PRE-SEASON SOFTBALL MEMO

                                                                 MAY 10. 2007

 

 

Situation:  During the JV game, a pitcher is warming up (windmill throwing)  in an area immediately adjacent to the softball field.  The umpires notice that the catcher is not wearing a mask.  This is the player who ends up being the varsity pitcher in the game following.  Who receives the warning?  Answer:  Since this is observed during the JV game, the JV head coach would receive the warning.  There is no way to know that this pitcher would not pitch during the JV game---so the JV coach is warned.  Any subsequent warning following the completion of the JV game would then be assessed to the varsity head coach.  Penalty---First offense is a team warning and the player being required to secure the proper equipment/2nd offense causes the offending player and head coach to be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of that game.

 

Situation:  Batter hits a home run.  As she is running the bases, the umpire picks up the bat to hand it to the next hitter and notices the bat has a 2000 stamp making it an illegal bat.  Ruling:  Batter is declared out, any runners must return to their bases at the time of the pitch, and the coach is restricted to the dugout for the remainder of that game.  Rule 7-4-2

 

Situation:  All equipment is legal when the pre-game meeting is held.  During the game, a helmet becomes cracked due to someone stepping on it in the dugout.  Not realizing it, a batter comes to the plate to bat wearing the newly cracked helmet.  Ruling:  Remove the helmet from play and have the batter secure a legal helmet.  The coach is NOT restricted to the dugout.  Common sense must be used in situations like this.

 

Situation:  Runner is on first base and will be attempting to steal on the pitch.  As the pitcher is in her windmill delivery, she intentionally releases the ball backwards towards second base during her delivery in an attempt to confuse the runner stealing or provide an opportunity for the shortstop to then make a throw to second base in an attempt to put the stealing runner out.  Ruling:  This should be called an illegal pitch.  Rule 6-2-6 states that if the ball SLIPS from the pitcherÕs hand during the  backswing or forward motion , the ball would remain alive and play continue.  In this case, the ball didnÕt slip but was intentionally released in that direction.  A ball would be awarded to the batter and all runners advanced one base from the time of the pitch.  Doing this intentionally is borderline on being considered as unsportsmanlike in which a repeated offense could result in ejection.

 

Situation:  A slap bunter runs out of the batterÕs box toward the pitcher and is hit by the pitch while definitely out of the batterÕs box.  Ruling:  If the batter swung at the pitch, it would be a dead ball strike.  If she did not offer at the pitch, if in the umpireÕs judgment the ball would have entered the strike zone, it would be a dead ball strike.  If in the umpireÕs judgment the ball would not have been in the strike zone, the it is a dead ball---ball called.  Do not award the batter first base when she has caused herself to be out of the batterÕs box when struck by the pitch.

 

Situation:  Batter hits a ball which goes straight down and stops in fair territory but still in the batterÕs box.  As the batter starts to run to first base, she accidentally steps on the ball.  Ruling:  Immediate Dead ball and a foul ball declared since this occurred within the batterÕs box.

 

Situation:  B1 gets a base hit to the outfield and over-runs first base down the right field foul line.  B1 stops, turns left toward second base, and starts walking back toward first base.  About half way back to first base, B1 notices the pitcher, who has the ball in the circle, is not paying any attention  to her so she then takes off toward second base.  Ruling:  Rule 8-7-4 b and d could apply.  B indicates Òa batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and immediately stops, must then return non-stop to first base or attempt to  advance to second base.Ó  D indicates ÒA batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and moves back toward the infield in any direction except directly towards second base is committed to first and must return to first base.  So the runner who came part way back to first and then broke toward second base shall be declared out.  If the runner had overrun first, stopped, and then proceeded immediately toward second, that would be legal.

 

SLIDERS---These are not considered as part of the legal uniform.  Therefore, there is no restriction regarding the color.  They shall be a single solid color with no adornment but all players would not have to wear the same color and they do not have to match the uniform color.

 

WRISTBANDS---These are not considered as part of the legal uniform.  Therefore, there is no restriction regarding color.  They must be a single, solid color with no adornment.  A manufacturerÕs logo is legal.  All players do not have to wear the same color---in fact a player could have a different color on each wrist.  They shall be worn on the wrist only.

 

JEWELRY---1st Offense—the player must remove the jewelry before being allowed to participate and the head coach is restricted to the dugout for the remainder of that game.  2nd Offense---player must remove the jewelry prior to being allowed to participate.  The coach is already in the dugout so no further penalty is assessed.  If however, a second and/or subsequent offenses is considered to be done in an unsportsmanlike manner (umpireÕs judgment), then the coach would be ejected.

