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Online now: 2 members: Matty507, Topgun4; 13 anonymousDiscussion: SSUSA Rules Committee • Summer 2011 Meeting • September 21, 2011
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| Sept. 21 SSUSA Staff 3505 posts | The SSUSA Rules Committee met in a telephone conference call session on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. Changes and additions were made to the following sections of the Official SSUSA Rulebook.RULES CHANGE ACTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE§5.1 – GAME TIME [Added new language to end of section] – Teams must be present and ready to play thirty (30) minutes before the stated game starting time. §5.5(2) – FIVE RUN LIMIT PER INNING [Added new language to end of Section] - EXCEPTION: Major-Plus Divisions for ages 50+ through 65+ (ONLY) are limited to nine (9) runs per inning, except for the final inning. §8.4(2) – HOME RUN OVER THE FENCE - MAJOR PLUS (50+ to 65+) [Section title changed for 50+ to 65+ and amended] In the Major-Plus Division for ages 50+ through 65+, a limit of twelve (12) home runs. Each home run over the limit is a walk and the base runners advance only if forced by the batter being awarded the walk. The “1-Up-Progressive Rule” shall be enforced after a team has reached the home run limit. A team may only hit a home run after the opposing team has hit the same number of home runs and must wait to hit more until the opposing team hits a home run. Additional home runs in excess of the 1-Up rule count as walks. 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. §8.4(2) A. – HOME RUN OVER THE FENCE - MAJOR PLUS (70+) [New Section for 70+] In the 70+ Major-Plus Division, a limit of ten (10) home runs. Each home run over the limit is a walk and the base runners advance only if forced by the batter being awarded the walk. The “1-Up-Progressive Rule” shall be enforced after a team has reached the home run limit. A team may only hit a home run after the opposing team has hit the same number of home runs and must wait to hit more until the opposing team hits a home run. Additional home runs in excess of the 1-Up rule count as walks. 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. §8.4(3) – HOME RUN OVER THE FENCE - MAJOR [Section amended] In the Major Division, a limit of seven (7) home runs. Each home run over the limit is a walk and the base runners advance only if forced by the batter being awarded the walk. The “1-Up-Progressive Rule” shall be enforced after a team has reached the home run limit. A team may only hit a home run after the opposing team has hit the same number of home runs and must wait to hit more until the opposing team hits a home run. Additional home runs in excess of the 1-Up rule count as walks. 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. §8.4(4) – HOME RUN OVER THE FENCE - AAA [Section amended] In the AAA Division, a limit of three (3) home runs. Each home run over the limit is a walk and the base runners advance only if forced by the batter being awarded the walk. The “1-Up-Progressive Rule” shall be enforced after a team has reached the home run limit. A team may only hit a home run after the opposing team has hit the same number of home runs and must wait to hit more until the opposing team hits a home run. Additional home runs in excess of the 1-Up rule count as walks. 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. §8.4(6) – GAME WINNING HOME RUN [Added new language to end of Section] - A team may not win a game in the bottom of the last inning on a home run that would put them 1-up under the "1-Up-Progressive" Rule. §12.1 – PLAYERS MUST PLAY IN REGIONS [New provisions added at the end of the EXCEPTION 1 paragraph] - Players who have been issued a “Snowbird ID Card” are not eligible to appear on the roster of Major Plus division teams aged 50+ through 65+. However, Major Plus teams (ONLY) in the 50+ through 65+ divisions may select two (2) players from East or West of the Mississippi River, depending on the home state of the team. §15.1(1) DIVISIONS OF THE SSWC - [Changes to multiple sub-sections, as follows] MAJOR PLUS HOME RUNS • §15.1(1) A. 2. Have a 9-run limit per inning, except for the final inning of the game in which each team may score unlimited runs. [Major Plus rule] ROSTER COMPOSITION RULES • §15.1(1) B. 3. A 'Major' team roster shall not have more than three (3) players with a team affiliation rating history during the previous two tournament seasons greater than Major for the 2012 tournament season, and not more than two (2) such players for the 2013 and subsequent tournament seasons. [Major Rule] • §15.1(1) C. 3. A 'AAA' team roster shall not have more than three (3) players with a team affiliation rating history during the previous two tournament seasons greater than AAA for the 2012 tournament season, and not more than two (2) such players for the 2013 and subsequent tournament seasons. [AAA Rule] • §15.1(1) C. 3. A 'AA' roster shall not have more than three (3) players with a team affiliation rating history during the previous two tournament seasons greater than AA for the 2012 tournament season, and not more than two (2) such players for the 2013 and subsequent tournament seasons. [AA Rule] NOTE: The effective date for these Rules changes is November 1, 2011 for the commencement of the 2012 Tournament Season. PROPOSAL TABLED FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION§15.1(2) TEAM REGIONS OF SSWC – The “Border Closure” Rule for California and that portion of Florida not including the “Panhandle” area was recommended for repeal. However, the Rules Committee, after extensive discussion, tabled that motion and referred it back to the Committee for further consideration at the SSUSA/ISA Annual Convention in Florida during December. OTHER PENDING ITEMThere was one other action referred out of the Tucson Rules Committee Sessions for further consideration at a later date (this meeting).A request was made in Tucson by the Women's Coordinator to amend Rulebook §17.1(5) to prohibit women players from availing themselves of the right to play on two separate teams, in two separate age divisions, at the same tournament (also known as "double rostering"). Subsequent inquiries have yielded no major consensus on this issue, and in fact, the limited objections appear largely directed at one particular club with multiple age group teams. The Committee decided that no change is merited. Doing so under such limited circumstances is not a compelling enough reason to carve out a gender specific exception to Rulebook §17.1(5), especially after the recent effort to conform the rules of the game to gender neutrality. __________ Respectfully submitted, Terry Hennessy - Co-owner and CEO (California); Bill Ruth - Co-owner and President (Washington); Fran Dowell - Executive Director (California); Michael Boone - National Director (New Jersey); Don Brooks - National Director (Texas); Dave Dowell - National Director (California) - 2011 Chairman; Jerry Jackson - National Director (Illinois); Otis Rowland - National Director (Oklahoma/California); Rick Siefman - Southwest Regional Director (Arizona/Not participating); Steve Simmons - National Director (Minnesota); Ray Starwalt - National Umpire in Chief (Washington) |
