EmptyMessage board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 4 members: DJP18, DeanMO, Tina C, lisab522; 7 anonymousDiscussion: SSUSA Rules Committee • 2009 • Nashville, TN
| Posted | Discussion |
| Dec. 4 SSUSA Staff 3505 posts | Procedural OverviewThe SSUSA Rules Committee met in open public session for 2½ hours (1:15–3:45 PM) on Wednesday afternoon, December 2, 2009 to identify rules issues of importance to the membership. Several voting members made opening statements on issues of personal concern. Public comment was also received and selected representative correspondence, by letter and by e-mail from the general membership sent to the SSUSA over the past year, was either read or referenced by several committee members and attendees. On Thursday, December 3, 2009, the Committee re-convened for 5 hours in three working sessions (9:00 AM–12:00 noon; 3:30–5:00 PM and 5:15–5:45 PM). The Thursday sessions were open to public observers, but comment and debate was limited to voting committee members. Actions Taken by the Rules CommitteeTechnical Cleanup • A list of approximately 30 technical corrections to the Official SSUSA Rule Book was presented by the Chairman for information and consideration. These items corrected previous missed cross-references, clarified certain language, added obvious inadvertent omissions and generally conformed the Rule Book for consistency (Unanimously approved) Home Run Retrieval Rule • §9.3 of the SSUSA Rule book is amended to change the third word in the rule from “may” to “shall”. This is the “You hit ‘em, you git ‘em” Rule. Conformity in Men’s & Women’s Rules • Motion to amend the Women’s Rules to conform to the Men’s rules, except for the softball specification, was unanimously approved. Effect: Gender neutral Playing Rules and Rule Book. Notable change: Double Rostering across different age groups will now be permitted in tournament play. (Also required amendment to the Men’s Rule’s to conform to the Women’s Equalizer Rules – See below) Batter’s Box Dimensions and Definition • Following the failure (by unanimous vote) of a motion proposing to enlarge the Batter’s Box to a 4' by 8' dimension, Rule Book §1.5 Definition for Batters Box was amended by deleting the last 11 words of the Definition (“...but no part of his foot may be outside the lines.”) Effect: Batters may have a portion of their foot/feet outside of the Batter’s Box lines prior to the delivery of a pitch so long as a part of their foot/feet touches or is inside the Batter’s Box line. Men’s Equalizer Rules • Motion to add the Equalizer Rules to the Men’s Rules was unanimously approved. Previously, the Men’s Equalizers were generally known and applied in tournament play, but had not been included in the Rule Book. NEW RULE: When teams of a single unequal age or skill rating play, the older or lower rated team will receive an equalizer, at their election, of 5 runs (allocated at one run per inning played for innings 2 through 6) OR an 11th defensive player. If the teams are two or more age or ratings levels unequal, the older or lower rated team will receive BOTH the 5-Run equalizer and the 11th defensive player. In age divisions that already play 11 defensive players, the equalizer shall be 5 runs only for a single rating or age difference, and 7 runs (allocated at 1 run for each of the first seven, only, innings played) in the case of two or more age or rating differences. Illegal Bat Penalties • Rule Book §3.4(7) is amended and a new §3.4(8) is created to strengthen the penalties and define the procedures for the use of an illegal (as opposed to altered) bat. NEW RULE: Any attempt to use an illegal bat in SSWC or SSUSA play will result in the batter being called out and ejected from the Tournament. Base runners will be instructed to return to the base(s) at the time the illegal bat was used, providing there are fewer than three (3) outs. The Tournament Director will confiscate the bat and forward it to SSWC Headquarters, and there will be a subsequent hearing to determine if additional sanctions against the player shall be imposed, and if the bat will be returned to the player or destroyed. A player’s failure to surrender the bat to tournament officials will result in an immediate minimum one year suspension from play. Flip-Flop Rule • A motion to amend §5.5(3) to make the utilization of the Flip-Flop rule mandatory in bracket play (only) failed by a vote of 5-2. Pitcher Protection Rule Repealed • Rule Book §6.17 in its entirety was repealed by a 5-2 vote following extensive and vigorous debate. There is no longer any Pitcher Protection Rule. Middle No-Hit Zone • In an effort to reinforce the concept of discouraging balls hit up the middle, the following was adopted by a 5-2 vote. NEW RULE: Any batted ball hit within the width of the Pitching Rubber (24"), from ground level to the top of the Pitcher’s head, shall be a dead ball out. (Passed by a vote of 4-3) A previous motion proposing a progressively increasing penalty structure (1st incident: Team Warning; 2nd incident: Batter declared out; 3rd and subsequent incident(s): Player ejection) failed by a 4-3 vote. Home Run Limits in Certain Major+ Divisions Increased • The maximum allowable home runs per game for all Major Plus teams, regardless of age, is amended to ten (10). This change affects ages 55+ and older and was passed 6-0 with one member abstaining due to a conflict of interest. Player Regions - California and Florida (Effective Date: 11/01/2010) • The States of California and Florida shall be designated as their own “Regions” beginning with the 2011 Tournament Season. EFFECT: Teams in California and Florida must draw all of their players from their respective states only. The bordering States rule and regulations will be not-applicable to California and Florida, meaning the teams in bordering states may not draw players from within California or Florida. (Passed unanimously) 40-Masters Divisions – Regions (Effective Date: 11/01/2010) • Beginning with the 2011 Tournament Season, the 40-Masters Divisions, both Men’s and Women’s, will be subject to the normal “Senior Regions” rules for roster composition and eligibility. (Passed unanimously) Effective Dates of New Rules • Except as specifically noted in the last two items above, all Playing Rule changes take effect immediately as of the date of this posting. Respectfully Submitted, SSUSA Rules Committee December 4, 2009 Nashville, TN __________ Rules Committee Voting Members • Otis Rowland (Chairman), National Director (CA/OK), Dave Dowell, National Director and Scheduling Consultant (CA), Terry Hennessy, SSUSA CEO (CA), Bill Ruth, SSUSA President (WA), Rick Siefman, Southwest Regional Director (AZ), Steve Simmons, National Director Clubs & Leagues (MN), Ray Starwalt, SSUSA National UIC (WA) Participating Attendees • Michael Boone (NJ), Don Brooks (TX), John Coffman (KY), Fran Dowell (CA), Butch Drake (IN), Wayne Grimes (NE), Jerry Jackson (IL), Tom Marum (MA), Tim McElroy (MD), Dave Peterson (CA), Randy Rowe (MO), Chuck Sharkey (NY), Jim Sherman (WA), Mike Sisavic (OR), Benny Villaverde (HI) |
