The World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) has released the official rules for Softball Fast Pitch 2022-2025, the new standards that will govern the game of fast softball for the next four years. The new softball rules are effective immediately. Rains replace packages. Precipitation eliminates the possibility of a game being played. So if your team has announced a pre-planned defeat, but the game ends with rain, your planned loss will not be recorded and there will be no penalties. Similarly, teams that show up without at least 8 players on the field will still not be charged with a flat rate if the match is rainy. Team managers will receive an email or text message from league organizers no later than 4:45 p.m. in the afternoon of the game. Precipitation will be reported by the league organizer if possible. The result of a set of rules is the score at the end of the last even innings completed before the game is called. Goalkeepers should be named at the beginning of the game. Teams must reach an agreement at the end of the match and ideally between innings.

It is the responsibility of both teams to return the results lists with the result of the match to the organizers after each match. The temporary runner rule added the pitcher for which a temporary runner can be used when on base with two outings. If an incorrect temporary runner is used, the wrong runner will be called after a proper call from the defense. It is forbidden to eat, drink or smoke on the playground. The World Softball Federation`s slow throw rules apply, unless otherwise stated below. Some of the changes to the rules are clarifications and/or inclusions for definition purposes only. To see all changes to the rules, please click here. The player who struck last in the first set of tiebreaker finished second in goal. This ranking continues until a team scores more points at the end of even rounds.

A player may also wear one or two heated sleeves (compression sleeves), provided that each has the same monochrome as the uniform team color and that the color matches any other undershirt worn by a player on that team. Referees/team managers must agree on the limits of the dead ball before the start of the match. The price for a “loose throw” that moves into dead ball territory (i.e. a throw that is not intended to send a runner into retirement) is just a base. The official softball rulebook was first introduced in 2017. The Spanish version of the Fastpitch Rulebook and Slowpitch Rulebook will be available in the coming days. League organizers will also post on Facebook until 4:45 p.m. if games are canceled. The stroke alignment must contain at least five women (it is allowed to beat more women than men, but not the other way around).

Males and females must strike alternately. All players must be registered individually on the main registration sheet, which must be completed and returned by the end of November. Players must also be on the scoresheet returned after each match. Once a player has decided to play for a team, he cannot play in a championship match with another team unless that team`s opponent accepts the agreement. An exception is if the player has officially left one team and joined another and has notified the league in writing. Players who do not belong to a New Zealand Slowpitch league or who have not been members in the past are not eligible to participate in play-off matches. Officially, teams can start a game with 8 players, three of whom must be women or non-binaries, but the offended team has the right to list the missing players in the order of hitters and take an “out” when the missing player arrives at the racket. The teams concerned and the referee must formally agree on changes to this rule before the start of the match. For female players, caps, visors and headbands are optional, and players are free to choose which one they want to wear, provided all players wear the same color.

Unless there is a formal cancellation notice, players must assume that the games are in progress. Teams that, warned in advance, continue to violate the uniform rule risk losing the match(s). The WBSC & Softball NZ rulebook has been updated for the 2022-2025 period and will be introduced for the 2022-23 season. Among the main changes introduced in the new rulebook is the addition of a penalty for putting a bad runner at second base in a tiebreaker inning. In case of an appropriate objection from the defensive team for a playground, they are called. The opposition can be filed at any time on the basis. Home runs reported by the umpire do not need to be made. Defeat and all players in the base can simply return to the “Dugout”. At least two players are required at each position in the infield and outfield. If a batter is considered to have run intentionally (four consecutive balls thrown at the batter), he is given a second base. This rule only applies to Division One teams, but the teams involved and the referee may agree to waive this rule before the start of the match.

Pushing in each base is allowed as long as the game is not affected. The 2nd and 3rd bases should not be invaded (the runner is at risk and can be removed). The run-ahead rule must be applied, and the official score is at the time the rule is invoked. (Teams can continue playing). A good quality match ball must be provided for all matches by the home team (a new ball will be provided by the league before the start of the season). The tied round-robin and playoff games enter an extra set with a tiebreaker. A same-sex replacement baserunner is allowed for an injured hitter/baserunner as long as the hitter/baserunner receives (at least) first base on his or her own. The courtesy runner must be the last person to hit in the innings in progress. Games cancelled due to dimming, bad weather, etc. will be repeated from the beginning, unless: League management will attempt to assign trained referees for random draws from time to time to help new teams understand the rules.

Referees are also assigned to semi-finals and finals. Referees must be paid by the beneficiary teams. Starters and alternates can participate in round-robin games as often as they wish. Hard copies can be purchased for $11 (+ mail) by emailing Eugene Gilbert at Softball NZ.