If recent recommendations from the NCAA Softball Rules Committee are approved, bat-performance requirements could join new ball specifications as major changes in softball rules over the next two years.

The rules committee, which met in Indianapolis June 26-29, is recommending that all bats used in collegiate softball be approved by the Amateur Softball Association's bat certification program starting in 2002.

Each division's championships committee must approve the bat requirement.

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) established a testing program that verifies a maximum bat performance factor of 1.2. Bat models that comply with the standard are listed on the ASA Web site, and bats recently manufactured bear the ASA certification seal.

The current bat rule requires only that a bat be smooth, round, less than 38 ounces in weight and 34 inches in length. The committee believes that implementation of the ASA standard will set a baseline performance level for bats used in NCAA softball games. Since the collegiate softball market is small compared to the national market for softball bats, most of the bats being used by collegiate teams already have been approved through ASA certification. The committee will continue to evaluate the integrity of the game as it relates to bats to ensure that the bat-performance factor meets the needs of collegiate softball.

If approved, the bat certification requirement accompanies recently approved ball standards as significant changes on the horizon. The ball compression requirement, which the rules committee voted in last year, calls for a ball compression of 350 pounds (plus or minus 50 pounds) and will be in effect as of January 2002. The division championship groups already have approved that standard.

In other actions, the committee clarified the use of electronic equipment in softball. Any scouting information obtained from outside the dugout involving a current opponent may not be relayed to coaches, players or team personnel during the game. Statistical information may be entered into electronic equipment during the game and in the dugout but may not be accessed or retrieved during the game. Videotaping from the dugout is allowed, but team personnel shall not use television monitors or replay equipment during a contest. Any member in violation of either rule will be warned along with the head coach. If the violator does not comply immediately, the head coach will be ejected.

In addition, the committee clarified that a runner may not return to touch a missed base or a base left too soon on a caught fly ball if she is standing on the next base. A runner between two bases may return to the base she missed.

The committee also made several other rules changes, whcih are included in the accompanying box. A list of all editorial and major rules changes made during the committee's meeting will be mailed to coaches, and the new rules should be used for games played this fall. The 2001 rules book will be available in November and can be purchased by calling 888/388-9748.

Other highlights

In addition to the rules changes discussed in the accompanying article, the NCAA Softball Rules Committee made the following rules changes during its June 26-29 meeting in Indianapolis:

When a line on the playing field is intentionally removed by a defensive player, the batter is awarded a ball. The committee voted to add that a batter may not be intentionally walked by erasing lines.

If approved by each division's championships committee, a catcher's helmet must have the NOCSAE approval seal to be used in a game.

When a player intentionally removes her helmet while actively running the bases, the ball shall remain live, but the umpire shall signal delayed dead ball. This clarifies the action of the umpire in this situation.

Before each pitch is thrown, every infielder's and outfielder's feet should be within fair territory or touching the line. The previous rule stated that no part of the fielder's feet could be on or outside the lines.

The penalty for excessive defensive conferences will be changed to match the traditional penalty for excessive offensive conferences, which states that a team representative who defies an umpire and attempts to convene a second conference in one inning will be ejected.

Any hit after four and one-half innings that results in an eight-run lead by the home team shall be treated as a game-ending hit.

If a game is terminated and the home team has scored in the incomplete inning the same number of runs as the visiting team, a regulation tie game will be declared.

A coach may correct an inaccurate lineup card without penalty in the following situations: (a) when the defensive team is in violation but the player has not made a play; (b) after the offending player has made a play on defense after a pitch has been delivered to the following batter; or (c) before the pitcher and all infielders clearly have vacated their normal field positions and have left fair territory.

When an illegal player is the base runner situated on second base in the tiebreaker or as a pinch runner and a pitch has been thrown, the following action will be taken: (a) If the illegal player is on her original base when the violation is reported, she is out and ejected; (b) If the illegal player advances at least one base and before the next pitch is thrown, the illegal player is out and ejected, and any advance by other base runners is nullified; or (c) If the illegal player advances at least one base and a pitch is thrown following the advance, the illegal player is ejected, called out if on base, and advance by other runners stands.

If equipment interferes with a fair batted ball or with a batted foul ball that in the opinion of the umpire might have become fair, the batter-runner and each other runners is awarded three bases from the base legally occupied at the time of the pitch, but may advance further with liability to be put out.

The batter-runner may not step back toward home plate to avoid or delay a tag by a fielder. This is a wording change from "move to step" in order to clarify the inappropriate action of a batter-runner without misapplication of the rule for a head fake or similar backward movement.