NCAA 2009 Rule Changes
 

The rule changes for the 2009 season have been posted here. Seems we are going to have even more lines on the field to appease the coaches.

Thought this was odd:

Offensive Conference.
Rule 6.11.2.(new)2 When the catcher requests time to speak to the pitcher, baserunners may not abandon the vicinity of their bases without it being a charged offensive conference. Note: if either team is charged with a conference, baserunners are no longer restricted to the area near their bases.
Rationale: Often the catcher runs out to give the pitcher a short message but because baserunners and base coaches all huddle, they delay the game and get what turns out to be a free conference, since none is charged. Change will help manage the game, and it eliminates the opportunity for a trick play.


Could the pitcher and catcher be dreaming up a "trick play". Why not let the baserunners meet with other baserunners privately? This seems like a stupid rule addition.

I never had a big delay when the catcher went out and talked to pitcher and runners went to the coach. When catcher started back I told OC let's play and they have always gotten back, well before we were all at the plate and ready to go.

While the purpose of the pitcher's lane is commendable, I think it is going to cause more problems than it is worth. Just gives the coach one more point to whine about during the game. Depending on how much weight is given to making that call, it could really screw with some umpire's trying to see the lane and watch the pitch at the same time.

No, you still call "time out", the base runners are just not allowed to meet with their coach.

I believe most umpires will continue to focus on the pitch, since that is the bread and butter of the game. What is going to happen, of course, is more and more coaches are going to argue that a pitcher with her toe across the line is out of the pitching lane. "Why aren't you calling that blue? That is why we voted to have it added. So we could all see the violations." They won't read the rule, so they won't know the entire foot needs to be outside of the line.

It is still a coach's rule, and you know it!

Yes, they are all coaches rules. I was replying to the question of Dholloway1962 asking if the pitcher and catcher were going to try to use this as a trick play. Simply call time when the catcher wants to go talk to the pitcher and there can be no trick play

Here's one that caught my eye -

You can wear all of the jewelry you want, but you better have a batting helmet on in the coaches box! :rolleyes:

I wasn't clear in my post...what I meant is that the rule sounds like they are not allowing the runners to meet with each other or the coach to prevent them from coming up with a trick play. Couldn't one reason the cather/pitcher are meeting is that they are coming up with a trick play? Why restrict the runners to the vicinity of their bag during suspension of play? They should be able to meet if play is suspended by the pitcher/catcher.

Reread this part of the rule: baserunners may not abandon the vicinity of their bases without it being a charged offensive conference

So if the runners get together, even without the coach, it is charged.

How about this....If runners call time and confer with each other (no coach involved) and the pitcher/catcher get together is this a charged D conference?

Just seems odd.

Ok, I've been a lurker of the forum for sometime now and decided to register.

We all know that this "pitcher's lane" came about because of "mainly" one pitcher, not to say there aren't other's who violate the 24", but there was one in particular who was in violation. I do agree with everyone that this will create a bigger problem than what it is now.

As far as the offensive conference rule not allowing the baserunners to huddle, I didn't see that as a major game delay problem.

This just reminds us that the coach's have almost total control over what goes into the rule book.

The offensive conference rule was put in specifically for the final (3rd) game of the WCWS, the bottom of the 7th, runner and second and the winning run on third. During a catcher/pitcher conference, R2 confers with the coach in the third base coach's box. Of course, this is the second conference. After the ejection, the TH's will then proceed to state how we should overlook that rule at this point in the game, how we shouldn't decide the game, etc.

For irony's sake, I hope a Pac-10 team is involved. :cool: :eek:
And we can then get some special commentary from the Game Day crew. :mad:

:confused:
I was not aware batting gloves were such a problem that the fashion police were needed. Jewelry is still fine, though.;)

Very discouraging that the NCAA rules committee (coaches) would stoop to such petty BS.

As are most of the changes, this rule change is to stop one specific team from executing the trick play they already use.

MS (you call the school) catcher says to PU "I am going to talk to my pitcher, and I am NOT requesting time". Catcher and the rest of the infield go the circle, runners assume time and run off base to talk to coach. LBR violation, first runner off is out.

ASA killed this trick years ago, told umpires they MUST call time to avoid the cheap LBR out. NCAA rules committee doesn't want that answer, so instead, they now tell runners they cannot talk to coach when defense huddles. Anyone surprised by that approach doesn't get the NCAA Rules Committee, that every year creates new rules to stop what someone who has graduated violated consistently (10 second Abbott rule last year, this year pitching lane Mowatt rule).

The Mowatt Rule has limited chance of working if they don't tell BU to help with the call; PU still can't watch the foot land and call pitches effectively.

Unless the BU is positioned behind 2B, they don't really have a valid view to make such a call especially with runners on base.

