Playing Rule Changes

http://downloads.asasoftball.com/umpires/pdf/2009PlayingRulesFinal.pdf

Teams are not charged with a conference if the pitcher is removed from the game.

Men's Modified fence distance maximum is set at 325 feet.

Bats must have the certification mark and be on the list of approved equipment.

Bats shall be free of burrs, dents, and visible cracks.

The official bat shall be of one piece construction, multi piece permanently assembled, or two piece interchangeable construction. If the bat is designed with interchangeable components it must meet the following additional criteria:

1. Mating components must have a unique locking key to prevent uncertified equipment combinations in the field.
2. All component combinations must meet the one piece bat rules.
3. Manufacturers must demonstrate that the interchangeable bat fails in a safe manner. (i.e. visible damage before locking feature(s) fail(s))
4. Bat components must be designed in a way to prevent uncertified equipment alterations.

Optic yellow ball designated for play in 2010 for all of slow pitch.

Players wearing metal cleats after being warned by the umpire that they are not to do so, shall be ejected.

Unreported substitutes will not be disqualified.

Women's home run rules are

1. Open = Unlimited
2. C = 4
3. D = 2

Coed Major home run rule = 8

Men's Slow home run rules are

1. B = 6
2. C = 4
3. D = 2
4. E = 0 and half inning ending out

Fast pitch run rules set at 15 after 3, 12 after 4, 7 after 5.

Men's A slow run rules set at 20 after 4, 15 after 5.

Fast pitch players may use approved drying agents on their hands.

Slow pitch batters will assume a one ball one strick count upon entering the batter's box.

On ball four in 16 inch the ball will be live as the catcher may be able to pick off another runner that is on base.

Inning ending outs removed from men's over 35 slow and masters.

When a fair batted ball deflects off a fence and then off the fielder before going over the home run fence, the ball is dead. All runners and/or batter are awarded two bases from the time of the pitch.

If properly appealed by any defensive player during a live ball, the runner is out.

Code Changes

Team registration fees increase $2.00.

Umpire registration fees increase $3.00.

Metro Cincinnati joins East Central Region and Eastern Territories in 2010.

Teams may not register in adjoining Metro associations.

Teams must register in the local association where the greatest number of players reside.

For adult slow pitch individual players may not play more that one (1) classification below the classification level of their most recent team.

A championship roster can only have a maximum of 20 players, including pick up players. A manager or coach shall not count as a player unless listed as one, names cannot be removed or replaced once the roster is used in championship play.

Addition of Men's Slow Pitch E Division. MSP E will not participate in Hooter's Championship Series. Home run rule is zero (0) with a half inning ending out. All sites for the E National Tournament will be selected by their territories.

Coed Major is renamed Coed Open. Coed A is renamed Coed C. Coed B is renamed Coed D.

In adult national championships, the top finishing 10% (plus ties) will be reclassified to the next higher classification. Fractions will be rounded up.

For mandatory reclassification if a team fails to participate in National Championship play the next calendar year their restriction will remain in effect until that team participates at the next highest classification.

Player appeal processes start on January 1 of each year and are finished on June 30.

• Men's B Teams may not consist of more than three (3) A rated players and no players from the Restricted Player's List (RPL).
• Men's C Teams may not consist of more than three (3) B rated players and no A or RPL rated players.
• Men's D Teams may not consist of more than three (3) C rated players and no A, B, or RPL rated players. 
• Men's E Teams may not consist of more than three (3) D rated players and no A, B, C, or RPL rated players.
• Women's C Teams may not consist of more than three (3) Open rated players.
• Women's D Teams may not consist of more than three (3) C or Open rated players.
• Coed Open Teams may consist of two (2) players from the RPL.
• Coed C Teams may not consist of any male player rated B or above and no Open Rated women.
• Coed D Teams may not consist of more that two (2) C rated men and two (2) C rated women.
• Players with no ASA playing history will have their playing history researched with other organized softball bodies.

Individual player appeals will be allowed.

A National Softball Player Classification Board is created. Duties of the Board will be to uphold national team and player classification strategy and will oversee the registration of teams and players in concert with the National Office. The board will also handle all team and player classification appeals.

Local associations may not conduct championship play tournaments in locations outside of their association's boundaries without permission from that association's commissioner.

National Qualifiers may be held in Adult Slow Pitch.

Men's E Slow Nationals will be held on Labor Day Weekend.

National Championship play will be scheduled on Labor Day weekend commencing no earlier than 6:00PM Thursday and concluding no later than Labor Day.

Men's Masters 35 & Over, 40 & Over, 45 & Over, will get three game guarantees at Nationals if there are less than 24 teams.

Men's Class C Fast will get a three game guarantee at Nationals.

Men's A Slow Pitch Nationals will be seeded based on ASA 2K Series Points standings. with the assistance of the National Softball Player Classification Board.

Men's 16 inch will get Eastern and Western Nationals.

Adult teams will be allowed to play in the National Championship site of their choice.