Capital District Softball Umpires Assn.

2008 ASA Rules Review                     2007 ASA Rules Review

======================================================================

2008 NCAA Softball Rules Review

By Jay Miner

There are changes, additions, deletions, clarifications, reworded text, renumbered, relocated and new sections included in the 2008 and 12^th edition of the NCAA Softball Rules. Featured in our all inclusive rules review are changes in the time allowed between pitches, when a ball is dropped during a pitch and checked swing procedures.

          It’s all here and fully explained so you’ll be completely prepared from opening day to the championship finals. You’ll be better informed about conferences, substitutions, the strike zone, thrown bats, the look-back rule, ejections and more.

Rules are presented for your convenience, in approximate order of importance. Umpires are urged to check official publications for late-breaking interpretations and clarifications.

          Time Allowed Between Pitches (10-18). This change allows pitchers time to get set, receive a signal and begin the pitch. The change also allows the batter time to receive the coach’s signals, get set in the batter’s box, and prepare to receive the pitch. The change provides a sequence that improves the flow of the game and is fair to both the offense and the defense. The change is reasonable and enforceable. 

          The rule now reads, “The pitcher must be on the pitcher’s plate and the batter in the batter’s box within ten seconds after the pitcher receives the ball or after the umpire calls, ‘Play Ball.’ After both the pitcher and batter are in position, the pitcher has no more than ten seconds to bring her hands together. The pitcher then has no more than five seconds to deliver the pitch.” See 11-2a. 

         Play: F2 returns the ball to F1 in the pitcher’s circle. Ruling: F1 must be on the pitcher’s plate and the batter in the batter’s box within ten seconds. F1 then has no more than ten seconds to bring her hands together. F1 then has five seconds to deliver the pitch.

          Ball Dropped During Pitch (10-7b Effect). The Effect reads, “If the batter does not have a reasonable opportunity to hit the ball, a defensive player may retrieve it, the ball is live, a ball is awarded to the batter, and base runner(s) may advance with liability to be put out.

If the batter would have had a reasonable opportunity to hit the ball, but the defensive player retrieves it, obstruction is ruled. New text explains, “The ball is dead and the batter and all base runners are awarded one base (forced or not).” See 9-4a, 9-4b-7.

          Play: R1 is on first base with no outs as B1 bats with a 1-1 count. As F1 pitches the ball slips from her hand and rolls toward the first base line about 12-feet from home plate. F3 recovers the rolling ball but not before R1 reaches second base. Ruling: R1 is permitted to remain on second base and a ball is added to B1’s count. Play resumes with a 2-1 count on B1.  

          Play: R1 is on first base with no outs as B1 bats with a 1-1 count. As F1 pitches the ball slips from her hand and rolls toward the plate. F2 moves in front of the plate and recovers the rolling ball about one foot in front of the plate. F2 fires to second in time to retire R1. Ruling: F2 is charged with obstruction and the ball is dead. R1 is awarded second base and B1 is awarded first base.  

          Checked Swing (11-13c). If the plate umpire calls the pitch a ball and the catcher requests help, the plate umpire must ask for help. If anyone else (on either offense or defense) asks for help, the umpire may (but not must) ask for help.

          The rule clarifies that another member of the defensive team may ask the umpire for help, but the umpire does not have to comply. The change also allows for a member of the offense to appeal in the event the batter thinks she checked her swing and the dropped third strike would apply. Author’s Note: Watch for additional interpretations regarding this rule. 

          Play: R1 occupies first base with two outs and a 2-2 count on B1. F1 delivers a low outside pitch that B1 checks her swing on and the umpire calls a ball. However, thinking she swung at the pitch, B1 advances safely to first with R1 making second when F2 drops the ball. As the umpire announces that the count is 3 and 2, B1 asks for an appeal that she offered at the pitch. Ruling: The plate umpire may (but not must) honor B1’s request on her checked swing by asking for help from a base umpire. If the ball call is reversed to a strike, B1 is allowed to remain at first base. No appeal on a checked swing is allowed if the plate umpire originally calls a strike.  

Strike Zone (11-3a). The strike zone is the area above home plate between the bottom of the batter’s sternum and the top of her knees when she assumes her natural batting stance. The top of the ball must be on or within the horizontal plane and either side of the ball must be on or within the vertical plane of the strike zone to be a strike unless the ball touches the ground before reaching home plate.

          The new language eliminates any discrepancy and is now aligned with the strike zone diagram in the rules book that coaches prefer and is most commonly called on the field. The new language also, in the opinion of your author, lowers the top level of the strike zone. 

          Thrown Bat (11-8e 1 and 2 Effect). New text and penalties are added to the thrown bat rule. That rule now reads:

1. When a bat is thrown (i.e., discarded with force) into fair territory, whether intentionally or not, and it interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play, interference shall be called. Effect-The ball is dead, the batter shall be declared out, and base runners shall return to the last base occupied at the time of the pitch. If, in the umpire’s judgment, interference prevented a double play, two outs may be declared.   

