Coed 3-Pitch Softball | uOttawa Gee-Gees

CO-ED 3-PITCH SOFTBALL

Distribution of Equipment
1. The intramural program will distribute 15 T-shirts of the same dominant color, which are to be worn during every game, to team captains at the mandatory captains meeting.
2. The captain is responsible for distributing the T-shirts to his team-mates.
3. Softballs, bases, helmets and bats will be supplied. Teams may use a personal bat provided that it is (a) made available to all players of both teams, and (b) placed in plain view with the league-supplied bats prior to the top of the first inning. This will ensure fairness for both teams in that game. The personal bat must also be an official softball bat.
4. Individuals are responsible for providing all other required clothing, equipment; gloves, shoes, socks, shorts, etc. Metal-tipped cleats are not allowed. Any players found to be wearing metal cleats during a game must be removed from their team’s line-up for the rest of that game. Rubber, plastic, or nylon cleats may be worn.
Scoring/Tie Breaking Procedures
1. No game shall end in a tie. If a game is tied when the allotted time expires, the last team to be leading at the end of an inning will be declared the winner. Extra innings may only be played if time permits.
2. Standings are decided according to the team's winning percentage (Games Played / Games Won).
3. If there is a tie in the standings at the end of the regular season, the team with the greatest run differential (Runs For - Runs Against) will finish first.
4. If a tie remains after looking at the run differential, the team who won the head-to-head game between the teams involved will be declared the winner.
5. In the case of a three-way tie, the team with the greatest run differential between only the three teams involved will be declared the winner. The winner of the remaining two teams will then be decided by head-to-head results.
Game Format
1. Games will be up to a maximum of six (6) innings or 75 minutes in length, whichever comes first. No new inning will begin after 65 minutes from the start of the game.
2. Time-permitting, teams will be permitted to take a brief infield before the game. This will be done at the umpire’s discretion. Teams are encouraged to arrive early and warm-up on the sidelines prior to their game.
Rules Governing Play
1. The offensive team will provide its own pitcher.
2. No player will miss a turn at bat. Batting order must be maintained even if/when players sit out a half-inning while their team is on defense.
3. The batter will have a maximum of three pitches in which to hit a fair ball. If a batter fails to hit a fair ball in three pitches, he or she is out and play is dead.
4. Bunting is not allowed. Batter will be out automatically and dead ball is called.
5. A batter is also out when:
  - His or her batted ball is caught in the field of play before it touches the ground.
  - He or she is forced out at any base.
  - He or she is tagged out by the defensive team on any baseline between first base and the commitment line.
  - His or her batted ball is touched (accidentally or not) by the pitcher.
6. The offensive team will remain at bat until 3 batters have been retired or until a maximum of nine offensive players, in listed sequence, have batted in that half-inning. No player may bat more than once in a given inning.
7. The ninth (or last) batter is also out as stated above or if the defensive team relays the batted ball to home plate (a force out) before the ninth (or last) batter crosses the scoring line. In this specific force out case, all runs scored before the force out will count. Offensive team is responsible for announcing any last-batter situation. If this is not announced before the first pitch is delivered to the last batter, the last batter will be called out automatically and the half-inning will end.
8. Only one (1) out-of-the-park home run will be permitted per half inning. All subsequent out of the park home runs in that same half inning will be called a ground rule double. All runners on base at the time of a subsequent home run will advance two (2) bases from the time of the pitch. The only exception to this rule occurs if/when the last batter rule is called for that particular half inning. In this case, the last batter will be permitted to hit an out-of-the-park home run without penalty and all runners on base at the time of the pitch will also score.
9. A base runner may not leave his or her base until the batter has struck the ball. There must be contact; no anticipation – a runner will be called out if he or she steps off the base and the batter (a) swings but cleanly misses the ball or (b) does not swing at the pitch. Base stealing is not permitted.
