Newbie to umping softball.
 

I'm a basketball official for a number of years and have umped baseball when I was a kid. I'm starting to ump rec league softball and I have a basic idea of how to call a game but I haven't been able to come up with an ASA rule book as yet to get some of the more specific rules.

My biggest questions that will help get me through my first game are about when does the ball become dead and what do I do with baserunners once the play is dead.

Pitching rules, what does a pitcher have to do and what can't they do during the pitch? From watching softball on TV, I believe NCAA using similar to ASA so I believe they have to have 2 feet on the rubber prior to the pitch and their hands must pause. Is that correct and is there anything else?

If there is anything else that you can think of that would come up in a REC game please give me some help.

Thanks for the help.

The best thing for you to do would be get your hands on a book. There are so many things that one needs to think about here.

For example, a pitcher must take her position on the pitching plate with her hands separated. Both feet must be in contact with the pitching plate. She must take, or simulate taking a signal while the hands remain separated. The pitcher has to be in the 24 inch width of the pitching plate, and the catcher must be in position to catch within the catcher's box. She must then bring her hands together for not less that 1 second nor more than 10. The pitch technically begins when she separates again.

This is just the beginning. You must know what constitutes a legal delivery, what a leap or a hop or a crow hop is, and all the other nuances of the pitching rule, and for that matter, of all of the other rules of the game. Do you understand the DP/FLEX rule? How about the other aspects of the sub rule? Do you know the difference between interference and obstruction, and how to rule on both? How do you handle a ball carried into dead ball territory either intentionally or accidentally? How do you handle a batting out of order or an unreported sub? There is just way too much to know to try umpiring without the benefit of the rules.

If you haven't already, you need to contact your state UIC to get a copy of the rule book.

To look up your state UIC, commissioner, etc., you may do so here.

Thanks for the comments. I realize that I need to get my hands on a rule book but the league director who is in charge of the umps didn't have one. So I'm still trying.

As far as DP/Flex goes I don't need to worry about it, being rec it unlimited subs and everyone bats rule. Obviously batting out of order is an issue that I might have to deal with so any help would be appreciated.

I know the difference between Interference and obstruction but not clear on how to rule.

Any other help that can be passed along I appreciate. Like I said I am working on getting the rule book but haven't found one yet. Thanks for the link.

Well, if you contact the UIC in Indiana, you'll be able to get a rule book. It'll cost about $10, but it's seriously worth it.

We're not trying to deflect your questions, as we're here to help all our fellow umpires. However, it would probably do you great service to get the rule book first, read it, then ask any questions afterward. :)

Welcome to the site. We're here to help!

NCASAump - I understand that I need to get the book problem is that I've been assigned a game for tomorrow and don't think that there is any way to get the book and read it prior to then.

I thought that the league director would have had one but it took him a while to get back to me that he doesn't have one which has left me the position I'm in.

Again any help that could get me through the first game would be helpful.

Thanks.

Welcome to the site! You have a lot of work to do. Post as things come up and we'll help you through it - in the mean time - you definately need a rule book.

I think we've established that. Unfortunately for this guy, he's already got a game tomorrow and is looking for a cheat sheet.

Here is a question I have that I might run into:

Ball going out of play. If I recall correctly from playing slowpitch on a ball hit to an infielder and over thrown to 1B that goes out of play all baserunners including batter get base they are going to plus one, correct?

Are there any other situations that would be different?

That's not the case for ASA. Forget about where they're going to. It's now two bases from the time of the throw. Take the following example: You have a very fast runner on 1B (designate him as R1), and the SS is playing very deep. Grounder is hit to the SS, who bobbles it while fielding it. R1 rounds 2B, sees the SS with the ball, and heads back to 2B. Then, the SS throws to 1B in an attempt to retire the batter-runner (known as BR in our lexicon). However, the throw sails over the fence.

R1 should be awarded home, as he had already advanced to 2B when the throw was released. It does not matter that he was heading back to 2B, as he had already legally advanced to 2B. The BR is awarded 2B.

No. Forget the bit about the infielder, first throw, base going to... all that. Forget it completely. On a ball thrown out of play (at any time, from any fielder - only exception being a throw judged intentional to stop play) the base award for all runners is 2 bases from the runner's position at the time of the throw. Doesn't matter which direction the runner was running or which base they were trying to achieve, or which base they last legally (or illegally) touched. The award is 2 bases from the runner's position at the time of the throw.

PS: In case no one has told you, you need a rule book! :D

I was able to find a copy of the 2005 rule book on the web. Are there any major rule changes since then that would make this not usable until I can get my hands on a current rule book?

For just about every case of interference, remove the word "intentionally." I think one of the only cases where they left "intentionally" in an interference rule has to do with a runner intentionally interfering with a defensive player after being hit by the ball (8-7-M).

It should be a more than usable starting point, for sure. But there are a lot of rule changes every year. (I think there were 27 or something like that this year.) So, while it may not be everything you need to know, it will certainly cover all of the basics to get you going tomorrow night, and will work until you get a 2009 edition.

Also, when you get the chance and need a break from studying the rules, read over and study the umpire mechanics as well.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate all the help. My guess is that tomorrow's game will just be balls/strikes, safe/out and I'll be done. But with my experience in basketball I know that games like this is where the crazy stuff happens.

I'll let you know how everything goes.