Help with rules
 

I finally have a copy of the ASA "Official Rules of Softball - Umpire Edition" (now I'm dangerous) but I have been unable to find rules to support some of the things we do around here (Slowpitch).

Please do not laugh too hard at my questions. I've either missed something during my first pass throught the rule book or I'm dealing with some unwritten "local" league rules.

(1) Baserunners are allowed to lead-off after the ball leaves F1's hand (but can not steal). If the ball is not hit (or fouled) and lands anywhere except in front of the plate (dead ball if in front) then F2 can throw to the base for a force out if the runner doesn't return to the base in time.

(2) Pitch height is 3'-12' (I saw 6' - 12' in the rule book) but it isn't a strike unless it hits the plate. A comment: The 12' height is a pain in my butt to judge consistently, but that will come with practice.

(3) In Co-ed when the man is walked w/o a strike on him he gets two bases. The following woman gets the option of walking or hitting. I saw in the rules that the woman has to hit unless there are two outs.

(4) Also we do not verbalize illegal pitches. We hold our left arm out and leave it to the other offensive players to tell the batter.

Local

Local

In Co-Ed, the male ALWAYS gets two bases on a walk. The female must always bat if there are less than two outs. When there are two outs, the female may choose to bat or take a walk.

Local variations.

A 3' low pitch limit?--I'd like to see a slow pitch that low....wouldnt reach the plate unless it was a fastball...nonverbal IP? ..teammates have to warn the batter?-- Very strange local rules...

USSSA's limit for SP is 3' from the point of release to 10' from the point of release, not from the ground. That means that a submarine pitcher who releases about knee high can slip a pitch in there that gets no higher than your head, and it is a legal delivery.

The rule here is that it has to be 3' from the ground. BUT it doesn't have to have much of an arch as long as it isn't thrown too fast. Like Skahtbol wrote, most of the F1's here start their delivery very low in order to top out at 3’.

The speed thing for a slow pitch is difficult for me to judge since 3-5 games per week I’m looking at 95+ mph baseball pitches. What’s too fast? It’s interesting.

Even though it appears that I have some “strange” local rules to deal with I’m enjoying working the SP leagues, there’s always something happening.

Local rules are made by fools. 100% of the time. Trust us on this.

You never played 16" slow pitch in Chicago. The ball must have a visible arc, with no height restrictions. No one ever had a problem throwing strikes (regular SZ, not hit the plate), even young elementary school kids.

Bob

I believe it's impossible to get a pitch (SP mind you) over the plate that arcs at 3' and it not be excessive speed.

Anyone good enough at baseball for 95 mph should stick with that.

The non-verbal IP sounds ignorant to me.

Being good at something shouldn't limit a person to one thing.

I wanted to experience other sports. Last season I worked my first season of HS softball. While working mostly JV (paying my dues as the 'new' guy) I enjoyed it. I was asked to work men's FP & SP. I enjoy those too. I found that it can be fun to work different sports (I have worked football & I am going to give basketball a try next season too). So why stick to just baseball?

I do not understand the non-verbal IP either, but I do what the league I work requires of me......when in Rome :)