SOFTBALL SCOREKEEPERS’ CLINIC

TTU INTRAMURAL SPORTS OFFICE

EMPOLYEE EXPECTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Expectations & Responsibilities› General knowledge of sports rules› Represent the Intramural Program positively as an official, player, and spectator.› Serve as an impartial and fair scorekeeper.› Be respectful to all players and participants.

– In the face of inappropriate language or comments directed at you, be professional.– Alert professional staff or a graduate assistant. We will back you up.

› Ensure a safe environment for all.– Take care of any safety issues or inform professional staff or a graduate assistant.

› Abstain from using tobacco products during Intramural Activities.› Arrive at least fifteen (15) minutes before the start of your shift.› Clothing

– Staff shirt

Even More Expectations & Responsibilities› Inform Leslie if you are playing for a team.› When seeking a trade or drop on W2W, please try to give at least a one

day (24 hours) notice.› Remember that all shifts are subject to approval, and posting your

shift does not guarantee your shift will be reassigned.› If you attempt to pick up a shift, please remember that numerous

factors will be considered, and you may or may not receive that shift.

› If your shift is not traded or assigned to another worker, you are responsible for covering your shift.

› In case of emergencies, contact Leslie or Victor ASAP.

SCOREKEEPER RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities

› Keep track of the batting order› Keep a running score of the game.› Notify the plate umpire when there

is an incorrect batter or any other issue with the scoresheet.

SOFTBALL BASICS

Playing Field

INFIELD

OUTFIELD

FOUL LINEFOUL LINE

Player Equipment› Athletic Clothing

– Clothing should allow freedom of movement.– Please remember to wear appropriate clothing.

› Hats– Any headwear with knots as well as hard plastic or

metal hair control devices are prohibited.

› No Jewelry!– Watches, earrings, rings, and necklaces can result in

injuries to players.– Religious and medical items are allowed. It needs to

be taped to the body or placed inside the shirt or jersey.

Player Equipment› Athletic Shoes

– Shoes must be worn at all times!– No vibrams– Molded rubber cleats, screw-in cleats, and molded

rubber cleats with metal tips are allowed.– No spiked cleats or screw-in metal cleats.

LEGAL!

ILLEGAL!

The Game› Players– A maximum of twelve players may be

added to the batting order.– Seven players are required to start the

game.– A maximum of ten players may take the

field.› When there are ten players, four players

must play the outfield.› The pitcher and catcher positions must be

filled at all times.

The Game: Equipment

› The Intramural Sports Office will provide the ball and balls for each contest.

› Personal bats must be presented for inspection.– We reserve the right to declare any bat illegal.– The owner allow the opposing team the

opportunity to use the bat. If the owner refuses, the bat cannot be used.

› Players in the field must wear gloves.› The catcher must wear a helmet and

facemask.

The Game: Team Areas› Team Dugouts & Supporters– Players

› Players that are no fielding, batting, or coaching are asked to remain in or near their teams dugout.

› A maximum of two coaches (1st Base & 3rd Base) are allowed on the field.

– Supporters› Supporters must remain off the playing field

and outside of the backstop.› Supporters should not kick or violently shake

and grab the fence.

The Game: Timing› Fifty Minute (50:00) Time Limit

– Regular season games may end in a tie.– At the expiration of the fifty-minute time limit,

an inning in progress shall be completed if the home team does not have the lead.

› During the postseason, extra innings shall be played until the score is no longer tied at the conclusion of an inning.

The Game: Scoring

› Home Run Rule– Participants in the IFC and

Men’s Divisions will be allowed five (5) home runs per game. Any home runs in excess of five (5) shall result in an automatic OUT.

› Mercy Rule– Please refer to the table for

related point differentials and number of completed innings.

Point Differential Innings Completed

20 Runs 3 Innings

15 Runs 4 Innings

10 Runs 5 Innings

The Game: In Play & Out of Play› The boundary lines are out of play.› When the ball touches or is

touched by a person or object outside the court boundaries, the ball is dead.

› The ball is inbounds when the ball contacts the bottom, side, or top of the backboard.

› The ball is out of bounds if it rolls over the backboard.

