Each player must present a sponsor sheet of 5 sponsors equally no less than $25.00 in pledges.  A player may also participate by pledging $25.00 on their own. No Exceptions.

All participants are responsible for their own medical expenses. Any player unsure of their physical condition should check with their family physician before participating in intramural sports.

1. Team Requirements

Teams will be determined before game day by the St Jude Committee.  All requests for players to be on the same team will be honored if given advance notice. There is no maximum to how many players will be on each team although we will do our best to even out the teams in terms of how many and girls and guys on each team.

2. Equipment

2.1 A regulation softball, bases, batter's helmet and catcher's mask will be provided by the St Jude committee.  All players should bring their own gloves, but may “swap” with other players between innings.

2.2 Athletic shoes must be worn by all participants. Rubber cleats on shoes will be allowed. Screw-in cleats will be allowed as long as the screw is part of the cleat. Metal cleats of any kind, open heel and/or toe shoes are prohibited.

2.3 All jewelry and rubber bands are prohibited and will result in an automatic out at the time of infraction.

2.4 A regulation softball bat (must say official softball on the bat) with handle tape, rubber or leather, is the only legal bat allowed (no baseball bats). If a metal bat is used, it must have a metal knob, as a result of numerous accidents involving the newest technology in softball bats.

If caught using an illegal bat: Player will be asked remove the bat from the playing field.

3. Substitutions

3.1 Due to the amount of players that we will have there will be multiple substitutions each inning.

3.2 Any player can replace any other player without penalty.  Once you are in the batting order your spot does not change.  You leave the playing field for any amount of time and return and still be able to get your at-bat.

4. Length of the Game

4.1 Our game will begin at 9am promptly.  We will have a

4.2 There is no mercy rule.  We will play until 5pm.  If the Away team is up when the clock hits 5:00 the HOME team will get their last at bat.

5. Sportsmanship

5.1 At the umpire’s discretion, a player may be called out or ejected from the game for swinging or throwing the bat in a dangerous manner. All runners must return to their original bases.

5.2 The offensive team is responsible for retrieving all foul balls and home runs.

5.3 Teams must leave the dugout and remove all trash and equipment immediately following their game.

5.4 During the game all equipment must remain in the dugout.

6. Running

6.1 No stealing is allowed. Runners may leave the base when the pitch is hit. If the runner is off the base before the pitch reaches the plate, the runner is out and no pitch is declared by the umpire.

6.2 The base distance is 65 feet.

6.3 When the ball is thrown over the fence or into the dugout, all runners will be awarded two bases, and the award will be governed by the positions of the runners when the ball left the fielder's hand. If two runners are between the same bases, the award is based on the position of the lead runner. The base to which the runner is running has no effect on the award.

6.4 Any runner who deliberately runs into a fielder (waiting to make a tag or a force out) will be called out immediately and each runner will return to the last base occupied at the time of the collision. If the runner's act is flagrant, he/she will be ejected. Other runners involved in the play may be called out at the umpire's discretion.

7.1 Chopping and bunting are not allowed. The batter must take a full swing. Penalty: batter is called out and base runners must return to their original bases.

7.2 The batter has 10 seconds to enter the batter's box. If the batter does not enter the box, the umpire shall call a strike on the batter.

7.3 Once the batter has 2 strikes, he/she is declared out if he/she hits a foul ball. Runners may still tag if a ball is caught in foul territory.

7.4- After hitting a homerun over the fence, the batter does not have to touch any of the bases. We will be following ASA's "hit and sit" rule. All runners on base at the time of the homerun do not have to touch any more bases. The players may simply run off the field if desired.

8. Pitching

8.1 Pitcher must start with one foot on the rubber

8.2 A legal delivery shall be a ball that is delivered to the batter underhand. The pitch shall be what is commonly known as a slow pitch.

8.3 The ball must be pitched with a minimum arc of at least 6 feet from the ground and must not reach a height of more than 12 feet at its highest point from the ground. Penalty: Illegal pitch. The batter has the option to swing at an illegal pitch.

9. Infield Fly Rule

9.1 An infield fly is a fair fly (not including a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort provided there are runners on first and second, or first, second and third with less than 2 outs. The umpire will declare the infield fly rule and the batter is immediately out. Base runners cannot be forced out and may advance at their own risk.

10. Appeal Play

10.1 An appeal play is a play in which an umpire cannot make a decision until requested by a coach or player. The appeal must be made before the next legal or illegal pitch, or before the defensive team has left the field. The defensive team has left the field when the pitcher and all the infielders have left fair territory.

10.2 There are 3 types of appeal plays:

a. missing a base
b. leaving a base on a caught fly ball before the ball is first touched
c. batting out of order

10.3 Once a dead ball has been called, any infielder (including the pitcher and catcher), with or without possession of the ball, may make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base or leaving a base too soon. The plate umpire should acknowledge the appeal, and the administering umpire should make a decision on the play. Base runners cannot leave their bases during the appeal.

11. Fielding

11.1 There will be 10 players on the field at all times.  This includes 4 outfielders.

11.2 Men and women may take the field in any position, the infield or the outfield.

11.3 A maximum of 6 infielders will be permitted for the defensive team during a female at-bat.

12. Game Cancellations - due to weather

12.1 The game may be cancelled at any point due to inclimate weather.

12.2 A rain date has already been scheduled for Sunday August 21st.