J.H.C. It was a joke. You do know what a joke is, don't you?

Then maybe you better get up from that table and walk around. You must be talking about yourself since ANYONE can submit rule changes in ASA's world.

Where do you come up with this stuff? Do you realize there have been rule changes proposed and some adopted based on discussions in this forum?

Actually, the NCAA's softball rule change process is much more restrictive than ASA's or any other of which I am aware.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=534

I'm not sure what J.H.C. means, but I certainly know what a joke is and actually thought your comment was funny. It was a jab none the less.

I don't doubt that many on this board could submit some great changes to the code and that some may even be in a position of influence that may get the changes adopted.

How restrictive the process is is not relative to my point that the NCAA rules committee is made up of those who make this sport their livelyhood and therfore have more of a vested interest in how it is played. Like I said, I believe it makes for a more fluid rule book from year to year which has both good and bad aspects.

Not from someone on this board (well, yes, someone from the board submitted it), but from discussions on the board which would have included you if involved.

Let me see, people who get paid to advance their agenda versus people who are spending their time as volunteers (and before someone starts, yes I am aware of some of the BS & politics, sometimes too aware). But the majority are here for the games, so I don't see that much of a difference. Also, the players have a word in the rules, something NCAA does not really offer. Then again, unlike ASA, the player's ability to participate is limited to their time at the school.

The NCAA has one game for a specific gender and age group which makes their life a bit easier and is probably the single most reason why they should have a fluid rule book. What I would give for ASA to have just one set of rules, but that is not possible.

It is routinely mentioned by some, including you, how the game has passed by the ASA powers that be and they haven't allowed the rules to keep up with the game. Yet, ASA has a much wider range of input from many more sources than the NCAA permits. Seems to me the ASA rules evolve at a pretty decent pace.

I understand what and why the NCAA does for it's game. Do I agree with everything the NCAA does? Hell, no. I also understand what and why the ASA does what it does for it's game. Do I agree with everything the ASA does? Hell, no! What I don't understand is how anyone can insist one is superior to the other since they are not in the same business.

If having a successful softball program for their institution and student athletes qualifies as an agenda, then they get paid to advance their agenda.

I agree with the rest of your points.

My favorite local rule: if a batted ball goes over the split-rail fence, it's a home run, unless it lands in the yard of the yellow house (the third house to the right of the foul pole). In that case, the batter's out.

You must have made it to 'Bama :D

Thanks, Bret, for making me spit out my drink laughing! That is funny (and stupid) stuff!

You must have made it to 'Bama

Next week! Finally.

The yellow house rule is in Trenton, New Jersey.

In one of our local VERY recreational (but most challenging) leagues, on a specific field if a batter hits it into the backyard (about 300 feet from the plate) the batter is out AND ejected.


Here is a play from this league (and I am NOT kidding, this happened about 5 years ago). Runner A is sliding into home (or any other base for that matter, but on this play it was into home). During the course of the slide, Runner A's yarmulke becomes detached from his head. A defensive player, with possession of the ball, tags the yarmulke before Runner A reaches/touches home plate.

Is Runner A out?

Hehe - SM PF #2, double fences. Odd, I haven't had any games on that field this year. She was sending me to H. N or S more often than ever this year.

I'm betting he was...

It is what a Catholic would refer to, at least in my youth, as a skull cap worn by males of certain sects of the Jewish faith. You know what it is, just not used to the spelling.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yarmulke

You probably don't want to know either. It violates a much older code than that of the ASA or the NCAA. Rule # 3 I believe.

If a batted ball goes through the limbs and leaves of a large oak tree growing near the LF foul pole in fair territory, it is a HR. The tree hangs over the field in Louisa county Va

Now I'm intrigued. Care to elaborate?

Hint: Rule #3 of 10.