ARCHIVED ANNOUNCEMENTS

URGENT MESSAGE:

PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING USSSA INFORMATION FOUND ON PAGE 70 OF THE 14TH EDITION RULE BOOK:

USSSA POLICY

Upon becoming aware that a participant or coach/manager of his team has received a suspected concussion (or has been struck in the head area with any significant force), the Team Manager will not allow that person to participate in any USSSA sanctioned event and if occurring during a USSSA sanctioned event, shall have that person removed from the playing field of any USSSA sanctioned event.

Upon becoming aware that a participant, coach/manager or umpire/referee has received a suspected concussion (or has been struck in the head area with any significant force), a USSSA umpire/referee or director will have that person removed from the playing field of any USSSA sanctioned event. Without a written medical clearance from a licensed medical doctor to return to play, such persons will not be allowed to return to the USSSA playing field in a USSSA sanctioned event. For umpires/referees, the medical written consent must be presented to the Team Manager and retained permanently by the USSSA State Director. For participants and coaches/managers, the medical written medical consent must be presented to the Team Manager and retained permanently by the Team Manager. Any Team Manager, who allows a coach/manager or participant back on a USSSA sanctioned event playing field without first obtaining the required written consent, may be suspended by the State Director for up to one year and upon request of the State Director, may be suspended for a longer duration by the USSSA disbarment committee.

State Directors allowing an umpire/referee back in the field of play without the necessary consent will be subject to being disciplined as determined by the USSSA Board of Directors. In the event of severe head trauma in a USSSA sanctioned activity, the injured person will not be moved and an ambulance will be called, unless otherwise directed by a qualified medical professional. The parent or guardian of the injured person, however, will not be bound by this protocol and may choose a different approach consistent with their legal rights as the parent or guardian.

**NEVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON A PLAYER! Don't touch their helmet, or any part of their person. If they need assistance with equipment call the coach out to assist them.

**Head first slides are perfectly legal in USSSA play, as they are in NFHS games.

**A batter being intentionally walked, MUST BE PITCHED to in Fastpitch!

**A team MAY start with 8 players. An out will be recorded each time the absent batter's turn at bat occurs. If they cannot field 8, the game is over.

**Unless directed otherwise by the UIC, all USSSA rules are in effect. Do not make up your own rules regarding no infield practice, or no infield balls after the 1st inning or enforce the 20 timing rule for anything other than pitcher's time limit-a penalty ball is never used because a coach takes too long to get his players ready to play after a time out.

REMINDER: LINE UP CARDS MUST HAVE 1ST & LAST NAMES, NUMBERS & POSITIONS. DO NOT ACCEPT THE LINE UP IF IT DOES NOT HAVE ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION! Teams may bat up to 11 (if using 2 AP's) may also use a DP/FLEX (Flex is a non-batting position) ONLY 11 BATTERS!

Situations needing attention:

When time is taken to review a rule, clarify a substitution, or a coach comes out to discuss a ruling, or quickly fix a field maintance issue, the clock does not stop, and you never put time back on the clock!!! If the coach has a problem with this please refer the coach to the UIC.

When you are unsure of how to rule in a situation, confer with your partner, if one or both of you are still unclear, or can't agree on the proper ruling, call the UIC to the field. Do not guess!!!

Part of your duties as an umpire require ensuring the score is correct. Especially, if you see a non-adult keeping the book for one or the other teams. During the game when run(s) may or may not have scored, check with the books of both teams. There is no "official book" in USSSA play, so it's important umpires be aware of the score. Rule 14-12-S requires the umpires to correct a scorekeeping error if brought to your attention, prior to your leaving the field. preventive officiating will eliminate this problem. This is not a protest, this is an umpire's duty.

When an improper batter becomes a runner, or is put out, and the defensive team appeals prior to a pitch (legal or illegal being thrown) and the incorrect batter has completed their time at bat;

1. the proper batter is declared out.

2. The inproper batter is taken off base. If the batter is out on the play, the out does not count because the out for batting out of order supercedes an out by an improper batter on the play.

