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Pitching Distance Announcement from USSSA
August 26, 2009 --
USSSA is announcing, effective immediately, that ages 15U through 18U will adopt a 43 feet pitching distance for all USSSA games. We have asked State Directors look at making this change this fall but there will be some situations that might force directors to run 40 feet this fall. It will be mandatory that all USSSA events be 43 feet by January 1st, 2010 for ages 15U thru 18U.
Most of you probably know that the NFHS has decided to go 43 feet for Varsity fastpitch. This will be optional for the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010 for High School programs but mandatory by the fall of 2010 or spring of 2011. It is up to each State HS Federation to decide on JV and Freshman pitching distance. Contact your State Federation if you would like to know what they will be doing for the other divisions of play besides Varsity.
We continue to look at what is best for the game and the players that make up this wonderful game, and want to be proactive when making these decisions. We were one of the first, if not the first, associations to take the 18A division to 43 feet. When we made this change and it was well received.
The question has been raised for the 13U, 14B, and 14A age groups/divisions. At this time these age groups will remain at 40 feet. We will continue to look at these ages in the near future and let you know if there are any changes for these age groups.
If you have any questions on how your State Director will adopt this rule for the fall or any feedback about this rule change please contact your State Director. You can find your State Director's information by clicking this link.
We have some great additions for 2010 and are very excited about some of the new changes with USSSA Fastpitch. We will keep you updated with all changes to the program. If you would like to get more involved with USSSA Fastpitch please be sure to contact your State Director. Thank you for playing USSSA!
Jeremy McDowell
Vice President of USSSA Fastpitch
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Softball Pitching Distance to Increase to 43 Feet in 2010-11
July 8, 2009 --
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 7, 2009/courtesy NFHS) — Effective with the 2010-11 school year, the pitching distance for high school varsity softball pitchers will increase from 40 feet to 43 feet.
The new pitching distance was one of four rules revisions made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The rules changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Although the new pitching distance is mandatory beginning with the 2010-11 school year, NFHS-member state high school associations may adopt the 43-feet distance in 2009-10, if desired.
After at least 10 years of debate by committee members, the NFHS has extended the fast-pitch pitching distance to 43 feet. The change to Rule 1-1-2b was made after two member state associations experimented with 43 feet – Florida for four years and Oregon for one year. Coaches surveyed within these states were overwhelmingly supportive of the change.
Creating a better balance between the offense and the defense was the major rationale for the rule change. Experimentation results from both states indicated more batted balls were hit into play.
“Our main thrust is getting the defense more involved,” said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. “When more balls are hit into play, the defense is more involved in the game, thus enhancing skill development.”
The second revision (Rule 1-5) concerned bat specifications. The majority of the text is simply reorganized from the current rules book.
“This is primarily an editorial change,“ Struckhoff said. “We just want to be more detailed in our specifications in order to give manufacturers, coaches, players and umpires guidance on what is and is not permissible.”
Another rule revision for next season affects hair devices. An exception was added to Rule 3-2-12, permitting “hard, unadorned devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips, no longer than 2 inches, to be worn to control a player’s hair.” The rule was changed to allow players more options.
“The exception allows players a practical way of dealing with their hair,” Struckhoff said. “The committee didn’t see that hair devices would be a nuisance or would pose undue risk to players.” The change also maintains consistency with NFHS volleyball rules regarding the same issue.
The final rules change concerns how a winning pitcher is determined. The committee altered Rule 9-6-6, changing the required number of innings pitched for a starting pitcher to be credited with a win to “half of the total number of innings played in the game.” The new language gives the starting pitcher the ability to earn a win even if she leaves the pitching position for another defensive position and returns as pitcher later in the game. It also allows greater clarity in determining the winning pitcher when a game is terminated due to the run-rule.
“Softball and baseball are different games and the requirements for a pitcher to be credited with a win should reflect those differences,” Struckhoff said. “In softball, it’s possible for the pitcher to pitch an inning, leave the position and then come back to pitch later in the same game. The change was made to reflect the culture of the sport.”
Softball is the fourth-most popular sport among girls at the high school level with 371,293 participants during the 2007-08 season, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. It also ranks fourth in school sponsorship for girls across the nation with 14,846 participating schools.
Source: NFCA
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Teams Attending 16U ASA Nationals
2009 ASA/USA 16 and Under Girls National Championships
July 26th thru August 2th
Look Who's Coming to Sioux Falls !!!
Last Updated 6/24/09
American Attack CA
American Pasttime CA
Atlanta Vipers Berry GA
Austin Stars-Hernandez TX
AZ Killer Bees AZ
Birmingham Vipers-Hays AL
California Breeze CA
California Velocity CA
Carolina Crush SC
Central Ohio Nightmare OH
Chi Town 16 Black IL
Colorado Comets CO
Colorado Styxx CO
Corona Angels CA
Desert Thunder AZ
East Cobb Bullets-Fullem GA
East Cobb Bullets-Schnute GA
Firecrackers CA
Fresno Force CA
Frozen Ropes Fury NE
Georgia Elite GA
Georgia Impact Gold GA
Georgia Impact Silver GA
Georgia Impact White Findlay GA
Gold Coast Hurricanes FL
Great Lakes Lightning
Hatter's Gold FL
Indiana Gators IN
Indiana Shockwaves 93 IN
Irvine Sting 16U CA
KC Lookouts Gold MO
Kingsville Rage TX
Knoxville Fury TN
Lady Lasers - Mojo/White OH
Louisiana Patriots LA
Madera Lady Canes CA
Maryland Chill MD
Midland Magic '93 IL
MN Blizzard 16U MN
Mize Diamonds CA
Mobile Thrillers GenX GA
Nashville Nighthawks TN
Neosho Flames MO
Nor Cal Elite CA
OC Batbusters CA
OC Dynasty CA
Oklahoma Rebels OK
Originals MO
Orlando No Fear FL
Roseville Heat CA
Salt Lake Flames UT
San Diego Renegades CA
San Diego Mystic CA
Sandhills Slammers SC
San Jose Lady Sharks CA
Shamrocks VA
Sorcerer CA
So Cal 3D CA
So Cal Athletics CA
So Cal Hurricanes CA
So Cal Pumas CA
Southern Elite GA
Southern Force IL
Sting 93 MN
Tampa Mustangs Blue FL
Team Smith (Cal. Legacy) CA
Tennesee Fury TN
Texas Blaze-Prinzo TX
Texas Fusion TX
Texas Glory Adkins TX
Texas Glory-Foutch TX
Texas Storm Elite TX
Texas Travellers TX
Tulsa Eagles OK
Tulsa Elite OK
Utah Sting UT
Valley Extreme Blue OH
Victory USA CA
Virginia Legends VA
Windmills IL
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Oregon High School Fastpitch Moves Pitching to 43'
March 28, 2009 --
One of the more interesting changes to keep an eye on this spring is in high school softball, where the pitching distance has been moved back 3 feet.
This past December, the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) granted approval for the state to move forward with an experiment by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) that has softball pitchers dealing from 43 feet from home plate instead of 40 feet.
Oregon is one of two states taking part in this spring's experiment. Florida and Massachusetts already adopted the 43-foot distance in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
In an OSAA survey that drew responses from 128 of the 221 schools that offer softball in Oregon, 94 schools (73.4 percent) supported the 43-foot pitching distance for all classifications, varsity and sub-varsity.
"That 3 feet is going to make a big difference because it allows the ball to travel a little bit further," says North Medford softball coach Mike Mayben. "The pitcher's advantage is getting more movement on the ball. The hitter's advantage is it slows the game down and they have more time to see it."
The game of softball has long been dominated by pitchers at the 40-foot distance, leading to little or no offense in the low-scoring contests. The change will likely bring more players, offensively and defensively, into the picture and create a more complete experience for all players.
"The game will be a little more of a hitter's game and some of these strikeout pitchers won't have as many strikeouts," Mayben says. "I think there will still be some dominant pitchers out there, but it won't be like before."
From 40 feet, a 60 mph pitch, which is about 5 mph above average in high school, necessitates a reaction time of .45 seconds. That's equal to a 90 mph baseball pitched from the 60 feet, 6 inches. Moving the pitching rubber back 3 feet gives batters more reaction time (.49 seconds) and, conversely, gives pitchers more time to react to line drives back at them.
Another benefit to the move is that it will help pitchers gear up for college, where the pitching distance is 43 feet. Summer Gold and ASA softball games also use a 43-foot distance for high school, meaning many pitchers are having to deal with different distances during the spring and summer seasons.
"This just puts everybody on that same collegiate level in terms of distance and keeps things more consistent in the spring and in the summer," says Mayben.
While softball games with more action would be appealing, opponents of the switch say the longer distance could be harder on young pitchers' arms. The NFHS experiment is hopeful more data can be gleaned on the issue and that softball coaches, as in baseball, will be responsible in not overusing pitchers.
Only a few weeks into the season, Mayben says he hasn't observed any issues other than players simply needing time to adjust.
"A lot more defense has to be played now," he says, "and we're seeing a lot of balls off the end of bats and spinners because kids are ahead of it. I'm sure kids will catch up and it'll even up after a little while."
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Amid the Grieving, a Rare Act of Sportsmanship
February 19, 2009 --
Associated Press
The coach never considered any other option.
It didn't matter that his DeKalb, Ill., High School basketball team had ridden a bus two and a half hours to get to Milwaukee, then waited another hour past game time to play. Didn't matter that the game was close, or that this was a chance to beat a big city team.
Something else was on Dave Rohlman's mind when he asked for a volunteer to shoot two free throws awarded his team on a technical foul in the second quarter. His senior captain raised his hand, ready to go to the line as he had many times before.
Only this time it was different.
"You realize you're going to miss them, don't you?" Rohlman said.
Darius McNeal nodded his head. He understood what had to be done.
It was a Saturday night in February, and the Barbs were playing a non-conference game on the road against Milwaukee Madison. It was the third meeting between the two schools, who were developing a friendly rivalry that spanned two states.
The teams planned to get together after the game and share some pizzas and soda. But the game itself almost never took place.
Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntel Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to hemorrhage that morning while Johntel was taking his college ACT exam.
Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39.
"She was young and they were real close," said Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack Jr., who was at the hospital. "He was very distraught and it happened so suddenly he didn't have time to grieve."
Womack was going to cancel the game, but Franklin told him he wanted the team to play. And play they did, even though the game started late and Milwaukee Madison dressed only eight players.
Early in the second quarter, Womack saw someone out of the corner of his eye. It was Franklin, who came there directly from the hospital to root his teammates on.
The Knights had possession, so Womack called a time out. His players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of the stands to do the same.
"We got back to playing the game and I asked if he wanted to come and sit on the bench," Womack said during a telephone interview.
"No," Franklin replied. "I want to play."
There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give DeKalb two free throws.
Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing.
Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman wasn't so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play.
"I could hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, `We're not taking it, we're not taking it," Womack said. "The refs told them, no, that's the rule. You have to take them."
That's when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal's hand went up.
He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.
His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.
It didn't take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.
They stood and turned toward the DeKalb bench and started applauding the gesture of sportsmanship. Soon, so did everybody in the stands.
"I did it for the guy who lost his mom," McNeal told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It was the right thing to do."
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They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night.
Dave Rohlman, head coach of the opposing DeKalb team on what his players will take away from this experience.
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Franklin would go on to score 10 points, and Milwaukee Madison broke open the game in the second half to win 62-47. Afterward, the teams went out for pizza, two players from each team sharing each pie.
Franklin stopped by briefly, thankful that his team was there for him.
"I got kind of emotional but it helped a lot just to play," he said. "I felt like I had a lot of support out there."
Carlitha Franklin's funeral was last Friday, and the school turned out for her and her son. Cheerleaders came in uniform, and everyone from the principal and teachers to Johntel's classmates were there.
"Even the cooks from school showed up," Womack said. "It lets you know what kind of kid he is."
Basketball is a second sport for the 18-year-old Franklin, who says he has had some scholarship nibbles and plans to play football in college. He just has a few games left for the Knights, who are 6-11 and got beat 71-36 Tuesday night by Milwaukee Hamilton.
It hasn't been the greatest season for the team, but they have stuck together through a lot of adversity.
"We maybe don't have the best basketball players in the world but they go to class and take care of business," Womack said. "We have a losing record but there's life lessons going on, good ones."
None so good, though, as the moment a team and a player decided there were more important things than winning and having good stats.
Yes, DeKalb would go home with a loss. But it was a trip they'll never forget.
"This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime," Rohlman said. "They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night."
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AFA National Tournaments
February 19, 2009 --
The AFA has announced the sites for their National Tournaments.
Age Location Start End
10U
12UA Rochelle, IL July 29 Aug 2
12UB
14UA Rochelle, IL July 29 Aug 2
16UA Rochelle, IL July 29 Aug 2
18UA Oakdale, MN July 30 Aug 2
Teams must be registered AFA by April 1st to participate in an AFA National Tournament. If interested, please send AFA Sanctioning fees to:
Rick Wilson
AFA Region 9 Director
873 Ferndale St. S.
Maplewood, MN 55119
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Are youth sports in trouble?
January 31, 2009 --
New Ulm High School head wrestling coach Dan Kurth said that youth sports organizations around the nation and here in New Ulm are fundamentally wrong and need to be corrected.
Kurth said that youth organizations have taken the play out of sports for kids.
"When we talk about years ago when you were in third grade you went out to play baseball, all you did was get your gear together, got other kids together and went out and played - but they played the game. It was not organized, it was not forced and it was not scheduled. It did not become a job," Kurth said.
"...seven out of 10 kids who play youth sports will drop out of sports by the time they reach seventh grade..."
"I think that now, we have taken play out of youth sports so when kids get to their fifth, sixth or seventh year of playing that sport and by the time they get to the junior high level, they have already been in for seven years. And because the 'play' has been taken out of it, now the allure of playing X-Box and those other kinds of games is a lot stronger simply because sports has now become a job for them. Now they are looking for other avenues for play."
Right now, seven out of 10 kids who play youth sports will drop out of sports by the time they reach seventh grade, added Kurth.
And he can qualify this because Kurth worked in college and at the New Ulm Medical Center in Sports Medicine.
"I worked at NUMC in Sports Medicine from 1987 to 1992 where I ran the Sports Medicine program, I started that program here."
There, he found out that there started to become an alarming trend of injuries from either overuse or sports related injuries.
"Along with that came a statistic that more and more kids are being involved in youth sports. So now we are seeing 15 years later the whiplash effect of kids not participating in sports at a level that they were years ago."
Kurth said that it is his theory that the play has been taken out of youth sports.
"We have turned it into a job for them from first grade to sixth grade and now when they get to s eventh grade, they find something else to do, Kids still have 'play' in them but if play is taken out of the sport, they find other things."
Kurth believes that youth sports are too organized and too job-like.
"It is your job to go out there and do your job in the position that you are in regardless of the sport," Kurth said. "We are sending the message to the kids that it is a job. There are not bad people coaching in youth sports it is just that subconsciously they use terms like your job. And when they get to seventh grade, they do not want that job anymore."
Another factor is that some parents dream about their son or daughter in third grade being the next Jamie Hoffmann or Ali Bernard.
"We have evolved to a point to where we have more parents getting their kids involved in something early, less for an activity for their kids to do, and more because they feel their kids are missing out on something later on in life if they are not involved in those things."
Kurth said that he has talked to other head varsity sports coaches about this subject.
"The numbers are trending down at New Ulm High School in regards to the percentages of boys and girls playing sports compared to what the percentage was 15 years ago," Kurth said.
Declining enrollment has meant less numbers at New Ulm High School which means that New Ulm has taken a double hit.
"We have lost 25 percent of our enrollment over the last 15 years and the reduction in kids in the percentage going out for sports, we take that double hit," he said. "If we had maintained our enrollment numbers, our percentage of kids playing sports would still be dropping but not as dramatically as they are."
Has the philosophy of youth sports changed in recent years?
Kurth feels that youth sports have evolved into being more specialized now than years ago.
"It is almost like they have to be in the sport that they are going to be in in high school by first or secon d grade. Otherwise it is over and they do not have a chance," Kurth said. "An example is baseball. I think that there is still a mentality in town that we have the next state champion picked by the time they are in third or fourth grade."
Parents have also added to the concept that if they do not start at an early age, they will not have the success that the parents want for them.
"I had a parent from out of town tell me his youngest son got in wrestling in kindergarten so he will be OK but his oldest son did not get into wrestling until fourth grade so he does not have a chance at winning a state title," Kurth said. "That tells me that the parent got both his kids in wrestling with the express interest of winning a state title or having them accomplish something later on."
Youth sports organizations also pay more attention to the better athlete at a younger age.
He feels that treatment of certain kids is a big factor in staying in a sport.
"The kids pick up on the messages and one of the major messages is that you are not beating anyone in third grade so chances are you will not beat anyone in high school so why bother in the sport," he said. "The kid changes sports and by the time he or she gets to seventh grade they have exhausted all options. You are an average athlete as a youth participant so why play high school sports."
Kurth feels that winning at a lower level can be a double-edged sword.
"Kids need to win - kids that are getting beat all the time will not stay with a sport. You cannot take winning entirely out of the youth program," he said. "But that is the basic problem in the entire thing. We are putting kids in a situation where they are in a job with a specific end result and they are doing this for five or six years before they get physically mature enough to do anything."
Kurth wants to tell youth organizations here in New Ulm that regardless of opinions of youth leaders and parents, statistically t his is currently not going in the right direction.
"I don't think that any parent gets their son or daughter into any sport at the age of five or six to see them get burned out by the time they are in seventh grade... Statistically, that is what the numbers are telling us that is what is happening."
"I don't think that any parent gets their son or daughter into any sport at the age of five or six to see them get burned out by the time they are in seventh grade," Kurth said. "Statistically, that is what the numbers are telling us that is what is happening.
"We are creating a situation in which sports becomes a job for them," he added. "When they get to high school, there are more fun things or more easy things to do after school than a job."
Kurth said that he feels, because of numbers, that the New Ulm High School wrestling program may only have a few years left before the school looks at it and asks 'what are we spending our money on?'
"New Ulm is entering a crisis point," Kurth said. "This will take 3-5 years to address and 5-7 years to turn around. And that is another problem. People will not have the patience to sit around for that time and watch it evolve back to what it should be."
Kurth said i f the problem isn't addressed the school will stop funding because of lack of numbers.
"It will be a lot easier that if there are 30 percent less participants three years from now than there is now in sports to make cuts because of numbers," he said. "They can save $300,000 a year.
"High school sports now will become club sports. There are just as many people who are involved in the administration of schools that would just as soon have that situation."
And Kurth added one final outcome if this happens.
"As youth sports and high school sports participation declines, there is direct correlation to the crime rate in town," he said." So we will pay for this one way or another."
Source: The Journal of New Ulm
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School Sports now a Minnesota Luxury?
January 19, 2009 --
Source: Star-Tribune
The economic crunch is coming to high school sports.
Faced with budget problems, some schools are raising fees while cutting back on equipment, transportation and other expenses. Others are voluntarily cutting back on the number of games their teams play.
In early February, the Minnesota State High School League could decide to make reduced schedules mandatory starting in the 2009-10 school year as a way to save money.
Administrators use words like "bleak" and "troubling" to describe the outlook for high school activities.
Examples stretch across the metro area and beyond.
In Lakeville, the district's two high schools will each cut $200,000 (20 percent) from their activities budgets for 2009-10 and participation fees are expected to increase.
"Unfortunately it will become a program for the affluent and those who can afford it, which goes against everything we believe in," said Lakeville North athletic director Byron Olson.
At Armstrong High School in Plymouth, participation fees have been raised to $200 for athletics and $100 for activities. But there is still not enough money to buy basic sports equipment like bats and balls. Hockey, skiing and lacrosse teams are no longer allowed to rent bus trailers for hauling their gear to competition. Ninth-grade teams in soccer, tennis, softball and wrestling have been eliminated. And a creative thinking-based academic activity called Future Problem Solving has gone away because, well, because there was no way to solve the current financial problem.
To save on transportation costs, Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview and Rosemount high schools, which are in the same district, sometimes send teams to road games on a one-way bus. The athletes must ride home with parents or friends.
Attendance is down at some high school events, with the economy being blamed. Stillwater athletic director Ricky Michel said crowds are down across the board at his school, especially for hockey.
"You used to expect a pretty nice crowd, but right now it's not the same," he said of the hockey team, which has a winning record. "For a family of four, they're looking at $20 a night. It's no longer the cheap thing it used to be."
The financial pinch extends beyond the schools. For an annual basketball showcase that was held earlier this month, the Timberwolves had planned to bring in a nationally ranked team from New Jersey. That plan was dashed when the event's budget was cut. Some out-of-state teams planning to compete in the Clash, a premier national wrestling tournament held in Rochester each year, bowed out for financial reasons -- a first, according to tournament officials.
And at outstate Crosby-Ironton, activity fees have risen to $230 per student per sport, and it's possible that some individual sports could be funded entirely by fees or face elimination.
Fee increases are not a new solution to the problem, but the increases are tougher for families to bear in a down economy.
"The thing we're seeing more and more of is the participation fee," said Hopkins athletic director Dan Johnson. "Parents are saying, 'We've been out of work, we don't have the luxury to pick that up.'"
Richfield has a policy that no student will be denied the opportunity to take part in activities. Half of the students at Richfield qualify for free or reduced lunches, and athletic director Todd Olson said requests for assistance from students who are unable to pay fees have risen significantly. He and other school officials are waiting anxiously for the Legislature to make decisions on school funding.
"The issue that's going to hit every school is if the Legislature is not going to be able to help schools in general," Olson said. "And co-curriculars get hit because they run on such a tight margin, and cuts can be devastating."
Said Stillwater's Michel: "We're sitting on pins and needles as far as what the Legislature decides. We consider these activities to be an extension of the classroom, another opportunity for students to connect with their school. If you have less participation, you're going to have more problems and probably not have as much academic success."
