NCAA Rules Will Govern Play, Except As Modified in This Manual of UCF Rules

1. How Intramural Baseball is Played

NCAA rules will govern play, except as modified in this manual of UCF rules.

1. Each team is allowed to field nine players. Each team is allowed to bat ten, using an Extra Hitter (EH). This is not the Designated Hitter (DH) rule, so all pitchers must bat.A minimum of 8 players must be present to prevent a forfeit. If a team drops below 8 players due to injury or disqualification, they may continue to play. However, if a team drops below8 players due to ejection, the game will be forfeit.

1. All pitchers are limited to working a maximum of two innings per game. Every new pitcher is given eight warm-up pitches to start and then three for the next inning. Any pitcher who has pitched at the professional or collegiate level within the last three years is ineligible to pitch in the UCF intramural program.

1. If a team's catcher becomes a base runner with either one or two outs, then the catcher must be replaced by a pinch runner. The pinch runner will be the first eligible player ahead of the catcher in the batting order.

1. Extra players may be substituted into the line-up one time in any spot in the lineup. The starting player from that spot may then come back into the same spot one time.

II. TIME

1. A game shall consist of either six innings or a one hour and 45 minute time limit. A new inning may not start after the time limit has expired.

1. Regular season games that are tied after the time limit has expired will end in a tie, but if there is still time remaining, extra innings will be played. If a tournament game is tied at the end of the time limit, extra inning will be played until a winner is determined.

III. EQUIPMENT

All catcherequipment, including glove, will be provided at each game. Teams are responsible to provide the remaining equipment, which may be checked out at the Rec Services equipment room prior to the game. Metal Spikes are illegal and not allowed during intramural play. No jewelry may be worn.

1. Definitions

Appeal

The act of a player or coach claiming a violation of the rules by the opposing team or misinterpretation of them by the umpires

Balk

An illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base.

Ball

A pitch or partial delivery that does not enter the strike zone and meets one of five criteria.

Base on Balls

An award of first base granted to a batter who, during the time at bat, receives four pitches outside of the strike zone

Bunt

A legally batted ball, not swung at but intentionally met with the bat and tapped within the infield.

Catch

The catch is not legal until the ball is in the grasp of the fielder's hand or glove while in live ball territory. The release of the ball must be voluntary and intentional. The cap, pocket, or uniform may not be used.

Catcher's box

The area that the catcher must occupy until the pitcher releases the ball

Checked Swing

A checked swing shall be called a strike if the barrel head of the bat crosses the front edge of home plate or the batter's front hip. This does not apply to a bunt attempt when the batter pulls the bat back.

Dead Ball Area

Area marked parallel to both foul lines, any area beyond the fence, and the area between the fence entering the dugouts.

Fair Ball

A batted ball that:

a)Settles in fair territory,

b)Settles on home plate,

c)Is on or over fair territory when bounding toward the outfield,

d)Touches an umpire or fielder in fair territory.

e)Hits the foul pole

Foul Ball

A batted ball that:

a)settles on foul territory,

b)touches the batter while in the batter's box,

c)is on or over foul territory when bounding toward the outfield,

d)touches an umpire or player in foul territory,

e)touches an object in foul territory.

Foul Tip

A batted ball that travels directly from the bat to the catcher's hands and is caught legally by the catcher. It is a strike and the ball is in play.

Illegal Pitch

A pitch delivered to the batter without the pitcher's pivot foot in contact with the rubber or the pitcher making a quick return pitch. With no runners on base it is a ball, otherwise it is a balk.

Infield Fly

A fair fly ball (not including a line drive or bunt) that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second or first, second, and third bases are occupied before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who is positioned in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. The ball is live and runners may advance at their own risk. If a declared infield fly becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as a foul.

Interference

The act of an offensive player, umpire, or non game persons which interferes with, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. The act may be intentional of unintentional.

Strike Zone

The area over home plate from the bottom of the knee caps to directly below the batters armpits when the batter assumes a natural stance.

1. Rules and Penalties

1. Obstruction

Obstruction is an act by a catcher that hinders or prevents the batter from hitting a pitch or an act by a fielder that impedes the progress of a baserunner. The fielder may be in the act of fielding the ball, about to throw the ball, or not in possession of the ball. When obstruction occurs, the umpire will give the delayed dead ball signal.

