USSSA Fastpitch CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1 Official Fastpitch Playing Rules 2014 Rule Changes

No New printed Rulebook Titled 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1 CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules 2

New Bat Mark Major Rule Change CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 3 Beginning January 1, 2014, Only bats with New USSSA 1.20 BPF Mark will be legal in USSSA. No Legal / Approved Bat List

New Bat Mark CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 4 Bat manufacturers have the technology and have agreed to produce bats that will maintain the Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.20 or show signs that the BPF currently exceeds the standard. It will also display signs that the bat has been altered.

Damaged Bats CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 5 Rule 2 Sec 10-L ADD The bat shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard. Bats shall be free of rattles and burrs. Standard wording

Old Bat Marks Major Rule Change CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 6 Rule 2.10.D Other Criteria for Legal USSSA Bats Remove reference as legal to bats marked “USSSA BPF 1.20”, “1.20 BPF USSSA” Bats with these older markings are no longer legal.

Withdrawn Bats CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 7 USSSA Withdrawn and/or Non-Compliant Bat Models List created. As of 1/2014, only bat on list: Louisville Slugger/ 2013 oneX FP136, FP1369, FP1368

Altered Bat ADD to Altered Bat paragraph 3: “Choke-up devices are not permitted.” Keeps Bat requirements in agreement with High School Rules CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 8

Illegal Bat Penalty CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 9 Batter / Runner is out if they hit the ball with an illegal bat The penalty of an out is not applied for just having an illegal bat but only applied if the batter hits a ball with an illegal bat. Our standard unsportsmanlike penalty is applied.

Illegal Bat Penalty - Batter CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 10 Rule 7.14 A batter shall be called out when: A. Prior to the next pitch (legal or illegal), the batter was discovered having hit the ball with an illegal bat or non-approved bat. EFFECT: Any runner not put out must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. Any runners put out prior to the discovery shall remain out. First Offense: Team Warning; Subsequent: Player Restricted / Coach Ejected.

Illegal Bat Penalty - Runner CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 11 RULE Any runner is out when: W. Prior to a pitch (legal or illegal) to the next batter, the runner was discovered having hit the ball with an illegal bat or non-approved bat. EFFECT: Any runner not put out must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. and any runners put out prior to the discovery shall remain out. First Offense: Team Warning; Subsequent Offense: Player Restricted to Dugout; Coach Ejected.

Injured Player Rule Change CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 12 Rule 5.2.A.1 Playing Short Exception In the Exception Change: injury caused by defensive To: Any injury If the player leaving the game is the batter or a runner, they shall be declared out. Exception: If the player is injured, the player may be replaced by the player not currently on base who had the last completed time at bat. This exception does not apply to any future time at bat.

2014 Twelve Edition rev 1 CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules 13 Editorial Changes

Rule 3 Definitions CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 14 Initial Play Definition Add “a ball which could become fair or a foul fly ball” A fielder is considered to be making an initial play on a fair batted ball, a ball which could become fair or a foul fly ball when he has a reasonable chance to gain control of a ground ball that no other fielder (except the pitcher) has touched or a reasonable chance to catch the ball in flight after it touches another fielder. The fielder is still considered to be making an initial play if he fails to gain control of the batted ground ball and is within a step and a reach (in any direction) of the spot of the initial play.

Clearance in writing CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 15 Rule 5.9. INJURED PLAYER Add “in writing” to end of Para B. B. A player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion … shall not return to play that day until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional in writing.

Hole in front of the pitcher’s plate CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 16 RULE 6. 1.E.3 Add Note 3 If a hole has been created in front of the pitcher’s plate, the pivot foot may be no higher than the level plane of the ground. This explicitly states current interpretation

Batter Out CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 17 RULE The Batter is out when E. Any coach or member of the offensive team interferes with a fielder attempting to field a foul fly. DELETE – applies to Batter-Runner 8.17.I RULE The Batter-Runner is out I. When any coach or member of the offensive team other than runners interferes with a fielder making an initial play.

Runner is Out CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 18 Rule 8.18 has been edited for Grammatical consistency Eliminate gender specific pronouns

Dead Ball CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 19 Rule 10 Sec 1-B Dead Ball TO Ball becomes dead immediately when the ball … comes in contact with the bat a second time. ADD “except if the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory as in rule 7 Sec 14-G, note”. Makes Rule 10 consistent with Rule 7 Rule 7 Sec 14-G. NOTE: If the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the Umpire's judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the batter is not out and the ball is live and in play.

PROTEST CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 20 REARRANGE Rule 13. with minor rewrite Rule Interpretation Protest before next pitch Suspend Play Rule Interpretation Protest settled before resuming.

10&Under C CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 21 RULE & Under and Younger Rule Exceptions Add 10C to the following rule exceptions Stealing – one base at a time Not after Walk The batter is out on a third strike. Caught or Not Caught No infield fly rule

Coach/Machine Pitch CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 22 Change the following in Rule a Bunting is optional a-e. No stealing Three (3) defensive conferences per game The pitching coach must make an effort to avoid interfering with the play.

New Bat Mark CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 1 23

No New printed Rulebook Titled 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1 Posted general/2014FPRules.pdf CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules 24

USSSA Fastpitch CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1 Official Fastpitch Playing Rules 2014 Rule Changes