Appeal:

An appeal is a play or a violation of a rule in which the official does not make a ruling until a coach/player requests.

Absent Player:

An absent player is created when a position in the batting order is vacant and no eligible substitutes are available to fill the vacant spot. A team that has an absent player is playing short-handed. A team may begin a game with eight batters and the absent player, the vacant position, shall be placed in the ninth batting position.

Altered Ball:

A ball which has had its physical make up or composition changed in any way outside the original manufacturer's product. Examples, including but not limited to heating, melting, freezing, or recovering the ball.

Altered Bat:

A bat which has had its physical make up or composition changed in any way outside the original manufacturer's product.

Ball:

The ball is a playing element. The term “Ball” is used to categorize a pitch, which is not touched by the bat and is not a strike.

A batted ball is any pitch that contacts the bat whether intentional or unintentional.

1. A Line Drive is a batted ball that travels in a path with little to no arch parallel to the ground throughout its flight.
2. A Fly Ball is a batted ball that has considerable height and arch above the ground.
3. A Ground Ball is a batted ball that bounds or rolls on the ground.

A Blocked Ball is a live thrown or batted ball which touches any object not a part of the playing field or playing equipment, or that is touched/handled by any person not involved in the game.

A Dead Ball is a ball no longer in play.

A Delayed Dead Ball occurs when there has been a rules violation and is recognized by the official by giving the delayed dead-ball signal but is not ruled upon until playing action ceases and the ball becomes dead.

Base Line:

The direct line from one base to another consecutive base.

Base Path:

The route a runner takes in an effort to advance or retreat to a base. A runner establishes her own base path when a play is not being made on her.

Bat:

A Legal Bat is a bat that meets rule specifications.

An Illegal Bat is a bat that fails to meet rule specifications

1. An Altered Bat.
2. A Non-Approved Bat is a bat which does not meet USA Softball specifications or is currently on the USA Softball Non-Approved Bats with Certification Marks list.
3. A Damaged Bat is defined as a bat that was once legal, but is broken, cracked, dented, has rattles or has sharp edges that might deface the ball. A damaged bat is considered an illegal bat, with the penalty being, the bat is simply removed from the game without penalty.

Batter:

The Batter is a player on the offensive team who is due at bat. The batter will be considered to have completed their at bat when they become a batter-runner or are put out.

Batter-Runner:

The Batter-Runner is a player who has completed their at bat and is considered a batter-runner until playing action ends or she is put out.

On Deck Batter:

The On Deck-Batter is a player on the offensive team who is the next position due at bat after the current batter. This player shall occupy the on-deck circle on her dugout side of the playing field. Only one on-deck batter shall be allowed on the field while the opposing pitcher is warming up.

Batter's Box:

The Batter's Box is the space including the chalk lines for which the batter is positioned when at bat.

Batting Order:

Batting Order is the official list of offensive players by first and last name in the order for which they are to appear at bat. The batting order shall also include the players uniform number and defensive position. All of this shall be listed on the lineup card and presented to game officials at the pre-game conference.

Batting Out of Order is when a team fails to follow the proper sequence of batters listed on the lineup card presented to game officials.

Bunt:

A Bunt is a batted ball which is not swung at, however, intentionally tapped with the bat.

A Bunt Attempt (Offer) is any movement of the bat toward a pitched ball that is a non-swinging motion. Leaving the bat in the strike zone or over the plate area is considered a bunt attempt. For a batter to take a pitch the bat must be pulled back away from the ball prior to the ball crossing the plate

A Drag Bunt is attempting to bunt the ball by running forward in the batter's box while carrying the bat with her. The movement of the bat is in conjunction with the batter's forward movement.

Catch:

A Catch is the act of a fielder who securely gains possession of a thrown, pitched, or batted ball with her hand(s) and/or glove/mitt.

For a catch to be valid the fielder must prove she has control of the ball and that her release of the ball is voluntary and intentional.

If a fielder has made the catch but drops the ball in the process of reaching into the glove, transferring it to the throwing hand, or while making a throw the ball shall be determined to be caught.

For a catch to be legal a fielder must catch and have secure possession of the ball before touching, stepping, or falling into a dead-ball area.

