Guidelines Stow Youth Softball (2006)
This document is intended for all Umpires,
Managers, and Coaches that are affiliated with the SYB Softball program.
This is intended to help all participants of the league.
It is to establish a common ground to understand some of the issues
that have happened inside the league.
We welcome any changes or additions that will make this a more
useful document and insure more consistent seasons.
Thank you for your participation and here’s
hoping for a successful Softball season.
If you have any concerns that the umpire is
aware of any specific league rules, please make sure you go over during
the ground rules.
The Stow Youth
Baseball and Softball Board
Safety
For the safety of
all participants all protective items must be worn:
When players on
the team are warming up pitchers they must wear the catchers mask. All the
players in all the softball leagues must wear the required safety
equipment specified.
Umpires must wear the protective equipment.
The mask, chest protector and shin guards give protection and allow
the umpire to focus on calling balls and strikes as well as knowing the
game situation, without having to worry about getting out of the way of
foul tips. Please,
all umpires wear your safety equipment!
Time factors
As the umpire (and
coaches can really help here) it is your responsibility to start the game
on time and keep it moving. Coaches,
have your lineup for defense ready and hustle the girls on and off the
field (have someone help the catchers get ready early).
Umpires limit the number of warm-up pitches between innings.
A pitcher coming back only should get 5 warm-up pitches, a new
pitcher should be warmed up before entering the game, but you can
allow 10 pitches from the mound. Usually this would be allowed only for a
mid-inning replacement. Umpires
hold your ground rules discussion 5 minutes before the start of game, even
if one of the teams is still doing infield practice.
Stalling
If a manager,
coach, players, or parents attempt to stall a game in any way, the umpire
can allow the game to continue without regard to a time limit or if
darkness is an issue, the game can be rescheduled by the Umpire-in-chief
and League VP to be completed.
Pitching Rules
We will be
following the ASA rules for pitching for all Leagues in the Stow Youth
Softball Organization. These
rules can be summarized with the following as the important rules to
maintain (always problems every
year):
1.
Both feet must start on the pitching rubber.
2.
Pitchers must pause to look for a sign from the catcher (one does
not have to be given); this assures that there will not be ‘quick
pitches’.
3.
Pitcher must present the ball and touch it to the glove once before
delivery.
4.
No “rocking” is permitted (both feet must be in contact with
the rubber until the step forward)
5.
No “Crow Hopping” (A
foot must be in contact with the rubber until release or the back foot can
be dragged until the release)
6.
No double windups.
Given the ages of
the specific leagues more of the rules must be enforced as the girls get
older, but it is very important to teach the girls in the younger leagues
the proper ways to pitch.
OTHER
CLARIFICATIONS FROM ASA DOCUMENTATION.
The
following taken from ASA Home Page to help explain pitching rules (FYI)
Rule 6, Sec 1-A
FAST PITCH PITCHING
Both feet must be
on the ground, in contact with the pitcher’s plate, and within the
24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate. The shoulders shall be in line
with first and third bases.
COMMENTS: Both male and female fast-pitch pitching rules are the
same. Both feet must be in contact with the pitching plate while taking
the signal and throughout the pitch.
Rule 6, Sec 1-C
FAST PITCH PITCHING
Both feet must
remain in contact with the pitching plate at all times prior to the
forward step.
COMMENTS: Men can no longer start with one foot behind the pitching
plate.
Rule 6, Sec 3G
FP PITCHING FOOT
NOTE: It is not a
step if the pitcher slides the pivot foot across the pitcher’s plate
toward the batter, or if the pivot foot turns or slides in order to push
off the pitcher’s plate, provided contact is maintained with the plate.
Raising the foot off the pitching plate and returning it to the plate
creates a rocking motion and is an illegal act.
COMMENTS: New wording clarifies that the pivot foot can slide or
turn across the pitcher’s plate in order to push from the plate.
Rule 6, Sec 3-I
FP PITCHING PUSH & DRAG
The pivot foot
must remain in contact with or push off and drag away from the pitching
plate prior to the front foot touching the ground, as long as the pivot
foot remains in contact with the ground.
COMMENTS: Again, with both the male and female fast-pitch pitching
delivery the same, this confirms the push and drag rule whereby the pivot
foot must remain in contact with the ground. Leaping is illegal in all
divisions.
Illegal Pitch (balk)
In softball, a
balk or illegal pitch results in a ball awarded to the batter with no
runners being awarded any extra bases.
