SOFTBALL The following events will be offered at State level competition. Counties/areas may offer additional events at their competitions. Lead-Up Events Regular Events Individual Skills Competition Slow Pitch Team Softball Unified Sports Slow Pitch Team Softball Athletes may compete in one event only. All Softball teams will be considered coed teams. Federation Internationale de Softball (FIS) rules as interpreted by the American Softball Association (ASA) for Coed Slow Pitch Softball, with modifications established by SOI (January, 2010 Official Special Olympics Summer Rules Book) will be followed for all training and competition. Federation Internationale de Softball (FIS) American Softball Association 1900 Park Street 2801 NE 50th Street Plant City, FL 33561 Oklahoma City, OK 73111-7203 www.internationalsoftball.com (405) 424-5266 www.softball.org GENERAL RULES AND MODIFICATIONS OVERVIEW (Detailed info below on pages 2-5) Slow Pitch Team Competition 1. All fields will conform to ASA standards for Coed Slow Pitch Softball. 2. A regulation game shall be 7 innings with a 1½-hour time limit. 3. Mercy rule of 15 runs after four innings or 12 after five innings will be in effect. 4. The maximum number of players on a team will be 15. 5. The extra player (EP) may be used. (1 for Traditional teams or 2 for Unified teams) 6. The ball must be pitched in an underhand manner and should travel in an arc no less than 6 feet and no more than 10 feet. 7. 4-ball, 3-strike count will be used. A foul ball when a batter has two strikes shall be an out. 8. Coaches must remain within the boundaries of the coaches box. 9. NEW RULE FOR 2015-Courtesy runners may be used: - Any eligible player on the official line-up including available substitutes may be used as a courtesy runner. - Only one player per team may receive a courtesy runner for the entire game. - Unified- Only an Athlete may courtesy run for an athlete and only a Partner may courtesy run for a partner. 10. Only balls with an ASA Stamped 52 core / 300 compression maybe used. 11. Only bats marked with ASA softball stamp and are not on the ASA banned list may be used. - Updated banned list can be found at: http://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist_one_page.asp 12. Both batters and base runners must wear helmets. 13. The Tournament Director has the right to change the time limit or 10 run rule due to conditions. 14.NEW RULE FOR 2015: Bat Size Permit partners to use a 32"/32 ounce bat Competition Rules
The Official Special Olympic Sports Rules will govern all Special Olympics softball competition. As in international sports program, Special Olympics has created these rules based upon the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body (NBG) Rules for slow pitch softball and the International Softball Federation (ISF), the World Governing Body Rules for slow pitch softball. ASA/ISF or NGB Rules will be employed except when they conflict with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules, in which such cases, the Official Special Olympics Rules will apply. Maximum Effort (formerly the Honest Effort Rule) The Maximum Effort rule is at the heart of a fair and challenging competition. The Sports Rules Committee will be responsible for enforcing this rule during all competition. Athletes/Unified partners must participate honestly and with maximum effort in all pool games and/or finals. The Head Coach has ultimate responsibility for the conduct of his/her team. Coaches must totally encourage and support this maximum effort on the part of the athletes and team or they may face sanctions from the Sports Rules Committee (SRC). Player Dominance and Meaningful Involvement The Sports Rules Committee will also be responsible for enforcing Meaningful Involvement. Per definition, meaningful Involvement is an effort to optimize participation by all team members (athletes and partners) based on the principle that every player should contribute to the success of the team. By permitting any player to dominate play, other players roles and opportunities are greatly limited. This violates both the spirit and intent of the Special Olympics Unified Sports rules and philosophy and will be addressed according to the standards set forth by each sport s rules and governing ordinances. If an official determines that a player is dominating play, that official shall sanction the player and/or coach. Sanctions will include: warning the player and/or coach, citing the player and/or coach with unsportsmanlike conduct or removing the player and/or coach from the game. The sport-specific enforcement procedures for meaningful involvement will be covered in the coaches meetings. Appeals and Protest Procedures Only the head coach or designated registered coach (in the absence of the head coach) can protest and must do so no later than 20 minutes after the conclusion of a game or an event. He/she must complete the protest form in full in order for the event director to consider the protest. There are three main guidelines for what is considered a situation of protest: 1) misinterpretation of a playing rule, 2) failure of the referee or judge to apply the correct rule to a given situation, and 3) failure to impose the correct penalty for a given violation. Any protest involving divisioning and the judgment of the referee or judge will not be given consideration. Teams and Unified Sports As per SOI Softball Rules, Unified Sports teams must adhere to the following: 1. The roster shall contain a proportionate number of athletes and partners. 2. During competition, the line-up shall never exceed five athletes and five partners (six athletes and six partners if the EP is used) at any time. Failure to adhere to the required ratio results in a forfeit. 3. Each team shall have an adult non-playing coach responsible for the lineup and conduct of the team during competition. 4. The batting order shall be an alternation of athletes and partners. 5. During competition, the position requirements are as follows: two athletes and two partners in both the infield and the outfield, and one athlete and one partner as pitcher and catcher. Teams MAY start a game with less than the proportionate number of athletes and partners (ie. five athletes and four partners). In this case, the team would still need to follow the position requirements, especially for pitcher and catcher,
