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2008 LITTLE LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON CHANGES

2008 LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CHANGES

2008 NFHS BASEBALL

2007 NFHS SOFTBALL

SOFTBALL PLAYING RULES

The Game

A. Time
In case of inclement weather, four innings or 40 minutes will constitute a complete game.

B. Extra Inning Procedures
Regular season games that are tied after the time limit has expired will end in a tie, but if there is still time remaining, extra innings will be played. If a tournament game is tied at the end of the time limit, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined. No time limit will be in effect for championship games.
C. Equipment
Balls, bats, and catcher's mask (recommended for the catcher) will be provided, but players are encouraged to bring their own equipment. Only slow pitch softball bats may be used. No Mikens. Metal cleats are illegal and any player caught wearing them will be disqualified from the game. No jewelry may be worn, and after warning players will be disqualified.
D. Substitutes
Extra players may be substituted into the line-up one time in any spot in the lineup. A team will receive an out in the lineup in the case that a player leaves that spot for any reason, and there is no substitute available. In a case that less than 8 players are in a lineup, an out will be recorded for the missing player(s).

I. Definitions
Base on Balls
A base on balls allows a batter to gain first base without liability to be put out. An intentional walk may be granted by having the pitcher notify the home umpire.

Base Path
The imaginary 3' on either side of the runner's line between the bases.

Batted Ball
Any ball that hits the bat or is hit by the bat. No intent to hit the ball is necessary.
Bunt/Chopped Ball
A ball that is batted down slowly and/or deliberately. A batter that is considered to have done this is out.
Catch
The catch is not legal until the ball is in the grasp of the fielder's hand or glove and complete control is demonstrated. The release of the ball must be voluntary and intentional. A catch may not be made with anything other than the hand or glove. It may be released for the transfer to the throwing hand.
Catch and Carry
A catch that is made in fair territory and then carried into dead ball territory by a fielder.Dead Ball Area
Area marked parallel to both foul lines, any area beyond the fence, and the area between the fence entering the dugouts.
Fair Ball
A batted ball that:
a) Settles in fair territory or on home plate,
b) Is on or over fair territory when bounding toward the outfield, passing first or third base
c) Touches an umpire or fielder in fair territory,
d) Goes over the fence in fair territory,
e) Hits the foul pole or the foul line
Foul Ball
A batted ball that:
a) settles on foul territory between home plate and first or third base
b) touches the batter while in the batter's box,
c) is on or over foul territory when bounding toward the outfield,
d) touches an umpire, object, or player in foul territory before reaching first or third base while in flight
The offensive team is responsible for retrieving all foul balls and home runs
Home Plate
The black part of the plate is not considered part of home plate.

On Deck batter
The batter who is up after the current batter. This batter must stand inside the designated area to take warm-up swings.

II. Rules and Penalties
A. Obstruction
Obstruction is an act by a catcher that hinders or prevents the batter from hitting a pitch or an act by a fielder that impedes the progress of a base runner. The fielder may be in the act of fielding the ball, about to throw the ball, or not in possession of the ball. When obstruction occurs, the umpire will give the delayed dead ball signal.
1. If a play is being made on an obstructed runner, or if the batter is obstructed before he reaches first base, the ball is dead and all runners advance to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, had there been no obstruction.
2. If no play is being made on an obstructed runner, play continues.
3. If, in the umpire's judgment, the obstructed runner would not have reached the next base, regardless of the obstruction, and he/she is put out prior to reaching the next base, he shall be returned to the last base touched at the time of the obstruction.
4. A base runner obstructed in a rundown will be awarded the base to which he/she would have achieved at the time of the obstruction.
B. Interference
Interference is any act by the offensive player that impedes or confuses a defensive player while attempting to execute a play. When interference is called, the ball is dead and all other runners must return to the last base legally touched.
1. If a runner, in the umpire's judgment, obviously attempts to prevent a double play, that runner and the immediate succeeding runner are both called out.
2. When a base runner is struck with a fair batted ball while off the base and in fair territory, and before the ball passes an infielder, excluding the pitcher, and no other infielder is in position to catch the ball, that runner is called out.
3. When a runner intentionally kicks a ball that an infielder has missed, that runner is called out.
4. When anyone, other than another base runner, physically assists a base runner, that runner is called out.
5. When a batter hinders a catcher from fielding the ball, the batter is out.
6. When a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner, if the runner remains on his/her feet and deliberately crashes into the defensive player, the runner is out. (The runner must either slide or give himself/herself up to the tag.)
C. Infield Fly
Infield fly occurs on a fair fly ball that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort. Runners must occupy first and second, or first, second, and third base with zero or one out. The batter is out, the ball is alive, runners advance at their own risk.
D. Appeal
There are two types of appeal plays:
1. Live ball appeal play
a. The umpire must make an immediate decision.
b. The ball remains in play.
c. Runners may advance at their own risk.
2. Dead ball appeal play
a. The umpire's decision is rendered upon request.
b. The ball must be returned to the infield.
c. Any defensive player may make the request.
d. A "play" does not have to be made.
e. The ball remains dead.
f. Runners may not advance.
There are two types of appeal plays:
1. Batting out of order.
2. Missing a base.
Any additional appeal may be made for batting-out-of-order:
1. If discovered before turn is completed, proper batter resumes count.
2. If discovered after the turn is completed, it must be appealed before the first pitch to the next batter. The batter who should have batted is out. The next batter in order comes to the plate.
E. Overthrow/Dead Ball Area
1. If an overthrow enters dead ball territory, the runners get two bases from where there were at the point of release of the throw.
2. If a fair batted ball enters dead ball territory it is a ground rule double.
3. If a batted ball hits an object that is in dead ball territory (i.e. a tree) and bounds back into play it is not live and cannot be played.
F. Fake Tag
A fake tag made by a fielder without the ball is an unsportsmanlike act that will not be tolerated. The first time in a game that an umpire notices a fake tag, both teams will be warned. The next instance will result in the ejection of the offending player.
G. Illegal Bat
All legal bats must say "Official Softball Bat". If a metal bat is used it must have a metal knob. If a ball is batted with an illegal bat, ball is dead, batter is out.
H. Force Out
Occurs only when a runner loses the right to the base he/she is occupying because the batter becomes a batter-runner.
I. Batter's Box
If the batter's foot is completely out of the box on the ground when the ball ihit, fair or foul, the ball is dead and the batter is out. This would include stepping on the plate, or stepping into fair territory.
J. Illegal Pitch
Any pitch called illegal may be taken for a ball. If the batter swings at an illegal pitch, the ball is live, and the result of the play stands. The following criteria must be met for a pitch to be legal.
1. The peak of its arc must be between 6' and 12'.
2. Before the pitching motion begins, the pitcher must come to a stop with at least one foot on the pitching rubber. The same foot must remain on the rubber until the ball is released.
K. Pitching
Prior to pitching, the pitcher shall come to a full and complete stop with both feet firmly on the ground, and with one or both feet in contact with the pitching rubber. The ball must be held in the pitching hand or both hands in front of the body. This position must be maintained at least one second prior to delivery.
In the act of delivering the ball to the batter, the pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher's rubber until the ball leaves the hand. The pitcher's shoulders must be in line with first and third base. NOTE: A dead ball should be called, an illegal pitch ruled, a warning issued, and repeated action would result in a pitcher being ruled illegal and removed from that position for the game.
A maximum of 5 warm up pitches will be given prior to the first inning. A maximum of 3 will be given in between innings. New pitchers will be given 3 pitches. NO INFIELD PRACTICE MAY BE TAKEN AFTER THE FIRST INNING.

