2. 2008 Rules Meeting Rules Meeting

3. RULES MEETING ATTENDANCE  HEAD COACHESmust  HEAD COACHES must now attend a rules meeting every year.  If don’t attend will have the opportunity to take the same rules test as umpires  80% to pass  No meeting or no test = censure and fine  Second offense cannot coach in post season

4. COACHES... 1.Pick up your “Code” sheet after the meeting. 2.Logon to www.mshsl.org 3.Click on the verify rules meeting. link on the front page. 4.Enter your code. April 7th 5.Deadline: April 7th

5. CHANGES IN OFFICIALS PROGRAM Softball is beginning the process of moving to “Promotional Levels” all umpires have received information via mail, with more info to come.

6. 2008 TRAINING CLINIC Saturday, March 29 Wayzata High School 9:00 – 1:00

7. TRAINING CLINIC  Registration begins at 8:30, Clinic at 9:00  NO FEE – but please register in advance! – link on MSHSL Home Page  Classroom and “on-field” training – finished by 1:00  Info in separate mailing and on web site.  Two “tracks” – beginners and advanced!  Training eventually will be required of all officials  More clinics and more sites next year!

8. RATING OF UMPIRES  Umpires must enter schedule! (Varsity Only)  Coaches please complete ratings on a regular basis  Be Fair, honest and objective  Ratings are important to umpires and are very helpful for the state selection process

9. New for 2008 !! OFFICIALS RATING SCHOOLS Officials must enter schedule Go on-line after game in order to rate: Home team, coaches & fans Visiting team, coaches & fans Home team game personnel Home team site management

10. Rating Procedure  In order to rate schools, go to the MSHSL web site: www.mshsl.orgwww.mshsl.org  Once on the sight under the Officials/Judges heading, select “Officials Corner.”  Log into the corner using your official ID and password.

14. Spectators, Participants and Coaches : Excellent (5) - Sportsmanship and behavior were exemplary - absolutely no problems. This was an exceptional officiating experience. Good (4) - Overall sportsmanship and behavior was very good. This was a pleasurable officiating experience. Acceptable (3) - Sportsmanship and behavior was generally good. There were some minor problems. This was an average officiating experience Needs Improvement (2) - There were several problems with sportsmanship and/or behavior. Improvement is needed. This was a disappointing officiating experience. Unacceptable (1) - Sportsmanship and/or behavior was poor - there were issues that must be addressed. An MSHSL Incident Report Form has been filed. This was not an enjoyable officiating experience. N/A - Not applicable

15. Site Management and Game Personnel: Excellent (5) -- Welcomed by school staff, facilities for officials available and prepared, site management available & helpful throughout the contest. Game personnel well- prepared and knowledgeable; good communication. Good (4) - Greeted by school staff, facilities for officials available, site management available when needed. Game personnel knowledgeable and cooperative. Acceptable (3) - Greeted upon arrival, facilities available, but not prepared, site management present most of the time. Game personnel acceptable. Needs Improvement (2) - Not greeted, facilities not prepared, site management not available or helpful. Game personnel not prepared - led to minor problems. Unacceptable (1) - Not greeted, no facilities available, no site manager. Game personnel not prepared or available - problems with game personnel. NA - Not Applicable

16. WORKING TOGETHER!  Umpires and coaches must work together to ensure the best sportsmanship possible  Understand each other’s role  You are both there for the same reason – provide the best possible experience for the student athletes!

17. COACHES 1) Work extremely hard to prepare – Every game is big! 2) Pressure of winning 3) They care about their kids! 4) Games can be emotional 5) Give their best for their kids

18. UMPIRES 1) Also work very hard to prepare 2) Their job is to: -- enforce the rules of the game fairly -- enforce sportsmanship rules -- manage the game 3) They also do their very best for the kids!

19. UMPIRES ARE A KEY TO SPORTSMANSHIP!  You are expected to enforce rules regarding behavior and sportsmanship Players and Coaches!  Use the tools that you have – warn and then act – restricting to the bench is an option.  Players & coaches will respond  A huge part of educational athletics is to teach citizenship & sportsmanship

20. COACHES ARE A KEY TO SPORTSMANSHIP  Be the role model for your players and fans  Set high expectations for your players, and force them to meet those expectations  Know the rules!  Work with umpires – with RESPECT!