A fielder shall not be credited with a catch if:

1. A fielder catches a pitched, batted, or thrown ball with anything other than her hand(s) or glove/mitt in its proper place.
2. In the immediate action following a catch the fielder collides with another player, game official, fence, or the ground and fails to maintain secure possession of the ball.
3. The fielder uses any equipment or article of uniform that is not in its proper position.
4. An entire foot is touching dead-ball territory at the time of the catch.
5. The fielder is standing on a fence as it is laying on the ground past the original position of the home-run fence when they contact the ball.
6. The ball contacts anything or anyone other than a defensive player while it is in flight.
7. The fielder traps the ball.
8. A ball that is prevented from hitting the ground by a player's equipment in its correct position or body shall not be determined to be caught until the ball is secured in the player's hand(s) or glove/mitt.

Catcher's Box:

The Catcher's Box is the space in which the catcher's feet and body are restricted to remain from the time the pitcher contacts the pitcher's plate until the pitcher releases the pitch. The catcher's box shall be a rectangle 10 feet extending from the outside of each batter's box and 8 feet 5 inches in width.

Checked Swing:

A Checked Swing is the batter taking action to restrain and stop an attempted hit or slap which puts the batter in liability of having a strike called.

Coach's Box:

The Coach's Box is the space in which the two offensive coaches are restricted prior to the release of the pitch.

Conference:

A Charged Conference is when a coach or team personnel requests time-out in order to meet with defensive or offensive personnel.

The Pre-Game Conference is the meeting between game officials and team representatives prior to the game near home plate.

Confines of the Playing Field:

The Confines of the Playing Field consists of the field of play, any dugout/bench areas, any warm up areas adjacent to the field within the view of game officials.

Crow Hop:

The Crow Hop is an illegal pitch which involves the pitcher's pivot foot breaking contact with the pitcher's plate and replanting prior to the pitch being delivered.

Dead Ball:

A Dead Ball is when the ball is not currently in play. For the ball to be considered in play again the pitcher must be in possession of the ball and is positioned within the 16-foot circle and the plate official announces/gestures “Play Ball”.

Dead Ball Territory:

Dead Ball Territory is the area beyond and boundary of the playing field. This shall include but not limited to past any fence, rope, chalk line, stands/bleachers, dugouts, bench area, or pre-determined area stated in the pre-game conference. In the event a ball becomes lodged in a fence or backstop it will be deemed to be in dead ball territory.

Dugout (Bench Area):

The Dugout is an area outside the field of play reserved for team personnel engaged in the game (coaches, players, official team representatives).

Ejection:

An Ejection is the authority of game officials to remove team personnel and spectators from the game, typically for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Ejected personnel are required to leave the facility for the remainder of the contest.

Ejected personnel are prohibited from further contact with the team during the contest.

A Post-Game Ejection is a form of an ejection that occurs after the conclusion of the contest and results in the offender being barred from participation in their next game played.

Fair Ball:

A Fair Ball is a batted ball that:

1. Comes to rest or is contacted on or over fair territory between home plate and first base or home plate and third base.
2. Touches or bounds over any part of first or third base.
3. Touches first, second, or third base.
4. While on or over fair territory contacts any game official, player, or their clothing/equipment except the batter while in the batter's box.
5. While over fair territory passes out of the playing field in flight.
6. First falls or is touched on or over fair territory beyond first, second, or third base.

A fair fly ball shall be judged in relation to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, which includes the foul pole. The position of the fielder in fair or foul territory at the time she touches the ball is not a consideration, purely the positioning of the ball at the time it is contacted. It does not matter whether the ball first touches fair or foul territory as long as it does not touch anything foreign to the natural playing surface in foul territory and complies with all other aspects of a fair ball.

Fair Territory:

Fair Territory is the part of the playing field within and including the foul lines from home plate to the bottom of the playing field fence and vertically upward. Foul poles, foul lines, and home plate are part of fair territory.

Flex:

The Flex is the non-batting defensive playing position listed in the last spot of a lineup when the DP/Flex is implemented. The flex can remain in the non-batting position, enter the game in the DP's position in the batting order to play offense, and be substituted for by a legal substitute.

Force Play:

A Force Play is a play in which a runner(s) loses the right to the base they occupy and are forced to advance due to the batter becoming a batter-runner. A force play ends for a runner when the runner touches the next base, the batter-runner reaches first base, or a trailing runner is put out. If a forced runner after touching the next base except home retreats toward the base she had previously occupied the force play is reinstated and she is liable to be put out if the defense tags the base she was forced to.

Forfeit:

A Forfeit occurs when a game is awarded to the opponent of the offending team.

