Forty myths of softball rules!

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FORTY MYTHS OF SOFTBALL RULES!

Thought you OFC Members may enjoy reading these.

(ASA Rules)

1. The hands are considered part of the bat. If a batter is hit with a pitch on the hands, it is simply a dead ball and the batter is awarded first base. Remember that anytime a batter is hit, it is ALWAYS a dead ball. If the batter is swinging and the ball contacts her hands first, we have a DEAD BALL/ STRIKE. If the ball contacts the batter in the strike zone same result if it is the third strike in either of these cases the batter is out. See ASA 7-4-G through I, and 8-1-F

2. The batter-runner must turn to her right after over-running first base. The runner is protected back to first base regardless of which way they turn as long as they don't make an attempt or feint towards second base (umpire judgement). Merely turning to the left, and/or being in fair territory, does NOT put the runner in jeopardy of being tagged out unless they make an attempt to advance to 2nd. See ASA 8-7-H and 8-8-I. Also ASA POE#32

3. If the batter breaks her wrists when swinging, it's a strike. The umpires first priority on this play is (a) was the pitch in the strike zone if so, it is merely a strike. If not, the umpire must then judge did the batter attempt to hit the ball (did she offer at it). If in the umpires judgement, she offered, then the umpire should rule a strike. Coaches, remember that sometimes catchers stand up and block our view, if we don't see a swing and the ball is out of the strike zone we are calling a ball. If asked by the catcher or pitcher, most umpires will check with their field partner. If I was blocked and not sure I will usually ask my partner without an appeal. See ASA POE#9 and ASA Umpire Manual Check Swing Situation Page 206.

4. If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball. Home plate is in fair territory and a ball that first hits the plate it is fair/foul based upon where it settles or is first touched not by where it first hit the ground. See ASA Definitions Fair Ball/Fair Territory/Foul Ball in Rule 1.

The other 36 Rules are listed on the site below.

http://www.dmsua.com/forty_rule_myths.html




FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing too SLOW!

 

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Good list!


*CAUTION: Be careful with myth #11. The "bunt attempt" rule is different for different sanctioning bodies!

 

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Nice post.

The only problem is that the people who NEED to read it - won't - because they already know everything.

(and what are you doing on the computer at 1:30 AM?)

 

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Number 2 is the one I see a lot of coaches and even some umpires are clueless about. I have had numerous games when my batter runner turns left and goes directly back to first after running through first and she gets a chorus of "tag her, tag her" from the coaches and parents. I actually had an umpire call her out after being tagged, that was the closest I've ever got to being tossed by an ump.

 

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I actually had an umpire call her out after being tagged, that was the closest I've ever got to being tossed by an ump.

He must have made the decision that the left turn was in his opinion an attempt to advance. His judgement on that one.

 

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I'm sorry, but I find it funny that they abbreviate "plate umpire" as PU. No offense to anny of the umps on here, but there have been a few discussed in threads that should be correctly labled as PU because they do stink.

By the way, this is a great list. Every parent should have a copy in the stands with them. Before they start to argue a call they should look it up first. Same for some coaches.

 

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Now if you can get some of the parents to read these.

 

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I'm printing it, going to read it, and take it to games! Thanks!

 

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37. If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence it is a homerun. This is just a catch and an out. If the fielder completely enters dead ball territory over the fence, all runners are awarded 1 base (unless the catch is the 3rd out). See ASA Rule 1 Catch and ASA 8-6-K

In a game this past weekend a player caught a fly ball, possibly in dead ball territory (the opening in the fence by the dugout) possibly in foul territory depending on your opinion. She carried the ball and herself completely into dead ball territory. There were runners on 2nd and 3rd at the time. I went to the ump and told him that I believe she caught the ball in dead ball territory that it should not be a catch. He said no, she caught it in foul territory and carried it into dead ball territory. I then responded and said fine then do my runners get to advance one base or two(I wasn't sure which it was)? He said no, that they could have advanced at their own risk anytime after the catch and that was it. This clearly should have been a case where the runners should have been advanced correct? And since when can you advance at your own risk after a ball is in dead ball territory?

 

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I'm sorry, but I find it funny that they abbreviate "plate umpire" as PU. No offense to any of the umps on here, but there have been a few discussed in threads that should be correctly labled as PU because they do stink.

By the way, this is a great list. Every parent should have a copy in the stands with them. Before they start to argue a call they should look it up first. Same for some coaches.

Ahh! We've been called worst, trust me on that one.:lmao::lmao:


FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing too SLOW!

 

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Should this clearly have been a case where the runners should have been advanced correct? And since when can you advance at your own risk after a ball is in dead ball territory?

By definition, this is a "catch and carry". There are two kinds of "catch and carry" penalties, unintentional and intentional.

Unintentional C&C: If the catch is made while the fielder has both feet in-play, then her momentum unavoidably carries her out of play, this is a valid catch. The batter is out. All baserunners are awarded one base.

Intentional C&C: If a fielder purposely carries the ball out of play, as if to stop runners from advancing, then the penalty is TWO bases.

When the fielder establishes her feet out of play, the ball is immediately dead. No, runners may ever advance with liability to be put out while the ball is dead.

 

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Thanks Bretman!

She actually caught the ball reaching out of play but her feet were in play and her momentum carried her entire body several steps out of play. By the definitions you posted I would say that this is definitely an unintentional catch and carry.

I am not pretending to know all the rules to the letter but I did think that there were some bases to be awarded in this case and knew for sure that runners cannot advance at their own risk on any ball that is out of play regardless of how it got there. It is truly disappointing that some of the paid officials don't understand the rules to the game. It ended up costing us a run and a runner advancing from 2nd to 3rd.

 

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Email the link to your parents. You will be glad you did!