I was born & raised is Southern California & have been playing by the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation rules for a few years. I now live in Colorado & am about to play in my first league with ASA rules. My biggest question is base running. In every league I have ever played in, you could lead off of a base the minute the ball is released by the pitcher, but I have been told you can't in the league I am going to play in. Is this a true rule in ASA? Thanks!!

Good chance that the league has some rule modifications of their own. Around here, younger kids can't leave the bag until the ball crosses the plate. But, yes, the ASA rules say you can leave as soon as the ball is released from the pitcher's hand.

In my area every Rec council but one also makes runners wait til the ball gets to the plate.

Southpaw:

Are you talking SP or FP?

In SP, a base runner must keep contact with the base until the ball reaches homeplate. Rule 8:7:R

In FP, they must maintain contact wiht the base until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. Rule 8:7:S

It is a SP league. Sounds like I am just going to have to deal with staying on the bag. I have NEVER played in a league that made you do that. Thanks for the info!!!

Looks like we are going to have to drag the info out of you to answer your question :)

What was the size of the ball? Were you playing regular slow pitch or 16" slow pitch?

I really don't know what size ball it was IRISHMAFIA,

I have always played in regular recreational leagues in Southern California. I have played in 4 different cities in San Diego & San Clemente in the past 11 years & every league let you leave the bag as soon as the ball was released by the pitcher. It was great because in situations like full counts with 2 outs & runners on you could take off running knowing that it is either going to be ball four, the 3rd out, or a ball in play. We actually hit & ran a lot too.

Sounds like a variation of what is known as "Chicagoball" or 16" SP. I know we have some board members in the Midwest who can probably address this better than I.

Since SCMAF doesn't offer their rules on-line (here we go ;) ), I cannot help you with the reason for the different rule. However, if you are playing in CO and they tell you that you cannot, it sounds like they are playing straight softball.

Hey Scott,

In SP, isn't it. The runner can leave the base as soon as the ball pass the plain of the (front) plate. Just asking?

Yup.

I thought so, just wanted to make this clear for the new guy (SouthPaw) that loves to steal.