SSUSA Announces Rule Changes for 2009

Dec. 1, 2008 – Terry Hennessy CEO

FT. MYERS, FL. -- The Senior Rules Committee met at the 2008 SSUSA Convention here in December to discuss the rapid decline in the number of Major-Plus teams in Senior Softball, an issue which we believe is one of the most important facing the sport today.

The Committee voted to make fundamental changes in the Major-Plus, Major and AAA rules in order to build large and competitive divisions. Several changes were approved after considerable discussion concerning the dwindling Major-Plus Division.

These rule changes will allow us to move up a significant number of Major teams into the Major-Plus, which we plan to do at the end of January, as well as moving more AAA teams into the Major Division.

Unfortunately, we had to reverse or change a number of rules recently adopted based on recommendation from the Major-Plus Task Force. The rules the Major-Plus Task Force developed were very good rules for strong Major-Plus teams. We did not realize when we adopted these rules just a few months ago the effect they would have on moving Major teams into the Major-Plus Division.

Our dilemma was that the rules recommended by the Task Force, while good for strong Major-Plus teams, made the division too strong for many of the Major teams that otherwise would have been moved into the Major-Plus Division. We believe these new rules will create a level playing field for Major teams being raised to the Major-Plus level. This is essential to ensure we have enough teams to make the Major-Plus Division viable.

Terry Hennessy, CEO

December 15, 2008

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SUMMARY OF OFFICIALLY ADOPTED RULE CHANGES

2009 Senior Softball Season

Effective Date: January 1, 2009

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• MAJOR+ PLAYING RULES • The Major+ playing rules for the 50+, 55+ and 60+ age groups are amended for the purpose of conformance with the playing rules of all other age groups (70+ and younger) and divisions of play as follows:

- GAME TIMES: Seeding games, 60 min. + Open Inning; Bracket games, 65 min. + Open Inning; Championship Game(s), 7 Innings full, no time limit

- RUN LIMITS: Five (5) runs per ½ inning at bat, except Open Inning; Mercy Rule repealed

- PLAYER ELIGIBILITY: Out of area exemption (1) roster player repealed; Snowbird player eligibility reinstated; web site publication of Major+ rosters repealed

- TOURNAMENT FORMAT & FEES: Five (5) game guarantee format reinstated; Major+ entry fee surcharge ($200) repealed

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• HOME RUN RULES • The maximum allowable Home Runs per team per game are established for each age group and division of play as follows:

- 40-Masters Major+ = 10 (new rating classification)

- 40-Masters Major = 8 (no change)

- 50-Major+ = 10

- 55-Major+ = 8

- 60, 65, 70 and 75-Major+ = 6

- Major Division = 5

- AAA Division = 3

- AA Division = 1 (no change)

- 80-Men = Open (no change)

- Women = Open (no change)

ALL over the fence Home Runs after the maximum allowable per team per game limit has been reached will be recorded as OUTS. Rule Book sections §8.3(2) through §8.3(5), inclusive, will be amended accordingly.

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• GAME WINNING HOME RUN • §8.3(7) • Amended to conform to the maximum Home Run rules, allowing a team to hit a game winning home run only if that home run is available to the offensive team within the maximum allowable to them for the game.

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• UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT • New provisions to be added to SSUSA Rule Book to impose penalties for Unsportsmanlike Conduct ejections from Game(s) and/or Tournament(s). Variable penalties based upon severity of the incident, empowering Field Directors, Tournament Directors and the SSUSA Executive Board to impose additional sanctions when warranted.

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• BATTER/RUNNER REACHING FIRST BASE • §8.3(1) • The Batter/Runner failing to touch the portion of the double bag extending into foul territory (orange portion) was previously at risk to be put out for failing to do so, but only by an appeal play. The rule is amended to make this the umpire's call without an appeal and now conforms to the similar treatment governed by §8.8(2) for CROSSING OR TOUCHING HOME PLATE/MAT, which is not an appeal play.

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ADDITIONAL RULES PROPOSALS CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE BUT NOT ADOPTED:

• PITCHER SAFETY RULE • Proposed repeal or modification of the rule was debated extensively, but left unchanged to allow more time for better understanding and more consistent application of the rule and more data available for further consideration, if appropriate, later.

• FLIP-FLOP RULE IN BRACKET PLAY (ONLY) • §5.5(3) • A proposal to amend the Flip-Flop rule to make its application mandatory in bracket play (because the only result required in a bracket game is a winner, and no seeding implications could arise) was rejected.

• INTERNATIONAL TIE-BREAKER IN MEN'S PLAY • §5.4(2) • A proposal to eliminate the International Tie-Breaker in men's (only) play was rejected.