ASA Summary of Rules Changes
ASA has published a summary of Playing Rules changes adopted at its annual meeting in Mobile.
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2005 Playing Rule Changes
(Effective January 1, 2005)
Rule #1 – The Definitions
Rule #1 – Infield Fly A fair fly ball . . . which can be caught by an infielder, pitcher or
catcher with ordinary effort . . .
Comment: Wording of previous definition was vague concerning
the pitcher and catcher.
Rule #3 – Equipment
Rule #3 – Section 1, F SURFACE. The official bat shall be smooth with a maximum
surface roughness of 250 micro-inches. It shall be free of burr and
visible cracks and shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or
sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener that would present a
hazard.
Comment: Provides a process of measuring the surface roughness
of a bat submitted for approval under the ASA 2004 Performance
Standard.
Rule #3, Section 1, G BARREL END. If not constructed of wood and not made of onepiece
construction with the barrel end closed, the barrel end shall
have a rubber or vinyl plastic or other approved material insert or
end cap at the large end of the bat. The insert or end cap shall be
firmly secured and permanently affixed so that it cannot be
removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging
or destroying the end cap.
Comment: Current rule applied only to metal bats. This rule
change applies to the rule to all non-wood bats, including
composite bats.
Rule #3, Section 1, K NEW CONSTRUCTION. The official bat shall be one-piece
construction or a multi-piece permanently assembled bat. NOT
APPROVED: two-piece bats, multiple piece bats, bats not sold as a
single product are not approved, and bats where at least one
portion of the bat is intended to be removable by a player from
another portion of the bat.
Comment: Two-piece bats are being developed by manufacturers
so that there is increased access to the inside of the bat where bat
doctors can alter the bat to make it exceed the ASA 2004 Bat
Performance Standard.
Rule #3, Section 2, B WARM-UP BAT. The warm-up bat shall comply with the safety
grip and safety knob requirements of the official bat (See Rule 3,
Sec 1 H & I).
Comment: Safety grip and safety knob requirements should be the
same for all bats.
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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.
Comment: To insure the new face mask/guard is permanently
attached.
Rule #5 – The Game
Rule #5, Section 8 A 1 HOME RUN RULE . Change from 15 home runs to 12.
Comment: In Men’s Major SP Championships, no team ever
reached the 12 home run limit. With the adjusting of the bats and
balls, is needed to be competitive.
Rule #5, Section 10 TIME LIMIT RULE. When the time limit is in effect, the time
limit begins with the first pitch.
Comment: Now that time limits have been authorized for all
region/area play (ASA Code 510 O), there should be a definitive
start time.
Rule #5, Section 11 C NEW MEN’S SENIOR SLOW PITCH ONLY. Use the international
tie breaker rule after completion of seven (7) innings.
Comment: To conform with other senior organizations.
Rule #6 – Pitching Regulations (16” Slow Pitch)
Rule #6, Section 7 Delete “No pick off can be made.”
Comment: 16” Slow Pitch teams at the National Championship
requested this change.
Rule #8 – Batter – Runner and Runner
Rule #8, Section 3 I Add to exception: Women’s Open and Coed Major.
Comment: To allow the Women’s Open and Coed Major division
to not run the bases on home runs.
Rule #8, Section 4 G Men’s and Women’s Open Slow Pitch Only. Deletes #1 and #2
and replace with …. The ball remains alive until the pitcher has
possession of the ball in the infield and all immediate play has
apparently completed. Runners not advancing return to the last
base legally touched.
Comment: Eliminate some confusion of when the runners can
leave and return to the base. Also, eliminates any judgment as to
what the vicinity of the pitching plate is. Should be treated the
same as when a base hit is returned to the pitcher in the infield. If
no runners are attempting to advance the umpire can call time to
stop play. Adding stealing to the upper division of Women’s Slow
Pitch will increase participation. It will be a perfect transition
between fast pitch and slow pitch.
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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:
NEW 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 may
be put out,
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.
Comment: This change maintains an offense/defense balance that
eliminates confusion on an obstruction play between bases.
Rule #8, Section 5 C NEW Fast Pitch, Slow Pitch with Stealing (Men’s and Women’s Open
Slow Pitch.) When a pitched ball that remains live lodges or goes
under or over or through the backstop.
EFFECT: The ball is dead and all runners are awarded one base
only. The batter is awarded first base only on the fourth ball.
Comment: Makes all games consistent and better understanding by
players and umpires.