Question:

What is the NJSIAA regulation on the BPF of a baseball bat? Do all bats have to be -5 (length to ounces)?   (Paul from Livingston)

Answer:

The regulation states that the bat can not weigh less than then length minus 5 ounces. All bats do not have to be -5, they can be greater but not less. For example, a 32 inch long bat must weigh at least 27 ounces or more. - T.W.

We are still under the rules for 1999. So the NJSIAA is following the Federation rules in this regard. Look at Rule 1-5, art. 5. All bats in baseball must shall not weigh numerically more than 5 oz, less than the length of the bat. A 35 inch bat cannot be less than 30 oz.

In year 2000 the Federation will adopt a bat performance factor and all bats must be approved by the Federation.

In softball there is no length to weight restriction. However there will be a performance factor, the bat must meet with and have the ASA certification mark. - J.R.

Question:

I 'm a catcher and some umpires stand so close to me sometimes their knee or hand is in my back. Sometimes this distracts me or I can't get the ball because they are in my way. Is this allowed?   (Kelsey from Stratford)

Answer:

This is a problem for some umpires and catchers alike. The reason the ump is close is to see the plate. In some cases the catcher blocks the view of the outside corner where he/she is setting up, works high, pops up, etc. This makes it difficult for the ump to see. In addition, you get batters that tend to crowd the plate. Again this takes the view from the ump. We have to adjust in some way to see what we can. This may involve moving back, up or in.

The ump should watch the shoulders and see which way you might pivot when going after a ball that gets by. In this case the ump has to pivot the opposite way so you can get to the ball. Admittedly, some umpires are faster than others in getting out of the way.

As far as the hand on the back, I think that is bad form. This is a personal observation. I do not do it for the reason you state, it distracts the catcher. You can ask the umpire, kindly of course, to not place the hand on your back. He should comply. - J.R.

Question:

What are the rules for softball in a situation when there is thunder and lightning? Does the umpire have to see the lightning, can the coach bring it to the umpire's attention? And second, if the umpire continues the game after admitting to seeing lightning and the coach tells the girls not to go on the field is this a forfeit? Who is responsible if something happens to the girls? This is a question that no one can seem to answer.   (Lin from Pennsauken)

Answer:

Weather, that unpredictable of all things. It is umpire judgement as to when to vacate the field. Common sense says that if lightning is in the area, remove the players from the field. In most cases, personaly, if the coach brings it to my attention or I hear thunder, I will look for a flash and see how far away storm is.

Even if the ump continues the game after seeing/ admitting to seeing lightning, he still has to judge how far away the storm is. Case in point is heat lightning, That storm is very far away, so far the sound is not heard. However, if the storm is close by, he/ she better get the players off the field. Ultimatly it is the umpire who is responsible for the field and yes, he can be sued if something happens.

The coach who takes his team off of the field in violation of a play order can forfeit the game. Protests on calls of this type under ASA rules are not protestable. This is a judgment call. I would rather err on the side of safety, most umpires will. - J.R.

Question:

At third base, a runner is tagged out. But the runner's slide causes the base person to fall on top of the runner, and the ball in the base person's hand touches the ground, but the base person does not let go of the ball. Is this considered a dropped ball, and is the runner safe or out?   (Jennifer from Waterford)

Answer:

If when the tag is made and the base person "In my judgement" has control of the ball, I have an out. If the slide dislodges the ball, the runner is safe. If after the tag is made and the base person reaches in to throw to another base and drops the ball, the out stands. - J.R.

The definition of a catch is that the player gets secure possesion of the ball in his/her hand and firmly holding it. The ball touching the ground, in my opinion has no significance in this play, the baseperson still has control of the ball. The runner was tagged out, and the ball was not dropped, therefore the out stands. - T.W.

Question:

While attempting a pick-off at first base, the right-handed pitcher steps toward first base and delivers the ball. His right foot stays in contact with the pitching rubber. IS THIS A BALK? or does he have to remove his foot from the rubber while delivering the ball? (not a back step from the rubber)   (Steven from Sicklerville)

Answer:

Let me first ask, is the pitcher intentionally leaving his foot in contact with the rubber, or does his foot just happen to end up touching the rubber after he makes his pick-off attempt? While I can't find anything specifically in the rule book that says that the pitcher MUST remove his pivot foot from the rubber during a normal pick-off attempt, I would interpret the step towards the base as the pitcher having disengaged the rubber. But, I would also interpret that, if in your judgement, he is intentionally leaving his foot in contact with the rubber (and it will look funny), this is clearly a deception to the runner, and you should call this a balk. The only reason for the pitcher to consciously leave his foot that way would be to deceive the runner.

You may want to review Section 8.05c of OBR where I did find this special case -

"...It is possible, with runners on first and third, for the pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal. However, if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps toward third and then immediately and in practically the same motion "wheels" and throws to first base, it is obviously an attempt to deceive the runner at first base, and in such a move it is practically impossible to step directly toward first base before the throw to first base, and such a move shall be called a balk."

Question:

I would like to be an umpire. How do I do it? Do you have to be 18? And who decides the umpires for the games?   (James from Camden)

Answer:

There are many ways to get into the officiating business. You can contact your local sports club or recreation department. Another avenue is to contact your athletic director at school and he may be able to send you to your local assocation. You may contact the NJSIAA in Robbinsville, NJ for a listing of umpiring groups in your area. High school officials must be 18 years or older. It also depends on the ball you wish to do. Softball and baseball may not have same umpire associations. If I may ask, how old are you and where are you? I may be able to find a listing for you and post it here. - J.R.

