PITCHER

There are three major parts to a modified fast pitch delivery: the starting position, the backswing up to the top of the windup, and the forward swing down to and through the release.

1. STARTING POSITION

The pitcher MUST:

• Must start with both feet on the rubber.
• Have their hips and shoulders fully square to home plate.
• Pause while holding the ball in front of the body. (The ASA requires a 1-to-10 second pause before the pitch. However precedent is for only a brief but distinct pause. The intent of rule is to prevent the pitcher from gaining unfair momentum for the pitch, or "quick-pitching" a batter.)

The pitcher MAY:

• Hold the ball in either the glove or the pitching hand.

2. BACKSWING

The pitcher MUST:

• Start the backswing directly out of the paused position.
• Move the pitching hand backwards to start the delivery.

The pitcher MAY:

• Take the ball behind the back, outwards (within reason), or over the head during the backswing.
• Bring the arm above the shoulder line.
• Lift their front foot high off the ground.
• Slide or drag the pivot foot, so long as it remains in constant contact with the pitching rubber.

The pitcher MAY NOT:

• Step backwards or sideways off the rubber.
• Use a "rocker" motion to start the windup.
• Use a :windmill" motion. (In a windmill motion, the backswing and delivery are in one continuous circular motion.)
• Use an obvious "slingshot" motion - bending the elbow AND rotating the body significantly towards first or third base.  (The intent of the rule is to prevent a pitcher from using significant forward motion of the hands to gain momentum for the backswing. Many pitchers have a small forward hitch in their hands prior to the backward motion. This is OK) All pitchers bend their elbows and turn their bodies to some extent. In an illegal slingshot, these movements are very pronounced so as to allow the pitcher to "whip" the ball around. 
• There is no limit to the height of the backswing.
• Pitching hand cannot go further than 6' from the thigh.

3. DELIVERY

The pitcher MUST:

• Deliver the ball in a full underhand motion. (Sidearm pitches are illegal.)
• Release the pitch on the first forward movement past the hip.
• Roughly square the shoulders to home plate at the point of release. (No pitcher squares the shoulders fully at the time of release, owing to the effects of the stride. The intent of rule is to eliminate cross-body slingshot deliveries.)

The pitcher MAY:

• Take one forward step. The foot must come down within the 24" width of the pitching rubber.
• Throw any legal softball pitch such as a curve ball, drop ball, slider, knuckle ball, etc. (Needless to say, spitballs, foreign substances, 'scuffballs', and the like are illegal.)
• Point the palm downward upon release.

The pitcher MAY NOT:

• Have the ball significantly outside the wrist during the downswing and release. (Sidearm pitches are illegal.)
• Use a crow-hop delivery. A "crow hop" is defined by the ASA as jumping off the pitching rubber and re-planting the back foot before releasing the ball. It effectively shortens the distance to home plate and is illegal in all forms of fastpitch.
  However, it is legal to "leap" off the rubber during the delivery so long as the pitch is released while in the air and the pitcher does not re-plant the pivot foot.)

CHANGING PITCHERS

• If pitcher is removed, the new pitcher must complete pitching to at least one batter.

TAGGING UP

• From third base only on a caught fly ball..
• No others may advance on play. If a player "tags up", advances and contacts the next base, an out will be declared, otherwise a player that "tags up" and starts toward the next base is subject to be tagged out if the runner has not returned to the original base. It is not a force-out or appeal-out at the original base. This is a live-ball play; the runner at third can advance during this play.

LEAD

• Runner may lead off base when pitch is released.
• If catcher makes a throw to any base and the ball gets away, the runner(s) may not advance. Runners are subject to being tagged out if off their original base. They will be be declared out if they contact the next base.

GAME BALL

• The home team of each game will provide a new ball and the visiting team will provide a used ball.
• The used ball must be approved by the umpire.

FORFEITS

• You must have a minimum of nine players to start a game.
• Umpire will wait 10 minutes after schedule start of game before calling a forfeit.
• Each game will have a time limit of 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Only one player designated at start of each game can confer with umpire.
• Any one ejected from game will be automatically suspended from their team's next game. And be subject to further disciplinary action as designated by league.
• The next hitter must be on deck. One warning will be issued, after that anytime the next batter is not on deck the person batting will be called out.
• Metal cleats are not allowed.
• If a batter bats out of turn, the scheduled batter is out. ASA Rules apply concerning any plays resulting in outs made during the improper batter's time at bat.

