We've all played the game for years. We've always heard "ties favor the runner" or "one plus one" on an over-throw out of play! 

Below are Basic Slow Pitch Rules - - Wood Bat or Aluminum Bat.  When they come into play there is usually a bit of confusion and the umpire or loudest voices get the call!.

1.  BALL THROWN OUT OF PLAY:

When a throw is made by an infielder or outfielder that goes out of play it is a dead ball.  Also, when a throw deflects off a runner, fielder or umpire and goes out of play it is a dead ball.  In both cases baserunners are awarded TWO BASES as determined by the positions of the runners when the ball left the fielders hand. If a player has already reached 1st base - -he will be awarded 3rd base on a throw out of play.

** "The one plus one" is an old myth.  It meant the base the runner was going to plus one additional base.  NO!   If a player singles and has rounded 1st base and the right fielder throws behind him as he heads back to 1st base - -even if that throw goes out of play as he is sliding back into 1st base - - he gets 2 additional bases.  He already had posession of 1st base.

2.  CALLS ON THE BASES:

Every Umpire is taught that either the throw beat the runner or the runner beat the throw.  No play is too close to call!  There are NO TIES. Umpires judgement calls are not subject to protests.  

3.  A RUNNER IS ALWAYS OUT IF HE RUNS OUT OF THE BASELINE TO AVOID AN INFIELDER:

A runner may run out of the baseline to avoid an infielder who is fielding a batted ball.  A runner is declared out ONLY if he is is running outside the baseline to avoid a tag by a fielder with the ball.

4.  OBSTRUCTION & FAKE TAG:

When a runner, while advancing or returning to a base, is obstructed by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball , or a fielder who fakes a tag without the ball, the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction will always be awarded the base or bases that would have been reached - in the Umpires Judgement - had their been no obstruction.

IF the Umpire feels there is justification, a defensive player making a fake tag may be ejected from the game.

5. LEGAL FLY BALL CATCH:

This is strictly an Umpire's judgement call.  There is NO  time factor (2 or 3 seconds ) possession rule.  "The Umpire will need to determine if, in his judgement, the fielder has held the ball long enough to prove complete control".  As per the ASA rule, It is not a catch if a fielder releases and drops the ball as a result of a collision or falling to the ground.  There is NO MENTION of TIME!

6. INFIELD FLY:

A fair fly ball (not including a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort - when first and second bases or first, second and third bases are occupied - before there are two outs in the inning. 

Any defensive player that positions himself in the infield at the start of the pitch shall be considered an infielder for the purpose of the rule. 

The infield fly is ruled when the ball reaches the highest point based on the position of the closest infielder regardless of who makes the play.   

When it is apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the Umpire will immediately declare " Infield Fly. The Batter is Out' for the benefit of the runners.  If the ball is near a foul line the Umpire shall declare "Infield Fly.  The batter is Out if Fair".

The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught.  The runner can tag up and advance once the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball.

IF an Infield Fly becomes a foul ball it is treated as any other foul ball. 

7.  ILLEGAL PITCH

The Umpire shall call an ILLEGAL PITCH when the ball is at it's highest point.  Under 6' or over 10' from the ground is an ILLEGAL PITCH.

-An illegal pitch not swung at by the batter is a ball

-An illegal pitch swung at and missed is a strike

-An illegal pitch struck by a batter is a "live ball"

8.  NO PITCH

A call of NO PITCH by the Umpire results in a DEAD BALL.  Subsequent action on that pitch is cancelled.

It is generally called when; a runner leaves his base before the ball reaches home plate, the pitcher pitches before a runner has retouched his base after a foul ball, the ball slips from the pitchers hand, players or fans call 'time' or employ other tactics for the obvious purpose of making the pitcher throw an "Illegal Pitch", the Umpire is not ready for the pitch, the pitcher pitches during the suspension of play or throws a quick pitch.

