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Subscribe to our NewsletterHere are your questions and responses to them. Please keep the questions coming!:
Question:
Just bought and used this softball bat at dicks for my daughter. Is it ok for tournament play?. Coach said USA ? But logo different than baseball USA . rules only say manufacturer official. Is certified same as official. Please help. Thanks
Answer:
The rule can be found on page 11 of the 2021 Rule book.
Here it is:
1.10 (a) The Official Bat shall be round, made of one piece of hardwood or formed from a block of wood consisting of two or more pieces of wood bonded together with an adhesive in such a way that the grain direction of all pieces is essentially parallel to the length of the bat. Any such laminated bat shall contain only wood or adhesive, except for a clear finish. The bat shall not be more than 34 inches long, and not more than 21⁄4 inches in diameter at its largest part. The bat, in its entirety, shall not exceed 38 ounces in weight. The bat shall have a safety grip of cork, tape (not smooth plastic type), or composition material. The safety grip shall not be less than 10 inches long and shall not extend more than 15 inches from the small end of the bat. The bat shall be marked “OFFICIAL SOFTBALL” or “OFFICIAL FASTPITCH” by the manufacturer. The bat may also be made of metal and a metal bat may be angular. The bat shall have no exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges, or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard. All exposed surfaces of the bat shall be smooth and free of burrs. A metal bat shall not have a wooden handle. It shall conform to all the above specifications, with the exception that it is metal instead of wood
Question 2:
The old rulebooks had 11.03.1.d but the 2021 rulebook does not have part D (nor part C). Does this mean we do not have to count rec games played in a scorebook for player eligibility? Several of our 16u girls played school ball and missed a lot of rec games.
Answer:
In Florida we do not play by the national rule which eliminated letter c & d. This was announced 2 years ago when this rule was changed. Your players have to play in 1/2 of the games they were scheduled in which means they had to be drafted to a team and played in 1/2 of the scheduled games. Game schedule was due to your District commissioner before the first game of your season.
As it pertains to the players who played school ball, the league president requests a waiver and must provide the following information:
they need a letter from the high school coach staging they were on the team and the dates they played. Once you have that, that total number of games is deducted from their scheduled game. They still have to play in 1/2 of those remaining games.
Example. Player Smith is drafted to a regular season team. That teams schedule was turned into the district commissioner and shows 14 games scheduled. The high school coach writes the letter and verifies March 1st through April 1st. which covers 6 rec ball games. The new total is 8 games for that specific player and Player smith must have played in 4 of the remaining 8 games in order to qualify for post season.
A players high school games do not count twards their requirement.
Question 3
Is Slash bunt legal?
Answer:
It is illegal in the 8U division and penalty is ejection from the game. it is legal in all other divisions, however we HIGHLY DISCOURAGE this practice as it is a safety related issue and can be considered in the umpires judgement as unsportsmanlike and may result in ejection.
Question 4:
What is the pitching limit for 10U and 12U teams?
Answer:
Florida has a Rule in Effect starting in the 2024 Post Season . This MUST be followed in all leveles of tournament play within the State of Florida.
No pitcher in 10U/12U tournament play shall be allowed to pitch in more than (Six) 6 innings in any two (2) successive tournament games within the same tournament level.
Note: Managers are responsible for tracking this and penalty is forfeit.
Question 5:
Where does the Babe Ruth Softball Patch go on the uniform:
a. Shoulder Emblem. All players participating on Babe Ruth Softball local league or tournament competition are required to wear the official Babe Ruth Softball emblem. Leagues have the option to purchase Alleson Athletic jerseys from the approved Alleson Athletic Dealers containing the Official Babe Ruth Softball emblem. The jerseys with the sublimated official shoulder emblems will satisfy the requirement from local league and tournament play. The emblem will be worn on either the left uniform sleeve or on the upper left chest of the jersey. The official shoulder is required to be permanently affixed for all World Series competition. Sublimation or silkscreening of the Official Emblems is not allowed, except for sublimated jersey described above.
b. Cap/Visor Emblem Option: Leagues have the option to purchase caps approved dealers of Pacific Headwear and/or Outdoor Cap or Replica Major/Minor caps license by Outdoor Cap containing the Official Babe Ruth Softball emblem. These caps from Pacific Headwear and Outdoor Cap with the Official Babe Ruth Softball emblem will satisfy the Official Shoulder emblem requirement for local league and tournament play not including the Babe Ruth League World Series
Question 6:
.Just a request for a Rule (# 8 Dead Ball, 8U Softball) Clarification…..Will the ball be DEAD if the Pitchers helper receives the ball from a fielder or only be called Dead if the lead runner is stopped by the defense.
