[AtlUmpSteve]

Not sure how this will format, it is a cut and paste from an Excel spreadsheet.

This is the complete list of all proposals.

2008 PROPOSED RULE CHANGES
Item # PROPOSAL REASON
RULE Section

1 1 BUNT: a pitched ball that is softly and intentionally tapped a short distance into the infield while holding the bat horizontally with a hand or hands Try to better define a bunt vs. a slap.
2 1 Chopped Ball: (SP) Occurs when the batter strikes downward so that it hits the ground within the infield with a deliberate attempt to deaden the ball using a downward chopping motion of the bat. An attempt to better define a chopped ball.
3 1 Legal slide: Dropping or diving to contact the ground with part(s) of the body other than the feet in an effort to reach the base or avoid a collision, To define a term frequently used in our Rule Book
4 2 1 All Men's SP pitching distance to be 53 feet. Move pitching distance from 50 to 53 feet.
5 2 1 Change Girl's 18-U A and B FP to 43 Feet. To bring consistency to all Junior Olympic Girls 18-U FP.
6 2 1 Change Girl's 18-U A FP to 43 Feet To make 18 A and 18 Gold the same pitching distance 43 Feet.
7 2 1 Seniors Minimum/ Maximum fence distance to 275 Feet. To create the possibility for seniors to hit more over-the-fence home runs.
8 2 1 Move Women's, Men, and Co-Ed SP Pitching distance to 53 Feet Move pitching distance from 50 to 53 feet.
9 2 1 Men's adult SP base distance shall be 70 Feet. Move base distance in Men's from 65 to 70 Feet.
10 2 1 JO Girls 16-U and 18-U FP pitching distance to 43 Feet. Move pitching distance from 40 to 43 feet.
11 3 1 A3 REMOVE the following: Must in the sole opinion and discretion of the Umpire have been manufactured prior to 2000, and if tested would comply with the ASA Bat performance standards then if effect. To allow only bats that bear the 2000 or 2004 certification mark and are not on the non-approved list.
12 3 1 G Add: The bat barrel will be free of audible rattles nor have other signs of excessive wear. Manufacturers have identified as possibly having structural breakdowns.
13 3 1 I REMOVE: "And may be taped as long as there is no violation of this section". To aid in identifying possible damaged or tampered-with bats.
14 3 1 K CONSTRUCTION: the official bat shall be made of wood or single wall aluminum and shall be of one piece construction or a multi piece permanently assembled bat. To eliminate the use of composite bats.
15 3 3 Remove the white cover ball from fast pitch game. Makes all levels of FP play with the same color cover.
16 3 6 G JO girls 18-U Fast Pitch may wear Metal Cleats. Author request this classification of play to be the same as College.
17 3 6 G Addition: Add men's and women's SP to the exception of being able to wear metal spikes Some SP players have requested this.
18 4 6 C4 Effect The unreported substitute is called out. REMOVE the remainder of the Effect. The penalty of disqualification of a player is too severe.
19 4 6 C6 Effect The runner is called out. REMOVE the remainder of the Effect. The penalty of disqualification of a player is too severe.
20 4 6 8/9 Effect REMOVE: The unreported substitute is disqualified. Also remove the note in #9. The penalty of disqualification of a player is too severe.
21 4 6 D REMOVE: "The pitcher is not required to pitch until the first batter faced completes their time at bat or the side has been retired". Rules causes confusion.
22 5 5 C "No run shall score if a fourth out is the result of a base left too soon by a runner who has scored or a base missed by any runner". Author wants a fourth out appeal on any runner missing a base to negate a run.
23 5 5 C "No runs shall score as a result of a Fourth out appeal on the batter-runner missing first bas or nay other runner missing a base they are forced to advance due to the batter becoming a batter-runner". Author wants a fourth out appeal on a runner forced to advance missing a base or a batter-runner missing 1B.
24 5 8 A Effect Add Women's Class D to "an over the fence home run will be an inning ending out. If you can hit homeruns at the D level, you should play at a higher level.
25 5 8 A Effect Add Men's Class C SP to the Effect which has an inning ending out for any over the fence homerun in excess of the limit. To encourage players to play at their appropriate level.
26 5 8 A Effect Delete D inning ending out. Add: A progressive home run rule will be in effect for all Classifications. When a team reaches the home run limit, any in excess shall be ruled a dead ball out, no runner advances when both teams reach the limit. Then no more than one homerun can be hit without a reciprocal homerun by the opponent, same dead ball ruling in effect. Remove inning ending out with one-up concept.
27 5 8 A, 1-5 Home Run limitations per team, per game: Class A-12, Industrial and Major Coed-10, Class B, Church, Masters 35 & over, 40 & over, 45 & over-8, Class A Co-Ed-6, Class C-4 Effect: Players want more over-the -fence home runs.
