Transcript RULE UPDATE - Fairfax Adult Softball

Fairfax Adult Softball
2015
Umpire Training
SESSION 3
ASA RULE 6 – Pitching Regulations
ASA RULE 7 – Batting
RULE 6
Pitching Regulations
Illegal Pitch
 For any illegal pitch infractions:
Umpire gives Delayed Dead Ball Signal
Umpire verbally declares “Illegal” or “Flat”
Loud enough for batter and catcher to hear
If batter swings and misses a strike is
called
If batter swings and makes any contact,
fair or foul, the illegal pitch is nullified and
all play stands
If batter does not swing, a ball is called on
the batter.
Before the Pitch
The Pitcher must:
Take a position with both feet firmly on the
ground,
Have one or both feet in contact with the
pitcher’s plate OR the area defined by the
24” width of and up to 6’ behind the
pitcher’s plate,
Effect: Delayed Dead Ball, Illegal Pitch.
Before the Pitch
The Pitcher:
 Must come to a full and complete stop with the
ball in front of the body (at least one second),
 Must have the front of the body facing the
batter, and
 Is not considered in the pitching position unless
the catcher is in a position to receive the pitch.
Effect: Delayed Dead Ball, Illegal Pitch.
Before the Pitch
• The pitcher may not simulate a legal pitch
while not in contact with the pitcher’s
plate/pitchers area.
Effect: Dead Ball, (not delayed dead ball),
an illegal pitch ruled, a warning is issue.
Repeated action results in the pitcher
ruled illegal and removed from the pitching
position.
Starting the Pitch
The pitch starts when the pitcher
makes any motion with the ball
AFTER the required stop.
Prior to the required stop, any motion
may be used.
The Delivery
Pitcher must not make any motion to pitch
without immediately delivering the ball to the
batter.
The Pitcher has 10 seconds to release the
next pitch after receiving the ball or after the
umpire indicates “play ball.”
If the Pitcher holds the ball over 10 seconds,
a ball will be called on the batter. (Use
discretion when calling the ball.)
The Delivery
 Ball must be delivered to home plate:
 In a continuous motion, no stop and go or reversal,
 On the first forward swing of the pitching arm past
the hip with an underhand motion.
 Palm may be over or under the ball.
 Pivot foot must remain in contact with the
pitcher’s plate or the area defined by the 24”
width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate.
Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically
and a ball on the batter if not swung at or hit.
The Delivery
 If the pitcher takes a step, it may be forward,
backward, or to the side, provided:
 The step is simultaneous with the release of
the ball, AND
 Pivot foot remains in contact with the
pitcher’s plate or the area defined by the 24”
width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s
plate.
Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically
and a ball on the batter if not swung at or hit.
Against the Rules
The Pitcher cannot:
 Make any motion to pitch without
immediately delivering the pitch,
 Stop or reverse the pitching motion,
 Deliver a pitch from the glove UNLESS the
pitcher is playing under the FAS ADA rules,
 Pitch the ball behind the back or through the
legs
 Continue any pitching motion after the ball is
released.
Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically
and a ball on the batter unless swung at or hit.
Against the Rules
 Foreign substances are not allowed on the ball, pitching
hand, or fingers at any time (ANY defensive player).
 Illegal pitch on the first offense
 Continued offense will result in an ejection
 Powdered resin is allowed to dry hands
 Pitcher may wear tape on the fingers or a sweatband on
the wrist or forearm of the pitching arm.
 Batting gloves may not be worn on the pitching hand.
Effect: An illegal pitch is called on the first offense. If any
defensive player continues to place a foreign substance
on the ball, the player shall be ejected.
Review – Pitching Motion
• Prior to contact with the pitcher’s plate
– No motion to pitch is allowed
• After contact with the pitcher’s plate and
before the required stop
– Any motion may be used
• After stop
– Pitch starts with the first motion
• After release
– Motion can not continue
Pitch Speed
 Pitch must be released at a moderate speed (in
the umpire’s judgment).