 

COACH RESTRICTED TO THE DUGOUT---This coach has lost all privileges regarding any activity outside of the dugout.  He/she would not be allowed to coach first or third base, participate in offensive or defensive conferences with their players, visit with the umpires regarding a call, substitution, etc.  A restricted coach shall not be allowed to have a defensive player come to the dugout for a conference.

 

BETWEEN INNINGS:

  1. Substitute players may run to the foul pole and back.  This should be done along the fence.
  2. Substitute players may be out of the dugout to warm up by timing their lead-off with the pitcherÕs warm-up pitches.  This must be done from the end of their dugout toward the outfield along the fence.  They shall not be allowed along the foul line.
  3. May substitute players play catch with any of the seven fielders while the pitcher is taking her warm-up pitches.  Infielders---NO!  Outfielders---YES---one sub may play catch with the outfielder on your side of the field.  The other two outfielders shall throw to each other.
  4. Batters swinging a bat outside the dugout----There may be TWO players swinging bats----the first hitter of the inning and the on-deck batter of that inning.

 

PITCHING---It is not unusual for pitchers to develop some bad habits while throwing inside the gym which may cause their delivery to be illegal.  Coaches, beginning on May 14, you now have two weeks outdoors to get any illegal tendencies corrected.  Umpires are being strongly encouraged to call illegal pitches.  Suggestion---if a pitcher is illegal, donÕt allow her to pitch until she is legal.  Remember the pivot foot must remain in contact with the ground (drag) until the ball is released.  Do not allow the pitcher to be airborne or jump during the delivery.

 

TEST QUESTION #16---Due to poor wording on my part causing confusion, we have simply withdrawn this question from the test.  The situation dealt with the batter stopping part way to first base and backing up to avoid a tag.  The question was worded that the batter was eventually tagged out---the rule is that the runner is immediately declared out as soon as she begins to back up.  If a runner has touched the next base prior to this out being declared, she is left there.  If not, she is sent back to the previous base.  We will not count this answer wrong for anyone.

 

 

FIELDER MAKING AN INITIAL PLAY ON THE BALL:  A fielder who mishandles a batted ball but the ball remains within reach or the fielder can pick up the ball within one step is still considered as legally making an initial play on the ball.   If the fielder has to go more than one step, then she has lost her fielding status.  If a collision occurs while the fielder is making an initial play on the ball, it would be runner interference.  If the collision occurs when the ball has rolled away tand the fielder is no longer considered as making an initial play on the ball, then the fielder would be guilty of obstruction.

 

 

 

COURTESY RUNNER:

Situation---Smith is a courtesy runner for the catcher in the first inning.  She then attempts to courtesy run for the pitcher in the sixth inning.  Ruling:  ILLEGAL.  The same player cannot be a courtesy runner for both positions in the same game.  The illegal substitute is declared out and restricted to the dugout for the remainder of that game.

 

Situation:  The catcher doubles with no outs.  Two outs later, the coach sends out a courtesy runner for the catcher.  Ruling----LEGAL.  The decision to use a courtesy runner for the catcher or pitcher may be made any time the catcher or pitcher reaches base safely.

 

Situation---The pitcher singles and Jones is placed on first base as a courtesy runner.  When Jones advances to third base after the next hitter also singles, the coach wants to put his pitcher back on third base to run.  Ruling—ILLEGAL  Rule 8-9-6   ÒOnce the courtesy runner is designated for that half-inning, the pitcher or catcher for whom she is running may not return to run while that courtesy runner is on base.  Also, a courtesy runner may not run for a courtesy runner.

 

 

RATINGS:  We will no longer be having coaches issue ratings to officials effective immediately.  Initially, ratings were used to provide umpires with feedback regarding their performance as a learning tool and to provide a Òmeasuring stickÓ for them to see how they compared to other umpires within their district.  Instead, it seems that ratings have turned into a punitive and vindictive process with far too many subjective decisions being used. Sadly, we hear umpires say publicly that they are unwilling to call illegal pitches and make difficult calls because they are afraid of the poor rating they will receive. We will continue to ask varsity coaches to file electronically a recommendation of umpires whom they feel are deserving of being assigned to umpire our tournament series.  We will increase the number that each coach can recommend.  Now hopefully umpires will be able to just go out and call the game as it needs to be called without worrying about repercussions of the rating process.