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.

2008 ChangesRule 1

2007 Rule

Youth Division Bases Pitching Min. Fence Max. Fence

Fast G18U-A 60’ 40’ 200’ 225’

Pitch G18U-B 60’ 40’ 200’ 225’

G18U Gold 60’ 43’ 200’ 225’

2008 ChangesRule 2

2007 Rule

COMMENT: Make the 18U-A pitching distance the same as Gold

Youth Division Bases Pitching Min. Fence Max. Fence

Fast G18U-A 60’ 43’ 200’ 225’

Pitch G18U-B 60’ 40’ 200’ 225’

G18U Gold 60’ 43’ 200’ 225’

Section 1. OFFICIAL BATG. 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 BATG. 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 HELMETSF. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTUnless 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 HELMETSF. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTUnless 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.

2008 ChangesRule 3

2007 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

ControlRelease VoluntaryHand or GloveIn Play

OUT OF PLAY LINE(To determine a catch or not)

IN PLAY OUT 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.

1-2-3-4 are all IN

5 & 6 are OUT

CATCH / NO CATCH

CATCH

ControlRelease VoluntaryHand or GloveIn Play

NO CATCH

CollisionDeflectionNot Off Defensive PlayerImproperly Worn Equipment

COURTESY RUNNER

DISQUALIFICATION / EJECTION

Disqualified Player Rules Violation

Ejected Participant Unsporting Behavior

HCR&P: Technical Out

Technical OutArea

Game ParticipationShort-Handed Rule

Suspension

NoYes

CoachYes

None

YesNoNoNo

1 Game

FAIR / FOUL BALLS

BOUNDARY LINES

In Play /Out Of Play Position of Player

Fair /Foul Position of Ball

FOUL TIP

MUST BECAUGHT

OVER FOULTERRITORY

NOTE: Any batted ball that goes directly fromthe bat to any part of the catcher’s body orequipment other than the hand(s) or glove, is afoul ball and dead.

FOULTIP

CATCHER’SHAND OR

GLOVE

CAUGHTSTRIKE DEAD – SP

ALIVE – FPSP w/Stealing

RUNNERADVANCE-

MENT

INFIELD FLY

INFIELD FLY vs. INTENTIONAL DROP

Act that impedes,hinders, confuses

OFFENSIVEplayer

Act that impedes,hinders, confuses

DEFENSIVEplayer

INTERFERENCE / OBSTRUCTION

FIELDS

GLOVES / MITTS

Mitt Can BeWorn By

Any Player

COLOR

BALL MARKINGS

300 lbs 375 lbs

Red InkRed Ink .47 cor.47 cor

Black InkBlack Ink .44 cor.44 cor

Blue InkBlue Ink .40 cor.40 cor

BATSWhen the physical structureWhen the physical structure

of a legal softball bat hasof a legal softball bat hasbeen changedbeen changed

A bat that does not met theA bat that does not met therequirements of an officialrequirements of an official

bat or warm-up bat.bat or warm-up bat.

A bat that does not meetA bat that does not meetthe ASA specifications andthe ASA specifications and

is on the current non-is on the current non-approved bat list.approved bat list.

Barrel PaintedBarrel SandpaperedForeign material inside batExposed RivetsExcessive TapeCone/Flare

Bats

ALTERED ILLEGALNON-

APPROVEDHas rough or sharp edgesHas burrs or cracksSafety grip missing, too long or too shortHas large dentsHas pine tar exceeding the grip (15 inches)Is more than 2 ¼ inches in diameter at its largest pointWeighs more than 38 ouncesIs 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 BATSBats Made Prior to 2000

Bats Made 2000-2003

Bats Made Since 2004

GRANDFATHERED BATS

Synergy2

Freak

SB304SB404

XGOLD-FastpitchXRED-Fastpitch

XPST4WWSCASBWKA

EASTON

MIKEN

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER

WORTH

APPROVED BATSBats Made Prior to 2000

Bats Made 2000-2003

Bats Made Since 2004

Non-Approved Bat Listhttp://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist.asphttp://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist_w_pics.asphttp://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist_one_page.asp

(3 pages)(11 pages)(1 page)

BAT CHECK

Marking

Barrel

Safety Grip

Safety Knob

WARM-UP BATS

Marking

Barrel

Safety Grip

Safety Knob

Attachments