10. A runner may advance on a fly ball only after he has tagged up. If a defensive player catches a fly ball in the field of play but then carries the ball out-of-play, all base runners will advance one base from the time of the pitch. Players must return to their original base on any unplayable ball. If pitcher interference occurs the batter is out, the play is dead, and base runners return to their original bases.
11. In the event of an injury, the “last out” player on the score sheet may run for the injured player. There is no limit to the number of substitute runners.
12. For safety reasons, base runners may not slide into any base. Sliding will result in an automatic out.
13. There will be a maximum of nine defensive players on the field at any time, of which at least three (3) must be women. A maximum of five may be positioned in the infield (including the catcher) and a maximum of four may be positioned in the outfield.
14. Bases will be 60 feet apart.
15. Orange Safety Bag at First Base: Defensive player may only touch white portion of the base. Offensive player must touch orange portion of the base if there is a play at first. If the offensive player touches white portion of base they are in play and may be tagged out by the defensive player.
16. Home Plate: All plays made at home plate will be a force out. Defensive player cannot tag base runner to make an out. Base runner must have his foot on the ground beyond the scoring line before the defensive player has possession of the ball while touching the plate. If the base runner touches home plate, he is out.
17. Commitment Line: The commitment line is a line drawn 20 feet from the back of the home plate and perpendicular to the third base line. Once the base runner has crossed the commitment line he must continue toward home plate. A base runner cannot be tagged out between the commitment line and home plate. The out must be made at the plate as a force out.
18. Infield Fly Rule: Runners on first and second or bases loaded with less than two out. Batter hits pop fly in fair territory within the infield. Batter is out. Runners may advance at their own risk. Infield is in fair territory and at the umpires’ discretion.
19. Out-of-Play Throw: When ball is overthrown (beyond the out-of-play lines) from the outfield, all runners will be awarded two bases from the base they possessed at the time of the throw by the defensive player. Overthrow from the infield, one base awarded.
20. For last batter situations only: In cases when the ball is thrown out-of-play by the defensive team (e.g.: over the backstop, into the dugout, overthrow at first base) on the inning-ending play, the last batter will be awarded a home run and all base runners at the time of the pitch will also score.
21. Play Becomes Dead: Play will be considered dead when the umpire calls time out or defensive team throws the ball to the pitcher from the infield (dirt area). A pitcher cannot leave the field of play until he has the received the ball from the defensive team and/or the umpire has called time.
22. A team must field at least seven players. A 10 minute grace period is allowed to field at least seven players or the game will be a default loss. In the event of a double default, both teams will be given a loss in the standings. Late players can enter a game at any time and must be placed at the bottom of the line-up.
23. Defensive team is to provide the catcher unless mutually agreed upon by both team captains.
24. Batting order as written on the score sheet must be maintained.
25. ONLY THE CAPTAIN MAY APPROACH THE UMPIRES.
26. ABUSE OF THE OFFICIALS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
27. UMPIRES’ DECISIONS ARE FINAL.
28. ANY PLAYER EJECTED FROM A GAME WILL BE SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY PENDING A MEETING WITH A MEMBER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE. IT IS THE PLAYER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SET UP THIS MEETING. LENGTH OF SUSPENSION WILL BE DETERMINED ONCE THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
Defaults
1. Teams losing by default must pay a $20 performance-bond penalty, which is to be paid at the Montpetit or Sports Complex Client Services Desk before the next scheduled game. If a team fails to follow this, that team will be suspended until further notice. For more information please see the
  
  Performance Bond section in the Intramural Guide.
  1. A default takes place if, after a 10 minute grace period, one of the two teams has fewer than seven (7) eligible players at the diamond or if one or more of the seven (7) players on the court are not wearing the intramural T-shirt.
  2. If the defaulting team’s captain has given due notice three working days before the game to the Coordinator, the team having won by default may use the diamond to practice.
2. In the event of a default, the score that will be given is 7-0 in favor of the team with the appropriate number of players.

Note: The umpire will stay to officiate a friendly game if at least 14 players from either team are present.

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