Fairfax Adult Softball

2010

Umpire Training

SESSION 2 ASA RULE 4 – Players, Coaches, and Substitutes

ASA RULE 5 – The Game

RULE 4Players, Coaches, and

Substitutes

League Rules

FAS Rules

ASA Rules

Rules Hierarchy

Lineups

• Players must be PRESENT to be in lineup• At least 8 players to begin and continue a game• Game is forfeited if the number drops below 8• Maximum: 14 players• Only legal rostered players• At least 18 years old on or before 12/31

– Masters – 35 years old– Seniors – 50 years old

Lineups

• Lineups exchanged upon request: last name and first initial

• Managers may make changes prior to1st pitch without penalty of substitution rules

• Uniforms and numbers are not required• No females on a male roster (except Reston Church)• No males on a female roster• Can add up to 14 total players (FAS Extra Hitter Rule)

– Added players may be added anytime during the game BUT must be inserted at the end of the lineup after start of game

Lineups – COED

• A legal lineup will consist of at least 8 players, including no less than 2 males and 3 females at all times.

• Starting with the 1st position in the lineup, the batting order must alternate between males and females or females and males, until you can no longer alternate.

• Males may never follow males in the batting order, and first and last batters cannot both be males.

• No vacant spots when the game begins except at the end of the lineup.

Lineups – COED

• 5 males and 3 females. The team will be charged an out in the lineup at each of the missing female positions. The team may add female player(s) to fill the FIRST vacant position in the lineup.

• 5 males and 4 females. The team will be charged an out in the lineup at the missing female position. The team may add a female player at the vacant position.

• Any other combination of a least eight players will not result in an out being charged to the team.

• More females than males. Females may follow females in the batting order. Males may never follow males in the batting order.  If a game begins with more females than males, the team may later add male player(s) between the first two consecutive female players in the lineup.

Case Book

STARTING LINEUP

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Female

Female

LATE ARRIVING MALE SHOWS UP

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Female

2nd LATE ARRIVING MALE SHOWS UP

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Lineups – COED

• Players may be positioned ANYWHERE in the defense as long as no more than 5 males play defense at any one time.

• If a female is injured and there are no replacements available, this will result in a vacated spot in the lineup.– An out will be recorded in the vacated spot

each time it appears in the lineup.– A male does not have to leave the lineup as

well.

Case Book

• PLAY: A team starts the game with 6 male and 6 female players. In the fifth inning, it is brought to the umpire’s attention that the team is playing with 6 males and 4 females in the field.

Case Book

• RULING: There is no penalty. Correct the proper male/female numbers immediately and continue play. Note: This is not a protestable situation.

Lineups – CORPORATE COED

• A legal lineup shall consist of at least 8 players, (no less than 2 males and 3 females).

• If at any time there are less than 2 males or less than 3 females, the game is forfeited.

• Up to 14 batters, in any order (alternating batters is not required) shall constitute the batting order PROVIDED, at no time, shall males exceed females in number by more than 4.

• No more than 7 males and at least 3 females must play defensively at all times.

Physically Challenged Players

• A physically challenged player (determined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) participates either on offense OR defense only NOT both.

• The physically challenged player can not count toward making a team legal (i.e.; cannot be the 8th player).

• Permanent, not temporary, disability.

FAS Extra Hitter Rule

• Utilized in all FAS leagues except Fast Pitch• EHs may bat anywhere in the order• Teams may add 11th/12th/13th/14th player to the

lineup at any time.• If added during the game, EHs must be inserted

at the end of the lineup• EHs may switch roles with other players in the

lineup and become a fielder during the game

Extra Hitters

• The player replaced in the field becomes the EH with no change in the batting order; both players remain in the game and bat in their original positions.

• This switching is unlimited with multiple players.• The EH may be removed from the game and

replaced by a new player.• Should a lineup that originally included EHs be

reduced because of injury or any other reason and a replacement is not available, that spot vacated in the batting order will result in an out.

Extra Hitters – COED

• Up to four (4) extra hitters can be used:– 1 female and 1 male,– 1 female and no males,– 2 females and 2 males,– 2 females and 1 male,– 2 females and no males,– 3 females and 1 male,– 3 females and no males, or– 4 females and no males.