School officials, however, are not just waiting for more financial hammers to fall. The Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association has endorsed a two-pronged legislative approach. The group wants the Legislature to give local school boards the power to hold separate levies for funding co-curricular programs, and it also would like money from an impending sales tax increase to help fund arts programs in public schools.
Voters last November approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which raised the state sales tax by three-eighths of a percentage point beginning in July. The amendment is expected to raise about $275 million a year, and a portion of that money will be designated for the arts.
"I think that amendment is perhaps open-ended in the arts area, and we say, 'What's a better place to share the arts than with our public schools across the state of Minnesota?'" said Fred Sailer, athletic/activities director at Perham and president of the Athletic Administrators Association.
More than 237,000 Minnesota students participated in high school sports in 2007-08, the ninth-highest total in the nation.
"The thing we can't forget about is the value kids gain, whether it's fine arts or athletic, from being involved in these programs," said MSHSL executive director Dave Stead. "And I know schools will continue to provide that. They may have to do it on a more limited budget, but they will try to do that."
At a certain point, though, less money inevitably means fewer opportunities. Armstrong athletic director Patti Weldon had to trim $300,000 from her school's athletic/activity budget for the current school year. So far, she knows she will have to trim at least another $75,000 for 2009-10.
"We're taking away a few games here and there, we're taking away scrimmages," she said. "Spread across 15 sports for boys and girls, it starts to add up. We're trying to make it hurt as little across the board as we can. The last thing want to do is lose programs."
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Drugs, alcohol don't mix with athletics
January 11, 2009 --
Champions have to be 'willing to be different'
A New York high school football team had just lost another game to end the season with a 0-10 record.
Team members were partying after the game when reporters stepped out of the woods to take pictures of the event and question the athletes about their actions.
"One of the kids came out of the crowd and said, 'Hey man, this is just what we do,'" said John Underwood, a guest speaker at Lincoln High School on Wednesday. He spoke for about 45 minutes to a crowd of high school students.
Underwood, president and founder of the American Athletic Institute, teaches students, coaches and community members on the effects that drugs and alcohol have on athletic performance. Underwood has coached 28 Olympic athletes, five of which have medaled in the Olympic games.
Underwood, of New York, spoke throughout Manitowoc County, including to about 30 area athletic directors and Lincoln and Two Rivers high school student-athletes. He gave his 70th lecture since he began touring the United States in August.
The coach, trainer and former athlete told the high-schoolers that in order to succeed at their sport and in life, they have to give up certain things that may be customary for other people.
"I think it sends a message that in order to be a champion, I am not talking about a champion on the field or court — I am talking about a champion in life, in character and in integrity — you have to be willing to be different," Lincoln Athletic Director John Johnson said.
"To be willing to be different is to forgo things until you are 21 or until you are at least out of high school because you are going to be hurting your teammates, you are going to be hurting yourself, hurting your family, hurting your community."
The results of one night of heavy drinking can undo two weeks of athletic training, Underwood said.
"No athlete in any sport has 14 days of training to give up," he said.
Senior Tyler Wilke, 17, plays baseball for Lincoln. He thought that statement was an eye-opener for the student athletes.
"People know that there are negative consequences with drinking and drug use, but they don't necessarily know the depth of it," he said. "They don't really take time to see that it affects you for a longer period of time than just that day or that weekend."
Underwood presented images of the brain with and without alcohol or marijuana usage. He showed the amount of brain activity needed to perform a practiced skill was less than it was with alcohol or drugs.
The brain maps stood out to sophomore Katie Bown, 16, who participates in softball and volleyball at Lincoln.
"You don't really get that visual when people are talking about it, but seeing all those pictures and how it actually works was interesting to me," she said.
Alcohol is an issue among students at the high school, she said.
"It is a huge problem," Bown said. "I don't think they actually realize what their potential is until they saw (the effects). They only see themselves when they do drink. They don't think about what they could be doing."
Seniors Brandon Bartels, 18, and Brennan Rhode, 17, echoed Bown's comments. Rhode and Bartels participate on the baseball team.
Underwood, a former NCAA All-American runner, presented statistics that show a person's performance potential is reduced by 15 to 30 percent when using alcohol or drugs.
"I think this will change a lot of people's views when they realize what it actually does to you," Rhode said. "They don't just have someone telling you alcohol is bad, they are telling you the reasons why."
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Minnesota Sports Federation Sets 2009 State Tournament Dates
December 3, 2008 --
Girls’ Class A 18-Under Fastpitch July 10-12
Girls’ Class B 18-Under Fastpitch July 10-12
Girls’ Class A 16-Under Fastpitch July 10-12
Girls’ Class B 16-Under Fastpitch July 10-12
Girls’ Class A 14-Under Fastpitch July 17-19
Girls’ Class B 14-Under Fastpitch July 17-19
Girls’ Class A 12-Under Fastpitch July 17-19
Girls’ Class B 12-Under Fastpitch July 17-19
Girls’ Class A 10–Under Fastpitch July 17-19
Girls’ Class B 10-Under Fastpitch July 17-19
Girls’ Class C 18-Under Fastpitch July 24-26
Girls’ Class C 16-Under Fastpitch July 24-26
Girls’ Class C 14-Under Fastpitch July 24-26
Girls’ Class C 12-Under Fastpitch July 24-26
Girl’s Class D 16-Under Fastpitch July 31-August 2
Girls’ Class D 14-Under Fastpitch July 31-August 2
Girls’ REC 14-Under Fastpitch July 31-August 2
Girls’ REC 12-Under Fastpitch July 31-August 2
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Listing of Minnesota Fastpitch Clinics
November 8, 2008 --
Strike Zone Sports -- Pitching Clinics Starting November 2
Extra Innings -- Hitting League Starting November 6
North Country Softball Camps -- November 7-9 at the Univ of Minnesota
National Fastpitch Coaches College: Position Play and Individual Defensive Skills -- November 7-9 at St. Thomas
National Sports Clinics - Coaching Clinic -- Various Locations and Dates -- January 16-17 in Minneapolis
Semi Private Hitting Clinic - Minnesota State University - Mankato -- November and January start dates!
Burnsville Pitching and Catching Clinics -- Nine Sessions Starting November 15th
Irish Dome Fastpitch Catchers Clinic -- Starts November 15th
Semi Private Pitching Clinic - Minnesota State University - Mankato -- Six Sessions Starting November 15th
Ernie Parker at College of St. Scholastica -- November 21-23
St Cloud State University Pitching and Catching Clinic -- November 22
Extra Innings - December Pitching Clinic -- Three Sessions -- Starting December 2
Defensive Camp - Minnesota State University - Mankato - December 29-30
Extra Innings - Hitting and Slapping Clinic -- Starts January 6
Extra Innings - January Pitching Clinic -- Four Sessions Starting January 10
Specific Pitch Clinics -- Minnesota State University - Mankato -- January and February
Catching Camp -- Minnesota State University - Mankato -- January 17-18
Beginning Pitching Clinic -- Bethany Lutheran College -- January 17
Skills Clinic -- Bethany Lutheran College -- January 17
Hitting Clinic -- Bethany Lutheran College -- January 17 and 24
Intermediate Pitching Clinic -- Bethany Lutheran College -- January 24
Extra Innings - February Pitching Clinic -- Four Sessions Starting February 7
Extra Innings - February Hitting / Slapping Clinic -- Four Sessions Starting February 3
For additional information contact the sponsoring entity.
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2009 USSSA World Series Info
October 26, 2008 --
12 & Under "A" July 25-Aug 1 Kissimmee, FL
14 & Under "A" July 25-Aug 1 Kissimmee, FL
16 & Under "A" Aug 2-9 Plano, TX
18 & Under "A" Aug 2-9 Plano, TX
18 & Under Major Aug 2-9 Plano, TX
18 & Over July 24-26 Rockford, IL
8 & Under MP July 19-26 Muskogee, OK
9 & Under July 19-26 Muskogee, OK
10 & Under Central July 19-26 Muskogee, OK
11 & Under Central July 26-Aug 2 W. Des Moines, IA
12 & Under B Central July 20-26 Independence, MO
13 & Under Central July 26-Aug 2 W. Des Moines, IA
14 & Under B Central July 20-26 Overland Park , KS
15 & Under July 20-26 Hutchinson, KS
16 & Under B Central July 20-26 Overland Park , KS
18 & Under B Central July 20-27 Hutchinson, KS
10 & Under East July 25-Aug 1 Kissimmee, FL
11 & Under East July 27-Aug 2 Salisbury, MD
12 & Under B East July 25-Aug 1 Kissimmee, FL
13 & Under East July 27-Aug 2 Columbus, IN
14 & Under B East July 25-Aug 1 Kissimmee, FL
16 & Under B East July 27-Aug 2 Columbus, IN
18 & Under B East July 27-Aug 2 Salisbury, MD
13 & Under West July 27-Aug 1 Manteca, CA
14 &U Under B West July 27-Aug 1 Manteca, CA
16 & Under B West Aug 3-9 West Covina, CA
18 & Under B West Aug 3-9 West Covina, CA
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USSSA Softball Rule Book and By-laws
October 26, 2008 --
UNITED STATES
SPECIALTY SPORTS
ASSOCIATION
OFFICIAL
FAST PITCH
PLAYING RULES
and
BY-LAWS
8th Edition
USSSA FAST PITCH RULES & BY-LAWS
EIGHTH EDITION
Table of Contents
USSSA Fast Pitch National Committee Members............................................................3
USSSA Fast Pitch National Umpire Committee...............................................................4
USSSA Fast Pitch Regional UIC’S..................................................................................4
CLASSIFICATIONS AND AGE REQUIREMENTS......................................................5
Changes in Seventh Edition Playing Rules ......................................................................6
Changes in Eighth Edition Playing Rules.........................................................................6
USSSA Official Fast Pitch Playing Rules EIGHTH EDITION .......................................7
RULE 1. PLAYING FIELD ........................................................................................7
RULE 2. EQUIPMENT...............................................................................................9
RULE 3. DEFINITIONS...........................................................................................12
RULE 4. The GAME.................................................................................................17
RULE 5. PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES ..............................................................19
RULE 6. PITCHING RULE......................................................................................22
RULE 7. BATTING..................................................................................................25
RULE 8. BASE RUNNING ......................................................................................27
RULE 9. APPEALS ..................................................................................................35
RULE 10. DEAD BALL -SUSPENSION OFPLAY................................................37
RULE 11. SPORTSMANSHIP..................................................................................39
RULE 12. COACH/MANAGER OR PLAYER EJECTION......................................40
RULE 13. PROTEST ................................................................................................40
RULE 14. UMPIRES ................................................................................................41
TABLE 1 -EJECTIONS and RESTRICTIONS.........................................................43
RULE 15. 10/9/8 & Under........................................................................................44
RULE 16. Machine Pitch Rules: 10/9/8/7/6 & Under................................................44
RULE 17. Coach Pitch Rules: 10/9/8/7/6 & Under ...................................................44
RULE 18. Arena Indoor Fast Pitch, Six on Six .........................................................45
INDEX to Playing Rules ...........................................................................................46
USSSA FAST PITCH SOFTBALL PROGRAM NATIONAL BY-LAWS....................49
ARTICLE 1. NAME AND OBJECTIVE...................................................................49
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP...................................................................................49
ARTICLE III. TEAM ELIGIBILITY ........................................................................49
ARTICLE IV. INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ELIGIBILITY ............................................50
ARTICLE V. STATE AND INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS............................51
ARTICLE VI. USSSA TOURNAMENTS.................................................................51
8th Edition
CLASSIFICATIONS AND AGE REQUIREMENTS
Sec 1. THE YOUTH FAST PITCH PROGRAM WILL BE DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING
CLASSIFICATIONS. A player’s age on December 31, of the previous calendar year
determines the age classification in which the player is eligible to participate. Any player
18, or who reaches their 18th birthday, or who graduates from High School in the calendar
year of the current World Series, shall be eligible to participate in the 18 & over World
Series Tournament.
Age Divisions Offered
Boys or Girls 6 & Under Boys or Girls 7 & Under Boys or Girls 8 & Under
Boys or Girls 9 & Under Boys or Girls 10 & Under Boys or Girls 11 & Under
Boys or Girls 12 & Under Boys or Girls 13 & Under Boys or Girls 14 & Under
Boys or Girls 15 & Under Boys or Girls 16 & Under
Male or Female 18 & Under Female 18 & Under Major Male or Female 18 & over
Sec 2. The Fast Pitch program is designed for both boys and girls however, the boys program
should be entirely separate from the girls program.
Sec 3. The Fast Pitch season and Team registration will run from August 1 until July 31.
Tournaments and leagues played after August 1, will qualify teams for the following
summer’s State and World Series Tournaments. All teams playing between August 1 and
December 31 must play by the following year’s eligibility classifications.
Sec 4. Restrictions
A. Any player can play in a higher classification, but cannot play in a lower classification.
Exception: This does not apply to the 18 & Over Division; a player cannot play up in
this division unless they meet the criteria in Section 1.
B. A player shall not compete in any sanctioned tournament of the association with
more than one team during the same tournament.
C. Team and player eligibility rules not specifically covered above shall be referred to
the USSSA Fast Pitch National Committee only. The National Committee shall have
a policy and procedures manual or information data to be used by State and /or Area
directors. There are no other rulebooks that govern USSSA Fast Pitch.
8th Edition
Changes in Seventh Edition Playing Rules
Effective March 20, 2008
To Rule 6 Pitching
Sec 1.A legal pitch shall conform to the following:
A. Prior to the pitch, the pitcher shall take a position with: (1) the pivot foot on or partially on
the surface of the pitcher's plate; (2) 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. The hands must be apart.
ADD THE FOLLOWING
The pitcher may not take the pitching position on the pitcher's plate without possession of
the ball, and the pitcher may not simulate the pitching position with or without the ball
when near the pitcher's plate.
Effective May 7, 2008
Rule 2, Section 9, Item B. is revised to read:
Gloves/mitts may be a maximum of two colors unless judged by the umpire to be distracting.
Glove lacing and manufacturer’s logo are not considered one of the two colors permitted. Glove
lacing may be any color other than that of the ball. A glove/mitt worn by players that is entirely
gray, white or optic in color is illegal. A gray, white or optic colored circle on the outside or inside
of the glove/mitt that gives the appearance of a ball or is judged to be distracting by the Umpire is
illegal.
Changes in Eighth Edition Playing Rules
The following changes have been enacted:
18&Under Major Restrictions removed from Classification 4, 1.1, 2.4, 18.2, II.1
Pitching Distance for 18&Under “A” is 43 feet. Rule 1.1
Attempted Bunt Rule 3 Sec 12
“…Holding the bat in the strike zone is considered an attempt to bunt. In order to take a pitch, the
bat must be pulled back away from the ball…”
Changed the definition of a bunt attempt to holding the bat in the strike zone and requiring the bat
to be withdrawn in order to take a pitch.
A team may begin the game with eight (8) players and take an out in the ninth (9) batting position.
Rule 5.2.A
Protest fee is $100. Protests of player eligibility shall be charged per player. Rule 13.1
8th Edition
USSSA Official Fast Pitch Playing Rules
EIGHTH EDITION
USSSA’s On-Line Fast Pitch Rulebook is located at: www.USSSA.com
The On-Line Rulebook Supersedes The Printed Edition
NOTE: Use of the word “he” in this publication is intended to include
both the masculine and feminine genders unless otherwise noted.
RULE 1. PLAYING FIELD
8th Edition
Sec 1. Pitching, base path distances and recommended field distances.
Divisions Female Pitching Male Pitching Base path Playing Field
Distance Distance Radius
Coach Pitch 35 Ft. 35 Ft. 60 Ft. 150-200Ft
Machine Pitch 40 Ft. 40 Ft. 60 Ft. 150-200 Ft.
8 & Under 35 Ft. 40 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 Ft.
9 & Under 35 Ft. 40 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 Ft.
10 & Under 35 Ft. 40 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 Ft.
11 & Under 40 Ft. 40 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 Ft.
12 & Under 40 Ft. 40 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 Ft.
13 & Under 40 Ft. 46 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 Ft.
14 & Under 40 Ft. 46 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 Ft.
15 & Under 40 Ft. 46 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 -225 Ft.
16 & Under 40 Ft. 46 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 -225 Ft.
18 & Under “B”, “C” 40 FT 46 Ft 60 Ft 200 -225 Ft.
18 & Under “A”, Major 43 Ft 46 Ft 60 Ft. 200-225 Ft.
18 & over 43 Ft. 46 Ft. 60 Ft. 200 -225 Ft.
Men 46 Ft. 60 Ft. 225 -265 Ft.
NOTE: Every effort should be made by the Umpire to obtain the correct dimensions. If the base
distances or the pitching distance is found to be at the wrong dimensions during the
course of the game, the error shall be corrected immediately, with no penalty. The game
shall continue and shall not be protested for this reason.
Sec 2. The softball field shall contain a 60-foot square infield diamond and an outfield area that
may or may not be enclosed by a fence. All lines on the playing field shall be marked with
a material, which is not injurious to the eyes or skin. Lime or caustic material of any kind
is prohibited. From the mid-point of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate, there shall be a
circle drawn, which is 16 feet in diameter (8-ft. radius). The catcher’s box, bases, coach’s
boxes, batters boxes and 3 foot first base line shall be as in the “The Field Diagram”. The
infield and outfield, including the boundary marks from the apex of home plate to 1st and
3rd, and their extended foul lines, are fair ground. All other areas are foul grounds. The
recommended width of all marked (chalked) lines on the playing field is 2 1/2 inch.
A. On deck circles shall be a safe distance to the side and away from home plate; at
least 30 feet if space allows. Neither team’s players shall warm up in the other teams
on deck circle. The on deck circle does not have to be occupied, but if a player
wishes to warm up, they shall do so in their teams on deck circle.
B. The batters box shall be 7 feet long. The front of the batters box shall be 4 feet
forward from the center of home plate and 3 feet wide starting 6 inches from the
plate.
C. Three foot running lane is a line drawn 3 feet from and parallel to the first base foul
line starting halfway between home and first base and extending to first base.
D. Bases & Plates
First, Second, Third Base shall be 15 inches square, made of canvas or other
suitable material and not more than 5 inches high. Each base shall be securely
attached to the ground.
The Double First Base may be used. This base shall be 15 by 30 inches and made
of canvas or other suitable material and not more than 5 inches high. Half the base is
white [over fair territory] and half is orange [over foul territory].
Home Plate shall be a 5 sided slab of whitened rubber or other suitable similar
material. The Dimension as per The Field Diagram
The Pitching Plate shall be a rectangular slab of whitened rubber or suitable
material, 24 inches by 6 inches. It shall be set in the ground with the top flush with the
playing surface.
8th Edition
RULE 2. EQUIPMENT
Sec 1. BATTING HELMET
In the youth program, NOCSAE approved batting helmets with extended ear flaps, which
cover both ears and temples are mandatory for all batters, on deck batters, base runners,
non-adult base coach, non-adult bat & ball shaggers and any offensive player in live ball
territory, even if the ball is dead.
Batting helmets must have NOCSAE approved attached face mask/guard. A
commercially manufactured face mask/guard may be attached to a batting helmet,
provided it is attached by the manufacture; or a face mask/guard may be attached to a
helmet that does not have a face mask, provided the attachment procedure is approved
by the manufacture.
A chinstrap is optional.
In the adult program, NOCSAE approved helmets are required. An attached face
mask/guard is highly recommended.
When an Umpire observes anyone required to wear a batting helmet deliberately
removing the batting helmet while the ball is alive, and that person is in live ball territory,
the Umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the involved person’s team. All
subsequent violations of the rule shall result in an ejection; player is confined to bench
area.
Sec 2. CATCHER’S HELMET
In the Youth and collegiate programs, the catcher shall wear a NOCSAE approved head
protector (with dual earflaps), an approved mask with throat protector, a body chest
protector and shin guards. If a hockey style NOCSAE approved catchers helmet is used,
a separate throat protector is not needed. A male catcher or any male player warming up
a pitcher shall wear an approved protective cup. In the adult program, the catcher shall
wear a mask with throat protector. All protective equipment must conform to industry
standards.
Any non-adult warming up a pitcher within the confines of the playing, field shall wear an
approved protective mask with throat protector.
Sec 3. THE BALL
The official ball to be used shall have raised seams and shall be of spherical design with
a smooth surface. The center or core of the ball shall be of a material and design
traditionally used to make softballs, or of other material, or design, approved by the
USSSA. The cover shall be of horsehide, cowhide, or other material approved by USSSA
and shall be cemented to the core and stitched with cotton, linen, or nylon or any other
material approved by USSSA. A multiple layer core design ball or a multiple material core
design ball may be approved in the sole discretion of the USSSA on a case-by-case
basis. The stitch color must be blue. The internal composition of the core and the material
of the cover must be clearly printed on the ball and the words "Official Fast Pitch Softball"
must be clearly printed on the ball.
FAST PITCH (12") OPTIC YELLOW COVER ONLY -BLUE STITCH Ball must have
"USSSA FAST PITCH", "47 MAX COR, 375# MAX COMPRESSION" in 1/8"
minimum letters and the USSSA logo in at least 1-1/8" diameter. (Lettering and logo
in blue)
Compression: 330 +/-45#
COR: 46.25 +/-0.75
Circumference: 12 +/-1/8"
Weight: 6.6 +/-0.30 oz.
8th Edition
FAST PITCH (11") OPTIC YELLOW COVER ONLY -BLUE STITCH ball must have
"USSSA FAST PITCH"" "47 MAX COR, 375# MAX COMPRESSION" in 1/8"
minimum letters and the USSSA logo in at least 1-1/8" diameter. (Lettering and logo
in blue)
Compression: 330 +/-45#
COR: 46.25 +/-0.75.
