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Oppool,
I'm goint to confuse you a bit. The following applies to Fed softball only.
The 2001 rule book has a very glaring inconsistancy.
In 8-2-3 the rule requires infielders to make a live ball appeal and allows any fielder to make a dead ball appeal.
In the "Appeal Proceedures & Guidelines" any fielder may make a live ball appeal and requires infielders to make a dead ball appeal.
As you can see, they are exactly the opposite. I requested a ruling on this from the NC Supervisor of Officials, and received an e-male from his staff stating we were to accecpt appeals, either live or dead, from ANY FIELDER. Mr. Knoxx restated this position at the State Softball Clinic in person. You might want to check with your booking agent or state office to see how it will be handled in your state.
The other points I would remind you of are that the appeal cannot be made by a coach or manager, and that an appeal must be unmistakable. (Steve has said if a player holds a ball on a missed base and grunts that he deams that unmistakabel. Remember you can't make any money calling safe and ball, just outs and strikes.(big G)
As others have stated live ball appeals are usually obvious. We have accepted live ball appeals for left too soon bases and missed bases for years in Fed ball. (A lot of umpires and coaches just don't seem to understand that) This years differences are that we make no call at the end of playing action unless a proper appeal is made, and we no longer recgonize the "accidential appeal" (ie: the above tripping over the base or the catching of a late throw at 1st when the BR missed the bag.)
One last point on scoring: Remember a base left too soon is not a force play. The score decision is a time play, and as in any time play the point of reference would be the actual tag/put out, not the announcement of the out call.
Hope this helps.
Roger Greene,
Member UT
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