TRINITY UNIVERSITY
INTRAMURAL RECREATIONAL SPORTS
SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL RULES
NOTE: Intramural softball contests will be governed by the official rules of the Amateur Softball
Association of America (A.S.A.) with the following modifications.
NOTE: Please refer to the Trinity Intramural handbook at http://www.trinity.edu/departments/athletics/IM for
reference to all eligibility rules and regulations in reference to varsity sport student eligibility and any other
questions.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Tennis shoes or rubber-cleated shoes must be worn. Metal cleats are illegal in all leagues. Shoes
deemed to be unsafe by the Intramural Sport Supervisor will also be prohibited.
2. 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.
3. Each member of the team must present Trinity ID before play starts. It is the responsibility of the
captains to make sure all team players know this information before game time.
4. GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME! Teams must be ready to play at scheduled time with a minimum of 8
players. Penalty: Forfeit. Home team is determined by a pre-game coin toss.
GAME RULES
1. Seven innings will constitute an official game, unless time limit, darkness, rain or run rule prevails. 5
innings (4 1/2 if the home team is ahead) is an official game. If a game is postponed while in progress, it
will be resumed at the point from which it was stopped.
2. No new inning will be started after 45 minutes. Game time begins with the coin toss. At the end of the
time limit (upon completion of inning started), the game will be called, unless darkness, rain, or run rule have
been invoked.
3. A team leading by 15+ runs any time or by 10+ runs after three innings (2 ½ innings if the home team is
ahead) or any complete inning thereafter will be declared the winner and the game complete.
4. A team may score a MAXIMUM of 10 runs in one inning, even if they are trailing by more than 10.
5. A team may place a maximum of 11 and minimum of 8 players in the batting order. There are no
restrictions concerning field substitution but, the batting order must remain the same.
6. If a team begins with only 8 players, they may add players at the bottom of the batting order at any time.
They will not be charged an out in 9th and 10th positions.
7. Whenever a team is playing with only nine players, an out will be taken when the 10th position in the
batting order appears.
8. All players in the field (maximum of 10, minimum of 8) must appear in the batting order. Defensive
changes are unlimited provided that the game is not unduly delayed.
9. Any of the starting players may be substituted or replaced and re-entered once, provided players occupy
the original positions whenever in the line-up. The starting player and his substitute may not be in the line-up
at the same time. Non starting players may not re-enter.
10. All players must be dressed in the same or similar uniforms (color accepted).
11. Three home run rule in effect. Any home run exceeding that number will be declared an out.
12. A fair ball that rolls under, bounces over, goes through or gets stuck in a fence is a ground rule double.
13. Helmets must be worn at all times while batting and when a runner in the bases.
BATTING
1. When the batter enters the batter's box he/she will have the count of one ball and one strike. After the
batter has received a count of two strikes, he/she will be declared out on the second foul (the first foul will be
called a "courtesy foul").
2. All foul balls are strikes. If a foul ball results in the third strike, the batter is out. Any foul ball caught in
playable territory remains live.
3. 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.
BASE RUNNING
1. Courtesy runners will be allowed for injured players. All courtesy runners must be the last player to
have made an out. In coed play, the courtesy runner must be of the same gender.
2. 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 base runner may step off the base. If the ball
was not fair, the ball is dead.
3. 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.
4. Any batted ball that strikes a base runner 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.
PITCHING/ STRIKE ZONE
1. Pitcher receives 3 warm-up pitches per inning (no longer than 1 min. to warm up).
2. The pitcher must take a position with one foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate.
3. The pitcher must come to a complete stop with the ball in front of the body and must face the batter with
the front of his/her body
4. Pitches must have an arc of 6 to 12 feet from the ground.
5. If the catcher in any way obstructs the umpire's view, the pitch shall be declared a ball.
6. Violations of 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.
CO-REC RULES
1. Co-Rec teams must have a minimum of seven (7) players to begin. A regulation team is 10 players,
ideally 5 men and 5 women. Teams may play with the following combinations: 5 men/5 women, 5 men/4
women, 4 men/5 women, 4 men/4 women, 4 men/3 women, 3 men/4 women.
2. Defensively, 2 males and 2 females must play in both the infield and the outfield, and a 1 male and 1
female must make up the pitcher/catcher battery. If a team begins a game shorthanded, at least 1 infielder
and 1 outfielder must be male and at least 1 infielder and 1 outfielder must be female. The pitcher/catcher
battery must always be composed of 1 male and 1 female.