Softball/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| hit runner | 2/6/2012 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: Runners are on 1st and 2nd, batter hit ball that hits the runner on 1st going to second, umpire ... A: When a runner is hit with an untouched fair batted ball before it has passes an infielder (exc F1) ... | ||
| Runner interference | 2/5/2012 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: A common occurrence, particularly in senior ball where sliding is less commonplace, is that a runner ... A: First of all per your q there must be an opportunity for the defense to make a play (get an out). ... | ||
| Uniforms | 1/31/2012 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: I know that an ASA player can"t display names and/or logos of other softball associations on his or ... A: I've never had this come up at a tournie, so i called a few friends of mine who also UIC tournies. ... | ||
| League Types | 1/30/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: My daughter will be playing 11-12 year old softball this year. My question is what type of league ... A: I like the way you're looking after your daughter's softball future! I can give you an answer which ... | ||
| ASA RS#38 EXCEPTION | 1/30/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: Can you please clarify the EXCEPTION to RS#38 first paragraph "When the runner is returning to first ... A: This part of the Rules Supplement is a bit confusing, I admit. When the runner who was on 1B leaves ... | ||
| ASA defensive conference | 1/29/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: Regarding defensive charged conferences RS#9A. It states it is not a charged conference if the ... A: It sure helps me to know that you are asking an ASA question; thank you. When a pitcher is REMOVED ... | ||
| NFHS coaching appeals | 1/29/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: I am a volunteer assistant for a JV high school team (NFHS rules)and will be coaching 1st base on ... A: It sure helps me to know that you are asking a NFHS question; thank you. From an umpire's point of ... | ||
| Courtesy Runner Penalty | 1/29/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: I am looking for the penalty / effect in the ASA rule book for using the wrong courtesy runner. NSA ... A: No, no out is automatically called on an illegal player, but if they made an out, it stands. The ... | ||
| Courtesy Runner Penalty | 1/29/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: I am looking for the penalty / effect in the ASA rule book for using the wrong courtesy runner. NSA ... A: You're welcome for my time. You successfully found the unreported substitute runner rules, 4-6-C-5 ... | ||
| infield fly rule | 1/29/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: In one of my daughters recent games the infield fly was called .The bases were loaded , there was a ... A: The play at your daughter's game started off routinely and correctly when the infield fly was called ... | ||
| Tagging up | 1/26/2012 | Skip Ball |
| Q: My question focuses on coaching strategy. If a runner needs to tag up before advancing to the next ... A: It's actually better for the runner to watch the catch being made. If you want proof, time your ... | ||
| Softball Sizes | 1/25/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: We are looking to start a Co-Ed Adult slow pitch softball league. What size ball would you suggest ... A: Co-ed adult slow pitch softball, in ASA at least, is played with two ball sizes. The women hit the ... | ||
| DP/Flex question | 1/24/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: my team has 10 players. I am trying to determine if it is legal to do the following under the ... A: Good Assistant Coaches are hard to come by. Keep yours! You met the rule requirement when you made ... | ||
| Rules Question on a force play | 1/23/2012 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: In an ASA league, the bases were loaded with two outs. Ground ball to short. The runner on second ... A: NO! NO! NO! and NO!!!!! This is umpiring 101 and it beats me where people come up with these ... | ||
| strike | 1/22/2012 | Tom Mielke |
| Q: Sounds like a silly question but what is a strike? If a change-up crosses the front part of the ... A: Richard, This is far from the silliest question I have had here. It really should be asked more ... | ||
| player eligiblity | 1/12/2012 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: my daughter plays junior college softball and is gonna play with an 18u softball team this summer. ... A: Please pardon my delay in answering your question! I was out of town and forgot to put myself on ... | ||
| co-ed slow pitch softball | 1/3/2012 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: A batter hits the ball to the right field, the right fielder throws the ball to first base for the ... A: I've seen this much more at lower levels of women's play but it could also pertain to co-ed which ... | ||
| Contact with pitching rubber at release | 1/1/2012 | Skip Ball |
| Q: I have a question about rules regarding contact with the pitching rubber at with the release of a ... A: Good question. In both baseball and softball, the pivot foot must start in contact with the ... | ||
| 3rd. strike foul tip | 12/22/2011 | Skip Ball |
| Q: If the batter on a 3 and 2 count foul tips the ball and the catcher gets hit on his/her chest and ... A: That's a good question. A foul tip is a ball that goes "sharply and directly from the bat into the ... | ||
| fastpitch girls softball 18u | 12/18/2011 | Tom Mielke |
| Q: can the pitcher take the signal from the catcher while not on the mound? A: Absolutely! Unfortunately this is one of those rules that is misunderstood in fastpitch. Once the ... | ||
| Dec. 2 question on infield fly | 12/5/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: Dr. Mark, I have learned much from your replies over the years, and I have a question, the guy ... A: I read the question carefully and I think the OP was careful to not use the word "fly" but "pop" ... | ||
| judgement call infield pop | 12/2/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: i had a situation on a popup to the infield.... no out... runner on first... first baseman lets ... A: In ASA you must actually catch the ball and then intentionally drop it for a dead ball, batter out, ... | ||
