Transcript 2002 NFHS Softball Rules Changes

2006 NFHS
SOFTBALL
RULES CHANGES
MAJOR EDITORIAL
CHANGES
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
2006 NFHS
SOFTBALL
RULES CHANGES
HEAD COACH MUST
ATTEND PREGAME
MEETING (3-5-1)
• Head coaches now required to
attend pregame meeting with
umpires.
• Previous rule only required an adult
coach to attend meeting.
• Captains may also attend meeting if
desired, but attendance is not
required.
HEAD COACH MUST
ATTEND PREGAME
MEETING (3-5-1)
• Umpires still required to inspect
equipment before game.
• Game doesn’t begin until head
coach attends pregame meeting.
HEAD COACH MUST
VERIFY LEGALITY OF
EQUIPMENT (3-6-1)
• Change made so head coach could
verify to plate umpire that:
– all players are legally equipped
– players and equipment are in compliance
with NFHS rules
• Rules change also provides a penalty if
illegal equipment is found in game.
HEAD COACH MUST
VERIFY LEGALITY OF
EQUIPMENT (3-6-1)
Penalty:
• Illegal equipment removed from
game or made legal.
• Umpire issues team warning.
• Next offender and head coach
restricted to the dugout/bench for
remainder of game.
HEAD COACH MUST
VERIFY LEGALITY OF
EQUIPMENT (3-6-1)
• Responsibility for proper equipment rests
with coaches, student-athletes and
parents/guardians.
• Ultimate responsibility rests with head
coach.
• Head coaches likely to take greater steps
in ensuring players are legally equipped
with possibility of penalty.
PENALTY ESTABLISHED
FOR ERASING LINES
(3-6-17)
• Players and coaches are intentionally
removing batter's box lines to gain an
advantage, primarily for "slap hitters."
• Removal of any boundary line makes
enforcement of rules more difficult for
umpires.
• Head coach assessed most severe
penalty – players are being coached to
intentionally remove lines.
PENALTY ESTABLISHED
FOR ERASING LINES
(3-6-17)
• Strike called on batter if member of
offense intentionally removes line.
• Ball awarded to batter if member of
defense intentionally erases a line.
• Team warning issued – next offense
resulting in strike/ball and head
coach restricted to the dugout.
PITCH PREVENTED FROM
ENTERING STRIKE ZONE
(7-2-1h)
• Batter hit by pitch and prevents it from
entering strike zone (umpire's judgment):
– Dead-ball strike
• Previously, situation ruled inconsistently:
– Called a "ball“
– No pitch
– Batter awarded first base
– Occasionally called a “strike”
PITCH PREVENTED FROM
ENTERING STRIKE ZONE
(7-2-1h)
• Most likely occurs:
–Bunter/slap hitter running to
front of box.
–Batter in front of box leans out
of box to be hit.
PITCH PREVENTED FROM
ENTERING STRIKE ZONE
(7-2-1h)
• Imbalance created by depriving defense/
pitcher of a strike.
• Forces pitcher to throw another strike or
even continue inning with a runner on
base.
• No player or team should gain an
advantage by circumventing the "spirit" of
a rule.
BAT HITS BALL A
SECOND TIME (7-4-11)
• Batter called out when discarded bat
hits ball a second time.
• Previous rule only called batter out if
bat intentionally hit ball a second time.
• Rules change removes need for
judging batter's intent when bat hits a
fair ball a second time.
BAT HITS BALL A
SECOND TIME (7-4-11)
• Key issue – Bat hits ball – not
vise-versa.
• Doesn’t matter if bat is:
–Thrown
–Dropped
–Slung
BAT HITS BALL A
SECOND TIME (7-4-11)
• Bat hits ball on or over foul
territory:
–Foul ball
• Ball hits bat on or over fair
territory:
–Live ball
BAT HITS BALL A
SECOND TIME (7-4-11)
• Bat hits ball a second time – Batter
is out if:
– On or over fair territory.
– On or over foul territory and has a
chance to become fair.
– While in batter's box with bat in hand(s)
– second contact is intentional.
BAT HITS BALL A
SECOND TIME (7-4-11)
• Batters have a choice of where to
discard their bat.
• If batter chooses to discard bat in
fair territory, she runs risk of
possible interference and being
called out.
2006 NFHS
SOFTBALL
MAJOR EDITORIAL
CHANGES
ALTERING EQUIPMENT
(1-3-6; 1-5-5)
• Clarifies that softballs and bats
may not be altered from originally
manufactured legal state by using
any treatment or device.
• Recent examples:
– Bat warmers, ball coolers
FACE PROTECTION ON
BATTING HELMETS (1-6-6)
Reminder:
• Beginning January 1, 2006
batting helmets MUST have a
NOCSAE-approved face
mask/guard protector.