but would play down a partner in either the infield or outfield. In addition, the team would take an out in the batting order when the missing partner would have been batting, as the SOI rules state there shall be an alternation of athletes and partners. If a team is short an athlete AND partner, they may start the game with eight players, but will take an out in the batting order for the missing athlete and partner. At no time may a team play with more partners than athletes. Nor will a team be permitted to play with five athletes and 3 partners. Should either occur, the team will forfeit the game. Tie Breaker International Time Breaker (ITB) shall be used beginning in the 8th inning or in the first inning after time has expired. The offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that half inning placed on second base. All subsequent innings will begin in this manner until one team has more runs than the other at the end of a complete inning. Points of Emphasis A regulation game shall consist of seven innings. The game will be considered complete if after four full innings of play, one team leads the other by 15 runs or more, OR after five full innings of play, one team leads the other by 12 runs or more. 1. An extra player, referred to as EP, is optional, but if one is used, he/she must be made known prior to the start of the game and be listed on the scoring sheet in the regular batting order. If the EP is used, he/she must be used the entire game (please note #3 below). 2. The EP must remain in the same position in the batting order for the duration of the game. 3. If an EP is used, all 11 must bat (12 in unified play) and any 10 may play defense. Defensive positions may be changed, but the batting order must remain the same. ASA Rule 4, Section 1D: Shorthanded rule allows teams to continue the game with one less player than what they have listed in the line-up. If a team is using the EP and loses a player, they can continue the game under the shorthanded rule, but there will be an out assessed when the missing player is scheduled to bat. A player who has left the game under the shorthanded rule cannot return to play in that game, except when the player leaves the game due to injury. If a team loses a second player without an available substitute, the game will be declared a forfeit. 4. The EP may be substituted for at any time. The substituted EP must be a player who has not yet been in the game. The starting EP may re-enter. 5. When batting, players will take their stance within the lines of the batter s box. 6. The ball must be pitched in an underhand motion and should travel in an arc that is no less than 1.83 meters (6 feet) and no greater than 3.048 meters (10 feet). 7. Each athlete/partner will start their at-bat with a 0-0 count. Four balls constitute a walk, and three strikes constitute an out. If the batter has two strikes and then fouls off the third pitch, he/she shall be declared out. 8. An appeal play is defined as a play in which an umpire is not permitted to make a decision unless he/she is requested to do so by a coach or player. The appeal can be made if a coach or player asks the umpire to make a ruling. 9. The umpires are empowered to make all decisions on the playing field. Protests involving the playing rules of ASA softball or Special Olympics Softball Rules must be made before the next pitch (legal or illegal). Such playing rule protests will be ruled upon by the umpire-in-chief, once the ruling by the umpire-in-chief has been made, play will resume. There are three main guidelines for what is considered a situation of protest: 1) Misinterpretation of a playing rule 2) Failure of the umpire to apply the correct rule to a given situation 3) Failure to impose the correct penalty for a given situation 10. If a coach physically aids a runner while the ball is still in play, that runner will be declared out. Coaches are required to stay within the boundaries of the coaches boxes. 11. Must take a position with both feet firmly on the ground and with one or both feet in contact with the pitcher's plate or selected pitching position, which may be any distance between 12.19m (40 ft) and 16.76m (55 ft) within
the 61cm (24 in) width of the pitcher s plate. Pitchers may adjust their pitching distance, without penalty, if in the judgment of the umpire(s), there is no attempt to gain an advantage. NEW RULE FOR 2015 i. Traditional & Unified Teams Levels 1 & 2 1. Pitching distance will be 45ft-55ft ii. Traditional & Unified Teams Levels 3 & 4 1. Pitching distance will be 40ft-55ft 12. One non-charged pitching conference will be allowed each inning for the purpose of a coach adjusting a pitcher s positioning. Effect- For each additional requested pitching adjustment a conference will be charged. (A pitcher must be replaced after the third charged conference and will be ineligible to pitch for the remainder of that game). 13. For any substitutions not reported by coaches, the athlete/unified partner will be considered an unreported substitute and officially entered in the game. Any corresponding topics related to unreported substitutions will follow ASA rules. All substitutions must be reported through the plate umpire. 14. Mercy run rule: 15-run differential after 4 innings, 12-run differential after 5 innings. 15. Sliding is permitted, but no metal spikes are allowed. 16. Partner dominance no Unified partner shall dominate play. Upon appeal by an opposing coach, any umpire or competition management team member shall have the authority to eject the offending Unified partner and disqualify that player from all remaining games at their discretion. 