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2005 Important Rule Changes
Edmonton Youth Softball Association
| 1) |
Batting Helmets |
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Face-cage guards are mandatory on batting helmets for Mites and Squirts in 2004, Pee Wees and Bantams in 2005, and Midgets in 2006.
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| 2) |
Playing With Eight Players |
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A team may start a game with eight players without penalty. There is no longer an automatic out. A team that started a game with nine players may continue with eight players provided the reduction in players is due to an injury. If the reduction is due to an ejection or removal, then the team at fault will forfeit the game. "AA" teams may not start a game with eight players, nor may they continue a game with eight players.
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| 3) |
Run Limits |
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For the Mite and Squirt levels, the run limit per half inning is five. For Pee Wee and up, the run limit per half inning is seven. The mercy rules have not changed. These limits do not apply to "AA" games. |
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Alberta Amateur Softball Association
| 1) |
Co-ed Squirt Teams (Page 63) |
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Co-ed Squirt teams may enter the Squirt Boys A & B Provincial Championships.
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| 2) |
Time Limits (Page 31) |
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For minor categories that do not lead to post-provincials, all games will have a time limit (no new inning to start) of one hour and forty five minutes, with the exception of the final games. Final games have no time limit. |
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Canadian Amateur Softball Association
| 1) |
General Changes |
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A large number of housekeeping and clarifying changes have been made in addition to the reorganization of the 2005/06 Rule Book. It is recommended that everyone look over the 2005 Rule Changes from Softball Canada for a complete list of changes for the upcoming season.
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| 2) |
Batting Out Of Order (Rule 7-2) |
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The rule governing batting out of order has been changed slightly. Any outs made prior to a correctly timed appeal remain outs. Further, if the batter following the player who should have batted has already been called out, then the proper batter shall be the next batter in the line-up.
Example: Jones, Bell, Herb and Denny are the next four batters in an inning with no outs. Jones gets a single and Herb incorrectly comes to bat. Herb hits into a double play and before the next pitch, the defensive team appeals Herb batting out of order. As Jones and Herb were put out before the appeal, these two outs stand. The player who should have batted, Bell, is also called out for missing his turn at bat. The batter who starts the next inning is Denny as Herb was put out on the double play.
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| 3) |
Glove/Lacing Colour (Rule 3-4) |
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For all players, glove lacing may not be the colour of the ball. All players may use multi-coloured gloves, however, pitchers may not use gloves that are any combination of grey, white or the ball colour. A pitcher who fails to remove an illegal glove when asked by an umpire shall be removed from the game. This is not an appeal play.
Gloves with white or grey circles on the outside (giving the appearance of a ball) continue to be illegal for all players.
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| 4) |
Non-Team Member Interference (Rule 8-7l) |
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Team members include anyone authorized to sit on the team bench including a batboy, trainer, scorekeeper, manager, coach or other players. This rule does not apply to them.
In the event that a non-team member interferes with a fielder about to catch a fly ball or a fly ball that is catchable, the ball is dead, the batter-runner is out, and any other runners are awarded base(s) they would have reached, in the umpire's judgement, had there been no interference.
If a non-team member interferes with a fair ball, a ground ball, a fielder about to field or catch a ball, a fielder about to throw a ball or a ball thrown by a fielder, the ball is dead, and, if an out could have been made without the interference, the batter-runner or runner is out. Further, all other runners are awarded base(s) they would have reached, in the umpire's judgement, had there been no interference. If no out could be made, all runners are awarded base(s) they would have reached, in the umpire's judgement, had there been no interference.
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| 5) |
Obstruction (Rules 1-20, 1-58) |
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"About to receive the ball" has been removed. Obstruction has occurred anytime a defensive player without the ball contacts a runner.
In cases of catcher's obstruction and an obstructed runner in a rundown, the play shall continue. This is to give the offensive player a chance to advance beyond the base(s) awarded by the umpire for the obstruction infraction. Let all play cease, and then award any base(s) as may be needed.
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| 6) |
Replacement Player (Rule 4-10) |
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Both the replacement player and the withdrawn player must report to the umpire when they are entering and leaving the game. Substitution penalties apply when a team fails to do so.
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| 7) |
Replacement Runner (Rule 4-11) |
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Clarifications to the rule include:
| • | the runner eligible to be replaced is the player who finished the previous defensive half inning in the catcher position |
| • | the replacement runner shall be the last possible batter, who is not on base, at the time of use |
| • | if an incorrect player is discovered as the replacement runner, then the correct runner is put on base without penalty, and |
| • | if the replacement runner is still on base when his turn at bat arrives, he merely misses his turn at bat with no penalty |
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