Intramural softball
Encyclopedia
Intramural Softball is a variation of softball
played by college
student
s and is designed as not to require superior practice
or skill
. The rules
are more relaxed than regular softball rules as to allow for a noncompetitive environment.
). The reason for this surplus is that although there are 9 players on the field from each team, the pitcher pitches to his or her own team (unlike regular baseball or softball). Therefore, the pitcher would not want to make a play as to force his or her own teammate to become out. The pitcher must throw all pitches underhand. Every pitch is considered a strike, regardless of whether it crosses the strike zone or not. This keeps the game from slowing down due to ball
s, and also compensates for the ease of hitting (due to the teammate pitcher). The extra fielder that the defensive team gains is commonly referred to as the "rover
." The rover's job is to position him or herself between the infield and the outfield to catch all of the "blooper
hits."
All other rules of competitive softball apply.
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
played by college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s and is designed as not to require superior practice
Practice (learning method)
Practice is the act of rehearsing a behavior over and over, or engaging in an activity again and again, for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase "practice makes perfect". Sports teams practice to prepare for actual games. Playing a musical instrument well takes a lot of...
or skill
Skill
A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills...
. The rules
Regulation of sport
The regulation of sport is usually done by a regulatory agency for each sport, resulting in a core of relatively invariant, agreed rules. People responsible for leisure activities often seek recognition and respectability as sports by joining sports federations such as the International Olympic...
are more relaxed than regular softball rules as to allow for a noncompetitive environment.
Differences between regular softball and intramural softball
There are commonly 10 players on the field at once (9 fielders and one pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
). The reason for this surplus is that although there are 9 players on the field from each team, the pitcher pitches to his or her own team (unlike regular baseball or softball). Therefore, the pitcher would not want to make a play as to force his or her own teammate to become out. The pitcher must throw all pitches underhand. Every pitch is considered a strike, regardless of whether it crosses the strike zone or not. This keeps the game from slowing down due to ball
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
s, and also compensates for the ease of hitting (due to the teammate pitcher). The extra fielder that the defensive team gains is commonly referred to as the "rover
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
." The rover's job is to position him or herself between the infield and the outfield to catch all of the "blooper
Blooper
A blooper, also known as an outtake or boner is a short sequence of a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or news report, usually in terms of misspoken words...
hits."
Rules and Regulations
- The field of play has no exact dimensionsDimensionsDimensions is a French project that makes educational movies about mathematics, focusing on spatial geometry. It uses POV-Ray to render some of the animations, and the films are release under a Creative Commons licence....
. The field is as large as the available space. - Games are cancelled by weather only if it is raining or there is thunder and lightning at the time of the game's start.
- Teams that have 6 players or less must forfeit the game.
- No team may play more than 9 players on the field, but 10 players are allowed to bat.
- All hit balls do not have to travel a certain distance, but the batter must have a full swing. A continuous performance of a "swinging bunt" may result in an automatic out. This means that bunting is not allowed.
- Once the ball is returned to the pitcher after a hit, no runner may advance.
- If a throw to the infieldInfieldInfield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
goes over the edge of the playing area, all players on base will advance one base freely. - In the event of a tieTie (draw)To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
, the winner of the game is the next person to score. - If a batted ball hits a pitcher, the batter is out.
All other rules of competitive softball apply.
Traditions
- Each team may or may not have uniformUniformA uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
s, in which case it is legal to play in street clothes. - Athletic cleats are discouraged and/or banned, as most players will not have them and sliding into others could result in injury.
- Gloves: Sometimes, not every player will have a glove. Teams must share gloves if necessary.
- Playoffs: All players capable of growing facial hair let their hair grow freely. They then shave fantastic patterns such as "chops", "handlebars" and "zebra stripes".
- The above rules and traditions may not necessarily be the same at all colleges. These are simply the ones found at Dartmouth College Intramural Sports.