Circumference: 11 +/-1/8 "
Weight: 6.0 +/-0.20 oz
All 10 year old and younger divisions shall use the 11-inch softball. All other programs
shall use the 12-inch softball.
Sec 4. SHOES
Shoes are required equipment for all participants. All players must wear shoes with
plastic, nylon, canvas, leather or similar synthetic material uppers. Spikes must not
extend in excess of 3/4 -inch from the sole and may not be round.
A. (Youth) The sole may be smooth, have soft or hard rubber cleats. Shoe sole or heel
protectors other than the standard shoe plate are prohibited. Metal cleats and metal
toe plates are prohibited in the 8 and under through the 18 and under Divisions,
including the 18 & Under Major Division.
PENALTY: Metal cleats is a serious offense and results in the offender being
ejected. Metal toe plates must be removed prior to continuing play.
B. (Adult/18 & Over) The sole may be smooth, have soft or hard rubber cleats or
rectangular metal cleats. Shoes with detachable cleats that screw into the sole of the
shoe are allowed. Pitching toes are allowed for all players as long as the pitching
toes are securely fastened.
Sec 5. JEWELRY
Players in the game are prohibited from wearing jewelry such as rings, watches, earrings
whether covered with tape or not, bracelets, necklaces (including cloth and string type),
barrettes or other hard decorative items. Medical alert bracelets or necklaces are not
considered jewelry. If worn they must be taped to the body, so as to remain visible. If
jewelry is not removed, that player will not be able to play until the jewelry is removed.
A player who participates with jewelry is subject to penalties as per Rule 11
Sportsmanship.
Sec 6. PROHIBITED EQUIPMENT
Equipment such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs, etc., are prohibited.
Casts, splints and braces may be worn, if padded.
Sec 7. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
All players are permitted to wear any approved protective equipment including catcher’s
equipment, batter’s helmet, facemasks and soccer style shin guards. If used, the
equipment must not be detached. Detached equipment can result in obstruction or
interference ruling. Repeated acts could be grounds for ejection.
Sec 8. UNIFORMS
At all national and world qualifying tournaments, teams must wear identical uniforms.
This includes jerseys, long pants or shorts and leggings. Whether long pants or shorts
are worn, all team members must be uniformed alike. Players shall wear uniforms
properly and as designed by the manufacturer.
A. Caps are optional, however when worn they must be all alike and worn with the bill
forward. Caps, visors and headbands may be mixed. If worn, a headband must be
one piece, and a single solid color. Plastic visors and bandannas are prohibited
B. Non duplicating numbers will be required at all national and World Series qualifying
tournaments. The numbers must be minimum of three inches in size and clearly
visible.
C. Coaches must be neatly attired. Base coaches do not have to be identically dressed.
Sec 9. GLOVES/MITTS
Gloves/mitts made of leather shall be worn by all fielders.
8th Edition
A. The glove/mitt worn by the catcher may be any size.
B. The glove/mitt may be a maximum of two colors unless judged by the umpire
to be distracting. Glove lacing and manufacturer’s logo are not considered one
of the two colors permitted. Glove lacing may be any color other than that of
the ball. A glove/mitt worn by players that is entirely gray, white or optic in
color is illegal. A gray, white or optic colored circle on the outside or inside of
the glove/mitt that gives the appearance of a ball or is judged to be distracting
by the Umpire is illegal.
C. The glove/mitt worn by all fielders except the catcher shall conform to the following
maximum specifications:
1. Height measured from the bottom edge or heel straight up across the center of
the palm to a line even with the highest point of the glove/mitt: 14 inches
2. Width of palm measured from the bottom edge of the webbing farthest from the
thumb in a horizontal line to the outside of the little finger edge of the glove/mitt: 8
inches
3. Webbing measured across the top end or along any line parallel to the top: 5 3/4
inches.
Sec 10. THE OFFICIAL BAT shall be round in cross section, straight in length, and measure not
more than 34 inches long including tape or other grip additions to the bat, and not more
than 2 1/4 inches in diameter in its largest part and its weight shall not exceed 31 1/2
ounces, including tape or grip addition to the bat. The bat shall have a safety grip of tape
or some other material to facilitate holding the bat during the batter’s swing. The safety
grip shall be not less than 10 inches long, nor extend more than 15 inches from the small
end or handle end of the bat. Graphics, including BPF markings, must be permanent and
cannot be decals or any other method that can be easily removed or added to the bat.
A. The bat shall be made of hard wood, in one piece, or laminated from sections of hard
wood bonded together with adhesive in such a way that the grain directions of all the
pieces are essentially parallel to the lengths of the bat.
B. The bat may also be made of aluminum or other metals, Fiberglass, graphite or a
composite material. The bat may be made in pieces from different materials; but must
have a closed barrel end and may be modular with interchangeable parts, subject to
additional safety and tampering requirements as set forth in the standard USSSA Bat
Licensing Agreement. The knob portion must be welded, or mechanically attached to
the bat.
C. Authorized bat manufacturers shall mark their products with the words “Official
Softball” or words to that effect. If the words “Official Softball” are illegible the bat
should be declared legal if it is legal in all other respects. When a bat does not meet
the specifications as defined, has flat spots or pronounced dents, or if in the Umpire’s
judgment, the bat has been altered, the Umpire shall prohibit the use of the doubtful
bat.
D. The performance standard for all non-wooden bats will be a Bat Performance Factor
(BPF) of 1.20 or less under the ASTM BPF test as applied under the standard
USSSA Bat License Agreement. A list of those bats licensed and complying with this
standard and therefore legal in USSSA play shall be kept by USSSA and published
and made available by means including, but not limited to, the USSSA website. Only
bats on the published list will be legal for USSSA play. In addition, no bat shall be
legal in USSSA play unless it is marked “USSSA BPF 1.20”. Bats manufactured
before January 1, 2004 must be marked “1.20 BPF” or “BPF 1.20”
E. A USSSA Director may at any time ask to inspect a bat that has been brought into
the location of a USSSA sanctioned event. The owner and / or user may either:
1. Allow the Director to inspect the bat and reach an initial conclusion on whether
the bat might be altered. If after making an inspection, the Director, in his sole
discretion, decides that the bat might be an altered bat, the suspected offending
owner may either:
8th Edition
a. Allow the Director to send the bat to the USSSA Altered Bat Committee
and/or the Manufacturer of the bat for a determination as to whether the bat
is altered. NOTE: During the time of the examination of the bat by the
Manufacturer/ Altered Bat Committee, the USSSA, in the sole discretion of
the USSSA Altered Bat Committee, may suspend the suspected offending
player pending the decision. If the Manufacturer or the USSSA Altered Bat
Committee determines in their sole discretion that the bat has been altered,
the Altered Bat Committee may suspend a first time offender for up to two
years from USSSA play. For any second time offender, any suspension may
be up to a lifetime suspension.
b. Accept a one-year (up to life for second time offenders) suspension from
USSSA play with no right of appeal.
2. Withhold the bat from inspection and accept a one-year (up to life suspension for
second time offenders) suspension from USSSA play with no right to appeal.
F. After examination of a bat to determine if it is altered, the bat shall be returned to the
owner. No owner and/or player altered bat suspensions will occur unless the suspect
bat is determined to be altered.
Sec 11. WARM-UP BAT
No player may use more than two bats when warming up in the on-deck circle. A warm-
up bat shall have all parts permanently and securely attached at the time of manufacture
and at the time of use. Devices added to a bat for warm-up purposes shall be
commercially manufactured specifically for a softball bat and shall be securely attached,
so as not to disengage during use. Such Devices shall take, but not exceed, the general
shape and size of a bat including the grip.
Only USSSA approved bats, USSSA approved weighted bats, or USSSA approved bat
weight attachments may be used in loosening up. Nothing such as a donut or fan may be
used when loosening up.
RULE 3. DEFINITIONS
Sec 1. BALL. The ball is one of the playing implements. The term is also used to designate a
pitch, which is not touched by the bat and is not a strike.
Sec 2. BASE LINE. A base line is an imaginary direct line between the bases.
Sec 3. BASE ON BALL. If a batter receives four such balls, he is awarded a base on ball (often
referred to as a “walk”) and shall go immediately to first base before time-out can be
called. There is no intentional walk in Fast Pitch.
Sec 4. BASE PATH. A base path is a direct line between a base and the runner’s position at the
time a defensive player is attempting (or about to attempt) to tag a runner.
Sec 5. BAT, ILLEGAL. An illegal bat is one that does not meet the requirements of Rule 2 Sec
10 – The Official Bat as prescribed in the Equipment Rule.
Sec 6. BATTED BALL. A batted ball is any ball that comes in contact with the bat. It need not
be intentional.
A. A FLY BALL is a batted ball that rises to an appreciable height above the ground.
B. A LINE DRIVE is a batted ball which travels parallel or nearly so with the ground
through most of its flight.
C. A GROUND BALL is one that is neither a fly nor a line drive.
Sec 7. BATTER-RUNNER. The batter-runner is a player who has finished his time at bat until he
is put out or playing action ends.
Sec 8. BATTER’S BOX. The batter’s box is the area including the lines in which the batter is
positioned while at bat.
Sec 9. BATTING ORDER. The batting order is the official listing of offensive players by first and
last name, in the order in which they are to bat. Uniform number and defensive position
shall be listed on the lineup sheet.
8th Edition
Sec 10. BLOCKED BALL. A blocked ball is a fair ball, batted or thrown, which is touched,
stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game; or touches any object which is
not part of the official equipment or official playing area; or touches loose equipment
Sec 11. BUNT. A bunt is a fair ball, which occurs when the batter does not swing to hit the ball,
but holds the bat in the path of the ball to tap it slowly to the infield
Sec 12. BUNT, ATTEMPTED. An attempted bunt (“offer”) is any movement of the bat toward the
ball when the ball is over or near the plate area. Holding the bat in the strike zone is
considered an attempt to bunt. In order to take a pitch, the bat must be pulled back away
from the ball. If an attempted bunt results in a foul ball, it is treated as any other foul ball,
if the batter has two strikes and this happens, he is out.
Sec 13. BUNT, DRAG. A drag bunt is a bunt where the batter attempts to bunt the ball by running
forward in the batter box, carrying the bat with her. The movement of the bat is in
conjunction with the batters forward movement.
Sec 14. CATCH. A catch is the act of a fielder getting secure possession in a hand or glove of a
live ball in flight and firmly holding it, provided a cap, protector, mask, pocket or other part
of the uniform is not used to trap the ball. In establishing a valid catch, the fielder shall
hold the ball long enough to prove complete control of it and/or that the release of the ball
is voluntary and intentional. If a player drops the ball after reaching into the glove to
remove it or while in the act of throwing, it is a valid catch.
It is considered a catch if a fielder catches a fair or foul ball and then leaves live-ball area
with both feet by stepping or falling into a bench, dugout, stand, bleacher or over any
boundary or barrier, such as a fence, rope, chalk line, or a pre-game determined
imaginary boundary line of the field of play. Falling into does not include merely running
against such object. It is not a catch when a fielder touches a batted ball in flight and the
ball then contacts a member of the offensive team or an Umpire and is then caught by a
defensive player.
NOTE: When a batted ball or pitch is involved, the above definition of catch applies. For
any other thrown ball, the term is used loosely to also apply to a pickup or to the trapping
of a low throw which has touched the ground. A fielder may be grasping the ball even
though it is touching the ground while in the glove.
Sec 15. CATCHER’S BOX. The catcher’s box is area in which the catcher must remain from the
time the pitcher steps on the pitcher’s plate until the pitch is released. The catcher’s body
and equipment are considered within the box unless touching the ground outside the box.
Sec 16. CONFERENCE, CHARGED. A charged conference takes place when a coach or bench
personnel requests time-out to meet with offensive or defensive personnel.
Sec 17. CONFERENCE, PRE-GAME. A pre-game conference is a meeting involving the
Umpires, coaches and/or team captains near home plate. The meeting should begin
approximately five minutes prior to the game and before the home team takes the field.
There shall be no ball hit or thrown in the infield area (fair or foul territory) during this
meeting. The purpose of the pre-game conference is to exchange and check each team’s
lineup cards and discusses ground rules. Umpires shall also ask the coaches if their
players are legally and properly equipped.
Sec 18. CROW HOP. A crow hop is the replanting of the pivot foot prior to delivery of the pitch.
Sec 19. DEAD BALL. It is a dead ball when the ball is not in play. The ball is not considered in
play again until the pitcher is in possession of the ball and is stationed within the 16-foot
circle and the Plate Umpire calls “Play Ball.”
Sec 20. DEAD-BALL AREA. The dead-ball area is beyond any real boundary, such as a fence,
rope, chalk line, any stands, bleachers, dugouts, players’ bench or designated media
area; or any imaginary boundary line as determined in the pregame conference. If a ball
becomes lodged in a fence or backstop, it is considered to be in dead-ball area.
8th Edition
Sec 21. DUGOUT. An out-of-play area reserved for players, coaches, batboys and official
representatives of the team only.
Sec 22. EJECTED. A player or coach removed from the game by the Umpire, usually for an
unsportsmanlike act or conduct. A flagrant act will require the player or coach to leave the
grounds for the remainder of the game. Any ejected player or coach discovered
participating in the game would constitute a forfeit.
Sec 23. FAIR BALL. A fair ball is a batted ball which:
A. Settles or is touched on or over fair territory between home and first base or home
and third base;
B. Is on or over fair territory including any part of first and third base when bounding to
the outfield.
C. Touches first, second or third bases.
D. While on or over fair territory touches the person of any Umpire or player or their
clothing or equipment.
E. While over fair territory passes out of the playing field in flight.
F. First falls or is touched on or over fair territory beyond first or third base.
NOTE: A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul
line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is in fair or foul territory at
the time he touches the ball. It does not matter whether the ball first touches fair or foul
territory as long as it does not touch anything foreign to the natural ground in foul territory
and complies with all other aspects of a fair ball.
Sec 24. FAIR TERRITORY. Fair territory is that part of the playing field within, and including, the
foul lines from home plate to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly
upwards.
Sec 25. FIELDER. A fielder is any player of the team in the field.
Sec 26. FORCE PLAY. A force play is a play on the batter-runner at first base, or any other
runner who loses the right to the base occupied and is forced to advance because the
batter became a batter-runner. For a given runner, a force play ends as soon as batter-
runner reaches first base or any other runner reaches the next base or a following runner
is put out.
Sec 27. FORFEIT. A forfeited game is one awarded to the opponent of the offending team. The
score shall be recorded as 7 to 0.
Sec 28. FOUL BALL. A foul ball is a batted ball which:
A. Settles on foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third
base.
B. Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory.
C. First falls on foul territory beyond first or third base.
D. While on or over foul territory touches the person of an Umpire, a player or any object
foreign to the natural ground.
Sec 29. FOUL TERRITORY. Foul territory is that part of the playing field outside the foul lines and
perpendicularly upwards.
Sec 30. FOUL TIP. A foul tip is a batted ball, which goes directly and speedily from the bat to the
catcher’s mitt or hand not higher than the batters head and is legally caught by the
catcher, ball remains alive.
Sec 31. GAME
A. A regulation game is seven innings (term at bat) unless extra inning(s) are
necessary because of a tie score, or unless shortened because the home team does
not require it half of the seventh inning or only a fraction of it, or because of weather
or darkness.
B. A called game is one that is ended by order of the Umpire.
C. A suspended game is a game to be completed at a later time.
8th Edition
Sec 32. ILLEGAL PLAYER. A player who takes a position in the lineup, either on offense or
defense, who does not have a legal right to the position.
Sec 33. IN FLIGHT. A batted or thrown ball is in flight until it has touched the ground or some
object on fair or foul ground, or it has touched a person other than a fielder.
Sec 34. INFIELD. The infield is that portion of the field in fair territory that is normally skinned and
covered by infielders.
Sec 35. INFIELD FLY. An infield fly is a fair fly (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt)
which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort (rule does not preclude outfielders
from being allowed to make the catch); and provided the hit is made before two are out
and at a time when first and second base or all bases are occupied.
Sec 36. INFIELDER. An infielder is a fielder who defends the skinned area of the field around
first, second, third or shortstop areas. They usually are the first baseplayer, second
baseplayer, third baseplayer, shortstop, pitcher and catcher.
Sec 37. INITIAL PLAY. A fielder is considered to be making an initial play on a fair batted ball
when he has a reasonable chance to gain control of a ground ball that no other fielder
(except the pitcher) has touched or a reasonable change to catch the ball in flight after it
touches another fielder. The fielder is still considered to be making an initial play if he
fails to gain control of the batted ground ball and is within a step and a reach (in any
direction) of the spot of the initial play.
Sec 38. INNING
A. An inning is that portion of the game, which includes a term at bat for each team.
B. A half inning is the interval during which one team is on offense (batting) and the
other is on defense (fielding). A half inning ends when there is a third out or when, in
the last inning, the winning run is scored. In either case, if there is a delayed out
declared by the Umpire for a base running infraction, a possible fourth out may be
recognized for the inning, depending on the circumstances.
A new half inning begins immediately after the end of the previous half inning.
C. An extra inning is one, which extends the game beyond regulation play in an
attempt to break a tie score.
Sec 39. INTERFERENCE. Interference is an act which interferes with, obstructs, impedes,
hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.
A. Offensive interference is interference (physical or verbal) by the team at bat, Or
when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or without the ball, in or
out of the baseline; or when a coach physically assists a runner during playing action.
B. Umpire interference is when the Umpire, inadvertently moves so as to hinder a
catcher’s attempt to throw or when a fair, untouched ball touches an Umpire before
the closest infielder has a reasonable opportunity to field the ball.
C. Spectator interference is any action by a spectator, which impedes the progress of
the game.
Sec 40. LEAP. A leap is when both feet are airborne
Sec 41. OBSTRUCTION. Obstruction is the act of a defensive team member which hinders a
runner or changes the pattern of play or when a catcher or fielder hinders a batter unless
the fielder is in possession of the ball or making an initial play on a batted ball. The act
may be intentional or unintentional, physical or verbal.
A. It is catcher obstruction when a catcher hinders or prevents a batter from swinging at
a pitch.
B. A fake tag is an act by a defensive player that simulates an attempt to tag a runner.
Faking a tag is always considered obstruction.
Sec 42. ON-DECK BATTER. The on-deck batter is the offensive player who follows the batter in
the batting order.
Sec 43. ON-DECK CIRCLE. An on-deck circle for each team is a circle 5 feet in diameter located
a safe distance to the side and away from home plate, at least 30 feet if space allows.
8th Edition
Sec 44. OUTFIELD. The outfield is that portion of the field beyond the infield.
Sec 45. OUTFIELDER. An outfielder is a fielder who defends the outfield.
Sec 46. PASSED BALL. A passed ball is a pitch which the catcher fails to stop or control with
ordinary effort and which enables a runner to advance.
Sec 47. PIVOT FOOT. The pitchers pivot foot is that foot which is in contact with the ground, as
opposed to the non-pivot foot, which the pitcher uses to step toward home plate.
Sec 48. PLAY BALL. Play ball is the term used by the Plate Umpire to indicate that play shall
start and shall not be declared until all defensive players are in fair territory except the
catcher, who must be in the catcher’s box, and all runners are properly on base.
Sec 49. QUICK PITCH. A quick pitch is a pitch made by the pitcher with the obvious attempt to
catch the batter off balance. This would be before the batter takes a desired position in
the batter’s box or while the batter is still off balance as a result of the previous pitch.
Sec 50. RESTRICTED TO THE BENCH. A player or coach who has been confined to the
dugout/bench area for the remainder of the game. It is generally as a result of an
infraction of a playing rule (not an unsportsmanlike act or conduct).
Sec 51. RUNNER. A runner is an offensive player who has reached first base and has not yet
been put out.
Sec 52. SACRIFICE. A sacrifice is a bunt which enables any runner to advance, or a fly ball
which enables a runner to score; but, in either case, results in the batter-runner being put
out before reaching first base or would have resulted in the batter-runner being put out if
the hit had been fielded without error and provided two were not out when the ball was
hit. A sacrifice is not listed as a “time-at-bat.”
Sec 53. SLAP HIT. A slap hit occurs when the batter gives the appearance of bunting, using a
modified swing or slap at the ball as it approaches home plate. If an attempt to “SLAP” is
a foul ball, it is treated the same as any other foul ball including an attempt by the batter
with two strikes.
Sec 54. SLIDE. A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at
least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, the runner shall be
within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot when the slide is completed.
A slide is illegal if:
A. The runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide into the fielder.
B. The runner’s raised leg is higher than the fielder’s knee when the fielder is in a
standing position.
C. The runner goes beyond the base and makes contact with or alters the play of the
fielder.
D. The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg.
E. The runner tries to injure the fielder.
Sec 55. OVER SLIDE. An over slide is the act of an offensive player when, as a runner, over
slides a base the player is attempting to reach. It is usually caused when the player’s
momentum causes the player to lose contact with the base leaving the player in jeopardy.
The batter-runner may over slide first base without being in jeopardy.
Sec 56. STARTING PLAYER. A starting player is one of the first nine, ten or eleven (if using DH
and/or AP) listed on the lineup sheet that is approved by the Plate Umpire.
Sec 57. STRIKE ZONE. The strike zone is that space over home plate, which is between the
batters 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 Umpire shall determine the batter’s strike zone according to the
batter’s usual stance
8th Edition
Sec 58. STRIKEOUT. A strikeout is the result of the pitcher getting a third strike charged to a
batter. In Fast Pitch, this usually results in the batter being out. Anytime first base is
unoccupied, or there are two outs, and the third strike is not caught, the batter-runner is
entitled to advance. See exception in 10, 9, 8 & Under section.
Sec 59. SUBSTITUTE. Any member of a team’s roster who is not listed as a starting player, or a
starting player who re-enters the game.