Foul Ball:

A Foul Ball is a batted ball that:

1. Settles or is touched while on or over fair territory.
2. Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory
3. Initially falls to the ground or is touched first on or over foul territory beyond first or third base.
4. While on or over foul territory contacts any game official, player, or their respective clothing/equipment except the batter in the batter's box.
5. While over foul territory a runner interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play on a batted ball
6. Contacts the batter or the bat in the batter's hand(s) a second time while the batter is still within the batter's box.
7. Travels directly off the bat to any part of the catcher's body or equipment and is subsequently caught by another fielder.

Foul Tip:

A Foul Tip is a batted ball that travels directly from the bat to the catcher's glove or hand and is caught legally by the catcher. The ball remains live and a strike is recorded.

Game:

A Regulation Game shall consist of seven innings unless extra innings are necessary due to a tied score. A regulation game may be shortened due to run spreads, the home team does not require its half of the seventh inning, weather, daylight, or a predetermined time limit.

A Called Game is a game ended by game officials.

A Suspended Game is a game that is paused with the intent to be picked up and completed at a later date/time.

Illegal Player:

An Illegal Player is a player who competes in the game in a way they are not entitled to play.

Ineligible Player:

An Ineligible Player is a player who does not meet elements required for registration, who violates age cut offs, is not on a team's roster, or violates eligibility aspects in any way.

Illegally Batted Ball:

An Illegally Batted Ball occurs when the batter contacts the pitch with an illegal bat.

An Illegally Batted Ball occurs when any part of the batter's feet are in contact with the plate at the time contact is made with the ball.

An Illegally Batted Ball occurs when one or both of the batter's feet are on the ground completely out of the batter's box at the time contact is made with the ball.

In Flight:

In Flight refers to a batted, pitched, or thrown ball that has not contacted the ground, any object, or a person other than a player.

Infield Fly Rule:

The Infield Fly Rule is in effect when the batter hits a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) that can be caught by a defensive player with a reasonable effort when first and second base or all three bases are occupied with less than two outs.

Initial Play:

The Initial Play shall be when a fielder has a reasonable chance to obtain control of a ground ball that no other fielder (excluding the pitcher) has contacted.

The Initial Play shall be when a fielder has a reasonable chance to catch a ball in flight or a ball in flight after it has contacted another fielder.

The Initial Play shall be ruled to still be taking place when a fielder fails to gain control of a batted ball and is still within a step and a reach (in any direction) of the point of the initial play.

Inning:

An Inning is a portion of the game in which the teams alternate playing offense and defense and three outs comprise the duration of each team's offensive turn.

A new Inning officially begins immediately after the final out of the previous inning.

An extra Inning is an inning in which a regulation game is extended in an attempt to declare a winner when at the end of a regulation game the score is tied.

Interference:

Interference is an act that denies or inhibits a defensive player a reasonable opportunity to make a play (fielding or throwing) anywhere on the field of play. Interference may be intentional, unintentional, physical, or verbal.

Interference can be caused by offensive players (batter, runner, on-deck batter), coaches, game officials, nongame personnel, and or spectators.

Interference may be caused by the offensive team in its entirety due to loose equipment belonging to them.

Leap:

A leap is an illegal pitch where the pitcher's pivot foot fails to slide/drag on the ground and becomes airborne on the initial drive from the pitcher's plate.

Malicious Contact:

Malicious Contact is an act by any player that exhibits excessive force or deliberate action to make contact with a player with the intent to harm.

Obstruction:

Obstruction occurs when a defensive player who is not in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball, hinders the batter's attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball. Obstruction can be physical, verbal, intentional, or unintentional. Obstruction shall be ruled if a defensive player is blocking the whole plate/base or base path without possession of the ball and/or the runner does not have a path to the plate/base.

On-Deck Circle:

The on-deck circle is a space designated by chalk, paint, or other identifying material that is 5 feet in diameter, and located a safe distance away from home plate. The on-deck circle shall be at least 30 feet from the plate and on each side of the playing field.

Outfield:

The Outfield is the area of the field in fair territory located past the infield.

Oversliding:

Oversliding or Overrunning/Overwalking occurs when an offensive player who is advancing to a base, legally obtains the base and subsequently loses contact with the base and goes past it.

A batter-runner can overslide first base without the liability of being put out.

