Softball Rules Clinic 2018

Exhibit Hall A 2:30 pm Willie Moore

Rule Changes 1-1-7, 2-22-4, Table 5-1, 5-1-1o: The media shall be prohibited from being in live- ball area. The home team or game management may designate an area for the media in dead ball territory. Rationale: Clarifies that game management may designate a media area in dead ball territory.

Rule Changes 1-5-2a: The knob may be molded, lathed, welded or adjustable, but must be permanently fastened. Rationale:  Clarifies that an adjustable knob is permissible, provided the knob is permanently fastened by the manufacturer.

Rule Changes 1-8-4:  Defensive players are permitted to wear a shield on their face/head protection in the field but it must be constructed of a molded, rigid material that is clear and permits 100 percent (no tint) allowable light transmission.   Rationale: In an effort to promote risk minimization, tinted eye shields are prohibited for defensive face/head protection.    

Rule Changes 6-1-1 PENALTY, 6-1-2 Thru 4 PENALTY, 6-2-1 PENALTY, 6-2-7 PENALTY: in the case of an illegal pitch, the batter is awarded a ball. The penalty that permitted base runners to be awarded one base without liability to be put out is removed. Rationale: The new language creates more balance between offense and defense. The batter should receive the award rather than runners already on base.

Interference/Obstruction Overview *Offense causes interference, the ball is dead, someone is out, base runners must return to base last occupied at time of the infraction. *Defensive causes obstruction, delayed dead ball, obstructed runner protected to base that umpire judges she would have reached.

Interference/Obstruction Continued… Interference is the act (physical or verbal) by the member of the team at bat who illegally impeded, hinders or confuses any fielder; or when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder with or without the ball, in or out of the base line. Other types of interference involve equipment, umpires and spectators.

Interference/Obstruction Continued… Runner The runner interferes: with a fielder attempting to make the initial play on a fair batted ball. with a fielder attempting to field a fly ball over foul territory. with a fielder attempting to throw the ball. intentionally with a fielder or thrown ball.

Interference/Obstruction Continued… Obstruction is the act of the defensive team member that hinders or impedes a batters attempt to make contact with a pitched ball or that impedes the progress of a runner or batter .

Interference/Obstruction Continued… A runner is entitled to advance. A fielder not in possession of the ball or not making the initial play on a batted ball, impedes the progress of a runner or batter runner who is legally running bases. Obstructed runners are still required to touch all bases in proper order, or they could be called out on proper appeal by the defensive team. Should an act of interference occur following any obstruction, enforcement of the interference would have precedence.

Interference/Obstruction Continued… When any obstruction occurs (including a rundown), the umpire will signal a delayed dead ball. The ball will remain live.

Interference/Obstruction Continued… If the obstructed runner is put out prior to reaching the base that would have reached had there not be obstruction, a dead ball is called and the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction will be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached (by the umpires judgment).

Dead ball, batter is out for Interference Play 1 B1 bunts the pitch out in front of home plate. As B1 starts running toward 1B, B1 kicks the ball with their right foot, while the left foot remains in the batter’s box. What is the call? Dead ball, batter is out for Interference Rule 8-2-6.

batter out for Interference, Play 2 With one out and R1 on 3B, B4 attempts a squeeze bunt and misses the pitch. R1 continues home and slides for the plate. B4 remains in the batter’s box as F2 attempts to apply a tag to R1. What is the call? Dead ball, batter out for Interference, R1 returns to 3B Rule 7-4-4.

Batter out for interference, Play 3 With no outs and R1 on 1B, B2 squares to bunt the pitch but instead pulls the bat barrel back into F2’s face as R1 attempts to steal 2B. What is the call? Dead ball, Batter out for interference, R1 returns to 1B Rule 7-4-4.

Runner out for interference. Play 4 With one out, R1 on 2B and R2 on 1B, B4 hits a ground ball up the middle. F6 moves toward the batted ball and collides with R1. R1 falls to the ground and R2 passes R1 advancing to 3B. What is the call? Runner out for interference. Rule 8, Section 6 Art 10a Dead ball when interference occurs

B1 is out for interference Play 5a With no outs, B1 bunts the ball fair, in front of home plate. As B1 leaves the batter’s box on the way to 1B, F2 moves out to field the batted ball and collides with B1. What is the call? B1 is out for interference Rule 8-2-6

B1 is out for interference Play 5b With no outs, B1 bunts the ball fair, in front of home plate. As B1 leaves the batter’s box on the way to 1B, B1 kicks the batted ball in fair territory. What is the call? B1 is out for interference Rule 8-2-6

Play 5c With no outs, B1 bunts the ball foul, in front of home plate. As B1 leaves the batter’s box on the way to 1B, B1 kicks the batted ball in foul territory. What is the call? Rule 2-25-1d: FOUL BALL

B3 is out for interference Play 6 With 2 outs, no runners on and a 3-2 count, B3 swings and misses the pitch. The ball ricochets off F2’s shin guard out in front of the plate. B3 kicks the ball on her way to 1B. What is the call? B3 is out for interference Rule 8-2-6

B6 is out for interference Play 7 With 1 out and bases loaded, B6 swings and misses the pitch. B6’s bat knocks the ball out of F2’s glove on the follow through. R1 seeing the ball roll away from F2 breaks for home and scores. What is the call? B6 is out for interference R1 returns to 3B Rule 7-4-4

Play 8 With 1 out and R1 on 1B, B3 hits a fly ball to F9. As F9 catches the ball the 1B coach pushes R1 toward 2B. What is the call? R1 is out for being physically assisted. (ball remains live) Rule 8-6-5

F3 is guilty of obstruction Play 9 With no outs, B1 hits the ball back to F1 who hurries the throw.  F3 loses her balance, falling as B1 approaches 1B.  What is the call? F3 is guilty of obstruction Rule 8-4-3b

Play 10 With 1 out and R1 on 1B, B3 hits a fly ball to F9. F9 catches the ball and throws to F3 on 1B to pickoff R1. F3 misses the ball that hits the defensive coach sitting on a bucket in live ball territory. What is the call? Dead ball, R1 is awarded 2 bases Rule 8-4-3f; Rule 2-2-3: BLOCKED BALL

DP/FLEX

Sportsmanship Any form of behavior intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others is unacceptable. Public address (PA) systems have been utilized to intimidate/taunt visiting teams by playing negative sound effects or playing “motivational” music only for the home team.

Sportsmanship When the PA system is used for announcements, introductions, sound effects, music, etc., the presentation should be as neutral as possible. Clear guidelines and expectations should be developed by school administrators and shared with the individuals serving in this capacity so presentations are not viewed as acts of intimidation.

Sportsmanship Unsporting Acts that SHALL NOT be committed: Use of words or actions to incite or try to incite spectators to demonstrate. Use of profanity, intimidation and/or deceitful tactics, or baiting or taunting. Charging an umpire Arguing Balls and Strikes Deliberating throwing bats, helmets or any other piece of equipment. Initiate Malicious contact. Any action to demean anyone because of race, religion, gender or national origin.

THANK YOU!!!