2022 USA Softball Rule Changes

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sixofdiamonds
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2022 USA Softball Rule Changes

Post by sixofdiamonds »

2022 USA Softball Rule Changes with Comments
NOTE: All changes below are EFFECTIVE January 1, 2022 unless otherwise noted
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Rule 3, Section 1D: Delete the sentence; Any attachment such as a molded finger grip, flare cone or choke up device must be attached with grip tape.
Comment: Removes the requirement to use tape to attachments added to the grip.

Self explanatory.

Rule 3, Section 3A: The 12” Fast Pitch ball will have the following specifications: Size: 1 1 7/8 – 12 ¼, Weight: 6.50 oz – 7.00 oz., Compression: 275.0 LBS – 375.0 LBS, COR: . 470 Max, and Dynamic Stiffness: 7500 LBS. Max.
Comment: Creates common specifications for the 12” Fast Pitch ball for USA Softball,
NCAA and NFHS. This is effective in 2024.

This rule change does not apply to slow pitch softball.

Rule 4, Section 1C [1]: Adds a letter D and E. D allows for ONE EP so you can bat 10. E allows you to use the DP/Flex with ONE EP to bat 10 players. In both D and E, any player in the line-up can play defense. Substitutions for the pitcher and catcher must be
reported.
Comment: This allows for an EP in Junior Olympic Girls Classification of Play. In E the DP/Flex Rule is in effect so if the Flex is taken out of the defense it is a substitution. Also clarifies substitutions for the pitcher and catcher must be reported.

This rule change does not apply to adult slow pitch softball.

Rule 4, Section 1C: Change the designation of “Baseman” to “Base player”.
Comment: This change better represents all who participate in our game.

This rule change must be a result of the gender equality movement.

Rule 4, Section 2L: Creates an additional section in the ADA Rule which allows a player with a disability, who needs to come out of the game due to the disability, to have a replacement player until the disability subsides.
Comment: This allows players who have certain conditions such as a diabetic event, to leave the game and be replaced until they can return, without requiring a substitution.

This rule change stems from amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Rule 5, Section 10A: (10U) Changes the time limit to one hour and forty minutes and finish the inning and removes the requirement to play one additional inning.
Comment: Removes the need to play one additional inning once the time portion of the time limit has expired. Also changes the time portion to one hour forty minutes and finish the inning. All other parts of the Rule remain the same.

This rule change does not apply to adult slow pitch softball.

Rule 5, Section 10B: (12U-18U) Changes the time limit to one hour and forty minute and finish the inning and removes the requirement to play one additional inning.
Comment: Removes the need to play one additional inning once the time portion of the time limit has expired. Also changes the time portion to one hour forty minutes and finish the inning. All other parts of the Rule remain the same.

This rule change does not apply to adult slow pitch softball.

Rule 5, Section 10C: (16U GOLD and 18U GOLD Pool Play) Changes the time limit to one hour and forty minutes and finish the inning and removes the requirement to play one additional inning.
Comment: Removes the need to play one additional inning once the time portion of the time limit has expired. Also changes the time portion to one hour forty minutes and finish the inning. All other parts of the Rule remain the same.

This rule change does not apply to adult slow pitch softball.

Rule 6A, Section 3K: (Women's and JO Girls) Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact with the ground or having both feet in the air is allowed.
Comment: Allows for Women and Junior Olympic Girls Classification of Play to have both feet in the air at the same time but must still stay within the 24” pitching plate. Rule 6C, Section 3J: The pitcher has 5 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball or after the umpire indicates “play ball”.
Comment: Reduces the time to release a pitch from 10 to 5 seconds.

This rule change does not apply to adult slow pitch softball.

Rule 7, Section 3B: (All JO Girls Slow Pitch, JO Boys 14U, 16U, 18U Slow Pitch, and all Adult Slow Pitch, Except Seniors) The batter shall assume a one ball, one strike count upon entering the batter’s box.
Comment: Adds All JO Girls to the Classifications of Slow Pitch to start with a one ball and one strike count.

This rule change does not apply to adult slow pitch softball.
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blouderback
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Re: 2022 USA Softball Rule Changes

Post by blouderback »

In regards to Rule 4, Section 2L (the ADA rule), does the player coming into the game temporarily for a person with a disability need to be a roster player, and, if not, how does affect our non-roster substitution rules? For example, if a player with asthma needs to come out temporarily during an attack, can the manager grab a random person as a replacement for a half inning (or for however long the roster player needs) and still play 10 in the field? The rule specifically states that no "substitution" is necessary, so it sounds like our sub rules wouldn't apply since it's not considered a substitution.
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sixofdiamonds
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Re: 2022 USA Softball Rule Changes

Post by sixofdiamonds »

Rule 4, Section 2L (the ADA rule) has no bearing on our league non-roster sub rules. SBA current league rules clearly state the following: Under no circumstances can a manager add a non-roster sub to the line-up once the game begins. You asked if a player with asthma needing to come out temporarily during an attack could be replaced with a non-roster sub. The answer is he could not. The manager would have to have a roster player on the bench in order to make the substitution which, now that this new rule is in place, would not count as a player substitution nor would it count as a re-entry into the game per ASA Re-entry Rule.

The manager would have the option of using our league injury rule (below). However, the player coming out would not be eligible to return to the game.

PLAYER INJURY: If a team has chosen to start all roster players leaving no roster subs on the bench and one of the players gets hurt to the point where he/she obviously can’t continue, that player and any player needed to assist that player shall be passed over in the batting line-up without penalty as long as all roster requirements are met.
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blouderback
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Re: 2022 USA Softball Rule Changes

Post by blouderback »

OK, thanks for the clarification. My assumption is, then, that if a player having an asthma attack (or whatever) needs to be passed over in the batting lineup, he/she may return to the lineup after the attack is over.
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sixofdiamonds
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Re: 2022 USA Softball Rule Changes

Post by sixofdiamonds »

No! Once an injured or incapacitated player comes out of the game without a legitimate roster substitution, he/she cannot return to the game. His/her spot in the line-up can be passed over without penalty as long as all roster requirements are met.

Most are like you, Bob. They see life as it is. A player has an asthma attack so he/she should be able to come out of the game until the attack passes and then go back in. Unfortunately, competitive life is a lot different. Unscrupulous managers would use this provision to their advantage in key situations. Think about this for a moment. It's late in Game 3 of a Championship Finals. The manager sees an opportunity with the bases loaded and it will come down to the last batter in the line-up-- an excellent pitcher, but the team's worst hitter and a potential double play threat. The manager tells the player to fake an asthma attack or something equally unprovable (nausea, dizziness, etc.) so they can turn the line-up over and get to the leadoff hitter. Without penalty, the leadoff hitter bats instead of the team's worst hitter. The phantom ailment then passes when the defense is to take the field and the team's pitcher goes back to the mound.

I know it's hard to believe for most, but there are people who will do almost anything to gain a competitive advantage. In order to catch a criminal, one must think like a criminal and that's what I do when it comes to league rules. If thinking like a criminal would be punishable by law, I'd be locked away for a very long time.
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blouderback
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Re: 2022 USA Softball Rule Changes

Post by blouderback »

LOL, I guess you're right. I don't think that way. Makes sense. I know some managers that might do that.
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