campus Recreation Department requires advance notice so as to make appropriate accommodations for officials, supervisors, and facility space. The following reschedule procedure should be used when rescheduling a game: Submit to Campus Recreation (x6322; campusrec@gettysburg.edu), in writing or by phone call, the reason for re-scheduling AT LEAST 24-hours before scheduled game time. NOTE: If the game is on a Sunday, requests for reschedules must be made by Friday at Noon.  If the request is made without 24-hour notice on weekdays, or not by noon on Friday for Sunday games, you will receive a LOSS BY FORFEIT for inadequate notice. Once notification has been made to Campus Recreation, the slot will be made public for any interested teams. If no teams respond the game will be postponed to a later date mutually agreed upon by both captains.

Protests

No protest will be considered which concerns the judgment of an official. To be valid, a protest of a rule interpretation must be verbally registered with an official at the time of the incident. If either captain believes the ruling to be in error, s/he may request that the official consult with the sports supervisor on duty. If either captain believes the supervisor's ruling to be in error, s/he should at that time complete the protest form and continue the game under protest.

Team Jerseys

Each team is recommended to wear color-matching jerseys, but it is not required. 

Safety

1. Proper attire should be worn. No sandals or barefeet allowed.

2. NO METAL CLEATS. Any participant who comes wearing metal cleats will not be allowed to participate. 

3. It is forbidden to wear any object that may cause an injury or give an artificial advantage to the player, including but not limited to jewelry (including tied rope necklaces, earrings, nose rings, etc.), casts, or braces.

4. Taping of exposed jewelry will not be permitted. This is for your safety as well as others.

5. Religious medallions or medical identifications must be removed from chains and taped or sewn under the uniform.

6. Individuals are required to obtain prior approval from the Director for the use of orthopedic devices essential to protect an injury.

7. Players/coaches bleeding or having blood on clothing will be prohibited from participation until appropriate measures have been administered.

8. Any player who refuses to follow these rules may be removed from the playing area.

Weather

If weather or field conditions are questionable, check the department web site or call extension x6336. Games are considered "on" until we say otherwise. 

Rules

The 2009 NIRSA Softball Rules shall govern play of all intramural games.

GENERAL RULES:

1. Rubber cleats (of molded variety) and regular athletic shoes will be permitted. ABSOLUTELY NO METAL SPIKES, BARE FEET OR SANDALS OF ANY TYPE!!!

2. Bats must be regulation softball bats. No baseball bats are allowed.

3. All catchers must wear a facemask.

4. The Campus Recreation Department will provide bats, gloves and catcher's masks.

IMPORTANT RULE CLARIFICATION & MODIFICATIONS:

1. You must have seven players to start the game, this includes a catcher. In case of injury, the team may finish with less than seven players (but must take the automatic out at the missing person at bat).  If you have seven players in a co-recreational game you will be permitted to play with three female players.

2. SLOW PITCH RULES ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 feet from the ground. An illegal pitch will be called by the umpire if the ball does not reach minimum arc, as it should. "Illegal Pitch" = 1 ball. *The batter has the right to swing at a "Illegal Pitch".   After swinging it will not longer be considered a "Illegal Pitch", no matter the result of the swing. The Umpire will determine strikes and balls based on their judgment.

 3. The pitching count will be modified. Two (2) strikes is an out; foul ball is a strike; 4 balls is a walk; Two (2) fouls during the same at bat is an out.

4. Games will be six innings or 50 minutes (whichever comes first).  Once the 50 minute time limit hits, only the current inning will be finished. No new innings will begin after the 50 minute limit. Games called on account of darkness, rain, etc., after 4 complete innings shall stand as full games.

5. Mercy Rule: 20 runs after the 3^rd inning and 15 runs after the 4^th inning

6. NO STEALING: NO LEADING. Field umpires will immediately declare a runner out for leaving the base early. Runner must wait for contact. If player is standing off the base when ball is pitched, runner is immediately declared out as it will be viewed as a lead.

7. NO BUNTING ALLOWED. The batter is immediately declared out and no runner can advance.

8. Infield fly rule in effect. A fair fly ball hit and the play can be made without extraordinary effort by the infielders (pitchers and catchers included) with base runners at first and second or first, second, and third and less than two outs.  Prior to the play the umpires will hold an arm out to the side to alert that this is an infield fly rule situation. The umpire will immediately declare an infield fly as soon as it is apparent, the batter is automatically out, and the runners can advance at their own risk.

