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2007 GHSA
Softball Rules Clinic
GHSA
POLICIES &
PROCEDURES
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF SCHOOLS
The Host School must have a “Game
Manager” on site at all GHSA contests
The “Game Manager” must identify
themselves to the contest officials/umpires
The “Game Manager” is responsible to
assist in spectator control
The “Game Manager” cannot be a member
of the specific sport’s coaching staff
PAYMENT OF CONTEST
OFFICIALS
Payment of game fees must be paid within
thirty (30) days of the end of the regular
season. Failure to do so will result in a 10%
late fee being charged.
Game fees are to be charged as they are
listed in the GHSA White Book, and cannot
be be reduced or increased by schools
and/or officiating associations.
PAYMENT OF CONTEST
OFFICIALS
 The “transfer of cash” for the payment of game
fees, in any manner, is NOT permitted at GHSA
games/contests.
 By arrangement, schools can be invoiced for
payment of game fees by the game, week, month,
or at the end of the regular season.
 Large school systems are to be invoiced through
the system’s central billing office.
Travel Pay
2007-08 School Year
 OFFICIALS – During the regular season schools will pay
the following travel fee:
 Contests using one(1) official - $15.00
 Sports using two (2) officials - $20.00 per crew/per
competition day
 Sports using three (3) officials - $25.00 per crew/per
competition day
 NOTE: Crews assigned to work more than one (1)
game per day will only be paid one (1) travel fee.
Example: “double headers”
 The respective association will distribute the travel
fees in accordance to their policies.
Out of Season Coaching
GHSA By-Law 2.69(c)
 End of season to the end of school year:
1. Only one (1) coach and no more than
two (2) athletes, at any given time, in “skill
building activity” only! (Not in competition
or team practices)
2. Teams CANNOT participate in camps,
clinics, etc.
Out of Season Coaching
GHSA By-Law 2.69(c)
End of school year to 1st official practice date:
1. No restrictions on number of athletes or nature of
the activity. (competition, practices, etc.)
2. MUST be voluntary
3. CANNOT be deemed a “tryout”
4. CANNOT cut athletes based on participation
NOTE: The 2.69 By-law restrictions apply to ALL
coaches; (full-time, part-time, community)
Conditioning Week
 Effective Immediately; The one week period
prior to the start of official practice, previously
called the “conditioning week”, has been
eliminated in ALL sports.
Dead Week
 2007: June 30 – July 7
 NO activities of any kind during this week.
(games, camps, practice, weight training, etc.)
Heat/Hydration Policy
• Every school must have a policy that is
signed by the “Head Coach” of the
respective sport and distributed to every
athlete.
• The policy must have guidelines for
modifying or canceling practices.
• A scientifically-approved heat index
instrument must be on site at every practice
Physical Exams
• Pre-participation physical exams may be
administered by an MD, Osteopath,
Physician’s Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner.
• Still must be signed by an MD or Osteopath
only.
• Heal history questionnaire must be
reviewed.
Eligibility Issues
• Eighth grade students who are retained for
academic reasons are not eligible to play on
sub-varsity high school teams
• There is no longer any appeal process for
students who are affected by the “Age
Rule”
Eligibility Issues
• Requests to investigate transfer rule
violations must provide valid evidence of a
violation and must be filed with the GHSA
Office (20) calendar days before the end of
the regular season.
• Requests filed after the required date will
NOT be resolved until after the playoffs.
WEATHER ISSUES
• Until the time that playing rules give jurisdiction
to the umpires, the host management determines if
game can be played.
• Games that are interrupted for a cumulative period
of 60 minutes shall be terminated.
• This time frame does NOT include time needed to
get the field ready for play.
• Umpires may terminate the game after 30 minutes
if it is apparent that field is in unplayable
condition
LIGHTNING DETECTOR
 Part of required game equipment at all
outdoor GHSA contests
 Operated by Game Manager
 When alerted, Game Manager notifies head
official
 Officials may stop game before being notified
by Game Manager
 Play will be resumed 30 minutes after last
episode of lightning detected.
