2009 ASA Rule Changes Approved

[IRISHMAFIA]

A conference will not be charged when the pitcher is removed

A bat must have an ASA Certification stamp on it.

A bat cannot have any dents

Approved two-piece bats allowed

Optic yellow ball mandatory starting 2010

Metal spikes worn when prohibited will result in an ejection if the player refuses to remove them

No penalty for an unreported substitute (as of now)

HR limits established for women's SP

HR limits changed in men's SP (B-6, C-4, D-2, E-0) (Passed by General Council vote) Yes, there is now an E level

Adult FP run ahead for 5 innings is now 7.

Men's A run ahead rule is now 20 after 4 & 15 after 5

Men's 45+ FP to use tie breaker

20 second violation is now just a ball on the batter, not IP

Gorilla Gold now legal for FP

All SP batters now start with a 1-1 count (Passed by General Council vote)

16" ball remains live after a walk

Masters SP no longer need to run out HR

A fair batted ball which hits the fence, then the fielder and then goes out of play is a GRD

Any defensive player may make a live ball appeal

All FP and ADA players can use courtesy runner. ADA CR can be any player.

Men's FP catcher can use courtesy runner

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

...Any defensive player may make a live ball appeal...

Did you mean dead ball appeal?

[NCASAUmp]

Will ASA publish a text list of all non-approved bats with stamps, similar to the one that is all-encompassing on the website?

This will make the list a LOT shorter!

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

A conference will not be charged when the pitcher is removed

A bat must have an ASA Certification stamp on it.

I love it! Hopefully that will make life just a bit easier.

A bat cannot have any dents

I take it that this will pretty much do away with the need to check bats with a bat ring?

No penalty for an unreported substitute (as of now)

Might we see something established later before the season starts?

A fair batted ball which hits the fence, then the fielder and then goes out of play is a GRD

I like this change as well.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

All FP and ADA players can use courtesy runner. ADA CR can be any player.

Interesting. Still has to be a legal sub I assume. So now, can a CR for F4 be a CR for F6 in the next inning? Or will the CR still be locked to the position they CR'd for?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I take it that this will pretty much do away with the need to check bats with a bat ring?

Wouldn't count on it. For one, you still need to make sure that it's a legal bat. Secondly, a bat ring is your first line of defense against a bat that has been painted. These bat doctors are good, but even the best bat doctors eventually make mistakes.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Did you mean dead ball appeal?

Nope

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Will ASA publish a text list of all non-approved bats with stamps, similar to the one that is all-encompassing on the website?

This will make the list a LOT shorter!

I'm pretty sure they already do that.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SRW

Interesting. Still has to be a legal sub I assume. So now, can a CR for F4 be a CR for F6 in the next inning? Or will the CR still be locked to the position they CR'd for?

No. "Any eligible player in the official line up including a substitute can be a courtesy runner."

[IRISHMAFIA]

BTW, the 1-1 count change excludes the Masters and Seniors game.

And the rule does not specify "Gorilla Gold", but references it as an example of an "approved drying agent".

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I'm pretty sure they already do that.

Sort of. They currently have a list of non-approved bats, but the list includes the bats' pictures and turns it into 2 pages.

[Dakota]

What they don't have is a list of bats with stamps that are unapproved. That would be an even MORE helpful list with the requirement for a stamp. Bat check becomes:

1) Bat have a stamp? No - OUT.
2) Yes, is bat one of the 2 (or 10, but very short list) unapproved bats with a stamp? Yes - OUT
3) No - Allowed

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Nope

Then, I don't understand the change. Is it a technical change to the rule wording (since the RS already says ANY fielder...)

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Dakota

What they don't have is a list of bats with stamps that are unapproved. That would be an even MORE helpful list with the requirement for a stamp. Bat check becomes:

1) Bat have a stamp? No - OUT.
2) Yes, is bat one of the 2 (or 10, but very short list) unapproved bats with a stamp? Yes - OUT
3) No - Allowed

Click here for ASA's Non Approved Bats with Certification Marks (2000 and 2004)

http://www.asasoftball.com/about/bui..._pics_2000.asp

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Yes, there is now an E level

Are these people who are playing that have no clue what a softball, bat, or running the bases is?