Modified illegally batted ball rule proposed in softball

The NCAA Softball Rules Committee, during its meeting this week in Indianapolis, proposed that if a hitter has one foot completely out of the batter's box or stepping on the plate while contacting a pitch, an immediate dead ball would be called.

In this scenario, the batter would be ruled out, and all runners would return to the base they were occupying at the time of the pitch. 

Video review challenges could also be made to see whether a batter illegally hit a pitch with a foot outside the batter's box. However, if an umpire makes the call on the field that a batter had a foot outside of the batter's box at the time of contact, it could not be reviewed, and all runners would remain at the base they were occupying. 

All rule proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel before becoming official. The panel is scheduled to discuss softball rules recommendations Aug. 13. 

Currently, if any part of a hitter's body is out of the batter's box, a delayed dead ball is signaled. The coach of the defensive team can choose either the result of the play or the standard effect for illegal contact, which is a strike on the batter and all base runners having to return to the base legally occupied at the time of the pitch. If the standard effect for illegal contact is chosen and it is the third strike, the batter is declared out.

Committee members recommended the change with the rationale that it will help umpires call this play with more consistency.

"The committee wanted to move away from the delayed dead ball and the restrictive nature of a partial foot out of the box being illegal. This change brings our batter's box rule in line with all other softball and baseball rule codes," said Tina Phillips, softball coach at Pittsburgh-Bradford and committee chair. 

Double first base

The rules committee proposed requiring a double first base to be implemented for the 2025-26 academic year for Division I and Division II competition. If approved, Division III implementation would be delayed until the 2026-27 academic year.

After a thorough discussion, committee members made the recommendation with the thought that it will better define a running lane between home plate and first base. This could help umpires make calls when deciding whether the offensive player interfered with a defensive player's ability to catch a throw.

"The double first base is also used at youth and international levels of softball," Phillips said. "So the committee believes the adjustment for the players should be a smooth transition. The players are coming in familiar with this rule."  

Video review

The committee recommended that if a video review challenge is used and the call on the field is changed, that team would retain its challenge. 

If a game goes into extra innings, all remaining challenges would carry over.

Other recommended tweaks to the video review system include:

• A video challenge would be allowed if interference (including collisions) is not called on the field and the ball remains live.
• Interference called on the field would not be reviewable, and all base runners would remain at the bases they were occupying. The exceptions to nonreviewable interference calls would be spectator and batter interference.
• A "no catch" call within the infield would be reviewable only if it results in the third out with runners on base or anytime with the batter/runner only. However, a catch call within the infield area is not reviewable at any time. 
• If video review is conducted on-site by the crew chief, the monitors should not be within any team area. At least one umpire should remain on the field during a video review.
• During a video review, the defensive team should remain on the field and could huddle or warm up. Offensive players could leave the batter's box, the bases and on-deck circle. However, once the umpire returns with the decision on the video review, both teams must be ready to play. If there is a defensive delay, a ball would be added to the count. If there is an offensive delay, a strike would be added to the count.

Other rules recommendations: 

• Proposed that one-way electronic communication devices may be used by offensive players. Communication could originate from the dugouts or coaches' boxes.
• Proposed that all protests be resolved during the game. Games would no longer be played "under protest" for postgame decision by the NCAA secretary-rules editor for softball.
• Proposed that once a play is under video review, replays of the play could be shown at any speed on the in-game video board.

Obstruction rule

During the meeting, committee members clarified the obstruction rule. 

Obstruction occurs when a defensive player, neither in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding a batted ball, impedes a 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. It can be intentional or unintentional.

It is obstruction when a defensive player, while not in possession of the ball, does one of the following: 

• Blocks any part of the leading edge of first, second or third base or home plate (as defined).
• Otherwise blocks the runner from advancing or returning to a base.

The defensive player is not considered obstructing if the player is in possession of the ball or if the movement or position of the defensive player did not impede or alter the runner's path to a base or home plate.

Notes: 

1. Once in possession of the ball, the defensive player can be positioned between the runner and the base/plate. 
2. Obstruction may be ruled even though there is no physical contact. 
3. Obstruction can occur on a force or tag play. 
4. Blocking the leading edge of the base constitutes obstruction unless the runner's ability to reach the base is not hindered.
5. If the base runner would have been out, regardless of the defensive player's movement or positioning, which had no effect on the play, the runner would remain out, and the obstruction would be ignored.

"By clarifying this rule, it allows our athletes to make softball plays," Phillips said. "We wanted to avoid the scenarios where someone is safe due to a technicality."