2. When a bat is thrown into fair or foul territory, whether intentionally or not, and it endangers a participant who is not making a play on the ball. Effect-The ball is live; however, for the first offense the batter is warned and for any subsequent violation the ball is dead, the batter shall be declared out and base runners shall return to the last base occupied at the time of the pitch. If, in the umpire’s judgment, interference prevented a double play, two outs may be declared.

Play: R1 is on first base with one out when B1 hits a ground ball to F5. However, the bat slips from B1’s hands and strikes B5 causing her to misplay the ball. Ruling: The ball is dead, B1 is out and R1 is returned to first base. If, in the umpire’s judgment, the interference prevented a double play, two outs may be declared.

Play: R1 is on first base when B1 hits a ground ball to F6. However, the ball slips from B1’s hands and strikes F5 in the chest. Ruling: The ball remains live. The umpire will warn B1 about throwing her bat. If B1 commits a subsequent violation she will be declared out.

Play: B1 hits a foul fly ball to the third baseman. As F5 is about to catch the foul fly ball, B1’s forcefully discarded bat catapults into F5 causing her to drop the ball. Ruling: That occurrence is not specifically covered in the rules. Author’s Note: I recommend declaring B1 out for interference and issuing her a warning about throwing her bat. 

          Look-Back Rule (12-21a, 12-21c-4). The look-back rule is in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched first base, there are one or more runners, and the pitcher has possession of and control of the ball within the pitcher’s circle. The words, “holds the ball in her hand or gloved hand” are removed from the rule. The pitcher is considered to be in the pitcher’s circle when both her feet are within the circle or on the lines of the circle.  

          The intent of the look-back rule is that the pitcher does not have to do anything. Once she has the ball in the circle, runner(s) must advance or return to a base without any action from the pitcher.

          The NCAA rule is now in accord with the NFHS rule. As of this writing only ASA says the ball must be in the hand or glove of the pitcher in the circle to show possession.

Play: R1 is on first base with one out when the ball is returned to F1 in the pitcher’s circle. Without requesting time, F1 holds her glove and ball between her legs as she adjusts her hair. R1 breaks for second base. Ruling: The ball is dead and R1 is out. F1 is considered to be in possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle.

Improper Player Chart (Appendix B). The offense may now correct batting-out-of-order only while the batter is in the batter’s box during her turn at bat. Deleted are he words, “Not recommended but if the coach insists, same penalty as if reported by opponent.”

          The offense is limited to correcting the error to when the wrong batter is still at bat. After that, only the defense has the opportunity to appeal batting-out-of-order. See 8-3, 11-11.

          Play: The batting order is Abel, Baker, Charles, Daniel, Edward etc. It is Baker’s turn to bat but Charles erroneously comes to bat. With a 1-1 count on Charles, the coach of the team at bat sends Baker up to replace Charles. Ruling: The offensive team may correct their batting-out-of-order situation by sending Baker up to assume the 1-1 count. Had the defensive team appealed batting-out-of-order, Baker would have simply replaced Charles and assumed the 1-1 count.

Play: It is Baker’s turn to bat but Charles erroneously bats. Which team may appeal batting out of order after Charles singles to left? Ruling: Only the defensive team may appeal batting-out-of order after Charles’ single. On proper appeal from the defensive team, Baker is declared out and Charles becomes the new proper batter.  

Ejections (13-1 Effect). This new fourth paragraph was previously inadvertently deleted. New text also changes the responsibility from the plate umpire submitting an incident report to the NCAA to the ejecting umpire. The new text reads, “In all cases involving an ejection, the ejecting umpire is responsible for submitting an incident report (See Appendix C), in writing, to the NCAA as soon as possible but not later than 72 hours after the incident. The offending head coach may also file an incident report. The institution’s athletics director and conference commissioner (if applicable) will be notified. See 13-2 Effect, 13-3 Effect, 13-13, 15-14.

Conferences (6-11a, b Effect). The words, “or attempts to hold,” are removed from the Effect sections of the defensive and offensive charged conference rules. The effects section of the conference rule now reads, “The umpire shall not permit more than one defensive/offensive conference per inning. The team representative(s), who holds another charged conference, shall be immediately ejected.”

          Previously, according to rulebook text, a coach not entitled to another conference and stopped by the umpire after leaving the dugout, could be ejected from the game for attempting to hold a conference.

          The umpire is empowered to stop any conference providing the umpire stops the coach before there is any communication with a player or players.      

          Play: The third base coach is granted time for a conference with B1. Later in that inning the third base coach walks toward home and attempts to hold another conference with B3. Ruling: The plate umpire will deny the conference. However, the third base coach is not ejected from the game for attempting to hold another conference. 