Mike, the majority of D1 conferences now use 3 umpires routinely; that will put a base umpire in reasonable position anytime there is a runner on base.

So... what about when there's no one on base?

Then it is no worse than any other call with a line; you call what you can see, you don't call what you aren't in position to see.

It is possible a base umpire, from any position, could clearly see the foot landing completely outside the line; just as a base umpire can call a swing from the wrong side. All I'm saying is that if they want it called consistently, then they need to use all the eyes available. We all know how impossible it is to expect a consistent strike zone on pitchers throwing 60+ with movement, when we are told to look at pitcher's feet and batter's feet all within that half second (60 mph = 88 feet per second).

My belief is, if they really want this particular rule enforced, they need to hire a fourth umpire whose sole duty is to sit in the stands directly behind homeplate that can focus their attention on the pitching lane. In the field, there are the usual IP's to look for, plus runner(s) leaving early, plus watching the pitch/batter for anything unusual the PU might miss...etc.

Even with 3 umpires, from either side, there will be no depth perception to tell if the entire foot is outside the line. And it certainly isn't going to help that these lines will become so obliterated, it will be even more difficult. As previously stated, the idea is commendable and there will be a few more calls made, but I think this is more of a threat to the pitcher and coach than actually getting more calls.

I did a fall ball game where they put the pitchers lane in the circle. It lasted about 1 1/2 batters and the drag from the pitcher completely covered the line. She was not stepping out of the lane. The dirt just moved. The coaches from the team said they put the lane in to train their pitchers but it will not work for the purpose of us calling it.

Are they going to want us to call a ball on the batter for the pitcher intentionally removing a line? The pitchers can't help it, they move dirt when they pitch.

If it is their normal delivery, can it be defined as intentional?

A few years ago at a Regional clinic, one of the National Staff members announced that they had asked the NCAA rules committee to get rid of the 24" rule completely but the committee declined. To some the umpires in attendance who hang on every word spoken there this announcement translated to "do not call this". We'll see if umpires who wouldn't call it without the lines will call it now. It may depend of what the Staff says about it in January.

The rule rationale states "To be considered inside the pitcher’s lane, the pitcher shall not have any part of her foot in contact with the ground completely outside of any part of a line that defines the pitcher’s lane." Underline added for emphasis.

It may be a misstatement, but the entire foot does not have to be outside to be illegal. The entire foot must be inside to be legal.

That is somewhat easier to determine; like the entire foot must be inside the batters box at the start of the pitch.

That sentence makes no sense.

..."any part ...completely outside"?? :confused: :confused:

What the heck does that mean?

I think we are chasing ghosts here. The next argument from the coach will be, "but she already released the pitch and slid her foot to the side moving into a ready position for fielding a batted ball" or something similar. There will be a million and one excuses and the lines will not remain distinct for long.

The ONLY way to make this work is through the use of synthetic turf and painted lines and I guarantee you that will not happen.

Why even worry about calling this. A year ago I posted a video of a women's fp game. The camera was set up in the stands in line with the pitcher and catcher. This particular pitcher was so far out of the 24" that both her feet were at least 12" if not more past the 24". Many on this board said they couldn't tell if she was in fact outside or not. Some even said you get a distorted view from a camera. If they argue about if she is legal or not even when you could play it over and over again, I doubt they would EVER call it in a game. Dave

But this is an NCAA rule. And the NCAA consists of (about 75 percent) Division II, Division III, NAIA, and JC softball programs most all of which currently use 2 man mechanics?

Just did a game tonight with the pitching lines on the field. The entire lines were wiped out after 1 full inning (and I am being generous). I made a conscious effort to watch the foot and the line (pitcher was legal, but wanted to see if I could watch the foot) ... gave up after the 2nd pitch. Just couldn't watch the foot and track the ball.

We know that as most umpire do, but it isn't the umpire making the rules. :eek: I have little doubt that some violations may be so obvious, an umpire will possibly pick it up, but when and at what sacrifice? Will it be like a runner leaving the base early that draws the umpire's attention? If so, that may cause a problem seeing the pitch. Will the umpire see the foot after the ball reaches the catcher? Will there be some umpires who will now look up after the pitch and see the foot outside the lines? But will the umpire know if the foot got there before or after the release of the pitch? You know damn well that the coach is going to see it AFTER the pitch and will complain about it without actually seeing the pitcher complete her delivery.

Many, not all, of the folks who are involved with the rules have never spent a serious moment behind a catcher who believe the lines would solve the problem. They figure if they can see it from the press box, the guy/gal behind the plate shouldn't have a problem. Well, if that's the case, I think all the PUs should have a seat in the nice, cool press box. For that matter, maybe the entire crew should be up these since they obviously have a much better view. :rolleyes:

Oh, I thought the perfect view came from the dugout, 60' away sitting on a bucket. Dave