PRE-GAME RESPONSIBILITES

Pre-Game Responsibilities: Timeline› 10:00 Before Game Time:– Check roster and obtain batting order

› Ensure that the roster is the correct one for your game and location

› Collect the lineup card from the team captains– Inform professional staff or graduate assistants

if there are any eligibility or roster issues– Check-in any late or straggling players

› Eagle Card is required!– Answer any questions

DURING THE GAME

Batting› Balls & Strikes

– The batter will a 1-1 (balls-strikes) count.

› Foul Balls– When the batter has two strikes, the batter

can hit one legal foul ball. – A batter will be declared OUT if he or she

hits a second foul ball.

› Bunting & Chopping– Bunting and Chopping are not allowed.– Batters must a full swing at the ball.– Batters that perform a bunt or chop will be

declared OUT.

Lineup for Men’s and Women’s

Games

Lineup for Co-Recreational

Games

Batting Order› The team captain must provide the

batting order to the scorekeeper before the start of the game.

› Players are required to bat in the order listed on the official scoresheet.

› After one full rotation, the batting order is set, and no new players may be added.– The team captain may add up to twelve

players before the order is set.– Exception: A team has less than ten players.

The team may add up to ten players to avoid automatic OUTs.

Batting Order› Substitutions

– Once the batting has been set for a team with at least ten players, additional players may enter the game via the traditional substitution method.

– The team captain needs to notify the scorekeeper regarding any substitutions.

– When a player is replaced, that players may re-enter the game after one full rotation and at the same spot on the batting order.

Traditional Substitution Method› Note that the batting order has been

locked or there are twelve players batting.

› A player may be replaced TWICE during the same game.

› Once a player is replaced twice, that player can no longer participate for the duration of the contest.

› The substitute and re-entering player must always enter at the same spot on the batting order.

Batting Order Example

Player 1 Player 11 Player 1 Player 11 Player 12

Player 2

Player 3

Player 4

Player 5

Player 6

Player 7

Player 8

Player 9

Player 10

CO-RECREATIONALMODIFICATIONS

Team Composition

Please refer to the following table for legal team ratios.

Number of players Male to Female RatioTwelve Players 6:6Eleven Players 6:5 or 5:6

Ten Players 5:5Nine Players 5:4, 4:5, 6:3, 3:6Eight Players 4:4, 5:3, 3:5Seven Players 4:3, 3:4

**You must have at least three males or three females to field a team.**

Offense: Pitching & Batting› Pitching

– Each Team shall provide a pitcher for their team.› Teams shall self-pitch.› The pitcher may bat as normal. It is not required.› When the pitcher has to bat, he or she may be replaced by a

teammate not on base at that time.– Each batter shall receive a maximum of three pitches.

› Illegal pitches shall count as one of the three pitches.– If the batter fails to hit a fair ball after three pitches, the

batter is OUT.– If a fair-batted ball contacts the offensive pitcher, the

batter is OUT.

› Male Batter Restrictions– Male batters must hit with their non-dominant hand.– Male batters that bat with their dominant hand will be

declared OUT.

Offense: Batting Order› Alternating Lineup– The batting order must alternate

between male and female batters. – If a team is playing with an

uneven number of players, players will need to bat more than once throughout the batting order to be able to alternate male and female.

Male #1Female #1

Male #2

Female #2

Male # 3

Female #3

Male #4

Female #1

Male #5

Female #2

Batting order for a team with five males and three females

Offense: Automatic OUTs› Excessive Home Runs

– When the male batters for a team hit five home runs, each subsequent home run will result in an automatic OUT.

› Batting Order– When the team bats out of order, the batter shall be

declared OUT.

› Ejections– When a player is ejected, he or she may be replaced

by an eligible substitute. If there are no eligible substitutes available, an automatic OUT will occur each time the vacant positon is required to bat.

– The eligible substitute must be the same gender as the ejected individual.

Defense› Fielding Positions

– Each team may field all ten positions by rule.– Each team shall provide a defensive pitcher and a catcher. – The defensive catcher should not obstruct the actions of the offensive

pitcher.– No more than five players of each gender may play in the field at a

time. – The pitcher and catcher combination must include a male and female. – There is no restriction on the number of males or females in the infield

or outfield.

› Restriction Line– Cones will designate the outfielder restriction line, separating the

infield from the outfield.– Outfielders must remain behind the line until the ball has been hit. – If an outfielder illegally enters the infield before the ball is hit, the

batting team has the following two options:› Take the result of the play.› The current batter is awarded First Base, and, if applicable, all base runners

will advance by rule.