Stealing Rules
In all leagues it
is desired to teach the proper lead off techniques. No runner may leave the base before the pitch leaves the
pitchers hand.
In ten and under,
“A” league, no base runner is allowed to steal home for any reason.
Sliding Rules
Sliding of the
base runner is encouraged when a play is being made at the base, except
first.
Sliding is
mandatory to avoid a crashing of the fielder and the base runner.
A fielder is
allowed a portion of the base/bag when making a play or attempting to make
a play.
At the umpire’s
discretion, a base runner may be called out for not sliding.
See your ASA rule
book for further information on their sliding rules that govern play.
Taunting Rules
Cheering for your
own team is highly encouraged. Teamwork
and building an enjoyable experience for all the girls in the league is
our desired goal. However,
there comes a time when the line can be crossed over, and it is up to the
umpire to be aware of the incidents and to try to maintain a level playing
field for both teams. This
issue is not only between girls from both teams, it involves coaches and
parents. Negative cheers
about the other team should not be tolerated.
Sudden noises (shouts, horns, foot stomping, “swing”, or other
noise making devices) shall not be tolerated.
Yelling things like “good pitch”, “ball”, “strike”,
etc. should not be allowed until after the pitch is over.
These are manipulative techniques to influence the batter and the
umpire. The Umpire
should stop the game to give a warning the first time and expel the person
the next time it happens.
Infield Fly Rule
With
runners at first and second base and with less than two outs (includes a
bases loaded situation), any fly ball that can be “easily” caught by
an infielder (guideline: usually this means the infielder does not turn
their back to home plate), the batter is out and the runners may advance
at there own risk. The Umpire
should clearly call out the “Infield fly rule is in effect and the
batter is out” as soon as possible in the ongoing play.
There is
no infield fly rule in the 10 and under “A” league, but all the other
leagues have this rule.
Passed Ball out of play
When a passed ball
goes out of play, all runners are awarded one base.
This occurs mostly when a ball bounces off a part of the
catcher’s equipment and does not get stopped by the backstop. It is a deadball situation and all runners are awarded a
base.
EXCEPTIONS:
No runner will be awarded home in the 10 and under league,
“A” league, since home cannot be stolen at all.
Sportsmanship
Coaches and Parents are
responsible for teaching good sportsmanship.
Whenever there are concerns over rules, the parents should ask
their coaches to get a ruling from the umpire.
Remember the umpires are learning a lot each game they go out and
if approached politely instead of twenty people yelling, a better decision
can be made. Not all rules
are understood the same way by everyone.
Especially for parents that know baseball rules, softball rules are
not always the same. Calmer
heads should prevail and the two head coaches with the umpire should work
out the issues. Remember that the umpire does have the final word.
Coaches and Managers,
please ask all of your parents to talk to you and not to scream at the
umpires. Remember if the
umpires do not come back you will have to find someone to umpire your
game, and they may not know as many of the rules the current umpire knows.
Umpires are responsible for knowing the rules of the game they are
umpiring. Umpires are responsible for controlling the game.
The control of the game requires decisive decisions to be made as
quickly as possible. Strive
to always make the right call, but remember everyone makes mistakes.
It is OK to change a decision when it comes to understanding a
rule. But changing judgement
calls will cause trouble and you will soon find that you will lose control
of the game. Listen to what a
coach or manager tells you (do not let them be abusive) and learn from
their advice for the next call or next game.
Remember everyone gets excited and caught up in the game, and you
as umpire have to maintain that neutral perspective.
Dropped third strike
On a dropped third
strike and with no one on first base (or with two outs even if there is
someone on first base) the batter is allowed to try to advance to first
while the defense can make a play to get the batter or any base runner
out. Any contact with the
ground is considered a drop, even if the catcher catches it on the first
bounce.
In “B” league,
with the bases loaded and two outs, the runner from third is forced at
home. All the catcher has to
do is step on the plate for the force out.
Running home in this situation is not considered stealing home, but
it is a live ball situation and the runners are entitled to the same rules
as a batted ball.
In “A” league,
there is no dropped third strike rule; the batter is always out.
Interference
Catcher Interference: When the catcher hits
the bat while the batter is swinging at a pitched ball, the play is a
‘delayed dead ball’ and the batter is awarded first base.
If the ball is hit the and all runners are safe and the batter
makes it to first the play stands, otherwise, offense get their option to
take the hit or obstruction.
