Page 392 - Revised Unified Sports Curriculum electronic version Rev. 8.1_2

SOFTBALL

SPORT RULES

A fielder about to catch a fly ball, or
A fly ball that a defensive player is able to catch, or
A fair ball ground ball, or
A fielder about to field or catch a thrown ball, or
A fielder about to throw a ball, or
A ball thrown by a fielder.
Effect: The ball is dead and runners may advance to the base or bases they would have
reached, in the umpire's judgment, had the interference not occurred.
When a ball is lodged in:
Umpire gear or clothing, or
In offensive player’s clothing.
Effect: The ball is dead and the runners are advanced to the base or bases they would have
reached, in the umpire’s judgment, had the ball not been lodged.
A Runner Must Return to His Base
A runner must return to his base, but need not touch the intervening bases:
When a batted ball is declared foul.
When the umpire declares the ball to have been illegally batted.
When a batter-runner is called out for interference.
When the on-deck batter, or any other non-playing team member, creates interference.
When, with less than two out and a runner on first base, a fielder intentionally drops a fair fly
ball (including a line drive or a bunt) that could be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort,
after it is controlled with a hand or a glove.
Note: If an infield fly is ruled, it has precedence over an intentionally dropped ball.
Effect: The ball is dead and he must return, without liability to be put out, to the last base
legally held at the time of the pitch, unless forced to advance because the batter became a
batter-runner
When a batter, or runner, is called out for interference.
Effect: The ball is dead and he must return, without liability to be put out, to the last base
legally held at the time of the interference, unless forced to advance because the batter
became a batter-runner.
When a runner steals a base. Under no conditions is a runner permitted to steal a base when
a pitched ball is not batted. The runner must return to his base.
Effect: Base stealing is not allowed.
The Runner is Out
When, while running to any base in regular or reverse order, he runs more than 0.91m (3 ft)
from the base path to avoid being touched by the ball in the hand(s) of a fielder.
When, while the ball is in play and he is not in contact with a base, he is legally touched with
the ball in the hand(s) of a fielder.
When, on a force play, a fielder
While holding the ball, contacts the base to which the runner is forced to advance.
Touches the ball to the base before the runner reaches the base.
Tags the runner before he reaches the base.

37 VERSION: June 2018
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