Sec 60. TAG OUT. A tag out is the putting out of a runner (including the batter-runner), who is not
touching a base, by touching the runner with a live ball or with the glove or hand when
the live ball is securely held therein by a fielder. The ball is not considered as having
been held securely if it is juggled or dropped after the touching unless the runner
deliberately knocks the ball from the hand of the fielder.
Sec 61. THROW. A throw is the act of voluntarily losing possession through having the ball leave
the hand for a purpose other than a pitch. It may result in the ball being bounced,
handed, rolled, tossed or thrown.
Sec 62. THROW OUT. A throw out is a putout caused by a throw to first base to retire a batter-
runner, or to any other base to which a runner is forced or is required to retouch
Sec 63. TIME. “Time” is the command of the Umpire to suspend play. The ball becomes dead
when it is given
Sec 64. TURN AT BAT. A turn at bat begins when a player first enters the batter’s box and
continues until the player is substituted for, put out, or becomes a batter-runner while at
bat.
Sec 65. WILD PITCH. A wild pitch is a pitch that cannot be handled by the catcher with ordinary
effort.
RULE 4. The GAME
Sec 1. FITNESS of GROUNDS
The Umpires are the sole judges of the fitness of the grounds.
The Umpire and/or Tournament Director shall suspend play if the weather or other
conditions make play unsafe.
Sec 2. RUN SCORES
A. A runner scores one run each time he legally touches first, second, third bases and
home plate or a runner starting at second in a tiebreaker inning touches third and
home.
B. Runs scored would not count
1. When the third out is a force out.
2. When the third out is a batted ball in flight that is caught or prevented from being
caught by interference.
3. If a base running infraction were the third out, runs scored by the following
runner(s) would not count
4. When a runner crosses home plate after a preceding runner is declared the third
out for a base running infraction.
5. With two outs, if the base missed were the first to which the batter or runner was
forced to advance, no runs would score.
8th Edition
Sec 3. TIME LIMITS
Tournament Directors and League Officials may establish time limits such that a game
will consist of seven (7) innings or the amount of time specified, whichever comes first.
No new inning will begin once the time limit has expired. Any inning which has been
started prior to the time limit expiring will be completed.
The time begins when the pre-game conference ends and the home team is allowed to
take the field. A new inning begins as soon as the third out is recorded in the previous
inning.
If the game is still tied after the time limit has expired, the tie breaker rule shall be in
effect at the start of the next inning.
In the Youth Program, the recommended time limit is 1 hour and 30 minute.
Sec 4. The RUN RULE awards a win to a team that has a 12 runs lead after 3 completed innings
or 2 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead, 10 runs after 4 completed inning or 3 1/2
innings if the home team is ahead, 8 runs lead after 5 completed innings or 4 1/2 innings
if the home team is ahead.
Sec 5. TIEBREAKER
After the completion of 7-innings, or when time limits have expired, and the score is still
tied, the tiebreaker procedure will begin. The player, who had the last completed at bat,
assumes a position on 2nd base. A substitute may be inserted. A courtesy runner may be
used for the pitcher or catcher. This procedure would be done at the beginning of each
half inning; until a winner is determined.
If the absent player should begin the half inning at second base, no out is declared. The
player whose name precedes the absent player in the line-up is placed on second base.
Sec 6. REGULATION GAME
A. A game ends when the team behind in score has completed its turn at bat in the
seventh inning, in any extra inning or time limit has expired. If the home team scores
a go ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, in any extra inning or time limit
has expired the game is terminated at that point.
B. If a game is suspended and later resumed, it will be continued from the point of
suspension, with the lineup and batting order of each team exactly the same as at
the point of suspension.
C. If a game ends because of weather conditions and the Tournament Director feels that
the possibility of resuming the game is not likely, it is then a regulation game
provided:
1. Three full innings have been played; or if the home team has scored an equal or
greater number of runs in two or two and a fraction turns at bat than the visiting
team has scored in their three-inning turn.
2. Play has gone beyond three full innings and is called when the teams have not
had an equal number of completed turn’s at bats. The score shall be the same as
it was at the end of the last completed inning; unless the home team in its half of
the incomplete inning, scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the
opponent’s score, in which case, the final score shall be as recorded when the
game is called.
Sec 7. FORFEITED GAME
A. A game shall be forfeited to the offended team by the Tournament Director when a
team:
1. Is late in appearing or in beginning play after the Umpire calls “Play Ball.”
2. Refuses to continue play after the game has started.
3. Delays more than one minute in resuming play after the Umpire calls “Play ball”
or in obeying the Umpire’s order to remove a player for violation of the rules.
4. Persists in tactics designed to delay or shorten the game.
5. Willfully and persistently violates any one of the rules after being warned by the
Umpire.
8th Edition
B. Score of a forfeited game is 7 to 0 unless the game is forfeited after the number of
innings required for a regulation game and the offending team is behind, then the
score remains as recorded. If the offending team is leading, the score shall be 7 to 0.
All individual and team averages shall be included in the official records, except that
no pitcher shall be credited with a victory or charged with a loss in such a game if it is
not a regulation game.
Sec 8. CHARGED CONFERENCE
A. Defense -Each team when on defense, may be granted not more than three
charged conferences without penalty during a seven-inning game to permit coaches
or their representatives from the bench to confer with a defensive player or players.
In any extra inning game, each team shall be permitted one charged conference
without penalty each inning while on defense. The number of charged conferences is
not cumulative. A coach, player, substitute or an attendant may make a request for
time for a conference. This defensive team charged conference is effective when the
ball first becomes alive at the start of each half inning.
PENALTY: AFTER THREE CHARGED CONFERENCES IN A SEVEN INNING
GAME, OR FOR ANY CHARGED CONFERENCE IN EXCESS OF ONE IN EACH
EXTRA INNING, THE PITCHER SHALL BE REMOVED AS A PITCHER FOR THE
DURATION OF THE GAME.
B. Offensive -Each team, when on offense, may be granted not more than one
charged conference per inning to permit the coach or any of that team’s personnel to
confer with the base runners, the batter, the ondeck batter or other offensive team
personnel. The Umpire shall deny any subsequent offensive team request for
charged conferences. This offensive team charged conference rule is effective when
the ball first becomes alive in each half inning
C. Not charged
1. Time granted for an obviously incapacitated player shall not constitute a charged
conference.
2. A conference is not charged when the pitcher is removed as a pitcher.
3. If a dugout representative confers with any player during a charged conference of
the other team and is ready to play ball when the other team is ready.
RULE 5. PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES
Sec 1. PLAYERS A team shall consist of at least nine players, whose positions shall be
designated as; (1) Pitcher, (2) Catcher, (3) First Baseman, (4) Second Baseman, (5)
Third Baseman, (6) Short Stop, (7) Left Fielder, (8) Center Fielder, (9) Right Fielder, and
a designated hitter and/or up to two additional players.
A. A team must have the required number of players present in the dugout or team area
to start or continue a game.
B. The team’s lineup card shall include name, jersey number, position and batting order
of each starting player and should include each eligible substitute. All listed starters
must be present in the team area. Lineups become official after they have been
exchanged, verified and then accepted by the Plate Umpire during the pregame
conference.
Eligible roster members may be added as substitutes at any time.
C. At the time the pitch starts, all fielders shall be on fair ground except the catcher who
shall be in the catcher’s box.
Sec 2. PLAYING SHORT. A team shall be allowed to play one player short. The batting position
the team can not fill shall be designated as the absent player. When the absent player is
scheduled to bat, an out shall be declared for each turn at bat. A team may play short
under the following circumstances:
A. A team may begin the game with eight (8) players. The absent player shall be listed in
the ninth (9th) batting position. Under no circumstances shall a team be allowed to
have less than eight (8) players in the batting order.
8th Edition
B. If a team begins play with the normally allowed number of players, that team may
continue a game with one less player than is currently in the batting order whenever
a player leaves the game for any reason other than ejection. If the player leaving the
game is the batter or a runner, they shall be declared out. The players who have left
the game cannot return to the lineup.
Exception: a player, who has left the game under the blood rule, may return.
C. The team may not play short if there is an eligible substitute available. If an eligible
player arrives, they must enter the game immediately.
Sec 3. ADDITIONAL PLAYER -Up to two additional players can be used to increase the batting
lineup to 10 or 11 batters. The additional player(s) will be placed in the line up in the
batting position(s) to be occupied. The additional player(s) can also be used on defense
(only 9 defensive players in the field), but must keep the same position in the batting
order. The additional player(s), if used, must be selected prior to the start of the game,
and their name(s) must be included on the line up card presented to the Umpire. Failure
to declare the use of the additional player(s) prior to the game precludes the use of an
additional player(s) in that game. If a pinch-hitter or pinch runner is used for an additional
player, that player becomes the new additional player. The original additional player(s)
may re-enter like any other player under the re-entry rule. If an additional player is used,
the position must be used the entire game.
Sec 4. DESIGNATED HITTER -A hitter may be designated for any one starting player (not just
pitchers) and all subsequent substitutes for that player in the game. A designated hitter
(DH) for said player must be selected prior to the start of the game, and his name shall
be included on the lineup cards presented to the Umpire and the official score keeper in
the spot the DH is batting. The name of the Defensive Player for whom the DH is batting
should be listed after the DH in the same lineup spot. It is not mandatory that a team
uses a designated hitter, but failure to declare a designated hitter prior to the game
precludes the use of a designated hitter in that game. If a pinch-hitter or a pinch runner
for the designated hitter is used, that player becomes the new designated hitter. The
player who was the designated hitter may re-enter like any other player under the reentry rule. A designated hitter and the defensive player are locked into the same position
in the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting
rotation. The role of the designated hitter is terminated for the remainder of the game
when:
A. The defensive player, or any previous defensive player for whom the designated
hitter batted, subsequently bats, pinch hits or pinch runs for the designated hitter.
B. The designated hitter or any other previous designated hitter assumes a defensive
position.
Note: The starting designated hitter and the starting associated defensive player retain
re-entry privileges. The designated hitter and the person the designated hitter is
batting for cannot be in the batting order at the same time.
Sec 5. SUBSTITUTE -A player who replaces a player that is in the game (offense or defense).
Teams are required to immediately report all substitutions to the Plate Umpire. Upon
notification by either team, the Umpire shall announce the legal substitute and make the
appropriate lineup card changes. An unreported legal substitute brought to the Umpire’s
attention will result in a penalty, all prior play shall stand.
PENALTY: For unreported substitution,
First offense: A team warning is issued.
Second offense: The head coach is ejected for the remainder of the game only.
A substitute or player who replaces a pitcher while the team is on defense shall pitch to
the first opponent to bat against the substitute until that batter has advanced to first base,
or has been put out or until there has been a third out. To ensure that the requirements
are fulfilled, the Umpire will deny any coach-defensive player conference that will violate
it.
8th Edition
A. If the starting pitcher is replaced before the first opposing batter has been put out or
advanced to first base, the pitcher may play or re-enter at another position, but shall
not return to pitch.
B. A player may be removed as a pitcher and returned as a pitcher only once per inning.
Provided the return as a pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution, or
charged conference rule. If the pitcher, because of injury or being incapacitated, is
replaced as pitcher and the above rule is not satisfied; or if the pitcher’s substitute
requires more warm-up throws than permitted, the pitcher shall not return to the
game as a pitcher.
Sec 6. RE-ENTRY: Any player may be withdrawn from the game and re-entered once, provided
such player occupies the same batting position whenever in the line-up. A violation
results in an illegal substitution. A substitute who is withdrawn may re-enter.
Sec 7. ILLEGAL PLAYER is a player who enters the line–up without the right to an offensive or
defensive position. Examples of an Illegal player(s) but not limited to are:
A. Starter and/or substitute who re-enters in an incorrect batting position.
B. Starter and/or substitute who re-enters a second time.
C. Using a player to pitch who was removed from the pitching position because of Rule
4 Sec 8 A “Penalty”.
The use of an illegal player is handled as a protest that can be made at any time, while
the player is in the game. A player will not violate the illegal player provision until he/she
enters the game and one (1) pitch is thrown. Any action before one pitch is thrown is
correctable.
PENALTY: An illegal player violation results in the immediate ejection of the illegal player
and his/her coach. In addition, the following penalties will apply:
A. If the illegal player has completed a turn at bat and before the next pitch, the illegal
player is called out. Any advance by any runner as a result of the illegal player
becoming a batter-runner is nullified. Any additional outs recorded on the play stand.
B. If the illegal player has made a defensive play and before the next pitch (or the
defensive team or the Umpires have left the field), the offensive team has the option
of 1) the result of the play or 2) replaying the last pitch.
NOTE 1: The illegal player can be legally replaced by any eligible substitute.
NOTE 2: The penalty for using an ineligible player is a forfeit of any/all games played or
in progress.
Sec 8. BLOOD RULE
Player/Substitute, Manager, Coach, Trainer, Batboy or other Team member or Umpire
who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further
in the game until the bleeding is stopped and the wound covered.
A. If treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual would
not have to leave the game. The amount of time is determined by the Umpire’s
judgment.
B. If excessive time is involved, the re-entry rule would apply to players.
C. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform or if a bandage becomes
blood soaked, in the judgment of the Umpire, the uniform/bandage must be changed
before the individual may participate.
Sec 9. INJURED PLAYER
A. During a live ball situation, when a player becomes injured such that, in the Umpire’s
judgment, requires immediate attention, the Umpire shall call “DEAD BALL” and allow
or seek first aid.
EFFECT: Award any bases that would have been reached.
B. A player who has been rendered unconscious during a game is prohibited to resume
playing that day without written authorization from a physician.
8th Edition
RULE 6. PITCHING RULE
Sec 1.A legal pitch shall conform to the following:
A. Prior to the pitch, the pitcher shall take a position with: (1) the pivot foot on or partially
on the surface of the pitcher's plate; (2) 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 24inch length of the pitcher's plate. The hands must be apart.
The pitcher may not take the pitching position on the pitcher's plate without
possession of the ball, and the pitcher may not simulate the pitching position
with or without the ball when near the pitcher's plate.
B. Preliminary to pitching, the pitcher must take a position with the shoulders in line with
first and third base with the ball in the glove or pitching hand, with the hands
separated.
C. While in this position, the pitcher shall take (or simulate taking) a signal from the
catcher.
D. After completing “C” above, the pitcher shall bring the hands together in front of the
body for not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball. The hands may be
motionless or moving.
E. The Pitch:
1. The pitch starts 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.
2. Once the hands are brought together, 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.
NOTE: Toward is interpreted as within or partially within the 24-inch length of the
pitcher’s plate.
3. The pivot foot may remain in contact with or may push off and drag away from
the pitching plate prior to the front foot touching the ground, as long as the pivot
foot remains in contact with the ground. Pushing off with the pivot foot from a
place other than the pitcher’s plate is illegal.
NOTE 1: It is not a step if the pitcher slides his foot in any direction on the
pitcher’s plate, provided contact is maintained.
NOTE 2: Techniques such as the “crow hop” and “the leap” are illegal.
F. A LEGAL DELIVERY -shall be a pitched ball that is delivered to the batter with an
underhand motion.
1. The release of the ball and the follow-through of the hand and wrist must be
forwarded past the vertical line of the body.
2. The hand shall be below the hip and the wrist not father from the body than the
elbow.
3. The pitch shall be delivered on the throwing arm side of the body and not behind
the back or between the legs.
4. The pitch is completed with a step toward the batter.
G. THE PITCHER MAY USE ANY WINDUP DESIRED PROVIDED:
1. No motion to pitch is made without immediately delivering the ball to the batter.
2. The pitcher does not use a rocker action in which, after having the ball in both
hands in pitching position, she removes one hand from the ball, takes a
backward and forward swing and returns the ball to both hands in front of the
body.
3. The pitcher does not use a windup in which there is a stop or reversal of the
forward motion.
8th Edition
4. The pitcher does not make more than one revolution of the arm in the windmill
pitch. A pitcher may drop the pitching arm to the side and to the rear before
starting the windmill motion. The ball does not have to be released the first time
past the hip.
NOTE: One revolution is interpreted as “not two revolutions,” provided the
pitching arm Is dropped to the side and to the rear before starting the windmill
motion.
5. The pitcher does not continue to wind up after taking the forward step or after the
ball is released.
NOTE: Continuation of the windup is considered any action that, after the ball is
released, causes the arm to continue to rotate past the shoulder.
H. The pitcher shall not wear any item on the pitching hand, wrist, arm or thigh that the
Umpire judges to be distracting. If a pitcher wears a batting helmet while on defense,
the outer covering and shield shall be a non-glare surface.
I. Foreign Substance on the ball/Items on pitcher. The pitcher shall not at any time be
allowed to use any moisture or foreign substance on the ball, the pitching hand or
fingers nor do anything to deface the ball. Neither shall any other player or team
personnel apply moisture or a foreign substance to the ball nor do anything to deface
the ball. Under the supervision and control of the Umpire, powdered resin may be on
the hands to dry them.
J. The pitcher shall not deliberately drop, roll, bounce, etc., the ball while in the pitching
position in order to prevent the batter from striking it.
K. Once the ball has been returned to the pitcher, the pitcher has 20 seconds to release
the next pitch, "after the Umpire says play".
Effect Sec 1. A-K
An illegal pitch is called immediately. It is a delayed dead ball and should be
signaled by the Umpire calling the illegal pitch and verbalized so a player could hear
the call. The pitch is declared a ball and base runners are awarded one base without
liability to be put out if the ball is not hit. If the pitch is hit then the coach will have the
option of taking the results of the play or accepting the penalty.
L. At the beginning of an inning or when a pitcher relieves another pitcher, one minute
may be used to deliver not more than five practice pitches to the catcher, or some
other teammate. For excessive warm-up pitches, a pitcher shall be penalized by
awarding a ball to the batter for each pitch in excess of five.
M. If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during the back swing or forward motion, a ball
is called on the batter. In either case, the ball remains in play and runners may
advance at their own risk.
Sec 2. CATCHER and DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
A. A catcher shall be inside the lines of the catcher’s box and all other defensive players
positioned in fair territory when the pitcher takes a position to pitch and when the
pitch is released.
PENALTY: An illegal pitch is called.
B. The catcher shall return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch, except after a
strikeout or a putout made by the catcher, or to play on a base runner.
PENALTY: The batter is awarded a ball.
Exception: Intentionally violating the rule in order to walk the batter without pitching
shall not result in a ball being awarded to the batter.
Sec 3. NO PITCH shall be declared when:
A. The pitcher pitches during the suspension of play.
B. A runner is called out for leaving a base too soon.
C. The pitcher attempts a quick return of the ball before the batter is in position or is off
balance as a result of a previous pitch.
D. The pitcher pitches before a runner has retouched his base after being legitimately
off that base.
8th Edition
E. A player, manager or coach calls time, employs any other word or phrase, or
commits any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to
make the pitcher commit an illegal pitch. The Umpire shall penalize according to the
Sportsmanship Rule (11.2.Q).
EFFECT-A-E: The ball is dead, and all subsequent action on that pitch is canceled.
8th Edition
RULE 7. BATTING
Sec 1. ON-DECK BATTER.
A. The on-deck batter may take a position within the lines of the on-deck circle nearest
the offensive team bench. No player is permitted to warm up in the other team’s on-
deck circle.
B. The on-deck batter may loosen up with no more than two official softball bats, an
approved warm-up bat, or a combination not to exceed two. Any detachable piece
placed on the bat must be approved.
C. The on-deck batter may leave the on-deck circle:
1. When the on-deck batter becomes the batter.
2. To direct runners advancing from third to home plate.
D. The on-deck batter may not interfere with the defensive player’s opportunity to make
an out.
1. If it involves a runner, the runner closest to home plate at the time of the
interference shall be declared out.
2. If it is with the defensive fielder fielding a fly ball, the batter is out.
Sec 2. POSITION AND BATTING ORDER Each player of the team at bat shall become the
batter and shall take his position within the batter’s box (on either side of home base), in
the order in which his name appears on the lineup card as delivered to the Umpire and
the opposing team prior to the game. The order shall be followed during the entire game
except that an entering substitute shall take the replaced player’s place in the batting
order. A batter is in proper order if he follows the preceding player in the lineup, even
though such preceding batter may have batted out of order. An improper batter is
considered to be at bat as soon as he enters the batters box and one pitch has been
thrown. When an improper batter’s infraction is first discovered, time may be requested
and the improper batter replaced by the proper batter who will assume the improper
batter’s ball and strike count, provided the infraction is detected before the improper
batter is put out or becomes a base runner.
Sec 3. LEAD OFF BATTER. After the first inning, the first batter in each inning shall be the
player whose name follows that of the last batter who completed his time at bat in the
preceding inning.
Sec 4. BATTING POSITION.
A. Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet completely within the lines of the
batter’s box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside
the lines prior to the pitch.
B. After the ball is in play, the batter may not step out of the batter’s box to stop play
unless time has been granted by the Umpire.
EFFECT: All action will continue and the pitch will be called.
Sec 5. A STRIKE is charged to the batter when:
A. A pitched ball enters any part of the strike zone in flight and is not struck at.
B. A pitched ball, in the Umpire’s judgment, is prevented from entering the strike zone
by any actions of the batter.
C. A pitched ball is struck at and missed.
D. A pitched ball becomes a foul ball when the batter has less than two strikes.
Note: A batted ball that contacts the batter in the batter’s box is a foul ball.
E. A pitched ball becomes a foul tip (even on a third strike) or a foul from an attempted
bunt.
F. A penalty strike is called because a batter delays.
Sec 6. A BALL is credited to the batter when a pitch is not touched by the bat and is not a strike
or when there is an illegal pitch or for catcher / pitcher’s delay.
8th Edition
Sec 7. A foul hit or fair hit, which may be a bunt, occurs when a pitch is touched by the bat of
the batter who is in the batter’s box.
EXCEPTION: Foul Tip.