17. The softball to be used will be ASA Stamped 52 core and 300 compression. 18. Base paths will be set at 65 feet. 19. Courtesy Runner: Any eligible player on the official line-up including available substitutes may be used as a courtesy runner. Only one player per team may receive a courtesy runner for the entire game. i. Please note: Unified- Only an Athlete may courtesy run for an athlete and only a Partner may courtesy run for a partner. ii. Unified teams still only receive one courtesy per game may be an athlete or partner. a. Courtesy Runners 1. A courtesy runner is in the game when announced by the offensive team representative. 2. A courtesy runner whose turn at bat comes while on base: 1. Effect: Will be called out. The courtesy runner will be removed from the base and come to bat. A second courtesy runner cannot be substituted at this time. For safety, a double first base and second home plate with a commit line will be used: First Base: 1. When a play is made on the batter-runner, the defense must use the fair portion and the batter-runner runner the foul portion of the base. Effect: The batter-runner is out when there is a play being made at first base and the batter-runner touches only the fair portion, providing the defense appeals prior to the batter-runner returning to 1B. Once the batter-runner returns to the fair or foul portion of the base, an appeal shall not be honored. 2. On an errant throw pulling the defense off the fair portion of the base into foul ground, the defense and the batter-runner may use either the fair or foul portion. 3. On balls hit to the outfield with no play on the batter-runner advancing to 1B, the batter-runner may touch the fair or foul portion of the base. Should the batter-runner return, the runner and the defense can use the fair or foul portion. 4. On plays at 1B when the batter-runner touches only the fair portion and collides with the fielder about to catch a thrown ball while on the fair portion of the base. Effect: Interference, the ball is dead, the batter-runner is out and runners must return to the last base occupied at the time of the interference. Home Plate: 1. Once a baserunner passes the commitment line defensive players can touch only the regulation home plate and baserunners can only touch the second home plate. Runners must touch the second home plate to be declared safe at home and score a run. All plays at home plate are force outs.
2. A baserunner may not be tagged out after crossing the commitment line. They may be tagged before crossing the line. 3. Should a defensive player touch the second home plate and still touch the original home plate before the runner reaches the second home plate, the runner is out. 4. If the runner touches the original home plate, the runner is out and the ball remains live. 5. Once a runner passes the commitment line, the runner cannot return to third base. Effect: The runner is called out if the runner returns and the ball remains live. 6. If the runner has passed the commitment line, and continues running on the original foul line, and interferes with the fielder taking a throw at or in contact with the original home plate. Effect: Interference is called, which results in a dead ball and the runner is out. Uniform Information / Equipment Information All team uniforms must be alike in color, trim and style. Undershirts are not mandatory, but if worn, those that wear them must be alike and solid colored. No player may wear ragged, frayed or slit sleeves on exposed sleeves. Sliding pants, while not required, must be of uniform solid color. Numbers must be of contrasting color, worn on the back of the uniform and must be at least 6 high. Players without numbers will be prohibited from playing. No two team members may have identical numbers. Caps, visors, headbands, etc. are optional for players. If worn, they can be mixed but must be worn properly. Plastic visors are NOT permitted. If worn, headbands cannot be around the neck. Handkerchiefs are permitted for medical reasons only. Shoes must be worn at all times. Official shoes must be made with either canvas or leather uppers or similar materials. No metal spikes permitted. Catcher must wear a face mask and catcher s helmet (throat protector is strongly suggested but not required). All batters and base runners must wear batter s helmets with chin straps. Any individual serving as a 1st or 3rd base coach is strongly encouraged to wear a batting helmet. Bats, helmets and gloves must be provided by each team. Only bats included on the ASA approved bat list may be used. Exposed jewelry, which is judged by the umpire to be dangerous, must be removed and may not be worn during the game. Medical bracelets should be taped.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA ROSTER / LINEUP CARD ---- SOFTBALL County: Team Name: Address: Level: GAME DATE: City / Zip: Email: Uniform Color(s): Home: Away: Traditional Team: Unified Team: PeeWee (8-11 years) Junior (12-15 years): Senior (16-22 years) Masters (23 yrs/ over): Head Coach: Assistant(s): E-mail E-mail The age of the oldest player on the team will determine the age division of the team Athlete Names DOB Uniform # Home Away (S)tarter Unified Sports (P)artner Maximum number of players: 15 Indicated starting players (including the pitcher) must bat in order during each divisioning game and for the first 3 innings of the first scheduled game of the Tournament. Unified Sports teams must have the following composition during all games: 5 athletes and 5 partners. There must be 2 athletes and 2 partners in both the infield & outfield and one athlete and partner as pitcher and catcher. The batting order must alternate athletes and partners (for Unified Sports events only). The Extra Player (EP) will not be used. Must have 10 player to start each Game Place a P in the appropriate column for all Partners on a Unified Sports Team