NCOA Softball 2018 Newsletter Volume 6, Issue 8 April 3, 2018 Touching All Bases Group Leadership Corner Hello all, hope the season is going well for you. Just a couple of reminders when it comes to the positions listed on your assignments: for Varsity games: Plate is responsible for completing the game report. The two officials assigned to work the game will need to contact each other and decide who will work the plate and the bases; what color shirt and type of hat; match your partner if possible. When completing the game report, keep it simple just put the score in and only add comments if there were issues on the field or if you had an ejection. If you happen to have an ejection, please call the assignors and follow up with an emailed incident report. If you are working a JV assignment, it is your responsibility to complete the game report. The evaluation system is operating on Arbiter as well, so if you are on the extended evaluation team, please use the system to provide valuable feedback to your fellow officials. Overall, we believe things are going well and please don t hesitate to contact us if you are having any issues or concerns. Macsports.14@gmail.com or call 1-916-800-5414. Thanks and enjoy your games!! Frank and Carl NCOA Softball Group Co-Leaders From Your JSS Assignors: (Rule 2 Section 26) Article 1: Halted or Suspended Game NOTE: The RED "R" on the right side of the game number... the "R" stands for report. Click on the "R" and it opens the dialog box. The process for a game that is HALTED due to rain is as follows: The home plate umpire is to note on the back of the lineup card, the situation when halted (score, inning, the batter due up, etc.), sign it and give to the Home Team coach. Next: The highest-ranking umpire (this may be the Plate or Base umpire) must click on the RED R in the Notes column and submit the game information in the Comments block at the bottom of the screen. When complete; click on SAVE and exit the report. The RED R is now YELLOW, if saved properly, and notifies the Assignors that there is a report on the game to review. Please DO NOT check the VERIFY button as this is done by the Assignor or the Payroll Secretary. As you are aware, the rainy season is now upon us. Schools are frantically trying to get their games in and waiting to the last minute to cancel. We had 2 assignments that the umpires showed up at the game site only to be informed that the game was canceled without notification
to the Assignors. This MUST be reported in the Arbiter Report Section by the highest-ranking umpire. (Note: this may be the Plate or Base Umpire.) Two recent proper examples of game reports: 1. Umpires showed for assignment; met with both coaches; the decision was made by the coaches that the field was determined to be unplayable at that point. 2. The game was suspended in the top of the 2nd inning due to rain. Franklin was winning 3-0, Pleasant Grove had runners on 1st and 2nd base with 1 out. The next batter due up was the DP, B. Merrihew in the number 7 spot in the batting order. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Jim or Dave. We appreciate your support and understanding; THANK YOU. Dave & Jim Important Information: Remember your time/run rule limits. Per CIF Sac-Joaquin Section bylaws, Junior Varsity games have a 7 inning or 2-hour time limit and no run rule. You do not have the option to establish a JV run rule! No new inning after the 2-hour mark! conference is NOT a warning just as the coaches verifying that the player will be legally uniformed is not a warning. The head coach still needs to verify but if later in the game a player is using a piece of equipment that does not meet the standards set forth in our books, we will issue a warning and the next time, the player and head coach will be restricted to the bench for the remainder of the game. * Uniform and Equipment The official uniform for NCOA Softball umpires: The official shirt for NCOA Softball is Powder Blue or Navy (no logos)(short or Long Sleeve) Heather Gray Slacks Plain Navy Jacket (no stripes or piping around shoulders)or NEWnavy bluepullover/zip-up jacket with the piping on the shoulders NCOA Navy Blue Hat or NEWstyle hat Gray or Navy Ball Bag Please note: All official uniform attire must match your partner. Varsity games have no time limit, rather there is a 10 run mercy rule in place along with a 7- inning limit. Most importantly, you go to tiebreaker in the top of the 10th inning and not before! This holds true for both Varsity and Junior Varsity. NFHS has determined that the verification of equipment at the pre-game