21.  Dudley is the official ball for MSHSL Softball and will be used in all State Tournament games.

22. NFHS Softball 2008 Rules Changes

23. Metal Cleats/Toe Plates Permitted (3-2-11)  Metal cleats and toe plates are no longer prohibited  Spikes must be rectangular and not extend in excess of ¾ inch from sole  Detachable cleats permitted if screw INTO sole of shoe

26. Metal Cleats/Toe Plates Permitted (3-2-11)  Metal cleats may provide better traction  NFHS Baseball prohibited in 1984, then reversed decision in 1989  Lack of data indicating metal cleats were any more dangerous than plastic/molded

27. Metal Cleats/Toe Plates Permitted (3-2-11)  Use of footwear should be same for males and females competing on the same or similar surfaces, performing the same skills  Umpires must enforce penalties for illegal slides  Use is completely optional

28. Second Unreported Substitute Penalty Expanded (3-6-7 Penalty)  Head coach now restricted to dugout/bench when second unreported substitute occurs  Second offender still restricted  Head coach ultimately responsible for reporting subs  Must be accountable for second infraction

30. *Time Reduced For Batter To Be In Box (7-3-1)  Batter must take her place in box within 10 seconds after ball is returned to pitcher  Pitcher still has 20 seconds to deliver the pitch  Batter has 10 seconds – maximum  Pitcher has remaining time

31. Time Reduced For Batter To Be In Box (7-3-1)  When batter steps out of box for legitimate reason and time is granted, she has a new 10 seconds to take her place in the batter’s box  Abuse of this procedure should be dealt with by time NOT being granted – strike

32. Time Reduced For Batter To Be In Box (7-3-1)  Encourages coaches to be efficient when giving signals to batters  Reduces the amount of time batters have to perform unnecessary rituals  Keeps the game moving

34. NFHS Softball 2008 Major Editorial Changes

35. Legal Bats Clarified (1-5-4)  Bats must meet the 2004 ASA Bat Performance Standard  Bear either the 2000 or 2004 certification mark  Not be on the ASA non-approved list

37. ASA Legal Bats  www.asasoftball.com – click on “Certified Equipment” at the top of the page, select Bats and click on “go” www.asasoftball.com  List of approved bats and list of non- approved.

38. Batting Helmet Eye Shields (1-6-7)  Attached eye shields MUST: Be constructed of rigid material Permit 100-percent allowable light transmission – NOT TINTED Only be completely CLEAR  Does not affect required face mask/guard

39. Batting Helmet Eye Shields (1-6-7)  Clarified for medical reasons  If player suffers a head/neck injury and the helmet cannot be removed – the eyes must be accessible/ visible to medical personnel  Players can wear sunglasses under the batting helmet – which are removable – if shading/tinting is desired

41. On-Deck Batter (2-5-3; 8-2-13; 8-6-15 )  Definition of on-deck batter expanded in 2-5-3  Penalties for on-deck batter interference addressed in Batter-runner is out (8-2-13) Runner is out (8-6-15)

44. Team Personnel Outside Dugout (3-6-6 & Note)  Adds that bat/ball shaggers are permitted out of dugout  Clarifies that bench personnel are permitted to be out of the dugout to warm up at the beginning of each half inning  Clarifications needed for consistent enforcement

46. Batter Interference (7-4-4)  Clarifies that batter is subject to interference if she makes any movement that hinders the action at home AFTER the pitch reaches the catcher  Previous rule did not include this timeframe

48. NFHS Softball 2008 Points of Emphasis

49. Pitching  Last a POE in 2004  Improvements made but need to continue moving forward  Rule in place for a reason  Dominant pitchers receive an unfair advantage if illegal pitches are not called  Umpires refusing to enforce the rules do a disservice to the game

50. Preparing To Pitch  Pivot foot must be on – or partially on – pitcher’s plate  Pitcher must take – or simulate taking – signals from catcher with hands separated  Non-pivot foot must be in contact with – or behind – the pitcher’s plate

51. Preparing To Pitch  Pitcher shall then bring hands together in front of the body – one time only  For not less than one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball

52. length

53. Leap  Leap = Both feet are airborne by the pitcher prior to the release  Pivot foot must stay in contact with the ground as it drags away from the plate until the lead foot touches the ground  If both feet are off the ground at the same time during the delivery – an illegal pitch shall be called

55. Crow Hop  Crow Hop = A replant of the pivot foot prior to releasing the ball  This is done by: Sliding the foot in front of the plate Lifting the pivot foot and stepping forward Jumping forward with the pivot foot off the plate prior to starting the pitch

56. Crow Hop  Pitcher must have: Pivot foot partially on top of the plate Both feet within 24-inch length of plate

57. Crow Hop  Umpires can determine a replant by looking at the location of the pivot foot when the hands separate to start the pitch  If the pivot foot is off and in front of the plate before the hands separate, a crow hop has occurred – an illegal pitch shall be called.

