USA Rule Change on Time Limits

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MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Finally, taking the BS out of the time clock strategy.

Rule 5, Section 10: Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Classifications of Play, for Pool Play and Elimination Play with a time limit, the time limit will be 1-Hour and 20 minutes and finish the inning and then play one more complete inning, or half inning if the home team is ahead.

Comment: Changes the time limit for all Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Classification of Play, Pool Play and Elimination Play, that uses a time limit. It changes it from 1 hour 40 minutes finish the inning to 1 hour 20 minutes finish the inning and play another inning or 1/2 inning if the home team is ahead.
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
So if I'm understanding this correctly, I guess the benefit would be that the one more full inning (or half inning if home team is ahead) after time expires eliminates the "clock management" gamesmanship that we see under the current "finish the inning" rule?

I guess there could still be some of that nonsense as the 1 hr 20 min mark approaches, but knowing that there will be another inning played presumably NOT under a time pressure would minimize its effectiveness.

My question is - and I know I can just look this up - which USA tournaments qualify as "Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Classifications of Play"?
 
Last edited:
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
Finally, taking the BS out of the time clock strategy.

Rule 5, Section 10: Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Classifications of Play, for Pool Play and Elimination Play with a time limit, the time limit will be 1-Hour and 20 minutes and finish the inning and then play one more complete inning, or half inning if the home team is ahead.

Comment: Changes the time limit for all Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Classification of Play, Pool Play and Elimination Play, that uses a time limit. It changes it from 1 hour 40 minutes finish the inning to 1 hour 20 minutes finish the inning and play another inning or 1/2 inning if the home team is ahead.

Unfortunately, it will not change much of how things are done. I can see TD's modifying the rules to keep their tournaments on time.
 
Nov 17, 2010
191
18
Is this approved as a 2018 rule change?

I hope this ends the stalling and racing that can happen with the time running out.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Is this approved as a 2018 rule change?

I hope this ends the stalling and racing that can happen with the time running out.

It does nothing. They stall to get to the 1:20 mark so there is only 1 inning or speed things up to start a new inning before 1:20 so they get two. Only effect is it forces you to plan a bit further ahead. The clock and management of the clock is part of the game. How you do that is up to you. With class or as a bush league bozo. :)
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
It does nothing. They stall to get to the 1:20 mark so there is only 1 inning or speed things up to start a new inning before 1:20 so they get two. Only effect is it forces you to plan a bit further ahead. The clock and management of the clock is part of the game. How you do that is up to you. With class or as a bush league bozo. :)

Not sure that it will do "nothing". Either way, you will still have one last inning without the clock nonsense. It won't eliminate all of the clock strategy, but will mitigate its impact at least a bit.
 
Nov 17, 2010
191
18
It does nothing. They stall to get to the 1:20 mark so there is only 1 inning or speed things up to start a new inning before 1:20 so they get two. Only effect is it forces you to plan a bit further ahead. The clock and management of the clock is part of the game. How you do that is up to you. With class or as a bush league bozo. :)

I see what you're saying, but at least there isn't a situation where if you are down a run, the home team is stalling, and the game ends. After the time runs out, teams can get back to simply playing ball.

I hope next proposal will be a 5 minute time limit, finish the inning, and then play six more! :)
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
It won’t matter here because MN and Region 8 USA softball doesn’t follow national rules anyway.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
It won’t matter here because MN and Region 8 USA softball doesn’t follow national rules anyway.

Any tournament other than national play they can do what they want, but if they are holding national qualifiers or national tournaments then they have to follow the national rules.

Our local USA association has some of their own rules they use during regular tournament play also, but when it is for national play it is by the book. Remember, the rule book is for national play, any other tournament the local association holds they can use whatever rules they wish.
 

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