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Jan. 7, 2013 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: More 1-1 Count Talk Email invitations to participate were sent to all 17,592 email addresses in the SSUSA Player/Umpire/Administrator database on December 26th. Each recipient was provided with a unique computer generated link to the survey, ensuring each respondent would only be able to vote once. Possible reasons you may not have noticed an invitation include: [1] not being a registered player (however, players whose registration is not current for 2013 were invited to participate); [2] a bad/outdated email address in our database; or [3] The email may have been intercepted by a 'spam filter' and diverted away from your in-box.
Jan. 4, 2013 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Have read different rules for the pitchers would like for ssusa to explain all new rules. CORRECTION: We failed to comment above on one other item, which does have an impact on the pitching rules. The Pitcher's Box was enlarged from 2' x 6' to 2' x 10'. The front of the Pitcher's Box remains at 50' from Home Plate, but now extends back from there an additional 4' toward second base.
Jan. 2, 2013 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Have read different rules for the pitchers would like for ssusa to explain all new rules. NONE of the actions of the SSUSA Rules Committee at this year's Annual Convention involved Pitching matters or issues. There is one potential Batter's issue outstanding, regarding whether to go to a "1-1" starting pitch count, which would have a nominal impact on Pitchers if the change is made. (Pitchers would only need to throw 2 strikes to get a batter out or 3 balls to walk a batter.) Screens are NOT contemplated for SSUSA-sanctioned tournament play and, accordingly, your question of wearing helmets, etc., while pitching behind a screen is moot. The rules regarding Pitcher's Mandated Safety Equipment remains unchanged. Lastly, there is a Message Board post (above, 2nd from the top) that contains the complete Rules Committee Meeting Minutes, a related Exhibit "A" and a separate post detailing the background on certain decisions we believed would be of interest to the membership. Please review those documents as they will should likely answer your questions.
Dec. 26, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA HR rule question southernson: The current starting pitch count is "0-0". The consideration before the Rules Committee now is whether to change to "1-1", and if so, whether to allow the batter a 'waste foul' on any 2-strike count.
Dec. 24, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA HR rule question The rule in question has been amended as follows and is applicable at all rating levels of play: §8.4(6) • GAME-WINNING HOME RUN A team may hit up to its limit of home runs at any time during the game, including a game-winning home run. The "1-up" HR provisions were eliminated, making the issue moot. Teams at the Major+ and Major levels may, of course, string together a series of excess HR's treated as "walks" to push across a winning run, but the final one will be scored as a "walk" and not a home run. The 2013 Official SSUSA Rulebook is ready to go to press pending the resolution of the "1-1" count issue that was referred out of the Rules Committee hearings for further analysis and later committee action. This should occur shortly into the new year.
Dec. 23, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Texas State Championship-2013 SSUSA reached an agreement with Big League Dreams that allows the use of "senior bats", including the Mikens, at SSUSA sanctioned events held at BLD facilities. We have no knowledge of what, if any, restrictions may be imposed on other senior associations. SSUSA players sign a liability release in favor of BLD, but that is the only condition imposed. This agreement was negotiated a few years ago with BLD corporate counsel by SSUSA Executive Director Fran Dowell.
Dec. 22, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Why delete a thread It's our policy that buy/sell/trade transactions are inappropriate on our Message Board. We simply prefer not to have a "Swap Meet" environment. Thank you for announcing another potential outlet for these type of activities on the NCSSA Board.
Dec. 21, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Spring Nats DATE REVISION - We had inadvertently scheduled the Spring National Championships in Mobile, Alabama for the weekend of Easter Sunday. We have changed the dates of the tournament to March 19 - 24, 2013. This change has been reflected on the Tournament Page of this website. We apologize for the error and hope to see you in Mobile!
Dec. 20, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: 80+ Team looking for player for TOC ALL 80+ teams are invited to the TOC as the "Elder Statesmen" of the game. There has never, since the inception of the Original TOC, been a qualifying requirement for 80+ teams.
