Summary of the Sport:
Rule: |
Description: |
The Bat |
Round like a baton with a tapered handle ending at a knob. It is no more than 2.625 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches (1067 mm) in length. It typically weighs no more than 36 ounces (1 kg). Can be made of wood or aluminum. |
Protective Gear |
Round like a baton with a tapered handle ending at a knob. It is no more than 2.625 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches (1067 mm) in length. It typically weighs no more than 36 ounces (1 kg). |
The Ball |
The core of the ball is cork, rubber or a mixture of the two and is sometimes layered. Legal weight for the ball in indoor baseball (i.e. softball) is not to be under 6.25 ounces. An indoor baseball is 11 to 12 inches in circumference. |
Distance Between Pitcher & Batter |
43 feet (13.11 m). Pitcher's area is a flat circle, with a radius of 8 feet (2.4 m) and marked with a white chalk circle. |
Number of Players |
Consist of 6 players. In some leagues, a batting specialist may be designated as a hitter exclusively for the pitcher. Teams may use up to the balance of their rosters as substitutes without restriction during games. |
Number of Umpires |
2 umpires on the field, 3rd umpire off the field, 1 match referee. |
Pitches Allowed per Batter |
No limit. A batter who neither strikes out, walks, is hit by a pitch, nor hits a into fair territory may continue to hit until one of these things occurs. |
Maximum Runs Scored of a Pitch |
Four (Home Run with all bases occupied -- aka Grand Slam). A player scores a run only on a successful circuit of all four bases, whether on his own or another player's hit, or by other means such as a walk or stolen base. |
Batting Order |
Predetermined (must alternate boy/girl or girl/boy) |
The Field of Play |
Indoor Baseball is played on a hockey rink covered with turf. |
The Field:
- Overall Dimensions = 200-210' x 85-98' (60.96-64.01m x 25.91-29.87m).
- Baselines = 60 feet (18.29 m).
- Distance between Pitcher & Batter = 43 feet (13.11m)
- 7 innings.
- Ball = Softball (11 or 12 inches / 279 or 305mm) in circumference, less dense than a baseball).
- Bat = Baseball Bat (No longer than 34 inches/864 mm.
- Most commonly made of composite materials, also aluminum, though wooden bats may be used).
- Glove = Softball Glove.
- Teams are required to be coed.
- Min of 10 and max of 20 players on Roster.
- Defensive Players in Field = 6 (P,C,1B/RF,2B/RCF,SS/LCF,3B/LF).
- All infielders must act as both baseman and outfielders.
- Delivery = Baseball overhand only.
- Strike Zone = Top of the batter's shoulders to the hollow beneath kneecap.
- Illegal Pitch = The ball remains live.
- If the batter reaches base successfully and all runners advance, no penalty; otherwise, the play is negated, the pitch attempt is automatically a ball and runners advance one base.
- Bunting = Allowed.
- Foul Ball with Two Strikes = Batter is not out unless bunting.
- Hit by Pitch = Awarded first base unless swing or no attempt made to avoid being hit.
- Base Stealing = Allowed at any time the ball is live.
- Team Batting Order = The Away Team Bats First and the Home Team Bats last.
- Individual Batting Order = must alternate either boy/girl or girl/boy.
- Dismissal procedure = automatic.
- Strikeout (any combination of 3 missed swings/strikes).
- Fly-out (catching ball before landing).
- Tag-out (tagging runner/bat or base before runner/bat touches base).
- Interference (batter or runner intentionally interfering with the fielding side).
- Handled ball twice (bat touches ball twice or feet hits ball outside batter’s box).
- Same as in Baseball.
- T-shirt, Shorts, Ball Cap, Cleats, Gloves.
- Similar to rugby, both teams must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless either 1) the teams share similar colors or 2) if someone is colorblind; If that is the case, the designated home team will wear their dark color uniforms and the away team will wear either 1) their lighter color uniforms or 2) an alternative darker color uniform.