          Pitcher Substitutions (8-5b). New text under new sub section 4 reads, “A substitute pitcher is considered to be in the game once she has thrown a warm-up pitch.” Other defensive players are considered in the game when they assume their position. Because pitchers are allowed warm-up pitches, this addition defines when pitchers are considered in the game. See Rule 1-107.

          Play: Substitute Sandy Smith takes a position in the pitcher’s circle in the top of the fifth inning. Smith throws her first warm-up pitch. Ruling: After her first warm-up pitch, Smith is considered in the game as the new pitcher.

          Covering the Pitcher’s Plate (10-20a, b). Intentionally covering the pitcher’s plate is done to make it more difficult for the umpire to call an illegal pitch. As it serves no useful purpose, that act must be penalized. See 2-15b, c. The new section mandates:

a. A player shall not intentionally cover the pitcher’s plate. Effect-A ball shall be awarded to the batter.

b. A coach shall not intentionally cover the pitcher’s plate. Effect-The umpire shall issue a warning to the offending coach. Subsequent violation by the same individual shall result in ejection.   

          Fences (2-10). It is highly recommended that the playing field be enclosed completely by a permanent home-run fence of at least six feet high and sideline fences at least four feet high. That’s an increase of two feet for the home run fence while the recommended height of the sideline fence remains at four feet.

          The change was made because 80-per cent of survey respondents from NCAA’s three divisions favored a six feet or higher home run fence. 

          Electronic Equipment (3-6). An addition to the rule makes players who, while outside team areas, keep score or operate a scoreboard, ineligible for the game. The rule now reads, “Only non-uniformed team personnel (including players) may be outside team areas for the purpose of videotaping a contest, recording pitch speeds, charting pitches, or keeping score or running the scoreboard, but in doing so, renders themselves ineligible for the game.” 

          Uniform Jersey (3-10d). While it is the responsibility of the visiting team to ensure its jersey is of contrasting color to that selected by the home team, a new exception reads, “Exception: tournament brackets may designate light or dark jerseys but in the event one team’s dark jersey is too similar to the other team’s light jersey, the visiting team must change jerseys.”

          In bracketed tournaments, home and visitor are not determined until the pregame meeting and teams often play consecutive games without time to change. The change will allow tournament management to specify light and dark jerseys in advance but maintain the onus on the visitors to change if the colors are similar. 

          Base Hit (14-3L). This scoring change allows the scorekeeper to more fairly determine whether the batter deserves a hit or fielder’s choice when interference occurs. Those scorekeeper’s decisions will affect earned run averages and whether a hit or fielder’s choice is scored when a pitcher is pitching a no hitter. New text credits a hit “If the scorekeeper judges the batter would have earned a base hit had interference not occurred.” See 14-4g, 14-7a-5. Author’s Note: Watch for additional interpretations regarding this change.    

          Play: R1 is on first base with one out when B1 hits a ground ball toward F4. The umpire calls R1 out for interference when she is struck by the batted ball in front of F4. Ruling: Under the previous rule B1 would have been credited with a hit. However, the current rule change permits the scorekeeper to judge whether the play should be scored as a hit or a fielder’s choice.  

Overrunning or Oversliding Bases (12-24e). This new section clarifies that a runner does not get credit for the base if she overslides it. New section “e” reads, “A runner who overslides a base and is tagged out, whether attempting to return or advance, is not credited with attaining that base.” See 14-5. Author’s Note: Watch for possible additional clarification on this change.

          Relief Pitcher (14-25a). Reworded text brings more fairness to a relief pitcher’s statistics. Deleted are the words, “Charge a pitcher with the number of runners she puts on base.” The rule now reads, “A relief pitcher is charged with every run that scores while the batter has reached base while she was pitching. Exception: If a batter reaches first on a fielder’s choice that puts out an inherited runner, and the batter subsequently scores, the run is charged to the previous pitcher, not the relief pitcher.”

          Reached Base Percentage (Percentage Table). A new statistic is added to truly determine how often a batter gets on base. The statistic is derived by taking a batter’s plate appearances, minus sacrifice bunts and divided by any possible way a batter reached first base. The new statistic may be calculated by hand until the next statistic upgrade is available.

          Umpire Apparel and Equipment (15-1). A solid navy blue long-sleeve shirt may now be optionally worn if all umpires concur. This shirt allows for greater flexibility for early season games and twinight games. Often short-sleeve shirts are wanted at the beginning of the game but not so at the end when temperatures drop. Therefore, umpires sometimes decide to wear a coat throughout the game rather than being cold at the end.

The long-sleeve shirt is a compromise and because it’s not required, there’s no additional expense for new umpires or umpires in warm climates. Author’s Note: Look for the possibility that navy long-sleeve shirts with white, navy and red trim may be approved.

          Video, Audio or LED Matrix Boards (Appendix F, B-2d). An exception to allowing music being played while the batter is walking to the batter’s box is added at the discretion of conferences or championship committees.