 If pitch speed is excessive, umpire shall notify
the coach that a warning is being issued.
 If the pitcher pitches another excessive speed
pitch after being warned, remove the pitcher
from the pitcher position for the remainder of the
game.
Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically
and a ball on the batter if swung at or hit.
Quick Pitches
 The pitcher cannot attempt a “quick return” of the
ball before the batter has taken a position in the
batter’s box or when the batter is off balance.
 Unless the batter requests and the umpire allows
time from the umpire, the pitcher may deliver the
pitch when received.
Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and
mechanically, a ball is called unless swung at or
hit.
Pitching Arc
 The pitch must:
 Be delivered with a perceptible arc,
 Reach a height of at least 6’ from the ground,
and
 Reach a height of at most 12’ from the ground
(ASA is 10-feet-this is an FAS exception).
 KEY: Consistency with what you establish as
your 6-feet and your 12 feet. Error on the side of
11 feet, 6 inches, rather than 12 feet, 1 inch!
Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and
mechanically, ball on the batter unless swung
at or hit.
Defensive Positioning
The pitcher shall not deliver a pitch unless all
defensive players, except the catcher, are
positioned in FAIR territory.
Effect: No Pitch
No fielder can take a position in the batter’s line of
vision or deliberately distract the batter with
unsportsmanlike intent.
A pitch does not have to be released
The offending player shall be ejected from the
game.
The Catcher
 FAS does not enforce the lines for a catcher’s
box.
 The catcher shall return the ball directly to the
pitcher after each pitch.
Exception: After a strikeout with bases
empty, the catcher may throw the ball
“around the horn” or not directly back to the
pitcher.
Effect: Illegal pitch; ball called on batter or on
next batter.
Warm-Up Pitches
 At the beginning of each half inning or when a
pitcher relieves another, not more than one
minute may be used to deliver up to 3 warm-up
pitches.
 Excessive warm-up pitches will result in a ball to
the batter for each pitch.
 A pitcher returning to pitch in the same half
inning will not receive any warm-up pitches.
 No limitations on the number of times a legal
pitcher may return to the pitching position.
No Pitch
A no-pitch is declared when:
 Pitcher pitches during the suspension of
play,
 Runner is called out for leaving a base
before the pitched ball reaches home plate,
is batted, or touches the ground before
reaching home plate,
 A pitch is delivered before a runner has REtouched their base after being legitimately
off that base,
No Pitch
A no-pitch is declared when:
 The ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during
the delivery or back swing, or
 A player or coach calls time or commits any
act while the ball is live for the obvious
purpose of trying to make the pitcher
commit an illegal pitch.
Effect: Dead Ball, all subsequent action on
the pitch is cancelled. No ball or strike
awarded.
RULE 7
Batting
On-Deck Batter
 Only one on-deck batter at a time.
 Can only have:
 Up to 2 bats,
 Approved Warm-Up Equipment, or
 Combination of the above not to exceed 2.
 Can leave the on-deck area:
 When they become the batter or
 To direct runner(s) from 3rd base to home.
On-Deck Batter
If the on-deck batter interferes with a
defensive player attempting to make a play:
 If it involves a runner, the runner
closest to home at the time of the
interference is out.
 If it is with the defensive fielder fielding
a fly ball, the batter is out.
Batting Order
 The batting order is how the players are scheduled
to bat.
 Upon request, team lineups must be presented to
the opposing team prior to the start of the game and
must include at a minimum each player’s first initial
and last name (official line-up cards are not
required).
 The first batter in each inning shall be the batter
whose name follows the last player who completed
a turn at bat in the previous inning.
 When the 3rd out is made BEFORE the batter
completed their at bat, they lead off the next inning.
Batting Out of Order
Batting out of order is an APPEAL PLAY
that can only be made by the defensive
team BEFORE:
The next pitch (legal or illegal) to the
following batter
All infielders have clearly left their
positions and fair territory on their way
to the dugout area.
Batting Out of Order
If batting out of order is discovered while the
incorrect batter is at bat:
 The correct batter takes the batter’s position
immediately and assumes the ball-strike
count.
