Nothing, as long as the defense did not touch the ball in flight and intentionally drop it.

Set aside the IFR* in your mind for now. Any batted ball that settles or is first touched in fair ground before passing the bases is a fair ball. It does not matter if it touched foul ground first. Past the bases, it has to touch fair ground first, but that is not the question here.
So, if it is a fair ball, the IFR* applies if the other conditions are met.

Fair/foul and IFR* if fair are two separate issues. As Tom says repeatedly and more clearly, an IFR* infield fly is the same as any other fly ball except the batter is automatically out.

* IFR, not IFF, infield is one word.

What does "touch the ball in flight" have to do with it? I am assuming that this statement is separate from "intentionally drop" since it is obvious the defense must touch a ball in flight to effect and intentional drop.

Nothing if the idiot BR doesn't run to 1B, nor does the offense deserve any protection. If the D turns two because the BR doesn't run to 1B, the defense deserves the double play.

The reason the rule is there is because the runners are in a no win situation since they are required to tag up prior to advancing on a caught fly ball. The BR has no such restrictions.

Not separate, clarifying the intentional drop rule for newbies and those who questioned "let it fall" versus "intentional drop" in another topic. I guess I should not have underlined part of the rule, but that was my original wording and I was emphasizing which rule I was talking about.

Okay, but remember, an intentional drop takes more than just touching the ball.

anybody know of a "ASA Softball Umpiring For Dummies" or another similar publication or cheat sheet? I've been looking around for a "condensed" version of the rule book; something that hit the highlights.

How much more than just a touch? ASA only? Case play or other ref?

I am asking because NFHS allows only a "touch." Case book describes knocking the ball to the ground with the glove, or "manipulating the ball to the ground."

I am also curious about the ASA case book info about "catching the ball" and then dropping it (8.2.38). Why wouldn't you declare "catching the ball" a legal catch, thus batter is out and ball stays live?


WMB

Of course, but like I said it has to be included. No just letting it fall.

When you come down to it, an intentional drop requires all the aspects of a catch except retaining possession.

Speaking ASA

RS #30 The ball cannot be intentionally dropped unless the fielder has actually caught it, and then drops it. Merely guiding the ball to the ground is not an intentionally dropped ball

Seems pretty clear to me. The ball is dead to protect the runners in a manner similar to an IF.

Difference here is that on an IF, it is declared early enough to give the runners time to understand their options. The ID cannot be called until after the questionable action occurred.

Coaching the BR to run out her pop fly. :rolleyes:

Ok by RS 30 an ID ball is one that was caught so BR is out. So the only reason we kill it is to protect the runners from thinking the dropped ball was NOT a catch and has put them into a position to have to advance. So we have a legal catch and BR out by fielders action (different from IF) and this following action of dropping the ball, possibly decieving the offense making them think it was NOT a catch is the reason for killing the play and putting them back in the TOP positions.

Does that seem about right? I am really saying the above to make sure I understand this right!!!

Now that "about to receive" has been eliminated elsewhere, it's time to eliminate "ordinary effort" from the IFR and focus on "runner(s) in jeopardy"; the real purpose of the rule.