2010 NSAA SOFTBALL Umpires & Coaches Rules Interpretation Meeting

1. 2010 NSAA SOFTBALL Umpires & Coaches Rules Interpretation Meeting

2. Softball – Dates • Start of Practice – August 9 (Now Week 6) • Officials Open Book Test – August 13 • Officials Supervised Test – Sept. 8 & 13 • First Contest – August 19 • Districts – October 7 & 8 • State Tournament – October 13-14-15 (All Classes).

3. Softball – Reminder • Season Begins - First Day of Practice. • Athletes CANNOT participate on other teams (including tryouts) until the end of the state tournament. • Athletes can attend Camps/Clinics, but cannot physically participate.

4. Permissible Contests • Schedule = 17 dates during regular season, 5 tournament limit (not including districts and state) • Single Games & Doubleheaders • Double-Dual - four schools playing two pre-determined contests or two of the other schools in one day • Triangular - three schools playing two pre-determined contests in one day. • Tournament – 4 or more teams where winners continue to advance or compete until a champion is determined (straight bracket or pool play with championship criteria).

5. NSAA Game Procedures

6. Game Ending Procedures

7. Postseason Procedures

8. Reporting Scores • Schools must report all scores. • Omaha World-Herald: 1-800-284-6397 or 402-444-1000. • Lincoln Journal Star: 1-800-742-7315 or 402-473-7431. • E-mail to apscores@ap.org; • E-mail to jangele@nsaahome.org • District Seeding – Sept. 30; All games through Tuesday, Sept. 28 shall count.

9. NFHS Softball2010 Rules Changes Major Editorial ChangesPoints of EmphasisMechanics Changes

10. Pitching Distance Increased (1-1-2b) Pitching distance increasing to 43 feet. NSAA Board of Directors voted to move all levels of NSAA softball to 43 feet.

11. Pitching Distance Increased (1-1-2b) • Positive results from experimenting states • Game stats gathered indicate: • Offensive stats increased slightly (at bats, hits, runs, walks) • Strike outs – reduced • More pitched balls hit into play – defense more involved • Defensive errors & length of game – no significant change

13. Incorrect Pitching Distance (1-1-9) “If it is discovered by or brought to the attention of the umpires that the pitching distance, base distances or batter’s boxes are incorrect” Stop game – make changes immediately “The game shall continue and shall not be protested for this reason”

14. Bat Specifications Defined(1-5) • Bat rule reorganized and clarified • All previous bat specification requirements still in place • List of legal and non-approved bats can be found on ASA’s Website: • www.asasoftball.com • Link also provided on NFHS Website

15. Bat Specifications Defined(1-5) • Bat components include: • Knob & Handle/Grip • Taper – shall be a smooth solid surface, conical in shape – No holes. • Barrel • End Cap – firmly secured so it cannot be removed

17. Hair Devices(3-2-12) • Specific hair devices now permitted • Must be: • Unadorned • No longer than 2 inches • Examples include: • Bobby pins • Barrettes • Clips

19. Pitcher’s Record(9-6-6) • Change made in determining a pitcher’s record for a win or loss • Specific guidelines for: • A starting pitcher • A relief pitcher

20. Pitcher’s Record(9-6-6) • The starting pitcher earns win: • When she pitches at least half of the innings in the game and her team stays ahead for the remainder of the game. • The starting pitcher has pitched the required number of innings, her team is ahead or tied when she is replaced, she re-enters the game with her team behind, and her team subsequently recaptures the lead.

21. Pitcher’s Record(9-6-6) • The relief pitcher earns win when: • The starting pitcher did not pitch the required number of innings, or her team fell behind. • The relief pitcher who pitches most effectively after the starting pitcher did not pitch the required number of innings, more than one relief pitcher was used and the lead was never lost.

22. Pitcher’s Record(9-6-6) • The relief pitcher earns win when: 3. The relief pitcher was the pitcher of record when her team gained the lead and stayed in the lead. 4. A relief pitcher left the pitching position while the score was tied or her team was behind, and she re-entered as the pitcher and regained the lead.

23. Dynamic Stiffness Effective Date (1-3-3 Note 1) Not exceed 7,500 pounds/inch Manufacturers are required to adhere to all NFHS specifications during manufacturing NFHS Authenticating Mark Required - Softballs DO NOT have to be labeled differently

24. Softball Circumference (1-3-3) Softball maximum circumference increased by 1/8 of an inch Change assists manufacturers in meeting softball specifications and tolerances Promotes a more consistently manufactured product

25. Fair Batted Ball(2-20-1f) Second base added to definition of a fair batted ball Ball first falls or is first touched on or over fair territory beyond first, second or third base Occurrence unlikely, but rule coverage important for consistency with spirit and intent

27. Lineup Card (3-1-3) The team’s lineup card shall include the first initial and last name, jersey number, position and batting order of each starting player and eligible substitute Previous rule only stated “name” Too many variations presented to umpires

28. Lineups hard to understand & affected how games were administered Incomplete lineups should be returned to the head coach for proper completion

29. Infield Fly Rule (8-2-9 Note) A note was added to clarify that the batter-runner is out when she hits an infield fly Even when it is not initially called by an umpire It must be brought to the umpire’s attention before the next pitch

32. Illegal Pitch Enforcement ILLEGAL PITCH Umpire gives delayed-dead ball signal and verbalizes “illegal pitch” (loud enough for the nearest players to hear) Batter hits illegal pitch fair or foul or becomes a base runner Batter takes illegal pitch Ball awarded to batter and all base runners awarded one base Coach has option of result of play or illegal-pitch penalty (ball awarded to batter; one base to runners)

33. Illegal Pitch Enforcement Players/coaches not hearing the “illegal pitch” call does not void the illegal pitch Batters must be coached to know they can swing at illegal pitches Results in options for team/coach

35. Three-Foot Running Lane • Space defined by: • Line drawn 3 feet from and parallel to first-base foul line • Starts halfway between home and first base • Extends to first in foul territory • Needs to be drawn in – Don’t Start Game without it.

36. Three-Foot Running Lane • Batter-runner must use the three-foot running lane and head to the orange part of the base when running to first on: • Batted ball • Base on balls • Dropped third strike • Base running award

37. Three-Foot Running Lane • Batter-runner out for interference: • Outside running lane • Throw to first base • Umpire judges, she interferes with fielder taking that throw at first base • May run outside three-foot lane or to the white portion of the base to avoid a fielder when the fielder goes to the orange part of the base

39. Umpire ChangesUniform Slacks • Navy blue slacks added as an option in addition to heather gray • State association determines uniform options • Nebraska umpires gray slacks

40. Plate Umpire ChangesBetween-Inning Positioning • Plate umpire stands facing the field, 10-12 feet from: • The first-baseline extended when the team in first-base dugout comes to bat • The third-baseline extended when the team in third-base dugout comes to bat

42. Plate Umpire Changes • Plate umpires must make it a habit to trail the batter-runner • Use the do-not-pitch signal when the pitcher appears ready to pitch, but the batter is not in the batter’s box

43. Field Umpire Changes • On force plays, positioning changed back to being no closer than 18 feet from the base – Don’t get too close to the play • Field umpires should walk the line with no runners on base

44. Have a Great Season! Questions or comments should be directed to Jim Angele. E-mail him at jangele@nsaahome.org