Some rules to Ponder.......

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Nov 9, 2019
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I would say the 12u team does have the option to change shoes, and if not enough players have non metal spikes, then the team would have to forfeit.
I thought that would be the answer but was'nt sure shoes were essential. I would not let mine play without but.
 
Aug 25, 2019
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113
BUT SHE DIDN'T THROW HER HANDS UP! (Ugh!!)

There is a common misconception (perpetuated in part, unfortunately, by some umpires) that a ball is not dead if a fielder doesn't "throw her hands up". That is absolutely not true. (See case #85 below)

When a ball crosses a dead ball line, or under the fence, it is out of play, and it's dead by rule. There is no rule requiring the fielder to throw up her hands in order to apply the rule. Also, if a fielder retrieves an obviously dead ball, there is no rule that keeps the ball live or makes it UNDEAD even if a fielder chases it or plays it

Having said that, IF:

i) it
is obvious to the fielder (but not the umpire) that the ball is in dead ball territory, and

ii) she wants to obtain dead ball treatment,

iii) she should "leave the ball alone" and let the umpire inspect and confirm the dead ball status. Leaving the ball alone can be done in any number of ways (backing away, standing by the ball but not reaching for it, or yes -- throwing her hands up), but as long as she doesn't pick up the ball, the umpire should be able to inspect and rule on live/dead status

iv) Finally, the fielder does this at her own risk. If she has any doubt on live/dead status, she would be well advised to play the ball. On a ball which might be dead (but it's not obvious), the umpires should keep the ball live and the runners will keep running. After the play is over, the umpires can retroactively make the ball dead, if appropriate.

Rules cases presented below are based on the 15th (Online Revised 1-2020) Edition of the USSSA Fastpitch Rules Book. The Rules Book is available online at https://www.usssa.com/Fastpitch/Fastpitch-Rules-legal-information.

81. Just after ball four is called on B2, F2 immediately throws the ball back to F1 in the 16-foot circle. R1 dances off third base and is moving back and forth between third base and home as B2 a) is on her way to first base, or b) has touched first base and is continuing on to second base.

Ruling - in a), LEGAL, and the ball is LIVE. R1 is not restricted and governed by the Look-Back Rule until B2 reaches first base (or is put out). In b), this is a Look-Back violation, the ball is DEAD, and R1 is OUT. Once B2 reaches first base or is put out, R1 may not leave third base (if she was already off the base, she may stop one time, but then must IMMEDIATELY advance forward toward home or return to third base)

(8.2, p 41)

82. There are less than two outs. R1 holds up between first and second base on a fair fly ball. The ball drops to the ground and the outfielder overthrows the ball into dead ball territory. At the time the ball is thrown both R1 and B2 are between first and second base.

Ruling - DEAD BALL, and a TWO BASE AWARD from the time of the throw. R1 is awarded third base and the batter-runner is awarded second base. In this situation, when two runners are between the same bases, the award is based on the position of the LEAD runner (i.e., they can't BOTH be awarded third base, because they both can't stand there on the next pitch)

(8.4.C.3 NOTE, p 47)

Comment: if the two runners are between second and third base, or between third base and home, they BOTH are awarded home on the two base award

83. R1 is at third base and R2 is at first base with one out. B4 hits a pitched ball on the ground toward F3 who scoops up the ball and touches first base before B4 does. F3 then a) tags R2, who is standing on first base, b) throws the ball to second base where R2 is tagged out, or c) throws the ball to second base and the fielder touches second base before R2 does. R1 touches home plate in a) and b) after the tags, or, in c), after the touching of the base by the fielder

Ruling - in all three situations, the force play is terminated when the batter-runner (B4) is put out for the second out. In a), R2 is safe, as she is no longer forced to vacate first base, and play continues with only two outs. In b), R2 is the third -- this is a TIME PLAY. Since R1 touched the plate AFTER the third out, no run scores. In c), R2 is safe at second, since it is no longer a force play, she must be tagged out. Play continues with only two outs. (3.FORCE PLAY, p 21; 4.2.A, p 26)

84. Smith is a courtesy runner for the pitcher in the first inning. She then is a courtesy runner for the catcher a) in the same inning, or b) in the sixth inning.

Ruling - in a), ILLEGAL. The same runner may not be used for both positions in the same inning. When Smith CR's for the catcher, having already run for the pitcher in the same inning, she is an INELIGIBLE COURTESY RUNNER. If discovered while still on base, she is called out and a TEAM warning is issued for a first violation. If it is a subsequent offense, she is called out and the HEAD COACH is ejected (for the current game only). In b), LEGAL. (8.3, p 41-42)

85. R1 is at first base. B2 hits a fair ball which rolls under the outfield temporary fence, or beyond the dead ball line in the open corner. The outfielder fails to throw her hands up, and the both runners advance all the way to home plate. At the time the ball left the field of play, R1 is beyond second base, and B2 is between first and second base.

