Official Game Time
 

I am under the impression that the game 'starts' when the pitcher enters the circle to take her warmups. Due to a coach complaining about the grace period cutting into the game time (he wanted to play 1:45 from the time the game started after the grace period was used), the league made a rule that the game starts when the first pitch is thrown. No problem, I will instruct the tams to take the field 5 mins early so the game starts "on time". I can't find it in the rule book. When is the official start time?

Which rule association?

Softball Canada applies for me. What is common?

ASA says the clock starts with the first pitch.

What "grace period" are you referring to?

ASA says 1st pitch for Championship play.
USSSA says after the plate conference with coaches end....only thing I like about USSSA :D

Personally, I do the following. I set my timer for one minute more than the game time. That gives the home team (after the coin toss) time to get on the field and warm up. Usually the first pitch will be pretty close to the actual game time. Example...if game time is 1 hour and 20 minutes, I set my timer for 1:21 minutes. Start immediately after coaches meeting at plate. (I also tell the coaches that so they can hurry the players along).

I do what USSSA does as soon as the meeting is done and I have both coaches right there I announce the game time and go from there.

Yes, for ASA the clock starts with the first pitch, not the first warm-up pitch.

What I normally do is set my watch with an extra minute, i.e. 1 hour 45 game, set at 1 hour 46.

The reason for that is I will start the clock when I break the pre game meeting, instead of trying to start the clock at the first pitch.

Just saves me a hassle.

I don't beleive it is actualy written any where in the Softball Canada rule book, but I do beleive it in the PWSA rule book for the bantam and under catagories.
When ever I do league games that go with time limit I start it when the plate conference is over, even with leagues that say with the first pitch. If I have to over sethe first pitcher do her warm ups then she's/he's on the clock as far as I'm concerned.

Don't know about Softball Canada but in PONY and NSA, the clock starts at the conclusion of the plate conference.

This came to mind when I was writing. We don't hold plate meetings with this league. It's the same umpires every week (the other 2 are not registered) and it was a system I was brought into. I've decided that this is my fourth and final year with them, so no need to discuss in depth. I usually use a watch, but I like the idea of a timer.

Contact SRW for all the timers you want.

:D :D :D

So, for ASA, technically (not setting your timer for 1 minute more) you have to call the first pitch, THEN start your timer?? HMMMM :confused:

USSSA must listen to umpires better than ASA. :eek: :D

If I'm keeping time, I signal for the first pitch, reach into the ball bag and hit the "Start" button on my watch.

I only have 3 at this time. Might find some more when we work the Gold Territorial here next weekend. We'll see.


:rolleyes: :p