Substitutes

• Any player in the lineup may be substituted or replaced.

• Any player, a starter or a substitute, may re-enter ONCE in the SAME position in the lineup.

• The starting player and their substitute may NEVER be in the lineup at the same time.

• A substitute is only considered legal when reported to the umpire by the team coach and representative.

Substitutes

• If a substitute enters the game on offense or defense without reporting to the umpire, it is an unreported substitute:– If discovered by the offending team prior to

the offended team, there is no violation, all action stands.

– If discovered after a pitch, legal or illegal, or a play made, the player is officially in the game and all action stands.

Substitutes

– If discovered after completing a turn at bat (on offense) or after making a play (on defense) and BEFORE THE NEXT PITCH,

– ON OFFENSE, runners return to their original base and the illegal substitute is officially in the game BUT called out. All other outs that occurred stand.

– ON DEFENSE, the unreported substitute is officially in the game and the offensive team has the option to:

• Take the result of the play, or• Have the last batter return to bat and assume the ball and

strike count; all runners return to the last base occupied prior to the play.

Case Book

• PLAY: After Sub1 hits a double and is standing on 2B, the opposing team asks for “time” and informs the umpire that Sub1 is an unreported substitute. The umpire verifies that Sub1 did not report and asks the coach to re-enter the starter or to enter a legal substitute.

Case Book

• RULING: INCORRECT. The unreported substitute, Sub1, is officially in the game BUT called out.

Case Book

• PLAY: B1 is due up to bat in the bottom of the third inning. Sub1 enters to hit for B1 and reaches first base safely but twists his ankle. Sub2 enters the game for Sub1. In the top of the sixth inning Sub1 enters the game for Sub2.

Case Book

• RULING: Legal. Any player can re-enter one time regardless of the number of substitutes that have played for them.

• B1, Sub1, and Sub2 may each re-enter providing they occupy the same position in the lineup and they are never in the lineup at the same time.

Case Book

• PLAY: Jones, an unannounced substitute, • A) is standing in the batter’s box with a 2-2 count

and 1) Notifies umpire before defense questions his sub; or 2) Does not notify and defense questions the umpire.

• B) steps into the batter’s box and no pitch is thrown and the coach wants to replace Jones with Smith

• C) is standing on first safely after a base hit and defense appeals before the next pitch.

Case Book

• Ruling• A-1) and A-2) Jones is officially in the game after

a pitch, no penalty and all action stands. • B) Smith may enter and since no pitch had been

thrown, then Jones was never considered as a substitute IN the game

• C) Jones is officially in the game BUT called out. All runners return to the last base occupied prior to the batted ball.

Case Book

PLAY: Smith, an unannounced substitute, is playing shortstop. Offense protests:

1) Before a pitch; or

2) After catching a line drive and before the next pitch.

Case Book

RULING:

1) No penalty. Replace with the correct player or enter Smith as a legal substitute.

2) Smith is officially in the game and the offensive teams has the option to:

a) Take the result of the play, or

b) Have the last batter return to bat and assume the ball and strike count. All runners return to the last base occupied prior to the play.

Coaches / Managers

• Responsible for team’s actions– HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE

• Represents the team in communications with the umpire and opposing team

• Base coaches:– Do not have to be the official coach– May keep score– No cell phones

Case Book

• PLAY: Jones hits a pop fly in foul territory near third base that F5 tries to catch. The coach, in the coach’s box, does not move and F5 is unable to make the catch.

Case Book

• Ruling: This is coach’s interference. The ball is dead, the batter out, and all runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. The coach must vacate the coach’s box to allow the defensive player to make a play on a batted ball.

• The judgment of profanity is determined by the umpire. The umpire may eject on an egregious first offense or may:

• 1st offense: Warning to BOTH teams.• 2nd offense and after:

• If by the team at bat and less than 3 outs after the violation, an out is charged to the team at bat.

• If by the team at bat and 3 outs after the violation, an out is charged to the team at bat in the their next at bat.

