Interpreters Section

2006 NFHS Press Release on Rules & Rule Changes

HEAD COACH MUST ATTEND PREGAME MEETING AND VERIFY LEGALITY OF EQUIPMENT (3-5-1): Head coaches are now required to attend the pregame meeting with umpires. Previously the rule only required an adult coach to attend the meeting. Captains may also attend the meeting if desired, but their attendance is not required. The change was made so that the head coach could verify to the plate umpire that all his/her players are legally equipped, and that all players and equipment are in compliance with all NFHS rules. The rules change also provides a penalty if illegal equipment is found in the game. The equipment will be removed and the umpire will issue a team warning. The next offender and the head coach will be restricted to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game. Umpires are still required to inspect equipment before the game, but the responsibility for proper equipment rests with coaches, student-athletes and their parents/guardians. The committee believes the ultimate responsibility rests with the head coach. With the possibility of being penalized, the committee felt that head coaches will take greater steps to ensure that players are legally equipped.

PENALTY ESTABLISHED FOR INTENTIONALLY REMOVING BOUNDARY LINES (3-6-17): Players and coaches are intentionally removing the lines of the batter’s box to gain an advantage, primarily for their “slap hitters.” Removal of any boundary line makes enforcement of the rules much more difficult for the umpires. A strike will be called on the batter if a member of the offense intentionally removes the line, and a ball will be awarded to the batter if a member of the defense intentionally erases a line. A team warning will be issued, with the next offense resulting in the head coach being restricted to the dugout. Players are being coached to remove these lines; therefore, the most severe penalty is assessed to the head coach.

STRIKE CALLED IF BATTER PREVENTS BALL FROM ENTERING STRIKE ZONE (7-2-1h): A dead-ball strike will be called on the batter when, in the umpire’s judgment, she is hit by the pitch and prevents it from entering the strike zone. Previously, this situation would have resulted in a “ball” being called or the batter might have even been awarded first base. The committee felt it created an imbalance to permit a batter’s action to prevent the ball from entering the strike zone and deprive the pitcher of a strike. No player or team should gain an advantage by circumventing the “spirit” of a rule. By calling a pitch that is obviously going to enter the strike zone a “ball,” a “no pitch” or even awarding a base, is putting the defensive team at a disadvantage. It forces the pitcher to throw another strike or even continue the inning with a runner on base.

PENALTY CHANGED FOR BAT HITTING THE BALL A SECOND TIME (7-4-1k): The batter will be called out when her discarded bat hits the ball a second time. The previous rule permitted the ball to hit the bat or the bat to hit the ball without penalty. If the batter intentionally hit the ball with the bat, she was called out. This rules change removes the need for judging the batter’s intent when the bat hits a fair ball a second time. If the ball is on or over fair territory and the bat hits the ball a second time, the batter will be called out. Batters have a choice of where to discard their bat. If a batter chooses to discard her bat in fair territory, she runs the risk of possible interference and being called out.

2006 NFHS SOFTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS

1. OBSTRUCTION
Obstruction requires a clear defensive infraction. Two separate and distinct conditions must occur before a violation has occurred. The first situation is that a defensive player cannot block a runner’s access to a base or base path without being in possession of the ball. The second is that, in order for an infraction to take place, the runner must be hindered or impeded. For obstruction to be called, both situations must occur.

If a fielder is blocking a base without the ball and the runner has not yet been impeded in any fashion, i.e., she has not been slowed down or had her path altered, she has not been obstructed. As the play becomes imminent, if the fielder obtains the ball before the runner is hindered, no infraction has occurred. If, as the play becomes imminent, the fielder’s location limits the runner’s access to a base or base path, and the fielder does not yet have the ball, obstruction should be called.

Umpires must maintain proper positioning and stay attuned for any potential obstruction violations before focusing on the impending tag.

2. HUDDLES
In the interest of minimizing risk to participants, teams should not huddle on the field after a third out while the other team is warming up. During the game, team huddles between players on the field are never considered charged conferences. These huddles should be allowed to the extent that they do not violate any of the rules of the game such as the one minute between innings and the 20 seconds a pitcher has to pitch after receiving the ball. Last year’s point of emphasis was never intended to prohibit team huddles, but merely to ensure they were occurring within existing rules.

3. UNIFORMS
The high school student-athlete’s appearance should be neat, respectable and suitable for interscholastic athletics. Rule 3-2 provides all the necessary requirements for a legal softball uniform. A previous interpretation of Rule 3-2-10, which states that players shall wear their uniforms properly and as designed by the manufacturer, required players to wear sleeves down. The committee has taken a less restrictive stance regarding this rule and believes that rolling up or securing the sleeves does not distract from the player’s appropriate appearance. Making an adjustment for climate or comfort doesn’t necessarily contradict “properly and as designed by the manufacturer.” Provided uniform numbers remain visible, sleeves of the uniform top may be adjusted, with or without tie-ups (designed for this purpose), to the comfort of the player.