Dec. 18, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Tournaments Discussion: TOC The list of the 233 Qualified/Invited teams is available from the click-thru link near the top of the TOURNAMENTS page. The list of teams entered will be published shortly after the entry deadline of January 9, 2013.
Dec. 17, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Tournaments Discussion: TOC Shortly after the entry deadline of January 9, 2013.
Dec. 13, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: one out bases loaded He's OUT, exactly as cal50 stated. The base is NOT a safe haven so long as the force out opportunity at 3rd base is still in play. Where the runner is physically located, touching the base or not, is irrelevant and he is out upon the tag. In scenario #1, you executed a nice unassisted double play. In scenario #2, it should have been scored a 5-2-5 double play.
Dec. 12, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Ratings TYPICAL FACTORS CONSIDERED IN RATING DECISIONS PROCESS (in alphabetical, non-priority order) GOAL - Have every team in the proper rating division for the Eastern/Western Nationals and World Masters Championships • Average run differentials (+/-) over time • Average runs scored / consistency of same • Champions in National/World tournaments of ISA/ISSA/SPA/SSUSA • Depth of 'HR power' on roster • Frequency of HR's in excess of limit for current division • Identifying teams that forfeit vs. higher rated opponent for rating motive • Impact of a blowout win/loss on run differential calculations • National Rating Advisory Board member observations/recommendations • Roster composition (number and team history of out of rating players) • Tournaments won & performance in larger tournaments • Tournament/Field Director observations/recommendations • Won/Loss records in bracket play as opposed to pool play (sandbagging pool play) • Won/Loss records over time inside and outside of current division
Dec. 12, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: one out bases loaded Wes - This is discussed in SECTION 8 • ON BASE SITUATIONS of the SSUSA Rulebook, specifically at: §8.1 B (on page 54) • When a base runner acquires the right to a base by touching it before being put out, he may hold the base until he has legally touched the next base in order or *is forced to vacate it for a succeeding runner. - [emphasis added]* As long as the force play is in effect, the runner must advance toward the next base and has no safe haven by remaining on the former base occupied.
Dec. 11, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: one out bases loaded That's incorrect Steve65 - As long as the force play is intact (as presented in the facts), the runner on 3rd must vacate the base, and stalling to do so does not provide a safe haven. He's out when tagged in the 1st scenario and out when the throw to home was completed in the 2nd scenario. If the defender had stepped on third prior to the tag (or the throw home), that's an entirely different proposition, but not what was stated in the factual circumstances ... stick8 (and others) were correct on this one: Double Play
Dec. 10, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: one out bases loaded Wes - It was a bad day at the office for those umpires! ... SCENARIO 1 • You don't mention in either instance whether or not the ball hit to the 3rd baseman was a grounder or a line drive. If it was a line drive, the runner on 3rd is safe if he stays on the base. If it was a grounder, the runner must vacate 3rd base and advance toward Home. He is no longer entitled to the base, does not gain a safe haven by stalling his departure and is OUT when the tag is applied. The runner from 2nd being tagged out advancing to 3rd base completes the double play. SCENARIO 2 • At the risk of being redundant from above, the runner must vacate 3rd base and advance toward Home. He is no longer entitled to the base, does not gain a safe haven by stalling his departure and is OUT when the throw is caught by the defensive player (presumably the catcher) at Home. The runner from 2nd being tagged out advancing to 3rd base completes the double play, again. We're sorry that you were victimized twice in the same tournament by those calls.
Dec. 4, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Grading the Rule Changes The 50-AAA in Las Vegas played 161 games in their tournament, as follows: • Shadow Rock Park - 94 games • Cheyenne Park - 30 games • Big League Dreams - 17 games • Arroyo Grande - 12 games • Hollywood Park - 8 games Games were at five different facilities, all of which had 300' fences except Big League Dreams, where fence distances vary due to the individual replica park configurations.
