2008 Rule Book

 

Official UFA Rules

1001: Official Pitching Rules

1. Before the pitcher pitchers the ball, she must do the following:

2. Have possession of the ball.

3. Have both feet in contact with the rubber. Exception: When we are playing with non softball rubber, then it will be at the umpires discretion and judgment.

4. Have both hands separated.

1002: The pitch begins when the hands are no longer separated. The pitch delivery cna be aborted by pitcher stepping off the Rubber in a backward step with her plant foot.

1003: The delivery must start no less than on second and no more than 10 seconds after the hands are in contact of each other.

1004: Pitchers foot movement:

1. No backward movement ( or backward step) during delivery.

2. No Crow Hopping, Leaping or anything to gain an advantage.

3. After ball leaves the pitchers hand, the plant foot can leave the the ground.

1005: Pitchers arm movement:

1. Must be an underhand motion.

2. Pitcher can use backward movement of the pitching are to start of delivery.

3. Windmill or Slingshot style is acceptable.

4. The pitching are can't move over and past the pitchers head more than once before the ball is delivered.

5. If the underhanded arm movement is more than 12" away from the parallel of the body, the pitch will be considered sidearm pitch.

1006: Pitcher can't stop her motion before the ball leaves the hand.

1007: If pitcher stops her wind up without releasing the ball, a ball will be called and all base runners will advance one base. 

1008: Pitcher can't wear a glover on her pitching hand. She can't have anything on hand to gain advantage or distract batter.

1009: Pitcher can't have anything distraction on pitching are, hand or wirst. Any sweatband must be fleace color.

1010: Intentional Walk. Pitcher must tell umpire and umpire will award batter base, no pitches will be thrown.

1011: Pitching removal rule.

1. Coach can have 3 visits per game after 3rd visit coach must remove pitcher from mound. Any visits after 3rd vist pitcher must be removed from pitching.

2. Extra innings coaches are awarded 1 visit per new inning in extra innings.

Batting and Base Running

2001. The girl is considered the batter when she takes her place in the box.

2002: Batting out of order can be appealed to the umpire by the defense:

1. Offense occurs during illegal batter: the correct batter takes over and assumes the pitch count.

2. Offense occurs after illegal batter has batted and before next pitch, the illegal batter is out and any base advancement will return to their position prior to the Pitch.

3. Offense occurs after illegal batter has batted and after next pitch, the play stands.

2003. The batter is out when the following happens:

1. Batter steps on the plate when hitting the ball in fair or foul territory.

2. Batter steps ouit of the batter's box when hitting ball in fair territory.

3. Batter fouls off third strike while trying to bunt.

4. Catcher catches third strike foul tip.

2004. The base runner must run the bases in order while advancing or retreating.

2005. When a base runner misses a bag, the play is appealed to the Umpire by the defense or the defensive coach. Appeal must be done before the next pitch is delivered.

2006. Base  runners may steal only after the ball leavers pitchers hand during her delivery of the pitch.

2007. Defensive player can't block the base without possession of the ball. Catcher can not block the plate without the possession of the ball.

2008. Base runners can't interfere with a defensive player making a play on the ball. Result base runner's out and all base runners will return to previous bag before the interference occurred.

Official Line-Up of Players and Subsititutes

The Universal Fastpitch Assciation has adapter the following rules.

3001. There will be nine defensive players.

3002. You can use 2 extra players and a Defo. You can bat 11 and play 9 in the field. If using the DEFO you will have 12 on the lineup. If a player gets injured or sick and there are no substitutes we will not charge you an out until you get below 9 players. 

3003. Courtesy runners are allowed for the pitchers and catchers. Must be a legal substitute if no substitute runner must be last batted out. Runner must be used before the next pitch. The courtesy runner is a speed up rule not in place to gain an advantage.

3004. All line-up sheets will be turned in at the start of the game. One copy goes to the plate umpire and one to the opposing team.

3005. What ever age a girl is on January 1st will be the girls official playing age for the year.

3006. Determining home team:

1. Determined by a coin toss at home plate. Home team is the offical book with the visiting operating the scoreboard.

Equipment:

1. All equipment must be approved by ASA.

4001. All balls will be provided by the teams does not have to be new. Just approved for play.

4002. All batting helments and catching gear must be approved in original condition. Player safety is the main concern.

4003. Metal cleats are not allowed in any age group.

4004. No jewelry is allowed on the players (except medical alert bracelets). If ear rings are in must be taped.

4005. All helments must have NOCSAE approved face masks.

Conferences and Timeouts:

5001. Offensive timeouts only one per inning. Defense can use the offensive time out without penalty.

5002. Defensive conference, can have 3 per game. after the 3rd visit the coach must change the pitcher and every visit after the 3rd.

Umpires Rights and Responsibilities:

6001. The umpire is responsible to keep control of the game.

6002. The umpire has the right to eject any player, coach, fan for any unsportsmanlike behavior.  Coach and player can coach or play in the next game must be approved by the tournament Director.

6003. Any judgment call that the umpire makes is non protestable.

6004. Any call made that may be a miss-interpretation of the rules is protestable.

8-Under Rules:

1. Unlimited amount of players on roster.

2. 3 outs or 10 batters per half inning.

3. 6 inning games or time limit of 65. mins.

4. 2 outfield coaches are permitted to coach behind out field.

5. 5 pitches or 3 swings per batter. If 3 strike is fouled continue till ball is put in play or misses pitch for strike 3.

6. Pitcher - coach must pitch within circle.

7. Dead ball if pitcher-coach is hit by pitch or interferes with the play.

8. No Stealing.

9. 10 players in the field, must have 4 outfields.

10. Team must provide the balls. 11' ball are use for the 8U.

 

10U rules;

1. 11' ball will be provided.

2. Pitcher pitches from 35 feet.

3. 10U teams will play by the same rules as the other age divisions.

Tournament Eligibility:

1. If a player starts tournament with one team and team loses, she can not play with another team in that age group or younger age group.

2. If team is found to do this then team will forfiet game and be eliminated from the tournament no exception.

 

 

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Mike Creech 3330 Ernest Pridgen Rd - Wray, Georgia 31798

912-381-4674  cell / 912 - 359-2979 Hm - mcreech@dishmail.net