There are two major towns where our crew calls. In one municipality, the grass starts pretty quickly behind the bases, maybe 20 feet behind 2B. In the other, it's more like 30 to 35 feet. While ASA does have a diagram in Rule 2 that prescribes how a skinned infield should be constructed, it's rarely ever followed by the towns.
So, if there's no consistency, the only option is to be reasonable. At the second municipality, I keep the outfielders out on the grass. I realize I have no justification in making the grass the demarcation line, but when I remind them that they're an outfielder and that they must have 2+2 in the outfield, the lightbulb goes off in their heads that they're not where they should be.
Remember, the rules are for championship play, not local rec league. In rec league, they come in pretty close for the weaker hitters. At an actual tourney, they won't come in so shallow, because the calibre of players tends to be higher.
On a related note, just called a State Coed tourney this weekend, and have the umpire's tan to prove it. "What is the umpire's tan," you ask? It's the raccoon effect you get from wearing your sunglasses all day.
