NASSAU COUNTY SOFTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIA TION FASTPITCH SOFTBALL RULES CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS

Transcription

1 NASSAU COUNTY SOFTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIA TION FASTPITCH SOFTBALL RULES CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS Marie Terc - Rules Interpreter - (516) Chairperson - Frank Sheehan PITCHING DISTANCE - NYSPHSAA has adopted the 43' pitching distance for Varsity and Junior Varsity Fast-Pitch Softball. When standing on the pitcher's plate, an umpire's shoulders should be more in line with 1 st and 3 rd base. In Nassau County the JHS, otherwise called Modified Level, will again try to use a pitching distance of predominantly 40'. According to the new State Handbook, the Modified Level in other sections of NYS could have a home team set the pitching distance anywhere from 36' to 43'. DOUBLE BASE AT FIRST BASE - Make sure that both sides of the double base, white and contrasting color, are of equal thickness.(5" Max) Never use chalk to draw two bases into the dirt at first base if a double base is not available. Without a legally constructed double base at first base, at all levels of play, do not play. SAFETY GRIP - The safety grip of a legal bat has been better defined. It may be made of cork, tape or other synthetic material and must be permanently attached and cover the handle region of the bat for 10" to 15". No bare metal may be exposed. Any legal attachment to the grip, such as a choke up device, must be attached with safety tape. Resin, pine tar, or spray substances are permissible on the safety grip only. BAT ENGRAVING - Identifying the bat with player's name or number on either end of the bat by means of laser marking, engraving or painting is permissible. ASA NON-APPROVED BATS AND BALLS - Go to for listings of current approved and non-approved bats and balls with specific certification marks. The only two approved warm-up bat attachments are still the Power Wrap and the Swing Sock. Remember, just because at bat has been approved in the past by ASA doesn't mean it is still approved. UMPIRE MASK- Historically, the plate umpire has worn a black mask. Now, the mask may also be SILVER (or Steel-Grey), with black or tan padding. SHOES WITH METAL SPIKES - Not allowed. If found on a player, tell them to remove them. If found to be worn by same player again, eject her. Even after a blanked pre-game team warning, each player gets one chance to remove metal spiked shoes if inadvertently worn during play. Of course, no player would be allowed to play without any footwear at all. 1

2 ASA Non-Approved Bat l..ist with Certification Marks 2/8/2011 Combat lurn i!ill Easton Easton SCX22 Synergy 2 Louisville Slugger FPC305 Catalyst (-8) Louisville Slugger SB304 Louisville Slugger SB34 Genesis '~~~~~.~.m~. Louisville Slugger SB404 Louisville Slugger SB73V TPS Voltage Miken MSF Freak ~.rrlllrlll.l~ New Miken Ultra Miken Ultra Maxload ~ '~~~~~~~I~ Nokona Tomahawk Schutt Red/Silver Schutt Bat EST9.;.;.".... ::::...J.::::::::::::::::::::::::::\\.U:.::::::::::::::: QESTFP SBWK(Wicked) ::t: N J......){:::~::;:::::?:::::::::::::::t::::::I.I:.1I4_:~:: ~ : --- SBWKA....:::::::::::::;::: :::{::::@:::::::ftt;;;.;!1;1~"~~;j )~I!I!.I.MJ. nll! WWSC Wicked Comp, (SP Only).).. U WWSCA :)f1 rrrmo] rtl t.fll'" XEST9X XGoid XPST4 XRed XWICKX Wicked (SP Only) ~': For a complete list of approved bats go to the certified equipment section of Last Updated: January 5, 2011

