PYLGSA RULE CLARIFICATIONS (as of March 2012):

There have been some questions regarding a few rules;

1. Section 14:J (8U Only) "Only one base shall be awarded to the runner(s) in the case of any dropped ball over overthrow to first or third base that goes in to foul territory..." Keep in mind that this is only in effect for a throw or play made at 1st or 3rd base only. Any other overthrow is a live ball unless it goes past the dead ball territory (the fences). Also, a throw back to the pitcher after a batted ball, that is missed and goes into foul territory, is still a live ball and runners MAY advance at their own risk. This is not a steal, but rather a continuation of the original play as a result of the batted ball.

2. Section 14:M (8U Only) "There shall be a halfway line between 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd base, and any player not past the half way line when the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle will be returned to the previous base. The ball is dead on an overthrow back to the pitcher on a pitched ball." The two things to keep in mind here are (1) there is NO halfway line between 3rd and home plate. If the runner is on her way home when the pitcher gets the ball and she scores, then the score stands. (2) The ball is only dead on an overthrow back to the pitcher on a PITCHED ball, if its overthrown after a batted ball, the ball is still LIVE.

3. ASA allows for courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers. The rule says that the courtesy runners are to be any player that has not been in the game yet. By ASA definition, any players on the current batting lineup are considered to be "in the game." Therefore, since PYLGSA plays "round robin", there are no courtesy runners allowed in league play for PYLGSA. There is NO supplmentary rule allowing for courtesy runners.

ASA RULE CLARIFICATIONS (as of January 2012):

A new rule this year has already caused a few questions about the Batter-Runner in the game of Slow Pitch. The new Rule is Rule 8 Section 1C[2] Exception: “The ball is live and on ball four the Batter-Runner may only advance to 1B unless a play is made on another runner or there is an errant throw.” The questions have been when can or cannot a Batter-Runner continue to 2B on ball four in slow pitch with stealing.
With the new rule the batter-runner is awarded 1B only and must stop at 1B unless there is a play on another runner or there is an errant throw. This would mean the batter- Runner must stop at 1B and would not be called out if they round 1B and the catcher threw the ball to 1B. If the ball is thrown to 1B and thrown away then the Batter-runner, now a runner could advance. A walk on the Batter-Runner should be treated like any other play in Slow Pitch. If there was a runner on base and decided to steal and a play was made on that runner then the Batter-Runner could continue past 1B to whatever base they may reach until all playing action has ceased. Since the Batter-Runner can only go to 1B once all playing action has ceased the ball would be dead. This is similar to the ball being returned to the infield and time being called when all playing action has ceased.
It was pointed out that in Rule 7 Section 1D EFFECT [2] when there is on deck batter interference with a defensive fielder fielding a fly ball our rules says the batter is out. The question that was posed does the umpire have the ability to call a runner out if they think the interference was done to prohibit a double play.
Play: R1 on 1B with no outs and attempts to steal on the pitch. B2 hit a pop up that the catcher is moving over to catch. The On Deck Batter sees that R1 does not know where the ball is and if the ball is caught R1 could be subject to being called out on appeal for a double play. B2 causes interference, can you have two outs?
Ruling: Dead ball is called by the umpire, B2 is called out for interference, Rule 7 Section 1D EFFECT [2]. If in the judgment of the umpire this was an attempt to break up a double play then R1 could be called out by Rule 1 Interference.

When making a ruling on any play we must make sure we apply the rule to the play and not the play to the rule. In the case of On Deck Batter interference, we know we have in Rule 8 Section 7J [1-3] EFFECT that a runner who commits interference and in the umpire’s judgment is an attempt to prevent a double play and it occurs before the runner is put out, the immediate trailing runner shall also be called out. In Rule 8 Section 2 F [1-6] NOTE If this interference is an attempt to prevent a double play, the runner closest to home plate shall be called out. In both these cases we could have a possible double play without applying the current rule but by just applying Rule 1 Interference. In these cases the rule book specifies who should be called out. In the area of On Deck Batter interference if this interference is an attempt to prevent a double play, the runner that would have been out on the double play should also be called out.

JANUARY 2012 - PRECEDING WAS AN EXCERPT FROM SOFTBALL.ORG (ASA)