WARMUP CATCHER
(1-7-3)
• Clarifies that non-adults warming
up a pitcher within confines of field
must wear approved catcher's
helmet and mask combination and
throat protector. (F.P.)
• Previous rule only required a mask
and throat protector.
FIELDER’S HEAD/FACE
PROTECTION (1-8-4)
• New article clarifies fielders
may wear face/head protection.
• Must have non-glare outer
surface.
APPEAL PROCEDURES
MOVED (2-1)
• Appeal Procedures and
Guidelines moved from appendix
to Rule 2-1.
• Procedure is important and
should be reflected as such in
body of rules.
CATCH DEFINITION
(2-10)
• Section reorganized for clarity.
• Reference to fielder holding ball
“long enough” for catch was
deleted.
• Fielder need only demonstrate
control and that release is
voluntary.
PREGAME CONFERENCE
& UMPIRE DUTIES
(2-15-2; 4-1-2; 10-2-3)
• Articles reorganized to clarify and
eliminate redundancies.
• 2-15-2 defines the pregame conference
and who must attend.
• 4-1-2 describes what occurs at the
pregame conference.
• 10-2-3 describes the plate umpire’s duties
as they relate to the pregame conference.
COACH ASSISTING
RUNNER
(3-5-4 PENALTY)
• Penalty changed to be consistent
with Rule 8-6-5 and eliminate
inconsistencies.
• Penalty:
– Runner is out and ball is in play.
PASSING OBSTRUCTED
RUNNER (8-6-4; 8-8-17)
• Clarifies a runner passing an
obstructed runner is not out.
• Obstructed runners and those that
follow them are afforded some
protection.
MALICIOUS CONTACT
(8-6-14)
• Clarifies a base runner is out
whenever malicious contact
occurs.
• Malicious contact always
supersedes obstruction.
DOUBLE FIRST BASE
GUIDELINES (8-10)
• New section added for double first
base guidelines.
• Removed from appendix.
2006 NFHS
SOFTBALL
POINTS OF
EMPHASIS
OBSTRUCTION
• Obstruction requires a clear
defensive infraction.
• Two separate and distinct
conditions must occur for
obstruction to be called.
OBSTRUCTION
1. Defensive player cannot block a
runner's access to a base or base
path without being in possession of
the ball.
2. The runner must be hindered or
impeded.
OBSTRUCTION
Fielder blocking base without ball
+
Runner not yet impeded in any fashion
(not been slowed down or had path altered)
=
NO obstruction
OBSTRUCTION
• As play becomes imminent:
– If fielder obtains ball before runner
is hindered – no infraction has
occurred.
– If fielder's location limits runner's
access to base or base path, and
fielder does not yet have ball –
obstruction should be called.
OBSTRUCTION
• Umpires must maintain proper
positioning and stay attuned for
any potential obstruction
violations before focusing on the
impending tag.
• Make the (delayed) obstruction
call – don’t ignore it!
TEAM HUDDLES
• Last year's point of emphasis was
not intended to prohibit team huddles
– but merely ensure they were
occurring within existing rules.
• To minimize risks to participants –
teams should not huddle on the field
after a third out while the other team
is warming up.
TEAM HUDDLES
• During game – team huddles between
players on the field are never
considered charged conferences.
• Huddles should be permitted provided
they do not violate any game rules:
– One minute between innings
– 20 seconds pitcher has to pitch after
receiving the ball
UNIFORMS
• High school student-athlete's
appearance should be neat,
respectable and suitable for
interscholastic athletics.
• Rule 3-2 provides all necessary
requirements for a legal softball
uniform.
UNIFORMS
• A previous interpretation of Rule 3-2-10 –
which states that players shall wear
uniforms properly and as designed by the
manufacturer – required players to wear
sleeves down.
• Committee believes that rolling up or
securing the sleeves does not distract from
the player's appropriate appearance.
UNIFORMS
• Making an adjustment for climate or
comfort doesn't necessarily contradict
"properly and as designed by the
manufacturer."
• Provided uniform numbers remain visible –
sleeves of the uniform top may be adjusted
to the comfort of the player – with or
without tie-ups (designed for this purpose).
SLAP HIT & DRAG BUNT
• Distinguishing between a slap hit and
drag bunt is important when batter has
two strikes and ball is fouled off.
• Batter may be running forward.
• Umpire must visualize whether:
– Batter holds bat stationary = bunt
– Batter moves bat with the wrists = slap
hit
SLAP HIT & DRAG BUNT
• If umpire determines bunt –
batter who fouls off third strike is
out.
• If umpire determines slap hit –
batter who fouls off third strike
remains at bat (foul ball).
2006 NFHS
SOFTBALL
QUESTIONS?