Sec 8. A batter shall not delay the game by failing to promptly take his position in the batter’s
box within 20 seconds, or by stepping out of the box when the pitcher is on the pitcher’s
plate.
PENALTY: If a pitcher is committed to delivering the pitch, the batter leaves the box at
the risk of having a strike called while being out of position. For failure of the batter to be
ready within 20 seconds after the ball has been returned to the pitcher, the Umpire shall
call a strike. If it is the third strike, the Umpire shall call time and declare the batter out.
NOTE 1: After entering the batter’s box, the batter leaves it at the risk of being charged
with delay. The batter may request time-out if he desires to step out for a valid reason
and, if granted, the 20-second count will begin anew when the ball is declared live. The
Umpire is authorized to refuse to grant time-out if the batter repeatedly causes delay or if
his leaving the batter’s box appears to be an attempt to worry the pitcher or to gain some
other advantage.
NOTE 2: If the pitcher stops or hesitates in his delivery as a result of the batter stepping
out of the box or holding up his hand to request time, it shall not be an illegal pitch.
However, if the batter steps out of the box or holds up his hand to request time and the
pitcher legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains alive. If a
pitch is not delivered, a rule has been violated by both the batter and the pitcher. The
Umpire shall call time, declare, “no-pitch” and begin play again. If the Umpire judges the
batter’s action to be a deliberate attempt to create an illegal pitch, the Umpire shall
penalize according to the Sportsmanship Rule (11.2.Q).
Sec 9. A batter shall not hit the ball fair or foul while either foot is touching the ground
completely outside the lines of the batter’s box or while touching the plate.
NOTE: A follow-through with the bat may carry one of the batter’s feet entirely outside the
box so it touches the ground as the ball is leaving the bat. It is customary for the Umpire
to ignore this if both feet were in legal position at the start of the swing and if it is not
considered an attempt to circumvent the spirit of the rule.
PENALTY: The ball becomes dead immediately. The batter is out.
Sec 10. A batter shall not disconcert the pitcher by stepping out of the box on one side of
home plate to the box on the other side while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch.
PENALTY: The ball becomes dead immediately. The batter is out.
Sec 11. A batter shall not permit a pitched ball to touch him
PENALTY: The batter remains at bat (pitch is a ball or strike), unless pitch was a third
strike.
Sec 12. A batter shall not interfere with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by leaning over home
plate. By stepping out of the batter’s box, by making any other movement which hinders
action at home or the catcher’s attempt to play on a runner, or by failing to make a
reasonable effort to vacate congested area when there is a throw to home and there is
time for the batter to move away.
PENALTY: When there are two outs, the batter is out. When there are not two outs and a
runner is advancing to home, the runner is out and the ball is dead unless the runner is
tagged out, in which case the ball remains alive and interference is ignored. When an
attempt to put out a runner at any other base is unsuccessful, the batter is out and all
runners must return to the base occupied at time of pitch.
Sec 13. If the bat breaks and is hit by the ball or hits a runner or a fielder, no interference will be
called. If a whole bat is thrown and interferes with a defensive player attempting a play,
interference shall be called.
8th Edition
PENALTY: The batter is out and runners return. If, in the Umpire’s judgment, interference
prevented a possible double play, two may be declared out. (the batter throwing the bat
and the runner closest to home)
Sec 14. A batter shall be called out when:
A. He enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat.
B. A third strike is caught.
C. A bunt on a third strike is foul.
D. A third strike (in flight) is not caught, provided a runner occupies first base at the time
of the pitch and there are less than two outs.
NOTE: If there are two outs or if no runner occupies first base, the batter is not out
unless the third strike is caught. The batter is entitled to try to reach first base before
being tagged out or thrown out.
E. A team is playing with one less than the starting number and his turn to bat is
reached.
F. After hitting or bunting a ball, the bat hits the ball a second time while the ball is on or
over fair territory, or is on or over foul territory and, in the Umpire’s judgment, had a
chance to become a fair ball, the ball is dead, no runner(s) advance and the batter is
out.
EXCEPTION: If the bat and ball accidentally come in contact with each other a
second time while the batter is holding the bat in the batter’s box, it is a foul ball.
NOTE: If the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and,
in the Umpire's judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the
ball, the batter is not out and the ball is alive and in play.
PENALTY: All runners must return to the base occupied at the time of pitch in A, C, F.
G. When an entire foot is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter’s
box when the ball makes contact with the bat.
H. When any part of a foot is touching home plate when the ball makes contact with the
bat.
I. When a batter leaves the box, but has returned to the box and makes contact with
the ball.
EXCEPTION– Section G-I: If no contact is made with the pitched ball, there is no penalty.
RULE 8. BASE RUNNING
Sec 1. Stealing of bases permitted.
Sec 2. The LOOK-BACK RULE is in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched
first base or has been declared out, and the pitcher has possession of the ball (e.g. has
the ball in her hand, glove, under arm or chin, between her legs) within the 16-foot circle.
Any runner(s) in motion may continue without stopping or may stop and immediately
move directly back to the last base touched.
Once the runner stops at a base for any reason, he may not move off that base.
A batter-runner who overruns first and does not without delay attempt to advance to
second is committed to return to first and stop.
The runner, off base, may not stand motionless.
There does not need to be any motion or recognition by the pitcher.
Failure of the runner to respond as indicated shall cause the Umpire to signal the runner
out. The ball shall be declared dead.
If the pitcher no longer has possession of the ball within the 16-foot circle, the pitcher
makes an attempt on any of the runners or a fake throw is made, this rule does not apply.
Being in the 16-foot circle is defined as both feet within or partially within the line. The
feet may touch the line and extend outside the line. When the pitcher is in the pitcher’s
circle and a runner(s) is off the base, the pitcher is considered to be playing on the
runner(s) when the throwing arm is raised or any forward movement of the body is made
toward the runner. Movement of the head is not considered an attempt play.
Effect: Ball is dead and runner is out.
Sec 3. COURTESY RUNNER
8th Edition
A. The team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher any time
after they reach base other than by substitution. The same runner may not be used
for both positions in the same inning. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be
required to leave under such circumstances
B. Players who have participated in the game in any other capacity are ineligible to
serve as a courtesy runner.
Penalty: An ineligible courtesy runner shall immediately be called out and a team
warning issued. On the second offense: The head coach is ejected for the remainder
of game only.
C. A runner put in for any player other than the pitcher or catcher will be considered a
substitute player.
D. A player may not run as a courtesy runner and be used as a substitute for another
player in that half inning.
E. Once a courtesy runner is designated for that half inning, no other courtesy runner or
the pitcher or catcher may return to run for the original courtesy runner. Should an
injury occur, another courtesy runner or the pitcher or catcher may run until they
score or are put out.
F. The courtesy runner is not permitted to be used if there is a Designated Hitter being
used for the pitcher or catcher.
PENALTY Unreported courtesy runner: An unreported courtesy runner is treated the
same as an unreported substitute. The team is warned and further violations result in the
ejection of the coach.
Sec 4. A batter becomes a batter runner with the right to attempt to score by advancing to
first, second and third and then home plate in the listed order when:
A. Hitting a fair ball.
NOTE: Batter becomes a runner when entitled to run.
B. Charged with a third strike.
NOTE: if a third strike is caught, the batter is out an instant after becoming a runner.
See exception in 10, 9, and 8 & Under section.
C. A fourth ball is called by the Umpire.
D. A pitched ball, legal or illegal, hits the batter’s person or clothing, provided the batter
does not strike at the ball.
EXCEPTION: If the batter makes no effort to avoid being hit or if the Umpire calls the
pitched ball a strike, the batter being hit by the ball is disregarded and the ball is
dead. It is a strike or ball depending on location of the pitch.
NOTE: If a batter’s loose garment, such as a shirt that is not buttoned is hit by a
pitched ball, the batter is not entitled to first base.
E. The catcher or any infielder obstructs him. Obstruction on the batter is a delayed
dead ball. The coach or captain of the team at bat, after being informed by the Plate
Umpire of the obstruction, shall indicate to the Umpire whether he elects to accept
the result of the play or to accept the penalty of awarding the batter first base and
advancing all other runners only if forced. Such election shall be made before the
next pitch (legal or illegal) or before the infielders leave the diamond. Obstruction of
the batter (before he has become a batter-runner) is ignored if the batter-runner
reaches first and all other runners advance at least one base.
NOTE 1. Any runner attempting to advance (i.e., steal or squeeze) on a catcher’s or any
infielder’s obstruction of the batter shall be awarded the base he is attempting. If a
runner is not attempting to advance on the catcher’s obstruction, he shall not be
entitled to the next base, unless forced to advance because of the batter being
awarded first base.
NOTE 2. If obstruction is, enforced, all other runners on the play will return to the base
occupied at time of the pitch unless forced to advance because of the batter being
awarded first base.
NOTE 3. If the obstruction penalty is not enforced, all other runners advance at their own
risk.
Sec 5. A batter-runner is awarded first base if:
8th Edition
A. A fourth ball is called.
B. Hit by a pitched ball as provided in section 8.4.D.
C. The catcher or any infielder obstructs him.
D. A fair ball, other than an infield fly, becomes dead and provided a preceding runner
or retired runner does not interfere in such a way as to prevent an obvious double
play.
NOTE: Unless awarded first base as above, a batter-runner is entitled to first base only if
the batter-runner reaches it before being tagged out, thrown out or called out for
hitting an infield fly.
Sec 6. Touching bases in legal order
A. An advancing runner shall touch first, second, third and then home plate in order.
B. A returning runner shall retouch the bases in reverse order. Except When an
uncaught foul ball causes the ball to become dead, the runner need not touch
intervening bases.
C. Any runner who misses a base while advancing may not return to touch the missed
base if a following runner has scored.
NOTE: Any runner who misses the first base to which he is advancing and who is
later called out shall be considered as having advanced one base.
D. When a runner dislodges a base from its proper position, neither the runner nor the
succeeding runner(s) in the same series of plays are compelled to follow a base out
of position.
E. A runner shall not run bases in reverse order either to confuse the fielders or to make
a travesty of the game.
EFFECT: The ball is dead and the runner is out.
F. Two runners may not occupy the same base simultaneously.
EFFECT: The runner who first legally occupied the base shall be entitled to it, unless
forced to advance. The other runner may be put out by being touched with the ball.
G. Failure of a PRECEDING runner to touch a base or to legally tag up on a caught fly
ball, and who is declared out, does not affect the status of a SUCCEEDING runner
who touches bases in proper order. If the failure to touch a base in regular order or to
legally tag up on a caught fly ball is the third out of the inning, no SUCCEEDING
runner may score a run.
H. No runner may return to touch a missed base or one left too soon after a following
runner has scored or once he leaves the field of play.
I. Bases left too soon on a caught fly ball must be retouched prior to advancing to
awarded bases.
J. Awarded bases must be touched in legal order.
Sec 7. A Runner may advance with liability to be put out.
A. When the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand on the delivery.
B. On a thrown ball or a fair batted ball that is not blocked.
C. On a thrown ball that hits an Umpire.
D. If a batted ball (fair or foul other than a foul tip) is caught, the initial contact of the ball
by a fielder releases the runner(s) from the base(s) occupied at the time of the pitch.
E. If a fair ball strikes an Umpire or a runner after having passed an infielder other than
the pitcher, and provided no other fielder had a chance to make an out, or when a fair
batted ball has been touched by an infielder, including the pitcher, and the runner did
not intentionally interfere with the batted ball or the fielder attempting to field the
batted ball.
EFFECT-Section 7: The ball is in play.
Sec 8. A Runner becomes liable to be put out when:
A. the ball is in play or on awarded bases, the runner fails to touch a base before
attempting to make the next base.
B. after overrunning first base, the runner attempts to continue to second base.
C. after dislodging a base, a runner attempts to continue to the next base.
8th Edition
Sec 9. If a batter-runner is entitled to return to first base after overrunning, or if a runner fails to
touch home plate, and if either such runner desires to return to such base, the runner
shall return immediately.
Sec 10. A batter-runner who reaches first base safely and then overruns or over slides may
immediately return without liability of being put out, provided he does not feint or attempt
to advance to second.
NOTE 1: When a walk or uncaught third strike occurs in which the batter is entitled to run,
it is treated the same as a batted ball. The batter-runner may continue past first base and
is entitled to run toward second base as long as he does not stop at first base, if the
pitcher has possession of the ball in the 16-foot circle. If he stops after rounding first
base, the runner must comply with the Look Back Rule (Rule 8, Sec 2).
NOTE 2: A player who is awarded first base on a base on balls may continue on down
the first base line after touching first base and immediately return without liability of being
put out, if there is no feint or attempt to advance to second. He may also round first base
and go directly to second base without stopping. If he does stop, he must comply with the
Look Back Rule (Rule 8, Sec 2).
Sec 11. A runner acquires the right to the proper unoccupied base if the runner touches it
before being put out. The runner is then entitled to this base until being put out, or until
legally touching the next base while it is unoccupied or until a following runner is forced to
advance to the base occupied.
Sec 12. Each runner shall touch his base after the ball becomes dead. All awarded bases must
be touched in their proper order. The runner returns to the base he had reached or
passed when the ball became dead. In the event of interference, a runner returns to the
base he had legally reached at the time of the interference. If the interference does not
cause the batter to be out and any other runner cannot return to the base last legally
occupied at the time of the interference, he is advanced to the next base.
EXCEPTION: The runner returns to the base occupied at the time of the pitch if his
advance was during an uncaught foul.
Sec 13. When a runner is obstructed while advancing or returning to a base, by a fielder who
neither has the ball nor is attempting an initial play on a batted ball, the Umpire shall
award the obstructed runner, and each other runner affected by the obstruction, the
bases they would have reached, in the Umpire’s judgment, had there been no
obstruction.
A. If the obstructed runner advances beyond the base the runner would have reached,
in the Umpire’s judgment, the runner advances with liability to be put out.
B. If any preceding runner is forced to advance by the awarding of a base or bases to
an obstructed runner, the Umpire shall award this preceding runner the necessary
base or bases.
C. The penalty for faking a tag is obstruction.
D. An obstructed runner may not be called out between the two bases where he was
obstructed except as follows:
1. The obstructed runner obtains the base he would have been awarded had there
been no obstruction and there is a subsequent play. The obstructed runner is no
longer protected if he leaves the base.
2. The obstructed runner commits an act of interference or malicious contact
3. The obstructed runner passes another runner.
4. A proper appeal is made for leaving a base too soon or for missing a base.
NOTE: When obstruction occurs, the Umpire gives the delayed dead-ball signal and calls
out “obstruction.” If an award is to be made, the ball becomes dead when time is taken to
make the award.
Sec 14. AWARDED BASES
All awarded bases must be touched. Each runner including the batter-runner is awarded:
A. Four bases (home base):
8th Edition
1. If a fair-batted ball goes over a fence between the foul poles without touching the
ground.
2. If a fair-batted ball hits a foul pole above the fence.
3. If a fair-batted ball is prevented from going over the fence by a spectator.
4. If a fair-batted ball is prevented from going over the fence by an illegal glove/mitt.
5. If a fair-batted ball is prevented from going over the fence by detached player
equipment, which is thrown, tossed, kicked or held by a fielder.
B. Three bases:
1. If a fair-batted ball (other than in item a) is touched by an illegal glove/mitt or by
detached player equipment which is thrown, tossed, held or kicked by a fielder,
provided the ball when touched:
a. Is on or over fair ground.
b. Is a fair ball, while on or over foul ground.
c. Is over foul ground in a situation that it might become a fair ball.
C. Two bases:
1. If a fair-batted ball becomes dead because of bouncing over or, when passing
through a fence, becomes blocked.
2. If a live thrown ball, including a pitch, is touched by an illegal glove/mitt or
detached player equipment which is thrown, held, tossed or kicked by a fielder.
3. If a live thrown ball (not by a pitcher from the pitcher’s plate as in item D) goes
into a stand for spectators, or a players’ bench, or over or through or lodges in a
fence.
4. If the fielder, in the judgment of the Umpire, intentionally touches loose
equipment left on or near the field by the defensive team.
5. If the fielder intentionally carries or throws a live ball into dead-ball territory.
NOTE: If two runners are between the same bases, the award is based on the
position of the lead runner.
D. One base:
1. If a pitch by the pitcher from the pitching position on the pitcher’s plate goes into
a dead-ball area, becomes blocked, lodges in an Umpire or catcher’s equipment.
2. If a fielder loses possession of the ball on a tag play and the ball enters dead-ball
area.
3. If there is an illegal pitch which is not ignored.
4. If forced from the base occupied by a following runner who must advance
because a batter receives a fourth ball, is hit by a pitched ball or hits a fair ball
which becomes dead.
5. If a runner is attempting to steal or he is forced from the base he occupies by a
batter-runner or runner who must advance because the catcher or any fielder
obstructed a batter (such as stepping on or across home plate, pushing the
batter to reach the pitch, or touching the bat). Instances may occur when the
infraction may be ignored or when the batter may be awarded first base.
6. If the fielder unintentionally carries or throws a live ball into dead-ball territory.
NOTE 1: Illegal use of detached player equipment, as in items a, b or c, does not
cause ball to immediately become dead. If each runner advances to or beyond the
base that each would have reached as a result of the award, the infraction is ignored.
NOTE 2: If a ball is touched with an illegal glove or mitt, any runner who advances on
the play beyond the base he would be awarded does so at his own risk and may be
put out.
E. The Umpire shall impose such penalties and/or make any awards as in the Umpire’s
judgment will nullify the following acts:
1. Spectator interference. When there is spectator interference with any thrown or
batted ball, the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference.
NOTE EXCEPTION: It is not spectator interference if a spectator physically
hinders a fielder who is reaching into a dead ball area to make a play on a batted
or thrown ball.
2. Blocked ball caused by the defense.
Sec 15. An award is from the base determined as follows:
8th Edition
A. The pitch:
1. If any pitch (batted or unbatted) is followed by a dead ball before the pitcher is in
the 16-foot circle for the next pitch and before there is any throw by the fielding
team.
2. For a runner required to tag up after a caught fly ball.
B. The infraction:
1. If the award is for any pitching infraction followed by a pitch.
2. For use of detached player equipment or ball touches an illegal glove.
3. For fielder losing possession of the ball.
4. Obstruction.
C. The time the ball last left the hand of the thrower (in any situation other than A or B).
Sec 16. A runner must return to his base when.
A. a batted ball is foul.
B. an illegally batted ball is declared by the Umpire.
C. a batter, batter-runner or runner is called out for interference. Each other runner shall
return to the last base which, in the Umpire’s judgment, was legally touched by the
runner at the time of the interference.
D. any part of the batter’s person or clothing is touched by a pitched ball that is swung at
and missed.
E. a batter is hit by a pitched ball, unless forced.
F. when an intentionally dropped ball is ruled
EFFECT-Section 16 A-F: The ball is dead and each runner must return to his base
without liability to be put out, except when forced to go to the next base because the
batter became a batter-runner.
G. when the Plate Umpire interferes with the catcher’s attempt to throw out a runner
stealing, or an attempted pick off play.
EFFECT: Delayed dead ball. If the runner is ruled out, the ball remains live. If the
runner is not out, all runners return to the base occupied at the start of the pitch. It is
not Umpire interference if, on a passed ball or wild pitch, the Umpire gets hit by a
thrown ball from the catcher. The ball is live.
Sec 17. The batter-runner is out:
A. When interfering with the catcher’s attempt to field the ball after a third strike.
B. When a batted ball in flight is caught by a fielder, or such catch is prevented by a
spectator reaching into the field enclosure.
C. When a fair fly, fair line drive or a fair bunted ball in flight is intentionally dropped by
an infielder with at least first base occupied and less than two outs; the ball is dead
and the runners shall return to their respective bases.
NOTE: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits a fair fly ball, line
drive or a fair bunted ball in flight to drop untouched to the ground, except when the
infield-fly rule applies.
D. If, after a third strike or a fair hit, any fielder, while holding the ball, touches the batter-
runner before the batter-runner touches first base; or if any fielder, while holding the
ball securely in a hand, touches first base or touches first base with the ball before
the batter-runner touches first base.
E. When he runs outside the three-foot running lane (last half of the distance from home
plate to first base) while the ball is being fielded or thrown to first base.
EXCEPTION: This infraction is ignored if it is to avoid a fielder who is attempting to
field the batted ball or if the act does not interfere with a fielder or a throw.
F. When he contacts the ball a second time in fair or foul territory, if, in the Umpire’s
judgment, the ball had a chance to become fair.
G. When he moves backward toward home plate to avoid or delay being tagged out.
The ball is dead and base runners must return to the last base touched at the time of
the infraction.
H. When he hits a fair fly and the infield-fly rule is declared.
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EFFECT -The ball is live, the batter is out if the batted ball is fair.
If the ball is caught, each runner may tag up and advance with the liability to be put
out once the batted ball is touched the same as on any caught fly ball. If a declared
infield fly is not caught, the ball is live, the batter-runner is out which removes all force
plays, and each runner may advance with liability to be put out without needing to
retouch his base(s).
See exception in 10, 9, and 8 & Under section.
I. When any coach or member of the offensive team interferes with a fielder attempting
to field a foul fly ball.
J. When, after becoming a batter-runner, he does not attempt to reach first base before
all infielders leave the diamond, the half-inning ends, or he gives up by entering the
bench or dugout area.
K. When he is an illegal substitute and is discovered.
Sec 18. Any runner is out when:
A. Running more than three feet away from the base path to avoid being tagged, or to
hinder a fielder while the runner is advancing or returning to a base.
EXCEPTION: This is not an infraction if a fielder, attempting to field a batted ball, is in
the runner’s proper path and if the runner runs behind the fielder to avoid interfering.
NOTE: When a play is being made on a runner or batter-runner, the runner
establishes his base path as directly between the runner’s position and the base
toward which the runner is moving.
