Fairfax Adult Softball 2015 Umpire Training

1. Fairfax Adult Softball 2015 Umpire Training SESSION 3 ASA RULE 6 – Pitching Regulations ASA RULE 7 – Batting

2. RULE 6Pitching Regulations

3. Illegal Pitch • For any illegal pitch infractions: • Umpire gives Delayed Dead Ball Signal • Umpire verbally declares “Illegal” or “Flat” • Loud enough for batter and catcher to hear • If batter swings and misses a strike is called • If batter swings and makes any contact, fair or foul, the illegal pitch is nullified and all play stands • If batter does not swing, a ball is called on the batter.

4. Before the Pitch The Pitcher must: • Take a position with both feet firmly on the ground, • Have one or both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate OR the area defined by the 24” width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate, Effect: Delayed Dead Ball, Illegal Pitch.

5. Before the Pitch The Pitcher: • Must come to a full and complete stop with the ball in front of the body (at least one second), • Must have the front of the body facing the batter, and • Is not considered in the pitching position unless the catcher is in a position to receive the pitch. Effect: Delayed Dead Ball, Illegal Pitch.

6. Before the Pitch • The pitcher may not simulate a legal pitch while not in contact with the pitcher’s plate/pitchers area. Effect: Dead Ball, (not delayed dead ball), an illegal pitch ruled, a warning is issue. Repeated action results in the pitcher ruled illegal and removed from the pitching position.

7. Starting the Pitch The pitch starts when the pitcher makes any motion with the ball AFTER the required stop. Prior to the required stop, any motion may be used.

8. The Delivery • Pitcher must not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball to the batter. • The Pitcher has 10 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball or after the umpire indicates “play ball.” • If the Pitcher holds the ball over 10 seconds, a ball will be called on the batter. (Use discretion when calling the ball.)

9. The Delivery • Ball must be delivered to home plate: • In a continuous motion, no stop and go or reversal, • On the first forward swing of the pitching arm past the hip with an underhand motion. • Palm may be over or under the ball. • Pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate or the area defined by the 24” width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate. Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically and a ball on the batter if not swung at or hit.

10. The Delivery • If the pitcher takes a step, it may be forward, backward, or to the side, provided: • The step is simultaneous with the release of the ball, AND • Pivot foot remains in contact with the pitcher’s plate or the area defined by the 24” width of and up to 6’ behind the pitcher’s plate. Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically and a ball on the batter if not swung at or hit.

11. Against the Rules • The Pitcher cannot: • Make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the pitch, • Stop or reverse the pitching motion, • Deliver a pitch from the glove UNLESS the pitcher is playing under the FAS ADA rules, • Pitch the ball behind the back or through the legs • Continue any pitching motion after the ball is released. Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically and a ball on the batter unless swung at or hit.

12. Against the Rules • Foreign substances are not allowed on the ball, pitching hand, or fingers at any time (ANY defensive player). • Illegal pitch on the first offense • Continued offense will result in an ejection • Powdered resin is allowed to dry hands • Pitcher may wear tape on the fingers or a sweatband on the wrist or forearm of the pitching arm. • Batting gloves may not be worn on the pitching hand. Effect: An illegal pitch is called on the first offense. If any defensive player continues to place a foreign substance on the ball, the player shall be ejected.

13. Review – Pitching Motion • Prior to contact with the pitcher’s plate • No motion to pitch is allowed • After contact with the pitcher’s plate and before the required stop • Any motion may be used • After stop • Pitch starts with the first motion • After release • Motion can not continue

14. Pitch Speed • Pitch must be released at a moderate speed (in the umpire’s judgment). • If pitch speed is excessive, umpire shall notify the coach that a warning is being issued. • If the pitcher pitches another excessive speed pitch after being warned, remove the pitcher from the pitcher position for the remainder of the game. Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically and a ball on the batter if swung at or hit.

15. Quick Pitches • The pitcher cannot attempt a “quick return” of the ball before the batter has taken a position in the batter’s box or when the batter is off balance. • Unless the batter requests and the umpire allows time from the umpire, the pitcher may deliver the pitch when received. Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically, a ball is called unless swung at or hit.

