2013 Rule Changes USSSA Fastpitch CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Official Fastpitch Playing Rules

Metal Cleats Major Rule Change Lowered the age and reduced the penalty for wearing Metal Cleats. Rule 2.4 Allow Metal Cleats for 13U/14U and above. The use of Metal Cleats had previously been allowed for 15U and above. This extends permission to all High School Age players 2CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Metal Cleats Penalty Rule 2.4 Metal Cleat Penalty First Offense: Team Warning Subsequent Offense: Player Restricted to Dugout; Coach Ejected. This reduces the Metal Cleat Penalty and makes it consistent with other unsportsmanlike acts specified in Rule CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

USSSA Bat Standards Rule 2.10.D OFFICIAL BAT Effective January 1, 2012 ◦ Have the new USSSA Mark on its taper OR ◦ Have the old USSSA mark and be on the USSSA Approved Bat List OR ◦ Be a Wood Bat. Effective January 1, 2014 ◦ Have the new USSSA Mark on its taper OR ◦ Be a Wood Bat CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules4

Bat Standards Comment: Bat manufacturers have the technology and have agreed to produce bats that will maintain the Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.20 or show signs that the BPF currently exceeds the standard. CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules5 It will also display signs that the bat has been altered.

Hit Batter Major Rule Change Batter does not have to try to avoid being hit to be awarded first base. Remove provision: if batter makes no effort to avoid being hit, the batter being hit is disregarded. Rule 7 Sec 11. A batter shall not permit a pitched ball to touch him intentionally move to get hit by the pitch. PENALTY: The batter remains at bat (pitch is a ball or strike), unless pitch was a third strike or ball four. 6CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Hit Batter Major Rule Change Rule 8 Sec 4. A batter becomes a batter runner … when: D. A pitched ball, legal or illegal, hits the batter’s person or clothing. EFFECT: The ball is dead immediately. EXCEPTION: If the batter makes no effort to avoid being hit 1. If the batter swings or If the ball enters the strike zone or If the batter prevents the ball from entering the strike zone, a strike is called on the batter; and if it is the third strike, the batter is out 2. If the batter intentionally moves to get hit by the pitch, it is a strike or ball depending on location of the pitch. 7CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Incorrect player in tiebreaker Rule Change When incorrect player is used in tiebreaker, replace with correct player with no penalty. Addresses wrong player placed on second base at start of tiebreaker inning. ADD to Rule If the wrong player is placed on second base, the correct runner should be inserted immediately even if a pitch has been thrown, or the runner has advanced a base. All play made while the incorrect runner was on base stands. It is the responsibility of the umpire and scorekeeper to notify the teams involved as to which player starts the half inning at second base. 8CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Name and Number disagree Rule Change Name of player in Lineup, takes precedence over number. Addresses resolution of disagreement between name and number in official lineup. Rule 5 Sec 1. PLAYERS B. The team’s lineup card shall include first name, last name, jersey number, position and batting order of each starting player and should include each eligible substitute. First and last name of eligible player takes precedence over jersey number whether incorrect on the line up card. All listed starters must be present in the team area. Lineups become official after they have been exchanged, verified and then accepted by the Plate Umpire during the pregame conference. 9CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Concussion Rule Change Rule 5 Sec 9 Change wording in INJURED PLAYER from “apparently unconscious” to “consistent with concussion”. Change from: 5.9. B. A player who has been rendered apparently unconscious during a game is prohibited to resume playing that day without written authorization from a physician. Change to: 5.9.B. Any player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the game and shall not return to play that day until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. 10CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

On-Deck Batter Note Rule Change Note added to on deck batter interference on throw. Rule 7 Sec 1. ON-DECK BATTER. D. The on-deck batter may not interfere with the defensive player’s opportunity to make an out. ADD Note: When the interference is with a thrown ball, the ball is dead and the runner closest to home is declared out. If no play is obvious, no player is out, but runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of interference. 11CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Double First Base Exception Rule Change Add Safety Base Exception regarding play from foul territory. Rule 8 Sec 19. Double First Base B. 2 Exceptions: The defense and batter runner can use either portion when: ADD 3. on any fair batted ball or errant throw that pulls the defense to foul territory. 12CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Metal Cleats Penalty Rule Change Rule 11.2 Add Metal Cleats to list of Unsportsmanlike Offenses. First Offense: Team Warning Subsequent Offense: Player Restricted to Dugout; Coach Ejected. 13CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Coach Pitch & Machine Pitch Rules Rewrite/cleanup of 8U Player, Coach, Machine Pitch Rules Combine Rule 17&18 into one Rule to increase consistency. 14CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Bunt Editorial Change Rule 3 Definition Clarifications BUNT. CHANGE “fair ball” to “legally batted ball” BUNT. A bunt is a legally batted ball, which occurs when the batter does not swing to hit the ball, but holds the bat in the path of the ball to tap it slowly to the infield. 15CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Crow Hop Editorial Change Rule 3 Definition Clarifications CROW HOP. ADD “leaves the pitcher’s plate” CROW HOP. A crow hop is the act in which the pitcher’s pivot foot leaves the pitcher’s plate and replants prior to delivery of the pitch. 16CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Fair Ball Editorial Change Rule 3 Definition Clarifications FAIR BALL. A fair ball is a batted ball which: ADD G. While over fair territory, an offensive player interferes with a defensive player attempting to field a batted ball. 17CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Foul Ball Editorial Change Rule 3 Definition Clarifications FOUL BALL. A foul ball is a batted ball which: ADD “or is touched” to Settles in A. A. Settles or is touched on or over foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base. ADD E. Is in foul territory when a base runner in foul territory interferes with a defensive player's attempt to field a batted ball. ADD F. Touches the batter or the bat in the batter's hand(s) a second time while the batter is still within the batter's box. 18CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Runner Retreats Editorial Change Rule 3 Definition Clarifications FORCE PLAY. ADD When a forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats for any reason toward the base they last occupied, the force play is reinstated. 19CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Uncaught Third Strike Editorial Change Rule 3 Definition Clarifications In STRIKEOUT, specify third strike catch must be made “before the ball touches the ground” STRIKEOUT. A strikeout is the result of the pitcher getting a third strike charged to a batter. In Fastpitch, this usually results in the batter being out. Anytime first base is unoccupied, or there are two outs, and the third strike is not caught before the ball touches the ground, the batter-runner is entitled to advance. Similar addition in Rule 7 Sec 14 and Rule 8 Sec 4 20CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

DP/Flex Editorial Change Rephrase/clarify FLEX use in DP/FLEX rule Rule 5 Sec 4. DP/FLEX - G. The FLEX player may be substituted for at any time by a legal substitute. The DP or an AP may play defense for the FLEX player. If replaced by the DP, this eliminates the non-batting FLEX position. Unless the FLEX player has replaced the DP, the FLEX player will leave the game. If replaced by a substitute, the FLEX position remains in the lineup. Change to: G. The FLEX player may be substituted for at any time by a legal substitute and the FLEX position remains in the lineup. If the FLEX player is not playing defense, the non-batting FLEX position is eliminated and the FLEX player is out of the game Unless the FLEX player is playing offensive in the DP’s position, then the FLEX player may remain in the game and not play defense. The FLEX position can be re-established if the FLEX player re- enters or is substituted for. 21CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

Passing a Base Editorial Change Rule 8 Sec 6. Touching bases in legal order ADD NEW SECTION C. When a runner passes a base, the runner is considered to have touched the base for purposes of awarded bases. 22CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Playing Rules

2013 Rule Changes USSSA fastpitch CHANGES in 2013 Twelve Edition Official Fastpitch Playing Rules