Legal Delivery Consists of:
1. The delivery must be a continuous motion
2. The pitcher must deliver the ball towards home plate and in an underhand motion
3. The pitcher must not deliver the ball behind the back or between the legs.
Quick Pitches are not allowed. A quick pitch is one where a pitcher attempts to deliver a ball when the batter is not yet in the batters box, or still off balance from a previous swing attempt. An illegal pitch will be called on an attempted quick pitch.
"No Pitch" will be called when a ball slips out of a pitchers hand on a delivery, when a runner is called out for leaving the base early, or a pitcher pitches a ball before the signal to play is given.
L. Running
No stealing is allowed. Runners may leave the base when a pitch is hit. If the runner is off the base before the pitch reaches the plate, the runner is out and the umpire declares no pitch. Players may over run first base. If an attempt to advance to second base is made, the runner puts himself or herself in jeopardy to be put out.
M. Policies/Guidelines
1. I.D. cards may be required of all players at the start of each game.
2. Players may only participate for ONE TEAM. If a person participates on more than one team he/she places their teams eligibility in question for the regular season and playoffs.
3. No Miken bats!!!
N. Rules Of Conduct
1. Players will refrain from the use of profanity.
2. Consumption of tobacco products & alcoholic beverages will NOT be permitted at or near the softball fields.
3. Any disruptive behavior by a team or its fans will permit the umpire to forfeit the game. IM Officials have full authority in all aspects of the game. NO PROTESTS OF ANY KIND WILL BE ALLOWED!
4. Fighting will not be tolerated and may result in suspension from the intramural program.

CAN A PITCHER WEAR SUNGLASSES

There is no mention of sunglasses in the rulebook.

The accepted ruling is that a pitcher is allowed to wear them if they are not reflective or distracting in any other way.

Umpires are taught to be very careful about the pitcher conforming to the rules and regulations regarding uniforms and equipment.

A pitcher cannot have any unessential and distracting thing on his body such as jewelry, adhesive tape, or a batting glove. So, if a team complained about a pair of sunglasses I would think the umpire would be compelled to ask the pitcher to remove them.

THE UMPIRES ONLY RESPONSE
FOR THIS SITUATION IS:

9.01 (c) Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules.

LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
PITCHER RULE

1. Pitching The pitcher shall take a position with her pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate. The non-pivot foot must be on or behind the pitcher's plate (8.01(d))
2. 
   A backward step may be taken before or simultaneous with the hands being brought together. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitching plate at all times prior to the forward step (8.01(g)).
3. 
   Raising the pivot foot off the pitching plate and returning it to the plate creates a rocking motion and is an illegal act (8.01(h))
4. 
   Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other then the pitcher's plate is illegal (8.01(r))
5. 
   The pivot foot must remain in contact with or push off and drag away from the pitching plate prior to the front foot touching the ground. (8.01(s)).
6. 
   A manager or coach can make two visits to the mound during one inning or a total of three in the course of game. If a manager makes a third visit during an inning or a fourth during a game, the pitcher must be removed from the game. Any time out called to talk to a defensive player will be charged as a visit to the pitcher. Any visit due to injury will not count as a visit to the pitcher. (8.06)
7. 
   If a ball slips from the pitcher's hand before, during or up to the delivery of a pitch, the umpire shall call a ball on the batter. The ball remains in play and runners may advance at their own risk (8.07)

7.12
Unless two are out, the status of a following runner is not affected by a preceding runner's failure to touch or retouch a base. If, upon appeal, the preceding runner is the third out, no runners following him shall score. If such third out is the result of a force play, neither preceding nor following runners shall score.