3. Any outs made on the play on other runners stands. Any runner not put out must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

4. No runs may score on the play.

5. The next batter is the player who follows in the batting order the player declared out for not batting in the proper order.

6. If a runner advances because of a stolen base, wild pitch or passed ball, while the improper batter is at bat, such advance is legal.

There seems to be some ongoing confusion concerning the difference between and Illegal Substitute and an unreported substitute. An unreported sub is NEVER CALLED OUT. Once she's in the game, she becomes legal. It makes no difference when she's discovered, all action from her playing is legal. The offending coach will be warned, and the next offense will result in the COACH being ejected.

An illegal substitute is someone who enters the game (or re-enters) and does not have eligibility or is not entitled to enter. Example: re-entering in the wrong batting position, re-entering after ejection, illegal pitcher, batter or runner. The penalty for illegal sub results in the player being called out (if on offense) and restricted to the bench, and the coach ejected. If brought to umpire's attention prior to the next pitch, all advance by the offensive team is nullified, all outs made would stand. If detected after next pitch thrown, Player restricted/coach ejected and all action stands. For a illegal defensive substitute: Player restricted, coach ejected, offense has the option of the play or replaying last pitch if detected prior to next pitch. If detected after next pitch, Player restricted, coach ejected and all play stands.

SUMMARY OF 2019 RULE CHANGES:

8U PLAYING RULES – added rules specific for this division.

ADA RULE CLARIFICATION – Added an ADA Rule to clarify the process for making reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

ILLEGAL PITCH PENALTY - reduced the penalty to a ball on the batter with no runner advancement, unless forced by ball four.

“We watched closely as the NCAA implemented this rule in 2018 and noted the volume of positive feedback that it received from coaches and officials”, says Andy Wisk, USSSA National Fastpitch Committee Chairman. “We feel that it will fit well in our game also, as we can continue to teach young players the proper fundamentals without having a penalty that could have such a profound impact on the outcome of games.”

ILLEGAL BATS – changes the violation from hitting the ball to entering the box with an altered, unapproved or damaged illegal bat. In all cases, the batter is declared out. If it is merely an illegal bat (a bat that was once legal but due to wear and tear is no longer legal), the first offense is a team warning. Any subsequent offenses result in the player being restricted to the bench and the coach ejected. If it is an altered or non-approved bat, the player and coach are ejected.

“Safety is our top priority and the adjustments to this rule will help us to minimize the use of altered and/or non-approved bats to better protect our young players in the field”, comments Don Briscoe, USSSA’s National Rules Coordinator. “While our rules do not require bat checks, we do require coaches to certify that their team is properly equipped. Much like our counterparts in the National High School Federation, we depend on that certification and hold coaches responsible for its accuracy.”

TINTED EYE SHIELDS ON BATTING/CATCHING HELMETS/DEFENSIVE FACE MASKS - will be prohibited.

UNUSED SUBS WHO ARE NOTED BY THE COACH AS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE - will be disqualified for the remainder of that game.

RUNS SCORING ON GAME-ENDING DEAD BALL – clarifies that all awarded runs will count in a “walk-off” situation on ground-rule doubles and balls thrown out of play, not just home runs. This addresses potential issues with runs allowed and run differential tiebreakers.

ELIMINATED THE REQUIREMENT FOR PITCHERS TO FACE ONE BATTER - unless they were courtesy run for in the top of the first inning, then they must throw one pitch.

EXPANSION OF THE ILLEGAL PLAYER RULES COVERAGE – addresses illegal players who were base runners.

RELOCATED THE DP/FLEX RULE VIOLATION TO THE ILLEGAL PLAYER RULE – this changes the violation of inserting the flex into the offensive lineup for someone other than the DP to an illegal player.

LIBERALIZED THE PITCHER WARMUP RULES - clarifies pitcher may continue to warmup, in excess of 5 pitches, if umpire is still performing administrative duties.

CLARIFICATION ON RUNNERS LEAVING BASES DURING A NON-CHARGED DEFENSIVE CONFERENCE - requires runners to remain in the vicinity of their bases during non-charged defensive meetings.

UNIFORMS – adjusted to allow some flexibility for variances in style due to religion, inclement weather, etc.