Softball Rules SEC 2

Ball Requirements

12” circumference, max COR of 0.47, NCAA stamp, weight between 6.5 to 7 ounces

Bats

appear on official NCAA approved list, pass pre-game barrel compression testing and have an approved bat sticker, pass pre-game inspection by the umpire crew (wobbles, cracks, dents, burrs, or rattles)

Illegal bat

does not meet the standards for weight, length, barrel diameter, material limits, etc.

Altered bat

has been intentionally changed from its original specifications; common altering processes include shaving, rolling, artificially warming or using bat warmerN

Nonapproved Bat

does not appear on the NCAA approved bat list

Damaged Bat

a legal at with burrs, excessive wobble, rattles, dents, etc

Warmup bats

while in on-deck circle a batter can have: one or two regular bats, a shorter style bat, fungo bat, camwood provided in one piece (ATTACHMENTS TO BARREL OF BAT ARE NOT ALLOWED)

Helmet rules

offensive players must wear a batting helmet with double-earflap construction; face mask is optional, players from same team must wear same color helmet, any player catching MUST wear helmet with face mask, student-athlete base coaches must wear batting helmet

Protective equipment

Required: catcher shin guards, catcher chest protectors; Optional: batting gloves/sliding mitts, thumb guards/hand pads, braces/casts/elbow guards/splints [only if padded to protect other players], defensive headgear/face masks, elbow, knee and skin pads

Miscellaneous Uniform rules

all players from same team must wear same uniform set, all players on field must have same color undergarments, all players optionally wearing headgear must have same color, inclement weather garments worn by players on field must be of same style, color, and trim, signal arm bands and devices may be worn on arm, belt, or placed in pocket

Pre Game Procedure: Batting

home team must give visiting team equal access to batting practice and equipment available to home team, visiting team must be granted a min of 30 minutes of batting time, visiting team can start no earlier than 90 minutes before game time and not less than 60 minutes before game time

Pre Game Procedure: Fielding

each team will be permitted a max of 8 minutes of defensive warmup on full field; EXCEPTION - two teams can choose to share field for defensive warmups (lines) - teams will be granted 8 extra minutes if this the case

Pre Game Procedure: Pitching

each bullpen must be in satisfactory condition: If the visiting bullpen is not comparable, the visiting team shall be granted warm up time of 20 minutes in the home bullpen; pitchers may also warmup in foul territory on field: A player must be stationed to protect the pitcher, and another player must be stationed to protect the catcher

Field Playability

one hour before 1st game of a doubleheader, the umps and coaches can confer to decide if field is fit for play, after 1st game starts, the plate ump is final judge to determine if game shall be suspended, resumed, or terminated, the plate ump of 1st game will be final judge of whether 2nd game of doubleheader will start

Game Balls

each game must start with 2 new game balls, the balls must be available no later than one hour before game time, each new ball should have dirt rubbed on it to take off glossy finish, besides 2 new game balls, 10 game quality balls should also be available for use

Typical pre game protocol

Pre-game warmup activities vary until about 30 minutes before the 1st game, then the following sequence of events takes place: 1. Lineups are submitted to the 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 (international tie breaker, required departure time, etc.) 5. Team introductions 6. National anthem (before the first game) 7. “Play ball”

Lineup Cards

• Lineup cards must provide the following

information:

1. Full name, jersey # and position of all

starters in the exact order they will bat.

• First name can be omitted from the

starting lineup if the full name is listed

at the bottom of the lineup card.

• The first initial must be used in

the above scenario when

multiple players have the same

last name.

2. Full name and jersey # of all

substitutes.

3. Full name of the head coach.

Scouting and Electronics

Teams can only film contests in which they

are playing.

• Teams can, however, view/record publicly

available video, such as streams or televised

games between two other teams.

• Team personnel cannot take photos or video

(even on cell phones) from a dugout or

bullpen.

• Non-uninformed team personnel can

record or radar from outside of the

dugout. HOWEVER, this information can’t

be relayed to the team during the game.

Miscellaneous Electronic Rules

One way communication for giving

signs – Certain watch-like devices are

legal to be used for pitch calling and

offensive signs.

• Video review – In the rare

circumstances where it is available, the

head coach has two challenges to

initiate the video review of a play.

• If the challenge reverses a call, the

head coach retains his or her

challenge.

Artificial Noisemaker

• Definition – An object other than a body

part used to make or amplify sound.

• Team personnel and student athletes

may not use artificial noisemakers,

musical instruments, air horns or

electronic amplifiers

• Spectators shall not use artificial

noisemakers, air horns or electronic

amplifiers. But can use musical

instruments.