3. Recreational Sports and Services
Eligibility
» SIU Students
– On-Campus
• Undergraduate and graduate students must be currently enrolled for at least one
credit hour to be eligible for participation.
– Off-Campus/Online
• Undergraduate and graduate students must purchase an “inactive student”
membership to participate in intramural sports.
» SIU Faculty/Staff
– SIUC faculty and staff who have purchased a semester or annual RSS membership may
participate in intramural sports.
» Non-SIU Affiliated Individuals
– RSS members must purchase a semester or annual membership to participate in
intramural sports.
– RSS members under eighteen years of age cannot participate in SIU intramural sports.
– Guests of RSS members or SIU students may not participate in intramural sports.
4. Recreational Sports and Services
Eligibility
» Professional and Semi-Professional Athletes
– Any individual that has received payment for trying out professionally or semi-
professionally or for participating professionally or semi-professionally is ineligible for
registering for his or her sport or related sport for a period of three calendar years (1,095
days) after the end of his or her career.
– Professional and semi-professional athletes may participate in all non-related sports
without a waiting period.
» Varsity Athletes
– Any individual that appears on the roster for a collegiate (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, NCCAA,
USCAA) varsity team is ineligible for participation in his or her sport or related sports for
one calendar year (365 days) from the end of their affiliation with the collegiate team.
– Current and former varsity athletes may participate in non-related sports without a waiting
period.
» Sport Club Athletes
– A sport club athlete is defined as any student that appears or appeared on the roster for a
RSS recognized sport club during the current calendar year.
– For the following sports, no more than two (2) current sport club members may appear on
the roster:
• Softball, Basketball, Soccer, and Volleyball
5. Recreational Sports and Services
Captain Roles
» Reviewing the SIUC Intramural Sport
Handbook
» Serve as the primary point of contact
between the team and Competitive Sports
staff
» Completing the registration process for the
team
» Provide accurate team availability for pool
play and postseason of each sport
» Completing all preseason requirements (e.g.
Captain’s Meeting, Captain’s Quiz, etc.)
» Checking the eligibility of all team members
6. Recreational Sports and Services
Captain Roles
» Verifying that all team members have signed
in for the contest
» Reviewing the relevant sport rules
» Ensuring that team members understand and
comply with Competitive Sports policies and
procedures
» Notifying his/her team members of the
date, time, and place of each scheduled
contest
» Bear responsibility for the behavior of the
team and anyone affiliated with the team
» Check the accuracy of the contest results on
the SIUC IMLEAGUES web site
8. Recreational Sports and Services
Team Availability
» Please provide your
availability.
» Please do not change your
availability after the
schedule has been
published.
» You will need to indicate
both your (1) Regular Season
& (2) Post-season
availability on IMLEAGUES.
9. Recreational Sports and Services
Free Agents
» Students that are unable to form
or join a team sign up on
IMLEAGUES as free argents.
» As the captain, you can view and
recruit available players to your
team.
» You may find the perfect player
for your team.
» You have some options when
trying to land the perfect player
for you team.
10. Recreational Sports and Services
Starting from the Team home page, select
Available Free Agents under the “Team
Options” dropdown menu.
11. Recreational Sports and Services
Browse the list of available free agents, and contact or add the
chosen player.
We suggest contacting the player to judge team and personality
compatibility.
12. Recreational Sports and Services
Policies and Procedures
» SIU Card Policy
– All participants should be
prepared to present their SIU
Cards when signing in for each
contest.
– If a participant cannot present his
or her SIU Card when asked, he or
she cannot play.
– If a participant attempts to sign
in using the SIU Card of another
individual, the SIU Card will be
confiscated, and the participant
will not be allowed to play.
13. Recreational Sports and Services
Policies and Procedures
» Proper Attire
– Athletic clothing and shoes are required for participation.
• Players cannot play without wearing a shirt, pants, and
appropriate shoes.
– All attire and equipment is subject to the approval of
Competitive Sports staff.
• Any clothing or equipment that is deemed unsafe or
illegal must be removed prior to competition.
• Competitive Sports staff reserves the right to ask
participants to remove or conceal clothing that, in the
opinion of the Competitive Sports staff, displays
offensive or demeaning language or imagery.
14. Recreational Sports and Services
Policies and Procedures
» Pets
– Pets are not allowed on the soccer fields.
– Owners are solely responsible for the
behavior and actions of their pets.
– Pets must always be leashed, and all pet
droppings must be picked up immediately.
