Tips for Judging
Interference
In an effort to help umpires become more uniform in judging
interference throughout the country, the ASA has addressed
several rules relating to interference that contained the word
intentional. Specifically, the word intentional has been
removed from Rule 7, Section 7 Q; Rule 8, Section 2 F [3];
Rule 8, Section 7 J [3]; and, Rule 8, Section 7 P. Umpires
now need only to base their decision on whether interference
occurred or did not occur, and not the intentions of the
offensive player. Moreover, removing the word intentional
from these sections aligns these rules with the definition of
INTERFERENCE in Rule 1.
SITUATION 1: With no outs and R1 on 2B, B2 swings at
and misses the pitch. R1 breaks for 3B and while F2 is
throwing to 3B in an attempt to retire R1, B2, while remaining
in the batters box, backs up to readjust their footing and
bumps into F2 causing an errant throw. RULING: B2 is guilty
of interference. The ball is dead, B2 is out and R1 must
return to 2B. (Rule 7, Section 6 Q)
SITUATION 2: With one out, R1 on 3B and R2 on 1B, B4
has a 0-1 count and on the next pitch R2 attempts to steal 2B.
The throw is cut-off by F6 as R1 now attempts to steal home.
F6s throw to home plate strikes B4 who is standing out of the
box preventing F2 from catching the ball and applying a tag on
R1. RULING: B4 is guilty of interference. The ball is dead,
B4 is out, R1 is returned to 3B and R2 is returned to 1B.
(Rule 8, Section 2 F [3])
SITUATION 3: With no outs and R1 at 1B, B2 hits a
ground ball to F6 who fields the ball and throws to F4 at 2B
to start a double play. F4 steps on 2B and throws the ball to
F3 in an attempt to retire B2. R1, knowing they are out, turns
to go back to the dugout where the ball strikes them in the
back and ricochets into foul ground. RULING: R1 is guilty
of interference after being declared out. In this case,
because B2 is the only runner and therefore closest to home
plate, B2 is also be declared out. (Rule 8, Section 7 J
[3])
SITUATION 4: With no outs, R1 at 3B and R2 at 2B, B3
hits a long shot to the outfield fence. By the time F8
retrieves the ball R1 and R2 have scored. B4 is rounding 3B
and coming home when R2 moves back to the home plate area to
instruct B3 to slide at home plate for a close play. In doing
so, R2 is hit with the thrown ball and it deflects away from
F2 as B3 scores. RULING: R2 is guilty of interference.
Because R2 has already scored B3 is declared out and only the
runs scored by R1 and R2 count.
Errors Found in the
2007 Official Rules of Softball
In reviewing the published 2007 Official Rules of Softball
(rule book), several errors have been found that need
immediate attention and correction. Those errors are listed
below:
- Page 61, the OFFICIAL DISTANCE TABLE shows the pitching
distance for Youth Fast Pitch G14-U-B, G16-U-B and G18-U-B
as 46. The correct distance is 40.
- Page 82, Rule 5, Section 5 lists the subsections as A, B
and B. Obviously, the third subsection should be C.
- The umpire uniform requirements were inadvertently
omitted. The uniform requirements are contained in the last
page of this posting.
Additionally, an error was found in the Umpire
Manual portion of the Official Rules of Softball. On pages
252 and 253, Two Umpire System - Slow Pitch, BASE MECHANICS,
Section F 8 (Situation 9), states, Runner on third base
only (Situation 9). The base umpire should be off of the
second baseman on the first base side. This is incorrect.
It should state, Runner on third base only (Situation 9). The
base umpire should be off of the second baseman on the second
base side. The diagram in Situation 9 is also
incorrect.
Corrections to 2007
Umpire Exam Questions
Questions have arisen regarding the clarity of two
questions contained in the 2007 Umpire Exam. The questions of
concern are listed below:
- Question #22, Fast Pitch. The correct answer to this
question can be B or C; however, the answer key shows the
answer to be C. The question was composed while presuming
that the womens fast pitch game was using a yellow-optic
ball. ASA rules permit the womens fast pitch game to be
played using a white ball.
- Question #37, Multiple Choice. This question was
composed for the fast pitch game; however, it is not so
stipulated.
Should additional errors to the Official Rules of Softball
or the Umpire Manual be identified, corrections will be posted
on this website as soon as practical. Please forward any
errors found in the Official Rules of Softball to Kevin Ryan,
Rule Book Committee Chair, at kryan@softball.org.
ASA UMPIRE UNIFORM
REQUIREMENTS
The male and female umpire shall wear:
- A powder blue or navy blue, short-sleeve polo shirt. ASA
letters are worn on the left chest of the polo shirt.
- Navy blue or heather-gray slacks and navy blue or black
socks.
- The approved navy blue cap with white ASA letters,
trimmed with light blue on the front and the U.S. Flag
positioned on the left side, with the stars forward.
- The approved navy blue ball bag with ASA letters to be
worn with either the navy blue or the heather-gray slacks.
- The approved navy blue jacket with white ASA letters on
the left chest.
- Black shoes and black belt.
- A t-shirt is optional to wear under the powder blue or
navy blue polo shirt. If a t-shirt is worn, it must be a
white t-shirt under the powder blue polo shirt and navy blue
t-shirt under the navy blue polo shirt.
- The plate umpire in fast pitch MUST wear a black mask
with black or tan padding, and a black throat protector. An
extended wire protector may be worn in lieu of a throat
protector on the mask.
Rule
Clarifications and Plays Index