3 MODIFIED FAST PITCH SOFTBALL Marie Terc - Rules Interpreter PITCHING DISTANCE in NASSAU COUNTY will be 40' unless for some unusual reason an existing secured pitcher's plate is set in place as close as 36'. ALL BASES must be secured in place. If there is a loose home plate, inform both teams beforehand. the pitcher's plate is not secured, a line may be drawn on the ground for the pitcher to pitch from. If Safety and Liability Mandates - Without a legal DOUBLE BASE at first base, the game cannot be played. Both portions of a legal double base must be of equal height. Without CHINSTRAPS the game cannot be played. Without an approved offensive FACE GUARD/FACE MASK the game cannot be played. 15 RUN RULE after five or more complete innings. No visiting team can win by the 15 ru n rule in any partial inning. Innings #1 through #6 allow no more than three outs or five runs. Unlimited runs are allowed in the 7'h inning. ALL ASA and NYS FASTPITCH RULES are in effect including bunting, stealing, dropped third strike & pitcher/catcher courtesy rulings. NO METAL SPIKED SHOES! There is no "must slide" rule. A minimum of9 players BAT and 9 PLAY THE FIELD. 10 may BAT and 10 may PLAY THE FIELD, you can have a team of 9 playing against a team of 10. There is a possible 11 PLA YER DP GAME (interpreted as 11 BA T and ANY 10 (of those 11) PLA Y THE FIELD). YOU CANNOT START WITH 8, CANNOT PLA Y WITH 8 at any point during a modified (JHS) game as per long standing Section VIII Athletic Council Ruling. If you started with 10 and are forced to play with 9 under the Non-Injury provision of the shorthanded rule, an "out" should be recorded each time the missing batter's batting position comes up. However, if going shorthanded due to an injury, the re-entry rule may be waived and any available substitute player can be used. The game is ended if you go down to only 8 legally eligible players for a non-injury situation or if no subs at all exist when going down to 8 for an injury. NO NEW INNING after generally allotted two-hour game time from when you actually start the game, not the scheduled starting time on your assignment sheet. For instance, a game starting at 4: 15 can continue until no new inning being allowed to begin after 6:15. There is no such thing as "all play ceases after two hours;" we finish the inning as necessary". NO extra innings are allowed. A Tie is a Tie! REMINDERS - Although, in NYS, there is no penalty for accidentally having an unreported substitution, ALL substitutions should be reported to the plate umpire and opponent's scorekeeper. All starters and all subs may re-enter once. Make sure they re-enter in the same batting position on the lineup card. You get three defensive conferences per game - 7 innings. You get one offensive conference per inning. NON-APPROVED BATS - Go to Internet site, under heading equipment/bats/balls. Identification by painting, laser or engraving on bat knob or end is allowed. CONCERNING PITCHING - The rulebook re-emphasizes that the pitcher should initially take a position with two feet on the pitcher's plate, with hands separated, and with the ball in the glove or pitching hand. After this, once the hands are brought together and then separated, the pitch begins. A pitcher who leaves the game may re-enter to pitch again or play any other position.

4 HELPFUL HINTS FOR THE TEST AND IMPORTANT REMINDERS CONDUCT OF SCRIMMAGES - No line-up cards are to be used and there will be unlimited substitutions, if desired, as well as batting more than 9 players in the batting order, if desired. We usually do scrimmages for service credit, so, we will abide by coaches' wishes. The coaches are responsible to abide by NYSPHSAA scrimmage procedures as further outlined in the NYS Handbook. For a paid scrimmage, there are some stipulations for 21 outs and 7 innings and 2 innings involving situation play such as tiebreaker circumstances in that handbook. MOST MISSED QUESTIONS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS - Definitely study the questions and answers for the '09 and '10 tests posted at nassaucountvsoftbal/officia/sassociation.com. Many questions from multiple categories are repeated again this year. NYS will accept both answers for #20 on the test. Note also that in answering any section of the written test about a RUNNER, the definition of a RUNNER is a player who has already reached or passed first base. Reminders: 1. To be judged as, "passing a runner", the umpire must consider the whole body, not just arms or feet. There must be "space" between the two runners. 2. Casebook ruling - Bases loaded and batter is awarded first base on a walk. The runner from 2nd to 3rd slides or runs past 3rd base. She is tagged out before the run scores. ALLOW the run to score. This is an award play and not a timed play. 3. You can only get one out on a violation of the circle rule if more than one runner leaves a base before the pitched ball is released. Last year, one of Nassau's "nonfinest" called a triple play! 4. You can have verbal interference, but you can't have verbal obstruction. 5. When you want to indicate that there was no contact or that there is no rules violation taking place, a simple "safe" signal might occasionally be used to communicate to all concerned. 6. On judging tag plays at a base or diving catches on batted balls, the eyes should follow the ball flight and then when the ball is within 15 to 20 feet of the play, "FLASH" your eyes to the fielder's glove. 7. The old, "Pause, Read, React" to a play has been replaced by a new phrase, "Stop, Set, Focus, Call the Play." 8. For a plate umpire, there are designated steps to calling a pitch. Once the pitcher is on the rubber, be alert to your tasks at hand. Move to the set position as she begins her motion or certainly by the time she has separated the hands to begin the pitch. Work the slot with a wide stance. Have your head, a head above the catcher's head and look down and through the entire zone. Track the pitch all the way into the catcher's glove. Read the pitch (ball or strike). High outside and low inside are difficult pitches for anyone to have a chance of hitting. Widen out your strike zone in the middle of a batter's personal strike zone. Hold momentarily to make sure of your decision. Call it! Stay down on a "ball" call; stand up for a "strike" call. It has never been wise to be an umpire who squeezes in on the strike zone. Be consistent in all. cases throughout your game. 9. There are two special situations where a declared infield fly can be caught by an outfielder. #! - When that outfielder was positioned in the infield at the time of the pitch & #2 - when an infielder who could make the catch with ordinary effort is not the one who catches the ball because an outfielder runs into her fielding area. 2