59. Equipment  Umpires must conduct thorough pre game inspection of equipment  Teams should make equipment available to umpires for inspection approximately 15 minutes prior to start of game  Equipment inspection includes bats, batting helmets and catcher’s gear

61. Batting Helmets  Coaches should check with manufacturer before painting batting helmets  Many types of “non-manufactured” paint nullify the warranty  Head coach responsible for any altered equipment

63. Defensive Head/Face Protection  Defensive head/face protection should remain ON THE PLAYER for the duration of the half inning  If removed during play, treated as loose defensive equipment and subject to penalty

65. Use Of Proper NFHS Softball Signals  Use of proper signals are an umpire’s “life line” for effective communication  Communicating with: Partners Coaches Players Spectators

66. Use Of Proper NFHS Softball Signals  Stakeholders in the game benefit when ALL umpires use the same approved NFHS SOFTBALL signals  Umpires must take pride in properly executed signals that are: Dignified Informative Meaningful

67. Use Of Proper NFHS Softball Signals  Misapplication of a rule by a partner can occur when signals are: Poorly executed Inaccurate Improvised – Umpire does his/her own thing

68. Use Of Proper NFHS Softball Signals  Umpires should strive to be as proficient in signaling as in rules knowledge  Standardized signaling results in participants and spectators knowing: Exactly what happened When it happened Result of the play

70. NFHS Softball 2008 and 2009 Major Manual Changes

71. 2008 and 2009 Major Manual Change  Umpires will once again start from 18-21 feet behind first and third base with no runners on base  Base umpire(s) will be positioned 18-21 feet behind the base On the line “Walking the line" as pitch is released

72. 2008 and 2009 Major Manual Change  Mechanic provides for a smoother transition when ball is hit and umpire(s) must move to the next position

73. Minnesota Rule Reminders

74. Suspended Games  A regulation game is 5 full innings (4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead) or play has gone beyond 5 innings.  A SUSPENDED GAME is one that is ended before it becomes a regulation game; or a regulation game that ends with a tie.  Suspended games are continued from the point of interruption. There is not an option to start the game over.  Regulation games cannot be suspended.

75. Example  Home team is ahead 5 – 4 after six innings. In the top of the 7 th inning the visitors score three runs and lead 7 - 5. Prior to the completion of the 7 th inning the game is stopped due to inclement weather and cannot be continued. Suspended game??  No – the score reverts to that at the end of the last full inning of play (6 th inning). This is a regulation game -- Home team wins 5 – 4.

76. Second Example  Home team scores two runs to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning by a score of 8 – 7. The game is rained out prior to the completion of that inning. Suspended game?  No – the teams have had an equal number of at bats. Six inning game which is regulation. Home team wins.

77. Third Example  Visitors take a lead in the top of the 5 th inning. Game is ended prior to the completion of that inning. Suspended game?  Yes – this is not a regulation game as only 4 innings were completed. The game is continued from the point of interruption.  There is not an option to start the game over.

78. Time Limit & Tie Breaker  In Invitational Tournaments, the host team may establish a time limit after which no new inning will start, unless tied.  If tied after the time limit, or after the number of innings as established by the host team, the ASA International tie breaker will be used.  Each half inning begins with a runner on second (player scheduled to bat last that inning is the runner).

79. Enforce the Rules as Written!  While there is the need for interpretation of rules, umpires are not to choose which rules to enforce.  Enforce the rules according to the rule book  If you do otherwise you are manipulating the game.

81. Make it to State

82. Upload Schedule & Roster

83. Post Results Pronto

84. DEADLINE To Certify ProgramInfo Wednesday, May 28

85. E-Mail Team Photo Certify Roster, Certify Roster, Season Record, Photo ID

86. When your team qualifies for State, updated statistics are required DEADLINE:Saturday, May 31

87. It’s all on the Web… …on your Administrative pages www.MSHSL.org

88. COACHES... COACHES... Leave this meeting AFTER you have picked up a “Code” sheet THEN... Go home and enter the code “on-line.” April 7 th Deadline: April 7 th

89. APPLY FOR STATE! Must apply on-line by April 1 Officials will be selected by May 20 *There may be changes and additions after this date

90. Official Testing  All tests will be done on-line.  Plan ahead and allow time for problems.  Clinicians will provide all officials with a sheet that will have Test Code and detailed instructions.  Call League Office with questions. April 7  Test Deadline: April 7