Observations From First Games of the Season

[Dutch Alex]

My seasonstart here in the Neth's has been postponed for the 3th week in a row. Yesterday it was still snowing!
So how coaches and pitcher will act this year is a big surprise to me.

For that glove with the brands name on it in the same color as the ball written along the index-finger, the rule is clear! It is legal, however I've been fooled several years ago as well.
At one point I thought we had two ball's in the game. Miss Sumeru, F1 for the Dutch national team, has that glove. She knows what she can and may do. Had her glove on the chest and the ball in the bare hand. I saw clearly two balls! However it was the gloves name in optic yellow.

I think, rereading the rules, that stretching ISF rule 3, sec. 4b will forbid the use of this glove...

Rule 3 Sec. 4. GLOVES & MITTS.
Any player may wear a glove, but only the catcher and first baseman may use mitts.
a. No top lacing, webbing, or other device between the thumb and body of the glove or mitt worn by a first baseman or catcher or a glove worn by any fielder, shall be more than 12.7cm (5 in) in length.
b. Gloves worn by any player may be any combination of colors, provided none of the colors (including the lacing) are the color of the ball.
c. Gloves with white, gray, or yellow optic circles on the outside, giving the appearance of a ball, are illegal for all players. (SEE APPENDIX 5 FOR DRAWING AND SPECIFICATIONS)

[Insane Blue]

Originally Posted by Dutch Alex

Rule 3 Sec. 4. GLOVES & MITTS.
Any player may wear a glove, but only the catcher and first baseman may use mitts.
a. No top lacing, webbing, or other device between the thumb and body of the glove or mitt worn by a first baseman or catcher or a glove worn by any fielder, shall be more than 12.7cm (5 in) in length.
b. Gloves worn by any player may be any combination of colors, provided none of the colors (including the lacing) are the color of the ball.
c. Gloves with white, gray, or yellow optic circles on the outside, giving the appearance of a ball, are illegal for all players. (SEE APPENDIX 5 FOR DRAWING AND SPECIFICATIONS)

This is the ISF rule correct?

Here is NFHS and ASA

NFHS Rule 1 section 4 ART. 1 . Gloves/mitts shall:

a. Be a maximum of two colors excluding lacing and manufacturer's logo
colors. Lacing shall not be the color of the ball.

b. Not be entirely optic in color.

c. Not have an optic-colored marking 0n the outside or inside that gives the appearance of the ball.

d. Be permitted to have one American flag not to exceed 2 inches by 3 inches.
e. Not be judged as distracting by the umpire.

ASA Rule 3 section 4 Glove/Mitt

A Glove / Mitt may be worn by any player. The dimensions of any glove / mitt used by any fielder shall not exceed the specifications set forth below ( see drawing and specifications). (Fast Pitch) The Pitcher's glove may be of one solid color or Multicolored as long as the color(s) are not of the ball being used in the game.

[IRISHMAFIA]

The rules involving the coloring of gloves had not changed that much other than to allow for the optic yellow ball.

The manufacturers have KNOWN since day one that placing a color of the ball on the glove was an issue with, just about if not every, softball rules organizations in existence. Yet they continue to manufacture and market gloves that violate the rule and then act stupid, well, let's assume it's an act, when the issue is raised by the consumer.

When this issue comes up on the field and is addressed with the coaches and parents, that needs to be said by someone. I've heard parents complain about how ASA, NFHS, whoever is ruining the game by not allowing certain gloves in the game when, in fact, it is the manufacturers that are blatantly taking advantage of the situation.

And, of course, we all know the real response to the customer is that they purchased a baseball glove for a softball game.

[Dutch Alex]

Originally Posted by Insane Blue

This is the ISF rule correct?

Yes it is. Here in Holland we play them. There's only one federation, for FP softball, baseball, beeball (a sort of T-ball) and we 're starting with co-ed SP softball.
So when ever I use a rule it's ISF. Most bodies rule-sets are more or less similar.