Fairfax Adult Softball

2015

Umpire Training

SESSION 3 ASA RULE 6 – Pitching Regulations

ASA RULE 7 – Batting

RULE 6

Pitching Regulations

Illegal PitchFor any illegal pitch infractions:

Umpire gives Delayed Dead Ball SignalUmpire verbally declares “Illegal” or “Flat”

Loud enough for batter and catcher to hear

If batter swings and misses a strike is called

If batter swings and makes any contact, fair or foul, the illegal pitch is nullified and all play stands

If batter does not swing, a ball is called on the batter.

Before the Pitch

The Pitcher must:Take a position with both feet firmly on the

ground,Have one or both feet in contact with the

pitcher’s plate OR the area defined by the 24” width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate,

Effect: Delayed Dead Ball, Illegal Pitch.

Before the Pitch

The Pitcher: Must come to a full and complete stop with the

ball in front of the body (at least one second), Must have the front of the body facing the

batter, and Is not considered in the pitching position unless

the catcher is in a position to receive the pitch.

Effect: Delayed Dead Ball, Illegal Pitch.

Before the Pitch

• The pitcher may not simulate a legal pitch while not in contact with the pitcher’s plate/pitchers area.

Effect: Dead Ball, (not delayed dead ball), an illegal pitch ruled, a warning is issue. Repeated action results in the pitcher ruled illegal and removed from the pitching position.

Starting the Pitch

The pitch starts when the pitcher makes any motion with the ball AFTER the required stop.

Prior to the required stop, any motion may be used.

The Delivery

Pitcher must not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball to the batter.

The Pitcher has 10 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball or after the umpire indicates “play ball.”

If the Pitcher holds the ball over 10 seconds, a ball will be called on the batter. (Use discretion when calling the ball.)

The Delivery Ball must be delivered to home plate:

In a continuous motion, no stop and go or reversal, On the first forward swing of the pitching arm past

the hip with an underhand motion.

Palm may be over or under the ball. Pivot foot must remain in contact with the

pitcher’s plate or the area defined by the 24” width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate.Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically

and a ball on the batter if not swung at or hit.

The Delivery

If the pitcher takes a step, it may be forward, backward, or to the side, provided: The step is simultaneous with the release of

the ball, AND Pivot foot remains in contact with the

pitcher’s plate or the area defined by the 24” width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate.

Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically and a ball on the batter if not swung at or hit.

Against the RulesThe Pitcher cannot:

Make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the pitch,

Stop or reverse the pitching motion, Deliver a pitch from the glove UNLESS the

pitcher is playing under the FAS ADA rules, Pitch the ball behind the back or through the

legs Continue any pitching motion after the ball is

released.Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically

and a ball on the batter unless swung at or hit.

Against the Rules

Foreign substances are not allowed on the ball, pitching hand, or fingers at any time (ANY defensive player). Illegal pitch on the first offense Continued offense will result in an ejection

Powdered resin is allowed to dry hands Pitcher may wear tape on the fingers or a sweatband on

the wrist or forearm of the pitching arm. Batting gloves may not be worn on the pitching hand.

Effect: An illegal pitch is called on the first offense. If any defensive player continues to place a foreign substance on the ball, the player shall be ejected.

Review – Pitching Motion

• Prior to contact with the pitcher’s plate – No motion to pitch is allowed

• After contact with the pitcher’s plate and before the required stop– Any motion may be used

• After stop – Pitch starts with the first motion

• After release – Motion can not continue

Pitch Speed

Pitch must be released at a moderate speed (in the umpire’s judgment).

If pitch speed is excessive, umpire shall notify the coach that a warning is being issued.

If the pitcher pitches another excessive speed pitch after being warned, remove the pitcher from the pitcher position for the remainder of the game.Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically

and a ball on the batter if swung at or hit.

Quick Pitches

The pitcher cannot attempt a “quick return” of the ball before the batter has taken a position in the batter’s box or when the batter is off balance.

Unless the batter requests and the umpire allows time from the umpire, the pitcher may deliver the pitch when received.

Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically, a ball is called unless swung at or hit.

Pitching Arc The pitch must:

Be delivered with a perceptible arc, Reach a height of at least 6’ from the ground,

and Reach a height of at most 12’ from the ground

(ASA is 10-feet-this is an FAS exception). KEY: Consistency with what you establish as

your 6-feet and your 12 feet. Error on the side of 11 feet, 6 inches, rather than 12 feet, 1 inch!

Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically, ball on the batter unless swung at or hit.

