2012-13 NCAA Rule Changes

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

RULES CHANGES FOR 2012-13 SOFTBALL

Rule 2.1 Backstop. A backstop is required. …When the backstop is wood, cement or brick, it is strongly recommended that it be padded from dugout to dugout beginning no higher than one foot off the ground and extending to the top of the wood, cement or brick or six feet from the ground, whichever is shorter. Padding is required by the 2016 season.

ationale: Student-athlete safety. Padding is important because play often occurs at or near the backstop.

Still do not understand why if this is a safety issue, any school would need five years to get pads on their fences/backstops/walls

3.2. Ball. (Affects 15.6 also.)

3.2.2 The home host team shall be responsible for providing a minimum of five twelve game balls of the same specifications and manufacturer. Each game shall begin with two new game balls (one rubbed by each team, so the manufacturer’s gloss is removed) and three ten additional (new or game quality) balls.

Rationale: Expedite time for ball to be returned to play because more are available.

I suspect there is some punctuation missing here, but if they are going to offer a range, why note a "minimum".

Note 2 Uniformed team personnel (including players) may not be outside team areas for scouting purposes.

So what is to stop a team from carrying someone not in uniform for this purpose? While I agree with the issue, they probably could have done without the "uniformed" part assuming A/V personnel are not considered "team personnel".

6.8 Delayed Dead Ball. (Affects 12.20 also.)

New 6.8.6 Base runner leaving a base prior to release of the pitch.

Rationale: Changes the effect from immediate dead ball to delayed dead ball in order to advantage the defense.

12.20 Leading Off Base.

EFFECT—The ball is dead, "No Pitch" is declared, and the offending base runner(s) is out. Each other base runner must return to the base legally occupied at the time of the pitch. Delayed dead ball is signaled. At the conclusion of the play, the coach of the defensive team shall have the option of taking the result of the play or "No Pitch" is declared and the batter is returned to the batter’s box. In addition, the offending base runner(s) is out, each other base runner must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

Rationale: Allows the offended team to choose whether or not to take the results of the play or the traditional result for leaving a base early.

Still not big on this change, but someone needs to explain the wording to me. The effect is dead ball with "No Pitch" and the offending runner(S) is out. Then it notes it is DDB and an option being offered.

To start, is seems there is an insinuation that more than one runner may be called out. That would be interesting.

Maybe they need to drop the first two sentences. And, just out of curiosity, how will a coach differentiate the call from an IP or OBS?

9.4.2 Fielder Obstruction.

New 9.4.2.3

A fielder shall not position herself in the runner’s line of vision to intentionally prohibit her from seeing the first touch of a fly ball.

Rationale- Relocation of current rule (9.4.2.5) with more appropriate effect to increase the penalty from a warning to potential of an awarded base.

It should be interesting to see how the umpire determines intent here. I can see some OOO assuming an IF heading toward the OF on a fly ball to be doing this intentionally. Of course, this shouldn't happen if the umpire pays attention to the direction which will probably be offered. OTOH, the base runner has a minimum of two coaches to offer direction.

11.16 Hit Batter.

New 11.16.1

Note 1 If the pitch is in the batter’s box, the batter is not required to make an attempt to get out of the way.

11.16.2.1 The batter made no attempt to avoid the pitch or obviously tried to get hit by the pitch.

Rationale: Penalizes the pitcher whose pitch is in the batter’s box when it hits the batter by removing the requirement that the batter attempt to avoid the pitch

Don Baylor and Ron Hunt just filed lawsuits against the NCAA for gender descrimination and insist on being allowed to play some college softball.