Some rules to Ponder.......

[flash277]

USSSA RULES:

What is the Blood Rule and who does it cover?

When a player or substitute, manager, coach, trainer, bat boy/girl or other team member or umpire is bleeding or has an open wound, they are prohibited from further participation in the game until the bleeding is stopped or the wound is covered

i) if treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time (in the umpire's judgment), the individual may remain in the game

ii) if excessive time is needed, then the individual must leave the field until treatment can be administered

iii) depending on the game situation, there may be lineup consequences if there are no substitutes available AND there are no Additional Hitters in the lineup. If the player's removal from the field also constitutes withdrawal from the lineup, then she may later re-enter, subject to the re-entry rule

iv) if there is excessive blood on the uniform or a bandage is blood soaked, the uniform/bandage must be changed before the individual may resume participation

 

[flash277]

USSSA RULES:

171. A batted ball comes to rest on home plate.

Ruling - LIVE BALL and a FAIR BALL; fair territory includes home plate and perpendicularly upwards (3.FAIR TERRITORY, p 21)

172. R1 is on second base. A pitched ball is hit sharply toward F1, who deflects the batted ball but cannot make the play. F6 moves in to follow up on the play and in doing so collides with R1. F6 a) does not have a chance to make a play, or b) does have a chance to make a play on the deflected ball.

Ruling - in a), DELAYED DEAD BALL and OBSTRUCTION, assuming R1 doesn't intentionally initiate contact. F6 is not entitled to initial play protection when she doesn't have a reasonable chance to make a play. In b), DEAD BALL and INTERFERENCE; R1 is declared OUT, and the batter-runner will be awarded first base. A fielder is still considered to be making an initial play when the ball is deflected BY THE PITCHER IF she has a reasonable chance to make a play (3.INITIAL PLAY, p 21)

173. The batter swings at a pitched ball and hits it on the ground to F1. In a), the bat breaks and a piece of the bat makes contact with the ball or F1; in b), the whole bat slips from the batter's hands and makes contact with the ball or F1.

Ruling - in a), LIVE BALL and NO VIOLATION; if the bat breaks and is hit by the ball or hits a runner or fielder, no interference will be called. In b), DEAD BALL and INTERFERENCE; if a whole bat is thrown and interferes with a defensive player attempting a play, interference shall be called (7.13, p 40)

174. A line drive is grasped by the outfielder who drops the ball after a) leaving her feet on the catch and hitting the ground, or b) colliding with another fielder.

Ruling - in a) and b), LIVE BALL and NO CATCH. A catch shall not be credited when, immediately after grasping the ball, the fielder collides with another player, umpire or fence, or falls to the ground and fails to maintain possession of the ball (3.CATCH.B.7, p 19)

175. The distance from home plate to the pitching plate is discovered to be wrong a) after the first pitch of the game, or b) when the visiting pitcher is warming up in the bottom of the first inning.

Ruling - the error should be corrected IMMEDIATELY upon discovery the game should continue from that point forward. The game shall not be protested for this reason (1.1.NOTE, p 7)

Note: although not specifically covered in Rule 17, by interpretation correction to the pitching machine (too slow, too fast, etc) should be made immediately upon discovery and the game continued from that point forward

 

[flash277]

USSSA RULES:

What are the rules governing a fielder's glove?

i) the catcher's mitt may be any size

ii) gloves/mitts can not be the color of the ball. LACING can not be the color of the ball. A ball-colored circle on the outside of the glove is illegal. A glove judged to be distracting is illegal. The manufacturer's logo may be the color of the ball since it is not considered a glove color.

iii) any fielder may wear a mitt, but non-catchers are limited to the size specifications in Rule 2.9.C.1

 

[flash277]

USSSA RULES:


176. F9 tries to catch a fly ball but instead ends up dropping the ball and then unintentionally kicks it out of play. All runners have advanced one base at the time of a) the misplayed ball, or b) the ball rolling out of play.

