NSA FP Rule changes for the 2014-15 season

[Mike_Craig_-_Ohio USSSA]

NOTE: These become effective 1/1/15.

SECOND NOTE: There is an equipment standard that was announced in the fall of 2011 that becomes official also on 1/1/15. This is in Rule 3, sec 1-G under equipment; Bats manufactured after 1/1/2012 must also bear the NSA Approved 2012 logo on the taper of the bat. There is an image of the logo below:

This will replace the approved list. There is no grandfathering of bats prior to 2012. All bats eligible for NSA play must have the 2012 silkscreen on them.

THIRD NOTE: Ohio NSA will permit the use of guest players in both halves of the state. I am checking with the bordering states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and W. PA. WV is ran by the same director as W.PA so one rule will suffice for both states.

NATIONAL SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
FAST PITCH RULE CHANGES 2014-2015
1. Rule 1 Definitions
Page 86 Section 27
DELETE THE FOLLOWING IN THE EXISTING DEFINITION:
"not higher than the batter's head".

2. Rule 3 Equipment
Page 95 Section 6(b)
Addition to the existing rule:
Effective with the 2016 season no player will be allowed to wear "optic yellow" or "lime green" pants or any similar color to that of the softball.

3. Rule 4 Players/Substitution
Page 97 Section 1(exception)
Delete the words "POOL PLAY ONLY" in the existing rule and add the words "NON-CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY" to the existing Exception.
Add to Section 4(a) on page 98 to the last sentence "IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY" a team may start the game with 8 players.

4. Rule 4 Players/Substitution
Page 97 Section 2
Delete the rule of the Designated Hitter and add TO ALLOW 2 PLAYERS (DESIGNATED AS TWIN PLAYERS) TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE AT ANY TIME ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSE.
A. Any 2 players may be designated as "TWIN PLAYERS". This must be done at the pre-game meeting. Write both names on one line of the line-up card, or write them on two lines with the word "TWIN PLAYERS" before their names.
B. The "TWIN PLAYERS" are interchangeable. The "TWIN PLAYERS" occupy 1 slot in the batting order and are locked for the duration of the game. One can replace the other on offense (batting-running) at any time and as often as desired without being a substitution.
C. Any 9 players in the line-up can play defense. (The "TWIN PLAYERS" can play defense at the same time).
D. There is no requirement that a "TWIN PLAYER" play on offense or defense.

5. Rule 4 Players/Substitution
Page 101 Section NEW
GUEST PLAYERS
a. If a team uses a guest player and plays in another state, they have to play under the guidelines set in the state they are playing in. Not all states may offer this program. Contact your State Director.
b. Request must be approved by the State Director or his/her representative 24 to 48 hours prior to the start of the tournament.
c. The State Director or his/her appointed representative must also receive written or electronic approval from her current coach.
d. A player can only be a guest player 2 times per sanctioned season.

6. Rule 5 The Game
Page 103 Section 3(b)
Delete in the 2nd sentence the following: "the last batter of the previous inning whose turn at bat had been completed".
Add to the 2nd sentence the following: This would involve the "LAST RECORDED OUT is placed on 2nd base for the tie breaker".

7. Rule 8 Baserunning
Page 116-117 Section 5(b)
Delete Section (b) in the existing rule
Add a NEW SECTION to the letter (b)
New section is in reference to OBSTRUCTION (to lengthy to list here)so please check the rule in its entirety in the new NSA rulebook.

8. Rule 8 Baserunning
Page 118 Section NEW LETTER (f)
Letter (f) shall read: It is umpire's interference when the plate umpire or any part of their clothing interferes with the catcher's attempt to throw out a runner stealing or a pick-off play.
EFFECT: The umpire signals delayed dead ball at the time of interference. If the runner is out, the play stands and the ball remains alive. If the runner is safe, time is called, all runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. The pitched ball counts as a ball/strike on the batter as called by the umpire.
NOTE: It is not umpire interference on a wild pitch or a passed ball.

 

[coachjwb]

Mike - #4 is interesting if I am reading it correctly. Kind of like the DP/Flex but much more flexible, right? Want to make sure I understand it as I want to talk about it briefly on tonight's radio show ...

 

[ApogeeDemon]

I didn't know people from NASA played softball. Go figure.

 

[Field of Dreams]

Wish I could have listened in to tonight's radio show to hear this chat.
it sounds like a modified version of the DP flex with the exception of the fact that the flex can be a runner for the DP every time she comes up to bat without there being a substitution. Seems like the player with a great bat but slow fielding and running could be married with a fast fielder/base runner.
Seems like a great rule addition to me!