Defensive PositioningThe pitcher shall not deliver a pitch unless all defensive players, except the catcher, are positioned in FAIR territory.

Effect: No Pitch

No fielder can take a position in the batter’s line of vision or deliberately distract the batter with unsportsmanlike intent.

A pitch does not have to be releasedThe offending player shall be ejected from the

game.

The Catcher

FAS does not enforce the lines for a catcher’s box.

The catcher shall return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch.

Exception: After a strikeout with bases empty, the catcher may throw the ball “around the horn” or not directly back to the pitcher.

Effect: Illegal pitch; ball called on batter or on next batter.

Warm-Up Pitches

At the beginning of each half inning or when a pitcher relieves another, not more than one minute may be used to deliver up to 3 warm-up pitches.

Excessive warm-up pitches will result in a ball to the batter for each pitch.

A pitcher returning to pitch in the same half inning will not receive any warm-up pitches.

No limitations on the number of times a legal pitcher may return to the pitching position.

No Pitch

A no-pitch is declared when: Pitcher pitches during the suspension of

play, Runner is called out for leaving a base

before the pitched ball reaches home plate, is batted, or touches the ground before reaching home plate,

A pitch is delivered before a runner has RE-touched their base after being legitimately off that base,

No Pitch

A no-pitch is declared when: The ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during

the delivery or back swing, or A player or coach calls time or commits any

act while the ball is live for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit an illegal pitch.

Effect: Dead Ball, all subsequent action on the pitch is cancelled. No ball or strike awarded.

RULE 7

Batting

On-Deck Batter

Only one on-deck batter at a time.

Can only have: Up to 2 bats, Approved Warm-Up Equipment, or Combination of the above not to exceed 2.

Can leave the on-deck area: When they become the batter or To direct runner(s) from 3rd base to home.

On-Deck Batter

If the on-deck batter interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play:

If it involves a runner, the runner closest to home at the time of the interference is out.

If it is with the defensive fielder fielding a fly ball, the batter is out.

Batting Order

The batting order is how the players are scheduled to bat.

Upon request, team lineups must be presented to the opposing team prior to the start of the game and must include at a minimum each player’s first initial and last name (official line-up cards are not required).

The first batter in each inning shall be the batter whose name follows the last player who completed a turn at bat in the previous inning.

When the 3rd out is made BEFORE the batter completed their at bat, they lead off the next inning.

Batting Out of Order

Batting out of order is an APPEAL PLAY that can only be made by the defensive team BEFORE:The next pitch (legal or illegal) to the

following batterAll infielders have clearly left their

positions and fair territory on their way to the dugout area.

Batting Out of Order

If batting out of order is discovered while the incorrect batter is at bat:

The correct batter takes the batter’s position immediately and assumes the ball-strike count.

NO penalty whether discovered by the offense or defense while the incorrect batter is at bat.

Batting Out of Order

If batting out of order is discovered AFTER the incorrect batter completed their turn at bat and BEFORE the next pitch (legal or illegal) to the following batter or all infielders have clearly left their positions and fair territory, or on the last play of the game, before the umpire leaves the field of play:

Batting Out of Order

The improper batter’s time at bat is negated – as if he never bats.

The player who should have batted is outAny runners that advanced or runs scored

are nullifiedRunners not called out return to the last

base occupied at the pitch

Batting Out of Order

All outs made prior to the discovery will stand except for any out made on the improper batter

The next batter is the player whose name follows that of the player called out for failing to bat.

Batting Out of Order

Joe

Jeff

Ross

David

Bill

Larry

Roger

Steve

Wayne

JohnSteve (bats out of order)

Joe (scores on Steve’s hit)

JoeJeff

RossSteve

JeffRoss

White equals what happened; yellow equals the players after Steve hits safely.

What happens if Steve is discovered while in the box?

What happens if Steve is discovered after hitting safely and is standing on 1st Base.

Batting Out of Order

If batting out of order is discovered

after the next pitch to the NEXT batter or after all infielders have clearly left their positions and fair territory on their way to the dugout area:

Batting Out of Order

The turn at bat of the incorrect batter is legal.

All runs scored, runners advanced, and outs made are legal.

Next batter is the one that follows the incorrect batter.

No out is called for failure to bat. Player(s) that did not bat and not called

out lose their turn at bat until reached again in the regular order.

Batting Out of Order

Runners shall not be removed from the base occupied to bat in the proper position.

The correct batter skips their turn at bat with no penalty.

The batter following the correct batter, now skipped, in the batting order becomes the legal batter.

Coed Batting Order

Coed batting orders alternate genders.