There are several umpires organizations in the South Jersey area. Most organizations require new 'cadets' to participate in some sort of training course usually provided by the organizations' training person. My group requires you to be 18 years of age because of insurance liability issues, as do most groups. But, the most important thing is that you start out with the desire and goals to want to learn how to be a good umpire, no matter what age you are. As far as deciding who gets to do which games, based on you ability, and availability, the association's assignor schedules officials to each game. If you would like specific contact information, let me know and I'll be happy to provide it to you offline. - T.W.

Question:

I watch a lot of softball and I see umpires use different positions to stand behind the catcher to call balls and strikes. Is there a standard position to be in when calling those strikes?   (Crystal from Pine Hill)

Answer:

This is not a rule, rather a question of comfort, if I am reading you correctly. The main point of any stance is to see the pitch from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand to the moment it is caught by the catcher. You need to see the pitch as it crosses the plate, especially on the outside corner. Over the years several stances have been used, the box, the sissors and a "modified box" where one foot is slightly in front of the other. The main object is to keep your head at the same height and "locked" so you can observe the pitch.

The ASA and Federation teach the box or modified box as a first step. After some experience is gained, some people go to the sissors stance. The NCAA does not like an umpire to use the sissors stance, as it puts undue stress on the knees and you are in an off balance position. Moving out of the catcher's way on a passed ball or wild pitch can be difficult. I tend to use the modified box. I line my right ear (right hand batter) on the inside corner of the plate. My set is just above the catcher's head so I look down and through the strike zone. My eyes are at the top of my zone, that way if I have to look up at the pitch, I know it may be a ball.

Slow pitch softball also has its own stance, so to speak. You need to see the pitch as it crosses the batter. Remember there is an arc involved here. - J.R.

Question:

In high school ball, is it POSSIBLE to get an unassisted triple play, with NO FIELDERS touching the ball? How? Who gets credit for the triple play?   (Rookie from Piscataway)

Answer:

In softball, the answer to your question is yes. The only way for a play like this to happen is for a home run and the batter misses every base. Since there are no base running appeals, the umpire makes the missed base ruling under Federation rules after all play has ceased. The credit for the outs would go to the nearest base person. Keep in mind that the defensive team has the right to select the out which would give them the advantage. Example: Home run as above, batter runner misses all three bases. If you select the third out at third base, 3 runs would score. If you select the third out at first base, no runs would score. - J.R.

Question:

At lunch a group of us were talking about baseball and softball. The question the was asked was, if the infield is in with runners on 2nd and 3rd and the batter hits the ball which then hits the runner on 2nd, but the runner is behind the shortstop, is the runner out or safe?

The other question was that if a ball hits the pitching rubber and bounces foul it is a foul ball. But what if the ball is a line drive and hits the rubber and lines back to the catcher who catches it. Is it an out or foul ball?   (Gregg from West Berlin)

Answer:

The rule states in ASA Rule 8 section 8 K, POE #36, that the runner will not be declared out if the closest defensive player is in front of the base. The ball is alive and play will continue. Federation is the same as is NCAA.

As for the second question, it depends where the catcher is when he gets the ball. If he is in foul ground, it is foul. If in fair territory, the ball is fair. - J.R.

Question:

Always a simple but sometimes difficult question. In field fly rule. When is it used?   (Vincent from Blackwood)

Answer:

The 'infield fly rule' is one of those special situations that needs to be memorized by everyone. The situation requirements are quite simple. There must be base runners on first and second, or bases loaded and less than two outs. Here is where the trouble begins. It is a fair fly ball which can be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder. Remember, it doesn't have to be in the infield and doesn't have to be caught by an infielder. The rule says that it can be caught by an infielder. The second baseman can, with ordinary effort catch a ball in shallow right field... this could be an infield fly. An outfielder playing very shallow can catch a ball that the shortstop would normally catch and this too could be an infield fly. Also remember that the ball remains alive and all runners can advance at their risk. - T.W.

The Infield fly in softball is just like baseball in Federation softball rules and ASA rules. In NCAA it is different. The basic rule was instituted in baseball in the early 1900 and has remained unchanged. It states that with first and second or bases loaded, with less than two outs any fly ball that can be caught with "Reasonable Effort" by any infielder, the batter is out. The runners may advance at their own risk. The umpire does not have to declare "Infield Fly" for this rule to be in effect. The onus is on the runners. In NCAA, the rule differs in enforcement. The umpire must declare the "Infield Fly" in order for it to be in effect. - J.R.

Question:

A batter is awarded first base on a pitched BALL FOUR. The batter, in his haste to get to first base, runs right through the bag. Meanwhile, the catcher, seeing this over-run, throws down to first base attempting to put out the batter-runner. Upon the first baseman tagging the runner prior to him returning to first, do we have an out?   (Vincent from Blackwood)

Answer:

The Federation and Pro codes differ on this rule. A runner that over-runs first base on a base on balls in Federation rules is liable to be put out provided the ball is live. A Pro runner that over-runs first base after receiving a base on balls can not be put out, provided there is not an attempt by the runner to advance. - T.W.

Official Baseball Rules - Major League Baseball

NFHS Baseball Rules

NFHS Softball Rules