2025 USA Softball-Rule 1:
Definitions
altered bat - answer when the physical structure of a legal bat has
been changed
appeal play - answer a play on a rule violation on which an umpire
may not make a decision until requested by a manager, coach, or
player
ball compression - answer the load force, in pounds, required to
compress a softball .250 inches when measured in accordance with
the ASTM test method for measuring compression-displacement of
softballs
ball cor - answer the coefficient of restitution of a softball when
measured in accordance with the ASTM method for measuring
coefficient of restitution of softballs
base on balls - answer permits a batter to gain first base when four
pitches are judged to be out of the strike zone
base line - answer an imaginary line directly between bases
base path - answer a line directly between a base and the runner's
position at the time a defensive player is attempting to tag that
runner
batted ball - answer any pitched ball that hits the bat or is hit by the
bat and lands either in fair territory or foul territory
, batter's box - answer the area to which the batter is restricted when
batting
batter-runner - answer a player who has completed a turn at bat but
has not yet been put out or reached first base
batting order - answer the official listing of offensive players in
which they bat
blocked ball - answer a batted, pitched, or thrown ball that is
touched, stopped, or handled by a person not engaged in the game,
or which touches loose equipment or any object that is not part of
the official equipment or official playing area
blood rule - answer refers to a player, coach, or umpire who is
bleeding or who has blood on their uniform and treatment is
required
bunt - answer a pitched ball that is intentionally tapped with the
bat, slowly, within the infield
catch - answer a catch is a legally caught ball, which occurs when
the field catches a batted, pitched, or thrown ball with the hand(s)
or glove/mitt
1) to establish a valid catch, the field shall hold the ball for a long
enough to prove control of it and/or that release of the ball is
voluntary
2) if the ball is merely held in the fielders arm(s) or prevented from
dropping to the ground by some part of the fielders body,
equipment, or clothing, the catch is not completed until the ball is in
the grasp of the fielder's hand(s) or glove/mitt
3) the fielder's feet must be within the field of play, touching the
"out of play" line, or in the air after leaving live ball territory in
order to have a valid catch. A player who is "out of play" and returns
Definitions
altered bat - answer when the physical structure of a legal bat has
been changed
appeal play - answer a play on a rule violation on which an umpire
may not make a decision until requested by a manager, coach, or
player
ball compression - answer the load force, in pounds, required to
compress a softball .250 inches when measured in accordance with
the ASTM test method for measuring compression-displacement of
softballs
ball cor - answer the coefficient of restitution of a softball when
measured in accordance with the ASTM method for measuring
coefficient of restitution of softballs
base on balls - answer permits a batter to gain first base when four
pitches are judged to be out of the strike zone
base line - answer an imaginary line directly between bases
base path - answer a line directly between a base and the runner's
position at the time a defensive player is attempting to tag that
runner
batted ball - answer any pitched ball that hits the bat or is hit by the
bat and lands either in fair territory or foul territory
, batter's box - answer the area to which the batter is restricted when
batting
batter-runner - answer a player who has completed a turn at bat but
has not yet been put out or reached first base
batting order - answer the official listing of offensive players in
which they bat
blocked ball - answer a batted, pitched, or thrown ball that is
touched, stopped, or handled by a person not engaged in the game,
or which touches loose equipment or any object that is not part of
the official equipment or official playing area
blood rule - answer refers to a player, coach, or umpire who is
bleeding or who has blood on their uniform and treatment is
required
bunt - answer a pitched ball that is intentionally tapped with the
bat, slowly, within the infield
catch - answer a catch is a legally caught ball, which occurs when
the field catches a batted, pitched, or thrown ball with the hand(s)
or glove/mitt
1) to establish a valid catch, the field shall hold the ball for a long
enough to prove control of it and/or that release of the ball is
voluntary
2) if the ball is merely held in the fielders arm(s) or prevented from
dropping to the ground by some part of the fielders body,
equipment, or clothing, the catch is not completed until the ball is in
the grasp of the fielder's hand(s) or glove/mitt
3) the fielder's feet must be within the field of play, touching the
"out of play" line, or in the air after leaving live ball territory in
order to have a valid catch. A player who is "out of play" and returns