Hats: The new style hat is still available. The email address to order hats is https://www.newcitysportsco.com/productpage/ncoa-softball If you go to the web address, you ll see what is being offered. Cost is $19 per hat. You can also purchase this hat at D1 Sports. 2018 is transition year, in that you can wear the new or old style as long as you match your partner. New style hats will be worn for 2018 playoffs. Leadership is still interested in finding out if you still have not received your previously ordered hats. Please email ncoaump16@gmail.com if this is you! For Your Toolbox REFLECTIVE MATERIALS Reference is made back to the 2017 Softball Rules Book pages 83-84, Points of Emphasis for Uniforms. Uniforms Committee discussed concerns about the use of glitter or reflective material on hair control devises. Coaches and players are reminded that a uniform shall not have any reflective adornments. Reflective materials on ribbons, bows, and headbands, including glitter and rhinestones, are considered illegal and should not be permitted. An expansion of the language in the book also stated - NO GLITTER IS ALLOWED ON THE EYE BLACK either. ***************************************************** Plays of the Week come from the State CIF Rules Interpreter: Play of the Week #2 R1 is at second base and R2 is at first base. The offensive coach reports to the plate umpire that he wants to enter a substitute to run for R2. As the two are reviewing the change in their respective lineup cards, the substitute goes in and replaces R1, a starter who was previously substituted for and re-entered earlier in the game. Nobody notices the mistake. The plate umpire reports the change to the opposing head coach and still no issues. On the next pitch, the ball eludes the catcher and both runners advance. The offensive head coach, standing in the third-base box ten feet away from his player, realizes that she's the substitute who was supposed to run for R2, not R1. The offensive coach requests time, goes to the plate umpire to let them know that the substitute screwed up and wants to put that substitute on second base and return R1, the re-entered starter, to third base. The defensive coach goes to the plate umpire and lets them know that the substitute is either running for the wrong player or that the plate umpire announced the substitution incorrectly. What s your call? Answer: This one had several twists and turns that we needed to consider as work toward a resolution. So here s the answer.
First let s discuss what to do if the plate umpire incorrectly announced the substitution as implied by the defensive coach. We do have the right in Rule 10 to correct any situation where our actions put a player or players in jeopardy. The plate umpire would correct the error and explain it to both coaches at the same time and most likely take a little bit of grief from the defensive coach. There is still that line that the defensive coach cannot cross and the plate umpire should do all that they can to prevent the situation from escalating out of control. By rule we have an illegal substitution. Once the umpire records that substitute entering for R2, they are locked to that batting position. However, they are now playing offense in the incorrect batting position in the lineup. Also as 3-3-5 states, a starter and any substitute for that starter may not be in the game at the same time. A violation results in illegal substitution. As a result, this would be ruled as an illegal substitute and subject to the penalties in Rule 3-4. Now that we have an illegal substitution, we next need to determine how to handle both R1 and R2, and the illegal substitute. That brings up two questions that we need to consider. 1) Is or can a pitch be considered a play? 2) Is an illegal substitution considered a substitution at the time it happened and does the substitution rules apply? I believe that the answer to both of these questions is yes Based on both questions being yes, here s the second half of the ruling. The illegal substitute is declared out and removed from 3rd base. Because the illegal substitute was on base at the time it was brought to the attention of the plate umpire, the play" is nullified and runner(s) not put out on the play return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch (3-2-5). R2 is placed at 1st base. There is no replacement for R1 on 3rd base. Play continues unless the out by the illegal substitution was the third out. Since R1 has left the game for the second time, she no longer can re-enter the game. The coach would be able to put in a legal substitute at the appropriate time. Corrected Answer: So to reset the play, S1 enters the game for R2 but actually replaces R1. After a pitch they both steal a base and the offensive coach notices and tells the umpire. At this point we have an illegal substitute as S1 and R2 are both in the game at the same time. So, S1 is called out and restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game. Since S1 who was in the game for R2 has been called out, R2 is removed from the bases. R1 would be placed back on 2B since, in this case, S1 was a reported substitute for R2 so they were not unreported, they simply went to the wrong location and in doing so became an illegal player. Since R1 was never substituted for, she never actually left the game either, so her reentry status would not come into play. She also did not abandon her base as there was a player running in her position, so there would be no out for that either. Play of the Week #3 The visiting team lists Johnson as the starting pitcher, batting third in the order. Johnson gets a base hit in the first and third inning; courtesy runner Adams runs for her both times. With the visiting team leading 6-0, Jones replaces Johnson as the pitcher in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jones gives up two runs in the bottom of the fifth and three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, with bases loaded, the visiting team s coach re-enters Johnson for Jones and tells the umpire, Johnson will pitch the seventh inning. Johnson singles to drive in two runs. The coach sends in courtesy runner Adams to run for Johnson What s your call?