Fielder Interference: When the fielder gets
in the way of a base runner while not trying to make a play on the ball,
the base runner is awarded the base.
Runner Interference: When a
runner interferes with the fielder's ability to make a play on a live
ball, the runner is out.
Hit by Pitch
When a pitched
ball hits a batter, the ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base.
Even if the ball bounces before it hits the batter, she is still
awarded first base. However,
when in the judgement of the umpire, the batter did not make a good
attempt to get out of the way of the pitch it is the umpires decision
whether to award the base. Remember
the skill levels of the players when making this judgement call and the
intent of the batter. A
fourteen-year-old sticking out her leg to get hit should not be awarded
first, while a seven-year-old just trying to hold the bat up probably is
not thinking of moving out of the way should be awarded first base.
Hit by Batted
Ball
The base runner is
out, when the runner is struck with a fair untouched batted ball while not
in contact with a base and before it passes an infielder, excluding the
pitcher, or if it passes an infielder and any fielder has an opportunity
to make an out.
Overthrows on plays
If the ball is
thrown out of play the base runners get the base they are running to plus
one base from where they were at the time of the throw.
The playing field
Home plate is in
fair territory.
A batted ball
striking a player in the batter’s box is a foul ball.
A player making
contact with a pitch while out of the batter’s box is a dead ball and
the batter is ruled out.
Batting Helmets
The rules state
that removal of a batting helmet is an infraction and the base runner is
out. This rule is here for
safety. If the base runner
loses her helmet while running the bases, she should not be considered
out. If removal occurs during a dead ball situation so hair can be
fixed or helmet readjusted the base runner is not out.
Only when it is determined that the act was purposely done and a
safety issue is at hand the base runner should be called out.
Out of Baseline
When the base
runner goes more than three feet out of the baseline to ‘avoid a tag’,
the runner is out. The
baseline is not necessarily the straight line between the two bases (or
home plate). The baseline is
established by where the base runner is currently running; any attempt to
avoid a tag by moving laterally more that three feet, the runner should be
called out. The fielder must
be attempting to make a tag for the runner to avoid.
Running to first
base: If the base runner is on the inside of the first baseline and is
struck by a throw, the runner is out.
(This occurs on bunts and possibly dropped third strikes, if it
happens at all)
Look Back Rule
(Original 8.T)
When the pitcher has the ball in the pitcher’s circle (8-foot radius
from pitching rubber) the runner may stop once, but must immediately
return to the previous base, or attempt to advance to the next base.
Failure to immediately return or proceed will result in the runner
being called out. EXCEPTION:
the runner will not be called out if a play is made (a fake throw is
considered a play).
If the ball is in
the pitcher’s possession within the 8-foot circle, and the
batter-runner, after overrunning first base, commits back to the base, the
batter-runner must then return non-stop to first base. (Committing to a
base is the act of moving toward that base.)
COMMENTS: Runners
have been able to overrun first base, start back for the base but before
reaching the base, run for second after fielders leave second base. This
new rule now reads that if a runner commits to first base (moving towards
first), the runner must return to first base. She cannot change her mind
and advance to second once it looks like she is moving directly to first
following the overrun.
SPEED UP RULE:
Catcher: When the catcher is on base or reaches a
base with two outs, it is mandatory the catcher be replaced by the player
who made the last out. The catcher speed up rule will not be in effect
during the last inning. The catcher speed up rule will be enforced if the
game requires extra innings.
Pitcher: A pitcher will be allowed a maximum of five
warm up pitches from the mound. If a pitcher requires more than 5 warm-up
pitches, it will be the manager’s responsibility to have his pitcher
warm-up in between innings in a safe and out of play area. A pitcher
replacing a pitcher that has been removed from the mound during an inning
shall be given (at umpires discretion) adequate time to warm up. When the
pitcher is on base or reaches base with 2 outs, a manager has the option
of replacing the pitcher with the person who made the last out.
IT
WILL BE THE MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE REPLACEMENT RUNNER
READY
WARMING
UP PITCHERS:
ASA
rules state that a pitcher is allowed 3 minutes for warm-up between
innings. This rule should be enforced in B, C, and D leagues. If the
umpire has allowed the 3 minutes and the teams are not ready to start the
inning, the umpire may begin calling strikes if the batter is not ready or
calling balls in the defense team is not ready. Please refer to your ASA
rule book for further clarification.
