2018 PROPOSED RULES CHANGES

Transcription

1 2018 SOFTBALL RULES COMMITTEE MEETING PROPOSED RULES CHANGES No. Page Reference PROPOSED CHANGES WITH RATIONALE AND OTHER RULES AFFECTED Underlining shows additions; strikethrough shows deletions Submitted By Pass Fail No Action 2018 PROPOSED RULES CHANGES yrule #1 Field and Equipmentp ART First base shall be a double base securely attached to the ground or an anchor system. The base shall be one or two piece units, 15 inches by 30 inches and manufactured to be of equal height. The base in foul territory shall be a color other than white. Ssecond and third base shall be white bags made of canvas (filled with a soft material), molded rubber or synthetic material and shall be securely attached to the ground or an anchor system. Each base shall be 15-inches square, two to five inches thick and may have tapered edges. Rationale: Umpires have reported a higher than normal occurrence of collisions at first base, and a double first base could serve to reduce the number of collisions at first base. This is in the best interest of the health and safety of the participants ART A batting helmet with a permanently affixed NOCSAE stamp (Figure 1-8) and legible exterior warning label is mandatory for each batter, on-deck batter, players/students in the coach s boxes, runners and retired runners, and non-adult players/students used to protect a pitcher and catcher warming up in a bull pen in live ball territory. The exterior warning label may be affixed to the outside of the helmet, which includes both sides of the bill, in either sticker form or embossed (at the time of manufacture). The batting helmet shall have a non-glare (not mirror-like) surface. Roger Nichols, Normal, IL Rationale: The addition to this section will mandate that all non-adults in live ball areas of the field have extra protection from a hit or thrown ball ART Defensive players are permitted to wear face/head protection in the field, except as in , and as specifically required in 1-7. Face/head protection worn by defenders shall have a non-glare (not mirror-like) outer surface. By state association adoption, defensive players at first base, third base and the pitcher may be required to wear face/head protection. Julian Tackett, Lexington, KY

2 (NEW) Rationale: Strictly risk minimization. With players creeping closer and closer to the plate, and the slap and slash techniques being used by hitters, these players that are such a short distance from the mound are unnecessarily placed at risk. In our state, we have seen this cause devastating injuries. Making this by state adoption is not a requirement, but proposed as a means of getting the concept discussed. If it please the committee, remove this clause and start the change with Defensive players at, which is also proposed. A comparison to baseball is irrelevant. The distance at which the players are standing from the batter, tactical positioning by coaches and the players themselves, improvements in bat and ball performance, and improvement in player skill all necessitate this change. This is again being proposed for the committee's consideration. A video of the latest documented incident is available at: Art The use of wrist play bands/cards by team personnel shall be permitted and shall be considered equipment. Rationale: Since the wrist play bands and cards are worn on the forearm, they are currently considered a sleeve and therefore must meet the color restrictions of Rule These devices are not a part of the uniform but a piece of equipment used by the teams both on defense and offense. They should not be bound by Rule Vincent Rosse, Riverside, CA Other Rules Affected: yrule #2 Definitionsp ART Intentional Walk (Base on balls) (S.P.). A request made to the umpire by the defensive coach or catcher, for the purpose of awarding the batter first base. No pitches are thrown. Rationale: In order to speed up the game, avoid making unnecessary pitches and to align the softball rule with the baseball rule to avoid confusion we are requesting to allow intentional walks without pitches being thrown. yrule #3 Players, Substitutes and Coachesp c ART Exposed undergarments, if worn, are considered part of the official uniform. All exposed undergarments shall be a solid, single color: black, white, gray or a school color. c. Other than team uniforms, ggarments other than team uniforms - such as arm Todd Zell, Columbia, MO Stephanie Hauser, Stevens Point, WI 2018 Softball 2 Proposed Rules