POSSIBLE RESULTS OF
TERMINATED GAMES
• NO CONTEST
• COMPLETE GAME
• SUSPENDED GAME
“NO CONTEST”
• If game is terminated before the team that
is behind has completed 5 turns at bat
• Not legal game, so no winner can be
determined
• Any replay of the game will begin from the
first pitch
• In baseball, the pitchers’ innings count
“COMPLETE GAME”
• If game is terminated and the team that is
behind has had at least five full turns at bat
• And if the score is computed at the end of
the last full inning (unless home team
gained lead in the last half-inning)
• A winner can be determined and the game
is over
“SUSPENDED GAME”
• If the visiting team has had at least five full
turns at bat
• And the score is tied after the last full
inning of play
• Or if the home team tied up the game in the
half-inning in which game is terminated
• Game will be replayed from the point of
interruption
GHSA BY-LAW 2.93
• Contains specifics about weather delays
• Including the payment of officials
• If the first game of a doubleheader is
terminated, so is the second game
Slow Pitch Softball
• No longer a “State Championship” sport
* Has dropped to (14) competing schools
* Have been aligned in (2) seven team areas
* May have an end of season “GHSA
Invitational Tournament” to be played in the
metro Atlanta Area.
Pre-Season Scrimmage
• One (1) pre-season scrimmage now allowed
1. Can be played any time after the 1st
official day of practice and the beginning of
the regular season.
2. Opposing varsity teams only who have
not played their 1st regular season game.
3. Must use registered GHSA umpires
2007 Sectional Sites
October 19 & 20
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A-South
A-North
AA-South
AA-North
AAA-South
AAA-North
AAAA-South
AAAA-North
AAAAA-South
AAAAA-North
Southern Pines, Dublin
Alto Park, Rome
Paulson Complex, Savannah
Alto Park, Rome
Southern Pines, Dublin
Lanier Pointe, Gainesville
Lovejoy Regional, Hampton
Twin Creeks, Woodstock
Lovejoy Regional, Hampton
Central Park, Cumming
Official’s Pass
•Individuals who are members of the GAOA (Georgia
Athletic Officials Association) will be issued an ID card
that can be used as a pass at all GHSA sanctioned events.
•The ID card can only be used by the bearer of the card
(name on the card) and will require a photo ID for proof of
identity.
•Individuals guilty of abuse of the ID card will face
penalties by the GHSA Office and GAOA.
•For GAOA membership information contact Alan Smith
at [email protected] or go to the website at
gaathleticofficials.org
Miscellaneous
• Passes for Community Coaches
- Each school must submit a list of coaches to the GHSA
Office
- No coaching, or passes issued, until the courses are
completed
• When competing out-of-state:
– Play according to the game rules of that state
– Must follow GHSA policy concerning ejections,
playing times, etc.
2007 NFHS
SOFTBALL
RULES CHANGES
INTERFERENCE/
OBSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
(2-36; 2-47-2,3; 8-4-3b; 8-6-10a)
• Clearly defines responsibility for contact
when fielder does not initially control a
batted ball
• Creates balance between offense and
defense
• Puts contact into category of obstruction
or interference, not “just a CRASH”
INTERFERENCE/
OBSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
(2-36; 2-47-2,3; 8-4-3b; 8-6-10a)
• Fielder must have opportunity to make
an initial play
• After an initial play attempt on a fair
ground ball, fielder no longer protected
• After attempting an initial play – fielder
not permitted to obstruct advancement
of runner
INTERFERENCE/
OBSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
(2-36; 2-47-2,3; 8-4-3b; 8-6-10a)
Initial Play –
• Reasonable chance to catch or gain control of a
ground ball that no other fielder (except the
pitcher) has touched, OR
• Reasonable chance to catch the ball in flight
after it touches another fielder, OR
• Fails to gain control of the batted ground ball
and is within a step and a reach (in any
direction) of the spot of the initial play
INTENTIONALLY REMOVING
LINES PENALTY EXPANDED
(3-6-17 PENALTY)
• Penalty expanded to include restricting any
subsequent offender, not just head coach
• Second and all subsequent offenses:
– Strike/ball on batter
– Offender and head coach restricted to dugout
• Change makes penalty consistent with others
of a similar nature
DOUBLE FIRST BASE
RULES EXPANDED (8-10)
• More states using double first base units
• Base running section expanded for
clarity and understanding:
– When the BR must use
– Penalties for noncompliance
– When the runner/fielder has choice