In making a substitution to the batting order, remember this guideline applies: if the substitution creates a lineup that, in number and gender, would have been a legal starting lineup, then the substitution may be made. A manager may not change a lineup in such a way as to create a lineup that would not have been legal to start the game.

Coed Batting Order

Males hit 12” YELLOW softballs-Dudley Thunder Hycon ONLY!

Females hit 11” YELLOW softballs. (Exception: Females batting in Reston Church hit 12” softballs.)

If the wrong ball is used, the offensive team has the option of accepting the result of the play or require the last batter to bat again with the ball-strike count prior to the wrong ball being used.

Batting Position Batter must have both feet completely within the

lines of the batter’s box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside the lines prior to the pitch.

Batter has up to 10 seconds to take the position in the batter’s box. If the batter takes longer than 10 seconds, call a

strike (no pitch has to be thrown and dead ball).

The batter shall assume a one ball, one-strike count upon entering the box.

Batting Position

Batter may not step out of the batter’s box to stop play unless the umpire grants time.Play continuesPitch will be judged a ball or strike, as normal.

The batter shall not step directly in front of the catcher to the other batter’s box while the pitcher is in position to pitch, or anytime thereafter prior to the release of the pitch.The ball is dead, the batter is out.

Strikes and Balls

IN SENIORS PLAY

• A strike shall be called for each legally pitched ball that lands and touches any portion of home plate or the strike zone mat.

• A ball shall be called for each legally pitched ball that lands and does not touch any portion of home plate or the strike zone mat.

Strikes

A strike is called . . .

Legally pitched ball that passes through the strike zone before touching the ground and the batter does not swing.Ball can actually hit the batter.Batter cannot prevent the ball from

entering the strike zone (other than hitting the ball with a bat).

StrikesA strike is called . . .

Batter swings and misses prior to the ball hitting the ground.

Foul tip even if caught unless 3rd strike. Foul ball. If the batter does not take the batter’s

position within 10 seconds after being directed by the umpire.

Strikes

A strike is called . . .

If a pitched ball is swung at, missed, and then hit on the follow through, it is a strike and a dead ball.

When any part of the batter’s person or clothing is hit with a batted ball while the batter is in the batter’s box.

Strikes

Balls

A ball is called . . .

Legally pitched ball that the batter does not swing at that:Does not pass through the strike zone,Touches the ground before reaching home

plate, orTouches home plate.

Balls

A ball is called . . .

Illegally pitched ball not swung at or hit.

Catcher fails to return the ball directly to the pitcher.

For each excessive warm-up pitch.

FAS 1-1 RuleThe batter begins each turn at bat with

a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. The batter walks on four balls and is considered out on the third strike, unless the third strikes is fouled off, in which case the batter gets one more strike (Courtesy Foul). If the next pitch is a strike or fouled off, the batter is out.

The Batter is Out

The batter is called out . . . After the 3rd strike (including a foul ball that

is hit after 2 strikes). When the third strike is:

NOT swung at, and the pitched ball hits the batter while the pitch is in the strike zone

When the pitched ball is prevented form entering the strike zone by the batter doing something other than hitting the ball.

The Batter is Out

The batter is called out . . . Batter enters the batter’s box with or is

discovered using an altered, non-approved or illegal bat.This results in an ejection and that

spot in the batting order can never be substituted for.

The Batter is Out

• The batter is called out . . .• When discovered using an altered, non-

approved or illegal bat after completing their turn at bat and before the next pitch, legal or illegal.• This also results in an ejection and that

spot in the batting order can never be substituted for

• All outs stand, all other runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

The Batter is Called Out

Batter’s ENTIRE foot is touching the groundCOMPLETELY outsidethe batter’s box when thebatter hits the ball (fair or foul).

Batter’s foot (any part) touches home plate when the batter hits the ball (fair or foul).

Batter bunts or chops the ball (fair or foul).

The Batter is Called Out

Batter hits a fair ball with the bat a 2nd time in fair territory. It is a dead ball out and runners are returned. If batter is in batter’s box, it is just a foul ball.When the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls

against the bat, if in the umpire’s judgment there was no intent to interfere with the ball, the ball remains live. It is the same as if the bat was a rock in the ground.

When contact is made on the follow-through after missing the pitch on the initial swing, the ball is dead and a strike is called.

The Batter is Called Out

Batter leaves the batter’s box and returns to the box and makes contact with the ball.

If the batter due up left the game except where FAS injury rule prevails.

Batter intentionally interferes with a thrown ball or a play at home plate.

When members of the team at bat, interfere with a player attempting to field a fair or foul fly ball.