16. Pitching Arc • The pitch must: • Be delivered with a perceptible arc, • Reach a height of at least 6’ from the ground, and • Reach a height of at most 12’ from the ground (ASA is 10-feet-this is an FAS exception). • KEY: Consistency with what you establish as your 6-feet and your 12 feet. Error on the side of 11 feet, 6 inches, rather than 12 feet, 1 inch! Effect: Illegal Pitch signaled verbally and mechanically, ball on the batter unless swung at or hit.

17. Defensive Positioning The pitcher shall not deliver a pitch unless all defensive players, except the catcher, are positioned in FAIR territory. • Effect: No Pitch No fielder can take a position in the batter’s line of vision or deliberately distract the batter with unsportsmanlike intent. • A pitch does not have to be released • The offending player shall be ejected from the game.

18. The Catcher • FAS does not enforce the lines for a catcher’s box. • The catcher shall return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch. Exception: After a strikeout with bases empty, the catcher may throw the ball “around the horn” or not directly back to the pitcher. Effect: Illegal pitch; ball called on batter or on next batter.

19. Warm-Up Pitches • At the beginning of each half inning or when a pitcher relieves another, not more than one minute may be used to deliver up to 3 warm-up pitches. • Excessive warm-up pitches will result in a ball to the batter for each pitch. • A pitcher returning to pitch in the same half inning will not receive any warm-up pitches. • No limitations on the number of times a legal pitcher may return to the pitching position.

20. No Pitch A no-pitch is declared when: • Pitcher pitches during the suspension of play, • Runner is called out for leaving a base before the pitched ball reaches home plate, is batted, or touches the ground before reaching home plate, • A pitch is delivered before a runner has RE-touched their base after being legitimately off that base,

21. No Pitch A no-pitch is declared when: • The ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during the delivery or back swing, or • A player or coach calls time or commits any act while the ball is live for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit an illegal pitch. Effect: Dead Ball, all subsequent action on the pitch is cancelled. No ball or strike awarded.

22. RULE 7Batting

23. On-Deck Batter • Only one on-deck batter at a time. • Can only have: • Up to 2 bats, • Approved Warm-Up Equipment, or • Combination of the above not to exceed 2. • Can leave the on-deck area: • When they become the batter or • To direct runner(s) from 3rd base to home.

24. On-Deck Batter If the on-deck batter interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play: • If it involves a runner, the runner closest to home at the time of the interference is out. • If it is with the defensive fielder fielding a fly ball, the batter is out.

25. Batting Order • The batting order is how the players are scheduled to bat. • Upon request, team lineups must be presented to the opposing team prior to the start of the game and must include at a minimum each player’s first initial and last name (official line-up cards are not required). • The first batter in each inning shall be the batter whose name follows the last player who completed a turn at bat in the previous inning. • When the 3rd out is made BEFORE the batter completed their at bat, they lead off the next inning.

26. Batting Out of Order • Batting out of order is an APPEAL PLAY that can only be made by the defensive team BEFORE: • The next pitch (legal or illegal) to the following batter • All infielders have clearly left their positions and fair territory on their way to the dugout area.

27. Batting Out of Order If batting out of order is discovered while the incorrect batter is at bat: • The correct batter takes the batter’s position immediately and assumes the ball-strike count. • NO penalty whether discovered by the offense or defense while the incorrect batter is at bat.

28. Batting Out of Order If batting out of order is discovered AFTER the incorrect batter completed their turn at bat and BEFORE the next pitch(legal or illegal) to the following batter or all infielders have clearly left their positions and fair territory, or on the last play of the game, before the umpire leaves the field of play:

29. Batting Out of Order • The improper batter’s time at bat is negated – as if he never bats. • The player who should have batted is out • Any runners that advanced or runs scored are nullified • Runners not called out return to the last base occupied at the pitch

30. Batting Out of Order • All outs made prior to the discovery will stand except for any out made on the improper batter • The next batter is the player whose name follows that of the player called out for failing to bat.

31. Batting Out of Order White equals what happened; yellow equals the players after Steve hits safely. Jeff Ross Joe Jeff Ross Steve What happens if Steve is discovered while in the box? What happens if Steve is discovered after hitting safely and is standing on 1st Base. Steve (bats out of order) Joe(scores on Steve’s hit)

32. Batting Out of Order If batting out of order is discovered after the next pitch to the NEXT batter or after all infielders have clearly left their positions and fair territory on their way to the dugout area:

33. Batting Out of Order • The turn at bat of the incorrect batter is legal. • All runs scored, runners advanced, and outs made are legal. • Next batter is the one that follows the incorrect batter. • No out is called for failure to bat. • Player(s) that did not bat and not called out lose their turn at bat until reached again in the regular order.