Answer:
8. Dead ball:
A. The ball will be declared dead when in the Umpire’s judgement the defensive team stops the lead runner or the lead runner abandons the effort to advance. Once play has been stopped, no other runners may advance beyond the last base tagged.
A. The ball will be declared dead when in the Umpire’s judgement the defensive team stops the lead runner or the lead runner abandons the effort to advance. Once play has been stopped, no other runners may advance beyond the last base tagged.
This means exactly what is says - it has no reference to where the ball is or who has the ball in relation to the runner. In many cases the lead runner will abandon her attempt to reach the next base on her own and the ball is in the possession of an outfielder. Key here is this is umpires judgement and can not be challenged.
Question 7:
Rule: Coaches wearing protection when warming up a pitcher.
Question: Does the protection consist of facemask AND helmet, or just facemask?
Answer:
Adult Coaches can wear just a facemask, similar to what an umpire wears. Warming up a pitcher consists of standing, bending down or squatting.
Question 8:
I have a question about blocking a base. Twice this weekend we had a 3rd baseman completely blocking the base before she had the ball making it impossible for our girls to slide and touch the bag.
Answer:
Under definition of terms:
Here is the rule: Please note Key Highlights in Yellow.
OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near
enough to the fielder so she must occupy her position to receive the ball she may be considered ‘’in the act of fielding a ball.” It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, she can no longer be in the “act of fielding” the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes her and she continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, she very likely has obstructed the runner
enough to the fielder so she must occupy her position to receive the ball she may be considered ‘’in the act of fielding a ball.” It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, she can no longer be in the “act of fielding” the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes her and she continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, she very likely has obstructed the runner
If the ball is in flight - player can block the base. Again Umpire judgement can not be questioned.
Question 9:
Is there a “must-slide” rule at any base? Or in particular at home, for example on a passed ball?
Also, any prohibition on head first slides?
Answer:
There is no "Must Slide" Rule in Babe Ruth and Head first slides are allowed. However, Contact must be avoided. If a player in the opinion of the umpire or a tournament official maliciously contacts another player, they will be ejected for the entire tournament. No appeal will be allowed. In addition if a runner does not slide and in the umpire's judgement impeades a throw, they will be called out for interference.
Question 10.
May a rosin bag be used during tournament? Must it be left at the mound so the other team has access or should the pitcher take it back to the dugout with her?
Answer:
Yes, she may use it, she should take it back. Here is the rule:
8.06 The pitcher shall not at any time during the game be allowed to use tape or other substances upon the ball, the pitching hand or fingers, nor shall any player apply a foreign substance to the ball. Under the supervision and control of the umpire, powdered resin may be used to dry the hand. The pitcher shall not wear any item on the pitching hand, wrist or arm, or thigh which may be distracting to the batter.
3.02 No player shall intentionally discolor or damage the ball by rubbing it with soil, rosin, paraffin, licorice, sand-paper, emery paper or other foreign substance. PENALTY: The umpire shall demand the ball and remove the offender from the game. In case the umpire cannot locate the offender, and if the pitcher delivers such discolored or damaged ball to the batter, the pitcher shall be removed from the game at once.
Question 11:
1. Can a benched player ( substitute) come in as a pinch hitter only? After that offense series is over, the pinch hitter goes back to the bench and the player they hit for can come back in to their original defensive position and original batting lineup?
Yes - See Rule 3.03 and 3.04 Here is the key Highlight: NOTE: Any of the nine starting players may withdraw and re-enter once provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever she is in the line-up. A substitute
who is withdrawn may not re-enter.
2. If a benched player ( substitute) come in to pinch run for a player that is not a pitcher or catcher, can they go in the game later as a defensive and offensive player?
No- If they are not a courtesy Runner (for pitcher or catcher of record) they are treated as a substitute See the rule cited above.
Question 12
