March 2006
Men’s Fast Pitch Maximum Fence Distance
OFFICIAL DISTANCE TABLE: The “Official Distance Table” contained on page 60 of the rulebook shows the Adult Men’s Fast Pitch maximum fence distance as 250 feet. A 2006 rule change to Rule 2, Section 1 increased the maximum fence distance to 275 feet. The rule change was inadvertently omitted from the distance table.
16” Slow Pitch Batter’s Box
FIELD DEMENSIONS: The “Home Plate Details and Catcher’s Box” illustration contained on page 45 of the rulebook does not show the increased width of the batter’s box for the 16” Slow Pitch Division of play. A 2006 rule change to Rule 2, Section 3 C now requires the batter’s box, one on each side of home plate, in the 16” Slow Pitch Division of play to measure four feet by eight feet. The rule change was inadvertently omitted from the dimensions illustration.
Warm-Up Bats and Equipment
A question has been raised concerning the rule change contained in Rule 3, Section 2 E as it pertains to ASA approved attachments on softball bats and / or warm-up bats. This rule change was made to remove the names of manufacturers from the rulebook as well as to not limit the list of approved attachments to those contained in the rulebook. The rule was reworded only; the intent of the rule was not affected. Therefore, as in the past, only approved attachments included on the list published by the ASA can be used on Official Softball Bats or Official Warm-up Bats.
Substitute Officially in Game - Clarification
Questions received from umpires about Rule 4, Section 6 B demonstrate a lack of clarity regarding this rule caused by the way it is structured. Research of past rule change proposals and rule changes approved by the ASA Council has established that the information contained in Section 6 B was added to the Official Rules of Softball without a rule change having been proposed and approved by the ASA Council. For this reason, it has been concluded that the sentence, “A substitute is not officially in the game until a pitch has been thrown or a play made.” was inserted into the rulebook to merely clarify when an Unreported Substitute is considered officially in the game for protest purposes, and not when any substitute is officially in the game. Additionally, when inserted into the rulebook, the sentence was placed in a wrong Section and carried forward to where it is today.
Much like a batting out of order violation where there is no penalty when an incorrect batter is at bat and the defensive team brings it to the attention of the umpire before their turn at bat is completed, when an Unreported Substitute is brought to the attention of the umpire by the offended team before a pitch, legal or illegal, or a play has been made, there is no penalty. The substitute may now legally enter the game by reporting to the plate umpire without penalty. Permitting coaches to change their mind about a substitute before a pitch, legal or illegal, or a play is made, was never the intent of this rule.
The following interpretation should be used to determine when a substitute is in the game. As required by Rule 4, Section 6 A, the manager or team representative of the team making the substitution shall notify the plate umpire at the time the substitute enters. The plate umpire shall then report the change to the scorer. Therefore, a substitute is officially in the game when reported to the plate umpire and the scorer is notified. Rule 4, Section 6 B should be ignored. The Unreported Substitute Rule (Rule 4, Section 6 C) remains unaffected by this interpretation.
: Substitute Smith is reported to the plate umpire as the next batter in place of Jones. The plate umpire then reports the substitution to the scorer. Smith enters the batter’s box; however, before a pitch, legal or illegal, or a play is made, the coach decides that Jones, not Smith, should bat and informs the plate umpire that Jones will bat as the original batting order shows. Since no pitch, legal or illegal, or a play has been made, has Smith been officially in the game? Ruling: Yes, since Smith was reported to the plate umpire and to the scorer as a substitute for Jones, Smith was officially in the game at that time. Jones may now re-enter the game as a substitute for Smith in the original spot in the batting order and Smith may re-enter one more time in the same spot in the batting order (Rule 4, Section 6 A).
: Substitute Smith enters the batter’s box unreported to take the place of Jones; however, before a pitch, legal or illegal, or a play is made, the offended team protests that Smith is an unreported substitute. Since no pitch, legal or illegal, or a play has been made, has Smith been officially in the game?
Ruling: No, since Smith had not been reported to the plate umpire and scorer as a substitute for Jones, and a pitch, legal or illegal, or a play had not been made, Smith was not officially in the game. Smith may now report to the plate umpire or Jones may replace Smith in the batter’s box without penalty (Rule 4, Section 6 A).
: Substitute Smith enters the batter’s box unreported to take the place of Jones. After a pitch, legal or illegal, or a play is made, the offended team protests that Smith is an unreported substitute.
Ruling: Unreported substitute Smith is removed from the batter’s box, disqualified and declared out. The next legal batter bats (Rule 4, Section 6 C).
Slow Pitch Pitching Preliminaries / Illegal Pitch
The Effect listed for Rule 6 (Slow Pitch), Section 1 in the 2006 Official Rules of Softball appears as an Effect for all of Section 1, mandating that all violations of the slow pitch pitching preliminaries be ruled a dead ball, an illegal pitch ruled, a warning issued, and repeat action would result in the pitcher ruled illegal and removed from the pitching position. However, research of past rule change proposals and approved rule changes has determined that a rule change placing the Effect in force, as presently stated, has never been approved by the ASA Council, or even proposed. Moreover, a cursory survey of slow pitch umpires revealed that umpires enforce Sections 1 A – C as an illegal pitch/delayed dead ball, and penalize the action as such; while a violation of Section 1 D is enforced and penalized as stated in the Effect.
In view of the above, it has been determined that any violation of Rule 1, Section 1 A-C should be ruled an illegal pitch/delayed dead ball and penalized accordingly. The Effect appearing below Section D pertains only to Section 1 D. This modification brings the Effect of Rule 6 (Slow Pitch), Section 1 A-C in line with the Effect of Rule 6 (Slow Pitch), Sections 2-4, and 7.
Catcher Obstruction – Dead Ball / Delayed Dead Ball
Recently, questions regarding Rule 8, Section 1 have shown that there is umpire uncertainty concerning the ruling of dead ball or delayed dead ball when catcher obstruction occurs. The uncertainty has been caused primarily by the wording and structure of the rule. Consequently, Rule 8, Section 1 D has been rephrased for clarity. It is important to note that this is not a rule change or a change in the mechanics of enforcing Catcher Obstruction, it is merely a clarification.
. When the catcher obstructs a batter’s attempt to hit a pitched ball it is a delayed dead ball.
1. If the batter hits the ball and reaches first base safely, and if all other runners have advanced at least one base:
EFFECT: Obstruction is canceled. All action as a result of the batted ball stands. No option is given. Once a runner has passed a base, the runner is considered to have reached that base.
2. If the batter-runner does not reach first base safely, and all other runners do not advance at least one base:
EFFECT: The manager has the option to take the result of the play or enforcement of the obstruction by awarding the batter first base and advancing runners if forced.
3. The catcher steps on or in front of home plate without the ball and prevents the batter from hitting the ball:
EFFECT: The ball is dead. The batter is awarded first base. All other runners are advanced one base if forced.
4. (FP) On a swing or attempted bunt, the catcher or any other fielder prevents the batter from hitting the ball, touch the batter or the bat with a runner on third base trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal:
EFFECT: The ball is dead. The runner shall be awarded home plate and the batter shall be awarded first base on the obstruction. All other runners shall be advanced one base if forced.
Questions have been received at the National Office concerning whether the Rawlings Silverback SB1251 Glove meets the ASA standards for use by a Fast Pitch pitcher. The glove has been inspected and determined to meet the spirit and intent of Rule 3, Section 4 of the 2006 ASA Official Rules of Softball. This glove is valid for use by all players in the fast pitch and slow pitch games.
Rule Clarifications and Plays Index