Ruling - in a) and b), DEAD BALL and a TWO BASE AWARD for each runner based on her position at the time of the pitch.(8.14.C.1, p 47; 8.15.A.1, p 50)

Comment: even though the ball may not have gone out of play unless it was misplayed, the rule is two bases from the time of the pitch. If the fielder, in the umpire's judgment, intentionally carries (or, by interpretation, kicks, pitches or throws) a live ball into dead-ball territory, the two base award would be based on time the ball was last touched (i.e, left the hand of the thrower)

177. On a close play at the plate, the runner slides into home and misses the plate. The catcher also misses the tag.

Ruling - LIVE BALL and the RUN COUNTS UNLESS the defensive team properly appeals the play. The umpire should indicate that the catcher misses the tag by giving a safe signal and using a verbal of "No Tag", but should otherwise give no indication that the runner has failed to touch the plate unless a proper appeal is made (8.18.J, p 51)

178. The batter is legally replaced by a substitute with a count of two balls and two strikes. At the same time, a new pitcher is brought in to pitch to the substitute. The offensive coach argues that a new count should start on the batter.

Ruling - ALL PRIOR PLAY SHALL STAND when a substitute enters the game legally, whether reported or unreported. The substitute batter will assume the count at the point of substitution. (5.5, p 32)

179. The third base coach requests and is granted time to talk with the first base coach.

Ruling - CHARGED CONFERENCE; a charged conference takes place when a coach or bench personnel requests time-out to meet with offensive or defensive personnel (3.CONFERENCE, CHARGED, p 20)

180. The FLEX enters the game unreported to bat for F1, the ninth batter, and has a 1-1 count at discovery. F1 a) is, or b) is not, the DP.

Ruling - in a), this is a LEGAL substitution, and ALL PRIOR ACTION STANDS. The penalty for the unreported substitution is a Team Warning for a first offense, followed by Head Coach Ejection (for the remainder of the game only) for a subsequent violation. The DP may be substituted for at any time by the FLEX player.

In b), ILLEGAL PLAYER; the FLEX and her Head Coach are both ejected. The illegal player may be replaced by a legal substitute (if one is available), or the DP (if she has a re-entry available), and the replacement will assume the batter's count in the uncompleted turn at bat. Whether reported or not, placing the FLEX player in the batting order for someone other than the DP is an illegal player.

 

[flash277]

USSSA RULES:


181. R1 is on first base. F1 delivers a ball, which is ruled an illegal pitch. The ball hits the batter after the batter swings at the pitch.

Ruling - DELAYED DEAD BALL is signaled and an ILLEGAL PITCH is called, followed by a DEAD BALL when the batter is hit by the pitch, and she is charged with a STRIKE. The ball is dead immediately when a pitched ball, legal or illegal, hits the batter's person or clothing. This is an exception to the general rule awarding the batter first base when she is hit by a pitch; if the batter swings or the ball enters the strike zone, a strike is called, and if it is the third strike, the batter is OUT (8.4.D EXCEPTION 1, p 43)

182. R1 is on first base with no outs. On the next pitch, R1 attempts to steal second base. The plate umpire accidentally knocks the ball from F2's hand on the throw. F2 retrieves the ball and throws out R1 at third base.

Ruling - DELAYED DEAD BALL and UMPIRE INTERFERENCE, followed by a DEAD BALL when the base runner safely attains second base. Base runner(s) must return to the last base attained at the time of the umpire interference (9.2.C, p 57)

Note: if the original play (the steal at second base) does not result in an out at second base, the DDB becomes a dead ball, and what happens after that is a moot point

183. R1 is on third base. On the next pitched ball, F2 cocks her arm in an attempt to pick R1 off third base, but finds she cannot make the throw because a) the batter remains in the batter's box, or b) the batter steps out of the batter's box.

Ruling - in a), LIVE BALL and NO VIOLATION, unless the batter intentionally interferes. The batter is entitled to her original position in the batter's box, and is not required to move when the catcher is throwing to a bag. In b), DEAD BALL, INTERFERENCE is called, and the batter is declared OUT. A batter shall not interfere with the catcher's fielding or throwing by leaning over home plate, by stepping out of the batter's box, or by making any other movement that
hinders the catcher's attempt to play on a runner (7.12, p 39-40)

Comment: while the batter IS entitled to her position in the box, she is NOT entitled to RE-POSITION once the ball reaches the catcher so as to interfere. She is also not entitled to interfere by deciding "now would be a good time to take a few practice swings" while the catcher is making or attempting a play

184. In the third inning, B1 leads off with a double. B3 steps in the box next and the batting out of order is noticed by a) the plate umpire, or b) the pitcher's grandfather sitting in the stands.

