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 ASA 2009
Playing Rule Changes
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2009 ASA Rules Changes
ASA has passed a new rule for the 2009 playing rule. All
adult Slow Pitch, other than Masters and Seniors, will enter the
batter’s box with a one ball and one strike count, Rule 7 Section
3B. Be advised that this does not allow for an extra foul ball as
other Slow Pitch organizations play. It may be a good practice to
remind the players of this rule change at the home plate conference
until they get used to the new rule.
There are
several other important rules changes for this year.
For additional information go to:
http://www.softball.org/umpires/rule_changes.asp
[Tips for Judging
Interference]
In an
effort to help umpires become more uniform in judging interference throughout
the country, the ASA has addressed several rules relating to
interference that contained the word “intentional”. Specifically, the
word “intentional” has been removed from Rule 7, Section 7 Q; Rule
8, Section 2 F [3]; Rule 8, Section 7 J [3]; and, Rule 8, Section 7 P.
Umpires now need only to base their decision on whether interference
occurred or did not occur, and not the intentions of the offensive
player. Moreover, removing the word “intentional” from these sections
aligns these rules with the definition of INTERFERENCE in Rule 1.
SITUATION
1:
With no outs and R1 on 2B, B2 swings at and misses the pitch. R1 breaks
for 3B and while F2 is throwing to 3B in an attempt to retire R1, B2,
while remaining in the batter’s box, backs up to readjust their footing
and bumps into F2 causing an errant throw. RULING: B2 is guilty of
interference. The ball is dead, B2 is out and R1 must return to 2B.
(Rule 7, Section 6 Q)
SITUATION
2:
With one out, R1 on 3B and R2 on 1B, B4 has a 0-1 count and on the next
pitch R2 attempts to steal 2B. The throw is cut-off by F6 as R1 now
attempts to steal home. F6’s throw to home plate strikes B4 who is
standing out of the box preventing F2 from catching the ball and
applying a tag on R1. RULING: B4 is guilty of interference. The ball
is dead, B4 is out, R1 is returned to 3B and R2 is returned to 1B.
(Rule 8, Section 2 F [3])
SITUATION
3:
With no outs and R1 at 1B, B2 hits a ground ball to F6 who fields the
ball and throws to F4 at 2B to start a double play. F4 steps on 2B and
throws the ball to F3 in an attempt to retire B2. R1, knowing they are
out, turns to go back to the dugout where the ball strikes them in the
back and ricochets into foul ground. RULING: R1 is guilty of
interference after being declared out. In this case, because B2 is the
only runner and therefore closest to home plate, B2 is also be declared
out. (Rule 8, Section 7 J [3])
SITUATION
4:
With no outs, R1 at 3B and R2 at 2B, B3 hits a long shot to the outfield
fence. By the time F8 retrieves the ball R1 and R2 have scored. B4 is
rounding 3B and coming home when R2 moves back to the home plate area
to instruct B3 to slide at home plate for a close play. In doing so, R2
is hit with the thrown ball and it deflects away from F2 as B3 scores. RULING:
R2 is guilty of interference. Because R2 has already scored B3 is
declared out and only the runs scored by R1 and R2 count.
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ASA
Approved and
Unapproved Bats
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The official bat in ASA
Championship Play must meet all of the requirements of Rule 3, Section
1 and:
1. must
bear either the ASA approved 2000 certification mark or the ASA 2004
certification mark as shown below, and must not be listed on an ASA non
approved list, and
 
2. must be
included on a list of approved bat models published by the ASA National
Office; or
3. 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 standards then in effect.
Beginning January 1, 2004, all bats in ASA Championship Play
must pass the ASA 2004 bat standard. All bats having the 2004
certification mark will be allowed in ASA Championship Play. Bats that
have the 2000 certification mark will not be allowed in ASA
Championship Play unless they are listed on an approved bat list on the
ASA website. For convenience, the ASA website has a listing of bats
that do not pass the ASA 2004 bat standard.
2004
and Beyond Approved Bats
For a list of bats that have been tested and found to
comply with the ASA bat performance standards, and therefore are
authorized to bear the ASA 2004 certification mark and/or are authorized
for use in ASA Championship Play beginning January 1, 2004, please
check the ASA web site: http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment. Manufacturers
continue to submit additional bat models for testing, and the ASA will update
this list as test results become available.
ASA Non-Approved Bat List
The Amateur
Softball Association of America (ASA) no longer displays every bat made
by bat manufacturers that do not comply with current ASA bat standards.
If you want to know what bats are approved for use in ASA Championship
Play, follow one of the steps below.
·
check the approved list located in the drop down boxes at
the site listed above and search by the specific manufacturer or select
“all”.
·
check for either the 2000 or 2004 ASA Certification Mark
(both depicted above) and then be sure the bat is not listed on the
PDF's on the above site as a banned bat by ASA (Note: The lists above
are broken up into two PDF's to help umpires in the NCAA and the NFHS
because of their minor rule differences.)
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