9.  FOUL TIP OUT

This has just recently changed by the ASA and Senior Softball-USA. 

When a batted ball goes directly from the bat to the hand or glove of the catcher it is an OUT.  Height is not a factor. If the batted ball hits the catchers body or equipment first other than the hand or glove it is a foul ball and dead.

10. WARM-UP PITCHES

At the beginning of each half inning or when a pitcher relieves another, not more than one-minute may be used to deliver not more than four (4) warm-up pitches. 

For excessive warm-up pitches a pitcher may be penalized by awarding a ball to the batter for each extra pitch as deemed appropriate by the umpire. 

A pitcher returning to pitch in the same half inning will not receive warm-up pitches. 

SOFTBALL SPECIFICATIONS:

In our League we avoid the twisted world of aluminum bat specs.  Softballs also have their own ratings system with various "authorities" (ASA, USSSA , NSA, NCAA etc) giving them their stamp of approval.

Softball COR and Compression

Softballs are rated based on two metrics - Coefficient Of Restitution (COR - pronounced like core) and compression. COR represents how "bouncy" the ball is. The higher the COR, the more bouncy the ball is and, generally, the farther it will fly. COR is the percentage of reduction in speed for a ball bouncing off a wall. If a ball is thrown at a wall at 80 miles per hour and bounces off at 40 miles per hour, the speed has been reduced by 50%. The ball would be rated with a COR of .50 (referred to as a fifty COR ball). If your league plays with a .44 COR ball, the speed bouncing off the wall would be 35 miles per hour.

Softball compression is a measure of how hard a softball is. The higher the compression, the harder the ball, and generally, the farther it will fly. Compression is measured by how many pounds of force are needed to squeeze two sides of the ball in by a total of one-quarter of an inch. If a test shows that it takes 375 pounds of force to squeeze the ball by one-quarter inch, the ball is certified as a 375 pound compression ball. The ASA has only approved two levels of compression - 375 pounds and 525 pounds. 375 pound balls are softer than 525's. The ASA "rounds up" to assign the compression rating. For example, if the test shows it only takes 325 pounds of force to achieve the one-quarter inch squeeze, the ball will be rated as a 375 compression ball. This means your league may be playing with a ball rated as 375 compression, but it is really softer than a true 375 compression ball because of the "rounding up."

Testing has shown two main things as it relates to softball COR and compression and on-field performance. First, a change from a .47 COR, 525 pound ball to a .44 COR, 375 pound ball decreases performance by up to 6%. All other things being equal, this means that a 305 foot home run using a .47 COR, 525 pound ball would be a 290 foot fly out using a .44 COR, 375 pound ball. Second, reductions in compression have a much greater impact in on-field performance than reductions in COR.

As a player, you should also be aware that weather has an enormous impact on the compression of a softball. Studies have shown that when the temperature is 100 degrees, an average softball looses 200 pounds of compression as compared with the same softball at 60 degrees. This means that a softball that is a 525 pound compression ball at 60 degrees may play like a 375 pound ball at 100 degrees. In addition, clouds, rain, and humidity also affect the compression of a ball. 70 degrees and sunny creates lower compression balls than if it was 70 degrees and cloudy. Leather balls generally take on more moisture in rainy or humid conditions than synthetic balls. This will generally raise the compression and level of play up to a point, then performance will decline once the ball takes on too much water and becomes too heavy.

Keep these factors in mind when deciding which bat to use and when determining your approach for each at-bat. If it is hot and humid, it may be best not to try for a home run, but instead try for a base hit.

We use a 40 COR / 325 lbs compression ball

Combined with the Wood Bats we've created a game in which solid contact between bat & ball gets us back to the baseball of our youth.  Only a few can hit HR's and many must play defense.

As a general rule for each player - -

Accept the decisions of the Umpire and your Team Manager with good sportsmanship !

As a player or fan, never commit an act that could be considered unsportsmanlike conduct !