Softball Rules

I. Governing Rules

ASA Official Softball Rules will apply in all cases except where a special Oregon State University Intramurals rule applies.

II. Eligibility

All participants must be either students registered at Oregon State University or Faculty/Staff/Affiliates with a Recreational Sports Membership. For more information on eligibility, consult the OSU Intramurals Handbook.

III. Uniforms/Equipment

No jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc.) is allowed on the field at any time. Players must remove items immediately or leave the game. Taping over jewelry is not allowed. Appropriate athletic attire is required.
Sunglasses are allowed.
Batting helmets for each player are recommended for your protection.
Players are permitted to wear baseball caps.
Teams must provide their own gloves and bats.
The Intramurals program will provide the game ball. A 12-inch ball will be used in all divisions.
No baseball or ASA-banned bats are allowed. Umpires will have a list with pictures of bats that are deemed illegal by ASA and umpires will have the final say on a bat’s eligibility. Each team is responsible for providing its own bats.
All players must wear shoes. No metal-cleated shoes are allowed. Only molded cleats are allowed with single-soled shoes. No sandals, boots, or non-athletic shoes are permitted.
The Intramurals program will provide bases. A safety bag at first base will be utilized.

IV. The Playing Field

The baselines will be 70 feet. The pitching distance is 50–56 feet. The restraining line is 180 feet. Dead ball territory is outside the fences.
A fair ball landing on, bouncing on, or rolling onto a paved area (equipment pads) is an automatic home run.
If the ball is hit into the other field, the ball will be played as normal as long as the ball or the outfielder is not interfered with by the other game. If interference occurs, the batter is awarded a triple.
No food (including sunflower seeds), gum, pets (unless a service animal), or bikes are allowed at Student Legacy Park. Alcohol and tobacco are also prohibited in accordance with OSU policy.

V. Pregame

Managers must participate in a captain’s meeting five (5) minutes prior to the game.
All participants must bring their ID card to play.

VI. Game Time

The game time listed on the schedule is the official starting time.
A defensive team shall consist of ten (10) players.
You must have seven (7) players on the field ready for play at game time; otherwise a forfeit will be awarded to the opposing team. The pitcher and catcher positions must be filled.
The umpire will keep track of innings, score, and game time.
Teams are responsible for keeping the batting lineup scorebook that will be verified at the end of each half inning by the umpire.

VII. Playing Time

The game will consist of seven (7) innings or a 50-minute time limit, whichever occurs first. A new inning begins immediately after the final out of the previous inning.

Time limit procedures

When the time limit expires in the top half of the inning, the visiting team will complete their turn at bat. If the visiting team is ahead after completing their turn at bat, the home team will take their turn at bat. If the home team is ahead after the visiting team completes their turn at bat, the game is officially over and play is terminated (the home team will not bat).
The game will terminate when the time limit expires during the bottom half of the inning and the home team is ahead. If the home team is behind, they will continue to bat until the inning is over or they take the lead, whereupon the game will terminate.

Substitutions: Substitutes must report to the umpire before entering the game and must bat in the same position each inning.
Tied games: If the game is tied at the end of seven (7) innings or the 50-minute time limit, additional innings will be played until a winner is determined. Each half inning, the last out from the previous inning will start at second (2nd) base.
Mercy rule: A game is complete if a team is leading by 15 runs after three (3) innings or 10 runs after five (5) innings. Complete innings must be played unless the home team scores the total to go ahead by the limit while at bat.
Game over: At the completion of the game, each manager must sign the score sheets.

VIII. Pitching Regulations

The pitcher must remain inside the box when delivering a pitch. Failure to remain in the box will deem the pitch an illegal pitch.
The ball must be delivered at a slow to moderate speed, underhand and below the hip, with a perceptible arc of at least 6 feet, while not exceeding a maximum height of 10 feet. Any pitch under 6 feet or exceeding the 10-foot limit will be called an illegal pitch.
The strike zone is defined as the point where the ball crosses the front of the plate between the batter’s armpit and knees. It does not matter where the batter is standing in the box.
Any pitch that hits the plate is a ball.

IX. Batting Substitutions

Teams may elect either (1) or (2) below for a batting lineup and substitution procedure. A team must state prior to the start of the game what procedure will be used and it cannot be changed during the game.

1. All roster players bat

All players on the roster bat and play defense with 10 players. Free substitutions may occur as long as the batting order stays the same.

2. Only listed batters bat

Play with 10 defensive players and only bat those individuals. Substitutes must check in with the umpire to change the batting lineup.

Reentry rule

Players are allowed to reenter the game once after a substitution. The player must return to their original position in the batting order.

Late-arriving players may be added to the bottom of the lineup.
Batters will start with a one-ball, one-strike count.

Two-strike courtesy foul

When the batter is at two (2) strikes, one courtesy foul on a foul ball is allowed. The second foul will be called a strike, and the batter will be called out.