Ruling - DEAD BALL and a TWO BASE AWARD. Position of the runners when the ball became dead is irrelevant in this situation. The award is based on runner position at the time of the pitch, so R1 is awarded third base and B2 is awarded second base (8.15.A, p 48)

Comment: There is NO RULE REQUIRING A FIELDER TO THROW UP HER HANDS to obtain dead ball treatment. BALL STATUS is based solely on position of the ball - NOT position of the fielder's hands; if it's over the line, or goes under the fence, it's out of play, and dead by rule
 
Aug 25, 2019
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USSSA RULES:

86. B1 hits a pitched ball fair and runs toward first base but fails to stay in the running lane.

Ruling - LIVE BALL and NO VIOLATION, provided the batter-runner does not interfere with a fielder taking the throw at first base (there must be a throw) (8.17.E EXCEPTION, p 49)

87. As R1 is stealing second, B2 hits a pitched ball sharply and directly back toward F2. The ball first deflects off F2's chest protector, and is eventually caught by her before it touches the ground.

Ruling - DEAD BALL and FOUL BALL. A batted ball becomes dead when it goes directly from the bat to the catcher's protector, mask or person without touching the catcher's hand or glove (10.1.D.2, p 56)

88. (Non-Elite Select Division) At the pregame conference, Team A's coach presents a lineup which has 12 batters (one listed as the DP) and a 13th player listed as the FLEX. Team B's coach has a lineup of 13 batters and 2 substitutes.

Ruling - ILLEGAL in both situations; the umpire should not accept the lineups in the presented format. If a team wishes to bat more than the eleven batters allowed by a traditonal lineup, the entire roster must be batted. Roster batting prohibits the listing of a) a DP/FLEX, or b) substitutes, because every player physically present at the start of the game must be included in the batting order (5.2.D, p 30)

89. After releasing the ball simultaneously with the forward step, F1 continues her arm action a) up and toward her head and then stops, or b) up and around, stopping just before reaching her hip a second time.

Ruling - LEGAL and the ball is LIVE. F1's action after releasing the ball is considered a follow-through. In b), DELAYED DEAD BALL, and an ILLEGAL PITCH. Any action that, after the ball is released, causes the arm to continue and rotate past the shoulder, is considered continuation of the windup (6.1.G.5, p 35)

90. R1 is on third base and R2 is on second base with one out. B4 hits the next pitched ball on the ground toward F6. She scoops up the hard hit ball and tags R2. F6 then, when attempting to throw the ball to first base, is interfered with by R2. At the time of the interference, R1 a) has, or b) has not reached home plate.

Ruling - DEAD BALL and INTERFERENCE. This is also a TIME PLAY, which affects which runner is called out on the interference. When a retired runner interferes, the umpire shall declare the runner closest to home out. In a), R1 is also a retired runner (she has scored), so the runner to be declared out would be B4. R1's run would be disallowed because no run can score when the out on the batter-runner is the third out. In b), R1 is still an active runner at the time of the interference, so she is declared out as the most advanced runner. (4.C.1, p 26; 8.18.H NOTE 2, p 51)
 
Oct 11, 2018
231
43
90. R1 is on third base and R2 is on second base with one out. B4 hits the next pitched ball on the ground toward F6. She scoops up the hard hit ball and tags R2. F6 then, when attempting to throw the ball to first base, is interfered with by R2. At the time of the interference, R1 a) has, or b) has not reached home plate.

Ruling - DEAD BALL and INTERFERENCE. This is also a TIME PLAY, which affects which runner is called out on the interference. When a retired runner interferes, the umpire shall declare the runner closest to home out. In a), R1 is also a retired runner (she has scored), so the runner to be declared out would be B4. R1's run would be disallowed because no run can score when the out on the batter-runner is the third out. In b), R1 is still an active runner at the time of the interference, so she is declared out as the most advanced runner. (4.C.1, p 26; 8.18.H NOTE 2, p 51)

Agree with everything you wrote here. However, there is a weird twist to this if the bases had been loaded. in a) the runner closest to home would be the runner at second base. That means that B4 would be safe at 1st and the run would score. I think that is true for both a) and b). If there had been 1 more runner in your scenario, with the exact same interference play, the runs would score in this variation. Do I have that right? its always confused me that with one set of starting runners, the run scores. With a different set of starting runners, no run scores.
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
113
@jackfrost I don't think that is right ... I have no run scoring in any case on this play (unless the tag out occurred on a runner behind the runner closest to home). If the bases are loaded, the out on the closest runner is still going to be a force out, regardless whether it was at first base or second base.

Pre-pitch
R1 on third
R2 on second
R3 on first

During the play
R1 crosses home
R2 tagged out (out #2)
R3 closest to home -- out on the interference (out #3) even if she reached safely; since this occurred at a base the runner was forced to, it is considered a force out.
BR running to first -- doesn't matter
 
Jun 22, 2008
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What? How are you getting that this is considered a force out? R2 was tagged out, that removes the force on R1. If R1 had already touched home at the time the retired R2 interfered, the run scores and the out for a retired runner committing interference moves to the next closest runner to home which would be R3.
 
Jan 7, 2012
58
8
I don’t think the man in blue is considering R1 to be the force out. The runner he is considering being ruled out for the third out would be R3 going to 2nd base. He is correct. R3 would be closest to home and It would be considered a force out and no run would score. That is, of course, unless R3 had already obtained 2nd base at the time retired runner R2 committed interference. The force would be off then and the run would score
 
Last edited:
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
R1 is lead runner at third, r2 is at 2nd and r3 is at first.

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