2016 and 2017 NCAA SOFTBALL RULES

SOFTBALL 2016 AND 2017 RULES 2016 and 2017 NCAA SOFTBALL RULES NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION [ISSN 1089-0106] THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 6222 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206-6222 317-917-6222 NCAA.ORG AUGUST 2015 Manuscript Prepared By: Dee Abrahamson, Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Softball Rules Committee. Edited By: Ashlee Ferguson, Assistant Director of Playing Rules and Officiating. NCAA, NCAA logo and NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION are registered marks of the Association and use in any manner is prohibited unless prior approval is obtained from the Association. COPYRIGHT BY THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION REPPRINTED: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Contents Page NCAA Softball Rules Committee ��4 Points of Emphasis ��5 Softball Rules Committee Report ��7 Major Rules Changes for 2016 and 2017 ��9 Editorial Changes �� 10 Common Practice Updates �� 11 Codes of Conduct �� 13 The Rules �� 15 RULE 1—Definitions �� 16 RULE 2—Field of Play �� 22 Dimension Table/Softball Field Specifications �� 29 RULE 3—Equipment and Uniforms �� 32 RULE 4—Game Personnel �� 43 RULE 5—Game Management and Pregame Procedures �� 48 RULE 6—The Game�� 55 RULE 7—Appeals and Protests �� 67 RULE 8—Players and Substitutes �� 74 RULE 9—Defense �� 87 RULE 10—Pitching �� 100 RULE 11—Batting �� 110 RULE 12—Base Running �� 128 RULE 13—Misconduct �� 161 RULE 14—Scoring �� 168 Table of Symbols �� 189 Percentage Table �� 190 RULE 15—Umpires �� 191 Appendices �� 198 Appendix A—Feet and Lines Chart �� 198 Appendix B—Improper Player Chart�� 199 Appendix C—Bat Flow Chart �� 200 Appendix D—NCAA Conducted BCT Flow Chart �� 201 Appendix E—Incident Report �� 202 Appendix F—Umpire Signals �� 203 Appendix G—Lightning Safety �� 205 Appendix H—Video, Audio or Matrix Boards�� 209 Appendix I—Concussions �� 211 Appendix J—Accommodations for Student-Athletes with Disabilities �� 222 Index to Rules �� 223 3 NCAA Softball Rules Committee The chart below lists the members of the committee who voted on and approved the rules included in this edition of the book� This information is being included for historical purposes� Name Institution Term Expiration Dee Abrahamson* Secretary-Rules Editor 9-1-15 Heidi Birtwistle Eastern University 9-1-17 Rich Calvert Drake University 9-1-17 Susan Cassidy-Lyke, Molloy College 9-1-15 chair David Hicks King University 9-1-18 Christ Kuhlmeyer Belmont University 9-1-15 Julie Lenhart State University of New York at 9-1-18 Cortland Veronica Wiggins Florida A&M University 9-1-15 Kirk Walker University of California, Los 9-1-16 Angeles *Non-voting member For a complete and current listing of the NCAA Softball Rules Committee, please go to www.ncaa.org/playingrules� The secretary-rules editor is the sole interpreter of the NCAA softball playing rules� Requests for documentation of disability (see Appendix J) or religious accommodations, rule exceptions, interpretations or clarifications of the NCAA Softball Rules may contact: Vickie Van Kleeck NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor Cell: 540-819-4655; Email: [email protected] Term Expires: 9-1-19 (eligible for reappointment) 4 Points of Emphasis While the NCAA Softball Rules Committee expects you to familiarize yourself with all rules changes throughout the 2016 and 2017 NCAA Softball Rules Book, listed below are several areas that are given special attention� Hit By Pitch Throughout the course of the 2015 season, there was considerable discussion regarding the proliferation of batters hit by pitches even though there has been no change to the rules since 2012� It is difficult not to be concerned about the well-being of student-athletes and the health of the game itself� Below are five potential contributing factors to pay attention to and ask that you consider doing your part to reverse this undesirable trend� 1� The facility - Attention must be given to the proper placement of the batter’s box lines to verify that the outer edge of the lines do indeed create the six-inch space on either side of the plate and that the paint or chalk is not centered on the line rather than marking the outer edge of the batter’s box� 2� Protective equipment - It is apparent that many protective elbow pads are improperly worn and hang down significantly from the elbow rather than as intended by the manufacturer� They often hang above the space between home plate and the batter’s box which is shared by both the batter and pitcher, but is now being usurped by the batter� Pitchers should not be penalized by a base award to a batter whose elbow guard is hit where it is hanging well below the elbow it is intended to protect� 3� Players may legally position their feet as they deem suitable within the batter’s box, but should be aware that toeing the edge of the batter’s box will result in their arms and hands being a) out of the batter’s box, therefore not entitling them to a base award if they make no effort to avoid the pitch or b) in the strike zone, in which case a strike is called� A few years ago, batters may have felt the need to toe the line to reach far outside pitches, but now that umpires have made a concerted effort to call a more accurate and consistent strike zone, hitting those pitches is no longer desirable� 4� Coaches are responsible for teaching and encouraging proper techniques and strategies of the game that provide for student-athlete well-being and do not put players in harm’s way unnecessarily� While batters hit by pitches will occasionally happen, encouraging batters to allow themselves to be hit or to initiate the contact, or instructing pitchers to pitch at batters, are indefensible� 5� Umpires should mentally note the starting position of each batter while settling into his/her plate stance to pre-pitch prepare in order to accurately and consistently enforce the rule� A batter has no responsibility to help the opposing pitcher avoid the penalty for hitting her when the pitch is entirely in the batter’s box� Similarly, a pitcher has no responsibility to help the opposing batter who is hit by a strike� So it is only on those 5 6 POINTS OF EMPHASIS pitches neither entirely in the batter’s box nor a strike that the batter must make an attempt to avoid being hit in order to be awarded first base� The batter’s failure to make any attempt to avoid these pitches results in just a ball on the batter� From a brief review of video from the 2015 season, it appears that batters were awarded more bases and fewer balls than they actually earned� Obstruction The committee made a small change in the wording of the obstruction rule, but expects to see fewer defenders blocking their bases sooner than they are entitled to� The specific wording replaces “about to receive a thrown ball” with “in the act of catching a thrown ball�” Players and umpires will no longer have to judge if the ball is closer to the base than the runner is, but instead whether the defender was positioning herself (not protected) or in the act of receiving the throw (protected)� Although not new

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