3 sleeves, leg sleeves, and tights - worn on the arms or legs, with the exception of a brace, are permissible, Anything worn on the arm or leg is a sleeve, except a brace, and shall meet the color restrictions. d. Wristbands worn by multiple players must be the same solid color: black, white, gray or school color, but may be a different color than the exposed undergarment. Rationale: Even though it is getting much more common to see players wearing the informational wristbands, it is difficult to find them manufactured in a variety of colors; therefore, it would be very difficult for teams to comply with the current rule as written c ART Exposed undergarments, if worn, are considered part of the official uniform. All exposed undergarments shall be a solid, single color: black, white, gray or a school color. c. Garments other than team uniforms such as arm sleeves, leg sleeves, and tights are permissible. Anything worn on the arm or leg is a sleeve, except a brace, and shall meet the color restrictions. EXCEPTION A wristband including one with a playbook attached shall be permitted as long as it is a single color, provided it is not optic yellow. It does not have to match the color of the upper undergarment. It can only be worn on the arm. Rationale: I have watched over 40 high school games to date in three (3) states, PA, WV and OH and not one wristband has matched the color of the upper undergarment. When asked for an interpretation I received back that wristbands had to match the undergarments. If a team has multiple sets of upper undergarments, currently they have to have multiple sets of wristbands/playbooks bands which adds a financial issue ART All equipment shall be inspected by the umpire, and is to be placed outside the dugout/bench prior to the start of the game. Dennis Mader, Burgettstown, PA Kim DeGraw-Cole, Robbinsville, NJ Rationale: Rule 4, Section 1, Article 2 d. already certifies that the players are legally and properly equipped. It should no longer necessary for umpires to check the equipment as the responsibility rests with the coach and administration of the school. Other Rules Affected: a ART All equipment shall be inspected by the umpire, and is to be placed outside the dugout/bench prior to the start of the game. Prior to the start of the game, the umpire-in-chief shall receive verification from each head coach that his/her participants are properly equipped in accordance with NFHS rules. In addition, each Susan Kessock, Frackville, PA 2018 Softball 3 Proposed Rules

4 PENALTY (NEW) coach shall verify that his/her participants are using only legal equipment, including bats that are unaltered from the manufacturer's original design and production and that meet the provisions of 1-5, and helmets that meet the provisions of 1-6. PENALTY: On the first violation of for entering the box with an illegal bat, the penalty for an illegal bat is applied (7-4-2) and the head coach shall be restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game. On the second violation for entering the box with an Illegal bat, the penalty for an Illegal bat is applied and the head coach shall be ejected. On subsequent violations for entering the box with an illegal bat, the penalty for an illegal bat is applied and the designated head coach shall be ejected. On detected violations of for the use of a damaged helmet, the helmet shall be immediately removed from play. Rationale: The head coach and school are ultimately responsible for a team's equipment. Umpires should not have the responsibility to approve equipment before the start of the game. This change would be consistent with other NFHS rules codes which have eliminated requirements for officials to inspect equipment. The coach is responsible to certify the use of only legal equipment pursuant to NFHS Rules as part of the pre-game meeting. No further action should be required on the part of the umpire. Other Rules Affected: ART All equipment shall be inspected by the umpire, and is to be placed outside the dugout/bench prior to the start of the game. PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the head coach of a team that does not have their equipment ready for inspection. Any further delay in placing equipment outside the dugout for inspection will result in the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench area for the remainder of the game. Rationale: A penalty was added for violation of Rule PENALTY: (Arts. 2 through 10) The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender on that team shall be restricted to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game. (Art. 2) A fake tag with- out the ball is obstruction (8-4-3b). (Art. 7) The head coach is also restricted to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game for the a second and each additional violation. NOTE: When a head coach is restricted to the dugout, an assistant coach shall be identified as the head coach for the remainder of the game. Rationale: The language clarifies what penalty should be applied when a team has 2018 Softball 4 Proposed Rules

5 NOTE (NEW) multiple unreported substitutes. Note: When a pitcher is removed by rule and the incoming pitcher has not pitched in the game, it is the umpire's discretion as to the number of warm-up pitches allowed. If the incoming pitcher has already pitched in the game, she will receive 5 warm-up pitches. Vince Rosse, Riverside, CA Rationale: Currently there are no guidelines for warming up the incoming pitcher under these circumstances. The default number of pitches used by the umpires is 5 unless there is inclement weather. Only allowing 5 pitches to a player that is cold could become a safety issue. The note will give guidance to all parties involved. yrule #6 Pitchingp PENALTY PENALTY: (Art. 1) An illegal pitch shall be declared immediately by the umpire (delayed dead-ball signal). The batter is awarded a ball. and base runners are awarded one base without liability to be put out. Dennis Mader, Burgettstown, PA Rationale: I have surveyed umpires for about 3 to 4 months and they would like to see the penalty as proposed above. I believe umpires would be more likely to call the illegal pitch when the penalty is not so severe. I believe umpires know it is an illegal pitch but hesitate calling it because of the baserunners advance. Other Rules Affected: 6-1-2, 3, 4, PENALTY; 6-2-1, 8, 9, PENALTY Case Book Plays Section 6-2-7, 8, 9, PENALTY b ART About the Pitch: b. Once the hands are brought together and are in motion, the pitcher shall not take more than one step which must be forward, toward the batter and simultaneous with the delivery. Any step backward shall begin before the hands come together. The step backward may end before or after the hands come together. The step backwards must occur prior to the pitch when one hand is taken off the ball or the pitcher makes any motion that is part of the windup after the hands have been brought together. Rationale: This is a slight change to help the young student athlete who wishes to pitch softball. She only has to do one thing at a time, hands together, then step backwards as oppose to hands coming together simultaneously with the hands coming together. yrule #8 Batter-Runner and Runnerp 15. NEW ART A batter is awarded first base when: a. a fair batted ball strikes the person, attached equipment, or clothing of an Dennis Mader, Burgettstown, PA 2018 Softball 5 Proposed Rules

