Charity Softball Tournament Rules and Policies
May 2, 2009
Game Rules
- 1. All players must wear athletic shoes or rubber cleats. Metal cleats are not allowed.
- 2. Game times are set. If you do not have a minimum of six players at that time, your team forfeits.
- 3. The team that is batting provides the pitcher. Each batter gets a maximum of two pitches. On the first pitch, play follows normal rules. On the second pitch, the following will result: strike = out; no swing = out; foul ball = out; fair ball = result of play.
- 4. Defensive changes are unlimited provided that the game is not delayed. Once a player leaves the game on defense, they are unavailable for the rest of the game on both offense and defense. If a player is injured or physically disabled, they may leave and return when they are once again able to play.
- 5. Players may take a lead once the pitch is in the air. No stealing!
- 6. Bunting is allowed.
- 7. As the offensive team is pitching, the defense must provide a position player to play the pitching position once the ball is in play. The offensive pitcher is not a member of the defense and will not field balls in play.
- 8. Each team may score up to five runs per inning. After the five runs are scored, that half of the inning is over. There is no run cap in the final inning of a game.
- 9. In the opening rounds, games will last three innings. In the event of the game being tied after three innings, there will be a cap of two extra innings. If after these five innings a winner has not emerged, the game will be deemed a tie. Beginning with the final four, games will last four innings. The championship game will last five innings.
- 10. The player who plays offensive pitcher may also play defense when their team is in the field. The offensive pitcher does not bat, except in the event of a double switch (the pitcher would move into the lineup and no longer pitch, and someone from the bench or in the lineup would pitch and no longer bat).
- 11. "Happy Gilmore" swings, or swings in which a batter takes a running start to the ball, are not allowed and will result in an automatic out.
- 12. If the pitch hits the ground before reaching the batter, it is a dead ball. If it occurs on the second pitch, it is an out.
- 13. Runners may not slide legs-up or with intent to "take out" the defender. Interference will be called and the runner will be out.
- 14. If teams need players, males or females, they should let the softball coordinators know on the day of the tournament. The players will then be assigned to teams at the discretion of the coordinators from teams with excess players from that gender.
- 15. Only softball bats may be used. If someone brings their own bats, they must be available to the opposing team.
- 16.The infield fly rule will be enforced.
Team Rules for Eligibility and Lineups
A total of 10 players are active on a team at a given time, either on offense or defense.
- On offense: Ten batters and one offensive pitcher
- On defense: Defensive pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base, and up to four outfielders
Of these 10 active players, five must be male and five must be female. If these conditions cannot be satisfied, the following alternate combinations are acceptable:
- 5 males / 5 females
- 4 males / 5 females
- 4 males / 4 females
- 3 males / 4 females
- 3 males / 3 females
Your team must play as many people on the field as possible, up to ten. Everyone must be included. If your team has more than ten people who wish to play, everyone should be given an opportunity to do so.
Alumni from your program may play in the tournament. Up to two alumni may be active on the field or in the lineup at the same time. Alumni play will be monitored and this rule will be enforced at each game. Additionally, RAs may play for the team their residents are playing for. Teams may allow non-Scholars residents of their Cambridge Community hall program-floors to play with them. This is at the discretion of each team's faculty. If teams need players, males or females, they should let the softball coordinators know on the day of the tournament. The players will then be assigned to teams at the discretion of the coordinators from teams with excess players from that gender.
You may substitute as many players as you like, but once a player leaves a game, they are unavailable for the remainder of that game only. All players are eligible to play in future rounds. When making substitutions, the gender distribution rules must be followed. If you take out a male, you must send in a male to replace him, and vice versa. When batting, teams must alternate between genders in the batting order. For example, if the leadoff batter is male, the next batter must be female, then male, etc.
If you do not have an even split and have an extra male or female on your team, the leadoff batter will bat only in the first inning in order to preserve the alternating gender rules.
IMPORTANT: Inappropriate actions or comments directed at players (of any team) or umpires will not be tolerated. Each team is responsible for the behavior of its players and spectators, including its faculty and staff. If unacceptable behavior occurs, the offending team will be issued one warning. If inappropriate behavior continues, the team will forfeit the game and be credited with a loss. The umpires and members of Scholars central staff have discretion as to whether behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable. There will be no appeals.
