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Online now: 4 members: Crazylegs46, TimMcElroy, cecil, dkrollw364; 8 anonymousDiscussion: SSUSA RULEBOOK REVISIONS 2010 (Final)
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| Jan. 12 SSUSA Staff 3505 posts | The 2010 edition of the Official Senior Softball USA Rulebook will be going to press shortly. In the interim, we are publishing the significant revisions and additions to the 2010 playing rules that have resulted from the Rules Committee Meetings in December, 2009. The amended provisions appear first, followed by the new provisions which are still pending specific section number assignment. All Tournament Directors, Managers, Players and other interested persons are encouraged to print and retain a copy of this infrmation until the Rulebooks have been distributed.SSUSA Rulebook Revisions - 2010§1.5 BATTER’S BOX (Definition Amended) The batter’s box is the 3-foot by 7-foot area to which the batter is restricted. The lines are considered as being within the batter’s box. Prior to the pitch, the batter may touch the lines. __________ §3.4(7) PENALTY FOR USING AN ALTERED BAT (Section Amended) A. SSUSA agreed to follow the 2007 Senior Softball Summit Altered Bat Recommendation: If a bat is suspected of being altered to enhance performance, the tournament committee will determine if the bat will continue in play or be requested to be voluntarily released by the player for inspection. If the player refuses to release the bat to tournament officials, the player will be suspended for ten years, the manager will be suspended for one year and the team will forfeit all games played. If the player voluntarily releases the bat and it is found to be altered to enhance performance, the player will be suspended for five years and the manager will be suspended for one year. A second offense may result in the lifetime ban of the player. Use of an altered bat will also result in the following: • Batter will be called out and ejected from the tournament. Base runners will be required to return to the base(s) occupied at the time the suspected altered bat was used, providing there are fewer than three (3) outs. • The bat, if surrendered by the owner, will be held and forwarded for testing through the National SSUSA Office at the conclusion of the Tournament. B. Procedure for handling and safeguarding a suspected altered bat: • The Tournament Director will immediately take possession of the surrendered bat. Under no circumstances will the bat be allowed out of the Tournament Director’s possession. • The Tournament Director will write a receipt for the bat and give it to the person from whom the bat was surrendered. • The Tournament Director will attach a piece of tape to the bat with the player’s name, the team name, address, and telephone number. • The Tournament Director will forward the bat to the SSUSA headquarters with a note explaining how and why the bat was suspected of being an altered bat. __________ §3.4(8) PENALTY FOR USING AN ILLEGAL BAT (New provision separate from above) Any attempt to use an illegal bat in SSUSA play will result in the batter being called out and ejected from the Tournament. Base runners will be required to return to the base(s) occupied at the time the illegal bat was used, providing there are fewer than three (3) outs. The Tournament Director will request the owner of the bat to surrender it for forwarding to SSUSA Headquarters. A player’s failure to voluntarily surrender the bat to tournament officials will result in an immediate minimum one year suspension from play. 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. __________ §6.17 PITCHER’S REQUIRED MINIMUM SAFETY EQUIPMENT (New provision) Pitchers shall wear minimum protective safety equipment while pitching, comprised of suitable head gear and shin guards. Pitchers may elect to not wear the mandated safety equipment by signing the back of the Official Game Card over their position in the lineup, for each game they pitch under such an election. By their signature, the Pitcher acknowledges and affirms: • Liability Waiver and Release (Injury to Player) By electing not to wear the mandated safety equipment, the Pitcher waives any and all claims, individually, and by his or her heirs, and holds harmless Senior Softball World Championships, Inc. ("SSWCI"), its Board of Directors, Senior Softball USA, LLC, ("SSUSA") its Members, any municipal or park facility employees, their agents or employees and Tournament Directors and sponsors from and against any and all loss liability, charges and expenses (including attorney’s fees) and causes of action of whatever character which may arise for injury that may have been reasonably prevented by the mandated safety equipment during participation in SSUSA events; • Player Responsibility for Procuring Insurance The Pitcher is fully aware that SSWCI and SSUSA do not carry, or provide, any medical insurance for any participants and that all players are solely responsible for procuring their own insurance; • Assumption of Inherent Risk The Pitcher recognizes that he or she assume all risks involved arising from participation in this Tournament as a pitcher electing to not wear the mandated safety equipment, and knowingly undertakes the inherent risks of the sport; and • Softball Skills The Pitcher is familiar with the skills required to participate as a Pitcher in an event sponsored by SSWCI and SSUSA (including batting, fielding, running and throwing) and has satisfied himself or herself that they are proficient in these skills. __________ §8.3(2) HOME RUN OVER FENCE – MAJOR-PLUS (Section amended) In the Major-Plus Division, a limit of ten (10) home runs. Each home run over the limit is an out and base runners cannot advance. Home run batter need only touch first base and then return to dugout; all other runners need only touch next base then return to dugout. __________ §9.3 RETRIEVING HOME RUN SOFTBALLS (Section amended) Each team shall be required to retrieve their home runs. The softball will be retrieved in a prompt manner and returned to the umpire. __________ (§ No. pending) INTENTIONALLY HITTING THE MIDDLE AT THE PITCHER (New provision) Any batted ball intentionally hit up the middle at the pitcher, regardless of whether or not striking the Pitcher, shall result in a dead ball out. The batter will be ejected from the game and may be subject to additional penalty in the form of a suspension. The determination of “intentional” is a judgment call by the umpire, is not subject to appeal and shall not be presumptive merely in the case of a batted ball striking the pitcher. EFFECT: The umpire's determination of intent shall be based upon the totality of the facts and circumstances present during the game, including, but not limited to, previous statements and actions by Players, Managers and others prior to the incident which results in the umpire’s judgment of intent or lack thereof. __________ (§ No. Pending) EQUALIZER RULE (New Provision) 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 five 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 five runs only for a single rating or age difference, and seven runs (allocated at one run for each of the first seven, only, innings played) in the case of two or more age or rating differences. __________ (§ No. pending) PLAYER REGIONS - CALIFORNIA & FLORIDA (New provision) 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. (Effective Date: 11/01/2010) __________ (§ No. pending) PLAYER REGIONS - MASTERS DIVISIONS (New provision) 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. (Effective Date: 11/01/2010) |
