SOFTBALL MEMO #2

JUNE 13, 2007

BETWEEN INNINGS---Substitutes are not allowed to be playing catch in live ball territory. Remember that it is permissible to send one substitute out to play catch with the outfielder on your side of the diamond while the other two outfielders throw to each other. It does not matter whether they are standing, kneeling, etc---subs throwing to each other is not permitted.

SUBSTITUTION---Rule 3-3-3 mentions that “projected substitutions are not allowed”. Announcing a substitution ahead of time can cause problems---such as a re-entry being announced and then the team bats around and the coach wishes for the original batter that inning to bat again---but has already announced the re-entry. Sickness, injury, a coach changing his/her mind can be a problem if the sub has already been announced ahead of time. Coaches, just wait until the time to make these substitutions.

SWEATBANDS---Must be worn on the wrist and only one may be worn per arm.

GLOVE---A glove may be a maximum of two colors. Glove lacing and the manufacturer’s logo are NOT considered as one of the two colors. Glove lacing may be any color except for optic yellow. A glove that is ENTIRELY gray, white, or optic in color is illegal. Having a gray, white, or optic colored CIRCLE that gives the appearance of a ball is illegal. Just having a finger or logo which is gray or optic colored does not make the glove illegal.

BICEP BAND---Colored elastic bands worn on the forearm, bicep, below the knee, etc. are ILLEGAL unless a letter is provided by the IGHSAU office stating otherwise. If there is a medical need, then a written doctor’s statement must be sent to the IGHSAU office and a determination will be made. If a team does not have a waiver from our office, then it is illegal.

DONUT USED ON WARM-UP BAT---Legal---as long as it is securely attached. Rule 1-5-9 This is explained well in the Case Book—see 1.5.9 Situations A and C.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS WEARING FACE/HEAD PROTECTION---Rule 1-8-4 specifies that defensive players, including the pitcher, are permitted to wear face/head protection---which must have a non-glare outer surface. Rule 3-2-14 further states that any equipment judged by the umpire to be potentially dangerous is illegal. Umpires must use good judgment in making this determination. There needs to be a definite safety factor involved to rule it illegal and not allow a pitcher to wear it.

WARMING UP PITCHERS---Remember that any non-adult who is warming up a pitcher who is throwing underhand (windmilling) and is within view of the umpires---MUST properly be wearing their catchers helmet and mask combination and throat protector. This is no longer just within the confines of the playing field---it now includes the bullpen area as well as a practice area adjacent to the field. If the umpire can see it, the rule is in effect.

PITCHER WARM-UP---During pre-game warm-up, many pitchers warm up in front of their dugout in foul territory and throw toward home plate. There have already been several situations where umpires and/or players have been hit by wild pitches and injured. It might seem safer to have the pitcher throw the other direction---toward the outfield. At least that way, no one could be struck while being in the area behind home plate.

UNIFORM JERSEY---Uniforms must include a number on the back of the jersey at least 6 inches high. The school name, nickname, mascot, logo, etc is permitted as well as the player’s name on the back. There shall be no advertising or sponsors on the uniform. A single manufacturer’s logo is legal but cannot exceed 2 ¼ square inches with no single dimension exceeding 2 ¼ inches.

JEWELRY---Coaches, please continue to check your players to make sure they are not wearing jewelry. Reminder—it is NOT legal to place tape over pierced earrings. Likewise, it is NOT legal to use plugs, retainers, string, etc in places where jewelry has been removed.

HAIR DEVICES---Anything worn in the hair must be soft and unadorned. Anything hard---including barrettes, beads, bobby pins, etc. are ILLEGAL. Ribbons, rubber bands, cloth scrunchies, etc. are legal as long as they are unadorned.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES---Rule 3-6-11 states that electronic communication devices, television monitors, and other replay equipment shall not be used for coaching purposes during the game. This rule relates to looking at pictures, watching footage from camcorders, etc, using cell phones to relay coaching strategy or technique, etc. It is not intended to prevent a coach from using a palm pilot instead of the traditional scorebook. However, the game should not be delayed or slowed down while waiting for a coach to record happenings on their palm pilot and then expect additional time to give signals.

COACH’S BOX---The coach’s box on both the first and third base sides should be eight feet from the foul line. This is not very well explained anywhere---you actually have to look at the diagram to get this answer. Having the box too close to the foul line places coaches in greater jeopardy of being hit by a wild throw or getting in the way of a defensive player who is attempting to make a play in foul territory.

FAIR BALL---Rule 2-20 b and c---indicates it is a fair ball if a batted ball touches first, second, or third base or bounds over a base. There is no way a batted ball could hit third base prior to being touched by a fielder and not be a fair ball. The foul line from home plate to third and first base must be positioned so the base is entirely in fair territory. If not lined properly, have it re-lined prior to playing so as to not place any umpire in the position of having to make a judgment on a ball hit down the foul line which might strike the base but the line is somewhere other than where it should be.

HOME RUN---Coaches, please remind your players to remain back away from home plate in order to allow the batter to properly touch home plate after hitting a home run before they swarm that player or attempt to congratulate and high-five her. It is not illegal for a coach to simply “touch” a player as they round third base----it is only illegal if a coach were to “physically assist” a runner during a play. Giving a player a high-five after hitting a home run is not assisting. It is just good common sense to keep players back. After home plate is touched, they can celebrate and congratulate the batter. Every year we hear of situations where the batter fails to touch home plate because teammates are there to celebrate. But an out should not be called for someone touching the batter too soon---there must be assistance gained.

