Table of Contents Introduction ...... 1 Join in the fun! ...... 1 1 What is Fully Loaded Softball? ...... 2 Short game format ...... 2 Shorter season ...... 2 Modified rules ...... 3 2 Registrations ...... 3 3 Contact details ...... 3 Appendix 1 – Rule changes with a participation focus ...... 4 Appendix 2 – Rule changes with a Performance Focus ...... 7
Fully Loaded Softball – Club Resource Page i
Introduction
On 19 November 2018, Softball Australia announced The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball, a world-first innovative fast paced competition that will define a new era for the sport of softball:
“A more exciting, faster format with big scores, more home-runs and more edge of your seat, white knuckle moments”
“This event will reshape the landscape of softball in Australia and provide an edge of your seat experience for spectators and fans as well as a high-pressure environment for our talented players”, said David Pryles, Softball Australia CEO. Media coverage and fan engagement has exceeded expectations and we are delighted to offer everyone involved in softball an opportunity to get on board with this exciting, action packed initiative. Join in the fun! The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball, will be held at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney from 4-6 February 2019 and will be broadcast live in prime-time by Fox Sports. It will feature six franchised teams made up of Australia’s elite women’s softball representatives who will be joined by international players from several of the world’s top 12 ranked teams. For more information about this exciting new event, and to purchase tickets and merchandise, go to: www.fullyloadedsoftball.com.au/. Sportslink Travel is offering outstanding travel packages; click here for more information.
“A new era in softball is here”.
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1 What is Fully Loaded Softball?
Fully Loaded Softball offers a brand-new style of game that puts pressure and excitement into games from the very first pitch.
Action packed, 3 innings, short game format
Bases loaded to start every innings
Tiebreakers, with one out per inning, played if scores are locked
100% action, no warm up pitches at the start of an innings or for a new pitcher
No time outs for conferences during play
Off diamond umpire records changes to speed up game
15 seconds for pitchers to deliver the pitch
Rapid fire rules when out is made
Shorter fences mean more homeruns
60 second inning changeovers
Short game format Action packed, 3-inning games Softball Australia research shows that many people cannot afford the time it takes to play traditional season of softball, not because they don’t want to, but because they are time-poor. The shorter game allows participants to continue playing the game they love and still have time to themselves.
Consider… Mid-week, 3-inning games completed in less than one hour with games. Recent trials of the format at A-grade club level saw games completed in 30 minutes playing 3 up 3 down rules. Each player bats through every innings; a 3-inning game will take approximately one hour but all participants experience an even number of turns at bat.
Shorter season Many people see the seasonal commitment as a deterrent and may be more likely to commit to a short format competition. Fully Loaded Softball can be adapted to suit participants’ needs.
Consider… Fastpitch Relaunching your traditional form of the game to make more exciting and more accessible to time poor members, past members or new entrants to the game. Add value to existing members by running an additional short format competition alongside traditional seasons, eg play mid-week, Oct-Dec. Slowpitch Attracting new people to the club, target adults, primary and high school students.
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The short format can be played any time of the year. Why not offer Fully Loaded Softball competitions once a term or run programs during the school terms to increase your recruitment opportunities throughout the year. Don’t limit your opportunities by offering summer/winter competitions only.
Modified rules Rules can be tailored for better participant engagement. If your participants have previously played softball and are familiar with traditional rules, you may prefer to take a more technical approach. If participants are new to softball, or would prefer a more social experience, modify the rules to suit their ability/interest.
Consider… Modifying the rules for a better participant experience and engagement.
For information about rule changes with a participation focus, see Appendix 1 – Rule changes with a participation focus. For information about rules changes with a performance focus, see Appendix 2 – Rule changes with a Performance Focus
2 Registrations
All participants must be registered as per usual in the MySoftball Community database (STG) under Softball Australia’s current member record types: Senior, Junior, Sub-Junior, Official or Off- Diamond. Softball Australia through consultation with our member States are working on the most practical solution to register and report on members that participate in new Fully Loaded Softball competitions. A guide for setting up associations and clubs for Fully Loaded Softball will be sent out in the New Year.
