USA Rule Changes

[IRISHMAFIA]

Seems to be missing this year. No one from this board at the meeting?

[Andy]

Due to some changes in my neighborhood, I did not go to Council Meeting this year.

I got wind of some of the proposed rule changes, but no word on any outcome of the vote. I guess I'll just have to wait like everybody else....

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Andy

I got wind of some of the proposed rule changes, but no word on any outcome of the vote. I guess I'll just have to wait like everybody else....

Anything earth-shattering with the proposed changes? Are they doing like the NCAA and changing the penalty of an Illegal Pitch to only a ball on the batter (no base runner advances), for example? Or are you sworn to secrecy?

[3afan]

Originally Posted by Manny A

..... changing the penalty of an Illegal Pitch to only a ball on the batter (no base runner advances) .....

that would be awesome

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by 3afan

that would be awesome

It was proposed in ASA about 4-5 years ago. It went nowhere.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

It was proposed in ASA about 4-5 years ago. It went nowhere.

Perhaps. But now there's precedence.

Of course, NCAA also changed the LBE violation a couple of years ago to a delayed-dead ball to allow the defense to take the option of the play if it's to their advantage. That hasn't trickled down.

[CecilOne]

Which would they be trying to do?
1 - to have no significant penalty, so as to accept illegal pitching as in NCAA
2 - reduce the reluctance of many umpires to be honest and call the illegals
3 - promote good sportsmanship by reducing coach objections

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Anything earth-shattering with the proposed changes? Are they doing like the NCAA and changing the penalty of an Illegal Pitch to only a ball on the batter (no base runner advances), for example? Or are you sworn to secrecy?

Nothing earth shattering....like removing the base advance on an illegal pitch.

Here are some of the significant (IMO) proposals:

If a base distance or pitching distance is found to be incorrect, wait until the completion of the complete inning to fix it.

Change the time limit in Championship play to no new inning plus one more complete inning

Allow the coach to make a dead ball appeal

FP pitcher must bring hands together for minimum of 2 seconds, maximum of 10 seconds before pitch

Some other stuff to clean up and clarify the "bat the roster" rules

[jmkupka]

I like NCAA's version... 2 seconds between stepping on PP and bringing hands together.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Andy

FP pitcher must bring hands together for minimum of 2 seconds, maximum of 10 seconds before pitch

Interesting that above we discussed weakening the IP rule;
then this idea which would make it more difficult for the pitcher to be legal and
much more difficult for umpires to judge, let alone convince anyone it was not 2 seconds.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by andy

clarify the "bat the roster" rules

yeah! :d

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Andy

Allow the coach to make a dead ball appeal

Should be, and should be amusing with some coaches (the babysitter ones).

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Perhaps. But now there's precedence.

Which is a crock. ASA, now USA have always thumped their chest as the world-wide leader in the game of softball. Well, that has disappeared over the past decade.

The argument which had some strong roots out of CA was that unlike a balk in baseball, an IP had zero effect on the runner, so there shouldn't be a penalty benefiting the runner

If a base distance or pitching distance is found to be incorrect, wait until the completion of the complete inning to fix it.

Don't have a horse in this race, but I'm not a fan of unncessarily keeping the pitcher or runner closer to the batter than necessary, assuming that may be the issue.

Change the time limit in Championship play to no new inning plus one more complete inning

Proposed a couple times before, and I've supported it for as long as it has been around. It is a great idea that takes the playing-the-clock strategy out of the game

Allow the coach to make a dead ball appeal

Not a bad idea, think it would help.

FP pitcher must bring hands together for minimum of 2 seconds, maximum of 10 seconds before pitch

This has been the rule in international ball for a few years now. Another move where ASA/USA has missed an opportunity to take the lead in softball in this country.

Some other stuff to clean up and clarify the "bat the roster" rules

Never saw the need for this at any level of championship play. Willing to bet they will screw up the rules that much more trying to massage this one

[CecilOne]

When I posted the 4 changes, I hoped we would dissect them for
- possible flaws or interpretation issues (not TWP)
- how to clarify them to coaches/umpires who need it
- for some of us, how to teach in clinics & new ump classes