between the two bases
DOUBLE FIRST BASE
RULES EXPANDED
(1-2-1 NOTE)
• Specifications for the double first base
unit also revised:
– A one- or two-piece unit permitted
– Portion in foul territory required to be a
color other than white
2007 NFHS
SOFTBALL
EDITORIAL
CHANGES
CATCH DEFINITION
CLARIFIED (2-9-5f)
• Change was made to clarify:
– Trap = Ball touching ground, fielder
NOT in control
– Catch = Ball touching ground, fielder IN
control
“CONFINES OF THE FIELD”
DEFINED (2-15)
• Used to determine when umpire
jurisdiction begins (10-1-2)
– Upon arrival within “confines of the field”
• Term was not previously defined
• Important in determining
responsibilities of umpiring crew
“CONFINES OF THE FIELD”
DEFINED (2-15)
• “Confines of the field” includes:
– Field of play
– Designated dugout/bench areas
– Any enclosed or clearly marked warm-up
areas adjacent to the field and in view of
the umpire(s)
MALICIOUS CONTACT
PENALTY CLARIFIED (3-6-18)
• Malicious contact typically only thought
of as committed by a runner
• Penalty now includes enforcement when
infraction is by a fielder
– Immediate dead ball, offender is out and
ejected
RUNNING LANE CLARIFIED
(8-2-5)
• Language added for clarification
• Consistent with other rules regarding
being “in” or “out” of a space
• Runner is outside running lane when:
– Either foot is completely outside the lane
and in contact with the ground
INTENTIONAL
INTERFERENCE
(8-6-10d)
• Clarifies that any intentional
interference will result in an out
• Previous rule only addressed interfering
with a thrown ball
• New language includes intentionally
interfering with a fielder in any way
2007 NFHS
SOFTBALL
POINTS OF
EMPHASIS
BATTER DELAYS
• Pace of a game enhanced when 20-second rule
enforced (7-3-1). The batter has 20 seconds to
take her place in the batter’s box.
• Batter must be ready to step into batter’s box
and take turn at bat.
• Coaches must be concise in giving signals.
• The penalty for noncompliance is a “strike”
being called on the batter.
BATTER DELAYS
Once in the batter’s box:
• Batter may request “time”, but only granted for valid
reason
• The pitcher is entitled to deliver the pitch
• Putting hand up toward umpire does not guarantee time
will be granted. If the batter’s hand is up, but time has
not been granted, the umpire directs the pitcher to
deliver the pitch.
• Stepping in and out of the box when the pitcher is ready
is subject to a “strike” being called (Rule: 3-6-9)
• Requesting time to perform rituals should not be
permitted
TEAM HUDDLES
(Reminder)
 Teams are NOT allowed to huddle in front of
or outside dugouts after the end of a half
inning.
 Rationale:
minimizes risks to participants
keeps pace of game moving
*One (1) minute between innings
*Twenty (20) seconds to pitch
PENALTY: Coach restricted to the dugout if he/she
ignores the umpires warning.
OBSTRUCTION
 Obstruction requires a “clear” defensive infraction
 Required condition for obstruction:
*A defensive player cannot block the runner’s
access to a base/base path without possession of
the ball
*The runner must be hindered or impeded
Note: If the defensive player is blocking the base
without the ball and the runner has not yet been
impeded, there is NO obstruction
OBSTRUCTION
• Obstruction, especially at first base still concerns
committee
• Umpires ignoring and/or not properly signaling. It is
NOT a wasted signal.
• Belief that signal is not necessary if base runner
already obtained base she would have reached had
there been no obstruction.
• It is important to communicate the infraction so teams
do not continue to commit the same infraction.
• Use the signal and make the call!
EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
• Head coaches required to attend pregame meeting with
umpires.
• Must verify players legally equipped and
players/equipment in compliance with NFHS rules
• Umpires must still conduct pregame inspection of
team’s equipment 15 minutes prior to the start of the
game.
• If teams play more than one game in the same day and
the equipment leaves the dugout, the umpires must
check the equipment again prior to the start of the next
game.
EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
• Inspection includes:
– bats, batting helmets and catcher’s gear
• Teams should have all equipment displayed and
available for inspection 15 minutes prior to start of
game
• When teams play more than one game in the same
day, and leave the dugout with their equipment,
umpires must check their equipment again prior to
the start of their next game.
2007 GHSA
SOFTBALL
QUESTIONS?