34. Batting Out of Order • Runners shall not be removed from the base occupied to bat in the proper position. • The correct batter skips their turn at bat with no penalty. • The batter following the correct batter, now skipped, in the batting order becomes the legal batter.

35. Coed Batting Order • Coed batting orders alternate genders. • In making a substitution to the batting order, remember this guideline applies: if the substitution creates a lineup that, in number and gender, would have been a legal starting lineup, then the substitution may be made. A manager may not change a lineup in such a way as to create a lineup that would not have been legal to start the game.

36. Coed Batting Order • Males hit 12” YELLOW softballs-Dudley Thunder Hycon ONLY! • Females hit 11” YELLOW softballs. (Exception: Females batting in Reston Church hit 12” softballs.) • If the wrong ball is used, the offensive team has the option of accepting the result of the play or require the last batter to bat again with the ball-strike count prior to the wrong ball being used.

37. Batting Position • Batter must have both feet completely within the lines of the batter’s box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside the lines prior to the pitch. • Batter has up to 10 seconds to take the position in the batter’s box. • If the batter takes longer than 10 seconds, call a strike (no pitch has to be thrown and dead ball). • The batter shall assume a one ball, one-strike count upon entering the box.

38. Batting Position • Batter may not step out of the batter’s box to stop play unless the umpire grants time. • Play continues • Pitch will be judged a ball or strike, as normal. • The batter shall not step directly in front of the catcher to the other batter’s box while the pitcher is in position to pitch, or anytime thereafter prior to the release of the pitch. • The ball is dead, the batter is out.

39. Strikes and Balls IN SENIORS PLAY • A strike shall be called for each legally pitched ball that lands and touches any portion of home plate or the strike zone mat. • A ball shall be called for each legally pitched ball that lands and does not touch any portion of home plate or the strike zone mat.

40. Strikes A strike is called . . . • Legally pitched ball that passes through the strike zone before touching the ground and the batter does not swing. • Ball can actually hit the batter. • Batter cannot prevent the ball from entering the strike zone (other than hitting the ball with a bat).

41. Strikes A strike is called . . . • Batter swings and misses prior to the ball hitting the ground. • Foul tip even if caught unless 3rd strike. • Foul ball. • If the batter does not take the batter’s position within 10 seconds after being directed by the umpire.

42. Strikes A strike is called . . . If a pitched ball is swung at, missed, and then hit on the follow through, it is a strike and a dead ball. When any part of the batter’s person or clothing is hit with a batted ball while the batter is in the batter’s box.

43. Strikes

44. Balls A ball is called . . . • Legally pitched ball that the batter does not swing at that: • Does not pass through the strike zone, • Touches the ground before reaching home plate, or • Touches home plate.

45. Balls A ball is called . . . • Illegally pitched ball not swung at or hit. • Catcher fails to return the ball directly to the pitcher. • For each excessive warm-up pitch.

46. FAS 1-1 Rule The batter begins each turn at bat with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. The batter walks on four balls and is considered out on the third strike, unless the third strikes is fouled off, in which case the batter gets one more strike (Courtesy Foul). If the next pitch is a strike or fouled off, the batter is out.

47. The Batter is Out • The batter is called out . . . • After the 3rd strike (including a foul ball that is hit after 2 strikes). • When the third strike is: • NOT swung at, and the pitched ball hits the batter while the pitch is in the strike zone • When the pitched ball is prevented form entering the strike zone by the batter doing something other than hitting the ball.

48. The Batter is Out The batter is called out . . . Batter enters the batter’s box with or is discovered using an altered, non-approved or illegal bat. This results in an ejection and that spot in the batting order can never be substituted for.

49. The Batter is Out • The batter is called out . . . • When discovered using an altered, non-approved or illegal bat after completing their turn at bat and before the next pitch, legal or illegal. • This also results in an ejection and that spot in the batting order can never be substituted for • All outs stand, all other runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

50. The Batter is Called Out • Batter’s ENTIRE foot is touching the ground COMPLETELY outside the batter’s box when the batter hits the ball (fair or foul). • Batter’s foot (any part) touches home plate when the batter hits the ball (fair or foul). • Batter bunts or chops the ball (fair or foul).