• If by the team in the field, an out is charged to the team (not a batter) in their next at bat.

FAS Profanity Rule

Ejections

• FAS will not tolerate misconduct or any acts which are judged to be detrimental to the game of softball.

• Any player, coach, spectator can be ejected for misconduct and failure to leave results in forfeit.

• Misconduct may include, but is not limited to, physical and verbal abuse, commission of fraud, and arguing the judgment of balls and strikes.

• The judgment of misconduct is usually determined by the umpire at the time of the incident.

Ejections

• A good umpire solves the problem, does not add to the problem, converse, defend, or justify his ejection, and moves on with the game.

• Warn ONLY once, then take action. • Warnings are NOT required but when given,

they are given to the coach and not the player.

Example: Walk to the coach, not yelling across the field, and say, “Hey coach, your shortstop is out of control, please help me keep him in the game. Talk to him and get him under control.”

Ejections

• If control is not maintained by a player, and an ejection is warranted, then:– Do NOT discuss directly with ejected player.– Discuss the ejection through the coach.– Let coach know he has 2 minutes to remove the

player from the field and playing area (at least 150 yards from the field).

– Then walk to the opposite baseline and wait for the ejected player to leave.

– Failure to do so within 2 minutes of being informed shall result in an immediate forfeit of the ejected person’s team.

Ejections

• In the umpire’s judgment, the umpire may:– Eject the person for the remainder of the game,– Eject the person for the remainder of the day,– Eject the person for the remainder of the day and

ask FAS (or tournament director) to take additional action, and/or

– Make a written request to FAS that further action be taken.

• The ejected person shall not confront the umpire DURING or AFTER the game – Report to FAS.

• Umpire shall identify the ejected person and report the ejected person(s) to FAS within 48 hours.

Unloading of Benches

• In a confrontational situation, if a team comes to the aid of its player, en masse, it shall result in game forfeiture.

• If both benches unload, it’s a double forfeit.

Disqualified vs. Ejected

• Players can be disqualified for a rule violation that is not related to conduct.

• Players are ejected for conduct-related actions.

• Disqualified players may remain in the playing area. If found playing, the game is forfeited.

• Ejected players must leave the playing area (at least 150 yards from the field).

Injuries

• If a player is injured and cannot return:– The team may insert a rostered player in that

spot, or– If the team does not have an additional

rostered player, an out will be recorded each time that spot is up at bat.

Note: If the player is unable to continue playing BOTH offensively and defensively, they must be substituted for and removed from the game. They cannot play only offense or only defense.

Injuries

• Coed – If a female is injured and there are no replacements available, this will result in a vacated spot in the lineup (a male does not have to leave the lineup).

• During a LIVE BALL situation, if a player is injured and in the judgment of the umpire, it requires immediate attention, the umpire shall call DEAD BALL and award any bases that would have been reached in his judgment.

Blood Rule

• A player, coach, or umpire who is bleeding or whose uniform is saturated with blood is prohibited from participating further in the game until the appropriate treatment can be administered.

• If it is red, you must act; brown generally indicates old blood which requires no action.

• If medical care or treatment is administered in a “reasonable” length of time, the person will not have to leave the game.

Case Book

• PLAY: A men’s team began a game with 8 players. F7 receives a cut on the arm while diving to catch the third out of the fourth inning. F7 misses his turn at bat in the top of the next inning due to extended medical treatment and an out is recorded. F7 returns to play in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Case Book

• RULING: Incorrect Procedure. Under no circumstances shall a team be permitted to bat less than 8.

Blood Rule

• The length of time considered reasonable is left to the umpire’s judgment.

• The umpire shall:– Stop the game and allow treatment if the injured

person would affect the continuation of play,– Immediately call a coach or other authorized person

to the injured player, and– Apply the rules of the game regarding substitutions,

re-entry, and shorthanded play, as necessary.

RULE 5The Game

The Field

• Make use of the 15 minutes before the game.• The umpire shall review the status and decide

the fitness of the field prior to the game.• Notify coaches of any ground rules (temporary

and established)• If the umpire feels that the game should not be

played, he may:– Delay the game,– Cancel the game, or– Cancel the entire playing cycle on that field.