 

[Mike_Craig_-_Ohio USSSA]

Sorry guys. Tuesday tends to be family night with me trying to stay away from the computer until the "house" goes to bed.

The person who submitted this rule at the convention is Ed Clark. Ed is Tennessee FP state UIC and also an official that does a lot of NCAA games. He said this was a test type of rule in NCAA this year under a different name. Ed said it went over very well in NCAA this past season and fully expects to see a variation of it come into play in Federation rules in the next season or two since NFHS and NCAA tend to steer toward a lot of the same rule base.

JWB and FOD have the rule correct as the "TWINS" are considered married. This should be a good rule as you can use some strategy with this rule.

Our goal at the National Meeting this year was to get back to our motto of "The Players Association". The rules passed this year not only in FP but also in SP are "player" friendly and go right back to our slogan.

 

[Softballfarm]

Curious if the twin can be used as a courtesy runner? If twin A made the last out, could either one run for the pitcher? I like the rule btw

 

[coachjwb]

I did talk about it on the show last night on the Homerun or Strikeout segment ... there wasn't much discussion in the chatroom on it, but Ricky and I both saw it as a "Homerun". Will be interested to hear opposing views. By the way, you can always go back and listen to the podcast later. This discussion was late in the show ... maybe about 1:45 in.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

6. Rule 5 The Game
Page 103 Section 3(b)
Delete in the 2nd sentence the following: "the last batter of the previous inning whose turn at bat had been completed".
Add to the 2nd sentence the following: This would involve the "LAST RECORDED OUT is placed on 2nd base for the tie breaker".

I find this change curious because it deviates from other rule sets (e.g. ASA and NCAA) and the wording has been a popular misquote of the rule. If a base runner made the last recorded out, are they placed on 2B?

I can see them wanting to fix the flaw in the old wording. Why didn't they just go with the wording in the other rule sets (i.e. batter scheduled to bat last that inning)?

 

[Mike_Craig_-_Ohio USSSA]

These are the two current rules in the book regarding ITB and Courtesy runners. I believe the thinking was to be uniform in which runner goes to second either to start ITB or to courtesy run.

It is hard to find an ASA rulebook online, so help me out with the wording on ITB for both them and the NCAA please?

SECTION 53 TIE BREAKER/EXTRA INNINGS After the completion of seven (7) innings or when the time limit has expired and the score is still tied, the tie-breaker procedure will begin. This would involve the last batter of the previous inning, whose turn at bat had been completed, assuming a position on second base. This would be done at the beginning of each half inning, until, at the conclusion of a full inning, a winner is determined.

COURTESY RUNNER - The player in the batting order where the last out was recorded or any player not currently in the game may replace the current (the player physically playing the position when the 3rd out was recorded) pitcher or catcher as a courtesy runner at any time.

 

[Comp]

ASA tie breaker rule.

5-11-A
"Starting with the top of the eigth inning, and each half inning therafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that repsective half inning being placed on second base."

Basically, whoever the batter is on the lineup card, move up one line and that player is placed on second base. Rule B address if a team is playing short handed and the missing player is the one who should be on 2nd. No out is called, just move to the next player before the short handed player and place them on 2nd.

 

[Run26]

Sad that Rule 3 actually needed to be put in writing. Used to drive us nuts to see these uniforms.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

ASA and NCAA are basically the same - ASA just allows for more than 9 batters in the order. Their wording handles the situation where a defensive substitution has been made for the last batter in the previous inning.

ASA 5-11.A: ... player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning...

NCAA 6.15.1: ... player scheduled to bat ninth in that half inning...

The NFHS rules (2011) leave it to the state associations to specify the tie-breaker procedure.

NSA's courtesy runner rule is more specific ("The player in the batting order where the last out was recorded...") and it gets more complicated later on in the rule to resolve when that player isn't available to run. It would similarly be problematic if a base runner was retired before the last AB was completed.

The ASA and NCAA rules for this are simple and work in all cases. There is no need to re-invent the wheel.

 

[mogsoftball]

Wait so any bats manufactured prior to 2012 are out? so for instance the 2012 CF5 which has the NSA stamp, but the older one not the one pictured above?

 

[Mike_Craig_-_Ohio USSSA]

Correct. If they do not have the 2012 silkscreen, then they are not approved for use in any NSA play.

This is not new information as it was released and has been in the rulebook since 2012. The official date this took effect was also announced in November 2011.

Whenever NSA makes an equipment change, they give plenty of time for teams to either obtain it or for distributors/manufacturers to sell it and manufacture new stock.