B. He slides illegally and causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of a
fielder in the immediate act of making a play on him.
PENALTY: The runner is out and the ball is dead immediately and interference is
called.
NOTE: Runners are never required to slide but, if the runner elects to slide, the slide
shall be legal.
C. He does not legally attempt to avoid a fielder in the immediate act of making a play
on him.
PENALTY: The runner is out and the ball remains alive unless interference is called.
NOTE: Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all legal attempts to avoid a fielder only if
the fielder is lying on the ground.
D. Malicious contact occurs (always supersedes obstruction).
E. On a force play at any base, the runner or retired runner fails to execute a legal slide,
or does not attempt to avoid the fielder on the play.
F. Intentionally interfering with a throw or thrown ball.
G. Hindering a fielder’s initial play on a batted ball.
H. Being put out is prevented by an illegal act by anyone connected with the team.
NOTE 1: If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner interferes in any way and
prevents a double play anywhere, two shall be declared out (the runner who
interferes and the runner closest to home).
NOTE 2: If a retired runner interferes and, in the judgment of the Umpire, another
runner could have been put out, the Umpire shall declare the runner closest to home
out.
NOTE 3: If the batter-runner interferes, the Umpire shall call the batter-runner and the
runner who has advanced the nearest to home base out.
NOTE 4: If two fielders try to field a batted ball and the runner contacts one or both,
the Umpire shall decide which one is entitled to field the ball and that fielder only is
entitled to protection.
NOTE 5: If a batted ball is misplayed and remains in front of a fielder so that the
fielder still has an opportunity to obtain an out, and the runner contacts the fielder,
this is still interference. If the misplayed ball bounds away or past the fielder and then
contact occurs as the fielder and runner collide, this may be considered inadvertent
contact or obstruction.
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I. Touched by a live ball securely held by a fielder or is touched by a fielder’s glove or
hand with the live ball held therein while the runner is not touching base.
EXCEPTIONS: If a batter-runner safely touches first base and then over slides or
overruns it, the batter-runner may immediately return to first base without liability of
being tagged out, provided there was no feint or attempt to advance to second. Also,
if any base comes loose from its fastening when any runner contacts it, such runner
cannot be tagged out because the base slides away from the runner.
NOTE: The ball is not securely held if it is dropped or juggled after the runner is
touched, unless the ball was deliberately knocked from the fielder’s hand by the
runner.
J. A base is not retouched before a fielder tags the runner out or the fielder holds the
ball while touching such base after a caught fly ball or missed base. It is not
necessary for a runner to retouch base after a foul tip.
K. Not in contact with the base at the time a pitched ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
However, if the pitcher does not allow sufficient time for a runner to return to base,
the runner shall not be called out for being off the base before the pitcher releases
the ball. The runner may advance as though the base was left legally.
L. The runner violates the Look Back Rule
M. He fails to reach the next base before a fielder either tags runner out; or holds the
ball while touching such base, after runner has been forced from the base occupied
because the batter became a runner.
EXCEPTION: No runner may be forced out if a runner who follows in the batting
order is first put out, including a batter-runner who is out for an infield fly.
N. A fair-batted ball contacts him before it touches or passes an infielder, or after it
passes any infielder, except the pitcher, and the Umpire judges that another infielder
has a play.
EXCEPTION: If a runner is touching a base when hit by a batted fair ball, the runner
is not out unless he intentionally interferes with the ball or an infielder making a play.
The ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base. All base runners return to the
base occupied at the time of the infraction, unless forced.
NOTE: When the infield-fly rule is in effect, if a runner is hit by an infield fly when not
touching a base, both the runner and the batter are out.
O. Detected attempting to advance to home plate when the batter interferes with a play
at home plate, with less than two outs.
NOTE: If there are two outs, the batter is out because of interference and, since this
is the third out, the runner cannot score. But if there are not two outs, the runner is
out and the batter is not penalized.
P. Detected passing an unobstructed preceding runner before such runner is out
(including awarded bases).
Q. Detected running bases in reverse to confuse opponents or to make a travesty of the
game.
R. After at least touching first base, the runner leaves the baseline, obviously
abandoning his effort to touch the next base.
S. Detected taking a position for a running start behind and not in contact with a base.
T. On or beyond a succeeding base when the ball is declared dead after having left a
base too soon on a caught fly ball; or having failed to touch a preceding base; or
continuing and touching a succeeding base after the ball become dead.
NOTE: A runner shall not be declared out if the fielder deliberately throws or carries
the ball into dead-ball territory to prevent that runner, who has touched or advanced
beyond a succeeding base, from returning to a missed base or a base left too soon.
U. the runner fails to touch the intervening base or bases in regular or reverse order and
the ball is returned to an infielder and properly appealed.
V. Fails to touch base and appeal
W. Intentional contacts a fair ball
X. Prior to a pitch (legal or illegal) to the next batter, the runner was discovered having
used an illegal bat or non-approved bat.
EFFECT: Any runner not put out must return to the base occupied at the time of the
pitch.
8th Edition
Y. a runner on base leaves the game without a replacement substitute
Z. the immediate preceding runner who is not out, intentionally interferes, in the
Umpire’s judgment, with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or throw a
ball in an attempt to complete the play on the batter-runner.
EFFECT: The runner shall also be called out.
AA. When anyone other than another Runner physically assists him while the ball is in
play.
AB. When a Coach intentionally interferes with a live, batted ball or thrown ball.
AC. When the offensive team causes a blocked ball.
EFFECT: The runner closest to home is out.
AD. When a Coach runs in the direction of Home Plate or any other base, on or near a
baseline, while the Fielder is attempting to make a play on a batted ball or on a
thrown ball, and thereby draws a throw in his direction.
Sec 19. Double First Base
The Double First Base shall consist of a base in fair territory that is white in color and a
base in foul territory that is colored.
A. A batted ball hitting or bounding over any part of the white portion is declared fair. A
batted ball hitting or bounding over only the colored potion is declared foul.
B. Whenever a play is being made on the batter-runner, the defense must use the white
portion and the batter-runner the colored portion.
Exceptions: The defense and batter runner can use either portion when:
1. The ball is thrown from the foul side of first base line.
2. An errant or missed throw pulls the defensive player into foul ground.
C. The batter-runner is out when there is a play being made at first base and the batter-
runner touches only the white portion, providing the defense appeals prior to the
batter-runner returning to first base. This is treated the same as missing the base.
Once the runner returns to the white or colored portion, no appeal can be made.
D. If there is a force play by an infielder on the batter-runner, who touches only the white
portion and collides with the fielder about to catch a thrown ball while on the white,
Interference is ruled.
Penalty: The ball is dead, the batter-runner is out, and all other runners are returned
to the base last occupied at the time of interference.
E. When no play is being attempted at first base, the batter-runner may touch the white
or colored base.
F. After the batter-runner initially reaches first base, the runner and any fielder may use
the white or colored base. This shall include but is not limited to:
A. The runner returning to first base.
B. The runner tagging up on a fly ball.
C. The fielder making a play on a returning runner.
RULE 9. APPEALS
An appeal is a play or rule violation on which the Umpire does not make a ruling until requested
by a coach or player
Sec 1. Types of appeals:
A. Missing a base, either advancing or returning (live or dead-ball appeal).
B. Leaving a base on a caught fly ball before the ball is first touched (live or dead-ball
appeal).
C. Batting out of order (dead-ball appeal only).
D. Attempting to advance to second base after making the turn at first base overrunning
first base (live-ball appeal only).
Sec 2. Live ball appeal (before Umpire calls time). Any fielder can appeal a runner once. The
ball is live and all runners may advance with liability of being put out.
8th Edition
Sec 3. Dead ball appeal. Once all runners have completed their advancement and time has
been called, the coach or any defensive player, with or without the ball, may make a
verbal appeal on a runner missing a base or leaving a base too soon on a caught fly ball.
The administering Umpire should then make a decision on the play.
A. If the ball has gone out of play, runners must be given the opportunity to complete
their base running responsibilities before the dead-ball appeal can be made.
B. If "play ball" has been declared by the Umpire and the pitcher then requests an
appeal, the Umpire would again call "time" and allow the appeal.
Sec 4. The appeals must be made:
A. before the next legal or illegal pitch;
B. at the end of an inning, before all infielders have left fair territory and the catcher
vacates his normal fielding position; or
C. on the last play of the game, before the Umpires leave the field of play.
Sec 5. Advancing Runners
A. Runners may advance during a live-ball appeal play.
B. No runner may advance on a dead ball appeal.
C. No runner is out if he steps off base during a dead ball appeal.
Sec 6. A runner may not return to touch a missed base or one left too soon on a caught fly ball
if:
A. he has reached a base beyond the base missed or left too soon and the ball
becomes dead.
B. he has left the field of play; or
C. a following runner has scored.
Sec 7. More Than One Appeal. More than one appeal play may be made but guessing games
should not be allowed.
Sec 8. Force Out. If an appeal is honored at a base to which a runner was forced to advance,
no runs would score if it was the third out.
Sec 9. Fourth-Out Appeal. An appeal may be made after the third out as long as it is made
properly. (i.e. one out with runner on first and third. The batter hits a fly ball that is caught.
Each runner leaves his base before the caught ball is touched. An appeal is made at first
base for the third out. The defensive team then makes an appeal at third base before the
infielders leave the infield. The runner on third would then be declared out also, and the
run would not count.)
Sec 10. Batting Out Of Order
A batter shall be called out on appeal when he fails to bat in his proper turn and another batter
completes a time at bat in his place.
NOTE: Only the defensive team may appeal out of order after the batter has completed
his time at bat.
A. When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out and the defensive team
appeals to the Umpire before the next pitch (legal or illegal), or before the infielders
leave the diamond if a half inning is ending, batting out of order is declared and
results in the following:
1). The proper batter is declared out.
2). The improper batter is taken off base. If the batter is out on the play, the out does
not stand because the out for batting out of order supersedes an out by the
improper batter on a play.
3). Any outs made on the play on other runners stand. Any runner not put out must
return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
4). No runs may score on the play.
5). The next batter is the player who follows in the batting order the player who was
declared out for not batting in the proper order.
NOTE: If a runner advances because of a stolen base, wild pitch or passed ball while
the improper batter is at bat, such advance is legal.
8th Edition
B. If an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out and a legal or illegal pitch has
been delivered to the succeeding batter, or all infielders have left the diamond if a
half-inning has ended and, in all cases, before an appeal is made, the improper
batter becomes the proper batter and the results of his time at bat become legal.
C. When the proper batter is called out because he has failed to bat in turn, the next
batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of the proper batter who was
called out.
D. When an improper batter becomes a proper batter because no appeal is properly
made as above, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of such
legalized improper batter. The instant an improper batter’s actions are legalized, the
batting order picks up with the name following that of the legalized improper batter.
NOTE: When several players bat out of order before discovery so that a player’s time
at bat occurs while he is a runner, such player remains on base, but he is NOT out as
a batter.
RULE 10. DEAD BALL -SUSPENSION OF PLAY
Sec 1. The batter is awarded 1st base and all base runners advance one base (if forced), when a
pitched ball, not struck at and not called a strike, touches any part of the batter's person
or clothing (if not loose garment). The ball may strike the ground before it hits the batter.
EXCEPTION: If the batter makes no effort to avoid being hit, the hitting of the batter is
disregarded. The ball is dead immediately and is a strike or ball depending on location of
the pitch.
Note:
1. It does not matter if the ball strikes the ground before hitting the batter.
2. The batter’s hands are not considered part of the bat.
3. If a batter swings and the ball hits his hands which send it into fair or foul territory, the
ball is dead immediately; A strike is called on the batter; and if it is the third strike, the
batter is out.
Sec 2. It is a delayed dead ball when the Umpire obstructs the catcher attempting to throw the
ball.
EFFECT: Sec 2. If the runner is not out, he is returned to the last base attained before
the obstruction occurred.
Sec 3. Ball becomes dead immediately when:
A. A pitch touches a batter or the batter’s clothing.
NOTE: the ball becomes dead even though the batter strikes at it.
B. The ball is illegally batted or comes in contact with the bat a second time.
C. The batter enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat.
D. Any batted ball, while on or over foul ground.
1. Touches any object other than the ground or any person other than a fielder.
2. Goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s protector, mask or person without first
touching the catcher’s glove or hand.
3. Becomes an uncaught foul.
E. There is interference by a runner or a retired runner.
F. A fair ball, which is on or over fair ground.
1. Touches a runner or an Umpire before touching any fielder and before passing
any fielder other than the pitcher.
2. Touches a runner after passing through or by an infielder and another infielder
could have made a play on the ball.
3. Touches a spectator.
4. Goes over, through or wedges in the field fence.
G. A pitch or any other thrown ball
1. Is touched by a spectator.
2. Is touched by nonparticipating team personnel.
3. Goes into a stand or player’s bench (even if it rebounds to the field).
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4. Goes over or through or wedges in the field fence.
5. Lodges in an Umpire. or catcher’s equipment or touches loose equipment.
H. The Umpire handles a live ball, calls “Time” for inspecting the ball, or for any other
reason.
I. A fielder, after catching a fair or foul ball (fly or line drive), leaves the field of play by
stepping with both feet or by falling into a designated dead-ball area (i.e., bench,
dugout, stand/bleacher, etc.).
NOTE: if a chalk line is used to designate an “out-of-play” area, the line is considered
in play. If a fielder is touching the line, he is in the field of play and may make a catch.
When the fielder completely unintentionally leaves live-ball area and then reestablishes himself within live-ball territory (one foot touching out of play line), a catch
would be allowed. If the fielder unintentionally leaves a live-ball area with both feet
after making a catch, the ball becomes dead and all base runners are awarded one
base from the time of the pitch. Two bases shall be awarded each runner if a fielder
intentionally leaves live-ball area with both feet.
J. Any personnel connected with the offensive team requests “Time” or uses any other
command or commits an act for the purpose of trying to cause the opposing pitcher
to commit an illegal pitch.
K. An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly.
EXCEPTION: INFIELD FLY RULE.
L. A runner interferes with a fielder attempting to catch a foul fly.
M. The batter-runner moves backward toward home plate to avoid or delay being tagged
out.
N. A batted, thrown or pitched ball touches in an occupied designated media area (a ball
that passes through a dead-ball area in flight is not considered dead).
O. An illegal pitch occurs, but no pitch is delivered to the batter.
Sec 4. It is a delayed dead ball when:
A. An illegal pitch is delivered.
EFFECT: The pitch is a ball and base runners are awarded one base if the ball is not
hit or batter becomes base runner. Otherwise, if ball is hit, team at bat has choice of
accepting the play or the penalty.
B. There is interference by a batter.
C. A catcher or any fielder obstructs a batter or obstructs the ball through use of
detached play equipment.
D. The Umpire interferes with catcher who is attempting to throw.
E. A coach physically assists a runner.
F. A ball touches an illegal glove/mitt.
G. Any one who is required to wear a batting helmet deliberately removes the helmet
while the ball is alive.
Sec 5. The ball becomes dead when time is taken to make an award when a catcher or any
fielder illegally obstructs a runner.
Sec 6. After a dead-ball situation, the ball becomes alive when it is held by the pitcher within
the 16-foot circle and the Umpire calls and/or signals “Play Ball” and gives the beckoning
hand signal.
Sec 7. “Time” shall be called by the Umpire and play suspended:
A. When the Umpire and/ or Tournament Director considers the weather or ground
conditions unfit for play.
NOTE: After 30 minutes, the Umpire and/ or Tournament Director may declare the
game ended or suspended.
B. When a player, bench personnel or spectator is ordered from the field of play, or
player is ordered to secure protective equipment.
C. When an Umpire or player is incapacitated, unless injury occurs during a live ball,
then time shall not be called until any further advancement or putout is possible.
NOTE: If necessary, the Umpire may suspend play immediately if, in the Umpire’s
judgment, further play may cause injury or jeopardize a participant’s safety.
8th Edition
D. When a player or coach is granted time for a substitution, conference with the pitcher,
or for similar cause.
E. When play is suspended for any other cause, including an award of a base after an
infraction, inspection of the ball, or the ending of a half-inning.
Sec 8. When the ball becomes dead:
A. No action by the defense during that time can cause a player to be put out.
B. A runner may not advance, nor return to a base that was not touched or that the
runner was not in contact with on a caught fly ball during a live ball if the runner had
advanced to or beyond a succeeding base.
C. Any runner may advance when awarded a base or bases for an act, which occurred
before the ball became dead. All awarded bases must be touched.
RULE 11. SPORTSMANSHIP
Sec 1. All players and coaches will be expected to behave in a sportsman like manner at all
times. Any player, coach or parent / fan whose conduct is unbecoming or abusive will at a
minimum be warned and may be removed from the playing field or stands at the
discretion of the Tournament Officials or the Umpires. Foul or abusive language will not
be tolerated under any circumstances. This includes a team forfeiting or being removed
from the tournament if necessary.
Sec 2. A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not:
A. Fake a tag without the ball.
B. Carelessly throw a bat.
C. Fail to wear or deliberately remove helmet when it is required to be worn.
D. Wear jewelry to include tape over jewelry or any exposed ornament which in the
Umpire’s judgment is dangerous (players participating in the game).
E. Hit the ball to teammates on defense after the game has started.
F. Use electronic communication, television monitoring or replay equipment for coaching
purposes during the course of the game.
G. Use tobacco products in any form.
H. Be in possession of any object in the coach’s box other than a scorebook, which shall
be used for scorekeeping purposes only.
I. Be outside the designated dugout/bench or bullpen areas unless they are a batter,
runner, on deck batter, in the coach’s box or one of the nine players on defense.
Note: A single on-deck batter shall remain in their team’s on-deck circle while the
opposing pitcher is warming up.
PENALTY A-I: FIRST OFFENSE is a team warning. SECOND OFFENSE and any
subsequent violation the offender is restricted to the bench for the remainder of the game
and their current head coach shall be ejected.
Note: a reminder at home plate by the Umpire does not constitute a warning for either team.
J. Using words or actions to incite spectators to demonstrations.
K. Using intimidation tactics, or baiting or taunting.
Note: The USSSA disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to
embarrass, ridicule or demean others under circumstances including race, religion,
gender or national origin.
L. Behaving in any manner not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.
M. Enter the area behind the catcher while the opposing pitcher and catcher are in their
positions.
N. Charge an Umpire.
O. Use amplifiers or bullhorns for coaching purpose during the course of the game.
P. Argue ball and strike calls or other Umpire judgment calls.
Q. Call “time”, employ any other word or phrase, or commit any act for the purpose of
causing an illegal pitch.
R. Commit any other unsportsmanlike act.
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PENALTY J-R: If it is the FIRST OFFENSE and is judged to be of a minor nature, an
offending player may be warned or an offending coach may be restricted to the bench. If
not minor or a subsequent offense, the Umpire shall eject the offender from the game.
Failure to comply shall result in the game being forfeited. Any coach restricted to the
bench shall be ejected for further misconduct. A coach may leave the bench/dugout to
attend to a player who becomes ill or injured.
S. Curse or use profanity
T. Deliberately throw a bat, helmet or any other piece of equipment.
U. Initiate malicious contact.
V. Engage in a fight.
Note: Fighting is any attempt by a player or nonplayer to strike or engage an opponent in
a combative manner unrelated to softball. Such acts include, but are not limited to,
attempts to strike an opponent(s) with arm(s), hand(s), leg(s) or foot (feet), whether
or not there is contact.
W. Leaving their positions or bench area when a fight has broken out. Coaches who
enter the field to restrain combatants from their team shall not be considered to have
violated this rule.
PENALTY S-W: The Umpire shall eject the offender from the game. Failure to comply shall
result in the game being forfeited. A player ejected for malicious contact is declared out
unless she has already scored.
RULE 12. COACH/MANAGER OR PLAYER EJECTION
Sec 1. A coach/manager who is ejected shall leave the vicinity (out of sight and out of sound) of
the playing area immediately and is prohibited from any further contact (direct or indirect)
with the team during the remainder of the game.
Sec 2. If a coach/manager is ejected from a game he must sit out the remainder of that game and
the following game. A player ejected must sit out the remainder of that game. Anyone
ejected will be asked to leave the park at the discretion of the Umpire and Tournament
Director.
RULE 13. PROTEST
Sec 1. Umpires will work to settle all problems on the field. Protests will be allowed for age and
rule interpretations only. Protests must be declared to the Plate Umpire before the next
pitch following the dispute. No protest will be allowed following the game. Tournament
Officials and UIC will rule on all protests and their decision will be final.
Sec 2. The Tournament Director may at his discretion charge a protest fee of $100. Protests of
player eligibility shall be charged per player.
Sec 3. Tournament Officials will be available at all times. If you have any questions, please talk
to a Tournament Official.
Sec 4. In tournament play, all protests must be settled, before any play can be resumed except
protests concerning player eligibility. If a player eligibility protest is lodged during
tournament play and cannot be resolved at the time of the protest, the game shall be
completed. If the eligibility question cannot be resolved until the tournament is completed
and it is subsequently found that the involved player or players are ineligible, the team
shall be placed last in the tournament standings and the standings shall be adjusted
accordingly.
Sec 5. In tournament play, when an ineligible player is discovered during the game, the offending
team loses the game, is ejected from the tournament, placed last in the standing and
forfeits all awards, sponsor travel money and berths that would have been awarded at
that tournament. If this ineligible player is discovered after the completion of the game
(but during the tournament) the game shall stand as played. However the offending team
is ejected from the tournament, and assumes the same penalties as above.
8th Edition
RULE 14. UMPIRES
Sec 1. All tournaments and leagues played under the jurisdiction and administration of the
USSSA Fast Pitch program shall utilize only Umpires who are currently registered with
the association. Umpires shall have USSSA registration card available at all games
worked.
Sec 2. The Umpire should not be connected in any way with either team.
Sec 3. The Umpire should be sure of the date, time and location of the game and should arrive at
the field 30 minutes before the game time, prepared to work.
