Well, you learn something every day. I’m at the end of my fourth season of city league softball (2 summer, 2 fall) and i’ve never even heard of that rule. We’ve certainly never used it; all plays at the plate require a tag, unless bases are loaded and it’s a force.
Every time there’s a close play at the plate (which isn’t actually that often), the runner makes every effort not to barrel into the pitcher. Everyone i know in the league would take an out rather than crush the woman guarding the plate. I can see, though, that it’s a sensible rule.
Or turning the situation around a little…you get your team together including those players that drive in from other cities to play and the other team doesn’t show up because, “We’re not going to make the playoffs anyway so who cares.”
And interesting about the “Commit Line” rule RickJay, thank you. The other one they had that I just remembered was that there were actually TWO BAGS at each base. One for the runner and one for the player as to further assure there would not possibly be a collision.
I’ve never played in a slo-pitch league without a double-first base. That just makes sense when you’ve got people running full tilt at the bag and not always a guarantee of an accurate throw.
Same here. Never heard of that rule in my leagues.
I do have a little gripe about my game the other night. We were dominating the other team, we were up 22-4 in the bottom of the 5th. The other teams sole girl comes up to bat and our entire outfield moved all the way in to the edge of the infield. Now, I know she probably isn’t going to smash the ball out of the infield, but I thought it was pretty slimey to move up that close. It was like rubbing her nose in the fact that she can’t hit. It’s for fun for the most part and I just think that when a girl comes up to bat that there should be a limit to how far in the fielders can move in rec league.
When I played softball that was a pylon in the outfield that indicated the point where outfielders had to stop moving up. It was about 10 feet from the edge of the infield. Also, outfielders could not throw anyone out at first base. I’m not so sure about other force plays.
Our outfielders have to be 30 feet from the infield. I think it’s a good rule.
Also, you have to be careful that you don’t underestimate people. One failing that many male softball players have is that they often assume that women can’t hit, can’t run, and can’t catch. We played a team a few weeks ago that brought the outfield in as far as allowed for one of our women, and she promptly smashed one over the head of the left fielder. It was lovely to watch.
Hmm…in the leagues I’ve played in, we have a “must slide” rule for any covered base. That gets rid of the frieght-train mentality. Makes for dirty pants and scarred legs, but no concussions!
Many years ago, I was one of those 3xweek guys. Now, I play in a fairly competitive 12" league (all male) once per week.
The pitchers in our league are pretty good for the most part, so guys sitting on a walk tend to sit down pretty quickly. Our strike zone is defined by a rubber mat behind the plate…if the ball lands on the plate, it’s a strike. Our umps are pretty darn good, really, and the fields are fairly soft (they water during the day, and rake prior to games).
What sometimes bugs me are the politics. There’s always one guy who wants to pitch, instead of our normal pitcher(s). When the whining gets to be too much, the guy pitches, and sucks. You can apply this to any infield position as well.
Infield-specific gripe. The guy who always wants to play the glamor position…shortstop. If you have a solid SS, you never want to switch him out. The same goes for high-caliber softball leagues and 2nd basemen (in high-competitive leagues, lots of guys hit lefty). If you’re not used to the reaction time, you’re going to stink…sorry.
Hitting gripe. For some god-awful reason, most guys like to line up WAAAY deep in the batter’s box. If we were playing hardball with overhead pitching, then this is a great idea. When the high, arcing softball some in, it’s to their detriment. Don’t be afraid to step up in the box and drill a liner.
I’m sure I have more…I’m an opinionated softball ass.
Professional athletes playing. Just because they are too fast. Both guys were pro football players the first was an Arena League reciever. The other was an NFL linebacker and his size didn’t matter to me, 6’4 250 because that is my size but to see someone that big move as quick as he does is amazing. I was playing fist and he hit a slow roller to 3rd so right before the throw I looked up the line to check where he was running and when the throw came and was a little bit up the line and I moved over to catch it ther he already was. Now someone with that size moving that fast is truly scary.
