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SOFTBALL PLAYING RULES

RULE 1 - DEFINITIONS

Whenever "she" or "her" or their related pronouns may appear in this rule book either as words or as parts of words, they have been used for literary purposes and are meant in

their generic sense (i.e., to include all human kind, or both male and female sexes).

ALTERED BAT: A bat is considered altered when the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed. A "flare" or "cone" grip attached to the bat handle, inserting material inside the bat, applying excessive tape (more than two layers) to the bat grip or painting a bat other than at the top or bottom for identification purposes are examples of altering a bat. Replacing the grip with another legal grip is not considered altering the bat. Any bat that has been physically changed in any way, except for the tape on the handle.

APPEAL PLAY: An appeal play is a play on which an umpire may not make a decision until requested by a manager, coach or player. The appeal may not be made after any one of the following has occurred:

            1. A legal or illegal pitch,

            2. The pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory,

            3. The umpires have left the field of play.

A play in which the umpire cannot make a call on until a player or coach asks the umpire first.

BASE ON BALLS: A base on balls permits a batter to gain first base without liability to be put out and is awarded to a batter by the umpire when four pitches are judged to be out of the strike zone.

BASE LINE: A base line is an imaginary direct line between the bases.

BASE PATH: A base path is a direct line between a base and the runner's position at the time a defensive player is attempting (or about to attempt) to tag a runner. The path between the bases. Three feet on both sides of the bag that runs parallel from the base pad and centerline. (Base runners position also establishes base path.)

BATTED BALL: A batted ball is any ball that hits the bat or is hit by the bat and lands either in fair or foul territory. No intent to hit the ball is necessary.

BATTER'S BOX: The batter's box is the area in which the batter is positioned while at bat. The lines are considered as being within the batter's box.

BATTER-RUNNER: A batter-runner is a player who has finished a turn at bat but has not yet been put out or touched first base. An offensive batter that has just put the ball in play becomes a base runner.

BATTING ORDER: The batting order is a player who has finished a turn at bat but has not yet been put out or touched first base.

BLOCKED BALL: A blocked ball is a batted or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game, or which touches any object that is not part of the official equipment or official playing area.

BLOOD RULE: Refers to a player, coach or umpire who is bleeding or who has blood on their uniform and treatment is required.

BUNT: A bunt is a ball that is intentionally tapped with the bat, slowly, within the infield. A bunt should never be considered an infield fly. When a batter taps the pitched ball and attempts to put the ball in play. Note: If a batter presents her bat for a bunt and does not pull it back prior to the ball reaching her, a strike will be called.

CATCH: A catch is a legally caught ball, which occurs when the fielder catches a batted, pitched or thrown ball with the hand(s) or glove.

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A. In establishing a valid catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove complete control of it and/or that the release of the fall is voluntary or intentional. If a player drops the ball after reaching into the glove to remove it or while in the act of throwing, it is a valid catch.

B. If the ball is merely held in the fielder's arm(s) or prevented from dropping to the ground by some part of the fielder's body, equipment or clothing, the catch is not completed until the ball is in the grasp of the fielder's hand(s) or glove.

C. The fielder's feet must be within the field of play, touching the "out of play" line or in the air after leaving live ball territory in order to have a valid catch. A player who is "out of play" and returns must have both feet touching the playable area or one foot touching or the other in the air, before the catch is legal.

D. It is not a catch, if a fielder (while gaining control), collides with another player, umpire or a fence, or falls to the ground and drops the ball as a result of the collision or falling to the ground.

E. A ball which strikes anything other than a defensive player while it is in flight, is ruled the same as if it struck the ground.

F. An illegally caught ball occurs when a fielder catches a batted or thrown ball with anything other than the hand(s) or glove in its proper place. Should the catcher catch any fly ball with the mask, the batter is not out.

CATCH AND CARRY: A legal catch that a defensive player carries into dead ball territory.

CATCHER'S BOX: The area defined by lines, which are considered within the catcher's box. The catcher's body and equipment are considered within the box unless touching the ground outside the box. The catcher must remain in the box until the pitch is released.

CHARGED CONFERENCE: A charged conference takes place when:

A. Offensive Conference. The offensive team requests a suspension of play to allow the manager or other team representative to confer with the batter, another team representative, and/or runner(s).

B. Defensive Conference. The defensive team requests a suspension of play, and representative enters the playing field and talks with any defensive player. Anytime a coach gets permission to suspend play to talk to the players. (Only 2 offensive or defensive conferences allowed per inning, except to replace a pitcher.)

COUTESY RUNNER: A courtesy runner is any player who runs for a runner without a charged substitution.

