USSSA started out as the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association. It was, in fact, a group of individuals who wanted to change up the SP game, speed up play, and allow for more liberal pitching rules. One of their big selling points in the 70's has now been adopted by ASA, the 3-2 count. (Three balls for a walk and two strikes and you are out.)

Actually, in Texas, all sports abide by NFHS rules. However, all sports officials in Texas are not registered with NFHS, but rather with their own in-state organization, the Texas Association of Sports Officials, TASO.

Ah yes... I remember U-Trip back in the mid-90s, back when its rules were still very similar to ASA's. The wording was fairly different, but the effects of the rules were almost identical.

The information I mentioned came straight from the person who got me into U-Trip. I only called this person's games and tourneys as a favor, later finding out that this person was relatively high up within the hierarchy of USSSA.

I won't go into all the strange love/hate relationship stories between U-Trip and ASA.

Scott, I was speaking to state membership on the NFHS rules committee, not the membership of individual officials. Texas HS Football is played under NCAA rules, hence Texas does not have a seat on the NFHS football rules committee.

That is NOT what ASA adopted.

I can state for a fact that this statement is correct.

Not having my rule book with me, and not calling SP, I guess I am mistaken then. I thought that ASA adopted a rule this year where essentially a batter starts out with the 1-1 count in SP.

I think they were making the point that this differs from 3 balls = BOB and 2 strikes =SO.

It is still 3 strikes (catch the ball) and yer out, like the song (almost) says.

To me, the difference seems to be editorial only (don't need to adjust all the batter and batter-runner rules), rather than "real" in how the game is played.

I was under the belief that all states had a seat at the table. Unless you modified Fed rules ,then you lost your seat.

The state has to use Federation rules in that sport as well. If NY doesn't use NFHS rules for HS softbal then I would imagine they do not have a seat at the NFHS Softball Rules committee. Texas and Mass do not have seats on the NFHS Football Rules Committee though the state organizations are members of the NFHS.

The NFHS rulebook for each sport should have a list of whom the rules committee members are.

Tom is correct. And it only applies to adult SP excluding Masters, Seniors and for those who believe it is the same, 16" game.

I listed MY sanctions and associations ONLY