| standings tie breaker | 11/23/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: I was wondering what is the ASA format to determine tiebreakers in the end of season standings. if ... A: I'm sorry to say that I don't have the answer you're looking for, but I have a feeling that the ... | ||
| Base running | 11/21/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: With base running I have heard "avoid the double play". Would this imply that a runner on first ... A: The term "force" is a little misleading. A runner who is on 1B is "forced" to advance to 2B when ... | ||
| ASA Softball | 11/16/2011 | Tom Mielke |
| Q: What is the Birthday cut off for an 18u division in 2011 ASA Softball? A: All age division ASA age cutoffs are Jan 1. For your example: On December 31 if age is 18 you can ... | ||
| slow pitch softball | 11/6/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: I play in a coed slow pitch softball league. Here is the situation: runner at 1st, left handed ... A: This is a good question because it may be the wrong call in 1 or 2 orgs but the right call in ... | ||
| ASA Slowpitch | 11/4/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: What is the allowable height limits for ASA Slowpitch softball. I heard last year that ASA went from ... A: A couple of years ago ASA changed the height from 12' to 10'. This is now the rule for everyone ... | ||
| youth girls softball - CIF - modified - no windmill | 11/4/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: appreciate your time. My daughter plays in a private Christian school league containing players ... A: especially for all the time and effort you put into it. Let me answer your questions in the same ... | ||
| minor A softball foul ball rules caught by catcher | 11/4/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: I was coaching in my game tonight and my team was on the field their batters up and fouls a ball ... A: If you play by ASA rules the following applies.... A "foul tip" is a ball that goes from the bat ... | ||
| Proper play? | 11/3/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: This is a situation question. ASA. We are home team. Away team has go-ahead run on third and a ... A: and you're welcome for my answer. I wish I could have provided a more resolute strategy for your ... | ||
| Proper play? | 11/2/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: This is a situation question. ASA. We are home team. Away team has go-ahead run on third and a ... A: in my opinion. It depends on several factors! Certainly one factor that needs to be considered is ... | ||
| runner interferance | 10/24/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: runner on 2nd base and pitcher is hit with batted ball, ball deflects off of pitcher and runner and ... A: You described an OBSTRUCTION scenario. I am going to provide an ASA answer, Rule 8-7-J-4. I hope ... | ||
| run down's | 10/19/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: Can you describe some of the rules regarding what would be obstruction regarding a rundown? For ... A: A rundown improperly run is a very good way for a runner to get out of a pickle. In my experience ... | ||
| Interfrence | 10/19/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: The batter gets a base hit to left field as the throw is coming to 2nd the 1st baseman moves 1/4 of ... A: No it would not interference but it is probably obstruction. The defense obstructs and the offense ... | ||
| Slow Pitch Shortfielder | 10/18/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: In slow pitch softball can the extra "shortfielder" line up in the dirt of the infield making 7 ... A: Yes, it's called "5 man" and as long as it's not co-ed you can position your defense anywhere you ... | ||
| legal softball gloves for infielders | 10/10/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: what gloves are legal for catcher and other position players A: I say "again" because this answer is a revision of my original one. It includes the text from both ... | ||
| 2 base rule on first | 10/9/2011 | Scott Kelly |
| Q: If the first baseman knocks a batted ball into foul ground and tags the orange bag or outside bag is ... A: The batter-runner is out. Here's the verbatim ASA Rule 8-2-M-4: "On any force out attempt from the ... | ||
| Runner interference? | 10/4/2011 | Skip Ball |
| Q: Situation. Girls on 2nd and 3rd.... base hit. Girl on 3rd scores, a play at home, but the catcher ... A: I think I'd have to see this play, but the way you have stated it, it seems that an offensive player ... | ||
| Batters box | 10/2/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: We have a disagreement over the batters box between two very experienced ASA umpires. Both agree the ... A: I think 1 umpire is making way too much out of this. "prior to the pitch " the batter must have ... | ||
| out at first | 10/1/2011 | Dr. Mark R. Ambrose |
| Q: Batter on opposing team hits ball, runs through first base, immediatly gets hurt , is sitting IN ... A: By rule the b-r is allowed to over-run 1st base, they then may turn either right or left and ... | ||
Softball
Answers by Expert:
Scott Kelly
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Current ASA and NFHS girls' fast pitch softball umpire. Most qualified to answer questions about ASA and NFHS fast pitch umpiring, rules, case plays, and game situations/scenarios. Also will gladly answer questions, to the best of my ability, about scoring, coaching, gear, equipment, slow pitch, and non-ASA and non-NFHS softball. An ASA or NFHS answer might not apply, though, to your team or league. Then please mention your team's or league's Organization. If I'm able to access your Organization's rules book, then I will! I am neither an expert umpire nor a softball expert. I am a current, working umpire who will answer your softball question to the best of my ability. Please review all or some of my answers and questioners' ratings and comments, then judge for yourself if you want to ask me OR another softball expert a question.
Experience
ASA since 2003.
NFHS since 2005.
Education/Credentials
ASA 2010 Advanced Fast Pitch Camp Cincinnati, Ohio. ASA 2009 Advanced Fast Pitch Camp Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Many ASA National Umpire Schools and Regional, State, and Local clinics. Many NFHS Local clinics.
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