GENERAL INFO

1. All participants must meet the eligibility requirements listed in the Intramural Sports Policies and Procedures handbook. Each player must be an FIU student or current FIU Recreation Member. All expired memberships must be updated before the individual may play in any game. Participants must have their Panther ID at every game. Any games in which an ineligible player signs in will be considered a forfeit.
2. All intramural participants must personally sign the Waiver Release and are responsible for their own medical expenses.
3. Teams are responsible for keeping their players and spectators under control. Misconduct of players, coaches, managers or spectators can result in penalty, ejection or forfeiture of the game. Spectators must also remain within the area designated by the IM Sports staff.
4. Alcoholic beverages, smoking, and pets are prohibited from all intramural contests.
5. IM Sports Officials/Supervisors will have absolute authority during the contest and can make decisions on any matter or question not specifically covered in the rules.
6. ASA (American Softball Association) rules will govern play, with Intramural Sports modifications listed below.

EQUIPMENT

1. Any jewelry must be removed before participating. If jewelry is discovered during the game, a warning will be issued to all participants. Any additional violations will result in the offender being called out and all runners being returned to the base that they previously occupied.
2. All players must wear close-toed shoes.
3. Game balls and bats will be provided by IM Sports.

PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES

1. Roster size is limited to 20 players. Players may be added to the roster throughout the regular season. Rosters will be frozen at 5:00 pm the business day before a team’s first playoff game.
2. Each fielding team will consist of six (6) players. One (1) player must be a catcher; the others may play the field however desired.
   1. Co-Rec Rule: There must be an even distribution of men and women on a team.
3. If a player has to leave a game for any reason other than injury, then that spot in the batting order becomes an automatic out. If a player leaves due to injury, no penalty will occur. The departed or injured player who misses his/her spot in the batting order may return to play.
4. One non-player coach will be allowed per team. Only those players on the official roster and dressed to play will be allowed in the dugout or on the field. All others must stay in the spectator areas.
5. Any player who is bleeding or who has blood on their uniform shall be considered injured and will be removed from the game until the appropriate treatment can be administered.

THE GAME

1. A regulation game shall consist of seven (7) innings. A game is official after five (5) innings. If the home team is leading after the top of the fifth inning, then the game is considered official.
2. There will be a 50 minute time limit placed on all games. No NEW inning will be started after the 50th minute. A new inning begins when the final out of the previous inning is recorded.
3. The game will be over if a team is ahead by 15 or more runs after three full innings, or if a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after five full innings.
4. A team may score a maximum of 10 runs in one inning, even if they are trailing by more than 10.
5. If the score is tied at the end of regulation or at the expiration of the time limit, then extra innings will be played until a team wins. The offensive team will begin its at-bat by placing the last person to bat in the previous inning on second base. The game will then continue as normal.

PITCHING/STRIKE ZONE

1. Each team will pitch to themselves. The batter will receive three pitches to put the ball in play. Pitches must be thrown underhand to be legal. There is no height requirement for pitches.
2. The pitcher must take a position with one foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate.
3. The delivery must be a continuous motion and the ball must be released at a moderate speed.
4. The pitcher shall not attempt a quick return of the ball before the batter has taken a balanced hitting position.
5. Violations in any of the above rules shall result in the umpire calling an illegal pitch. The ball remains live. If the batter does not swing, a ball will be called. If the batter swings, then the illegal pitch is ignored and the result of the swing will stand.
6. The offensive pitcher cannot play defense. Any intentional interference by the offensive pitcher will result in the batter being called out. If the batter hits the ball into the pitcher, the batter is out.

