NCAA Softball Rules (section 2) & Base Running Absolutes

NCAA Softball Circumference

12 inches.

NCAA Softball Maximum COR

0.47.

NCAA Softball Weight Range

6.5 to 7 ounces.

NCAA Bat Pre-Game Requirements

Must be on approved list, pass barrel compression testing, and pass umpire inspection.

Illegal Bat

A bat that does not meet weight, length, barrel diameter, or material limits.

Altered Bat

A bat intentionally changed from its original specifications (e.g., shaved or rolled).

Nonapproved Bat

A bat that does not appear on the official NCAA approved bat list.

Damaged Bat

A legal bat that has developed burrs, excessive wobble, rattles, or dents.

Offensive Helmet Requirement

Batting helmet with double-earflap construction (face mask optional).

Catching Helmet Rule

Anyone catching a pitcher must wear a helmet with a face mask.

Student-athlete base coaches must

wear a batting helmet.

Required Catcher Protective Gear

Shin guards and chest protector.

Team Undergarment Rule

All players on the field must wear the same color undergarments.

Team Headwear Rule

All players wearing headwear must wear the exact same color headwear (visors, headbands, caps)

Visiting Team Batting Practice Time

Minimum of 30 minutes, starting between 90 and 60 minutes before game time.

Defensive Field Warmup Limit

Maximum of 8 minutes per team (or 16 minutes total if sharing).

Visiting Bullpen Discrepancy Rule

If non-comparable, visiting team gets 20 minutes warm-up in home bullpen. Or in foul territory, but a player must protect the pitcher and the catcher

Field Playability Decision (Pre-Game)

Conferred by umpires and coaches 1 hour before game 1 of a doubleheader.

Field Playability Decision (In-Game)

The plate umpire is the final judge of suspension, resumption, or termination.

Required Game Balls

2 new game balls, plus 10 game-quality balls.

Lineup Card Requirements

Starters' full names, jersey numbers, positions in batting order, substitutes, and head coach.

Dugout Video/Photo Rule

Teams can only film contests they are playing; however, they can view/record publicly available video (streams or televised games between other teams). Teams cannot take photos or videos from a dugout or bullpen

Recording or radars from a non-uniformed team memeber

Non-uniformed team personnel can record or use radar from outside the dugout. HOWEVER it cannot be relayed to the team during the game

Head Coach Video Challenges

Head coach gets two challenges; retained if the call is reversed.

Artificial Noisemakers Rule

Prohibited for team personnel, student-athletes, and spectators (spectators may use musical instruments). (no air horns, noisemakers, musical instruments, etc)

Base Running Absolute #1

Know the inning, outs, current count, and score.

(batter runner) Line Drive/Fly Ball Rule

Treat every hit to the outfield as an automatic double until proven otherwise.

First Base Approach Rule

Never leap to 1B; it is slower and risks severe ankle injury.

Advancing Base Running Line

Get on a straight line to the next base to maximize speed and sliding options.

1B and 2B Lead Style

Off quick, back quick lead from a track start (never turn body to face home).

3B Lead Style

Creep athletically toward home and read the ball put in play.

Line Drive with less than 2 Outs

Freeze and read the angle of the ball before advancing.

Avoiding Tags Rule

Never run into a tag; stop, reverse direction, go around, or slide away.

Two-Out Base Running Mentality

Ultra-aggressive mentality: try to advance two bases on almost every hit. (let you base coach stop you)

Third Base Out Rule

Never make the first or third out at 3rd base. Because with no outs, a runner from 2B will likely be hit in any way, and with two outs, we will have the 2B runner try to score on a hit

while in the on-deck circle, a batter can:

Use one or two bats simultaneously, a shorter bat, a fungo, or a camwood

what is not allowed in the on deck circle?

attachments to the barrel of a bat

what does a typical pre-game protocol look like

1. Lineups are submitted to official scorekeepers

2. Umpires perform pre-game bat inspection

3. Teams do their defensive warmups

4. Pre-game meeting with umpires and coaches

- Coaches provide their official lineups

- go over ground rules

- determine special rules

5. Team intros

6. National anthem

7. Play ball

(base runners) Find the ball

see the pitch to contance the batter's bat as you sprint off the base, so you can read the fly ball, line drive, or ground ball