2008 ASA Rule Changes
 

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=449 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 337pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 16420" width=449><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>RULE</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-height-source: userset" height=16><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=16>Ch #, Rule #, Para#</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>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.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 18pt" height=24><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 18pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=24>12 3 1 G Add: The bat barrel will be free of audible rattles when shaken. The barrel shall not have signs of excessive wear</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 18pt" height=24><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 18pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=24>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.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>33 5 9 A1 Fast Pitch: Add: 12 after 4 innings Prevent more lopsided ball games.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>34 5 9 A2 Modified: Add: 15 after 3 innings Prevent more lopsided ball games.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>35 5 9 A3 Slow Pitch: Add: 15 after 4 innings Prevent more lopsided ball games.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 27pt" height=36><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 27pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=36>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.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 27pt" height=36><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 27pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=36>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 a hesitation or the release of the pitch. Clarifies the interpretation that a hesitation is a pitch.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>39 6 3 G 16"SP ADD: A pick off attempt by the pitcher is a hesitation. Clarifies that pick-off is a hesitation.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 36pt" height=48><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 36pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=48>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.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 18pt" height=24><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 18pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=24>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.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>51 8 4 F Change women's Open slow pitch to women's slow pitch. Allow stealing in all Women's SP.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>52 8 4 G Delete complete section G. To allow all 10-U A & B to play regular softball rules.</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; WIDTH: 337pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=449 height=17>55 8 8 7I 1a Add Hesitation pitch to 16 " Hesitation is part of the pitching motion.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

So are these official rule changes that will go into effect next year ?

Are there going to be some parameters for definining excessive wear?

There would need to be something, because if not, this could be wide open to interpretation, especially when someone uses an old bat that is still legal.

Before anyone copies this to a non-umpire site, Mike has Item 5 incorrect; there was a revision in the item order. Item 5 only adds 18A to 18 Gold in pitching from 43'; any 18B will remain at 40' (item 6 was rejected).

The idea is to allow you, as an umpire, to judge what looks like abnormal wear, and reject a bat from today's game. The bats that have been rolled, viced, and otherwise broken in inappropriately, show wear; you can decide, with specific rule reference, that it is excessive in your opinion, today.

Thank you! I've been waiting for a specific rule to throw at them for just such a purpose!

How far did the metal cleats change get? Did any of the subcommittees approve it, or was it DOA?

It got no where. In order, it was rejected by JO Committee, not sure what Umpire Committee recommended, Player Reps deferred to the JO rejection. Fast Pitch Playing Rules rejected, Playing Rules rejected; the Council decided to not address or reconsider the recommendation of the Playing Rules Committee.

In the Fast Pitch Playing Rules Committee, Mary Struckhoff stated that NFHS adopted it because there was no historical data suggesting that it would be more unsafe for females than males (hardly a ringing endorsement). When asked if there was any historical data suggesting it was equally safe, or more safe, Mary acknowledged that there was no historical data at all.

The motion to reject was near unanimous in that committee.