Transcript Situation

Softball Rules Clinic
Rules 1-4
Rule 1
Field and Equipment
• The Field: The rear tip of home plate and the front
edge of the pitcher’s plate shall be 43 feet.
• Situation: In the top of the first inning, Team A
scores several runs because the pitcher has
difficulty throwing strikes. At the end of the half
inning, as Team B takes warm up pitches, she
complains that the distance is incorrect. When
measured, the distance is wrong. Is the pitcher’s
plate to be reset immediately at the proper
distance or does the pitcher of Team B have to
finish the inning at that distance?
Ruling
• Anytime an incorrect distance ( pitcher’s
plate, batter’s boxes, or bases) is
discovered, it shall be corrected
immediately, even though one team may
have been placed at a disadvantage.
• When coaches agree to play on a field or
the game has started, the non-regulation
facility cannot be protested.
Media Area
• Media shall be prohibited from being in live-ball
area, unless marked. The home team or
management shall designate a lined area for the
media.
• Situation: A designated media area has been
established beyond first base next to the out-ofplay fence. An overthrow goes into the occupied
area, (a) passes through, untouched, in flight;
(b) passes through untouched, rolling on the
ground; (c) comes to rest, (d) touches a
photographer or piece of equipment, before
rolling through the area.
Ruling
• In (a) the ball remains live. In (b), (c), and
(d), the ball becomes dead immediately.
• Runners advance two bases. (batted or
thrown)
• Pitched ball, runners advance one base
Softballs
• The ball shall be optic yellow. The COR.47
max. The specification of color, COR, and
compression shall be identical for all balls
used for each game.
• The NFHS mark shall be on each ball.
Situation
1. The home team’s coach provides the
umpire with an optic yellow and a white
softball for the game. Is this the correct
procedure?
2. Upon inspection of the game balls the
umpires notice that two of the balls show
a COR of .44. The other ball has a COR
of .47. Do all balls need to have the
same COR?
Ruling
1. No, both balls must be optic yellow.
2. Yes. The specifications of COR and color
(includes stitching) must be identical for
all balls used in each game.
Gloves / Mitts
• Gloves and mitts may be a maximum of
two colors excluding lacing and
manufacturer’s logo colors. Lacing shall
not be the color of the ball.
• Not be entirely gray, white or optic in color.
• Not have a gray, white, or optic colored
marking on the outside or inside that gives
the appearance of the ball.
• Be permitted to have one American flag
not to exceed 2x3 inches.
• Glove size: Height 14 inches, Width 8
inches
Situation
1. Members of Team A take the field all
wearing gloves with (a) 2 x 3 inch
American flags; (b) red, white and blue
fingers.
2. The pitcher for Team A is using a tan
and brown glove. The lacing for the
fingers has been repaired with a white
shoestring. Optic yellow balls are being
used in the game.
Ruling
1. Legal in (a). Illegal in (b). Gloves/Mitts may be
a maximum of two colors. The illegal gloves
are removed from the game and the head
coach is given a warning. The next player not
being properly equipped will result in the player
and head coach being restricted to the
dugout/bench for the rest of the game.
2. Legal, Glove lacing may be any color other
than that of the ball and is not considered one
of the two colors.
Bats
• All bats shall meet the 2004 ASA
performance standard, bear either the
2000 or 2004 ASA certification mark, and
not be on the ASA non-approved list as
found on www.asasoftball.com.
Situation
1. Prior to the game, while inspecting each
team’s bats, the umpire discovers a bat
that has the 2004 ASA mark. It is also
listed on the ASA approved list. The bat
has a rubber device on the knob of the
bat designed to reduce sting.
2. B1 appears at bat with a bat that is (a)
aluminum, (b) magnesium, (c) graphitecomposite, (d) fiberglass, (e) titanium
Ruling
1. Provided the device does not make the knob flushto the
handle, it is legal.
2. Legal in all situations provided that the bat meets 2004
ASA Bat Performance Standard and has not been
altered or enhanced in any way.
If the batter steps into the batter‘s box with an altered or
non-approved bat the batter is out . The ball is dead
immediately. All runners must return to the base
occupied at the time of the pitch. The batter and head
coach are also ejected.
Batting Helmets
• A batting helmet with a permanently
affixed NOCSAE stamp and legible
exterior warning label is mandatory for
each batter, on-deck batter,
players/students in the coaches boxes,
runners and retired runners.
Situations
1. B4 receives a walk. On her way to first
base she removes her helmet to give it to
the on-deck batter.
2. During pregame inspection of equipment,
the umpire notices that two batting
helmets have tinted eye shields attached
to the helmet’s face protection.
Ruling
1. The ball is live and at the end of playing
action, B4’s coach is issued a team
warning. B4 is not declared out. The next
player not properly equipped will result in
the player and head coach being
restricted to the dugout for the rest of the
game.
2. The umpires shall not permit players to
wear these helmets. Eye shields must
permit 100% allowable light transmission
and not be tinted.