» Rules
– All SIU Intramural sport rules are based on
rule publications of the National
Federation of High Schools (NFHS) and
professional associations.
– When appropriate, rules are modified
and/or created to level the playing field
and foster a safe and enjoyable experience
for all participants.
15. Recreational Sports and Services
Defaults & Forfeits
» Defaults
– An unplayed game without penalty
to either team.
– To receive a default, the team
captain must notify (by e-mail or
in person) the Competitive Sports
Department by 4:00 PM on the day
of the contest.
» Forfeits
– Three types
• Failing to field a team without
contacting the SIU
Competitive Sports Office
• Player Ineligibility
• Poor Sportspersonship
16. Recreational Sports and Services
Grace Periods
» Initial Grace Period
– If a team has one player present at
game time, they receive a grace
period of five minutes.
» Optional Grace Period
– Once the initial grace period ends,
the opposing team captain has two
options:
• Wait an additional five minutes
for the opposing team to show up
• Accept a win by forfeit
– Once a decision has been made, the
captain cannot change their mind.
17. Recreational Sports and Services
Protests
» Player Eligibility
– The team captain should file a
formal protest with the
Competitive Sports supervisor.
– The supervisor shall meet
immediately with both captains to
discuss the eligibility of the
player.
– The supervisor may make an
immediate ruling or ask teams to
complete the game under protest.
18. Recreational Sports and Services
Protests
» Rule Misinterpretation or Misapplication
– During a game, participants may protest the misinterpretation or
misapplication of a rule.
– After the conclusion of the play and before the start of the next
sequence (e.g. serve), the team captain should call a conference with
the opposing captain to resolve the issue.
– If an agreement cannot be reached, the Competitive Sports supervisor
shall resolve the matter.
» If either team continues to disagree, the supervisor shall complete the
intramural sport protest form, and the game shall continue under protest.
» A Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant or the Coordinator of Competitive
Sports shall contact both teams with a decision.
19. Recreational Sports and Services
Sportspersonship Rating System
» The sportspersonship rating system serves to assess a team’s
attitude and behavior throughout the regular season and
postseason.
» Actions and behaviors before, during, and after the contest are
included in a team’s sportspersonship score.
» The team captain is responsible for educating his/her team
and spectators about the sportspersonship system.
20. Recreational Sports and Services
Sportspersonship System: Ratings & Criteria
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.
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 Fails to Show for a Contest.
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.
21. Recreational Sports and Services
Postseason Eligibility
» The league will consist of a pool play section
followed by a postseason tournament.
» Team records, results, and overall
sportsmanship rating will be considered final
at noon on the day following the end of the
regular season.
» Team captains should notify the Competitive
Sports Office of any errors before the
deadline.
» Please note that postseason eligibility and
inclusion is subject to change due to
unforeseen circumstances (.g. weather, time
constraints etc.).
22. Recreational Sports and Services
Postseason Eligibility
» To be eligible for postseason play, a team must have:
– No more than one forfeit
– An average sportspersonship rating of 3 or better
» The following criteria will determine seeding:
1. Sportspersonship Rating
2. Win/Loss Record
3. Head-to-Head Match Up
4. Point Differential
5. Coin Toss
24. Recreational Sports and Services
Player Equipment
» Athletic Clothing
– Clothing should allow freedom of
movement.
– Please remember to wear appropriate
clothing.
» Hats
– Any headwear with knots, hard plastic or
metal hair control devices, and plastic
visors are prohibited.
» No Jewelry!
– Watches, earrings, rings, and necklaces
can result in injuries to players.
– Religious and medical items are not
considered jewelry. These items should be
taped to the body or placed inside the
shirt or jersey.
25. Recreational Sports and Services
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!
26. Recreational Sports and Services
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.
27. Recreational Sports and Services
The Game: Equipment
» The Competitive Sports
Department will provide the balls
and bat for each contest.
» Personal bats must be presented
for inspection.
– We reserve the right to
declare any bat illegal.
» Players in the field must wear
gloves.
29. Recreational Sports and Services
The Game: Team Areas
» Team Dugouts & Supporters
– Players
• Players that are not 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.
30. Recreational Sports and Services
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.
31. Recreational Sports and Services
The Game: Scoring
» Inning Run Limit
– Each team is limited
to ten (10) runs per
inning.
» 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
32. Recreational Sports and Services
The Game: Scoring
» The home team is
REQUIRED to provide a
scorekeeper for each
contest.
» The scorekeeper shall
remain seated behind the
backstop for the duration
of the game.