1. If a play is being made on an obstructed runner, or if the batter is obstructed before he reaches first base, the ball is dead and all runners advance to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgement, had there been no obstruction.

1. If no play is being made on an obstructed runner, play continues.

1. If, in the umpire's judgement, the obstructed runner would not have reached the next base, regardless of the obstruction, and he/she is put out prior to reaching the next base, he shall be returned tot he last base touched at the time of the obstruction.

1. The baserunner advances at his/her own risk and may be put out if he advances beyond the base he would have reached had there been no obstruction.

1. A baserunner obstructed in a rundown will be awarded the base to which he/she was running at the time of the obstruction.

1. Interference

Interference is any act by the offensive player that impedes or confuses a defensive player while attempting to execute a play. When interference is called, the ball is dead and all other runners must return to the last base legally touched.

1. If a runner, in the umpire's judgement, obviously attempts to prevent a double play, that runner and the immediate succeeding runner are both called out.

1. When a baserunner is struck with a fair batted ball while off the base and in fair territory, and before the ball passes an infielder, excluding the pitcher, that runner is called out.

1. When a runner intentionally kicks a ball that an infielder has missed, that runner is called out.

1. When anyone, other than another baserunner, physically assists a baserunner, that runner is called out.

1. When a batter hinders a catcher from fielding the ball, the batter is out.

1. When a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner, if the runner remains on his/her feet and deliberately crashes into the defensive player, the runner is out. (The runner must either slide or give himself/herself up to the tag.)

1. Infield Fly

Infield fly occurs on a fair fly ball that can be caught by an infielder. Runners must occupy first and second, or first, second, and third base with zero or one out. The batter is out, the ball is alive, runners advance at their own risk.

1. Appeal

There are two types of appeal plays:

1. Live ball appeal play

1. The umpire must make an immediate decision.
2. The ball remains in play.
3. Runners may advance at their own risk.

1. Dead ball appeal play

1. The umpire's decision is rendered upon request.
2. The ball must be returned to the infield.
3. Any defensive player may make the request.
4. A "play" does not have to be made.
5. The ball remains dead.
6. Runners may not advance.

There are two types of appeal plays:

1. Batting out of order.
2. Missing a base.

Any additional appeal may be made for batting-out-of-order:

1. If discovered before turn is completed, proper batter resumes count.

1. If discovered after the turn is completed, it must be appealed before the first pitch to the next batter. The batter who should have batted is out. The next batter in order comes to the plate.

1. Overthrow/Dead Ball Area

1. If an overthrow enters dead ball territory, the runners get two bases from where there were at the point of release of the throw.

1. If a fair batted ball enters dead ball territory it is a ground rule double.

1. Fake Tag

A fake tag made by a fielder without the ball is an usportsmanlike act that will not be tolerated. The first time in a game that an umpire notices a fake tag, both teams will be warned. The next instance will result in the ejection of the offending player.

1. Illegal Bat

All legal bats must say "OfficialBat". If a ball is batted with an illegal bat, ball is dead, batter is out.

1. Tag Out

The action of a fielder in touching a base with any part of the body while holding the ball securely and firmly in the hand or glove or touching a runner with the ball or with the glove while holding the ball securely and firmly in that hand or glove.

1. Force Play

A play in which a runner legally loses the right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner.

1. Batter's Box

If the batter's foot is completely out of the box on the ground when the ball is hit, fair or foul, the ball is dead and the batter is out. This would include stepping on the plate, or stepping into fair territory.

1. Batting Out-of-Order

1)If discovered before at-bat is completed, proper batter assumes count.

2)Appeal must be made before the first pitch to the next batter.

Batter who should have batted is out, the next batter in the order comes to the plate.

UMPIRE MECHANICS

2 MAN FUNDEMENTALS

WITH NO RUNNERS ON

PLATE UMPIRE

1. Fair/Foul, Catch/No Catch, and then everything else is the order of precedence on any given play. Balls and Strikes are your number priority,

whether or not you make it as an umpire depends on how well you call balls and strikes. On batted balls you will always decide if the ball was

fair or foul before you make any other decisions. When you have made your decision then give a fair/foul mechanic and then start on the

catch/no catch. Do not make any prejudgments, watch the play in its entirety then check for firm and secure possession. After the dust settles

and you have watched the play in its entirety and you have determined if the fielder had or did not have firm and secure possession then give

the appropriate mechanic.