• BE CREATIVE BEFORE CANCELING ANY GAMES!!!!

The Field

• Manager(s) may request a game be terminated if they believe the conditions surrounding the playing of the game jeopardize the safety of the players.

• If the umpire does not take remedial action, the manager may file a protest and withdraw the team from play.

The Field

• If a team fails to appear for any game (including make-up games) and the umpire declares the field playable, a forfeit will be awarded to the appearing legal team.

• Fields should include home plate and three bases properly secured and dimensioned or the game will be postponed; however, again be creative before canceling the game.

Field Playability

Umpires will judge fields to determine whether they should be closed if any of the following are present:

– Standing water that cannot be removed without causing damage to the field.

– Severe muddy conditions present that will not dry by the start of the game.

– Excessive water gathers around the sole of a shoe on any portion of the field.

– Any impression of your footprint is left in the surface of ½” deep or more.

• Umpire keeps the official time and updates managers prior to the start and throughout the game, as needed.

• Scheduled game time is forfeit time.• Exception: WEEKNIGHT games scheduled to begin before 6:45 have a forfeit time 15 minutes past scheduled start time. GRACE PERIOD comes out of the game time.

• Games must begin as soon as both teams meet minimum requirement of a legal lineup.

• No new inning shall begin after 60 minutes from scheduled start time, except when games start earlier than scheduled start time.

Game Time

Game time begins with the first pitch (delivered or called).In games starting late, no new inning shall begin after 60

minutes from scheduled start time or actual start time, whichever is later.

A game may begin before scheduled start time if umpires and both managers agree. NOTE: Teams get the extra time for game play.

• Any inning begun shall be played to completion, unless injury, weather, or field conditions necessitate otherwise.

• Examples of the effect of this rule: •Scheduled 7:35 game begins at 7:35 - No new inning begins after 8:35•Scheduled 7:35 game begins at 7:25 - No new inning begins after 8:35•Scheduled 7:35 game begins at 7:45 - No new inning begins after 8:45

Game Time

Game Time

• SENIORS EXCEPTION: Only when a team is scheduled to play a team from a higher division and when the desire to use an option is declared prior to the first pitch of the game.

• Option A. Five-Run per Inning Rule. For each half inning, a team may score no more than five (5) runs. The half-inning is over once a team scores five runs or has three outs. With 15 minutes of play left in game time, the umpire will announce that the inning in progress is the last five-run inning. One more inning will be played and either team may score an unlimited number of runs. The game will be over at the completion of that one inning of unlimited number of runs even if time remains on the clock or the inning ends with a tie.

Senior’s Exception – Continued

Option B. 11th Man on Defense Rule.

• The team may use 11 players on defense, positioned anywhere on the field provided at least nine players are located behind the pitcher.

Game Time

• There must be 5 minutes between games (unless both managers and umpire agree to shorten break)

• The final game of the cycle on lighted fields shall not continue past:• 11:30 pm at Braddock - SHARP• 10:30 pm at Poplar Tree and Bready - SHARP• 11:00 pm at all others - SHARP• All fields have timers which turn lights off, but umpires must turn

lights on at all fields.

• Any game delayed 20 minutes at any point shall be rescheduled unless you are creative with your teams and they agree to play under special time rules for that game.

Regulation Game

Complete games will be 60 minutes in length or 7 innings (6 ½ if home team is ahead) (whichever comes first)

Official games called before the inning is completed is decided as follows:

– Home team fails to bat – Score reverts to last complete inning.

– Home team bats (less than 3 outs) and fails to tie – Score reverts to last complete inning.

– Home team bats and ties – Game ends in a tie.

Forfeited Games

Games are forfeited if:– Team fails to appear

– Team fails to take the field

– Team number drops below 8 for any reason

– Female number drops below 3 in ALL COED

– Team noticeably delays or hastens the game

– After a warning, team willingly violates any rule(s)

– Team refuses to comply with an ejection

– Umpire is severely threatened by misconduct

– Ejection drops a team below 8 players

Forfeited Games

• If a team forfeits the first game of a doubleheader and knows they will not be able to field a team for the second game, the umpire may declare both games a forfeit at the forfeit time of the first game (following games are played at their scheduled times).