 NO penalty whether discovered by the
offense or defense while the incorrect batter
is at bat.
Batting Out of Order
If batting out of order is discovered
AFTER the incorrect batter completed
their turn at bat and BEFORE the next
pitch (legal or illegal) to the following
batter or all infielders have clearly left
their positions and fair territory, or on the
last play of the game, before the umpire
leaves the field of play:
Batting Out of Order
The improper batter’s time at bat is
negated – as if he never bats.
The player who should have batted is out
Any runners that advanced or runs scored
are nullified
Runners not called out return to the last
base occupied at the pitch
Batting Out of Order
All outs made prior to the discovery
will stand except for any out made
on the improper batter
The next batter is the player whose name
follows that of the player called out for
failing to bat.
Batting Out of Order
Joe
Jeff
Ross
David
Bill
Larry
Roger
Steve
Wayne
John
White equals
what happened;
yellow equals
the players after
Steve hits safely.
Jeff
Ross
Joe
Jeff
Ross
Steve
What happens if Steve
is discovered while in
the box?
What happens if Steve
is discovered after
hitting safely and is
standing on 1st Base.
Steve (bats out of order)
Joe (scores on Steve’s hit)
Batting Out of Order
If batting out of order is discovered
after the next pitch to the
NEXT batter or after all
infielders have clearly left their
positions and fair territory on their way
to the dugout area:
Batting Out of Order
 The turn at bat of the incorrect batter is
legal.
 All runs scored, runners advanced, and
outs made are legal.
 Next batter is the one that follows the
incorrect batter.
 No out is called for failure to bat.
 Player(s) that did not bat and not called
out lose their turn at bat until reached
again in the regular order.
Batting Out of Order
Runners shall not be removed from the
base occupied to bat in the proper
position.
The correct batter skips their turn at bat
with no penalty.
The batter following the correct batter,
now skipped, in the batting order
becomes the legal batter.
Coed Batting Order
 Coed batting orders alternate genders.
 In making a substitution to the batting
order, remember this guideline applies: if
the substitution creates a lineup that, in
number and gender, would have been a
legal starting lineup, then the substitution
may be made. A manager may not
change a lineup in such a way as to
create a lineup that would not have been
legal to start the game.
Coed Batting Order
 Males hit 12” YELLOW softballs-Dudley
Thunder Hycon ONLY!
 Females hit 11” YELLOW softballs. (Exception:
Females batting in Reston Church hit 12”
softballs.)
 If the wrong ball is used, the offensive team has
the option of accepting the result of the play or
require the last batter to bat again with the ballstrike count prior to the wrong ball being used.
Batting Position
 Batter must have both feet completely within the
lines of the batter’s box. The batter may touch
the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside
the lines prior to the pitch.
 Batter has up to 10 seconds to take the position
in the batter’s box.
 If the batter takes longer than 10 seconds,
call a strike (no pitch has to be thrown and
dead ball).
 The batter shall assume a one ball, onestrike count upon entering the box.
Batting Position
 Batter may not step out of the batter’s box to
stop play unless the umpire grants time.
Play continues
Pitch will be judged a ball or strike, as normal.
 The batter shall not step directly in front of the
catcher to the other batter’s box while the pitcher
is in position to pitch, or anytime thereafter prior
to the release of the pitch.
The ball is dead, the batter is out.
Strikes and Balls
IN SENIORS PLAY
• A strike shall be called for each
legally pitched ball that lands and
touches any portion of home
plate or the strike zone mat.
• A ball shall be called for each
legally pitched ball that lands and
does not touch any portion of
home plate or the strike zone
mat.
Strikes
A strike is called . . .
Legally pitched ball that passes through
the strike zone before touching the
ground and the batter does not swing.
Ball can actually hit the batter.
Batter cannot prevent the ball from
entering the strike zone (other than
hitting the ball with a bat).
Strikes
A strike is called . . .
 Batter swings and misses prior to the
ball hitting the ground.
 Foul tip even if caught unless 3rd strike.
