Mac Intramural Softball Rules
(September 2013)
McGill ID Cards
McGill ID cards are required to verify identification prior to each contest.
Forfeits
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Arrive 10 minutes early to allow games to begin on time.
A five (5) minute delay to the start of the game will occur if fewer than 8 players on either team
are on the field.
The amount of time that the start of the game was delayed will be subtracted from the time of
play.
Should a team still have fewer than 8 players following the delay, the offending team will default
the game.
Teams
Teams will consist of 10 players on a side. Teams may start and play a game with a minimum of
8 players. If a team cannot meet the 8-player minimum for any reason, the game will be
declared a forfeit. Defensive team must always have a player in the catcher’s position.
Co-Rec- Teams
As this is a co-recreational league, we encourage equal play for all abilities and genders. There must
always be two genders represented on the field.
The Game
The game will be 4 innings or 55 minutes. No inning may start after 45 minutes have elapsed.
Home team will be determined by a coin flip.
Mercy Rule
If a team is leading by 10 or more runs after 3 innings (4.5 if home team is winning) the game
will be called and the result official.
Batting
The batting team will supply the pitcher. Each batter will get 2 pitches to put the ball in play. If
the batter fails to put the ball into play within the 2-pitch allotment he/she is out. If a batted
ball hits the offensive pitcher; on the first pitch, it is a foul ball- on the second pitch, it is an out.
NO BUNTING, or chopping at the ball. Automatic out! (Umpire’s discretion)
Pitching
Pitches must have a perceptible arc.
Base Running
NO SLIDING! Players may not leave a base until the ball is batted (NO leading off).
When a pop fly is hit, any runners that begin advancing to another base before the ball is
caught are out if the ball is thrown back to the baseman and the baseman tags the base with
his/her foot before the runner makes it back to the base. A runner may tag up however, and
then safely run to the next base. Tagging up means the runner waits on the current base until
after the pop-fly ball is CAUGHT and then runs to the next base. This is the only base stealing
allowed.
1st Base- The defender should use the base that is inside the foul line. The runner should use
the base that lies in foul territory.
Home Plate- All plays at home plate will be force plays. Once a runner passes halfway on the 3rd
baseline, he/she has committed to home plate and is liable to be forced out.
Scoring a run (i.e. passing home plate) shall be done by crossing the home plate line, and not
the home plate itself, in order to avoid contact of players at home plate.
Substitutions
Unlimited subs are allowed, however, a sub must play the defensive half of the inning
immediately preceding following each at bat. Players may only return to the game in the same
position in the batting order that he/she occupied prior to being substituted for.
Overthrows (out of play)
On an overthrow that goes out of play each runner shall be awarded two bases from the point
at which the ball was released by the defender i.e. one extra base from where they were. (ex.
the batter hits a ball to the SS, who throws the ball out of play. The batter-runner is awarded
first and second base.)
Foul Ball
A hit ball on the McEwen softball field of Macdonald Campus is considered foul if the ball is hit
outside of the base lines. If the ball is a grounder (rolling), if it remains in the sand trench that is
the base line it is still in play. As soon as it rolls out of this trench, it is foul.
If the ball is hit beyond the lines created by the two tall light posts, it is considered out-ofbounds and treated as a ball not a foul ball. The batter gets his/her second hit, if occurring on
first hit. If on second hit, the batter is out.
Extra Innings
If a game is tied after 4 innings, or the time limit, it will be declared a tie.
Partial Games
Games that are called early due to weather or any other circumstance will be official if 3 innings
have been completed (2.5 if home team is winning). If the game is in the top of an inning when
it is called it shall revert back to the last complete inning. If it is in the bottom of an inning and
the home team is winning, it will be official. If it is in the bottom of an inning and the home
team is losing, the score will revert back to the last full inning.
Playoffs
Teams will not be allowed to add any new players to their rosters for the playoffs. In order to
be eligible for the playoffs, a player must have participated in at least one regular season
match.
Rescheduling
As a rule, games will not be rescheduled. Games that are cancelled due to inclement weather
will count as wins for both teams involved.
Running Injuries
Should a player be injured DURING THE PRESENT GAME to the extent that they can hit and play
defensively in the field but cannot run, the last struck out player in the given team shall act as
runner for the injured player. The injured player hits and the runner starts from the home plate
line (sand-to-grass line) that is to the direction of 1st base.