Pitcher's Pivot Foot:

The Pitcher's Pivot foot is the foot which is in contact with the ground, as opposed to the non-pivot foot (stride foot) which the pitcher steps toward home plate on the delivery of the pitch.

Play Ball:

“Play Ball” is the directive of the game official for playing action to begin or resume.

Quick Pitch:

A Quick Pitch is an illegal pitch where the pitcher fails to pause on the pitcher's plate to take or simulate taking a signal in an effort to put the batter off balance or off guard with their timing.

Restriction to the dugout/bench:

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A “Restriction” is a step in the conduct process used to indicate a participant has been confined to the dugout/bench area for the duration of the game.

Participants that have been restricted are silent spectators who should not be heard from during the remainder of the contest and shall not be permitted to leave the dugout/bench area unless allowed unto the playing field by game officials to tend to an injured player.

Runner:

A Runner is an offensive player who has reached first base, advancing, touching, or returning to a base previously occupied.

A retired runner is an offensive player who has legally scored or who has been put out.

Short-Handed:

Short-Handed refers to a team batting with less batters than originally presented on the team's lineup card.

A team may not start or continue a game with less than 8 batters.

Slap Hit:

A Slap Hit is an attempt to hit a batted ball using an abrupt short, chopping or striking motion as opposed to a traditional full swing.

A foul ball caused by a slap hit is treated the same as any foul ball on a traditional swing.

Slide:

A legal slide may be either head first or feet first. If the runner elects to slide head first her torso and/or arms must be on the ground prior to contact a defender. If the runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground.

Any time a runner slides the runner shall be within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot when the slide is complete.

Any time a runner elects to slide they must do so legally. A slide shall be illegal if:

1. The runner implements a rolling or cross-body slide into a fielder
2. The runner's raised leg is higher the the fielder's knee when the fielder is standing
3. The runner goes beyond the base and makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder
4. The runner kicks or slashes a fielder with either leg
5. The runner attempts to injure a fielder

Starting Players:

Starting Players are those listed in a traditional lineup as the first 9, 10, or 11 players (with/or without the incorporation of the DP/Flex and up to two extra players designated as EP's) presented to and accepted by game officials.

If a team utilizes the roster batting option all player listed on the lineup are classified as starting players.

Strike:

The term “Strike” is used to categorize a pitch that enters the strike zone without first contacting the ground or is swung at by the batter and missed.

A “Strike Out” is the result of a third strike being charged to a batter resulting in an out.

Strike Zone:

The Strike Zone is the area above home plate between the batter's forward armpit and the top of her knees when she assumes her natural batting stance. Any portion of the ball traveling through the strike zone shall be deemed a strike.

Substitute:

A Substitute is an eligible player not listed as a one of the starting players and who may replace a starting player legally.

An Illegal Substitute is a player that enters or re-enters the game without the legal eligibility to do so.

An Unreported Substitute is a player who has a legal right and eligibility to enter/participate in the game but has participated in the game prior to being reported to game officials. Any substitution must be reported to game officials.

Courtesy Runners are not classified as substitutes, but must be appropriately reported to game officials.

Tag/Tag Out:

A Tag or Tag Out is the act of retiring a runner who is not in contact with a base by contacting the runner with a live ball in secure possession in the glove or hand of a defensive player. A runner may not deliberately cause the defensive player to lose possession of the ball.

If the defensive player drops or bobbles the ball after touching the runner and the runner did not demonstrate a deliberate act to cause the drop or bobble then the defensive player will be deemed to not have secure possession for the tag.

Throw:

A Throw is the voluntary action of a defensive player losing possession of the ball excluding a pitch.

Time/Time Out:

“Time” is a verbal announcement by game officials to suspend play. The verbal announcement results in the ball becoming dead.

Time at Bat:

The Time at Bat is the interval beginning when a batter enters the batter's box and continues until the batter is put out or becomes a batter-runner.

Timing Play:

A Timing Play can occur when the last out of an inning does not come from a force out and the time the out is recorded will determine if a run is allowed to score. If a runner contacts home plate prior to the last out of an inning which is not a force out then a run shall score. If a runner contacts home plate after the last out is recorded then no run shall score.

Walk:

A Walk occurs when a batter is pitched four pitches that do not enter the strike zone and the batter is awarded first base.

Intentional Walk is a request made to the plate official by the pitcher, catcher, or defensive coach to award the batter first base. The intentional walk request can be made either before or during an at bat.