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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 57 anonymousDiscussion: Is the rule implying "a runner cannot leave the base until after the ball is batted" fully enforced in SSUSA sanctioned/sponsored games?
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| June 27, 2017 Turbobob Men's 65 71 posts | Is the rule implying "a runner cannot leave the base until after the ball is batted" fully enforced in SSUSA sanctioned/sponsored games? About a month ago, I made a post asking when is it legal for a base runner to leave the base without being penalized. B.J. responded, stating the runner can leave legally AFTER the ball was batted, meaning contact was made with the ball (also implying that a swing-and-miss is NOT a batted ball), or AFTER the pitched ball hits either the ground or hits the strike mat. Link to the posting: https://seniorsoftball.com/?messageboard&viewby_thread=140820&message_topic_id=rules That was fine with me for the rule interpretation. Now my question is, 1)in SSUSA tournament play, 2)and in non-tournament play, where you follow the SSUSA rules, is this rule fully enforced, or is it up the the Home umpire's discretion to enforce that rule or not? Who decides if that rule is enforced? I play in a 65 plus league in the Phila. PA area, non-tournament games using SSUSA rules, and want to know what happens in other regions. Maybe those who play and umpire can also share their thoughts. Thanks in advance. |
| June 27, 2017 DaveDowell Men's 70 4313 posts | Turbobob ... This may not directly answer your question, but here goes ... In "sanctioned" SSUSA play, meaning any event sanctioned by SSUSA OR in a local league that has adopted SSUSA rules to govern its play, there should NOT be any discretion exercised by anyone involved, about whether or not, or to what degree, a rule should be enforced ... Simply stated, the game is to be either administered under the SSUSA rules or it's not ... All umpires under the supervision of the U.I.C., the plate umpire and/or the Tournament/League Director, are charged with exercising good "judgment" on whether or not the rule has been complied with ... But that does not include deciding to enforce it or not, or to what degree ... Leagues occasionally will adopt "local rules" to address specific situations peculiar to their league that are inconsistent with the SSUSA Rulebook, and that's fine ... But absent such modification, deviation from the rules should not occur ... Failing to do so will in most, if not all cases, lead to misinterpretation, followed very quickly by controversy ... The classic example of this theory is when game/tournament officials, individually or bowing to pressure from players or managers, decide to not fully enforce compliance with the batters' box rules at facilities than may have permanent boxes sewn or painted into an artificial surface ... Controversy every time, without exception ... Good question! |
| June 27, 2017 B.J. 1106 posts | Turbobob... it is up to your league officers to make sure rules are enforced... many leagues use SSUSA rules but then have their own specific hybrid rules they follow instead... I also have no idea what level of umpires you have .. but I umpire and play in probably the biggest senior softball program in Fla. and if we happen to see it we call it... this is not an easy call to make, I assume you have a 2 man system and with a runner on base it is usually the base umpire who "tries" to watch the runner...but the base umpire also has to keep watch as the pitcher is releasing the ball and the batter is hitting the ball so that they do not get hit...so unless the runner is really blatant in leaving early it is hard to see...this being league play it is sometimes easier since you get to know the habits of the runners... if your league officials say they do use that rule then talk to the base umpire during the game to watch certain runners leaving early, that may help |