Rule 2 Definitions
• Altered bat. A bat that was once legal, but
has been structurally changed including,
but not limited to : shaving, rolling or
artificially warming the bat barrel.
• Non-approved bat. A bat that does not
meet ASA specifications and has been
placed on the current non-approved bat
list. (www.asasoftball.com)
Situations
• Foul Ball, Tip
• With R-1 on first, B-2 hits a foul ball which
goes directly to the catcher’s mitt or hand
and is (a) is caught , or (b) is dropped. In
either case R-1 advances to second.
Ruling
• In (a) , It is a foul tip and is treated as any
other strike; R-1 has stolen second. In (b)
it is a foul ball and R-1 must return to first.
Situation
• Infield fly Rule
• R-1 and R-2 are on second and first bases with
no outs. B-3 hits a hits a high pop ball between
home and first base with F-3 losing sight of the
ball in the sun. The ball lands on foul ground
without being touched and rolls into fair territory
halfway between home and first base. F-1 picks
up the ball and throws to F-4 covering first, who
touches R-2 with the ball while R-2 is off the
base.
Ruling
• Fair ball. Even though the infield fly was
not called, it is still in effect. B- 3 is out. R2 is also out.
Situation
• Interference
• B-1 chops the ball and causes it to bounce
just in front of home plate. F-2 fields the
ball but does not throw it to first base
because B-1 was running outside the
three-foot running lane, and F-2 thought
that she would hit the runner.
Ruling
• No infraction has occurred and the ball
remains alive. Interference cannot be
called unless F-2 actually throws the ball
to first base.
Situation
• Obstruction
• F-2, (a) with the ball, (b) without the ball, is
blocking home plate. R-1 slides into F-2
and is tagged out.
Ruling
• In (a) R-1 is out. In (b) the umpire would
call obstruction and signal delayed dead
ball. The runner would be awarded the
base, in the umpire’s judgment, she would
have received had there been no
obstruction.
Rule 3 Players, Substitutes and
Coaches
• 3-1-3 Penalty After the lineup card has been
submitted to and verified by the umpire and a
change is subsequently made to a
player/substitute name or number, or if a
player/substitute is added to the lineup card, the
umpire shall issue a team warning to the head
coach of the team involved. Any further changes
made to a player/substitute name or number
results in the head coach being restricted to the
dugout/bench area for the remainder of the
game.
Situation
• In the third inning, S1 reports to the plate
umpire, but (a) her name is not on the
lineup card even though she was on the
bench at the start of the game, or (b) S1
arrived after the game had started and
therefore was not on the lineup card; (c)
S1’s name is listed properly, but her
number is listed incorrectly.
Ruling
• In all cases, S1 is eligible to enter the
game as a substitute. In (a) and (b) S1’s
information may be added to the lineup
card, and in (c) the number is corrected.
However in all cases, her head coach
receives a team warning. Any further
change or addition to the lineup card in
number or name results in the head coach
being restricted to the dugout/bench area
for the remainder of the game.
Rule Change
• Any player who exhibits (loss of
consciousness, headache, dizziness,
confusion, or balance problems) shall be
immediately removed from the game and
shall not return to play until cleared by an
appropriate health-care professional.
• (Guidelines found in Appendix B p.88 of
the rule book)
Situation
• In the second inning of the first game of a
day long tournament,F-8 runs into the
fence chasing a fly ball and exhibits signs
of a concussion. After being helped off the
field, (a)the coach tells the umpire that
he/she will take responsibility for attending
to F-8 returning to action or (b), F-8 father
says his daughter may return to play.
Ruling
• In (a) and (b) the school/coach is
responsible for attending to F-8, who must
be removed from the game immediately
and may not return to play in the current or
any subsequent game until cleared by the
appropriate health-care professional.
Rule Clarification
• 3-2-13 Hard and items (guards, cast,
braces, splints, etc.) must be padded with
½ inch slow recovery foam. Knee and
ankle braces which are unaltered from the
manufacturer’s original design/ production
do not require any additional
padding/covering.
Situation
• During the pregame meeting, the coach of
Team B request the umpire to check a
brace wore by A12. The brace has
exposed metal hinges.
Ruling
• The umpires determine that exposed
metal hinges may be worn but must be
covered.
Situation
• F1 is removed from the game and
replaced by S1. After S1 has faced two
batters, F1 re-enters the game in the same
position.
Ruling
• Legal, however F1 is not permitted any
warm-up pitches.
• Note a pitcher returning in the same half
inning will not be granted any warm-up
pitches. Rule 6-5 p. 53 Rule Book
Situation
• Before the game, but after lineups have
been given to the plate umpire, the home
coach withdraws F1 from the contest for
disciplinary reasons. S1 pitches the for the
first three innings. The coach then informs
the umpire that F1 will come into the game
to pitch in the top of the fourth inning.
Ruling
• Legal. F1 is entitled one re-entry as any
other player and she may re-enter to pitch.
Situation
• In the fifth inning, Jones enters the game
as the DP and is placed at the end of the
batting order.