KNOCKOUT

• If a team is losing by 10 runs after 5 innings, 15 after 4 or 20 after 3, the game is over.

DESIGNATED HITTER (DH)

• If a team starts a game without a DH, they must play the entire game without one.
• If the DH is removed and put to play a fielding position, you lose the DH.
• You may replace the DH with a player on the bench who has not played in that game and the removed DH is not eligible to play another position.

PROTEST

• Protest must be in writing in scorebook and Umpire must sign protest in scorebook.
• A formal written protest must be given to the league secretary and the $25.00 fee before protest is heard. If you win the protest, the $25.00 fee will be refunded. If you lose the protest, the $25.00 will not be refunded.
• The protest must be heard before the next week games.

RULES OF PLAY

Modified Fast Pitch

Rules and Regulations (Umpire Version)

1.  THE TEAMS AND GAMES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN THE OFFICIAL SOFTBALL PLAYING RULES AS ADOPTED BY THE AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS AS NOTED HEREIN.

2  All team members have up to two weeks from season start to be in full team uniform. Anyone not in full uniform will not be allowed to play or coach.

3.  Any unsportsmanlike conduct from players, coaches, managers or officials of United Softball League towards any umpire or fan in any manner prior, during, or after any game will be suspended from the league for a full year.

4.  No smoking will be permitted on the playing field, dugouts, or coach's box at any time. Umpires and the United Softball League can and will enforce this rule.

5.  Drinking alcoholic beverages on city property is forbidden by law.

6.  All teams must wear shirts or t-shirts and hats the same in design and colors. Pants must be long and similar in color. Shirt tails must be tucked in. All bench occupants must be in team uniform. Managers and coaches must be in team uniform to occupy a coaching box. No steel cleats, spikes, or street shoes allowed.

7.  All league games will be allowed one hour and twenty minutes of playing time with a ten minute break between games. Morning games will begin at 10:00 and 11:30 am. Afternoon games will begin at 1:00 and 2:30 pm. All teams will have a 10 minute grace period that will be deducted from the game time.

8.  All games should start with at least 9 players. Should a 10^th player arrive, that player will be allowed in the line up in the 10 ^th position only if his team has not batted around. If the team has batted around, then the 10 ^th player will not be allowed in the lineup and they must finish the game with nine players.

9.  Only players, coaches, scorekeeper, and bat person are allowed in the dugout.

10.  All dugouts and surrounding areas must be left clean by the occupying team prior to the end of a game.

11.  All games will have a twenty (20) run rule after the third inning, fifteen (15) run rule after the fourth inning, and ten (10) run rule after the fifth inning.

12.  There will be no stealing bases only tagging up on fly balls. A player must tag the base first then advance. If a catcher tries to pick a runner off and the ball gets away, the runner must tag the base first then advance.

13.  You can pitch anywhere from medium to fast pitch under hand. Both feet must be on the pitching mound and facing to the front. Shoulders must be square with first and third bases.

14.  No bunting allowed

15.  No limits in homeruns.

16.  Catchers must wear facemask and chest protector.

17.  Players must slide on any close play at home plate. If not, the player will be called out. The umpire has the final call on the play.

18.  The umpire will make all decisions on illegal bats. If you are caught using illegal bats, you will he suspended for the remainder of the season. Second offense will result in permanent suspension from the league.

19.  Any player or coach ejected from a game must leave the premises immediately.

20.  Any player suspended or ejected from a game is subject to the penalties of the Dept of Parks and Recreation & Entertainment such as the right to remove any player from all city and non city facilities. All game officials and scorekeepers must submit a written report within twenty four (24) hours.

21.  No pinch runners allowed.

22.  A designated hitter can be replaced with a player on the bench.

23.  A designated hitter can replace any position player in a game. In this case, the designated hitter position will be lost and the batting position of the player removed will be skipped

24.  All decisions made by the official umpires are final.

25.  Before the beginning of a game, the manager has to pay the umpire, have the game balls and the game line up ready.

26.  All managers are responsible for their teams.

27.  During the play offs, if a team does not show up during the ten (10) minute grace period from the start of the game, that game will he forfeited The second game will commence at the regular scheduled time.

28.  Any player, coach, or manager ejected from a game will be suspended for two games.

29.  Any player, coach or manager that continues to mouth off after an ejection will be suspended for four games and violating team will be fined $50.00.

30.  Any player, coach, or manager that shows continuous signs of warning or suspensions during a season (3), will be subject to expulsion from the league indefinitely.

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