NCAA SOFTBALL RULE INTERPRETATIONS, APPROVED RULINGS, AND COMMENTS page 1 of 53 August, 2015 This document is a” work in progress” with comments on the current playing rules listed in order by rule reference. Although many situations were posted months or years ago, they are updated each time a new rules book is published to provide the updated rule references and are adjusted to reflect rule changes when appropriate. Included in the changes in the 2016-2017 Rules Book are six rules where deregulation has resulted in the elimination of a rule or part of a rule. They are: 1) the elimination of the runner’s lane; 2) the deletion of all references of the use of a bat ring to determine bat damage; 3) the removal of the restrictions of a pitcher’s glove; 4) the deletion of the prohibition on bandanas worn by players; 5) the removal of the word “continuous” in reference to warm-up pitches and a throw to a base and 6) the elimination of filing incident reports for situations occurring in any game played under these rules but not involving an NCAA member institution. Although the appropriate text has been eliminated (and therefore cannot be highlighted) within the rules book, they are noted in the list of Major Rule Changes on page 9. If the initial posting date is known for an Approved Ruling, it is included in blue font but many old posting dates are unidentified. Recently added situations and comments are noted by lime-color highlighted text. If you disagree with a ruling, feel free to email your perspective and supporting rule reference(s) to Vickie for reconsideration. If you have a question for possible inclusion, please send it through the “Ask Vickie” feature of the SUP ArbiterSports website. The NCAA Softball Rules Committee (NSRC) appreciates your interest in considering these plays. 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. Vickie VanKleeck, NCAA Softball Secretary Rules Editor Dee Abrahamson, former NCAA SRE Rules A.R. Rules: A number of NCAA umpires are being assigned to an NCAA team versus an international team (Japan, Netherlands, Toyota’s July 2013 Women’s team, etc). Do NCAA rules apply to these contests? Can coaches mutually agree to alter specific rules? Also, are bats checked from just the NCAA team or must their opponent comply with the NCAA equipment standards as well? RULING: As mandated in the NCAA Bylaws, all competition involving an NCAA institution must be played under NCAA playing rules 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. In addition, NCAA teams will not have to own additional equipment or be disadvantaged by international rules that allow for higher performing bats. The only rules that can be set aside are those listed under “The Rules” in the front of the NCAA Playing Rules. 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 Sept 2013 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 another 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. The options going into effect for 2014 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- The NCAA definition for obstruction has been different than the definition in other codes so when the NSRC made a wording August 2015 change prior to the 2015 season, why did they not just adopt the wording from other associations? RULE FOUNDATION- 1.36 COMMENT- Other softball codes eliminated the long time wording of “about to receive a thrown ball” to no longer protect a defender who did not have possession of the ball. At that time, the NSRC believed it was important to allow the defense to prepare for an imminent tag and that continues to be the intent of the college rule. The change in the wording for the exception for defensive obstruction replaces the concept of “the ball being closer to the receive than the runner” to the more easily observed “act of catching”. NCAA SOFTBALL RULE INTERPRETATIONS, APPROVED RULINGS, AND COMMENTS page 2 of 53 August, 2015 SOFTBALL WHYS- What is the purpose of adding the term “runner” to the playing rules? It seems like an unnecessary term since we are Sept 2013 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.2.2: 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.2.5^1: 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 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 and other worthy causes. A.R.2.5^2: May a six inch long sticker be applied to the center third of the rise of a base to identify an institution, conference or April 2013 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.