June 7 Softball Memo
I hope this note finds your season going well. With all the spring sports finished, focusing only on softball for the rest of the summer is great. A few items have come up during the regular season that I will touch on in this memo.
Updated Regional Site Availabilities: An updated list of schools that have applied to host regional softball contests has been posted on the IGHSAU website and can be viewed here. In looking at the list, quite a few schools have not filled out the site availability form. If you wish to be considered a regional host, you must fill out the form in your Bound account. If you have applied, please double-check your dates and contact me if you need to make any changes.
Line-up Cards Available on Request: The IGHSAU has lineup cards available upon request. The lineup cards are free, but there are shipping charges: $5.00 for a package of 50 cards, $10 for 100, and $15.00 for 200. You may click here to order your lineup cards. If you are in the Des Moines area and would like to pick up a set of line-up cards or scoresheets at the IGHSAU office, feel free to pick them up (no charge for picking them up at our offices).
Coaches, Stay in the Coaching Box! All softball diamonds are marked with boxes for coaches to stand in. Coaches should not be outside the box while their team is on offense.
Lightning/Weather Delays: A couple of scenarios have come up with lightning and weather delays. The best source of guidance is on page 97 of the NFHS Softball Rule Book. The NFHS guidelines state the following:
“… when thunder is heard or lightning is seen*, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for at least 30 minutes and vacate the outdoor activity to the previously designated safer location immediately. Once play is suspended, wait at least 30 minutes until the last thunder is heard or lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play. Any subsequent thunder of lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin. “
“When independently validated lightning-detection devices or mobile phone apps are available, this technology could be used to assist in making a decision to suspend play if a lightning strike is noted to be within 10 miles of the event location. However, you should never depend on the reliability of these devices and, thus, hearing thunder or seeing lightning should always take precedence over information from a mobile app or lightning-detection device.”
The guidelines also say the following, which should also be taken into consideration
… “At night, under certain atmospheric conditions, lightning flashes may be seen from distant storms. In these cases, it may be safe to continue an event. If no thunder can be heard and the flashes are low on the horizon, the storm may not pose a threat. Independently verified lightning detection information would help eliminate any uncertainty."
Umpires have the final authority over when a game is suspended or called due to weather. However, this decision should be done with home game management and the coaches. If the home site has a designated person (in many cases, it is an athletic trainer) that oversees lightning and weather conditions, I recommend that individual introduce themselves to the umpires prior to the start of the contest so they know that someone is on site watching out for inclement weather. Coaches, your team is obligated to be at the diamond until a weather decision is made. Packing up and leaving because you don’t want to wait out a weather delay will result in your team forfeiting the contest.
Mercy Rule: The mercy rule is in place to end games when they get out of hand. A game can end if a team is up 12 runs after three innings or a 10-run lead after five innings. However, if a score gets out of hand (i.e. 20 runs after one inning), three innings must be played.
Time Limits on Weekend Tournaments: When a time limit is in place for a weekend tournament, games are only official once five innings are completed. If a game is at the 90-minute time limit and is only in the fourth inning, the game must continue until five innings (or 4.5 if the home team is leading) are completed (unless a team is ahead by 12 after three innings).
Media Box: As stated in the preseason memo, the Softball Advisory Committee recommended that chalking media boxes be discontinued. With the removal of the Iowa adaptation, the NFHS Rule Book Rule 1.1.7 states that media are prohibited from being in live ball territory. The Softball Casebook Situation to Rule 1.1.7 states that ".. home game management may designate an area for the media, but it must be in dead-ball territory.”
Regional Pairings Timeline: Regional softball pairings for all classes will be released the week of June 24th.
Thanks for all you do for the Iowa Girl. As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Jason Eslinger