3 Contact details
If you would like to run a trial of Fully Loaded Softball or find out more information, please contact: Ben Utting Sport Development Manager Softball Australia e: [email protected]
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Appendix 1 – Rule changes with a participation focus
The following rule changes are considered relevant to providing competitions for associations with a participation focus and can be adapted to senior and junior competitions.
Loaded bases At the start of each innings – this concept increases the number of participants active from the first pitch of the game. In traditional softball 1 batter hits while 8 batters wait for their turn. In Fully Loaded Softball, your 7, 8 and 9 batters are involved from the first pitch of the game.
Runners on Base In the first innings the 7, 8, 9 batters/runners start on base. In the second innings the leadoff batter should be the number 4 batter in the line-up with runners being the original batters 1,2,3 starting on base. In the third inning, the number 6 batter in the line-up leads off, while batters 4, 5, 6 all start on base. By the end of the three-inning game, each player has batter 3 times and each has also started an innings on base.
Every batter bats each Rather than 3 outs per innings, each batter can bat each innings. This innings increases engagement and ensures that each player has an equal opportunity to try the skills. It eliminates the experience where one teams batters gets 3 turns at bat each while the other team (usually less skilled) may only get 1 turn to bat each.
Pitching Can have the most impact on the game at the beginner level. A skilled pitcher can dominate causing a poor experience for the batting team (no achievement for batters and low involvement for fielders). A beginner pitcher can also walk a lot of batters which has a similar poor experience rating for the fielders (batters generally want to hit the ball, walks mean fielders are not involved and spectators report poor viewing experiences). Changes to pitching could include: The implementation of the 3 pitch rule, where if a batter is walked (no strikes in 3 pitches) they get to hit the ball off a tee. This includes more action for fielders, sense of achievement for the batter and a chance for the fielding team to defend whilst their pitcher is learning to throw strikes. Implementation of a strike zone mat, rather than a catcher. The strike zone mat is a much bigger target than the traditional strike zone (where a strike is called only if the pitcher can throw the ball between the shoulders and knees of the batter). Calling balls and strikes with the strike zone mat is much easier. Did it hit the mat Yes or No? If yes = Strike, If no = ball, versus “Did the ball travel through the imaginary box that exists 14 inches wide extending from just above the knee to the shoulders of the batter?”
Umpiring made easier Where judgment of the umpire which only gets better with experience is relied on to call the strike zone in traditional softball, a simple observation can be more successful without reliance on a huge amount of skill and experience of an umpire.
Slowpitch lob Pitchers use a slowpitch lob where the pitch must arch over the shoulder height of the batter (in flight) and land on the strike zone mat to be a called strike. This option also makes it easier for an umpire or game facilitator to call balls and strikes. Rather than a judgement of the height and width of the ball as it crosses the plate, an umpire need only pay attention to the height of the ball in flight and if the ball lands on the mat or not.
Rotate pitchers Rotate pitchers each innings to enable a greater participation and to share the pitching around. This gives more exposure to people having to develop the skill of pitching and takes away from the ability of any one player to dominate a game.
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Catchers removed If using the strike zone mat there is no need for a catcher in the traditional sense. Instead a player can stand behind the strike zone mat (3m back) to simply receive the ball and throw it back to the pitcher if it is not hit.
Technical Rules This can have the most impact on the game at the beginner level. A skilled removed pitcher can dominate causing a poor experience for the batting team (no achievement for batters and low involvement for fielders). A beginner pitcher can also walk a lot of batters which has a similar poor experience rating for the fielders (batters generally want to hit the ball, walks mean fielders are not involved and spectators report poor viewing experiences). Changes to pitching could include:
The implementation of the 3 pitch rule, where if a batter is walked (no strikes in 3 pitches) they get to hit the ball off a tee. This includes more action for fielders, sense of achievement for the batter and a chance for the fielding team to defend whilst their pitcher is learning to throw strikes.
