Rutgers University Softball Officials Training

1. Rutgers University Softball Officials Training Thursday, March 27 & Sunday, April 30th

2. Staff Introductions • RU Professional Staff • Paul Fischbach, Associate Director • Kate Quinlan, Coordinator • Sean Butler, Assistant Coordinator • Student Director of Officials • Andrew Hoffer • Softball Clinicians • Matt Sadofsky • Dylan D’Alessio • Sylar Alston • Emily Malley • Supervisors

3. Why are you here and what are our expectations? 2

4. What it means to be an official for Rutgers recreation • As a official, you represent Rutgers Recreation and the Intramural Department. We expect all of the staff to conduct themselves in a professional manner to ensure the safety of our participants and staff, and to uphold the integrity of our program.

5. Officiating College StudentsASa College Student!

6. Expectations • Arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of every game • Ex) 7pm game time arrive at 6:30pm! • Assist Supervisors with set-up/clean-up • Know the rules and what teams are playing • Do not be afraid to ask questions and review rules with supervisors/directors prior to start of game! • Get to know your fellow referees • You should know the names of the people you are working with! Talk before each game to make sure you know what your position’s responsibilities are. This is a team effort!

7. Pregame Checklist • Inspect the fields upon arrival with supervisors, make sure it is clear and ready for play. • Pick up your referee jersey and other equipment at the field and be sure to return it immediately following the conclusion of your assigned game(s). • Keep track of all equipment. Make sure everything borrowed is returned. • Assist RUIM Supervisor with collecting ID’s, having teams sign in on the score sheet.

8. Look the Part, Have the Tools • Referee jersey (tucked in at all times) • Black shorts/pants, weather appropriate gear • Wear sneakers or non-metal cleats • Remember that you are a representative of Rutgers Recreation and Rutgers University. Therefore, your dress and actions should reflect a high degree of courtesy and professionalism.

9. Officials Conduct (Mindset) • Attitude & Effort • BE ASSERTIVE! • No matter how upset a player may get let both teams know that all calls made are final. • Never second guess or compensate for a call. • LET YOUR MIND DIGEST WHAT YOUR EYES HAVE SEEN • Keep your cool in stressful situations • Communicate, we are a team • Have fun!

10. Beginning the Game

11. The Playing Field • The field is area bounded by the dead ball lines. • The bases are 65 feet apart. • The pitcher’s plate is 50 feet from the back point of the plate.

12. Equipment • RUIM provides the ball and bats • Players may only use the bats and balls we provide • Gloves • All defensive players are required to wear a glove, any field player may use a first baseman's mitt. • RUIM does provide gloves • Billed Hats are permitted • Catchers Equipment and Umpires • Provided by RUIM. All other masks are not permitted unless that are NOCSAE approved.

13. Jewelry Rule When an umpire observes a participant wearing jewelry they will ask them to remove it at the first dead ball. If the player refuses to remove the jewelry they may be given a formal warning. If a team has excessive jewelry violations the umpire may issue a team warning. Any further violation may result in that player being restricted to the dugout.

14. The Game • GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME • Teams • Regulation Game • 7 innings – 3 outs will end a half inning • 50 Minute No New Innings Call • Tied Games in regular season vs. playoffs • Forfeited Games • Called Games

15. The Game • Scoring of Runs • Must touch bases in order • A team does not score a run if the third out of an inning results from the following situations: • A force out • A runner is put out by a tag or appeal • A preceding runner is declared out by appeal • Appeals can be made after the 3rd out and nullify runs • Dugout Conduct

16. Mercy Rule • The 10-run mercy rule will apply after 5 innings or 4 ½ if the home team is ahead 10 runs. • The 15-run mercy rule will apply after 4 innings or 3 ½ if the home team is ahead 15 runs. • The 20-run mercy rule will apply after 3 innings or 2 ½ if the home team is ahead 20 runs. • Summary: • 10 after 5, 15 after 4, 20 after 3

17. Lineups • Team Captain’s will submit batting lineups to the RUIM Supervisor prior to the start of the game. • 10 players is a full roster • May play with 8, or 9 • May bat 11 but only have 10 play the field • NOT permitted in CoRec • Playing Shorthanded • Results in an automatic out in the empty spots in the lineup (these can be spaced out between players)

18. Players and Substitutes • Players and Subs • Person for Person Substitution • Substitutes must be listed and designated as such on the batting order submitted to the Intramural Sports Supervisor prior to the game.

