Bunt Scoring & Defensive Errors: Understanding the Rules

QuestionHow would you score a bunt that was picked cleanly by 3rd baseman but no play was made due to mental error of 2nd baseman forgetting to cover 1st b

Softball Batting Strategy: Illegal Blocking & Umpire Calls

QuestionIve noticed lately in 14yr and younger playing that coaches have there player in girls softball squatting lower and placing there heads and shoulde

Softball Tag-Up Force Out Rule: ASA Explanation & Clarification

QuestionQUESTION: I have read the ASA rules and I cant find a direct answer to this question.  Can you direct me to the rule? There was a base runner

Legal Implications of the Hip-Catapult Pitch: A Former Athlete's Inquiry

Questioni played fastpitch for the us navy in 1965-68. we played played teams from all over the world. in 1966 we played against the king and his court wi

Why are Face Masks Required on Softball Batting Helmets?

QuestionI am doing a report for school and wondering why cages masks are now in forced on batting helmets, on an 18-and under softball team.   AnswerH

Choosing the Right Catchers Mitt for Youth Baseball

QuestionMy daughter is ten yrs old and is catching in a ten and under league.  I want to purchase her a youth catchers mitt and have found many on lin

Base Running Rule: Sacrifice Bunt, Fielder's Choice, or Hit?

QuestionWith runners on first and second no outs the batter given the bunt sign to advance the runners.  She bunts down the third base line.  The

Softball Base Running Rule: Can You Steal Home After an Umpire's Dead Ball Call?

QuestionHi. I start varsity on a high school softball team in Ohio. Here was the situation: I was on 3rd base,no one else was on base, and there were no ou

Fastpitch Softball: Second Baseman Coverage on Stolen Base Plays - Expert Coaching Advice

QuestionHey Mike I coach my daughters 14U fastpitch team and was wanting some reassurance I guess that I am correctly teaching these girls that in most ins

Softball Rules: Illegal Tagging & Runner's Path - Coach's Question

QuestionI am an 8 and under softball coach and had a strange situation today. we were on offense with a runner on second and third, my batter hits the ball

Softball Umpires: Understanding Foul Ball Rules & Common Mistakes

QuestionI started my first headcoach job for my little girl team saturday...the ump. were call foulballs fair.. let me explain.. if a ball was rolling 4 fe

Fastpitch vs. Modified Pitch for 10U Softball: A Coach's Perspective

QuestionHi I am one of the coaches of my daughter 10u modifed pitch team.  In this league we can pitch fastpitch or modifed(meaning underhanded). &nbs

Middle School Fast Pitch: Understanding the Dropped Third Strike & Base Occupancy Rules

QuestionRunner at first and third there is a dropped third strike. the batter runs to first. The officials confer and state that both base runners were off

Why is My Fastpitch Team Losing Leads? Causes & Solutions

QuestionI have a 14& under girls fastpitch team. I have a problem that they have been going flat and losing games that they are ahead in by more than 4 run

HS Fastpitch: Drop Step Bunt & Batter's Box Rule - Umpire Call Question

QuestionBatter in batters box performs a drop step bunt for a hit. Bunt is successful and batter reaches 1B safely, only to be called out by the umpire. Um

Baseball Play Analysis: Base Runner Legality & Out/Safe Determination

QuestionRunners on second and third with one out.  Ball was batted into play and the runners each begin to advance.  The SS throws directly to ho

Baseball/Softball Rule Question: Appealing Runs & Base Touching

Questionthe bases are loaded they have a 7 run per inning rule so the batter is walked forcing in the 7th run the batter touches first the runner from thir

Softball Ball Size and Distance: Understanding Compression & Core Size

QuestionQUESTION: My 7-year-old plays in a league w/ 11-inch softballs (Dudley Thunder Heat). Shes been practicing at home with 12-inch balls (Worth Dream

Base Stealing Rules in Fastpitch Softball: A Rulebook Review

QuestionQUESTION: Hi Mark, I had a situation come up in a game Friday (girls 14U fastpitch)that I question... We had 2 new blues and they did a pretty fair

Softball Construction & Pitching Preferences: Insights from Experts

QuestionHi, Im doing a science report on how softballs are made and why theyre made the way they are, and I was wondering if there was a favorite type of b