USSSA Fastpitch

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1

Official Fastpitch Playing Rules

2014 Rule Changes

No New printed Rulebook

Titled 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules2

New Bat MarkMajor Rule Change

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 13

Beginning January 1, 2014, Only bats with New USSSA 1.20

BPF Mark will be legal in USSSA.

No Legal / Approved Bat List

New Bat Mark

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 14

Bat manufacturers have the technology and have agreed to produce bats that will maintain the Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.20 or show signs that the BPF currently exceeds the standard.

It will also display signs that the bat has been altered.

Damaged Bats

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 15

Rule 2 Sec 10-L ADD The bat shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard. Bats shall be free of rattles and burrs.

Standard wording

Old Bat MarksMajor Rule Change

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 16

Rule 2.10.D Other Criteria for Legal USSSA Bats

Remove reference as legal to bats marked “USSSA BPF 1.20”, “1.20 BPF USSSA”

Bats with these older markings are no longer legal.

Withdrawn Bats

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 17

USSSA Withdrawn and/or Non-Compliant Bat Models List created.

As of 1/2014, only bat on list:Louisville Slugger/ 2013 oneX

FP136, FP1369, FP1368

Altered BatADD to Altered Bat paragraph 3:

“Choke-up devices are not permitted.”

Keeps Bat requirements in agreement with High School Rules

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 18

Illegal Bat Penalty

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 19

Batter / Runner is out if they hit the ball with an illegal bat

The penalty of an out is not applied for just having an illegal bat but only applied if the batter hits a ball with an illegal bat.

Our standard unsportsmanlike penalty is applied.

Illegal Bat Penalty - Batter

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 110

Rule 7.14 A batter shall be called out when:A. Prior to the next pitch (legal or illegal),

the batter was discovered having hit the ball with an illegal bat or non-approved bat.

EFFECT: Any runner not put out must return to the

base occupied at the time of the pitch.Any runners put out prior to the discovery

shall remain out.First Offense: Team Warning;

Subsequent: Player Restricted / Coach Ejected.

Illegal Bat Penalty - Runner

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 111

RULE 8. 18. Any runner is out when:W. Prior to a pitch (legal or illegal) to

the next batter, the runner was discovered having hit the ball with an illegal bat or non-approved bat.

EFFECT: Any runner not put out must return to

the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

and any runners put out prior to the discovery shall remain out.

First Offense: Team Warning; Subsequent Offense: Player Restricted to Dugout; Coach Ejected.

Injured PlayerRule Change

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 112

Rule 5.2.A.1 Playing Short ExceptionIn the Exception

Change: injury caused by defensiveTo: Any injury

If the player leaving the game is the batter or a runner, they shall be declared out. Exception: If the player is injured, the player may be replaced by the player not currently on base who had the last completed time at bat. This exception does not apply to any future time at bat.

2014 Twelve Edition rev 1

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules13

Editorial Changes

Rule 3 Definitions

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 114

Initial Play DefinitionAdd “a ball which could become fair or a foul fly ball”

A fielder is considered to be making an initial play on a fair batted ball, a ball which could become fair or a foul fly ball when he has a reasonable chance to gain control of a ground ball that no other fielder (except the pitcher) has touched or a reasonable chance to catch the ball in flight after it touches another fielder. The fielder is still considered to be making an initial play if he 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.

Clearance in writing

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 115

Rule 5.9. INJURED PLAYERAdd “in writing” to end of Para B.B. A player who exhibits signs,

symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion … shall not return to play that day until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional in writing.

Hole in front of the pitcher’s plate

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 116

RULE 6. 1.E.3Add Note 3

If a hole has been created in front of the pitcher’s plate, the pivot foot may be no higher than the level plane of the ground.

This explicitly states current interpretation

Batter Out

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 117

RULE 7.14. The Batter is out whenE. Any coach or member of the offensive team interferes with a fielder attempting to field a foul fly.

DELETE – applies to Batter-Runner 8.17.I

RULE 8.17. The Batter-Runner is outI. When any coach or member of the offensive team other than runners interferes with a fielder making an initial play.

Runner is Out

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 118

Rule 8.18 has been edited forGrammatical consistencyEliminate gender specific pronouns

Dead Ball

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 119

Rule 10 Sec 1-B Dead BallTO

Ball becomes dead immediately when the ball … comes in contact with the bat a second time.

ADD “except if the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory as in rule 7 Sec 14-G, note”.

Makes Rule 10 consistent with Rule 7

Rule 7 Sec 14-G. NOTE: If the batter drops the bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the Umpire's judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the batter is not out and the ball is live and in play.

PROTEST

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 120

REARRANGE Rule 13. with minor rewriteRule Interpretation Protest before

next pitchSuspend PlayRule Interpretation Protest settled

before resuming.

10&Under C

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 121

RULE 15. 10 & Under and Younger Rule Exceptions

Add 10C to the following rule exceptions

Stealing – one base at a timeNot after Walk

The batter is out on a third strike. Caught or Not Caught

No infield fly rule 

Coach/Machine Pitch

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 122

Change the following in Rule 1717.8.a Bunting is optional17.11 a-e. No stealing. 17.12 Three (3) defensive

conferences per game.17.13 The pitching coach must

make an effort to avoid interfering with the play.

New Bat Mark

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules Rev 123

No New printed Rulebook

Titled 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1

Posted http://www.usssa.com/usssa/usssa-general/2014FPRules.pdfCHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition Playing Rules24

USSSA Fastpitch

CHANGES in 2014 Twelve Edition rev 1

Official Fastpitch Playing Rules

2014 Rule Changes