Howard County Officials Training

Rule Change Markings All rule modifications to rules in the book are highlighted. New rule and/or changes are in bold Housekeeping changes are not in bold

STRIKE ZONE: That space over any part of home plate, when a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, between the batter’s, A.(Fast Pitch) Arm pitch and the top of the knees. B.(Slow Pitch) Back shoulder and the front knee. C.(Seniors Slow Pitch) A rectangle 17” x 34” which includes the plate and the plate extension (mat). Any legally pitched ball not struck at, that lands on any part of the plate or mat will be ruled a strike. The shoulder to the knee strike zone has been eliminated. STRIKE ZONE: That space over any part of home plate, when a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, between the batter’s, A.(Fast Pitch) Arm pitch and the top of the knees. B.(Slow Pitch) Back shoulder and the front knee. STRIKE MAT: A mat 25 ½ inches long with a V shaped cut out with the edges 12 inches long to fit tight with the point of home plate. COMMENT: Needed because of changed strike zone for Seniors play Changes Rule Rule

YouthDivisionBasesPitchingMin. FenceMax. Fence FastG18U-A60’40’200’225’ PitchG18U-B60’40’200’225’ G18U Gold60’43’200’225’ 2008 Changes Rule Rule COMMENT: Make the 18U-A pitching distance the same as Gold YouthDivisionBasesPitchingMin. FenceMax. Fence FastG18U-A60’43’200’225’ PitchG18U-B60’40’200’225’ G18U Gold60’43’200’225’

Section 1. OFFICIAL BAT G. BARREL END: If not constructed of wood, and not made of one-piece construction with the barrel end closed, the barrel end shall have a rubber or vinyl plastic or other approved material insert, or end cap, at the large end of the bat. The insert or end cap shall be firmly secured and permanently affixed so that it can not be removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging or destroying the end cap or barrel. Section 1. OFFICIAL BAT G. BARREL END: If not constructed of wood, and not made of one-piece construction with the barrel end closed, the barrel end shall have a rubber or vinyl plastic or other approved material insert, or end cap, at the large end of the bat. The insert or end cap shall be firmly secured and permanently affixed so that it can not be removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging or destroying the end cap or barrel. The bat barrel shall be free of audible rattles when shaken. The bat barrel shall not have signs of excessive wear. Section 5. CATCHER’S EQUIPMENT, FACE MASK/GUARDS, AND HELMETS F. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Unless more stringent equipment is required by these rules any offensive or defensive player may wear any protective equipment. As specifically set forth in these rules, helmets may be required to be worn in certain situations during play, however, regardless of whether helmets are mandated by rule, any player shall have a right to wear a helmet at any time and during any part of the game, if that player so desires. Helmets shall have a bill. Section 5. CATCHER’S EQUIPMENT, FACE MASK/GUARDS, AND HELMETS F. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Unless more stringent equipment is required by these rules any offensive or defensive player may wear any protective equipment. As specifically set forth in these rules, helmets may be required to be worn in certain situations during play, however, regardless of whether helmets are mandated by rule, any player shall have a right to wear a helmet at any time and during any part of the game, if that player so desires. Helmets shall have a bill. WARNING: The game of softball involves certain risk, including but not limited to death, serious neck and spiral injuries resulting in complete or partial paralysis, brain damage and and serious injury to virtually all bones, joints, muscles and internal organs. Equipment used may be inadequate to prevent serious injury. However, in certain situation, the player’s use of a helmet may prevent or lessen certain injuries. Players choosing to not wear helmets do so with knowledge of the danger involved and agree to accept any and all liability for any injury or property loss related in any way to a player’s decision not to wear a helmet Changes Rule Rule

Appeal Plays A play on a rule violation on which an umpire may not make a decision until requested by a manger, coach or player.

BASE LINE / BASE PATH

BLOOD Rule

CATCH / NO CATCH CATCH Control Release Voluntary Hand or Glove In Play

OUT OF PLAY LINE (To determine a catch or not) IN PLAYOUT OF PLAY A A. Both feet must be touching the ground or if in the air, left from behind or touching the “Out of Play” line before the catch are all IN 5 & 6 are OUT

CATCH / NO CATCH CATCH Control Release Voluntary Hand or Glove In Play NO CATCH Collision Deflection Not Off Defensive Player Improperly Worn Equipment

COURTESY RUNNER

DISQUALIFICATION / EJECTION Disqualified Player Rules Violation Ejected Participant Unsporting Behavior HCR&P: Technical Out Technical Out Area Game Participation Short-Handed Rule Suspension No Yes Coach Yes None Yes No 1 Game

FAIR / FOUL BALLS

BOUNDARY LINES In Play / Out Of Play Position of Player Fair / Foul Position of Ball

FOUL TIP MUST BE CAUGHT OVER FOUL TERRITORY NOTE: Any batted ball that goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher’s body or equipment other than the hand(s) or glove, is a foul ball and dead. FOUL TIP CATCHER’S HAND OR GLOVE CAUGHTSTRIKE DEAD – SP ALIVE – FP SP w/Stealing RUNNER ADVANCE- MENT

INFIELD FLY

INFIELD FLY vs. INTENTIONAL DROP

Act that impedes, hinders, confuses OFFENSIVE player Act that impedes, hinders, confuses DEFENSIVE player INTERFERENCE / OBSTRUCTION

FIELDS

GLOVES / MITTS Mitt Can Be Worn By Any Player COLORCOLOR

BALL MARKINGS 300 lbs375 lbs Red Ink.47 cor Black Ink.44 cor Blue Ink.40 cor

BATS When the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed A bat that does not met the requirements of an official bat or warm-up bat. A bat that does not meet the ASA specifications and is on the current non- approved bat list.

Barrel Painted Barrel Sandpapered Foreign material inside bat Exposed Rivets Excessive Tape Cone/Flare Bats ALTEREDILLEGAL NON- APPROVED Has rough or sharp edges Has burrs or cracks Safety grip missing, too long or too short Has large dents Has pine tar exceeding the grip (15 inches) Is more than 2 ¼ inches in diameter at its largest point Weighs more than 38 ounces Is longer than 34 inches. On the current ASA Non- Approved Bat List PENALTIES: When a batter steps into the batter’s box or is discovered using an: Illegal Bat – shall be called out (Rule 7.6.C) Altered Bat – shall be called out and ejected from the game (Rule 7.6.B) Non-Approved – shall be called out and ejected from the game (Rule 7.6.B)

APPROVED BATS  Bats Made Prior to 2000  Bats Made  Bats Made Since 2004

GRANDFATHERED BATS Synergy2 Freak SB304 SB404 XGOLD-Fastpitch XRED-Fastpitch XPST4 WWSCA SBWKA EASTON MIKEN LOUISVILLE SLUGGER WORTH

APPROVED BATS  Bats Made Prior to 2000  Bats Made  Bats Made Since 2004 NNon-Approved Bat List (3 pages) (11 pages) (1 page)

BAT CHECK  Marking  Barrel  Safety Grip  Safety Knob

WARM-UP BATS  Marking  Barrel  Safety Grip  Safety Knob  Attachments