Howard County Officials Training

1. Howard County Officials Training Rule 1 – Definitions Rule 2 – The Playing Field Rule 3 - Equipment

2. Rule Change Markings All rule modifications to rules in the book are highlighted. New rule and/or changes are in bold Housekeeping changes are not in bold

3. 2008 ChangesRule 1 2007 Rule • STRIKE ZONE: That space over any part of home plate, when a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, between the batter’s, • (Fast Pitch) Arm pitch and the top of the knees. • (Slow Pitch) Back shoulder and the front knee. • (Seniors Slow Pitch) A rectangle 17” x 34” which includes the plate and the plate extension (mat). Any legally pitched ball not struck at, that lands on any part of the plate or mat will be ruled a strike. The shoulder to the knee strike zone has been eliminated. • STRIKE ZONE: That space over any part of home plate, when a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, between the batter’s, • (Fast Pitch) Arm pitch and the top of the knees. • (Slow Pitch) Back shoulder and the front knee. STRIKE MAT: A mat 25 ½ inches long with a V shaped cut out with the edges 12 inches long to fit tight with the point of home plate. COMMENT: Needed because of changed strike zone for Seniors play.

4. 2008 ChangesRule 2 2007 Rule COMMENT: Make the 18U-A pitching distance the same as Gold

5. 2008 ChangesRule 3 2007 Rule Section 5. CATCHER’S EQUIPMENT, FACE MASK/GUARDS, AND HELMETS F. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Unless more stringent equipment is required by these rules any offensive or defensive player may wear any protective equipment. As specifically set forth in these rules, helmets may be required to be worn in certain situations during play, however, regardless of whether helmets are mandated by rule, any player shall have a right to wear a helmet at any time and during any part of the game, if that player so desires. Helmets shall have a bill. Section 5. CATCHER’S EQUIPMENT, FACE MASK/GUARDS, AND HELMETS F. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Unless more stringent equipment is required by these rules any offensive or defensive player may wear any protective equipment. As specifically set forth in these rules, helmets may be required to be worn in certain situations during play, however, regardless of whether helmets are mandated by rule, any player shall have a right to wear a helmet at any time and during any part of the game, if that player so desires. Helmets shall have a bill. WARNING: The game of softball involves certain risk, including but not limited to death, serious neck and spiral injuries resulting in complete or partial paralysis, brain damage and and serious injury to virtually all bones, joints, muscles and internal organs. Equipment used may be inadequate to prevent serious injury. However, in certain situation, the player’s use of a helmet may prevent or lessen certain injuries. Players choosing to not wear helmets do so with knowledge of the danger involved and agree to accept any and all liability for any injury or property loss related in any way to a player’s decision not to wear a helmet. Section 1. OFFICIAL BAT G. BARREL END: If not constructed of wood, and not made of one-piece construction with the barrel end closed, the barrel end shall have a rubber or vinyl plastic or other approved material insert, or end cap, at the large end of the bat. The insert or end cap shall be firmly secured and permanently affixed so that it can not be removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging or destroying the end cap or barrel. Section 1. OFFICIAL BAT G. BARREL END: If not constructed of wood, and not made of one-piece construction with the barrel end closed, the barrel end shall have a rubber or vinyl plastic or other approved material insert, or end cap, at the large end of the bat. The insert or end cap shall be firmly secured and permanently affixed so that it can not be removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging or destroying the end cap or barrel. The bat barrel shall be free of audible rattles when shaken. The bat barrel shall not have signs of excessive wear.

6. Appeal Plays A play on a rule violation on which an umpire may not make a decision until requested by a manger, coach or player. • 4 Things to Appeal: • Missing A Base • Includes Double 1st Base Violations • Leaving Base Too Soon • Turn at 1st after Overrun • Batting Out Of Order • Types: • Live Ball • Dead Ball • Before Time Called • Tag Runner or Base • Base Runners Complete Responsibilities • Infielder • Verbal • Before Next Pitch, or • Before Pitcher and Infielders leave fair, or • Umpires Left Field Of Play

7. BASE LINE / BASE PATH Base Line: Direct Line Between Bases Base Path: Direct Line From Runner’s Location to Base

8. BLOOD Rule Player Bleeding Blood On Uniform

9. CATCH / NO CATCH Control Release Voluntary Hand or Glove In Play CATCH

10. A OUT OF PLAY LINE(To determine a catch or not) IN PLAY OUT OF PLAY A. Both feet must be touching the ground or if in the air, left from behind or touching the “Out of Play” line before the catch. 5 & 6 are OUT 1-2-3-4 are all IN

11. CATCH / NO CATCH Control Release Voluntary Hand or Glove In Play CATCH Collision Deflection Not Off Defensive Player Improperly Worn Equipment NO CATCH

