NCOA Softball Sacramento 2017 Study Session #5 Questions Instructions: There are True/False and Multiple Response questions. You are to mark your answer(s) to the questions on the quiz sheet. There will be more than one correct answer for the Multiple Choice questions. The number of correct answers will be in parenthesis after the question. Provide the entire rule reference with your answer. 1. R2 occupies 2nd base when B3 singles to center. F8 fires to the plate as R2 attempts to score. F2 misses the tag and sliding R2 misses the plate. What are your calls? (3) a. The plate umpire will hesitate and then declared R2 out for missing the plate. b. The plate umpire will hesitate slightly and call and signal that R2 is safe. c. The plate umpire will not make a call until the play has concluded. d. The plate umpire will make a safe signal and call, No tag. e. It is an appeal play if F2 dives and tags R2 before she touches home plate. f. It is a legal play and R2 is out if F2 tags R2 before she touches the plate g. If no appeal is made and R2 enters the dugout, the plate umpire will declare R2 out for abandoning her efforts to run the bases. 2. Which of these statements about a force out are true? (3) a. Occurs when a base runner is out when doubled off her base after a caught fly. b. Occurs when a runner is forced out at a base because the batter becomes a runner. c. Cannot occur on a tag out. d. Can occur on an appeal play. e. Cannot be removed during the playing action. f. Cannot occur after a legally caught fly ball. g. Can occur after the defensive team puts out the batter-runner. 3. A state association may, on an individual basis, permit a player to participate while wearing a different style uniform for religious reasons. a. True b. False
4. At the pregame conference, the home team tells the plate umpire that his/her FLEX is pitching and his DP will be playing first base when they go out on the field. The umpire tells the coach the player listed on the line-up card must play at first base for at least one batter in the first inning before the DP can move to first base. a. True b. False 5. With R1 on 2nd base with no outs, B2 hits for extra bases. While the ball is in the outfield, R1 maliciously crashes into F2 who is standing between 3rd base and home. R1 continues on and touches home plate. What are your calls? (3) a. Declare the ball dead immediately. b. Call R2 out. c. Allow the run to score. d. Eject R2 from the game. 6. While in the pitching position, the pitcher must take (or simulate taking) a signal from the catcher. a. True b. False 7. The visiting coach asks about the home team s pitcher s feet in relation to the pitcher s plate. What are your calls? (3) a. Only one foot is required on the pitcher s plate prior to delivery. b. Two feet are required to be on or in contact with the pitcher s plate prior to the delivery. c. A backward step may be taken after the hands have been brought together. d. A backward step may be taken before the hands have been brought together. e. No backward step may be taken. f. The backward step may end before or after the hands come together. 8. B1 bats with a 3-2 count. As F1 begins her motion, B1 steps out of the batter s box and F1 stops her delivery. What are your calls? (2) a. That s an illegal pitch on F1. b. That s an automatic strike on B1. c. The umpire will call No pitch. d. No penalties are invoked and play will begin anew.
9. B1 swings and hits a ball straight down on home plate in fair territory. The ball rebound straight up and again strikes B1 s bat in fair territory. At the time of the second contact B1 has both feet in the batter s box. What are your calls? (2) a. B1 is out for again hitting a fair ball in fair territory. b. The ball is dead. c. That is a foul ball. d. The ball is live. 10. The plate umpire notices that B1 steps into the batter s box with an altered bat. What are your calls? (4) a. The umpire will remove the altered bat from the game. b. The umpire will wait for an appeal from the defensive team. c. The umpire will declare B1 out. d. The umpire will eject B1 from the game. e. The umpire will eject the head coach from the game. f. The umpire will declare a penalty strike on B1. g. There is no penalty unless B1 hits the ball. 11. R1 occupies 1st base with no outs. R1 legally breaks for 2nd base as B2 hits a looping fly ball to right-center field. F6 moves to her left to simulate fielding a ground a ball and R1 races beyond 2nd towards 3rd. F9 makes an outstanding running catch and guns R1 out at 1st base. What are your calls? (3) a. F6 is charged with obstruction. b. F6 can be ejected from the game if her actions cause an injury. c. The umpire will rule to nullify the obstruction. d. The ball is live. e. The ball is delayed-dead. f. The ball is dead. g. The play stands. h. Play resumes with one out. 12. R1 is on 1st base when B2 hits a hard one-bounce smash to F3 in fair ground. R1 is standing on 1st base when F3 touches the bag. F3 then tags R1. What are your calls? (2) a. Both R1 and B2 are out. b. R1 is out c. B2 is out. d. The following runner is out when tagged. e. R1 is safe.
13. It is an infield fly when: (3) a. With two outs and runner on 1st and 2nd, B5 hits a fly ball in the infield that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort. b. A properly declared infield fly bounces untouched on fair ground and settles in foul territory before touching 1st base or 3rd base. c. A properly declared infield fly bounces untouched in foul territory and settles in fair territory before touching 1st base or 3rd base. d. An infielder intentionally drops a properly declared infield fly that results in two baserunners being tagged out. 14. R1 is on 2nd base and R2 is on 1st base with no outs. What are your calls? (5) a. An infield fly can be called any time first base is occupied with fewer than two outs. b. A bunt can be an infield fly if batted high into the air. c. A looping fly about ten feet above the ground that goes directly to F6 is an infield fly. d. The ball is live if an infield fly drops and remains on fair ground. e. The ball is dead if R1 interferes with F6 who is fielding the ball. f. R1 and B3 are out if R1 interferes with F6 who is fielding the ball. g. A line drive cannot be declared an infield fly. 15. R1 is on 1st base with two outs and a 1-2 count on B4. The pitch bounces in front of the plate and B4 swings and hits the ball sharply and directly to F2 s glove. The ball deflects off F2 s chest protector and F2 then firmly grasps the ball. B4 bolts and is safe at 1st without a play while R1 goes to 2nd. What are your calls? (3) a. That is a third strike on B4. b. That s a foul ball. c. B4 is out. d. B4 and R1 is safe. e. The ball is live. f. The ball is dead. 16. B2 hits a hard ground ball to F4. R1, from 1st base, unintentionally hinders F4 during the play. What are your calls? (2) a. R1 is out b. The ball is dead. c. The ball remains live and in play. d. If in the umpire s judgment, a double play was prevented, both R1 and B2 are out.