2. Your fair/foul responsibilities are from home plate to 1st base (NOT INCLUDING 1ST BASE). On the 3rd base side your are responsible for

home plate all the way to the left field foul pole.

3. On groundballs to the infield you bust out to the 45’ line, your main responsibilities are runner’s lane interference and an overthrow to 1st

base. A pulled foot at first base is not your responsibility but if your partner would happen to come to you give him what you have.

4. On clean base hits to the outfield your only responsibility is to follow the direction of the ball about 30’ into fair territory. Stand there

remaining chest to ball until the play is over.

5. On fly balls to the outfield your responsibilities will be all foul territory down the 3rd base side all the way to the CF. The exception will be

when your partner goes out, you will take the runner all the way if necessary. Do not leave the runner until your partner has entered the

immediate area and has acknowledged responsibility for the runner. You have all line drives that take the infielders away from the 1B line.

BASE UMPIRE

1. Your starting position will be hands-on knee set approximately 10-12’ behind the 1st baseman.

2. The biggest key to base umpiring is learning to pause, read the play, and then react, most umpires do not do this properly. Your order of

precedence is fair/foul, catch/no catch, and then anything else that might happen.

3. Your fair/foul responsibilities are from the bag and beyond and all of the area from the RF toward the foul line including foul territory.

Remember the three B’s (ball, base, beyond) or B cubed.

4. On ground balls to the infield you will pause, read, react. Your reaction will be to move toward the bag, find the 90° angle and settle in

between 15-18’ from 1st base. You measure the angle from the point of origin of the throw, remember that there is a built-in 90° on 1st base. Before

setting make sure you have a true throw and then set. Be ready to take a read step on the swipe tag or pulled foot. If you are in correct position

you will see the pulled foot and swipe tag and you should almost never go to the plate man for help on this (Do your job and he won’t have to).

5. On clean hits to the outfield you pause, read, and react, come in and pivot. When the ball is hit your eyes are on the ball and glancing at the

runner. When you read the runner back to 1st gain some distance back to the 45’ line for a better angle incase of a throw back behind the runner.

6. Trouble balls to RF – This situation is especially when pause, read, and react is key. With no runners on you are responsible for any batted

ball that might present a problem to the CF coming in, going back, converging with another fielder or a possible trap and the RF coming, going

back, converging with other fielders, in foul territory, or a possible trap. You will notify your partner your going with the verbal communication

"I’m going out," then go out and get an angle on the play, be set for any catch/no catch situations. If the ball goes to the fence stay out there

with it until its on its way back to the infield. On plays when a batted ball is not caught, as soon as the ball is on its way to the infield bust your

butt to get back and cover home plate. If the runner pulls up and stops at a base get in there and pick him up, let your partner know that you

have the runner when you get close enough to make a call if needed. The proper communication is "Bill, I’ve got the runner," its that simple.

You have catch/no catch responsibility for all lines drives that take the 2B, and 1B toward the 1B foul line or straight back these are trouble balls

also.

WITH A RUNNER ON 1ST

PLATE UMPIRE

1. With a runner on first, there are some potential situations you must be aware of: a pick off attempt, a steal of second, a rundown, and a batted

ball.

2. On a pick off attempt at first you have overthrow responsibility, the only thing you need to do on this play is take one step toward the 1st

base dugout and stay chest to ball. Incase of an overthrow get as close as the play will allow you to get then stay with it. When the throw

comes from the catcher the same thing applies, except you must be aware of possible batter interference.

3. On a steal attempt, you must be aware of possible batter interference. Do not forget to call the pitch when the runner steals. Do not get in the

catcher’s way and remember to stay with your rhythm and step back and relax when you have called the pitch.

4. If a rundown situation develops bust your butt and ¾ down the line usually toward 1st wait on the appropriate time to enter the rundown.

Basically after getting down the line you wait until the runner is moving away from you and bust into position. When and only when you are in

position tell your partner that you have that end. The proper communication is "Bill, I’ve got this end." Your responsibility is split with the base

umpire half-and-half, but always remember that there is a gray area where you have to work with your partner and decide who is responsible for

the tag. This is done by eye contact with your partner and someone stepping up and telling the other that they have it. The proper

communication is "Bill, I got it" while tapping yourself on the chest.