 Foul ball.
 If the batter does not take the batter’s
position within 10 seconds after being
directed by the umpire.
Strikes
A strike is called . . .
 If a pitched ball is swung at, missed, and then
hit on the follow through, it is a strike and a
dead ball.
 When any part of the batter’s person or
clothing is hit with a batted ball while the
batter is in the batter’s box.
Strikes
Balls
A ball is called . . .
Legally pitched ball that the batter does not
swing at that:
Does not pass through the strike zone,
Touches the ground before reaching home
plate, or
Touches home plate.
Balls
A ball is called . . .
 Illegally pitched ball not swung at
or hit.
 Catcher fails to return the ball
directly to the pitcher.
 For each excessive warm-up
pitch.
FAS 1-1 Rule
The batter begins each turn at bat with
a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. The
batter walks on four balls and is
considered out on the third strike,
unless the third strikes is fouled off, in
which case the batter gets one more
strike (Courtesy Foul). If the next
pitch is a strike or fouled off, the
batter is out.
The Batter is Out
 The batter is called out . . .
 After the 3rd strike (including a foul ball that
is hit after 2 strikes).
 When the third strike is:
NOT swung at, and the pitched ball hits
the batter while the pitch is in the strike
zone
When the pitched ball is prevented form
entering the strike zone by the batter
doing something other than hitting the
ball.
The Batter is Out
 The batter is called out . . .
 Batter enters the batter’s box with or is
discovered using an altered, nonapproved or illegal bat.
This results in an ejection and that
spot in the batting order can never
be substituted for.
The Batter is Out
• The batter is called out . . .
• When discovered using an altered, nonapproved or illegal bat after completing their
turn at bat and before the next pitch, legal or
illegal.
• This also results in an ejection and that
spot in the batting order can never be
substituted for
• All outs stand, all other runners return to
the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
The Batter is Called Out
Batter’s ENTIRE foot is
touching the ground
COMPLETELY outside
the batter’s box when the
batter hits the ball (fair or foul).
Batter’s foot (any part) touches home plate
when the batter hits the ball (fair or foul).
Batter bunts or chops the ball (fair or foul).
The Batter is Called Out
 Batter hits a fair ball with the bat a 2nd time in fair
territory. It is a dead ball out and runners are
returned.
 If batter is in batter’s box, it is just a foul ball.
 When the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls
against the bat, if in the umpire’s judgment there was
no intent to interfere with the ball, the ball remains
live. It is the same as if the bat was a rock in the
ground.
 When contact is made on the follow-through after
missing the pitch on the initial swing, the ball is dead
and a strike is called.
The Batter is Called Out
 Batter leaves the batter’s box and returns
to the box and makes contact with the
ball.
 If the batter due up left the game except
where FAS injury rule prevails.
 Batter intentionally interferes with a
thrown ball or a play at home plate.
 When members of the team at bat,
interfere with a player attempting to field
a fair or foul fly ball.
Case Book
• Play: After one
warning, F1 again
delivers a pitch with
excessive speed. The
umpire ejects F1 from
the game
• Play: B1 reaches out
and catches an inside
pitch while standing in
the batter’s box.
Case Book
• Play: After one warning,
F1 again delivers a pitch
with excessive speed.
The umpire ejects F1
from the game
• Ruling: Incorrect. F1
should be removed from
the pitchers position for
the remainder of the
game but may participate
in the game in any other
position
• Play: B1 reaches out and
catches an inside pitch
while standing in the
batter’s box.
• Ruling: The ball is dead
when touched by B1. The
umpire should call the
pitch a ball or a strike
based on where the ball
would have entered the
strike zone had it not
been touched.
Case Book
• Play: During the three
warm-up pitches, F1
• (a) throws two pitches
with an arc and one
pitch overhand
• (b) throws two pitches
windmills style and a
third with an arc
• (c) throws all three
pitches with an arc.
Case Book
• Play: During the three
warm-up pitches, F1
• (a) throws two pitches
with an arc and one
pitch overhand
• (b) throws two pitches
windmill style and a
third with an arc
• (c) throws all three
pitches with an arc.