Sec 4. The official Umpire uniform standard for sanctioned play includes approved and licensed
products, which allow for freedom of movement. The official uniform shall consist of:
A. USSSA Licensed mesh pullover shirt. The favored shirt color shall be red. If a shirt is
to be worn under the Umpire shirt, it shall be plain, short or long sleeve, and white,
black or match the pullover shirt in color. Any exposed shelves shall match the color
of the pullover shirt.
B. USSSA Licensed Umpire cap. The favored hat colors shall be red and black. This will
include the USSSA embroidery on the cap and the official licensed label inside.
C. Long heather gray slacks with black socks. Shin guards may not be exposed.
D. Gray or black ball bag. Only the Plate Umpire shall wear a ball bag.
E. Black belt.
F. Black polished shoes and black shoelaces.
G. Licensed windbreaker jacket, v-neck pullover may be worn as outside apparel.
Note: If more than one Umpire is used per game, they must be dressed alike.
H. The Umpire behind the plate must wear a mask.
Sec 5. Game officials include the Plate Umpire and may include one, two or three field Umpires.
Any Umpire has the authority to order a player, coach, or team attendant to do or refrain
from doing anything, which affects the administering of these rules, and to enforce
prescribed penalties. The National Fast Pitch Program Committee strongly
recommends there be at least two Umpires.
Sec 6. Umpire jurisdiction begins upon the arrival of one Umpire within the confines of the field
and ends when the Umpires leave the playing field at the conclusion of the game.
Sec 7. If there is only one Umpire, that Umpire has complete jurisdiction in administering the
rules and shall take a position behind the catcher. The only exception will be the 8 &
under Machine Pitch, where the Umpire feeds the pitching machine.
Sec 8. Any Umpire’s decision, which involves judgment, such as whether a hit is fair or foul,
whether a pitch is a strike or ball, or whether a runner is safe, or out, is final. If there is a
reasonable doubt about some decision being in conflict with the rules, the coach or
captain may ask that the correct ruling be made. The Umpire making the decision may
ask another Umpire for information before making a final decision. The use of videotape
by game officials for the purpose of making calls or rendering decision is prohibited. No
Umpire shall criticize or interfere with another Umpire’s decision unless asked by the one
making it.
NOTE: The Plate Umpire sometimes asks for aid from the Base Umpire when there is a
question as to whether a batter’s half-swing is to be called a strike. As an aid in deciding,
the Umpire shall note whether the swing carried the barrel portion of the bat in front of the
batter’s body and in the direction of the infield, but the final decision is based on whether
the batter actually struck at the ball.
Sec 9. No Umpire may be replaced during a game unless he or she becomes ill or injured.
Sec 10. The Umpire’s right to disqualify players or remove nonplayers for objecting to decisions
or for unsportsmanlike conduct is absolute.
Sec 11. Umpires shall not use tobacco products in any form in the vicinity of the playing field.
8th Edition
Sec 12. If there are two (or more) Umpires, the Plate Umpire shall stand behind the catcher. The
Plate Umpire shall make all decisions except those commonly reserved for the field
Umpire. The duties of the Plate Umpire shall include the following:
A. Call and count balls and strikes,
B. Signal fair hits, and call out “foul ball” while signaling each foul hit,
C. Make all decisions on the batter.
D. Ask both coaches if their teams are legally and properly equipped, inspect equipment
and condition of the field, receive batting order of both team, announce special
ground rules and formulate such if the two teams cannot agree, designate the
dugout/bench area, if necessary, designate the official scorekeeper and see that
each player takes his glove and other loose equipment to the bench at the end of his
team’s term in the field.
E. Call “Play Ball” and give beckoning hand signal to start the game or to resume play,
and call “Time” whenever ball becomes dead.
F. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the Plate Umpire
immediately announces it for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the base
line the Umpire shall declare, “Infield fly, if fair.”
G. Eject a player or send a coach from the field of play if it becomes necessary.
H. Announce each substitute.
I. Call game if conditions become unfit for play.
J. Penalize for rule infractions, such as illegal pitch, interference, delay, unwarranted
disputing of decision, unsportsmanlike conduct or defacement of the ball by the
pitcher.
K. Make final decision on points not covered by the rules.
L. Forfeit the game for prescribed infraction by spectators, player or attendants.
M. When game is played under the auspices of an organization which permits protests to
be filed, the Plate Umpire shall report the protest to the organization along with all
related conditions at the time of the protested play, provided the protest is brought to
the attention of an Umpire by the offended team at the time of the play and before the
next pitch after such play.
EXCEPTION: Protests resulting from the last play of the game shall be brought to the
attention of an Umpire by the offended team prior to leaving the field. The Plate
Umpire shall then inform the coach of the opposing team and the official
scorekeeper.
NOTE: If there is a question about a rule that was possibly misapplied, the team’s coach
or captain shall inform the Umpire at the time of play and before a pitch to the next
batter of the team currently at bat or before the first batter for the team that was on
defense, if the teams have changed positions; or before the Umpire leaves the field, if
the play in question was the last play of the game.
N. Keep a record of defensive team charged conferences and team warnings for each
team.
O. Penalize for jewelry violation.
P. Rectify any situation in which an Umpire’s decision that was reversed has placed
either team in jeopardy.
Q. Correct a scorekeeping error if brought to attention before the Umpires leave the field
when the game is over.
8th Edition
TABLE 1 -EJECTIONS and RESTRICTIONS
EVENT RULE OFFENDING
PLAYER
OFFENDING
COACH
COACH of
OFFENDER
Malicious contact 11.2.U OUT & EJECT EJECT N/A
Illegal player 5.7 EJECT N/A EJECT
Profanity or Cursing 11.2.S
EJECT EJECT N/A
Deliberately throw equipment 11.2.T
Engage in fight 11.2.V
Leave position/bench to join in a
fight
11.2.W
Leave detached equipment in field
of play
2.7 1) WARN
2) “may” EJECT
Incite spectator demonstration 11.2.J
1) WARN if minor
2) EJECT
1) RESTRICT if
minor
2) EJECT
N/A
Use intimidating tactics, bait, or
taunt
11.2.K
Behavior not in spirit of fair play 11.2.L
Enter area behind catcher 11.2.M
Charge an Umpire 11.2.N
Use bullhorns or amplifiers 11.2.O
Argue balls/strikes/judgment calls 11.2.P
Action to cause an illegal pitch 6.3.E
7.8.Note2
11.2.Q
Other unsportsmanlike conduct 11.2.R
Ineligible courtesy runner 8.3.B 1) OUT & WARN
2) OUT
N/A 1) Team Warning
2) EJECT
Fake Tag 11.2.A
1) WARN
2) RESTRICT
N/A
1) Team Warning
2) EJECT
Carelessly throw bat 11.2.B
Deliberately remove helmet 2.1
Fail to wear helmet 11.2.C
Wear jewelry or tape over jewelry 11.2.D
Hit ball to teammates on defense 11.2.E
Using replay equipment 11.2.F
Use of tobacco 11.2.G
Possess anything but a scorebook in
coaches box
11.2.H
Team personnel out of bench area 11.2.I
Unreported substitution 5.5 In game legal 1) Team Warning
2) EJECT (*) Unreported courtesy runner 8.3
NOTE 1 All coach ejections except noted by * result in the coach being barred from
participation for the remainder of the game in progress PLUS the coach is barred from
participation in the NEXT game.
NOTE 2 Coach ejection for unreported substitution / courtesy runner (*) results in the
coach being barred for the remainder of the game in progress only.
8th Edition
RULE 15. 10/9/8 & Under
1. The pitching distance shall be 35 feet.
2. The 11-inch softball shall be used.
3. The batter is out on a third strike.
If a batter strikes out and the ball is not caught, the batter is out and cannot advance
to first base. The ball remains alive.
4. 9 & Under and 8 & Under will not use the infield fly rule.
5. Unless mentioned above, the 10, 9, and 8 & Under will follow all other Fast Pitch
rules as outlined in this book.
RULE 16. Machine Pitch Rules: 10/9/8/7/6 & Under
1. The ball will be pitched at 37 mph from 40 feet. The cord that runs to the Pitching
Machine may not be exposed.
2. After 8 hittable pitches, the batter will be called out. This will include foul balls.
3. Only swinging strikes will be called.
4. There will be no walks.
5. Only one base is allowed on a pitched ball. There is no stealing home allowed. There
is stealing allowed on all other bases
6. On a hit ball there is no limit on bases allowed.
7. The infield fly rule is not in effect. The ball remains live with all runners in jeopardy of
being put out or advancing.
8. One base will be allowed on any type overthrow.
9. A batted ball that hits the pitching machine will be considered a single and all runners
will advance one base.
10. The Umpire will be responsible for feeding the pitching machine; it is recommended
that only one Umpire be used.
11. Unless mentioned above, the Machine Pitch will follow all other Fast Pitch rules as
outlined in this book.
RULE 17. Coach Pitch Rules: 10/9/8/7/6 & Under
Pool Games:
1. 75 minute time limit. International tie breaker rule used if tied after 7 innings or time
limit
2. 5 runs per half-inning
Run Rules:
1. 15 runs after 3 innings
2. 12 runs after 4 innings
3. 8 runs after 5 innings
4. All players on roster will bat in order.
Bracket Games:
1. 75 minute time limit. International tie breaker rule used if tied after 7 innings or time
limit
2. 6 runs per half inning
3. Run rules:15 runs after 3 innings
4. 12 runs after 4 innings
5. 8 runs after 5 innings
8th Edition
6. All players on roster will bat in order.
General:
1. Play will be governed by USSSA Rulebook, unless specified above or in this section.
Coach will make a maximum of 6 pitches. If the batter has not hit a fair ball, struck
out, or been put out after receiving the maximum number of pitches without
completing any of these situations will be called out. There are no walks.
2. There will be 9 defensive players on the field, but no more than 6, including the
catcher, can be positioned inside the infield baselines.
3. Batters hit by a pitch from the opposing pitcher will not be awarded 1st base.
4. Runners may steal 1 base per pitch, except home.
5. Batters may bunt.
6. The infield fly rule is not in effect. The ball remains “alive” with all runners in jeopardy
of being put out or advancing.
7. The player pitcher must have at least 1 foot in the pitcher’s circle when the batter’s
coach is pitching. No other defensive players may be positioned inside the pitcher’s
circle at any time.
8. Time will be called when the ball is returned to the player pitcher, with at least foot
inside the pitcher’s circle.
9. Game time is forfeit time.
10. Have team ready to take the field within 15 minutes of the end of the prior game on
that field.
11. All protests must be filed with the home Plate Umpire prior to the next pitch
immediately following the event under protest.
12. All protests will be resolved by the UIC or the Tournament Director before the game
resumes. The decision is final.
13. Pitching distance: 35 feet
RULE 18. Arena Indoor Fast Pitch, Six on Six
1. Each team will be allowed to use 6 players on defense and offense. Pitcher, catcher,
first base, second base, third base and shortstop.
2. The Pitching distance shall be 40 feet for the following age groups
11,12,13,14,15,16,18B, and 35 feet for 10, 9,8,7,6 & under. 18 Major and 18 A shall
pitch at 43 feet.
3. Bases shall be at 60 feet.
4. There are no outfielders in arena Fast Pitch, infielders must play their normal
positions and not in the outfield.
5. There will be a series of nets or fencing placed in the outfield at a distance suitable to
arena.
6. Outfield hits will be determined at each site. Banners can be used to designate a
certain hit or you can use any ball hit to outfield in air is an out and if a liner or ground
ball goes to the outfield it will be a single or whatever the site determines. Cones can
also be used to regulate the distance of a hit.
7. All games will have a 1 hour 15 minute time limit.
8. Arena teams will be a separate registration from regular Fast Pitch teams. The
registration fee will be set by National Fast Pitch Committee.
9. Arena Fast Pitch will be a state level program only.
10. If not mentioned above, all of USSSA Fast Pitch rules apply.
8th Edition
USSSA FAST PITCH SOFTBALL PROGRAM
NATIONAL BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1. NAME AND OBJECTIVE
Sec 1. Name. The program shall be known as USSSA Fast Pitch Softball.
Sec 2. Object. The object of USSSA Fast Pitch Softball is to organize and promote youth and
adult Fast Pitch to perpetuate the interest and love of the game. To organize and provide
an opportunity for teams to compete in tournament competition that leads to state and
world championships in their respective competitive classes in there age groups.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Sec 1. Team membership. Team membership: Men’s, Women’s, Youth 18&over , 18 & Under
Major, 18/16/15/14/13/12/11/10/9/8/7/6 & under class “A”, “B” and “C” team’s fees shall
be set annually by the USSSA Fast Pitch National Committee.
Sec 2. The Fast Pitch season and team registration will run from August 1 until July 31.
Tournaments and leagues played after August 1, (excluding current year’s World Series)
will qualify teams for the following season’s State and World Series Tournaments. All
teams playing between August 1 and December 31, (excluding current year’s World
Series) must play by the following year’s eligibility classifications.
Sec 3. Umpire Membership. Will be set annually by the Board of Directors
Sec 4. League participation. All USSSA Fast Pitch sanctioned leagues will qualify teams for
State and / or World Series Tournament play. Teams must play in their State Tournament
in order to advance to World Series or National play.
Sec 5. Tournament participation. All USSSA Fast Pitch tournaments held prior to
championship events will qualify teams for state and / or World Series tournament play.
Teams must play in their State Tournament in order to advance to World Series or
National play.
Sec 6. Division of play. USSSA will offer two divisions for National and World Series play,
which shall be A and B, except in 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15 & under. Each state will adopt an
acceptable method to classify teams. The main criteria for classifying teams shall be the
overall defensive and offensive strength and overall experience of the team. Teams will
be classified by their State Director.
ARTICLE III. TEAM ELIGIBILITY
Sec 1. No team shall be allowed to compete in USSSA sanctioned leagues or tournaments
without paying their National Team registration fees to the association.
Sec 2. A team must be composed of not more than twenty eligible players. Coaches or
managers must be included in the twenty in order to be eligible to play, except in the
youth division.
Sec 3. The cut-off date for adding players to the roster shall be in accordance with the rules set
forth in this handbook.
Sec 4. A team winning a tournament and advancing to a higher tournament may be allowed
expense money in accordance with advance rules governing the tournament, which rules
shall be promulgated by the National Headquarters of the association and are consistent
with the constitution of the USSSA. Such expense monies shall be presented to the team
and not the individual players and must be used by the team to offset team expenses.
The same rule shall apply to any such rule governing league winners advancing to
tournaments
8th Edition
Sec 5. A Tournament Director shall not accept an out-of -state team without a team registration
number, unless:
A. They contact the team’s State Director to establish proper team classification and
advise the team to register online.
B. They collect the proper team registration fee if the team cannot show proof of prior
registration.
C. They issue the team a team registration number from where the team resides. If
unable to do this, contact Fast Pitch Vice President or Regional Director.
D. They submit the proper paper work and fees to the National Headquarters with
copies sent to the team’s State Director. Tournament Directors in violation of this rule
shall be subject to sanction by the Association and the Tournament, which violated
this rule, may not be considered sanctioned by the Association and the awarding of
any advancement berth may not be honored.
Sec 6. A State Director has the authority to re-classify any team during the current season
except when a team has been reclassified by the USSSA Fast Pitch National Committee.
ARTICLE IV. INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Sec 1. A player is eligible to compete in the USSSA Fast Pitch program as long as they abide by
the Fast Pitch by-laws, and playing rules, when listed as a member of an eligible team.
Sec 2. A player shall not compete in any sanctioned tournament of the association with more
than one team during the same tournament.
Sec 3. A Tournament Director may not manage, coach, participate as a player, or Umpire in any
tournament in which they serve as Tournament Director
Sec 4. When a team qualifies for a state or World Series Tournament the team roster will be
frozen, whether a team accepts the berth or not.
A. The team roster becomes frozen immediately at the qualifying event. Players will be
bound to this qualified team up to and including the teams respective World
Tournament. A team may decline a World Series Tournament berth that is passed
down. The team manager shall be allowed to add three players to a qualified team’s
roster as late as 72 hours prior to the start of the tournament. Such additional players
can only be added to the rosters that have openings to allow for such add-ons.
B. A team manager may release up to three players from his team’s qualified frozen
roster, all such releases must be made on or before 7 days prior to start of World
Series. A team manager cannot replace a released player with an add-on.
C. All players added to a qualified frozen roster must meet the following requirements
1. Players cannot be on another qualified team’s roster.
2. All roster additions must be approved by the State Fast Pitch Director.
Sec 5. A player that is released from a qualified team’s roster cannot return to that team during
the current season. A player may be released from only one qualified team’s roster
during the current season.
Sec 6. A team with a frozen roster with less than ten players, which has used all options for
additions and releases, may apply for status of disbandment with the State Fast Pitch
Director. If approval is given, the team forfeits all berths, and sponsor travel monies
earned. A disbanded team may not reform.
Sec 7. A player that is in violation the Association’s Fast Pitch by-laws and / or official playing
rules and regulations shall be considered an ineligible player.
Sec 8. Any time during a game or after, if the Tournament Director discovers an ineligible player;
they have the authority to apply penalties as described in the USSSA Fast Pitch Rule
Book.
Sec 9. Any time during a tournament game or after, or after the completion of a tournament
date, penalties may be applied as described in the USSSA Fast Pitch rulebook.
8th Edition
Sec 10. All players participating in the USSSA Fast Pitch youth tournament play shall have proof
of age in possession of their team manager at all times. Proof of age must be verified by
a government issued document that identifies the player by name, gender and birth date.
Failure to produce a copy of such document upon demand by and deemed non-
fraudulent by a tournament official will result in the offending team losing the game, being
eliminated from the tournament, being placed last in the standings and forfeiting all
awards, sponsors travel money and tournament berths that would have been awarded at
the tournament.
ARTICLE V. STATE AND INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS
Sec 1. The State or Area Director shall conduct all tournaments within their defined area to
assure that proper administration is being effected at all times.
Sec 2. No team will be allowed to compete in any State or Invitational tournament unless they
are registered with the Association. A team can only participate in a State tournament in
one state during the season.
Sec 3. Amounts to be charged as entry fees for such tournaments shall be left up to the
discretion of the State or Area Fast Pitch Director.
Sec 4. The number of trophies and awards and amount of travel monies to be awarded will be
left up to the discretion of the State Fast Pitch Director
Sec 5. Each State or Area Fast Pitch Director shall adopt an acceptable system to be used for
qualifying teams for State and World Series Tournaments. Established league
participation may be included in such a system if so desired.
Sec 6. No tournament shall be considered as sanctioned by the Association if all applicable fees
and registrations are not promptly paid to the Association.
Sec 7. Only USSSA Fast Pitch approved softballs can be used in any USSSA event. Such
approval will be made by the USSSA Board of Directors.
Sec 8. State tournaments shall be scheduled to provide each team at least two games of
participation. This can be changed at the site of the tournament, by the Tournament
Director, after starting date of tournament has begun and it is determined that it would not
be feasible to attempt to continue on the double elimination plan due to weather
conditions or other acts of God. A substitute plan will be decided upon at the tournament
site.
Sec 9. Refund of tournament fees for any USSSA Fast Pitch sanctioned tournament will be
made only under the following conditions:
A. Request for refund must be made in writing prior to the published tournament cut-off
date for acceptance of cancellations. Such request must be sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested to the Tournament Director. U.S. Postal mark will be
considered as date of refund request.
B. Immediately upon receipt of such request, the Tournament Director will forward
check to cover the fee previously paid.
C. Tournament Director shall not be compelled to make refunds after published
tournament cut-off date regardless of circumstances.
ARTICLE VI. USSSA TOURNAMENTS
Sec 1. World Series Tournament entry fees will be established by the USSSA Board of
Directors.
Sec 2. World Series Tournament Format
8th Edition
A. The USSSA Fast Pitch program will use “pool play” format in its World Series
Tournaments. Teams will be placed in pools where they will play a minimum of three
games. A double elimination format will be used in the Championship Bracket
following pool play. The exact format of the tournament, number of pools, number of
teams in each pool will be set by the Tournament Director and approved by the
USSSA Fast Pitch Program Committee.
B. Teams will be seeded into pool play based on their National points on file with the
National office at the time of pool play bracketing. If points are not at National office
at that time, they will not be allowed to be used. Teams will be seeded into double
elimination base on pool play results. This format will be used in all National and
World Series Tournaments.
C. In case of a tie in the standings in pool play at Qualifiers, State, National and World
Series Tournaments the following tiebreaker formula will be used in: This process
continues and does not start over if a tie is broken when three or more teams are
tied.
1. Tie Breaker for individual pools.
A. Overall record.
B. Head to head competition.
C. Least amount of runs given up between teams tied with in pool play.
D. Least amount of runs given up overall in pool play.
E. Runs scored with a maximum allowed of 8 per game.
F. Coin flip.
2. Tie Breaker for seeding into the double elimination bracket.
A. Least amount of runs given up in pool play.
B. Runs scored with a maximum of 8 runs allowed per game.
C. Coin flip.
3. At all qualifying Tournaments State level and above, the following tiebreaker
system will be used in the event a tournament cannot be completed.
A. Undefeated team will be placed 1st, if more than one team is undefeated;
than it will be decided by average runs allowed per game in single or double
elimination.
B. Loser of winner bracket final will be second.
C. Winner of loser bracket final will be third.
D. Average runs allowed per game in single or double elimination will decide all
other places.
E. Coin flip would be last resort if the above still ends up in tie.
Sec 3. Team sponsor travel expense monies may be awarded for State and World Series
Tournaments. Travel expense monies may be awarded in qualifying tournaments that
lead to advancement to a State or World Series Tournament. The awards can only be
made when a team participates at the higher classified tournament.