12. COURTESY RUNNER Any player who runs for a runner WITHOUT a charged substitution.

13. DISQUALIFICATION / EJECTION Rules Violation Disqualified Player Unsporting Behavior Ejected Participant HCR&P: Technical Out Disqualification Ejection Technical Out Area Game Participation Short-Handed Rule Suspension No Yes Coach Yes None Yes No No No 1 Game

14. FAIR / FOUL BALLS FAIR BALL FOUL BALL Stops Touched Ground Ball Fly Ball Leaves Field Hits Base Attached Equipment Stops Touched Ground Ball Fly Ball Leaves Field Hits Batter Equipment Pitching Plate

15. BOUNDARY LINES In Play / Out Of Play Position of Player Fair / Foul Position of Ball

16. FOUL TIP STRIKE CAUGHT DEAD – SPALIVE – FP SP w/Stealing RUNNERADVANCE-MENT CATCHER’SHAND ORGLOVE FOULTIP MUST BECAUGHTOVER FOULTERRITORY NOTE: Any batted ball that goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher’s body or equipment other than the hand(s) or glove, is a foul ball and dead.

17. INFIELD FLY CONDITIONS WHEN • Runners • Outs • Ordinary • Effort • Fielder • Line Drive / • Bunt • Top Of Flight EFFECT • Batter Out • Live Ball • Runner • Advancement

18. INFIELD FLY vs. INTENTIONAL DROP Infield Fly Intentional Drop Runners (minimum) 1st and 2nd 1st Outs Less than 2 Less than 2 Fielders Anyone Infielder Fielder Touch No Yes Line Drive / Bunt No Yes Batter Out Out Live / Dead Live Dead Runner Advance Yes No Infield Fly takes precedence over Intentional Drop

19. INTERFERENCE / OBSTRUCTION Act that impedes, hinders, confuses DEFENSIVE player INTERFERENCE Act that impedes, hinders, confuses OFFENSIVE player Offensive Player Spectator OBSTRUCTION Umpire Contact Required Ball Possession Fielding Batted Ball

20. FIELDS Pitching Distance 50’ Base Distance 65’ Incorrect Distances

21. GLOVES / MITTS Mitt Can Be Worn By Any Player COLOR

22. BALL MARKINGS Ball Compression 300 lbs 375 lbs Red Ink .47 cor Ball COR Black Ink .44 cor Blue Ink .40 cor

23. BATS When the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed Altered Bat A bat that does not met the requirements of an official bat or warm-up bat. Illegal Bat A bat that does not meet the ASA specifications and is on the current non- approved bat list. Non-Approved Bat

24. Bats Barrel Painted Barrel Sandpapered Foreign material inside bat Exposed Rivets Excessive Tape Cone/Flare Has rough or sharp edges Has burrs or cracks Safety grip missing, too long or too short Has large dents Has pine tar exceeding the grip (15 inches) Is more than 2 ¼ inches in diameter at its largest point Weighs more than 38 ounces Is longer than 34 inches. On the current ASA Non-Approved Bat List PENALTIES:When a batter steps into the batter’s box or is discovered using an:Illegal Bat – shall be called out (Rule 7.6.C)Altered Bat – shall be called out and ejected from the game (Rule 7.6.B) Non-Approved – shall be called out and ejected from the game (Rule 7.6.B)

25. APPROVED BATS • Bats Made Prior to 2000 • Bats Made 2000-2003 • Bats Made Since 2004

26. GRANDFATHERED BATS EASTON Synergy2 MIKEN Freak SB304 SB404 LOUISVILLE SLUGGER XGOLD-Fastpitch XRED-Fastpitch XPST4 WWSCA SBWKA WORTH

27. APPROVED BATS • Bats Made Prior to 2000 • Bats Made 2000-2003 • Bats Made Since 2004 • Non-Approved Bat List • http://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist.asp • http://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist_w_pics.asp • http://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist_one_page.asp (3 pages) (11 pages) (1 page)

29. BAT CHECK • Marking • OFFICIAL SOFTBALL • Certification Stamp • Fast Pitch vs. Slow Pitch • Barrel • Round • No Cracks • No Rattles • End Cap • Safety Grip • 10” – 15” • Types of Tape • Maximum Wraps • Safety Knob • Angle • Flare of Cone Attachment

30. WARM-UP BATS • Marking • ¼” WB on either end • 1” WARM-UP BAT on barrel • 1 Piece Construction • Barrel • 10” – 15” • Types of Tape • Maximum Wraps • Safety Grip • Safety Knob • Angle • Flare of Cone Attachment • Attachments • Pow’R Wrap • Swing Sock • NO Donuts