Rules Definitions Field
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2014-15 NCAA SOFTBALL RULE INTERPRETATIONS, APPROVED RULINGS, AND COMMENTS page 1 of 46 January 28, 2014 Comments on the 2014-15 rules are listed in order by rule reference; lime colored highlighted text are the most recent additions. If you disagree with a ruling, feel free to email your perspective with supporting rule reference(s) to Dee for reconsideration. If you have a question for possible inclusion, please send it through the “Ask Dee” feature of the SUP ArbiterSports website. The Approved Rulings (A.R.) will help you be softball wise; the softball whys provide some insight as to the rationale for a particular rule. Dee Abrahamson, NCAA Softball Secretary Rules Editor Rules A.R. Rules: A number of NCAA umpires are being assigned to an NCAA team versus an international team (Japan, Netherlands, Toyota’s Women’s team). Do NCAA rules apply to these contests? Can coaches mutually agree to alter specific rules? Also, do we check bats from just the NCAA team or must their opponent comply with the equipment standards as well? RULING: All competition involving an NCAA institution must be played under NCAA playing rules (See Rules in introduction) so whether the opponent is an international team or belongs to a rival organization (for example, NAIA, NJCAA institution), umpires will not need to learn and enforce different rules or mechanics in order to officiate the game and NCAA teams will not have to own additional equipment. SOFTBALL WHYS- Why is there a difference between no restrictions on the number of innings in a scrimmage and a ten inning limit in a contest in the non-championship season? RULE FOUNDATION- A.R. Rules Non-Championship Segment COMMENT- If the activity is an institutional scrimmage (as all or part of a practice) with part of the team against the other part, there is no limit on the innings because teams are limited by NCAA bylaws regarding the number of practice hours (20 hours per week; four hours per day). But if it involves competition with players other than those on the team (excluding use of the alumni exception), then it falls under the NCAA Bylaw restrictions regarding contests and would be counted as three hours of athletically related activity regardless of the number of actual contact hours. (See the addendum at the end of this document for a list of applicable bylaws by division regarding contests.) The new options regarding the length of fall contests are: 1) use regular playing rules which define a game as seven innings or any greater number of innings needed in order to break a tie; or 2) choose the option of mutually agreeing to a deviation of the rules...in this case referring to number four "playing a maximum of ten innings per game." Option two means play can be no more than ten innings even if the score is tied at the end of the tenth which should help tournament games stay on time since NCAA play does not allow time limits. It also allows coaches to mutually agree to play eight, nine or ten innings for a game that is not tied. The intent here is to allow coaches to agree, for example, to nine innings with three going to each of a team’s three pitchers so there would be planned substitutions. In either case, if option two is used, the game cannot extend beyond ten innings. Note- if coaches agree to play either eight or nine innings they must also determine if play will stop at that predetermined inning if the game is tied or if play will continue past the predetermined inning in order to break the tie (to a maximum of ten innings). Definitions SOFTBALL WHYS- What is the purpose of adding the term “runner” to the playing rules? It seems like an unnecessary term since we are all used to batter-runner and base runner. RULE FOUNDATION- 1.48 COMMENT- This addition was really a term of convenience in rule writing. The rules have always referred to a batter-runner as the player running the bases who was in the batter’s box at the time of the pitch until play on the last pitch has concluded. And a base runner is the player running the bases who occupied a base at the time of the pitch until she is either out or safe. There are many circumstances where the result of play is different for these two types of runner and they are rightly separated (for example, the batter-runner is returned to the batter’s box while the base runner is returned to the base occupied at the time of the pitch). But there are other times when the runners would be treated the same (for example a base runner who is obstructed at second base would be treated the same as a batter- runner who is obstructed at second base). So this new term of “runner” is now used when the rule wording refers equally to batter-runners and base-runners and eliminates the need to consistently write “batter-runner and base runners”. Field A.R.2.1: Concerning the backstop distance…our brick wall is exactly 25 feet from the plate apex. By adding the required padding, the distance will be three inches short of the minimum. Must we move our field outward from the backstop to accommodate the minimum? RULING: The 25 foot minimum/30 foot maximum distances from the apex of home plate should include the padding whenever possible. That said though, the rule says the dimensions "should" not "shall" be 25 and 30 feet to accommodate many of the fields that will have to be retrofitted for padding. One solution is certainly to move the bases, pitcher’s and home plates outward toward the homerun fence. Another is that the backstop will be several inches short of the requested minimum. Note however that to host an NCAA event, an explanation of being just short of the minimum might be necessary on your facility assessment. A.R.2.4^1: In honor of breast cancer awareness month, can the bases, pitcher’s plate and/or home plate be painted pink? RULING: No, those parts of the field and the lines must be white as specified in the rules. The intent is for visibility, safety of the players who need to visually locate the bases/plate to make a play (both offense and defense), and for umpire accuracy (colors are harder than 2014-15 NCAA SOFTBALL RULE INTERPRETATIONS, APPROVED RULINGS, AND COMMENTS page 2 of 46 January 28, 2014 white to see from a distance). Painted logos in the grass, banners, tarp covers and bunting in the field area are most often used in addition to special player uniforms and commemorative ribbons pinned to the right panel of the hats or over the hearts for umpires. These options are not precluded by the rules and can be expanded to observe holidays as well. A.R.2.4^2: May a six inch long sticker be applied to the center third of the rise of a base to identify an institution, conference or commemorate an event (such as Heart Healthy Day)? RULING: A sticker with NCAA, team or conference logo, name or abbreviation may be displayed as long as the sticker is no higher than the top of the base and the sticker is in the middle third of the rise of the base. However stickers commemorating a charity or event are not approved. A.R.2.8: A base coach insists on standing about 80 feet from home plate at the time of release of the pitch. RULING: The coaches’ box only has 2 restraining lines to prevent the coach from being too close to the batter’s box and too close to the foul line. However with no back edges, the coach is free to retreat all the way to the sideline and home run fences as his/her comfort level dictates. The definition of lines denotes the spaces to which participants are restricted and without those back lines, there is no limitation. (See also Rule 2.15.) A.R.2.9: The home team has heaters in its dugout but the visiting team does not. The questions are: 1) does this create an unfair advantage; 2) does the home team have to provide heaters to the visiting teams. RULING: There is nothing in the playing rules that requires a home team to provide the same amenities (i.e. heaters, blankets or warm clothing) to their visitors that they have for themselves. In Rule 5.1 there are some accommodations for visiting team pregame batting practice equipment and space but other than that coaches are left to their own sense of fair play or possible conference requirements (for example, most conferences have arrangements for a water cooler in not only the home team but also the visiting team dugout). SOFTBALL WHYS- Why is protection on the field side of the dugout not required for the safety of the players on the bench? RULE FOUNDATION- Rule 2.9 COMMENT- The committee has not required complete or partial fencing or netting because of the wide variety of field layouts and dugouts. Based on the depth of the dugout and its location to home plate, and the number and types of exits, the committee is suggesting consideration be given to enclosing the field side in some way that is appropriate for the level of play contested there. But the decision on how best to enclose a particular dugout is up to the institution.