34. Recreational Sports and Services
Live Ball
» The ball is live in the following
situations:
– The ball has left the pitcher’s hand
– The ball is in playable territory
– Ground ball that passes 1st or 3rd
Base in fair territory
– Ground ball that hits or bounces
over 1st or 3rd Base
– Thrown ball hits an offensive player
unintentionally.
– Thrown ball or fair ball hits an
umpire.
– Thrown ball hits a coach.
35. Recreational Sports and Services
Infield Fly Rule
» An infield fly occurs when all of the following
conditions are satisfied:
– A fair fly ball (not including a line drive)
which can be caught by an infielder with
ordinary effort.
– Less than two OUTs.
– Runners on 1st and 2nd base or there are
runners on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bases (Bases
loaded).
» When all three conditions are met, the umpire
will declare an infield fly and rule the batter out
immediately.
» The successful or unsuccessful catch attempt by
an infield does not factor into the umpire’s
decision.
» If the fly ball is caught by the infielder, the base
runners must tag up.
36. Recreational Sports and Services
Dead Ball: Foul Ball
» Foul Ball
• Batted ball that passes 1st or 3rd
base in foul territory
• The ball is touched on or over foul
territory between 1st Base & Home
Plate or 3rd Base and Home Plate
• The ball contacts a person, umpire
or object on or over foul territory.
• The ball contacts the batter or bat
twice while the batter is still
located in the batter’s box.
• A tipped pitch less than six feet
above the ground is caught by the
catcher.
– Result
• Less than two Strikes: Strike
• Two Strikes + two consecutive Foul
Balls: The batter is OUT.
37. Recreational Sports and Services
Dead Ball: Out of Play
» Defense throws the ball into an Out
of Play area.
– The dugouts are considered out
of play.
– A fielder cannot intentionally
throw the ball into an Out of Play
area to stop runners.
» A fielder enters an Out of Play area
while attempting to play a batted or
retrieve an errant throw.
» A fair ball ricochets off a defender or
runner on base into an Out of Play
area.
» When the ball legally becomes Out of
Play, each runner will be awarded
the closest base plus an additional
base (1+1).
38. Recreational Sports and Services
Dead Ball: Other Situations
» The ball is dead in the following
situations:
– The batter steps outside of
the batter’s box before
attempting to hit the ball.
• The batter is OUT.
– The batter steps on Home
Plate while making contact.
• The batter is OUT.
– Runner leads the base before
the ball is contacted.
• The runner is OUT.
40. Recreational Sports and Services
Pitching
» Preliminary
– The pitcher must start with both
feet on the ground and one foot or
both feet touching the pitching
rubber.
– As the pitcher releases the ball in
an underhand motion, his or her
foot or feet must remain in
contact with or over the pitching
rubber.
– Walking pitches are illegal.
» Legal Delivery
– After beginning the pitching
motion, the pitch must be delivered
immediately and with a continuous
motion.
– The pitcher cannot deliver a pitch
between the legs or behind the
back.
41. Recreational Sports and Services
Pitching: Illegal Pitches
» Illegal Pitches
– Higher than twelve (12) feet
– Lower than six (6) feet
– Fake or non-continuous pitch
– Walking start
– One foot does not remain in contact with the
pitching rubber
» When the pitch does not fall within the height
range (six to twelve feet), the plate umpire will
declare the pitch illegal.
– The batter may choose to swing or not swing
• No Swing: Ball
• Swing: The batter take the result of the
play.
6
FT
12
FT
43. Recreational Sports and Services
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.
– With two strikes, a batter will be
declared OUT if he or she hits two
consecutive foul balls.
» Bunting & Chopping
– Bunting and Chopping are illegal.
– Batters must take a full swing.
– Batters that perform a bunt or chop
will be declared OUT.
44. Recreational Sports and Services
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.
45. Recreational Sports and Services
Batting Order
» Substitutions
– Once the batting order 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.
46. Recreational Sports and Services
Traditional Substitution Method
» Note that the batting order has been
locked and twelve players want to
bat.
» 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 1
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
Player 5
Player 6
Player 7
Player 8
Player 9
Player 10
48. Recreational Sports and Services
Base Running
» The runner must advance or return to a base in
legal order.
– Advancing: 1st Base 2nd Base 3rd Base
Home Plate
– The base runner may only return to the last
Base touched.
» A player is entitled to a Base until:
– He or she legally touches the next base in
the sequence.
– A batter becomes a base runner, and the
player is forced to advance.