17. In order for a plate umpire to call an accurate and consistent strike zone, the umpire must: (pick the best answer) a. Visualize the zone and focus on the ball as it is being released from the pitcher s hand. b. The body is set and locked in a stationary position before the pitch is released. c. Track the pitch in with only slight head movement. d. Pause after the ball is in the catcher s glove or hits the ground, before making your call. e. Be consistent with timing, voice, and zone. f. All of the above are important and should be employed by all umpires, every pitch. 18. In order for a plate umpire to call an accurate and consistent strike zone, the umpire must: (pick the best answer) a. Be in the slot, between the catcher and the batter. b. Adjust head height to align the eyes with the top of each batter s strike zone. c. Have a heel/toe alignment to see down and through the strike zone. d. All of the above are important and should be employed by all umpires, every pitch.
Strike Zone Mechanics Topics Outline Week 5
Definition - Rule 2-56-3 The strike zone is the space over home plate which is between the batter's forward armpit and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural batting stance Any part of the ball passing through the strike zone in flight shall be considered a strike. The batter's strike zone shall be determined by the umpire according to the batter's usual stance Stance Heel-toe or other acceptable stance Set up not close or too far away from the catcher must see complete plate and the ball from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's glove or the ground as it passes through or out of the strike zone rotating head and eyes toward the pitcher will assist in seeing the ball all the way into the catcher's glove bend at the knees not the waist; back should be as straight as possible with a slight tilt forward to bring your head into the proper position Set position start in the slot GPA - good pelvic alignment have pelvis aligned with the outside front corner of the plate no lower than the top of the strike zone in relationship to the batter go set at the start of the pitch o when hands separate
The Pitch track the ball from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's glove use a slight head movement guided by your nose do not exaggerate! use good timing see the pitch, pause, make the call verbal call is from the set position, visual call from the upright position strong hammer motion swinging strike is visual only; no verbal call is made strike three mechanic - develop one that is good for you foul tip - brush fingers with other hand Giving the Count when? when the next pitch might mean some action how? both arms above the head balls with consecutive fingers on the left hand strikes with consectuive fingers on the right hand give both the number of balls and strikes every time you give the count 3 balls and no strikes no balls and 2 strikes After Each Pitch step back, relax, reset and restart the process allows for refocusing 2017 NFHS Points of Emphasis Pitching 1. There has been a noticeable increase in the use of wristbands to communicate pitching signals in the last few years. Typically, the pitcher is behind and not in contact with the pitcher s plate when this occurs. While in this position, the pitcher must take (or simulate taking) a signal from the catcher. Even if the pitcher takes the actual signal behind and not in contact with the pitcher s plate she must comply to this section of the rule by simulating taking the signal from the catcher once she is on the pitcher s plate with her hands still separated.
Then the pitcher must bring the hands together in front of the body for not less than one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball. The hands may be motionless or moving. 2. Rule 6-1-1 states that the pitcher shall take a position with the pivot foot on or partially on the top surface of the pitcher's plate and the non-pivot foot in contact with or behind the pitcher's plate. Both feet must be on the ground within or partially within the 24-inch length of the pitcher's plate. 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. 3. NFHS Softball s pitching rule supports a wide range of pitching styles by allowing a pitcher to start with both feet on the pitcher s plate, one foot on and one foot behind or to step backward as a part of their pitching motion. The NFHS softball committee continues to believe the pitching rule, as written, allows players the greatest opportunity to pitch at the high school level. Uniforms The Committee discussed concerns about the use of glitter or reflective materials on hair control devices. 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. A headband made of elastic material that is designed to be tied in the back is not considered a bandanna, and is legal if it meets the color and manufacturers logo restrictions DP/Flex Reminders The DP can never play defense only. The FLEX can never be on offense only. The FLEX and DP can NEVER play offense at the same time. The FLEX and DP positions are linked by the DP/FLEX rule. If the FLEX is going to play offense
they must do it in the original DP s position, therefore only one of them can play offense at a time. The FLEX and DP can play defense at the same time. The DP can play defense for any player other than the FLEX and no one has left the game. The player starting DP and starting FLEX have one re-entry just as all players do. Once the game is started with the DP/FLEX positions in the lineup those positions are available for the entire game. Even if the starting DP or starting FLEX has left the game a second time, the position is still available and an eligible substitute can enter the game as the FLEX or DP. So even though the starting player(s) left the game twice and cannot re-enter, their positions are still active as long as the team has eligible substitutes. Communications Understanding how and when to communicate with your partner is an important part of the job. The topics listed below are some that we use frequently. Be sure you know what to do and how to do it. Bring your questions to your study session class. Infield Fly The count Outs Illegal Pitch Leaving Early Check Swing Plays at/near 1B when base umpire is behind SS in C slot Going for help Timing Play/Two Outs tapping wrist with two fingers Between innings