Case Book

• Play: After one warning, F1 again delivers a pitch with excessive speed. The umpire ejects F1 from the game

• Play: B1 reaches out and catches an inside pitch while standing in the batter’s box.

Case Book

• Play: After one warning, F1 again delivers a pitch with excessive speed. The umpire ejects F1 from the game

• Ruling: Incorrect. F1 should be removed from the pitchers position for the remainder of the game but may participate in the game in any other position

• Play: B1 reaches out and catches an inside pitch while standing in the batter’s box.

• Ruling: The ball is dead when touched by B1. The umpire should call the pitch a ball or a strike based on where the ball would have entered the strike zone had it not been touched.

Case Book

• Play: During the three warm-up pitches, F1

• (a) throws two pitches with an arc and one pitch overhand

• (b) throws two pitches windmills style and a third with an arc

• (c) throws all three pitches with an arc.

Case Book

• Play: During the three warm-up pitches, F1

• (a) throws two pitches with an arc and one pitch overhand

• (b) throws two pitches windmill style and a third with an arc

• (c) throws all three pitches with an arc.

• Ruling: There is no violation for throwing overhand or windmill style. F1 can throw the three pitches in any manner F1 chooses. Should F1 throw to an infielder, this would count toward the three allowed warm-up pitches

Case Book

• Play: F1 comes to a one-second stop, than takes the ball in the pitching hand over the top of their heads, down and around in a windmill type action, and releases the ball the first time past the hip.

Case Book

• Play: F1 comes to a one-second stop, than takes the ball in the pitching hand over the top of their heads, down and around in a windmill type action, and releases the ball the first time past the hip.

• Ruling: Legal. A windmill delivery is legal if the ball is releases the first time over the hip and all other aspects of the pitching rule is followed.

Case Book

• Play: F1 has both feet on the pitcher’s plate and removes one foot by stepping backward while pitching the ball. B1 does not swing at the pitch.

Case Book

• Play: F1 has both feet on the pitcher’s plate and removes one foot by stepping backward while pitching the ball. B1 does not swing at the pitch.

• Ruling: Legal pitch. A step with the free foot is not required in slow pitch, but if one is taken, it must be made simultaneous with the release of the ball. It can be forward, backward, or to the side. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate or the area defined by the 24”width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate until the ball is released.

Case Book

• Play: With two outs and the bases full, it is B6’s turn to bat, but B7 erroneously bats and hits a triple clearing the bases. As B8 comes to bat, the defensive team appeals batting out of order.

Case Book

• Play: With two outs and the bases full, it is B6’s turn to bat, but B7 erroneously bats and hits a triple clearing the bases. As B8 comes to bat, the defensive team appeals batting out of order.

• Ruling: • B7 is removed from

third base and his at bat is negated.

• B6 is called out for missing his turn at bat

• All runs are nullified• The correct batter to

lead off the next inning is B7.

Case Book

• Play: Coed: R1 , a male, is on 1B, B2, a female, is thrown three pitches with a 12-inch ball. B2 gets a hit and reaches 1B safely. B3, a male, steps in to bat and a pitch is thrown to B3 with the 12-inch ball and then either the offense or defense complains about the wrong ball being pitched to B2.

Case Book

• Play: Coed: R1 , a male, is on 1B, the following batter, B2, a female, is thrown three pitches with a 12-inch ball. B2 gets a hit and reaches 1B safely. B3, a male, steps in to bat and a pitch is thrown to B3 with the 12-inch ball and then either the offense or defense complains about the wrong ball being pitched to B2.

• Ruling: After one pitch has been thrown to B3, all previous action is considered legal on B2. Continue pitching to B3.

• If NO pitch had been thrown, the offense has the option to accept the result of the play or have batter hit again with the ball-strike count same as before the hit.

Case Book

• Play: No outs, R1 is on 3B, R2 on 2B, R3 on 1B and B4 is scheduled to bat but B5 comes to bat instead and grounds into a double play, resulting in R3 being forced at 2B and B5 out at B1. The defense appeals B5 batting out of order.

Case Book

• Play: No outs, R1 is on 3B, R2 on 2B, R3 on 1B and B4 is scheduled to bat but B5 comes to bat instead and grounds into a double play, resulting in R3 being forced at 2B and B5 out at 1B. The defense appeals B5 batting out of order

• Ruling: B5’s at bat is negated. B4, the player who should have batted is called out for 1 out. R3’s out at second stands for 2 outs. R1 and R2 are returned to 2B and 3B respectively. The next batter is B5, who bats again.

Questions?