» The runner must remain within three (3) feet of
the base line when advancing or returning to a
Base.
– EXCEPTION: The runner is avoiding contact
with a fielder without the ball.
– EXCEPTION: Runner is rounding 1st Base or
3rd Base (Buttonhook path)
49. Recreational Sports and Services
Base Running
» Players may overrun 1st Base without
the chance of begin tagged OUT.
– If the player is attempting to run
to 2nd Base, he or she may be
tagged OUT.
» Stealing is not permitted.
– Stealing is attempting to advance
before a legal or illegal pitch has
been contacted.
– Players that are stealing should be
declared OUT immediately.
» When sliding, players may slide head
first or feet first.
– When sliding feet first, cleats
must be kept close to the ground.
50. Recreational Sports and Services
Base Running
» Tagging Up
– When a fielder catches a fly ball, the
runners may advance at their own risk.
• They must be in contact with the
Base when the ball is caught.
• The runner may declared OUT in
two ways:
– Tag: The runner advances
after touching the base.
– Force Out: The runner fails
to touch the base as the
ball is caught, and the
defense may touch the last
base the runner occupied.
» Courtesy Runner
– An injured player may be replaced by
the last person who recorded an OUT.
– The request must be made during a
dead ball and before the first pitch.
51. Recreational Sports and Services
Base Running
» Appealing
– The defense may appeal the following:
• Missing a Base
• Leaving a Base early
• Batting Out-of-Order
• Attempting to advance to 2nd Base
after making the turn at 1st Base
– Live Ball Appeal
• The fielder touches the player or
Base with the ball in possession.
• If the runner has left the field, the
fielder may identify the person to
the umpire.
– Dead Ball Appeal
• The team captain or fielder
present an appeal to the Plate
Umpire.
52. Recreational Sports and Services
Obstruction vs. Interference
Defensive Obstruction
» A defensive player or team member hinders or
prevents a runner from advancing to a base.
» Example:
– A fielder who is not in possession of the ball
impedes the progress of a runner or batter-
runner who is legally running the bases.
» Result:
– Delayed Dead Ball
– Runner is safe at the next legal Base to which
they were advancing.
– Once the runner legally advances to that
Base, the interference protection they may
advance at their risk
53. Recreational Sports and Services
Obstruction vs. Interference
Offensive Interference
» An act by the offensive players or others that
interferes with a fielder’s opportunity to
make a play on a batted or thrown ball
» Example:
– When not in contact with a base, a runner is hit by a
fair batted ball.
– A runner (who has already been tagged OUT or forced
OUT) fails to move out of the way of a throw to a base
(i.e. 6-4-3 Double Play)
» Result:
– Immediate Dead Ball
– Runner who committed the interference is OUT.
• If the interference resulted in the batter-runner or
another runner becoming Safe or scoring, that batter-
runner or runner shall be OUT as well.
– All other runners must return to the last base touched
when the interference occurred.
55. Recreational Sports and Services
Fielding
» When attempting to catch fly balls,
fielders must:
– Secure the ball in their glove or
hand before the ball touches
the ground or fence
– A trapped ball is not a legal
catch of a fly ball.
» When the fielder is transferring the
ball from the glove to the hand and
drops the ball, the catch shall still
be considered good, and the
batter/runner shall be declared
OUT.
56. Recreational Sports and Services
Force Out vs. Tag Out
Force Out
» A runner must advance to the next legal
base.
» The fielders may tag the base before the
runner touches the base.
» Situations
– Fair ball
– Runner fails to tag up on a caught fly ball.
Tag Out
» A runner does not have to advance to the
next legal base.
– The defense must tag the runner with the
ball in their hand or glove
– The tag must occur before the runner
arrives at their previous base or the next
legal base.
» Situations
– Fair ball
– Rundown
58. Recreational Sports and Services
Team Composition
Please refer to the following table for legal team ratios.
Number of players Male to Female Ratio
Twelve Players 6:6
Eleven Players 6:5 or 5:6
Ten Players 5:5
Nine Players 5:4, 4:5, 6:3, 3:6
Eight Players 4:4, 5:3, 3:5
Seven Players 4:3, 3:4
**You must have at least three males or three females to
field a team.**
**You may have more males than females.**
59. Recreational Sports and Services
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 #1
Female #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
60. Recreational Sports and Services
Defense: Fielding
» Fielding Positions
– Each team may field all ten positions by rule.
– 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.
– Infielders must consist of at least two females.
» Outfielder Restriction
– Outfielders must remain out of the infield 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.