Dec. 2, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Grading the Rule Changes Cal50 - We addressed it TWICE (once directly and once indirectly) - THE "1-UP" IN BOTTOM OF THE OPEN INNING "fix" was corrected in the Wednesday session. See the TECHNICAL RULEBOOK CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS portion of the Minutes for that day. The issue became 'moot' on Thursday when the Home Run Rules were modified to eliminate the "1-Up" provisions. See the chart appearing on page 2 of the Minutes under the section titled PLAYING RULES CHANGES • APPROVED OR REJECTED. The practical effect is that a team may hit a walk-off game winner in the bottom of the open, but only if they still have a home run left in their original game count.
Nov. 30, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: SSUSA RULES COMMITTEE 2012 • Meeting Minutes SYNOPSIS OF RATIONALE BEHIND SELECTED RULES COMMITTEE DECISIONS • Several here have asked that we communicate additional background information on decisions of the Rules Committee since the underlying reasoning may not always be readily apparent to all observers. The following information may be of assistance with respect certain of the decisions we made. HOME RUN STAGING AT 1-3-6-9 • Progressions between the divisions, ascending from AA through Major+, should not be so dramatic that moving teams upward in rating creates a rule-based deterrent to those teams being able to compete effectively at the next higher level. Additionally, narrowing the rules gaps, particularly HR's, between divisions is required in evaluating teams' performance for purposes of rating adjustments. The current changes address that issue. AAA EXCESS HOME RUNS AS OUTS • A statistical review by staff of ALL game cards from the 2012 World Masters Championships revealed a significantly higher proportion of AAA teams hitting 'excess home runs' at a greater rate than in any other division. Double-digit HR totals for numerous AAA teams, especially in the 50+ and 55+ age groups, were very common. The Committee's view is that those teams will either self-request a rating increase to the Major division if they are dissatisfied with excess HR's as outs or, at least, be less resistant in the case of a 'performance based' increase in their rating by SSUSA. To a slightly lesser degree, the same statistical analysis results with respect to Major teams were observed. MAJOR PLUS RUNS PER INNING (7) • Although a few Major+ affiliated Managers preferred the 9 runs per inning structure in their comments to the Committee, a significant majority believed that 9 was too much within the context of the number of innings played under that structure. The Committee also believed that 5 was too few per inning for Major+, thus the compromise at 7 runs per inning. SEVENTY FOOT BASES • The statistical results of a survey prior to the Committee hearings revealed that 72% of the Men responding favored the 70' base distance, despite a majority of 75+ and 80+ respondents being opposed. In the Women's responses, the 40+ Masters Women were in favor of 70' bases by about the same percentages as the Men, but the Senior Women (50+ and more senior) were opposed to the change by over 90%. Accordingly, the limited exception was included to allow a T.D., in circumstances where facility considerations and the mix of ages playing at that site allow, 65' bases for only 75/80 Men and Senior Women may be possible, but is not mandated and any decision is at the sole discretion of the T.D. THE "1-1" PITCH COUNT • This item has an annual Agenda presence, and 2012 was no different. In the past, support of the "1-1" count has been mixed, with slightly more opposed than supportive, and those perspectives were generally geographically biased. The matter was tabled, with SSUSA Staff being instructed to perform a short survey on the preference of the membership as a group to collect more recent data. Baed on the results of that survey, which is designed to be completed and tabulated byu year end, the Committee may, or may not, re-convene in telephone conference call mode to re-consider the issue. We trust this additional information may be of assistance. Good luck in 2013!
Nov. 30, 2012 SSUSA Staff	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: SSUSA RULES COMMITTEE 2012 • Meeting Minutes The following link redirects to the Official Minutes of the 2012 SSUSA Rules Committee Sessions held in Mesquite, NV, on November 28-29, 2012. These were presented to the Executive Board and the membership in the Convention Closing Session on November, 30, 2012 by the Committee Chairman, Bill Ruth: Official Minutes & Exhibit "A"

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