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1. Play consists on 10 players per side. The breakdown is 6 men and 4 women in the field at one time. Teams may play a legal game with 8 players (6 men/2 women). Teams may not play with more than 6 men at one time and no less than 2 women to be considered a legal game. (THERE ARE NO POSITION REQUIREMENTS of any players, i.e. there need not be 2 females in outfield and 2 in the infield).

2. Games will be played on a regulation softball diamond. The pitcher and fielders must stay behind the pitchers mound until the ball is kicked. The catcher or kicker is not allowed to cross home plate until the ball is contacted. The kicker may not kick the ball beyond home plate. If the kicker does contact the ball in front of home plate it will be considered a foul.

3. All batters will start with a one ball, one strike count. The “strike zone” extends to 1 foot on either side of home plate, and 1 foot high. Pitches must be rolled towards home plate. Pitches may not be bounced, only rolled towards the kicker! Pitches that bounce more than one foot above the ground will be considered an illegal pitch, and thus deemed a ball. All kicks must be made by foot and must occur at or behind home plate. Bunting is allowed.

4. If a male is walked, and a female follows him in the batting order, the female has the choice to take a walk or bat. (Exception: ***if the bases are loaded (at the time a male is at-bat) and a male is walked and female follows in the order, that female must bat.) Umps will enforce this rule upon request; however, they will not be responsible for notifying the batter in each walk situation.

5. A batter with two strikes is allowed one foul ball, two fouls with two strikes, the batter is out.

6. All games are seven innings or one hour (warm up time included); the last inning will start 10 - 15 minutes to the hour. The ump will enforce this rule and will make the call at the top of the final inning. Note: Due to differing circumstances in each and every game, some games will finish short on an hour in length, while others might run over the hour mark. Please respect your ump’s call in this matter. He/she must keep all games on time in fairness to teams playing later hours and due to facility permit restrictions.

7. Teams may bat more than ten players; however, these teams must bat the same ratio (3 to 2) of fielding men and women, unless their opponent allows it. If only 2 women are present at game time, each woman must bat twice in the first 10 batters. If a team has less than the minimum required number of players it is up to the opponent and/or umpire as to what is allowable. In situations where additional players wish to bat, the line up must come as close to a 3 to 2 ratio as possible, even if some women need to bat twice in the rotation. ***Men CANNOT bat twice in the lineup to achieve a 3-2 ratio if a team plays with more women than men. Prior to game time, ask your ump for a scoresheet, line ups must be given to the ump for every game.

I.e.

6 men 4 women

7 men 4 women

8 men 5 women (1 out of 4 batting twice if needed)

9 men 6 women (2 out of 4 batting twice if needed)

10 men 6 women (2 out of 4 batting twice if needed)

11 men 7 women (3 out of 4 batting twice if needed)

12 men 8 women (4 out of 4 batting twice if needed)

Etc., etc., etc.

*6 men 2 women (both batting twice) *If playing with the minimum # of people

8. All players in the field must be listed in the batting order. There are no designated hitters allowed. Any attempt at doing so must be brought to the attention of the umpire prior to game time and can only be deemed allowable by the opposing captain. There are no guy-girl batting order rules other than the 3 to 2 ratios. (i.e. You may bat 5 men followed by 4 women or vice-versa)

9. Game mercy rule: 10 runs up after five complete innings.

10. NEW RULE ***Inning run limit rule: There will be a 7 run limit per inning through innings 1-4. (Exception: unlimited runs may be scored if one of the innings 1-4 is declared the final inning of the game.) Unlimited runs may be scored in innings 5, 6, and 7 always.

11. No leadoffs or stealing, runners can leave the base once the ball crosses the plane of the plate or is hit by the batter. If a runner leaves early, the ball is dead and the runner is declared out. If this is the 3rd out of the inning the batter will be first up in the next inning.

12. Players are considered out by one of the following means: (1) Striking out, (2) A fly ball caught by the defense, (3) A throw out at one of the lead bases, (4) The runner being tagged by the ball, (5) Infield fly rule (6) A foul out, or (7) A runner being struck by a thrown ball below the head while attempting to advance or return to a base.

13. Games start on time!!! Teams must be prepared to play.

Forfeit rule: 10 minutes after game time. If one team has less than the minimum number of players (8 total-2 females) at ten past the designated start time, it is up to the staff and opposing team as to what is allowable - this decision will ultimately be made by the staff.

14. Base runner to defensive player contact will be closely watched by the ump. Any excessive contact or collision will result in an “out” and/or ejection. This includes contact with the catcher. Sliding is allowed. Any sliding into a base to break up a double play, or any intentional (in the eyes of the monitor) interference with the defensive player, the runner and the batter will be called out.

15. Hitting a runner with a thrown ball above shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders is considered safe and will be awarded an additional base. Players may be hit anywhere below the shoulders with a thrown ball and will be considered out. If the runner intentionally uses their head to block the ball, in the eyes of the official, will be deemed out.

16. NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED.

Any equipment in question should be brought to the attention of the umpire. The umpire will make all final decisions with regard to equipment discrepancies.

17. A foul kick above the batter’s head may be caught for an out.

18. All thrown balls are deemed out of play when:

· The ball is thrown over the fence

· The ball is thrown beyond the fence

· The ball is thrown beyond the imaginary line extending from the

end of the backstop (if there is no fence).

· This imaginary line applies to overthrows and caught fly foul balls.

· If the ball is overthrown and hits the fence behind the 1st or 3rd base lines, this is NOT considered out of play and the runner may advance, BUT at his/her own risk.

On overthrows out of play, the runner is granted the base he/she is going to (at the point of the throw) plus

· one more. Note: in cases where a base runner runs past first base, he/she must make a clearly aggressive turn towards second base to be granted 2nd and 3rd in overthrow situations.

19. On an infield fly (any ball kicked within the infield with significant arc and deemed an “easy catch”) with less than 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the batter is automatically out and runners can advance, BUT at their own risk.

20. All outfielders must remain behind the chalked and/or coned “outfield line” (if applicable - consult with your ump before your game to determine if this rule is enforced at your particular league) when a female is up to bat. If the “line” is not clearly marked it us up to the umpire’s discretion if an outfielder is too close to the infield. There cannot be more than 7 players on the infield at any one time. Once contact has been made the outfielders may cross the line. If an outfielder crosses the line before contact has been made the female may be awarded first base.

21. In certain facilities a home run rule may apply. (consult with your ump and/or Jacksonville Scene staff person to determine if a rule is in effect at your particular league.)