28 5 8 A 5 Change Class C Homerun limit to 3 from 2. To encourage D teams to move up to C
29 5 8 A5 Change Class C Homerun limit to 3 from 2. Effect: Homerun over the fence in excess of the 3 limit will be an inning ending out. To help in the Classification of teams.
30 5 8 A5 Move Co-Ed from zero to two (2) homeruns Allow Co Ed B to hit homeruns.
31 5 8 A6 Effect Add one home to both Men's D and Co-ED B. Delete: In Men's Class D an over the fence homerun will also be inning ending out. Penalty for inning ending is too severe.
32 5 8 A6 Change zero homeruns to one homerun. D Classification wants to hit over the fence homeruns.
33 5 9 A1 Fast Pitch: Add: 12 after 4 innings Prevent more lopsided ball games.
34 5 9 A2 Modified: Add: 15 after 3 innings Prevent more lopsided ball games.
35 5 9 A3 Slow Pitch: Add: 15 after 4 innings Prevent more lopsided ball games.
36 5 12 Any game participants shall not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke while their game is in progress. Effect: The participant is ejected. Clarification of current rule.
37 6 1 A SP In senior play the pitcher may take a position from the front edge of the pitchers plate to six feet behind the pitcher's plate within the 24 inches of the plate. Allows pitchers to pitch up to 56 feet from the batter.
38 6 3 A 16"SP If a step is taken it can be forward, back, or to the side, provided the pivot foot is in contact with the pitchers plate and the step is simultaneous with(ADD) a hesitation pitch or the release of the pitch. Clarifies the interpretation that a hesitation is a pitch.
39 6 3 G 16"SP ADD: A pick off attempt by the pitcher is a hesitation. Clarifies that pick-off is a hesitation.
40 6 3 H SP Eliminate the 6 foot minimum arc. Not necessary because of excessive speed rule.
41 6 3 H SP Eliminate the 6 foot minimum arc and increase maximum arc to 15 feet. Coincides with moving the pitchers plate back to 53 feet.
42 6 3 H SP Change minimum arc requirement to 4 feet. To make the game friendlier.
43 6 6 A FP Delete the sentence: " A pitcher who licks their fingers must wipe the fingers off before bringing them in contact with the ball" This rule is not easily enforced.
44 7 3 A Delete: "but no part of the foot may be outside the lines prior to the Pitch". It allows part of the foot to touch the ground outside the line.
45 7 4 B Slow Pitch: Add: Will use a strike mat that is 24 inches long and 17 inches wide. The Mat will fit behind home plate joing the plate at 8 1/2 inches from the plate. The combined distance of the Mat and the plate is a rectangular 32 1/2 inches long by 17 inches wide. A legal pitch striking any portion of the plate or mat will be a strike. Senior Players want this rule.
46 7 6 H Slow Pitch: Delete Chops Lack of enforcement
47 7 6 Q For interference when hindering the catcher's fielding or throwing by: Clarify Interference on a batter while in the batter's box.
1. Leaning over the plate 2. Stepping out of or otherwise moving from the batters box 3. Making any movement which hinders the catchers actions or the catchers attempt to make a play. 4. Failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate the area when there is a throw to or from the plate and there is time for the batter to move away.
48 8 2 F6 Fast Pitch: Note: The batter-runner is not out on a dropped third strike when the batter-runner has a right to attempt to advance if the catcher muffs the catch into the batter-runner and the batter-runner has no chance to avoid being contacted by the ball. Trying to clarify interference on a dropped third strike.
49 8 2 L Slow Pitch: For All Men's Adult SP for excess over the fence home runs the batter is out and the inning ends. Allows us to have more homeruns and speed up the game.
50 8 3 I All adult slow pitch, (excluding Masters and Seniors), don't have to run the bases on an over the fence home run or four base award. Speeds up the game.
51 8 4 F Change women's Open slow pitch to women's slow pitch. Allow stealing in all Women's SP.
52 8 4 G Delete complete section G. To allow all 10-U A & B to play regular softball rules.
53 8 4 G1 Delete class B and note that says, "this does not apply to class 10U-A" To have both 10-U A & B play by the special rules.
54 8 5 H When a fair batted ball strikes the foul pole above the fence or leaves the playing field in flight or is touched by a fielder causing the ball to go over the outfield fence in fair territory without touching the ground or the fence or going through the fence. Hitting the fence is the same as hitting the ground.
55 8 8 7I 1a Add Hesitation pitch to 16 " Hesitation pitch is part of the pitching motion.
56 8 10 Add: Adult Men's Fast Pitch to Courtesy Runner rule. This would be beneficial to the Men's FP game.