Implementation of a strike zone mat, rather than a catcher. The strike zone mat is a much bigger target than the traditional strike zone (where a strike is called only if the pitcher can throw the ball between the shoulders and knees of the batter). Calling balls and strikes with the strike zone mat is much easier. Did it hit the mat Yes or No? If yes = Strike, If no = ball, versus “Did the ball travel through the imaginary box that exists 14 inches wide extending from just above the knee to the shoulders of the batter?”
If you are looking to improve participation outcomes, it is recommended that the following technical rules be removed:
Infield fly rule: this rule is confusing to participants new to softball and is not required if the second recommendation is adopted
Tagging up on a fly ball: instead, allow runners to run as soon as the ball is hit without having to tag up.
No stealing: with loaded bases, and also in the slowpitch version of the game, stealing should not be allowed. Instead, the runners should be allowed to run as soon as the ball is hit. This allows for a free-running and higher scoring game. Offensive strategy should be built on developing pure hitting skills and running the bases once the ball is hit.
Dropped third strike: catching is considered a difficult skill that takes time to develop. Expecting a new player to execute the required sills with little or no experience is unrealistic.
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Example competition rule changes
Adult – Fastpitch FLS is a 3-inning game of fastpitch softball
Each inning starts with loaded bases – batters 7, 8 and 9 in the line-up occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases
Quick changeovers apply – no warm up between innings
All other rules are in line with standard fastpitch rules
Adult – Slowpitch As per Social 7s rules, but with bases loaded every innings
T-Ball As per T-Ball rules but starting each innings with the bases loaded – batters 7, 8 and 9 in the line-up occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases. All other rules are in line with normal rules.
Junior – Slowpitch Strike zone mat is used
3-inning games where each batter bats every innings
Each inning starts with loaded bases – batters 7, 8 and 9 in the line-up occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases
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Appendix 2 – Rule changes with a Performance Focus
The following sets out The Summer Slam Competition Rules & Guidelines - Competition Rules proposed for The Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball Event to be held at Blacktown International Sportspark in NSW in February 2019. These could be adopted as performance rules at your club.
Regulation game A regulation game is 3 innings. Where the team second at bat is ahead after 2.5 innings of play, the game will end.
Runners on base Each innings, runners will start at 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases (batters 7, 8 and 9 due to bat in that innings).
Tiebreaker If scores are tied after the 3rd innings, an extra innings tiebreaker will be played. The tiebreaker will begin with loaded bases. The batting team gets to choose their batter. Each team only gets one out per inning.
Warm-up pitches No warm-up pitches at the start of an innings or when a new pitcher comes into the game. The penalty is a ball to the batter for each pitch thrown.
Conferences No offensive or defensive conferences. The penalty is as per the rulebook for excessive conferences.
Off-diamond umpire An off-diamond umpire will be used to take changes from each team.
Substitutions/ When defensive substitutions or positional changes are made, the coach is to go Positional Changes directly to the off-diamond umpire. The off-diamond umpire then reports the changes to the official scorer.
Intentional walks Intentional walks are permitted (to speed up the game).
Catcher speed-up A Temporary Runner is to be used to run for the catcher, when the catcher is on base with two out. Note that this is intended to speed up the game.
Batter in the box As per the rulebook, for a new batter, when the pitcher is ready, the batter has 10 seconds to be in the batter’s box, otherwise a strike is called (to be strictly enforced). Between each pitch, the batter must keep one foot in the batter’s box during their turn at bat and be ready to face the pitcher in a reasonable time, otherwise a strike is called.
Pitching the ball The pitcher has 15 seconds to pitch the ball:
At the start of an inning, from when the umpire calls ‘play ball’
Between pitches, from the time they receive the ball from the catcher
Between batters, from the time they receive the ball from a fielder (an infielder, including the catcher, is to return the ball directly back to the pitcher – no throwing the ball around the infield)
This is to be strictly enforced. The penalty for any of the above is an additional ball
awarded to the batter.
Home run boundary A temporary homerun fence will be set at a distance of 200 feet.
Guidelines
Time between Aim to keep to a maximum of 60 seconds from last out in one inning to first pitch in the innings next inning.
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