Ruling
• Illegal. The DP must be announced prior
at the start of the game with her name
entered on the starting lineup.
Situation
• DP-Jones hits a triple and sprain her ankle
sliding into third base. The coach has
substitute Green enter the game to be the
pinch runner for DP Jones. How does this
affect the playing status of DP Jones and
the Flex player, Smith , for whom Jones is
batting?
Ruling
• When a pinch runner or pinch hitter
replaces the DP, that player becomes the
new DP. DP-Jones can re-enter later or
Flex Smith could bat in substitute-Green’s
position later and it would be legal.
Situation
• Flex Smith begins the game playing
defense at second base. In the fourth
inning, without reporting, she bats in place
of Jones, the starting DP.
Ruling
• Flex-Smith is an unreported substitute.
The umpire shall issue a team warning to
the coach of the team involved and the
next offender shall be restricted to the
dugout. When Flex-Smith bats , this
removes DP-Jones from the game and
requires a re-entry to return to the game.
Situation
• Team A is using ten players in its lineup,
with DP-Jones batting third. Flex-Smith is
playing right field and is a very fast runner.
In the first, third and sixth innings, DPJones gets on base and , in each case,
Flex-Smith is put in to run. Is it legal?
Ruling
• It is legal for the defensive player (Flex) to
do this since she has never left the game.
However it would be illegal for the starting
DP-Jones to return to bat in the sixth. This
is a violation of the re-entry rule.
Situation
• Team A has only ten players and is
utilizing the DP option. The Flex-Smith is
pitching and is listed in the tenth position.
DP-Jones is batting in the fifth spot in the
batting order. In the fourth inning the
shortstop (batting 8th) is injured and forced
to leave the game.
Ruling
• DP-Jones may play shortstop or any
defensive position at the same time as
Flex-Smith. The team is able to maintain
nine players on defense, but may only bat
eight ( an out being recorded when the 8th
spot comes to bat).
Situation
• R1 slides into second base and scrapes
her knee, causing it to bleed.
Ruling
• The umpire shall stop play and summon
the player’s coach and/or trainer to attend
to the injured player. If the appropriate
treatment can be administered in a
reasonable amount of time, based on
umpire judgment, she may resume playing
without having to leave the game.
Situation
• S1, who is an illegal substitute, scores, but
B4 is thrown out for the third out
attempting to advance to second. As both
teams change positions, and before a
pitch to the next batter can be made, the
umpire is informed by the opposing
team’s coach that S1 is an illegal
substitute.
Ruling
• Even though both teams changed
positions, a pitch had not been thrown to
the next batter. The run by S1 is nullified
and the out made by B4 stands. S1 is
restricted to the bench/dugout for the
duration of the game and B5 leads off the
next inning.
Situation
• The home coach has been restricted to
the dugout for a rules violation. May he or
she occupy the third base coach’s box?
Ruling
• No; team personnel restricted to the
dugout may not occupy the coach’s box.
Situation
• Coach of Team A requests time and goes
into fair territory to talk with the pitcher.
The coach is wearing white jeans and a Tshirt with the team name on it.
Ruling
• The coach is not dressed in compliance
with the rules . The coach may not appear
in live ball territory unless properly attired.
Jeans of any type are not allowed.
Situation
• R1 is on third base with no one out.B2 hits
a fly ball to left field. While the ball is in
flight , the third-base coach pushes R1
back toward third base. F7 makes the
catch.
Ruling
• R1 is out for being aided and B2 is out on
the catch.
If a homerun is hit over the fence the ball
will be dead when it clears the fence. R1 is
out and B2 will be allowed to score unless
R1 was the third out then no run will score.
Situation
• The home coach while his or her team is
on defense turns a bucket upside down
and sits on it just outside the dugout to get
a better view of the playing action.
Ruling
• Illegal. Coaches must stay inside the
designated dugout area. The coach shall
receive a team warning. Any subsequent
offender shall be restricted to the
dugout/bench for the remainder of the
game.
Situation
• The coach of the defensive team goes out
to talk to her pitcher in the 8th inning (a)
after having used the three allowable
defensive conferences in the first seven
innings, or (b) not having used any of the
allowable conferences in the first seven
innings.
Ruling
• There is no penalty in either (a) or (b). A
team is permitted three defensive charged
conferences in a seven inning game, and
if the game goes extra innings, that team
is allowed only one charged defensive
conference in each of the extra innings,
and any unused conferences in the first
seven innings are no longer available.
Rule 4
Starting and Ending the Game
• The home coach shall decide if the
grounds and other conditions are suitable
for starting the game.
• The pregame conference shall begin
approximately 5 minutes before the game.
• The game begins when the umpire calls
“play ball” . After the game starts the
umpires are the sole judges as to whether
conditions are fit to play.
Ending the Game
• The game ends when the team behind has
completed its bat in the 7th inning or any
extra inning. If the home team scores the
go ahead run in the bottom of the 7th
inning or any extra inning, the game is
terminated at that point. The game ends
after five innings of play if one team is
ahead by ten or more runs.