CROW HOP: A crow hop is defined as the act of a pitcher who steps, hops or drags off the front of the pitcher's plate, replants the pivot foot, establishing a second impetus (or starting point), pushes off from the newly established point and completes the delivery. When a pitcher's plant foot leaves contact with the ground before the ball leaves her hand during a pitch.

DEAD BALL: The term used for a ball that:

            1. Touches any object or player out-of-play,

            2. Is lodged in umpire's gear or in an offensive player's clothing,

3. The umpire has ruled dead. A dead ball line is considered in play. When the ball is not in play the umpire will declare "dead ball".

DEFENSIVE TEAM: The defensive team is the team in the field.

DISLODGED BASE: A dislodged base is a base displaced from its proper position.

DISQUALIFIED PLAYER: A player removed from the game for a rule violation. A team may continue to play shorthanded if no substitutes are available. Any disqualified player discovered in the game will constitute a forfeit.

DOUBLE PLAY: A double play is a play by the defense in which two offensive players are legally put out as a result of continuous action.

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DUGOUT: An out-of-play area designated for player, coaches, bat girls and official representatives of the team only. There shall be no smoking in this area.

EJECTED PLAYER: A player or coach removed from the game by the umpire, usually for an unsportsmanlike act or conduct. A flagrant act will require the player or coach to leave the grounds for the remainder of the game. A team may NOT continue to play shorthanded. If no substitutes are available the game is a forfeit. Any ejected player or coach discovered participating in the game would constitute a forfeit.

EXTRA PLAYER: An extra player is optional, but it allows a team to play up to eleven players on offense and nine on defense. NOTE: If eleven players are used they must remain in the same batting order throughout the entire game.

FAIR BALL: A batted ball shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time the fielder touches the ball. It does not matter whether the ball first touches fair or foul territory, as long as it does not touch anything foreign to the natural ground in foul territory and complies with all other aspects of a fair ball. A fair ball is a legally batted ball that:

            A. Settles or is touched on or over fair territory between home and first base or between home and third             base,

B. Bounds over or past first or third base, which is in fair territory, regardless of where the ball hits after going over the base,

C. While on or over fair territory, touches the person, equipment or clothing of a player or an umpire.

D. While over fair territory, a runner interferes with a defensive player attempting to field a batted ball,

            E. Touches first, second or third base

F. First falls or is first touched on or over fair territory beyond first, second or third base,

G. While over fair territory, passes out of the playing field beyond the out-field fence,

            H. Hits the foul pole.

FAIR TERRITORY: Fair territory is that part of the playing field within, and including, the first and third base foul lines from home plate to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards.

FAKE TAG: A form of obstruction by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is about to receive the ball, and which impedes the progress of a runner either advancing or returning to a base. The runner does not have to stop or slide. Merely slowing down when a fake tag is attempted would constitute obstruction. When a defensive player makes the motion of tagging a base runner. Penalty could be ejection of the offending player.

FIELDER: A fielder I any player of the team in the field.

FLY BALL: A fly ball is any ball batted into the air.

FORCE OUT: A force out is an out which may be made only when a runner loses the right to the base that the runner is occupying because the batter becomes a batter-runner, and before the batter-runner or a succeeding runner has been put out. If the forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats for any reason towards the base last occupied, the force play is reinstated and the runner may again be put out if the defense tags the runner or the base to which the runner is forced.

FOUL BALL: A foul ball is a batted ball that:

            A. Settles or is touched on or over foul territory between home and first base or between home and third             base,

            B. Bounds or rolls past first or third base on or over foul territory,

C. While over foul territory touches the person, attached equipment or clothing of a player or an umpire, or any object foreign to the natural ground, 

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            D. While over foul territory, a runner interferes with a defensive player attempting to field a batted ball,

E. First hits the ground or is first touched over foul territory beyond first or third base. A caught fly ball is not a foul ball,

F. Touches the batter or the bat in the batter's hand(s) a second time while the batter is within the batter's box,

            G. Goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter's head, to any part of the catcher's body or       equipment and is caught by another fielder.

FOUL TIP: A batted ball that goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter's head, to the catcher's hand(s) or glove and is legally caught by the catcher. When the batted ball is glanced off the bat and into the catcher's glove.

HESITATION: When a base runner advances toward a base and then retreats back to previous base when the pitcher has possession of the ball in the Picher’s circle and the pitcher does not attempt to make a play on the base runner.

HIT BY PITCH: When the batter is hit by the pitched ball and the batter is not swinging at the ball or a strike is not called. Dead ball results with the batter advancing to first base.

HOME TEAM: The home team shall be designated by mutual agreement or by a flip of a coin.

ILLEGAL BAT: An illegal bat is one that does not meet the requirements of Rule 2, Section 1. Any bat that has been altered from its original condition (other than grip tape on the handle).