9. COURTESY RUNNERS ARE ILLEGAL. If the individual cannot run, they should not bat. The only exception is an occurrence of injury while running to base.

10. SUBSTITUTION IN BATTING ORDER. If someone is taken out of the batting order, they must re-enter at the same batting position after one full rotation.

11. INJURY OR LOSS OF PLAYER. Once in the batting order, if a player leaves the game due to injury and a team is left with less than seven players in the batting order and there is no one to substitute, the team receives an "automatic out" each time the injured player should bat for the remainder of the game.

12. Home team will be decided by a coin toss.

13. Safety on close plays: A runner must try to avoid the fielder or slide on close plays at all bases. If they do not attempt to avoid the fielder or slide, the runner will be automatically out. (This is at the official's discretion, with safety the concern). In addition, Regular interference and obstruction rules will apply.

GROUND RULES:

Captains should consult with official before each game to be sure that each team is aware of all ground rules.

Special Co-Recreational Rules

In Co-Recreational games the batting order must be maintain by the males with a female batting in between.  In theory there are 2 separate orders, the male and the female, each team will alternate which sex hits while at the same time remaining in the respective orders.  A team playing at full capacity (9 players) must have 4 female players.  Teams with only 7 or 8 players can compete with 3 women, but men cannot be substituted to make up numbers.  At no time should there be more than 2 males than females on a team.  Example:   

•  
  • 3 women, 4 men
  • 3 women, 5 men
  • 4 women, 5 men
  • NOT 3 women,  6 men

 (i.e. women can take the place of men on a team, men cannot take the place of women.  Theoretically 9 women, 0 men may makeup the lineup)

Conduct

If a person is ejected, the team has to play short for remainder of game. Any player who has to be removed from a contest or playing area for conduct of an unsportsmanlike nature is automatically ineligible for further competition until reinstated by the Director. Please study the intramural handbook.

Appeal Procedures

Appeals shall be handled by merely asking the supervisor to make a ruling after the play is dead. Subjective judgment calls made by officials cannot be appealed or protested. The supervisor will resolve player eligibility and rule interpretation. It is a strong belief of this department that contests should be won or lost on the field of play, not through technicalities of the rules. The field supervisors should be asked to resolve all disputes immediately.

Medical Procedures

The Campus Recreation Department assumes no responsibility for injuries received during intramural and open recreation activities. Participants are reminded that their participation is completely voluntary. Each year a small number of injuries occur which require hospital treatment, the nature of sports activity and the large number of participants in the Gettysburg College Recreation and Intramural Program make the occurrence of some injuries inevitable. It is strongly recommended that all participants have a physical examination and secure medical health insurance. Any injury or accidents occurring during activities should be reported immediately to on-duty personnel. Participants who are on medication are urged to confidentially inform the Intramural supervisor/trainer of their specific situation.

Sportsmanship Rating

Good sportsmanship is a requirement of all participants. Players and coaches are to conduct themselves properly at all times. The Campus Recreation Department reserves the right to suspend or disqualify individuals or group for unsportsmanlike conduct. Unsportsmanlike actions before, during and/or after a contest will not be tolerated and anyone who tries them will face swift discipline. The team captain assumes full responsibility for the conduct of the team and spectators.

Unsportsmanlike conduct includes actions that are unbecoming to an ethical, fair, honorable individual. It consists of acts of deceit, disrespect or vulgarity and includes taunting. The Campus Recreation Department disapproves of any form of taunting, which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances.

Teams qualifying for the playoff tournament (using W/L record) must maintain above 7.5 rating to be included. In addition, teams must maintain above a 7.5 rating throughout the playoff tournament. Teams dropping below this average will be eliminated from the tournament. All rating will be cumulative.

Rating Criteria

9-10 = Team members participate with excellent sportsmanship within the established rules throughout the contest.

6-8 = Team or individual team members occasionally complain to the official and supervisor about rule interpretation/ the strike zone. Sportsmanship and understanding of the rules is acceptable, but could be better.

3-5= A player or team is incessantly complaining about rule interpretations or strikes and balls.

1-2 = A team or member of the team is kicked out for unsportsmanlike conduct (including ejections).

0 = A team is forced to forfeit due to disciplinary issues.

The Campus Recreation Staff reserves the right to change any grade based on team/player's sportsmanship.