Play will be governed by ASA rules, except for certain NSFPL rules, designed to enhance safety, participation, sportsmanship and speed of play. Please note that the age cutoff is January 1. For example, a player who is 12 years old on January 1, 2012, is eligible to play in the 12-U age division for the entire calendar year.

The League will follow the Official ASA Playing Rules for 2012.  Changes to the 2011 Rule Book will not be announced by the ASA until late November.

NSFPL exceptions to the ASA rules:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR 10U BRACKET

DO WE FOLLOW ASA RULES? YES

Base on balls: A base on balls permits a batter to gain first base when four pitches are judged by the umpire to be out of the strike zone.

Foul Ball (G): Goes directly from the bat to any part of the catcher’s body or equipment and is caught by another fielder.

Foul Tip: A batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catchers hand(s) or glove / mitt.

Tag: A legal tag is the act of a defensive player in:

Rule 3 Section 4: Glove / Mitt: A Glove / Mitt may be worn by any player.

Rule 7 Section 4 L When a pitched ball, in the umpire’s judgment, is prevented from entering the strike zone by any actions of the batter other than hitting the ball.

Effect: The Ball is dead and a strike on the batter.

Rule 8 Section 2M 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9: They now read as follows:

Section M 3: Whenever a play is being made on the batter-runner, the defense must use the white portion and the batter-runner the colored portion. (Removed is “by an infielder)

Effect: Once the runner returns to the white or colored base, no appeal can be made.

Section M 6: On balls hit to the outfield with no play on the batter-runner advancing to first base, the batter-runner may touch the white or colored portion. Should the batter-runner return, the runner may return to the white or colored portion.

Section M 7: When tagging up on a fly ball, the white or colored portion may be used.

Section M 8: Fast Pitch, SP with stealing, 16-Inch Slow Pitch; on an attempted pick-off play, the runner may return to the white or colored portion.

Section M 9: When there is a force play on the batter-runner, who touches only the white portion and collides with the fielder about to catch a thrown ball while on the white.

Comments on Double base changes: The rule now is basically written so that as a batter-runner while advancing to first base the color you must touch remains the same regardless of where the ball is hit or the throw comes from. Once you have passed first base the base now becomes one base made of a colored portion and a white portion, 30 by 15 vs. 15 by 15

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IMPORTANT ASA RULE CHANGES FROM 2005

Rule #1 – Infield Fly A fair fly ball . . . which can be caught by an infielder, pitcher or catcher with ordinary effort....

Rule #3, Section 5, E HELMETS. …… All Junior Olympic Fast Pitch batting helmets shall be equipped with a securely fastened NOCSAE approved face mask guard.

Rule #5, Section 10 TIME LIMIT RULE. When the time limit is in effect, the time limit begins with the first pitch.

Rule #8, Section 5 B 1 1. An obstructed runner may not be called out between the two bases where obstructed unless properly appealed for:

a. when an obstructed runner, after the obstruction, safely obtains the base they would have been awarded, in the umpire’s judgment, had there been no obstruction and there is a subsequent play on a different runner, the obstructed runner is no longer protected between the bases where they were obstructed and maybe put out (NEW)

b. when properly appealed for missing a base,

c. when properly appealed for leaving a base before a fly ball was first touched

d. when committing an act of interference, or

e. when passing another runner

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IMPORTANT ASA RULE CHANGES FROM 2004

Rule 2, Sec. 3(H)(1): The double base is approved for use at first base.

EFFECTIVE 2005: The DOUBLE BASE shall be used at first base in all divisions of play.

Rule 3, Sec. 1A: A. CERTIFIED/APPROVED. The official bat for ASA Championship Play must meet all of the requirements of Rule 3, Section 1, and:

(1) Must bear either the ASA approved 2000 certification mark or the ASA 2004 certification mark as shown below, and must not be listed on an ASA Banned Bat List unless it also bears an ASA approved re-certification mark shown below, or ASA 2000 Certification Mark ASA 2004 Certification Mark ASA Recertification Mark

(2) must be included on a list of approved bat models published by the ASA National Office; or

(3) must, in the sole opinion and discretion of the umpire, have been manufactured prior to 2000, and if tested, would comply with the ASA bat performance standards then in effect.

Rule 3, Sec 5D: D. FACE MASKS/FACE GUARDS. Any defensive player or offensive player can wear an approved plastic face mask/guard. Face masks/guards that are cracked or deformed, or if padding has deteriorated or is missing, are prohibited from use. Fast Pitch catchers cannot wear the plastic face mask/guard. EFFECTIVE 2005: All Junior Olympic Fast Pitch batting helmets shall be equipped with a NOCSAE approved face mask/guard.

Rule 8, Sec. 5B: The change removed the words “or about to receive a thrown ball” from the obstruction rule, so it now reads: B. When a fielder not in possession of the ball, or not in the act of fielding a batted ball impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases. COMMENTS: Removing “about to receive a thrown ball” will not allow players to block a base or home plate without the ball. As one coach so aptly stated, after this ruling was approved, Rather than teach to block the base, catch the ball, and then apply the tag, I will now have to teach to catch the ball, block the base and then apply the tag. Obstruction should be ruled if the fielder blocks the base without the ball.

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