5 10. The two umpires who go to the States this year in Glens Falls must review NYSSO "G2 Three-Man System Mechanics" beforehand with umpires who attended the 2010 State Tournament and study the 2011 NYSSO Manual. 11. Once again this year, experienced base umpires may try the "Rim Play". When a ball is batted into left field or left-center, with no one on, the first base umpire may move directly toward second base ("B" Position) without coming into the infield to make a call should the runner advance to 2 nd or simply round and return to 1st on a throw back to the infield. If the runner advance to 3 rd, the umpire would most likely have to let the runner pass and then hustle to cut across the infield to make a call at 3 rd. 12. NYSSO and NYSPHSAA want more strict enforcement of on-deck batter rules and better restriction of players and bench personnel to the dugout area during play (Dugout conduct). There are many liability and other safety concerns that coaches and umpires need to address in these two areas. See Nassau web-site document. 13. By contract, we MUST read or paraphrase the Sportsmanship Card at some point during the pre-game conference with captains (feel free to invite coaches as well). For liability sake, ask the coaches, "Do you believe that your players are legally equipped for today's contest?" 14. For study, the 2011 NYS Softball Committee State Rules and NYSSO Interpretations that are different from the ASA rulebook are posted on the Nassau Board web-site. 15. Note: Section VIII has a 12 run-rule for V & JV games and a 15 run-rule for Modified (JHS) games. We do not want a problem with any umpire calling a run-rule game too early. No matter what the score differential, there is usually a 5 complete inning minimum play and no inning (5, 6, or 7) ends early if the home team needs to bat so that they have a chance to not be run-ruled. 16. READ THE RULEBOOK THROUGH AND THROUGH. Some of the definitions in Rule #1 are not covered in the body of the rules elsewhere. For example, catch and no catch interpretations or fair and foul ball rulings. Read through two or three rules a day for a few days as you study for the test. 17. It's simply not fair that a batter be allowed by a plate umpire to have any part of her foot outside the lines of the batter's box prior to a pitch. Use the "Hold Up the Pitch" signal and ask the batter to "Get into the box." For Non-compliance, use the 10 seconds rule and call a dead ball "Strike" on her. 18. Since Modified Play (JHS) uses all ASA and NYSOO rules, a courtesy runner for the catcher or pitcher can also be used. 19. Fees for 2011 are: Varsity - $115, Junior Varsity - $93, Modified - $ NYSSO has a web-site, nyssoump.org. The 2011 Saratoga Springs Umpires' School will be Sept We can send 3 umpires free of charge. Marie says, WHAT IS IT ABOUT SOFTBALL UMPIRING THAT MAKES IT SO GREAT? LET IT BE YOU! 3