ILLEGALLY BATTED BALL: An illegally batted ball occurs when the batter hits the ball fair or foul and;

A. When, at the time the bat makes contact with the ball, the entire foot is completely outside the lines of the batter's box and on the ground.

            B. When, at the time the bat makes contact with the ball, any part of the foot is touching home plate.

            C. An illegal or altered bat is used.

D. When, at the time the bat makes contact with the ball, the batter's entire foot had stepped back out of the batter's box and returned to hit the ball while inside the box.

ILLEGAL PLAYER: A player who takes a position in the lineup, either on offense or defense, who does not have a legal right to the position.

IN FLIGHT: In flight is the term used for any batted, thrown or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object or person other than a fielder.

IN JEOPARDY: In jeopardy is a term indicating that the ball is in play and an offensive player may be put out.

INELIGIBLE PLAYER: A player who does not meet the requirements. The determination of eligibility is not the responsibility of the umpire. The use of an ineligible player will constitute a forfeit if properly protested.

INFIELD: The infield is that portion of the field in fair territory that includes areas normally covered by infielders.

INFIELD FLY: A fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when first and second bases or first, second and third bases are occupied before two are out. Any defensive player who takes a position in the infield at the start of the pitch shall be considered an infielder for the purpose of this rule. The infield fly is ruled when the ball reaches the highest point based on the position of the closest infielder regardless who makes the play. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare: Infield Fly". The ball is live and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught. The runners can tag up and advance once the batted ball is touched (prior to catching), the same as on any fly ball. If a declared infield fly becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.

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 A batted pop fly in the infield with 1 or less outs when a base runner occupies at least 1st and 2nd base. When umpire calls infield fly, the batter is out.

INNING: An inning is that portion of a game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three outs for each team. A new inning begins immediately after the final out of the previous inning.

INTERFERENCE: Interference is the act of an offensive player or team member, umpire or spectator that impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary. Any time a defensive or offensive player deliberately affects the outcome of a play in a physical manner.

LEAPING: An act by the pitcher which causes the pitcher to be airborne on the initial move and push from the pitcher's plate. This is an illegal act.

LEGAL TAG:

A. Runner. A legal tag occurs when a runner or batter-runner that is not touching a base is tagged by the ball while it is securely held in a fielder's hand(s) or glove. The ball is not considered as having been securely held if it is juggled or dropped by the fielder after tagging the runner, unless the runner deliberately knocks the ball from the hand(s) or glove of the fielder.

B. Base. Once the defensive player has control of the ball in her hand(s) or glove, she may touch the base with any part of her body to be a legal touch. (E.g. The defensive player could touch the base with her foot, with her empty hand; sit on the base, etc.) This would apply in force out or appeal situations.

LINE DRIVE: A line drive is a fly ball that is batted sharply and directly into the playing field. A line drive will never be considered an infield fly.

LIVE BALL: Any and all times that the ball is in play or until the umpire calls "time" or "dead ball".

OBSTRUCTION: Obstruction is the act of:

A. defensive player or team member who hinders or prevents a batter from striking at or hitting a pitched ball.

            B. A fielder, who is not:

                        1. in possession of the ball,

                        2. in the act of fielding a bated ball,

3. About to receive a thrown ball, which impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner that is legally running bases. Contact is not necessary to impede the progress of the runner.

OFFENSIVE TEAM: The offensive team is the team at bat.

ON-DECK BATTER: The on-deck batter is the offensive player whose name follows the name of the batter.

STEALING: Stealing is the act of a runner attempting to advance during a pitch to the batter. Runners can advance once the pitched ball leaves the pitcher's hand.

STRIKE ZONE: When a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, the strike zone is that space over any part of home plate between the batter's arm pits and the top of the knees.

SUBSTITUTE: Any member of a team's roster who is not listed as a starting player, or a starting player who re-enters the game. If a substitute enters the game without reporting, and after a pitch has been thrown (legal or illegal), the player will be disqualified when discovered. If a substitute is illegal for any reason, the player will be subject to the penalty for that violation.

TRAPPED BALL: A trapped ball is:

A. A batted fly ball or line drive which hits the ground or a fence prior to being caught.

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B. A thrown ball to any base for a force out which is caught with the glove over the ball on the ground rather than under the ball.

C. A pitched ball which touches the ground on a strike prior though the catcher catching it.

TIME: Time is the term used by the umpire to order the suspension of play.

TRIPLE PLAY: A triple play is a play by the defense in which three offensive players are legally put out as a result of continuous action.

TURN AT BAT: A turn at bat begins when a player first enters the batter's box and continues until the player is substituted for, put out, or becomes a batter-runner while at bat.

WILD PITCH: A wild pitch is a legally delivered ball that the catcher cannot catch or stop and control with ordinary effort.