Defensive Restriction Line

Scoring Modifications› Runner Restrictions

– Once a runner’s foot touches on or past the Commit line, the runner must continue towards the Scoring Plate.

– The runner must use the Scoring Plate. – If the runner attempts to return to 3rd Base, the runner

is automatically OUT, and the ball remains live.

› Catcher Restrictions– After the runner is “committed,” it is a Force OUT

for the catcher.› The catcher may not attempt a Tag OUT. › If a tag is applied, the runner is Safe.

– The catcher must tag or touch the Defensive Plate. – If the catcher obstructs the runner in his/her path to

the Scoring Plate, the runner shall be declared Safe.

Commit Line

Scoring Plate

Defensive Plate

POST-GAME RESPONSIBILITES

Post-Game Responsibilities› After the conclusion of the final

scheduled game:– Verify score and obtain captains’ signatures.– Help gather equipment for storage

› Bats (2)› Softballs & Ball Sleeves › Bases

– Gather trash in dugouts and in spectator areas– Ask professional staff or a graduate assistant

if anything else needs to be completed– Clock out via the iPad or Thumbprint scanner– Go to sleep, stay up & watch TV etc

SPORTSPERSONSHIP SYSTEM

Sportspersonship System: Ratings & CriteriaRating Criteria

5 - Excellent Players fully cooperate with Intramural Sports staff and opposing team members. Spectators support their team in a positive manner. Team captain respectively addresses officials. The team is an exemplary model for other teams.

4 - Good Winning Team of a Forfeited Game. Team members verbally complain about some calls or show some dissent. Their actions may warrant a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct penalty), but they

do not receive a penalty.

3 - Average Both Teams for a Defaulted Game. Team constantly complains to IM staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits no control over his/her team,

spectators, and himself/herself. Their actions result in a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.) Teams that receive a conduct penalty cannot receive higher than a “3” rating. The team that has one ejection or two conduct penalties will not receive higher than a “3” rating.

2 – Below Average Team constantly complains to IM and the opposing team. The team captain exercises no control over anyone. Teams that receive one ejection and one conduct warning or three conduct warnings shall forfeit the contest and receive a

rating of “2.”

1 - Unacceptable A Team Forfeits a Game. The entire team and spectators are non-cooperative. The team captain is combative and unhelpful. The team that receives two ejections or four conduct warnings during a game shall forfeit the game and may forfeit the entire

season.

Rating Criteria

5 - Excellent

Players fully cooperate with Intramural Sports staff and opposing team members. Spectators support their team in a positive manner. Team captain respectively addresses officials. The team is an exemplary model for other teams.

4 - Good

Winning Team of a Forfeited Game. Winning Team for a Defaulted Game. Team members verbally complain about some calls or show some dissent. Their actions may warrant a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct penalty), but they

do not receive a penalty.

3 - Average

Defaulting Team for a Defaulted Game. Team constantly complains to IM staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits no control over his/her team,

spectators, and himself/herself. Their actions result in a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.) Teams that receive a conduct penalty cannot receive higher than a “3” rating. The team that has one ejection or two conduct penalties will not receive higher than a “3” rating.

2 – Below Average

Team constantly complains to IM and the opposing team. The team captain exercises no control over anyone. Teams that receive one ejection and one conduct warning or three conduct warnings shall forfeit the contest and

receive a rating of “2.”

1 - Unacceptable

A Team Forfeits a Game. The entire team and spectators are non-cooperative. The team captain is combative and unhelpful. The team that receives two ejections or four conduct warnings during a game shall forfeit the game and may forfeit the

entire season.

Sportspersonship System: Points of Emphasis› If no player or team technical fouls are accessed, a team

cannot receive lower than a “4.” › Administrative technical fouls do not affect the SR for a

team.› Non-administrative technical fouls:

– A player that receives one flagrant technical foul or two technical fouls is ejected form the contest.

– Any combination of three player and/or team technical fouls will result in forfeiture of the contest.

› A player can be ejected, and the team can still receive a “3.”– Problematic players are often the cause of issues, and their

removal improves the game.

› When a team receives a “2” or lower, the officials need to provide a short explanation on the back of the scoresheet.