Answer: Illegal. Johnson was not the last player to physically play the position of the pitcher, so Adams may not run for her as a courtesy runner. Johnson must run for herself or be replaced by a legal substitute. If she is replaced by a substitute, she is no longer eligible to re-enter and pitch the bottom of the seventh. There was some discussion regarding whether the play at 1st base would be considered an appeal play. That s a topic for us down the road. However, Rule 9-1-1d specifically addresses that question. A run does not score if the runner advances to home plate when a third out is declared on an appeal play resulting in a force out. This play takes precedence if enforcing it would negate a score. Play of the Week #4 R1 is on 3rd base and R2 is on 2nd base with one out and B4 has a 1-2 count. On the next pitch, B4 swings and misses. The pitch gets away from the catcher and R1 comes home and scores while R2 advances to 3rd base. F1 is covering home when the catcher retrieves the ball and throws to F1 but the ball gets by her. R2 heads for home and is tagged out. B4, who was coaching the runners, did not advance to 1st base and then enters the dugout after the tag on the second runner. What s your call? Answer: We all agree that by the end of this play, we will have three outs and the half inning is over. The main question is whether the run by R1 counts. Rule 8-2-4 tells us that the batter-runner is out if she fails to advance to first base and enters the dugout after a dropped third strike which has occurred. Is it now a timing play that the umpires have to be aware of when the batter-runner enters the dugout. Rule 9-1-1a helps answers that question. A run does not score if the runner advances to home plate during action in which the third out is made by the batter-runner before touching 1st base. The end result of the play is that there are three outs and the run does not count.
NEWSLETTER QUIZ Each newsletter will include a 10-15 question true/false quiz for your enjoyment. 1. Once a game has started, if it is discovered that the pitching distance is incorrect, the correction shall be made immediately. 2. A double 1st base may be a single 15 x 30 unit or two 15 x 15 units that are flush with one another. 3. A base runner establishes her own base path when she is not being played upon. 4. An altered bat was once legal but has been structurally changed. 5. A non-approved bat is a bat that does not meet ASA specifications 6. A player in the game may wear earrings provided they are covered by tape. 7. It is legal for S1 to substitute for the starting pitcher F1 in the third inning, and then reenter the original pitcher in the fifth inning in the same position in the batting order. 8. Substitutions may be reported to the plate umpire at the time of the change or projected for a future change. 9. Substitution rules are in effect after the umpire-in-chief accepts the lineup cards from both coaches before the game. 10. After taking the catcher's signal, the pitcher must bring the hands together in front of the body for between 1 and 10 seconds before releasing the ball. 11. The pitcher may legally remove herself from the pitcher s plate before or after the hands come together by stepping back from the plate with both feet. 12. When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, all outs on the play stand if the defensive team properly appeals. 13. The ball is live and a runner may attempt to advance if she is hit by a fair batted ball that has been touched by a fielder. 14. A batter-runner who reaches 1st base safely and then overruns or overslides the base may always return to that base without liability to be put out. 15. Obstruction is called on F2 when she is about to receive the ball while blocking home plate and comes in contact with the runner sliding into home. Answers 1. ANS: T REF: 1-1-9 2. ANS: T REF: 1-2-1 note 3. ANS: T REF: 2-3-2 note 4. ANS: T REF: 2-4-2a 5. ANS: T REF: 2-4-2b 6. ANS: F REF: 3-2-12; 3-6-1 7. ANS: T REF: 3-3-2 note 8. ANS: F REF: 3-3-2 9. ANS: T REF: 4-1-2b 10. ANS: T REF: 6-1-1c 11. ANS: T REF: 6-1-1f 12. ANS: T REF: 7-1-2 penalty 2 13. ANS: T REF: 8-4-1f; 8-8-6 14. ANS: F REF: 8-4-2b; 8-7-4c 15. ANS: T REF: 8-4-3b; 2-36