A batter is out if they enter the batter’s box with an illegal bat or are discovered using an illegal bat while at the plate.
A batter is out if they bunt or chop the ball.
A batter is out if their foot is completely out of the batter’s box when contact is made, whether fair or foul.

X. Base Running

Stealing and leading off are not allowed. Each base runner may leave the base when a pitched ball is hit.
If a thrown ball goes into dead ball territory, each runner is awarded two bases. The award is governed by the position of each runner and the last base the runner touched when the ball left the fielder’s hand.
If a fielder catches the ball and their momentum carries them into dead ball territory, the batter is out and each runner is awarded one base from the last base touched at the time the fielder entered dead ball territory (Catch and Carry Rule).
If the base slides out from under the runner, the call is made before the base slides, not after. The base runner may continue to the next base with liability to be put out.
A runner is out if the runner interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball or interferes with a thrown ball. If this interference, in the judgment of the umpire, is an obvious attempt to break up a double play, the immediate succeeding runner will also be called out.
Runners will be called out if a batted ball hits them unless the infielder could not have made a reasonable play, in the umpire’s opinion.
If a defensive player has the ball and the runner remains on their feet and deliberately crashes into the defensive player, the runner is out. The ball is dead and all other runners return to the last base touched at the time of the collision (Interference Rule).
Courtesy runners are legal provided that the courtesy runner is the batter in the lineup who made the most recent out in the inning or the preceding inning. Only one courtesy runner is allowed for each team. Individuals who need courtesy runners must be identified in the managers meeting prior to the start of the game. Otherwise, additional courtesy runners will only be approved if a player gets injured.

XI. Appeal Play

A play in which an umpire cannot make a decision until requested by a manager, coach, or player. The appeal must be made before the next pitch or before the defensive team has left the field. At the conclusion of the game, an appeal can be made up until the umpire leaves the playing field.

XII. Infield Fly Rule

A fair fly ball, not including a line drive or an attempted bunt, which can be caught by an infielder, pitcher, or catcher with ordinary effort when first and second or first, second, and third bases are occupied with less than two outs will result in the batter being called out.

XIII. Foul Tips

Any foul tip that does not go directly to the ground or directly into the catcher’s glove with any arc may be caught as an out. The ball does not have to go above the head of the batter.

XIV. Inclement Weather

In the case of inclement weather, an official game will consist of four (4) or more innings or a 30-minute time limit. If the 4th inning is started and later in the inning the game is called, the game will not count unless the home team has tied or taken the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
If a game progresses into the fifth or sixth inning and is called due to rain, the game score will be the score at the end of the last complete inning.
If the game has not reached the fourth inning after 30 minutes of play, the game will be considered official when the inning being played is completed.
A game that is called off due to rain or is considered unofficial would not be replayed unless both teams are in contention for a playoff berth.
To check on rainouts, call the Intramurals Rainout Number (541) 737-4048 one hour before game time or check the Sport Programs Instagram: @OSUSportPrograms for accurate updates.

XV. Conduct

The Intramurals program promotes positive sportsmanship at all contests and activities. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes actions which are unbecoming to an ethical, fair, and honorable individual. It consists of acts of deceit, disrespect, or vulgarity and includes taunting.

XVI. Ejections

Any player ejected from a game will be immediately suspended from participating in all Intramurals activities. The ejected player must then make an appointment with the Coordinator of Intramurals and Sport Coordinator to determine the length of suspension and any other sanctions. The following actions will result in ejections from Intramurals:

Improper language
Unsporting conduct
Any excessive physical contact

Co-Rec Modifications

I. Players

Each team will consist of ten (10) players: five (5) men and five (5) women. A minimum of seven (7) players are needed to start a game. A 4-3 ratio of men to women or women to men may be used.
Teams will play with 10 defensive players.
A team’s batting roster can consist of all players or the 10 defensive players. Substitutes must sign in with the umpire to change the batting lineup.
Men, women, and non-binary players may play any position. There are no restrictions on infield or outfield positioning.

II. Restraining Line

The restraining line is 180 feet from home plate. Outfielders must remain behind the line until the ball is hit into play.
A dead ball delay will be administered by the official if players fail to remain behind the restraining line before the ball is hit.
Each runner will be awarded one base from where they started should the defense violate this rule. Should runners exceed one base, they will be advancing at their own risk.
When fielding 10 players, four (4) players must stay behind the restraining line. Three (3) players must stay behind the restraining line when fielding 9 players. Two (2) players must stay behind the restraining line when fielding 8 players.
The restraining line violation will not go into effect for a foul ball.
Unsporting conduct will be given to players who abuse this rule.

III.

All other Intramural sport policies and Softball Rules will apply.

Contact: Sport Programs Office, (541) 737-4083, 111 Dixon Recreation Center
Revised: 5/3/2023