6 umpire or a runner. b. (F.P.) a pitched ball is entirely within the batter s box and it strikes the batter or her clothing. No attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch is required. However, the batter may not obviously try to get hit by the pitch. c. (F.P.) a pitched ball (not entirely in the batter s box) not swung at nor called a strike touches any part of the batter s person or clothing. It does not matter if the ball strikes the ground before hitting the batter. The batter s hands are not to be considered part of the bat. EXCEPTION: If no attempt is made to avoid being hit, the batter will not be awarded first base unless it is ball four. Rationale: Rule 8-1-2c describes a situation in which the ball is not in the strike zone (this is a dead ball strike) and is not completely in the batter s box (hit by pitch and awarded first base). In this area between the strike zone and completely in the batter s box, it was intended that the batter still had to make an effort to avoid being hit. This requirement was inadvertently removed when the change to allow a hit by a pitch completely within the batter s box without the batter being required to avoid being hit (Article 2b). The intent of this requirement is evident in the umpire manual where it describes the three situations and how each should be enforced ART In the top of the first inning only, the pitcher and catcher are identified as those players listed on the lineup as the pitcher and catcher; both must face at least the first batter on defense (one pitch). Thereafter, the pitcher and catcher are identified as the last players who physically played that position on defense. The pitcher or catcher must bat and reach base legally (or earn their way on base) in order to be eligible for a courtesy runner EXCEPTION Rationale: This rule only applies to the home team in the bottom of the first inning and only if they had used a courtesy runner in the top of the first. Since this is the only time this requirement is in place, removing this requirement would add consistency to the game. EXCEPTION: When an injury or disqualification occurs in the top of the first inning to the pitcher/catcher identified on the lineup card and she is unable to face the first batter in the bottom of the first inning, the player who ran for her is retroactively her substitute, no longer a courtesy runner. All substitution rules apply and the pitcher/catcher has left the game. If the pitcher/catcher is able to play at another position on the field, the player who ran for her is retroactively her substitute and is no longer a courtesy runner. All substitution rules apply. Vince Rosse, Riverside, CA 2018 Softball 6 Proposed Rules

7 Rationale: The physical demands for the catcher and pitcher's positions might prevent the injured player from being able to face the first batter in the bottom of the 1st inning but they are able to play another position on the field. Currently, the exception infers that the pitcher/catcher's injury is severe enough that they are unable to continue and has left the game. Other Rules Affected: yrule #10 Umpiringp a ART The duties include those listed in and also the following: a. conduct the pregame conference as in Inspect equipment, including batting and catcher s helmets, bats, inspect the condition of the field, define the dugout/bench areas, if necessary, designate the official scorekeeper (9-2-2). Vincent Rosse, Riverside, CA Rationale: 1) When they are checking the equipment and remove an item(s) from the game, mainly bats, there s no way for them to guarantee that that piece of equipment isn t brought back into the game later on. 2) Many of the associations in California have adopted the policy of having the teams place their bats and helmets outside the dugout for inspection. There are a number of reasons for that policy. Sometimes when checking the equipment, there will still be bats or helmets inside the dugout and we ll ask the coach if those bats are being used. We are told no or they bring those bats out also. Again, there s no way to make sure that those bats aren t being used. 3) Several of the teams now have team rooms attached to their dugout and the players are continually going in and out. We can t watch to make sure that any new equipment is brought out by the players. 4) The umpires are put in a precarious situation because there is no way to manage the equipment throughout the game. We re mainly talking about the bats but this could also apply to the helmets. In today s society, if a player was to get hurt by a faulty piece of equipment that the umpire(s) inspected but never really did, puts them in a really bad spot. 5) There is no universal protocol for bat inspection. How to inspect the equipment has been by word of mouth and by protocols from other umpiring associations. If the committee determines that it is best to continue inspecting the equipment, it would be to everyone s benefit if there could be an instructional video to teach the umpires and coaches what constitutes an illegal bat and how to properly inspect the 2018 Softball 7 Proposed Rules

8 equipment. 6) Manufacturers are designing bats that are intended to move internally. This type of design makes it more difficult for the umpire to determine if the bat is flawed or operating as designed. There will be inconsistency in determining if the bat should be removed or stay in the game Softball 8 Proposed Rules