2012 TCSA Umpire Clinic

1. 2012 TCSA Umpire Clinic By: Alvin Lam Y-S Columbus Leo Last update May 24, 2012

2. Basic Information • See http://tcsasports.org for rules, news.. • A team must provide a minimum of two (2) carded umpires; each game must have 2+ umps • If only one carded ump, the Home Plate Umpire must be a carded umpire • Each umpiring team are being scored (by both teams) for each game – Points determine Lords Cup Winner and will determine season seeding

3. Christian League • TCSA is a Christian league; Christian spirit • Softball Canada rules, which in turn uses ASA rules as the basis. TCSA add-on rules over-ride.  • Full game consists of 7 innings • In the event that a game is stopped due to hazardous weather (i.e. rain, lightening, etc), a complete game is considered to be 5 innings (41/2 if home team is winning)

4. Pre-Game • Timing of Game • 15 minute Grace Period • Do not start another inning 15 min prior to start of next game if there is a game afterwards • Keep Track of Score • Check with scorekeeper of both teams after every ½ inning • 7-run mercy rule except for the last inning and extra innings

5. Introductions • Check: • Equipment/ base/pylon position; balls • Home team responsible to supply full equipment* • Initial home team to do devotions • Number of Players – 3 M : 1 F ratio • Proper Uniform (deduct points by opposing team) • Helmets for players 18 or under • Blood rule: no blood on body or uniform; must cover up or change

6. Beginning of Game • Introduction of both teams and begin with opening prayer (home team) before the game. • Ground Rules • Define Lines • Foul & Dead Ball Territories • (Warning) Jewellery (caught when batters steps into batter’s box) • Includes non-metal jewellery (e.g. rubber/string wristbands) • (Warning) Swearing • (Warning) Thrown Bat, helmets • No Metal spike shoes • etc…(i.e. dented or non-ASA bats, smoking, drinking)

7. Players & Lineups • Each team needs minimum 8 players to start the game at least 3 of which are females • no players can be added after the 1st inning and/or if team has already gone through batting lineup • 3:1 ratio – no more than 3 males can bat consecutively in the lineup • check lineup before game to avoid scenarios like the one below • if ratio is found to be upset during game, lineup must be corrected immediately • Defensive team can have 8, 9 or 10 fielders • 8 fielders – 0 rover, at least 3 females • 9 fielders – 1 rover, at least 3 females • 10 fielders – 2 rovers, at least 4 females

8. Players & Lineups (continued) • Ghost Girl rule (6.3.4) • Used to satisfy the 3:1 ratio when there is excess number of males only • Designated batting slots where girls rotate • No ghost guys • Injured player (6.3.5) • Injured player taken out of the line-up (cannot return this game) shall not result in penalty (No outs) • Turn-at-bat is skipped • If it upsets the 3:1 ratio => Ghost Girl Rule • If less than minimum (8 players w/ at least 3 females), game is forfeited.

9. TSCA Diamond (positions) • Positions • Pitcher • Catcher • 1st baseman • 2nd baseman • 3rd baseman • Shortstop • Left fielder • Centre fielder • Right fielder • Rover(s)

10. TSCA Diamond (lines) • Lines • Player’s line • Pitcher’s line • Commitment line • Safe line • 150’ defence line

11. 150 feet Defence Line (7.2.3) • An arc 150 feet from home plate • Rovers and outfielders cannot be positioned inside this line at the start of the play • They may only come into the infield after the pitched ball is hit • If violated: Obstruction will be called and a delay dead ball will be signalled, or one base • No outfielder may make a direct throw for force out on the batter-runner at 1B.

12. Player’s Line (7.2.2) • Imaginary line from 1B to 3B • No fielder can cross the line until the pitched ball is hit • If violated: Obstruction will be called and a delay dead ball will be signalled

13. Commitment Line (7.2.4) • When a runner crosses this line (as soon as any part of the runner is on the ground and it passes or touches the safe line) but does not reach the safe line, s/he is called out when an defensive player has the ball and is in contact with home plate • Runner who have crossed the line may not return to third base. • Tagging of runners between commitment and safe lines will be considered an obstruction (runner is safe)

14. Safe Line (7.2.5) • This line is drawn from the front corner of the home plate closest to 3B. Perpendicular to 3B line • A runner scores as soon as any part of the runner is on the ground and it passes or touches the safe line • The runner will be called out for touching home plate • Sliding is prohibited at home plate

15. Game Situation – In game • Helmet: All batter/runners and on-deck, 18yr or under must wear a helmet; no helmet –> out; • Foul Tips behind Home Plate (7.5) • Foul tips caught behind home plate do not need to reach 10’. Regardless of height, if a ball is hit back and the catcher makes a legal catch, the batter is out. • Leadoffs • Runners may not leave their bases until a pitched ball is hit (bat must make contact with ball) • If caught, runner is OUT, play is dead and all runners return to last base and ball is re-pitched ONLY if batter has not made an attempt to hit the ball • Multiple leadoffs, only one (first) runner is out

16. Infield Fly (7.8.2) • Less than 2 outs with runners at (1B & 2B) or (1B, 2B & 3B) • Must be a catchable ball with “ordinary” effort • Batter is automatically out IF ball is fair • If foul, treat it like a foul ball • Live ball, runners may advance at their own discretion (not dead ball) • Ump yells “Infield fly ball if fair, batter is out”

17. Safety Bag (7.2.6) • 1B (White in fair territory, Orange in foul territory) On initial play to 1B: • Fielders always touch white • Batter-runners must touch orange • Batter-runners may touch any part of 1B when ball is hit to outfield. After reaching 1B safely, the entire bag is playable by runner and fielder.

18. Obstruction (7.8.4) • Defence Obstructs (DO) • Fielders obstructing runners progress • Delayed dead ball • Umpires will award the base(s), in umpire’s judgement that should be awarded to the runner had the runner not been obstructed, after the play is over/dead • If the obstructed runner is put out after passing the base he would have reached had there not been obstruction, the obstructed runner will be called OUT • Give warning to fielder(s)

19. Interference (7.8.3) • Offence Interferes (OI) • Batter or runners interferes with ball or fielder • Dead ball and runner is OUT • If the interference is to deliberately break up a double play, 2 OUTS will be awarded. • Batter & all runner(s) return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch. • Ball is NOT re-pitched and a strike is counted

20. Overthrows (7.8.1) • When the ball is in play and is overthrown out of play (beyond boundary lines) or is blocked, all runners will be awarded two bases (from the last touched base) and the award will be governed by the position of the runners when the ball left the fielder’s hand. • Note: If the fielder loses possession of the ball, such as an attempted tag, and the ball enters the dead ball area, all runners are rewarded one base.

21. Batting • Thrown bats • one warning for both teams. Next thrown bat results in an OUT • Bunt • Contact between bat and ball which does not involve a full swing. A STRIKE is called • Chopped ball • Motion of the bat determines if the ball is chopped, no the motion of the ball. STRIKE is called

22. Signals • Safe • Out • Fair • Foul • Time • Trapped Ball • Infield Fly • Obstruction • Don’t pitch

23. Quick Summary

24. Positioning of Umpires • (Refer to document) • Be professional • Be alert

25. Bases

27. Post Game • All players who participated in the softball game must attend devotions. No exceptions • Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the game.

28. Softball Canada/ASA rules and bats • All bats must be ASA Approved.  That is, the bat must have the 2000 or 2004 ASA stamp, and is NOT in the non-approved list.  Please see this link: • http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp