Emergency Rule
Change Rule 2, Section 3 C
The rule change regarding the dimensions of the batters
box in Slow Pitch, Rule 2, Section 3 C, which was enacted by
the ASA Council effective January 1, 2007 has been rescinded
by emergency vote of the council. Therefore, in the 11 and
12 Slow Pitch Divisions of play the dimensions of the
batters box have reverted back to three feet by seven feet
(3X7) effective immediately.
Mens Class D Slow
Pitch Home Run Rule Clarification
Recent and frequent questions concerning the intent of the
2007 rule change to Rule 5, Section 8 A EFFECT indicates
confusion on the part of many persons involved in our game.
With the change the rule now states, For any in excess, the
ball is dead, the batter is out, and no runners can advance.
In Mens Class D an over the fence home run will also be an
inning ending out. The confusion centers on the words
an inning ending out.
The intent of the change to this rule is to penalize the
offensive team in Mens Class D Slow Pitch for violating the
home run rule. Therefore, a homerun in Mens Class D ends the
offensive half-inning, and it is not necessarily an inning
ending out. To end the inning in this manner when the home
team is on defense would penalize that team even though they
have not violated a rule. In this situation, the team on
defense must be provided the opportunity to bat in that
inning.
Play: Top of the second inning with no outs. B1 hits
an over the fence homerun.
Ruling: The ball is dead, B1 is called out and the
top half of the second inning ends. The team on defense now
bats in the bottom half of the second inning.
Designated Player /
Flex Player Rule Clarification
Recently a question arose regarding the use of the
Designated Player (DP) and the FLEX Player in relation to
whether or not the DP and the FLEX Player must be present at
the game site in order to declare a teams intention to use
the DP / FLEX before the start of the game. Rule 4 supplies
the answer to this question, but provides reason for doubt as
well.
The first sentence of Rule 4, Section 1 A states, A team
must have the required number of players present in the dugout
or team area to start or continue the game. The intent of the
rule is, therefore, clear; in order to declare the intention
to use the DP / FLEX, a team must have a minimum of 10 players
in the dugout or team area ready to play at the start of the
game. However, the second sentence in the same paragraph
states, Players listed on the line-up card and not available
at game time may be substituted for and re-entered later in
the same spot in the batting order. This sentence has caused
the questioning of the requirement that the DP and the FLEX
Player be present at the game site for the start of the
game.
With the intent of the rule having been clearly stated in
the first sentence of Rule 4, Section 1 A, the second sentence
then refers to players that are originally listed on the
line-up card and have not yet arrived at the game site, or
players who are present and listed on the line-up card but
become injured before the start of the game. In both these
cases, the plate umpire has already accepted the line-up. This
portion of the rule permits players in the situations
mentioned above, and other similar situations, to play in the
game using the re-entry provisions of the substitution rule.
However, this portion of the rule does not allow a team to
declare the intention to use the DP / FLEX Player without the
proper number of players present in the dugout or team area
ready to play.
This question has brought to light language in the Rule 4
that can be written better. Look for more clarity and
simplicity in this portion of the rule in next years Official
Rules of Softball.
NOTE: This rule clarification also applies to the
use of the Extra Player (EP) in Slow Pitch.
Three-Foot Running
Lane
Recent changes to the Three-Foot Running Lane rule by other
softball codes have prompted many umpires and coaches to ask
the ASA for a clarification or interpretation of what
constitutes a batter-runner being in the lane or out of the
lane.
The ASA has always taught that the three-foot running lane
starts at ground level and extends straight up on both sides.
After the batter becomes the batter-runner and they reach the
start of the three-foot running lane, it is their
responsibility to run inside the lane on the way to first base
so as not to interfere with the throw to first base. However,
an exception is made when the ball is being thrown from the
foul side of first base. In this case, the three-foot running
lane transfers to the fair side of the foul line where the
runner is protected while running to the white portion of
first base. In ASA, if the thrown ball hits a body part that
is inside the three-foot running lane, there is no
interference. In other words, the umpire should judge the ball
in relationship to the body part it strikes. If that body part
is inside the vertical plane of the three-foot running lane
there is no violation, play on. Conversely, if the body part
is outside the vertical plane of the three-foot running lane
and is struck with the thrown ball, or the batter-runner
interferes with the defense taking the throw while outside the
three-foot running lane, the batter-runner is guilty of
interference. The ball should be declared dead, the
batter-runner should be called out and all runners should be
returned to the last base touched at the time of the
interference (Rule 8, Section 2 E).
Fourth Out Appeal
Rule Clarification
A question arose regarding the possibility of allowing a
fourth out appeal on the batter-runner who misses or does not
reach first base in order to call a force out for the third
out of a half inning, and thereby keeping a run from scoring.
Rule 5, Section 5 C states, No run shall score if a fourth
out is the result of an appeal of a base missed or left too
soon on a runner who has scored. With this in mind, the
batter-runner would be the last runner to score in any fourth
out situation, therefore the fourth out appeal can not apply
to the batter-runner.
Play: R1 on 3B and R2 on 2B with two outs. B3 gets a
base hit to right field where F9 fields the ball and throws to
home plate to retire R2 for the third out. R1 scored from 3B
and B3 is advancing to 2B when the defense appeals that B3
missed 1B for the fourth out appeal nullifying the run by
R1.
Ruling: The appeal should not be honored. By rule
(Rule 5, Section 5 C), because R2 was called out at home plate
for the third out the batter-runner missing 1B can not be
appealed. R1s run counts and the half inning is over.
Play: R1 on 3B and R2 on 2B with two outs. B3
strikes out but the catcher drops the third strike and the
ball rolls to the back stop. R1 scores and R2 is thrown out at
home plate for the third out. B3, seeing that R2 was thrown
out at the plate, stops running short of reaching 1B. The
defense noticed that B3 did not reach 1B and throws the ball
to 1B to retire B1.
Ruling: Because R2 is the third out, the live ball
appeal at 1B should not be honored. The half inning is over
and R1s run counts.
Clarifications to
2007 Umpire Exam Questions
Additional questions have arisen regarding the clarity of
questions contained in the 2007 Umpire Exam. Those questions
are listed below:
- Question #5, PART I TRUE / FALSE. Should read: The
official bat shall be round, not more than 2.250 inches in
diameter, not more than 34 inches long and not
exceed 38.0 ounces in weight. ASA rules specify that a bat
can not be longer than 34 inches; therefore it can be less
than 34 inches.
- Question #9, PART I TRUE / FALSE. (SP) This question
is correct as written. It is written in this manner to
ensure umpires understand that the illegal pitch is called
when the act (simulation of a legal pitch while not in
contact with the pitchers plate) occurs, not when the
pitcher then comes in contact with the pitchers plate and
delivers a legal pitch.
- Question #17, PART I TRUE / FALSE. In the first line,
replace B1 with B2. Obviously, there is no B1 in this play.
Rule
Clarifications and Plays
Index