• Ruling: There is no
violation for throwing
overhand or windmill
style. F1 can throw the
three pitches in any
manner F1 chooses.
Should F1 throw to an
infielder, this would
count toward the three
allowed warm-up
pitches
Case Book
• Play: F1 comes to a
one-second stop,
than takes the ball in
the pitching hand over
the top of their heads,
down and around in a
windmill type action,
and releases the ball
the first time past the
hip.
Case Book
• Play: F1 comes to a
• Ruling: Legal. A
one-second stop,
windmill delivery is
than takes the ball in
legal if the ball is
the pitching hand over
releases the first time
the top of their heads,
over the hip and all
down and around in a
other aspects of the
windmill type action,
pitching rule is
and releases the ball
followed.
the first time past the
hip.
Case Book
• Play: F1 has both
feet on the pitcher’s
plate and removes
one foot by stepping
backward while
pitching the ball. B1
does not swing at the
pitch.
Case Book
• Play: F1 has both
feet on the pitcher’s
plate and removes
one foot by stepping
backward while
pitching the ball. B1
does not swing at the
pitch.
• Ruling: Legal pitch. A
step with the free foot is
not required in slow pitch,
but if one is taken, it must
be made simultaneous
with the release of the
ball. It can be forward,
backward, or to the side.
The pivot foot must
remain in contact with the
pitcher’s plate or the area
defined by the 24”width of
and up to 6’ behind the
pitcher’s plate until the
ball is released.
Case Book
• Play: With two outs and
the bases full, it is B6’s
turn to bat, but B7
erroneously bats and
hits a triple clearing the
bases. As B8 comes to
bat, the defensive team
appeals batting out of
order.
Case Book
• Play: With two outs
and the bases full, it
is B6’s turn to bat, but
B7 erroneously bats
and hits a triple
clearing the bases. As
B8 comes to bat, the
defensive team
appeals batting out of
order.
• Ruling:
• B7 is removed from
third base and his at
bat is negated.
• B6 is called out for
missing his turn at bat
• All runs are nullified
• The correct batter to
lead off the next
inning is B7.
Case Book
• Play: Coed: R1 , a male, is
on 1B, B2, a female, is thrown
three pitches with a 12-inch
ball. B2 gets a hit and reaches
1B safely. B3, a male, steps in
to bat and a pitch is thrown to
B3 with the 12-inch ball and
then either the offense or
defense complains about the
wrong ball being pitched to
B2.
Case Book
• Play: Coed: R1 , a
• Ruling: After one pitch
male, is on 1B, the
has been thrown to B3,
following batter, B2, a
all
previous
action
is
female, is thrown three
considered legal on B2.
pitches with a 12-inch
Continue pitching to B3.
ball. B2 gets a hit and
reaches 1B safely. B3, • If NO pitch had been
a male, steps in to bat
thrown, the offense has
and a pitch is thrown to
the option to accept the
B3 with the 12-inch ball
result of the play or have
and then either the
batter hit again with the
offense or defense
complains about the
ball-strike count same as
wrong ball being
before the hit.
pitched to B2.
Case Book
• Play: No outs, R1 is
on 3B, R2 on 2B, R3
on 1B and B4 is
scheduled to bat but
B5 comes to bat
instead and grounds
into a double play,
resulting in R3 being
forced at 2B and B5
out at B1. The
defense appeals B5
batting out of order.
Case Book
• Play: No outs, R1 is on
3B, R2 on 2B, R3 on 1B
and B4 is scheduled to
bat but B5 comes to bat
instead and grounds into
a double play, resulting in
R3 being forced at 2B
and B5 out at 1B. The
defense appeals B5
batting out of order
• Ruling: B5’s at bat is
negated. B4, the player
who should have batted
is called out for 1 out.
R3’s out at second
stands for 2 outs. R1
and R2 are returned to
2B and 3B respectively.
The next batter is B5,
who bats again.
Questions?