2010 Rule Changes

2010 Playing Rule Changes

(Unofficial Document – Changes made be made to the wording prior to being printed.)

Rule 2, Section 1 – Pitching distance for Girls’ Class A 18-Under Fast Pitch, Girls' Class B 18-Under Fast Pitch, Girls' Class A 16-Under Fast Pitch, and Girls' Class B 16-Under Fast Pitch will be 43’.

Comment: All Girls’ Pitch 18-Under and 16-Under Fast Pitch will pitch from 43’.

Rule 2, Section 3, Letter H – The bases, other than home plate, shall be 15" square, be made of canvas or other suitable material and not more than 5" in thickness. The double base shall be used at first base. (15" x 30"), in all divisions of play. This base is 15" x 30". Half the base is white (over fair territory) and half is a contrasting color (over foul territory). The bases should be properly fastened in position.

Comment: To align this section with Rule 8 Section 2 Letter M.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter A – Official Bat:

(1) The official bat shall be free of burs, dents, cracks, sharp edges and audible rattles and show no signs of excessive wear. The Official Bat shall be marked OFFICIAL SOFTBALL by the manufacturer, be no more than 34" long or 38 ounces in weight. The Official Bat shall not be more than 2.250" in diameter at the largest part, including any tolerance for expansion. The official bat shall be smooth and round to 0.050" in diameter.

(2) Must bear either the 2000 certification mark or the ASA 2004 certification mark as shown below and must not be listed on the ASA Non Approved Bat List.

(3) Must be included on a list of approved bat models published by the ASA.

(4) Must, in the sole opinion and discretion of the umpire, have been manufactured prior to 2000 and if tested, would comply with the ASA bat performance standard.

Comment: This better describes an official bat.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter B.

B. Safety Knob. The knob shall have a diameter of at least 1.6" with no sharp edges. The knob will be permanently attached to the bat and may be taped with safety tape.

Comment: Describe the minimum knob now used in ASA.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter C.

C. Handle: The region of the bat from the knob, not including the knob, to the start of the tape where the diameter increases. The handle will include a safety grip.

Comment: Adds definition for a handle.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter D.

D. Safety Grip: Covers the handle region of the bat. The safety grip shall not be less than 10" and not more than 15". There shall be no exposed metal in the 10–15" area. The safety grip may be a molded finger formed grip as long as it is permanently attached to the bat, or attached with Safety Tape. Resin, pine tar or spray substances are permissible on the safety grip only. Any tape applied to the safety grip must be a continuous spiral. A bat having a flare or cone shaped grip attached is legal.

Comment: Eliminates the issue of extra tape.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter E.

E. Taper. The transition area between the handle and the barrel. The taper shall have a generally conical shape. It starts where the barrel decreases in size and ends where the handle diameter becomes constant. The taper shall be free of burs, dents, cracks, sharp edges and audible rattles and show no signs of excessive wear.

Comment: Adds a definition of a taper for our bat manufacturers.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter F.

F. Barrel. The region of bat from the end of the taper to the end cap, not including the end cap. The barrel region shall be round within 0.50".

Comment: Better definition of a barrel.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter G.

G. End Cap. The cap placed at the barrel end of the bat. The end cap shall be permanently affixed to the bat to prevent alterations to the interior of the bat. It shall be affixed so that it cannot be removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging or destroying the end cap or barrel.

Comment: Better defines the end cap.

Rule 3, Section 1, Letter H.

H. Altered Bat. The official bat shall not be an Altered Bat. The distribution of weight and length of the bat shall remain fixed at the time of manufacture and may not be altered in any way thereafter, except otherwise specifically provided for in Rule 3, Section 1 or as specifically approved by the ASA. Inserting material inside the bat, or painting a bat other than the top or bottom for identification purposes are examples of altering a bat. Laser marking for ID purposes is not considered an altered bat. Engraving ID marking on the barrel end of a metal bat is considered an altered bat. Approved bats shall not be rolled, shaved or modified to change their characteristics from that produced by the manufacturer and shall be considered an altered bat.

Comment: A more precise definition of an altered bat.

Rule 3, Section 6, Letter G. Shoes.

G. Must be worn by all participants. A shoe shall be considered official if it is made with either canvas or leather uppers or similar material(s). The soles may be either smooth or have soft or hard rubber cleats. Ordinary metal sole or heel plates may be used if the cleats on the plates do not extend more than 3/4" from the sole or heel of the shoe. Shoes with round metal spikes are illegal. Shoes with detachable cleats that screw on are not permitted however; shoes with detachable cleats that screw INTO the shoe are permitted.

EXCEPTION: Junior Olympic Fast Pitch (10-Under, 12-Under and 14-Under) and all Junior Olympic Slow Pitch, Coed Slow Pitch and Senior Slow Pitch Play. No metal spikes nor hard plastic or polyurethane spikes similar to metal sole and heel plates are allowed.

EFFECT: Players wearing metal cleats after being warned by the umpire shall be EJECTED.

Comment: This allows Girls’ Fast Pitch 16-Under and 18-Under to wear metal cleats.

Rule 3, Section 7. ALL EQUIPMENT.

NOTE: Characteristics of approved equipment cannot be changed. Examples include icing or cooling of any equipment, in addition, approved bats shall not be rolled, shaved or modified to change their characteristics from that produced by the manufacturer.

Comment: Removes heating since data shows it does not change equipment any more than the sun. Also adds rolling and other techniques that change the characteristics of a manufactured bat.

Rule 4, Section 6, Letter C, Number 3.

3. When they complete a turn at bat and are discovered.

Comment: This change would replace “reach first base safely.” This would not allow runs to score if they completed their turn at bat but did not reach first base.

Rule 4, Section 7, Letter C, Number 5.

1. No electronic equipment, to include cell phones, pagers, etc. are allowed to be worn or carried on the playing field.

EFFECT: Disqualification or ejection from the game after a warning.

Comment: Changes “communication” to “electronic.”

Rule 6, Section 3, Letter H. (Modified Pitch, Slow Pitch and 16” Slow Pitch)

H. The ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of at least six (6) feet from the ground while not exceeding a maximum height of ten (10) feet.

Comment: More consistency in judging maximum height.

Rule 6, Section 6, Letter A. FOREIGN SUBSTANCE. (Modified)

A. A defensive player shall not at any time during the game be allowed to use any foreign substance upon the bat. Under the supervision and control of the umpire, powder resin and/or an approved manufactured drying agent may be used by the pitcher that is included on the list published by the ASA. The resin must be left on the ground and the approved drying agent in the pitcher’s pocket. A pitcher who licks their fingers must wipe the fingers off before bringing them in contact with the ball.

EFFECT: An illegal pitch shall be called on the first offense. If any defensive player continues to place a foreign substance on the ball, the player should be ejected from the game. If any other substance is found in the pitcher’s pocket, the pitcher shall be ejected.

Comment: This allows modified pitchers to now use a drying agent.

Rule 8, Section 10. COURTESY RUNNERS (Fast Pitch and Modified Pitch)

Comment: This now allows modified pitch to have courtesy runners for the pitcher and/or catcher just as Fast Pitch does.

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Page last updated: Tuesday March 23, 2010