19. Players and Substitutes • Short Hand Rule • May start with 8 or 9 but take automatics out in the empty lineup spots • Teams may not give the option of not having automatic outs • Continuation of Participation Because of Injury, Bleeding, or Open Wound • Unsportsmanlike Conduct • Taunting • Being outside the bench area inappropriately • Carelessly throwing a bat • Arguing a judgment call

20. Pitching Pitcher’s Mound • Preliminaries • Hold for 1 second before releasing the pitch • Start of Pitch • Can hold the ball in anyway • Legal Delivery • No overhand pitches • Between 6-12ft. At the apex of the pitch

21. Pitching • Defensive Positioning • Must be in fair territory except catcher • Foreign Substance • Quick Pitch • Must wait for the batter to be in the batters box • Illegal Pitches • Will result in a ball unless the the batter swings, then the result of the swing will stand • Warm Up Pitches • 1 per half inning • No Pitch

22. Batting • Batting Order • Batting Position • Completely inside the batters box • Ball and Strike Count • Starts at 1-1 • Strike • The pitch must meet the legal requirements AND hit home plate or the extension behind it • Ball • If the pitch does not meet the requirements of a strike • Foul • A 2nd Foul Ball on Strike 3 will be an Out

23. Batting • Outs • 3 strikes • Bunting • On- Deck Batter • In the on deck area

24. Base Running • Advancement • The Batter Becomes a Runner • Batter-Runner Called Out • Infield Fly Rule • Less than 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd or bases loaded • Example • Example 2

25. Base Running • Base Runners Called Out • Base Runners Entitled to Advance but Still Be Put Out • Live ball in play • Caught fly ball…etc • Base Runners Entitled to Advance and Not Be Put Out • Ball batted into dead ball territory • Forced to advance due to a walk…etc

26. Base Running • Base Runners Forfeit Exemption from Liability to be Put Out • Touch bases in wrong order • Momentum carries runner past 1st • Base Runners Return to Their Bases • Base Stealing Not Permitted • Base Runner are Not Out • Courtesy Runners • NO HEADFIRST SLIDING! Results in an Out NOTE: Players may slide head first back to a bag

27. Interference • An act by players or others that interferes with a fielder’s opportunity to make a play on a batted or thrown ball. Contact is not necessary. • Player is OUT

28. Fielding • Dead Ball Territory • If the ball is thrown into dead ball territory the base runners will receive the base they were running to + 1 at the time of the throw. • If a fielder gets the ball but carries it out of bounds (Catch n carry). The base runners will get the base they were running to

29. Obstruction • Occurs in either of the following situations: • A defensive player or team member hinders or prevents a batter from striking at or hitting a pitched ball. • A fielder who is not in possession of the ball, in the act of fielding a batted ball, or about to receive a thrown ball impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases. • The base runner is awarded the bases the umpire feels they would have gotten had the obstruction not occurred • Let's see who this gets riled up.......

30. Live/Dead Balls • Ball is live when… • Ball is dead when…

31. Appeals • If a team wishes to appeal a play the ball must be returned to the Pitchers Mound, the Pitcher will turn to the calling umpire and announce an appeal. • Appeals can be made for the following: • Failing to touch a base in order • Tag Ups • Batting Order • If deemed an correct appeal the appropriate base runner will be call “Out” • In this case any base runners that scored before the player being called out will have their runs count, unless the appeal is on a Force Out that is the 3rd Out.

32. CoRec Rules • Team Composition • 3 of each gender when 10 players • 2 of each gender when 8-9 players • Extra Player • Not permitted • Defensive Positioning • Pitcher/Catcher different genders • Batting Order • Must alternate male-female when possible • Base on Balls and Intentional Walks

33. Questions??

34. Clinic Times Things to remember: Arrive early Wear appropriate attire be PROFESSIONAL Attitude and Effort Games Start: TBD