Softball Rules

3-Pitch Softball Rules

  • Play shall be governed by current ASA Rules except where special Intramural Rules apply.
  • Game time is forfeit time.
  • Rainouts will not be automatically rescheduled; the IM office will attempt to find a make-up time that fits both teams.

Game Rules

  • A game consists of six (6) innings or fifty minutes from the scheduled start time --whichever comes first. No new innings can begin after the 50 minute time limit has expired. An inning that continues past the 50 minute time limit will be completed. This schedule is for league-play. Amount of innings and time may be adjusted for tournament play.
  • If time runs out, complete the inning in progress and the team with the most runs wins.  If tied when time runs out, the game ends in a tie.
  • The choice of "visitor" and "home "(first or last bat in the inning) shall be decided by a coin toss in all games, including playoff games.
  • A full team is nine (9) players; teams may start and finish with 7.  For co-rec games: Team of 8 or 9 – 4 or more women; Team of 7, 3 or more women. 15 player limit per game.
  • Captains complete the team's batting order on the game sheet; batting stays in that order. Up to 15 players may be in the batting order.  For co-rec games, the batting order alternates by gender. Extra co-rec players may bat as long as the genders match by team; these players do not need to play in the field
  •  If games appear threatened by wet weather or poor field conditions, captains will be blitzed prior to game time on game day.
  • Pitching: Pitch underhanded to your own team.  Pitches must have an arc of 6-12 feet. You have 3 pitches to hit the ball fair, or you're out.  The pitcher does not field; the pitcher must not interfere with fielding. Foul Areas: Include both foul lines and the "foul zone" marked above.
  • Foul zone: Any ball touched by a defensive player in the foul zone, or that stops rolling in the foul zone, or that strikes the pitcher, shall be ruled foul.  The pitcher must make every attempt to avoid all hit and thrown balls.  If the pitcher deliberately attempts to contact a live ball then the batter is out and all runners go back. If the pitcher makes contact in a protective reflex, there will be a replay.
  • No bunting; the ball must clear "the foul zone box" on the field.
  • Overthrows to and plays at first and third base and home plate that are past the fence: the ball is dead and runners advance one base. Balls inside the fence are in play.
  • Base Running: NO LEADING OR STEALING.  The runner cannot leave a base until the batter makes contact.  Runners cannot lead off or steal bases. The runner cannot leave a base until the pitched ball is contacted by the batter. During close plays, the runner must stop, slide or go back to avoid contact with the fielder.
  • Run Rule:  If there is a twelve (12) run lead after three (3) innings or a ten (10) run lead after five (5) innings, the game is over, unless both teams mutually agree to play on.
  • Players must wear athletic shoes; rubber cleats are ok. NO METAL CLEATS OR SCREW-IN CLEATS OF ANY KIND.
  • CAPTAINS: Your captains must fill out the book/sheet, meet with the supervisor for coin toss, and is the ONLY player who can approach the supervisor about calls and game situations.
  • Players and equipment need to remain behind the out of play lines at all times.
  • Substitution: Open substitution in the field is allowed.  A team may substitute players in the field as many times as they want, providing that the batting order stays the same. In co-rec games, substitution is allowed only among the listed batting order.
  • The book: The batting team will keep the book.
  • Teams call their own games, with captains agreeing to the final voice in a call. The final voice shall be the captains, a player assigned to umping or the pitcher.
  • After each game, officials will assign a sportsmanship rating to each team. Ratings are 0-3 with three (3) being given for exemplary conduct. The ratings will be averaged over the course of the regular season games and playoffs. Teams must have an average score of 2.0 to be playoff eligible and remain eligible during playoffs. Teams dropping below 2.0 in the playoffs will be eliminated from the tournament.
  • A pitching screen will be used at all times to protect the pitcher.
    • The pitcher must stay behind the screen until the ball is put in play by the batter.
    • Any batted ball striking the screen is a dead ball foul ball, regardless of the count. If there are two strikesthe batter is out.
    • Any thrown ball striking the screen is a live ball and the result of the play stands