Softball Rules

THE TEAM 

9-aside

  • The number of players shall be nine (9) players.

  • The team must include a minimum of three (3) male, three (3) female and all remaining players can be any gender including gender diverse people.

  • Please consider our Default, Forfeit, and Substitute Policy 

  • Substitutes can be used as long as they have created an account and signed the most up to date Urban Rec waiver. During game play, substitutes can be made at any point in the game.

GAME SPECIFICS

GAME TIME 

  • Games will be 1.5 hours in length. Game time is per the posted league schedule.

  • Teams are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to game time to allow for check in and warm up. Teams will be asked to grant their opponents a 10-minute grace period if needed. If the required number of players arrive within the grace period, the game will be played and recorded as an official game.

  • Games run 7 innings. Last inning will be announced if relevant (due to safety and daylight).

COURT BOUNDARIES 

  • Softball diamonds will be marked, and set with bases, including safety bases on 1st, and home plates.

STARTING THE GAME 

Team Captains should meet at the beginning of the game for a coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose if they want to bat, or field first.

SCORING 

In softball whoever scores the most runs wins, but how do you score a run? In order to gain one point or a run, a base runner must round all the bases by stepping on each base and finally crossing home plate. Your team can only score runs when it is your team’s turn to bat. Each team stays up to bat until the fielding team takes out 3 batters.  Each team has a chance to bat and to field.

RULE SPECIFICS

EQUIPMENT

  • Game balls will be provided

  • Urban Rec will provide one heavy bat and one light bat per field.  Participants can bring their own bat, should they choose. Please be sure to return the ball at the end of each night.  

  • Players are to provide their own gloves; Urban Rec does not carry gloves.

  • NO METAL baseball cleats are allowed.

SOFTBALL TERMINOLOGY

  • Grounder: This is when a ball is hit towards the ground.

  • Force Out: This is when one runner must move to the next base because another runner is coming up behind him. If all the bases are claimed and the runner has nowhere to go, that runner is out.

  • Pop fly: This is when the ball is hit very high into the air.

  • On deck: A term used to describe the next batter

  • Strike: When a batter swings at the ball and misses.

  • Runner: A batter becomes a runner once they have hit the ball and start running to base.

  • Home run or Grand slam:  when the batter hits the ball so far that they are able to round all the bases and go to home (if the bases are loaded then your team can get 4 points in one go).

  • Bases Loaded: When there is a runner on every base.

POSITIONS 

When your team is not batting they are fielding. This means that your team is out in the field trying to get the runners out. The following, are the positions for when your team is fielding, exception for the pitcher who pitches to their own team

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BATTING 

The batter tries to score runs by hitting the ball when it is pitched to them. The batter stands inside the batter’s box which is marked on either side of the home plate.  Once the batter hits the ball and starts running they become a runner. A batter can keep hitting the ball until they

  1. Get 3 Strikes: This means that the batter was not able to hit the ball into play three times and therefore they are out. The ball must travel past the pitcher to be considered fair.

  2. Get 3 Balls: This means that the pitcher didn’t throw the ball properly 3 times and thus the batter is out

  3. Batters must take a full swing at the ball. They cannot chop the ball, check swing, drag bunt or bunt.  These types of swings will be given one warning and counted as one pitch, before resulting in an automatic out for the hitter if repeated.

  4. Hit the ball:  This means that the batter has successfully hit the ball and may now run to the bases.

BASE ETIQUETTE 

The fielding team cannot block a base or home plate, but it is the responsibility of the runner to avoid contact with a fielder.

  • NO stealing bases

  • NO sliding - sliding into bases is strictly PROHIBITED and the base will not count

BASE RUNNING

  • When a ball is overthrown and ends up out-of-play/out-of-bounds (including in the outfield of another field), the base runner is allowed the base they are going to plus one base.  NOTE: Runners are not attempting a base if they are not moving when the ball is thrown out of play, and thus they cannot then take a base.

  • If the base runner is hit by a batted ball, the runner is out, and the ball remains live such that fielders can make plays and additional base runners can advance.  If the runner is hit by a batted ball while in foul territory or while standing on the base, it is a dead ball and the runner is not out.  If a base runner is hit by a thrown ball, the runner is NOT out, play continues and the ball remains live.

  • NO leading off

  • NO stealing -> if a player is caught stealing bases, the player will be out.

  • “Tagging up” = When a pop fly is hit and a fielder catches the ball (thus catching the batter out), players on base must “tag up” before running to the next base.  This means that if a runner ran halfway to the next base before realizing the batter was caught out, they must run back, tag the base they were just on, then run to the next base in order for it to count.  If the runner does not tag up, a fielder can then throw the ball to the baseperson where the runner started and catch him out if he does not run back to the base in time.

  • Mercy rule is a maximum of 7 runs to an inning, unless it is the last inning and a team is behind by 10 or more runs. 

THE PITCHER

The pitcher is part of the offensive team (you pitch to your own team). The pitcher CANNOT touch the ball or interfere with play in any way.  If they are hit by a ball, touch the ball or interfere with play, the batter will be declared out and the runners must return to their base.  They must pitch from the line in the middle of the infield between first and third base and halfway between home and second base.  The pitching stripe/mount will be placed at a distance 50 feet from the tip of home plate.

FIELDING

When it is your team’s turn to field, the most important thing to do is not be afraid of the ball and try to catch it. This is your chance to get the runner out. Remember you need 3 outs before your team can bat  again.

GETTING A RUNNER OUT

  • If the ball is hit up into the air and a fielder catches it before it hits the ground then that batter is out (AKA a fly ball)

  • If you gain possession of the ball and throw it to one of the bases before the batter reaches it, then the batter is out (there must be a batter running to base in order to get them out)

  • If you gain possession of the ball and tag the runner who is not on a base, then the runner is out

THE INFIELDERS are not restricted to their location on the field.  Outfielders must stay behind the 160-foot restraining line until the ball is struck

WINNING THE GAME

The team with the most runs at the end of the final innings will win the game.  Tie games are allowed.  Extra innings may be added, but not if conditions warrant stoppage of play (safety, sundown). A draw will be awarded if both teams have an equal amount of goals. The winning team receives 3 points, 1 point each for a drawn game and no points for a loss. Your Fun Points will affect your position on the standings. If two teams are matched on competition points, the team with the higher fun points rating will be favoured up the ladder.  

URBAN REC SPECIFICS

FUN FIRST POLICY 

All Urban Rec leagues, irrespective of skill level, are fun-first. Our Event Hosts facilitate a fun, safe environment for teams. They will acknowledge, coach and make calls according to your level of experience playing the game. Urban Rec leagues expect a certain level of self-officiation, meaning that players are expected to display good sportsmanship to govern their behaviour. Open communication and camaraderie between teams is encouraged.

DISCIPLINE

Urban Rec Event Hosts have the final say on any issue that cannot be self-resolved.

If you are seen to be rude or not playing within the respect of the rules, your Event Host has the right to ask you to sub and take a break. If your Event Host then has to warn you more times then they have the right to ask you to leave the field or court and an assessment will be made if you can return to play. We don’t tolerate idiots, play fair.

INCLUSION

Urban Rec seeks to provide a safe, inclusive and happy environment for our members, staff and participants. Gender diverse, transgender and non-binary participants are welcome to play within our leagues along with any sexuality and persons from any background. Urban Rec has zero tolerance for bullying, discrimination or sexual harassment.