4. SLAP HIT AND DRAG BUNT
Distinguishing between a slap hit and a drag bunt is particularly important when the batter has two strikes and the ball is fouled off. When considering this situation the umpire must visualize whether the bat is held stationary like a bunt, even though the batter is running forward, or the batter moves the bat with the wrists for a slap hit. If the umpire determines that it is a bunt, the batter who fouls off the third strike would be out. But, if the batter is slapping at the ball and fouls it off with two strikes, it is treated the same as a foul ball and the batter remains at bat.

1-6-6	Mask for Batter's Helmets -- NOCSAE has approved standards for face masks/guards on batters helmets. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006 NHFS is mandating NOCSAE approved face mask/guards on all fast pitch batter's helmets.
2-25-lg 2-25-2	Definition of Foul Ball & Foul Tip -- Ball not higher than the batter's head reference delected from the rules. See 2005 NFHS Rule Change
2-36 8-4-3b	Obstruction -- The fielder must have possession of the ball or fielding a batted ball to legally block a base or home plate. The allowance for fielders "about to receive a thrown ball" has been deleted from the rule. {No ball, No block.}
8-6-9 Pen 3	Dead Ball Appeals -- A coach is now permitted to initiate a dead-ball appeal. The rule now includes any defensive player or coach.
	Team Huddles -- Between innings may not be conducted in front of or outside team benches.

1-1-6	*Changed the word “embossed” to “permanent” in regards to the requirements for batting helmets to make consistent with the NOCSAE standard.*
1-1-8	*Clarified the wearing of religious and medical-alert medals*
1-4-2	*Clarified the penalty for using an illegal glove or mitt*
2-10-1	*Clarified that a fielder in contact with a completely horizontal collapsible fence wil not be credited with a catch.*
Rule 7	*Several areas in Rule 7 were edited to include “Effects.”*
8-6-10	*Added a note before the penalty referring to jumping, hurdling and leaping, which was inadvertently left out when Rule 8 was written.*
9-3-1d	*Changed the formula for calculating a player’s on-base percentage to be* *consistent with statistical standards.*

1.		*Umpires and coaches pre-game conference*
		*Meet with coaches and team captains approximately five mintues before the start of the game near home.*
		Include the following—Introductions, exchange of lineup cards, have coaches verify that their players are legally equipped, confirm that coaches understand state association adopted rules , reinforce proper conduct and sportsmanship, cover ground rules, and find out if they have an assistant coach .
2.		*Field Marking and Dimensions*
		All softball fields need the following markings: Batters boxes 3x7, Catcher’s Box, foul lines, 3 ft. running lanes 30 ft. up line, coaches boxes, dead ball lines, on deck circles and a 16 radius circle for the mound
3.		*Jewelry Prohibited*
		The following items are defined as being jewelry: rings, watches, earrings, and all body piercing, bracelets, necklaces (including cloth or string types), barrettes or other decorative or cosmetic items that are hand surfaced.
		*Medical alert bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry, but they shall be taped to the player’s body to maintain visibility.*
4.		*Illegal Substitute*
		*The definition of an illegal substitute is a player who:* *Enters or re-enters the game without eligibility to do so.* *enters the game in the wrong position the batting order.* *re-enters the game in the wrong position in the batting order.* *is a DH who plays on defense while the player for whom she is batting is also playing defense.* *is being batted for by a DH and enters the game as a batter or runner in different position in the batting order.* *if used improperly as a courtesy runner.* *When an illegal substitute on offense is discovered, she is:* *always ejected and out, unless not on base and a pitch has been thrown*
		*In order to nullify scores of advances by runner other than the illegal substitute, the discovery shall occur before the first pitch to the next batter*
		*The penalty for illegal substitution takes precedence over batting our of order.*
5.		*Catcher’s Obstruction*
		*DEFINITION: When a catcher hinders or prevents a batter from swinging at a pitch.* *Catcher’s obstruction results in a dead ball at the end of playing action.* The coach or captain of the team at bat my elect to take the base or bases awarded by the umpire, or my take the results of the play. This shall be done before the next pitch or before the infielders leave the diamond. Only if stealing due other base runners advance, unless forced. *EXCEPTION: Obstruction of the batter is ignored if the batter-runner reaches first and all other runners advance at least one base.*
6.		*Playing With Less Than Required Number of Players*
		*A game will begin with both teams having the required minimum number of* *players. Fast pitch 9 players.* *During the course of a game, a team may drop down one player and still finish the game.* *An out is recorded every time the “Vacant” slot in the batting order* *comes up.* *The “Vacant slot can never be filled even if additional players become available.* *If a player is removed from the game while on base and no substitutes are* *available, the most recent batter who is not on base shall run for that player until she scores or is put out, or the half inning ends.*

NHSUA Interpreter

-------------------------------------------------------------

2005 Rule Changes

8-6-Pen 3 Change to include the coach or any defensive players may make a defensive dead-ball appeal. Rationale: Present rule contradicts Rule 2-1

2003 Major Editorial Revisions

POINTS OF EMPHASIS