BATTING

1. The official batting order is the one that teams turn into the scorekeeper before the game.
   1. Co-Rec Rule: The batting order/line-up must alternate between male and female. If persons of the same gender bat consecutively, the batters’ team will be charged with an automatic out.
2. Teams are allowed one on-deck batter at a time. All other players must be in the dugout, unless directly involved as a batter, runner, or base coach.
3. A batted ball is judged to be foul if it hits the ceiling and then lands in foul territory.
4. Any foul ball caught in playable territory remains live.
5. Bunting is not permitted. All swings must be full swings. If there is a bunt or half-swing, the play is dead immediately and the batter will be declared out.
6. There will be a batter's box.
7. If a batter steps out of the box while putting the ball in play, he/she will be called out. If a batter steps out of the box while swinging a pitch and missing or while hitting the ball foul, his/her pitch count will be increased by a pitch, and he/she will continue the at-bat unless this occurred on the third pitch.
8. Pop fly foul balls must have a perceptible arc to be caught for an out.
9. Any batted ball that contacts the batter shall be declared dead. If the ball contacts the batter in foul territory or in the batter’s area around home plate, the ball will be called foul. If the ball contacts the batter in fair territory, the batter will be declared out and all runners will return to their previously occupied base.
10. The batter may not contact a ball more than once with the bat. If a second contact occurs in foul territory or while the batter is in the batter’s area around home plate, then the ball will be declared dead and a foul ball will be called. If a second contact occurs in fair territory, then the ball will be declared dead, the batter will be called out, and all runners will return to their previously occupied base. If the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls against it in fair territory while there was no intent to interfere with the course of the ball, then the ball remains live and the batter is not declared out.

BASERUNNING

1. Baserunners must run the bases in the proper order.
   1. A courtesy runner may be provided for the pitcher if the person who is pitching safely reaches base. This runner must be the person who made the last out.
2. A run scores each time a runner safely touches first, second, and third base; and home plate in consecutive order. Players attempting to score must touch home plate.
3. There is no stealing. Runners cannot lead off the base. Once the pitched ball has reached the plate, or the batter has swung (making contact or not), the baserunner may step off the base. If the ball was not fair, the ball is dead.
4. ABSOLUTELY NO SLIDING into a base or to catch a ball. If you slide, you will be ejected from the game. If you are on offense, you team will receive an out. If you are on defensive, the batter will be given first base safely, and any runners that are caused to advance will do so.
5. In order to advance safely on a caught fly ball, the runners must tag up when the ball is first touched by a defensive player.
6. If a runner passes or makes contact with a preceding runner, then the ball will remain live he/she will be declared out.
7. Any batted ball that strikes a baserunner is immediately dead. If the contact occurs in foul territory, then the ball is declared foul. If the contact occurs in fair territory, the runner will be declared out, all other runners will be returned to their previously occupied base unless forced to advance, and the batter will be awarded first base. However, if the runner is in contact with a base, if the ball has passed an infielder other than the pitcher or, if in the umpire’s judgment, no infielder has a chance to make a play, the runner will not be declared out.

FIELDING

1. Any fielder may use any type of glove at any position.
2. A fielder is not allowed to block the path of the baserunner if he/she is not in possession of the ball. This is obstruction. A delayed dead ball will be declared, and the runner will be awarded the base that the umpire feels the runner would have reached had the obstruction not occurred. Once the runner has reached that base, he/she is no longer protected by the obstruction rule. Any action concerning other bases runners will stand as normal.
3. The fielder may not initiate any malicious contact with a baserunner. A violation will result in an immediate dead ball. The result of the play will stand, and the fielder will be ejected.
4. A catcher may catch a foul tip for an out only if it goes over the batter's head. Anything lower then that is considered a foul ball.

GROUND RULES

1. The infield fly rule is in effect for all leagues.
2. Ricochet Rule: The ceiling is in play. Balls caught bouncing off the ceiling are outs. After hitting the ceiling, where the ball lands is its designation (fair vs. foul).
3. Homeruns: A ball will be considered a homerun if:
   1. It strikes the wall above the soundproofing without striking the ground first.
   2. It goes over the curtain.
   3. Balls may NOT ricochet off the ceiling for a homerun
4. Ground Rule Double: A ball will be considered a ground rule double if:
   1. It hits the ceiling or a rafter then hits the soundproofing.
   2. It hits the blue ceiling beam above the curtains in fair territory.

APPEALS/PROTESTS

1. Appeals on runners leaving too soon on a caught fly ball or missing a base can be made 2 ways. If the ball has not been called dead (umpire time-out), any fielder with the ball may go to a base or player and ask for a judgment. The ball is live and baserunners may advance during this period. Once time-out has been called, team can make the appeal by asking the umpire for a judgment. The ball is dead and runners cannot advance.
2. If a team wishes to protest a rule misapplication, they must do so before the next pitch, legal or illegal.

CO-REC RULES

1. There must be an even distribution of men and women on a team.
2. The batting order/line-up must alternate between male and female. If persons of the same gender bat consecutively, the batters’ team will be charged with an automatic out.