• During a scheduled doubleheader, if NO ONE from one team is present at forfeit time for the first game, the second game is forfeited at that time too (present team must show a legal lineup).

If a game is tied after a completed inning AND the time limit has expired, the game will continue for a single extra inning using the 1-pitch rule (NOTE: If the game is tied and there is time left, a regulation inning(s) is played before the inning of one-pitch.):

Each batter gets one pitch:•If the pitch is a ball, the batter is awarded a walk•If the pitch is a strike or is hit foul, the batter is out

If the game is tied after the extra inning, game ends in a tie.Exception: In playoff tournaments, games can not end in

a tie. 1-pitch extra innings would continue until a winner is decided. Early Bird Tournament games may end in a tie.

FAS One-Pitch Extra Inning

FAS Loan-A-Player

• At the legal team’s option to avoid a forfeit by opposing team, the legal team may loan only enough players to opposing team to bring their lineup to 8 players for that scheduled game only.

• Players shall return to their team immediately upon arrival of the late players.

• Players returning to the loaning team may be added to their own team’s lineup and must be inserted at the end of lineup.

• Players arriving late to team avoiding forfeit enter their own team’s lineups in the place of the opposing team’s players.

Run Scoring

• One run scores each time a runner:– Touches 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and home plate– Hits an over-the-fence home run

• No run scores if:– Runner forced out– Runner is out by a tag and live ball appeal

play PRIOR to the runner touching home plate– Preceding runner is out on an appeal play

Run Scoring

No Run Scores if: – A 4th out is the result of an appeal of a base

missed or left too soon on a runner who has scored. Example: R1 on 3B, R2 on 2B and R3 on 1B with two outs, B6 hits a shot into right centerfield. R1, R2 and R3 score before B6 is thrown out at 2B for the third out. F5 yells that R2 missed 3B and ask for a fourth-out appeal. The umpire rules R2 out on a fourth-out appeal and declares the force back into effect and no runs score.

• Any untouched fair ball hit over fence is a home run.• The batter does not need to run the bases, touch 1st

base, or anything. They can walk directly back to the dugout from the batter’s box.

• All leagues use the FAS Five Limit Home Run Rule.• All home runs in excess of 5 over-the-fence home runs per male batters, and five over-the-fence home runs per female batters, will be scored as a single and each runner advances one base, whether forced or not.• “Inside the park” home runs do not count against the limit.

Home Runs

Case Book

• PLAY: With two outs, R1 on 3B, R2 on 2B, R3 on 1B, the home team is trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh. B6 gets a base hit to left field and R3, seeing the runner from 2B and 3B score to win the game, does not touch 2B and instead run to the 3B dugout area to celebrate. The defensive team throws the ball to the infield and properly touches 2B for the appeal that the runner never touched 2nd.

Case Book

• Ruling: The appeal is granted, and it is a force out, as R1 coming from 1B must touch 2B on the hit. Since the third out of the inning was a force out, no runs will score and the visitors win the game 5-4.

Conferences

Offensive Conferences– Between a team representative and the batter– Limited to 1 per half inning– Ejection of the manager or team rep who insists on

another charged conference.Defensive Conferences

– Between a team representative and any defensive player

– Limited to 3 each game(1 per inning after 7 innings)

– Any charged conference in excess of limit results in removal of the pitcher from the pitching position for the remainder of the game; the pitcher can play another position on defense but cannot pitch again.

• If after 4 innings (3 ½ if the home team is ahead), a team is leading by 20 runs or more, or

• If after 5 innings (4 ½ if the home team is ahead), a team is leading by 15 runs or more,

• The game shall end and be considered a complete game.

FAS Slaughter Rule

• Coaches, players, substitutes, or other bench personnel shall not be outside the designated bench, dugout/team area except when the rule allows or it is justified by the umpire.

• The first offense is a team warning• Any repeat offense shall result in the ejection

of that team member.• Call Interference is any players are hit by the

ball or cause confusion to the defense.

Dugout Conduct