Ruling - batting out of order is an APPEAL PLAY. Neither the umpire nor the pitcher's granddaddy has the standing to make an appeal. When a proper appeal is made by a player or coach, the outcome would depend on WHEN the appeal is made (9.10, p 55)

185. The coach, player and/or parent wishes their daughter to use a bat that is labeled "Little League Bat." The bat meets all specifications of a legal softball bat, except the labeling.

Ruling - ILLEGAL; the umpire shall prevent the bat's usage in the game by having it removed. Only bats that have the USSSA 1.20 BPF "thumbprint" Mark on the taper are legal in USSSA sanctioned play (2.10.B, p 12)

 

[flash277]

USSSA RULES:


What is the difference between an ineligible player and an illegal player?


An INELIGIBLE PLAYER is a player who is unregistered or who does not meet the requirements to register, such as:

i) playing under an assumed name
ii) playing while not on the team roster
iii) violating divisional age requirements

The penalty for an ineligible player is FORFEITURE OF THE GAME

An ILLEGAL PLAYER is a player who takes a position in the lineup (either on offense or defense) when she has no legal right to do so. This includes:

i) re-entry into an incorrect batting position
ii) re-entry for a second time
iii) pitching after being legally disqualified from the pitching position
iv) placing the FLEX into the batting order for someone other that the DP

The penalty for an illegal player is EJECTION OF THE PLAYER AND THE HEAD COACH

 

[jackfrost]

USSSA RULES:

181. R1 is on first base. F1 delivers a ball, which is ruled an illegal pitch. The ball hits the batter after the batter swings at the pitch.

Ruling - DELAYED DEAD BALL is signaled and an ILLEGAL PITCH is called, followed by a DEAD BALL when the batter is hit by the pitch, and she is charged with a STRIKE. The ball is dead immediately when a pitched ball, legal or illegal, hits the batter's person or clothing. This is an exception to the general rule awarding the batter first base when she is hit by a pitch; if the batter swings or the ball enters the strike zone, a strike is called, and if it is the third strike, the batter is OUT (8.4.D EXCEPTION 1, p 43)

Flash, I love these plays. Let me announce that I haven't done a USSSA sanctioned event in maybe 15 years so I don't know the rules or have the book, but the Ruling to 181. seems incomplete.

It was an illegal pitch that was swung at and hit the batter. I understand we call that a strike in probably every sanction and if it were the 3rd strike we would rule OUT. But then don't we have to give coach the option of the play or the penalty for an illegal pitch. The ruling does not mention the option. I understand she swung, but you can always swing at an illegal pitch. if you get lucky, great. if you don't advance to 1st and other runners dont advance 1 base, coach usually gets option. why is that not mentioned here?

Thanks

 

[CoachJD]

177. On a close play at the plate, the runner slides into home and misses the plate. The catcher also misses the tag.

Ruling - LIVE BALL and the RUN COUNTS UNLESS the defensive team properly appeals the play. The umpire should indicate that the catcher misses the tag by giving a safe signal and using a verbal of "No Tag", but should otherwise give no indication that the runner has failed to touch the plate unless a proper appeal is made (8.18.J, p 51)

Am I reading this right? Does this mean that in the case of a bang-bang play where the catcher misses the tag and the runner misses the plate, the catcher can't immediately make a second tag attempt? You can only do this via appeal?

 

[jackfrost]

Am I reading this right? Does this mean that in the case of a bang-bang play where the catcher misses the tag and the runner misses the plate, the catcher can't immediately make a second tag attempt? You can only do this via appeal?

Since the umpire called her safe for "passing" the base even though she didn't touch the base (plate), at that point you have to appeal. But that doesn't mean you have to wait. A live ball appeal can happen immediately. Catcher misses the tag, runner misses the plate. Catcher realizes the runner missed plate and immediately tags the plate or the runner and says or does something that alerts the umpire to this being an appeal. Its immediate, it looks like a continuation of the play and its still a live ball, but that act is now classified as an appeal.

There is also a dead ball appeal which is not immediate and occurs once the ball becomes dead and before the next pitch. Both are called appeals; one is a live-ball appeal while play is still going on and the other is a dead-ball appeal after play has stooped and the players or umpire ask for time.

 

[CoachJD]

Catcher misses the tag, runner misses the plate. Catcher realizes the runner missed plate and immediately tags the plate or the runner and says or does something that alerts the umpire to this being an appeal.

Can you go into this a little more? What is the "something"? A catcher simply tagging isn't enough, then?