Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations NFHS Softball 2008 Rules Changes Major Editorial Changes Points of Emphasis Major Manual Changes

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations NFHS Softball 2008 Rules Changes

Metal Cleats/Toe Plates Permitted (3-2-11)  Metal cleats and toe plates 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

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations

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

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  Use is completely optional  Important for umpires to enforce penalties for illegal slides

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

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 in circle  Pitcher still has 20 seconds to deliver the pitch  Batter has first 10 seconds  Pitcher has remaining 10 seconds

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

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

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations NFHS Softball 2008 Major Editorial Changes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations NFHS Softball 2008 Points of Emphasis

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

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

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

length

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

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

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

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 is called

Equipment  Umpires must conduct thorough pregame 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations NFHS Softball 2008 and 2009 Major Manual Changes

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

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

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