SIGNING THE SCOREBOOK---Umpires are still expected to sign their names in the scorebook for every varsity game. Coaches will no longer be issuing ratings for umpires---but will be required to submit the names of ten umpires whom they feel are deserving of tournament consideration. It is impossible to make those recommendations without having the names of the umpires in the scorebook. Umpires----you are only potentially cheating yourself of a recommendation if you fail to properly sign each scorebook.

INTENTIONAL WALK---The four pitches must be thrown to a batter for them to be issued an intentional base on balls. It is a slow pitch rule to place the batter on first base simply by informing the umpire. It may have erroneously been mentioned a couple years ago---but we must throw the pitches.

DEFENSIVE CONFERENCE---It is permissible for more than one coach to visit with defensive players during a charged defensive conference. For example—two coaches might both choose to visit with the pitcher OR one coach might visit with the pitcher and infielders while a second coach might visit with the outfielders. All coaches are expected to be off the field in a timely manner so as to not delay the re-starting of the game. It is also permissible for the offensive coach to confer with the batter and/or runners during a conference charged to the defensive team.

RUNNER HIT BY BATTED BALL---Rule 8-6-11 states that a runner is out if struck by 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 other fielder has an opportunity to make an out. Normally if it has already passed one infielder, it is highly unlikely that another fielder could make an out. Give the benefit of any doubt to the batter if the batted ball has already passed an infielder. It needs to be an obvious out which would have occurred in order to call the batter out for being struck after already passing one infielder.

PITCHING STUFF:

1) IOWA ADAPTATION—requires the pitcher to legally present the ball by having the hands together in front of the body and below the top of the head and come to a stop/pause prior to delivering the ball. It does not specify that her hands have to be apart or together when she steps onto the pitching plate---either could be legal as long as she then pauses with both hands together.

2) If a pitcher licks her fingers, then she is required to wipe them off before going to the ball. There is no rule to prohibit a pitcher from touching the dirt. As long as she does not intentionally deface the ball by rubbing it in the dirt or mud, there is no infraction.

3) During the presentation, a pitcher could legally back off the pitching plate as long as she has not separated her hands. She might be wanting to make an appeal or could have dirt in her eyes, etc. Once she has taken her hands apart after presentation and still on the pitching plate, then she would be required to deliver the pitch.

4) Illegal pitches---It sounds as if more illegal pitches are being called this year. The pitcher cannot be airborne prior to the pitch leaving her hand---her pivot foot must drag or be in contact with the ground until it leaves her hand. However, umpires must not allow an opposing coach to “talk them into” calling an illegal pitch---make sure there is a reason. When certain, call it illegal. If there is any doubt, then it remains legal.

5) Illegal pitches---Under normal conditions, the base umpire will be the person to call illegal pitches for crow hop, leap, re-plant, etc. The plate umpire may call illegal pitches for not presenting the ball properly, not pausing, etc---but rarely, if ever, should the plate umpire be calling illegal pitches for the pitcher being airborne.

RUNNER INTERFERENCE---Reminder that there does NOT have to be contact in order to have runner interference. Many times there will be, thus making it an easy call. However there may be other times when the runner may impede or hinder a fielder from having the opportunity to make a play on the ball---which may be physical or verbal.

COURTESY RUNNER---RULE 8-9-3 STATES “players who are currently in the game or have participated in the game in any other playing capacity are ineligible to serve as courtesy runners.”

A player who is used as a courtesy runner for the catcher may be the courtesy runner for any catcher during that game.

LOOK-BACK RULE---Please review 8-7 on pages 69 and 70. The most frequent question refers to item “d”. A batter/runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and moves back toward the infield in any direction except directly toward second base is committed to first base and must return to first base. Assuming the ball is legally within the pitcher’s circle, that runner cannot walk half way back toward first base ands then decide to take off toward second base.

PLAYER SPORTSMANSHIP---Coaches, please visit with your players with regard to the sportsmanship they are expected to display. Pitchers shaking their head when a close pitch was not called a strike, the pitcher or batter glaring at the umpire, any player making rude or negative comments regarding a call that was made or not made, and “begging or complaining” in an attempt to get a call are all forms of poor sportsmanship. The players are there to play and not to umpire. Some umpires may be more tolerant than others---but these displays of poor sportsmanship could end up with the player being restricted to the dugout for the remainder of that game or even possibly ejected. Let’s use our ability to positively influence our young athletes in a preventative manner and then let’s serve as positive role models for the players and fans to emulate.

UMPIRE DEMEANOR---Unfortunately, I seem to have to make this sermon in almost every sport every year. Umpires and game officials are there to umpire and officiate---not to criticize the coaching or player’s efforts. Making comments during the game, subtle or not-so-subtle, about teams, players, or coaches is simply uncalled for and extremely unprofessional. Umpires should be as positive and cordial as they can reasonably be. An umpire can be proactive in getting teams on and off the field between innings without “barking” at them. Many times during the pre-game conference umpires mention the protocol to be used if a coach has a question or concern during a game but then gets immediately defensive and aggressive if a coach does elect to ask a question or voice a concern. Umpires are not there to pass judgment on the abilities of players and/or coaches. Think what you might, but you must be wise enough to not publicly make comments which are negative or unprofessional.

Enough for now----have a great June and July. Tournament pairings are being worked on now, umpire assignments will be worked on next week, and the pairings should be posted late next week or early the following week.

Mike Dick

Associate Director