Sec 4. World Series Tournament play shall be under the jurisdiction of the USSSA Fast Pitch
National Program Committee. The Association’s appropriate Assistant Executive Director
and/or the Fast Pitch Vice-President shall appoint a duly qualified person to serve as
Tournament Director. The Tournament Director shall supervise the event and be
responsible for insuring that the tournament is run according to all the rules, procedures
and terms of the written contract and to insure that the event is run according to all rules
and regulations of the association. The Tournament Director in carrying out his or her
duties shall report directly to the Association Assistant Executive Director and/or the Fast
Pitch Vice-President
Sec 5. World Series Tournaments with 12 or more entries may not be canceled for lack of
participation. World Series Tournaments that draw less than twelve teams must notify all
teams that they have the option of withdrawing from the tournament with full entry fee
refunded. World Series tournaments requesting cancellation must do so by notifying the
Executive director within 24 hours of the published cut-off date.
8th Edition
Sec 6. All teams receiving berth to World Series tournaments must play in their Home State’s
State Tournament provided such a State Tournament is held. Failure to play in the State
tournament, if held will result in forfeiture of the World Series tournament berth.
Sec 7. No team will be allowed to compete in a World Series Tournament unless they are
registered with the Association.
Sec 8. All entry forms of teams entering World Series Tournament must be approved by
applicable State Fast Pitch Directors. If a state does not have a State Director, then such
approval can be given by the USSSA Fast Pitch Vice-President or Regional Director. A
properly completed letter of transmittal form must accompany each entry form for World
Series Tournaments. State Directors may not issue a letter of transmittal for teams from
another state.
Sec 9. When a team has qualified to compete in a World Series Tournament but for some
legitimate reason cannot compete; the State or Area Director may select the next team in
line to take their place or may select a substitute plan to award the berth.
Sec 10. No change to a team’s roster will be allowed after the team has begun play in its first
game during a tournament. All team rosters MUST be posted on the USSSA Fast Pitch
Web Page and approved by State Director.
Sec 11 A deadline for accepting entries in the World Series Tournament shall be set by the
Tournament Director and approved by the USSSA National Program Committee.
Sec 12. It shall be mandatory that the following awards are presented at all World Series
Tournaments:
A. Championship team award.
B. Second place team award.
C. Third place team award.
D. Fourth, place team award.
E. Fifth, place team awards (2).
F. Individual awards to each member and manager of the first, second, third, fourth,
and fifth (2) place teams
G. Suitable award to outstanding defensive player.
H. Suitable award to outstanding offensive player.
I. Suitable award to tournament most valuable player.
J. Suitable award for team sportsmanship.
K. Suitable award for outstanding pitcher
L. A minimum of 15 suitable awards will be given to players on All World Series
Tournament Team plus one award for the manager selected to the All World Series
Tournament Team.
M. All awards where applicable must bear the name USSSA Fast Pitch or the USSSA
Fast Pitch logo and must identify the specific event.
N. All awards must be ordered from National Office as part of the National Fast Pitch
World Series package.
Sec 13. Any team in a World Series that forfeits their next game shall be considered as
withdrawing from the tournament. They will be placed last in standings and will not be
eligible for any awards, sponsor travel expense allocations, national ranking points or
berths that were intended to be given in that particular tournament. The scheduled
opponent will be credited with a victory and be advanced immediately on the tournament
bracket.
Sec 14. Players, coaches and managers participating in a National Invitational or World Series
cannot be charged any additional fees to gain admission to said playing site. Coaches
and managers will be limited to a total of three [3] passes.
Sec 15. At all World Series, Umpires will be paid a minimum fee per game which will be set by the
USSSA National Fast Pitch Program Committee.
Sec 16. World Series Tournament Umpire Qualifications
A. Umpires must be registered and in good standing with USSSA.
8th Edition
B. Umpires must be recommended by their Regional Fast Pitch U.I.C. and State Fast
Pitch Director where they are registered. Recommended Umpires are selected by the
Tournament U.I.C. It is recommended that the Umpires selected include Umpires
from within the division where the tournament is being held. Umpires may be
selected outside the division.
C. Umpires should have worked Fast Pitch for a minimum of two (2) years and be
knowledgeable of all USSSA Fast Pitch rules. It is strongly recommended that they
attend all USSSA Umpire clinics when available.
D. All Umpires must be dressed in the official Licensed USSSA Umpire’s Uniform as
prescribed in the Rule on Regulations for Umpires.
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The battle over three feet
10/19/08
Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution
It's just three feet, but it's much bigger than that in the debate over the distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate in high school girls fast-pitch softball.
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the regulation distance from the rubber to the plate is 40 feet. A growing number of coaches, especially those in softball-strong metro Atlanta, would like to see it increased to 43 to be in line with the college game.
The three feet, it's a huge difference for both the pitcher and the batter, said Kelly Murdock, head coach at Mill Creek, one of the teams expected to challenge for the state Class AAAA championship this weekend in Columbus.
Murdock says moving back the mound will benefit players by allowing them to develop on the same infield dimensions played in college. Pitchers, for instance, would have to adjust their pitches to break at a later point to be successful in college.
The change also might shake up a high school game dominated by certain strikeout pitchers since the Georgia High School Association began sanctioning fast-pitch championships 15 seasons ago.
At least two states (Florida and Massachusetts) have adopted 43 feet on a trial basis. Florida asked to deviate from the National Federation rule because of safety concerns for the pitcher, according to Ernie Yarbrough, associate director with the GHSA, whose area of responsibility includes softball.
He doesn't see a change happening in Georgia, unless there's strong documentation it can reduce injuries.
For us to do this, it would have to be an issue of safety, first and foremost, he said.
A GHSA concern is the ability of small schools and others not in softball-rich areas to be competitive at 43 feet. Some programs already have difficulty finding pitchers effective from 40 feet.
It seems clear that moving the mound back to the college distance could better prepare prospects for the next level. At the same time, with spring and summer travel ball and college showcase events pitching from 43 feet, there are opportunities for top players to get experience. And with the growth of the sport in Georgia since the 1990s, this state now regularly produces a large number of major-college signees.
While we certainly want to help promote players to play at the college level, Yarbrough said, that's not our prime objective at the high school level.
FastSports Photography
COACHES WEIGH IN
Should the mound be moved? We posed that question to coaches who had teams still alive in state playoffs last week:
Alan Maddox, head coach, Loganville
To be honest, I am undecided on the issue. I personally would like the pitching mound to be moved back to 43 feet. I think for girls that are going to compete at the college level, they need to get used to the mound being at that distance. From a pitching standpoint, it would allow the pitcher to get more movement on the ball and allow the ball longer to break. From an offensive standpoint, it would allow a greater reaction time for the batter and may take away some of the pitcher dominance. However, my concerns are for those programs that may not be as competitive or may not have girls that play year-round. For some programs in the state, they are just looking for a pitcher that can throw it across the plate.
Kristy Simpson, head coach, Kell
I am in favor of keeping the pitching rubber at 40 feet. Moving the pitching rubber back three feet will hurt the sport because most high school players are not strong enough to be able to pitch from that distance. Also, it will reduce the level of competition throughout the entire state.
Mike Cavey, head coach, Apalachee
I am in favor of moving it back. I really feel that this would benefit our high school girls by playing on the same dimensions as they would in college. Three feet makes a tremendous difference both as a hitter and as a pitcher. I really don't know how many freshmen college pitchers struggle to make the adjustment in their first year of playing college, but I would guess they really have to work extra in preparing for the adjustment.
Brad Thompson, head coach, Vidalia
I am in favor of 43 because the average strength of a girl is not very strong. Pitchers are too overpowering from 40. The bats are too small in diameter in relation to the ball. I feel the game would be more exciting from 43; less foul balls, which means the flow of the game would be better.
Kelly Murdock, head coach, Mill Creek
It's just a shame our kids are not playing on the same dimensions that are used in college . Pitchers pitch all summer at 43 feet [in travel ball], then have to move up to 40. It's a disservice to the players.
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Engineer: Head-first slide is quicker
October 21, 2008 --
Baseball diamond as playground of math and physics
By Tony Fitzpatrick
Base running and base stealing would appear to be arts driven solely by a runner's speed, but there's more than mere gristle, bone and lung power to this facet of baseball — lots of mathematics and physics are at play.
With baseball playoffs heating up and the World Series right around the corner, it's guaranteed that fans will see daring slides, both feet-first and head-first, and even slides on bang-bang plays at first.
Who gets there faster, the head-first slider or the feet-first?
The head-first player, says David A. Peters, Ph.D., the McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, and big-time baseball fan. He says it's a matter of the player's center of gravity.
Peters is a mechanical engineer who specializes in aircraft and helicopter engineering. He sees "fields of dreams" a bit differently than most — he sees them as playgrounds of math and physics.
Peters says that dynamics equations can determine which slide gets you there more quickly, and that there are three important mathematical issues at play.
"There's momentum — mass of the body times how fast the player is moving," he says. "There's angular momentum (mass movement of inertia times the rotational rate). If it's feet-first and you're starting to slide, your feet are going out from you and you're rotating clockwise; if it's head-first, as your hands go down, you're rotating counterclockwise."
"On top of this is Newton's Law," Peters explains. "Force is mass times acceleration. Then moments of inertia times your angular acceleration."
So, who gets there faster?
"It turns out your center of gravity is where the momentum is," Peters says. "This is found half way from the tips of your fingers to the tips of your toes. In the headfirst slide, the center of gravity is lower than halfway between your feet and hands, so your feet don't get there as fast. It's faster head-first."
For a long time — until roughly the Pete Rose era of the '60s and '70s — players shunned the headfirst slide to protect their hands and faces. Spikes, evoking the Ty Cobb days, were weapons on the diamond. In the past few decades, players who prefer the head-first slide have taken to running while holding onto their batter's gloves to prevent their hands from opening up and being exposed to injury. While the percentage of players who slide one way or the other is not actually known, Peters estimates it's about 50-50.
Peters notes a growing number of players who will slide into first base, despite conventional wisdom that running through first is the faster way.
"Mathematically, you might think there's an advantage, but leaving your feet is actually a detriment because you're no longer pulsing (pumping your legs) and you start to decelerate," he says. "When you're running, your get your feet out in front of the center of gravity, so you're getting maybe three or four steps of an advantage."
Peters says the only advantage of any slide into first base is to avoid the first baseman's tag when he has to come off the base to spear an errant throw.
"In general, most agree to run through first, but you'll find people who will swear it's better to do it the other way."
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NAFA News
October 16, 2008 --
NAFA Announces 2009 National Championships for Elite Level "A" Teams.
The Elite level is considered the "Gold" level for 18-Under teams and it is considered the top of the "A" level in age divisions below the 18U level. These "Elite" level events are held in the Midwest where everyone from across the nation can meet in the middle of the Nation and decide the top team in each age class.
18-Under "Elite" 43 Foot "College View" National Championship 6GG, July 27-8/1
contact Tommy Voss for more info.
16-A "Elite" 40 Foot National Championship July 29-8/2 at the new 12 Field Chesterfield Complex in St. Louis, Missouri. Contact Jack Spahr for more info.
14-A "Elite" National Championships
Kansas City, Kansas July 29-8/2
Contact Jack Spahr for more info.
12-A "Elite" National Championships
July 22-26, Tulsa, Oklahoma Contact Harry Hosey or Maryann Parks for more info.
10-A "Elite" National Championships
July 23-26, Eagan, Minnesota for more info contact Larry Parker
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UMD 2009 Fastpitch Softball Schedule
October 7, 2008 --
2/20/2009 Mesa State, Colorado Springs, CO 10:00 a.m.
2/20/2009 Colorado Springs College, Colorado Springs, CO 3:00 pm
2/21/2009 Colorado Springs Pueblo, Colorado Springs, CO 12:30 pm
2/21/2009 Nebraska Kearney, Colorado Springs, CO 10:00 a.m.
2/22/2009 Colorado Springs Mines, Colorado Springs, CO 3:00 pm
2/22/2009 Fort Lewis, Colorado Springs, CO 12:30 pm
3/11/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/12/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/13/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/14/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/15/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/16/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/17/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/18/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/19/2009 Rebel Spring Games, Kissimmee, FL
3/28/2009 St. Cloud State (2), St. Cloud, MN 12:00 pm
3/29/2009 Concordia St. Paul (2), St. Paul, MN 1:00 pm
4/1/2009 Northern State (2), Duluth, MN 2:00 pm
4/4/2009 Upper Iowa (2), Duluth, MN 12:00 pm
4/5/2009 Winona State (2), Duluth, MN 2:00 pm
4/7/2009 University of Mary (2), Duluth, MN 1:00 pm
4/10/2009 Mankato State (2), Mankato, MN 1:00 pm
4/11/2009 Southwest State (2), Marshall, MN 12:00 pm
4/15/2009 Moorhead State (2), Moorhead, MN 1:00 pm
4/18/2009 Wayne State (2), Duluth, MN 12:00 pm
4/19/2009 Augustana College (2), Duluth, MN 12:00 pm
4/22/2009 Minnesota Crookston (2), Crookston, MN 2:00 pm
4/25/2009 Bemidji State (2), Duluth, MN 12:00 pm
4/26/2009 Bemidji State (2), Duluth, MN 11:00 am
4/27/2009 Wisconsin/Parkside (2), Kenosha, WI 1:00 pm
4/28/2009 Mayville (2), Duluth, MN 2:00 pm
5/1/2009 NSIC Conference Tourney
5/2/2009 NSIC Conference Tourney
5/7/2009 NCAA Regionals
5/8/2009 NCAA Regionals
5/9/2009 NCAA Regionals
5/10/2009 NCAA Regionals
5/14/2009 NCAA Super Regionals
5/15/2009 NCAA Super Regionals
5/16/2009 NCAA Super Regionals
5/17/2009 NCAA Super Regionals
5/21/2009 NCAA World Series
5/22/2009 NCAA World Series
5/23/2009 NCAA World Series
5/24/2009 NCAA World Series
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2009 NFHS SOFTBALL RULES CHANGES
September 13, 2008 --
Click on the link to access the 2009 rule changes to high school softball.
2009 NFHS Rule Changes
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Pitching Tips
Relax and enjoy the game. The pitcher controls the speed and tempo of the game.
Concentrate on every pitch, every play.
Visualize the pitch before you throw it.
Master the corners and the low pitch. A strike low and outside is hard to hit.
Be confident with what you have, but never be afraid to mix it up.
Get ahead in the count. Throw a strike on the first pitch unless the batter is a known first pitch hitter.
Learn the umpire's strike zone early in the game (they are all different) and make an adjustment.
Know that the batter did last time up and keep the batter guessing. Remember you are in control.
Don’t be afraid of any batter - you have the element of surprise on your side.
You will not strike out every batter - respect the batter and rely on your defense.
Don't forget that you are a defensive player and need to field your position on every pitch.
Concentrate on the target.
Don’t get upset or angry - this will destroy your focus.
Always throw the ball hard - don’t aim the ball.
Pitch based on the game situation. Work batters more carefully with runners on base. Don’t get careless.
Always remember you are in control of the game. Nothing can happen until you release the pitch. Take time and focus.
Tell the coach when you are tired or injured.
Keep your concentration even when the batter just got a hit.
Stay away from walks. Walked batters score often.
Get the batters out one pitch at a time.
Allow yourself plenty of time for pre-game warm up. It is your responsibility to know how much time you need to be properly warmed up and ready to begin the game.
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Hitting Tips
September 9, 2008 --
Hitting a softball or baseball is among the most difficult things to do in all sports. Fundamentally, the head must be as still and the eyes must follow the ball into the bat. The feet and legs provide the weight shift. The hands must be in the right position throughout the whole process, above the ball. The hips and shoulders must remain closed until exactly the right moment when they explode toward the ball.
Keep Your Head Still and Your Eyes on the Ball
The first, most important consideration is the stillness of the head. The head must be as still as possible because judging the speed, spin and position of the ball is an extremely complicated mental activity. Movement of the head throws off the ability of the brain to process the visual "ball" and results in missing the spot that you intend to hit.
In many sports, it is a your body follows your head. In a softball swing, almost the exact opposite is true. Your head moves because of actions of the rest of your body. Because you don't want your head to move, you need to minimize the impact of movement of the rest of your body on your head. In short, minimization of movement is critical. LESS MOVEMENT is BETTER. This includes keeping the bat still and keeping your concentration level high.
Take A Small Step or Stride toward the Pitcher
The second element of a good swing has to do with weight shift. Most good hitting instructors speak of the 70-30, 30-70 rule. This refers to the fact that a hitter has 70% of her weight on her back foot and 30% on her front at the beginning of a swing, and after swinging, 70% should be on the front and 30% on the back. You can easily approximate these numbers with your feet planted firmly on the ground. Now stand up and try this while taking a step. Not so easy, is it? Now try this while taking a big step. It is nearly impossible to accomplish 60-40, 40-60 when you take a big step. TAKE A SMALL STEP.
The short step involved in swinging occurs right before the pitcher releases the ball. It is more of a timing mechanism than it is an energy creator. You do not really create much torque by stepping. Basically while standing with your weight spread 50-50, you step or shuffle which puts a little more weight on the back foot, the object being to get about 70% there. Then as your hands come forward, the 20% of your weight you put on the back foot plus another 20% gets shifted to the front foot. The object is to shift that weight right at the moment of impact.
Relaxed, Comfortable Stance
Now that we've discussed the head being still and the stride, the next area is the hands. The stance depends on the individual. The head and the weight shift are musts for a good hitter. Every hitter must keep her head still. Every hitter must shift her weight in basically the same manner. But every hitter seems to have a different stance. This is because the stance depends on the body of the individual. Everybody feels comfortable in slightly different positions. There are some important fundamentals.
BALANCE
The stance of the hitter must be balanced. This is crucial to a proper weight shift and keeps the head motionless. If the stance is not comfortable, those two are nearly impossible. Basically the feet should be about shoulder distance apart. Some like more distance, some prefer less. As long as she is close to shoulder distance, good enough. The back foot should be slightly behind the front foot. A good rule of thumb is the big toe of the back foot should be in line with the instep of the front. Personal preference is important to comfort. Close is good enough. For some pitchers, the stance needs to be changed to a "closed" or "open" stance, referring to the positioning of the feet. A closed stance occurs when the big toe of the back foot is further back than the instep. An open stance occurs when the alignment of the feet is reversed - the big toe of the front foot is aligned with the instep of the back. Pitcher speed and/or location may dictate closed or open stances.
The knees should be bent. The degree is not all that important. But you do not want a hitter to stand with knees cocked and you do not want the her to be in a catchers crouch. Again, personal preference is important but you want some bend because that aids in creating torque and also helps in adjusting to the pitched ball.
The position of the back is a factor of where the knees and feet are. A hitter should be leaning forward, towards home plate. This is somewhat pronounced but not exaggerated. A hitter should not have her head in the strike zone but it should be out in front of her toes.
Arms Bent And Parallel & Elbows Locked At Point Of Impact
Another arm consideration of hitting is you want to make sure that the elbows lock at the point of impact. Locking too early causes the hitter to appear to be dragging the bat through the strike zone.
Hitting the Pitched Ball
Probably the most difficult aspect of hitting is judging the speed and location of the ball. But this is really an experiential thing. If you focus on all the other fundamentals first and don't get too excited about how frequently or hard you hit the ball, things will work out. Great young hitters are seldom great when they hit high school. Their success tends to breed over-confidence and bad habits. And average hitters with good fundamentals often become great hitters once they face better, faster pitching. If your hitter works on the fundamentals and gets enough opportunity to face good pitching, she will eventually make good contact.
Just to reiterate, focus on solid fundamentals of hitting and don't get overly excited about how well your hitter hits. Hitting is like most other quality products. It results from long periods of hard work where emphasis is placed on the little things. If you doubt any of this, make a point of watching one kid who is a good young hitter. If she has solid instruction, chances are she'll be a good hitter for a long time but if she does not, watch as she gets into one bad habit after another and crumbles as the pitching gets tougher and tougher.
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High School Sport Participation Up Again -- Minnesota in the Top 10
Source: www.NFHS.org
High school students participation in high school sports is higher than ever before, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations ("NFHS"), a group representing the country's state high school athletic associations.
The NFHS, citing results from contacting its 50 members and the District of Columbia, said a record 7,429,381 students took part in high school athletics in the 2007-08 school year. That represents 54.8 percent of students enrolled in high schools last year, according to their study.
"This is certainly another great report on the interest of high school sports in our nation's schools," NFHS executive director Robert F. Kanaby. said. "The fact that we experienced all-time records for both girls and boys reflects the fact that the high school sports participation experience is more viable than ever and is of great interest to our nation's young people."
The 2007-08 numbers also set all-time highs along gender lines, with 3,057,266 girls and 4,372,115 boys participating in 2007-08. The girls figure surpassed the total of 3,021,807 set in 2006-07, while the boys figure eclipsed the former record of 4,367,442 set in 1977-78.
For girls, basketball remained the most-played sport with 449,450 participants, followed by outdoor track and field, volleyball, fast-pitch softball and soccer. Competitive spirit squads gained the most female participants in 2007-08, followed by soccer and cross country, according to the report.
For boys, football was the most-played sport with 1,108,286 participants, followed by basketball, outdoor track and field, baseball and soccer, according to the report. Lacrosse gained the most participants among boys, followed by soccer, swimming and diving and cross country.
When totals for boys and girls are put together, the largest-growing high school sport in 2007-08 was bowling, with a 17 percent overall increase in participation. Lacrosse was close behind with a 14 percent increase, according to the report.
According to state-by-state results, Texas had the most high school athletes with 779,049, followed by California (735,497), New York (380,870), Ohio (346,571), Illinois (336,646), Michigan (315,734), Pennsylvania (286,992), New Jersey (256,837), Minnesota (230,068) and Florida (227,157).
The NFHS has compiled the survey from its member associations since 1971. The full report is available at the association's Web site at the address noted above.
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