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NOW!
Happy New Year to all and I wish you a fabulous 2013! This month is the beginning of a new competitive season and it is a time full of anticipation, excitement, and hard work to prepare for success in 2013. I love going to the gym and listen to all the new goals and changes that people are putting on their list of thing to do. Much of the time, many of these great ambitions are an afterthought by March!
Preparing to make changes in your life or preparing for the upcoming season requires some discipline and a great understanding of the task at hand. Being a process oriented person, the one thing that helps me is to not get too ahead of myself! Yes, the easiest way to gain success is to take care of today and not worry about yesterday or tomorrow. Great athletes and successful people are gifted to be able to focus on the now! The now is nothing more than giving your energy and focus on the task at hand with no distractions or thoughts about other things. A good example would be having dinner with your boyfriend or spouse and giving them 100% of your attention rather than being there physically but thinking about everything you need to do etc. I know the feeling because I find myself always thinking about what I need to do to make my team better - morning, noon and night! Our ability to focus on the moment can become a huge asset to your performance. If you think about it, the only thing that you really have control over is what you are doing at the present moment. As we approach moments down the road, our ability to control those things will happen but do not let what you cannot control interfere with what you are trying to accomplish today.
If we look at history, any successful person whether it is an athlete, coach, or CEO, the main ingredient of their success was their ability to work towards maximizing their potential and personal best. The prize at the end of the rainbow was the result of committing to the daily process and doing things the right way on a daily basis. The athletic arena will provide us all with tremendous ups and downs throughout the process and ultimately our season will come down to a moment in time where we must be willing to prepare for not knowing whether all the factors will line up on our side. Ultimately, we must use this entire process to shape who we will become in life! Success sometimes depends on the actions and willingness of others - after all, there is no such thing as a one man band (except entertainment!) We will all rely on others to reach our personal potential and the following paragraph from a newsletter I receive from Brian M. Cain, Peak Performance Coach, summarizes to me what truly is a key factor in personal growth.
"As you move forward this season, remember that what happens inside of you is more important than what happens to you or around you. You can control your attitude on the journey, and you have no control over the actions and attitudes of others. You can influence them only, and you need to keep your focus on what you can control: you and your performance within the framework of the team. You can control what you put on your calendar, but you can't control today's circumstances. The majority of fear and stress that people experience in life is most often from things they can do nothing about."
Until next month,
Coach Candrea -
Equipment for Sale
We have the the following items for sale.
Flavored Mouth Guards.
New and Used Softballs
Softball Buckets with cushioned top.
If interested in purchasing any of these products or would like more information please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). -
2013 Rule Changes with Comments
NOTE: All changes below are EFFECTIVE January 1, 2013 unless otherwise noted.
Rule 2 Section 1 Table: The pitching distance for Girls Junior Olympic 14 and Under
A/B classification of play shall be 43 feet.
Comment: Allows for Girls 14U Junior Olympic Fast Pitch to pitch from the same
distance as the Girls 16U and 18U Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Classifications of
play.
Rule 3 Section 1A [1]: The Official bat must bear either the ASA 2000 Certification
Mark, the ASA 2004 Certification Mark or the ASA 2013 Certification Mark.
Comment: This adds an additional Certification Mark to the list of ASA
Certification Marks allowed on ASA approved bats.
Rule 3 Section 1A [4]: Bats bearing the ASA 2013 Certification Mark are allowed in
Slow Pitch Only.
Comment: Clarifies bats with the new ASA 2013 Certification Mark are only
allowed in the game of Slow Pitch.
Rule 3 Section 3E [3]: EFFECTIVE in 2014 The 52/300 12 inch ball will be the only
12” ball allowed in Men’s Adult Slow Pitch, Men’s Co-ed, Men’s Master’s Slow Pitch and
Junior Olympic Boys Slow Pitch, with the exception of Seniors.
Comments: Removes the 44/375 12” ball as an approved ball for all Men’s Adult
Slow Pitch, Men’s Co-ed, Men’s Master’s Slow Pitch and Junior Olympic Boys
Slow Pitch.
Rule 3 Section 6A [2]: (Female Fast Pitch and all Slow Pitch) Ball caps and visors are
optional for players. If worn, they may be mixed, but must be worn properly…..
Comment: Removes headbands from the list of headwear regulated by uniform
rule. Headbands can still be properly worn on the head and allows them to be
mixed colors if worn.
Rule 3 Section 6A [2] EXCEPTION: Adult Slow Pitch, caps and visors may be mixed
and must be the same color(s) as the team uniform but do not have to be alike in color.
Comment: Allows for caps and visors worn by a team to be mixed in color as
long as the cap or visor matches a color of the uniform.
Rule 3 Section 6G EXCEPTION: Junior Olympic Fast Pitch 10U, 12U, and Junior
Olympic Slow Pitch, Co-ed Slow Pitch, and Senior Slow Pitch Play: No metal cleats. No
metal spikes nor hard plastic or polyurethane spikes similar to metal sole and heel
plates are allowed.
Comments: Allows for Girls Junior Olympic Fast Pitch 14U A/B Classifications of
play to wear metal cleats.
Rule 3 Section 7B: The National Championship UIC, Assistant UIC or Staff has the
right to remove any and all equipment not meeting Rule 3 including bats and helmets,
through pregame inspection, bat testing or during a game. Removed equipment will be
marked properly with the name of the team and/or player and will be returned after the
team’s final game of the Championship. The equipment will be securely stored by the
Championship Committee until returned to the team and/or player.
Comment: Documents a procedure for removing and storing equipment not
meeting Rule 3 of the ASA Rule Book.
Rule 4 Section 6C [2]: When an unreported substitute is discovered while at bat.
EFFECT: The unreported substitute is officially in the game and assumes the ball and
strike count. All action stands.
Comment: Clarifies the EFFECT of the Unreported Substitute Rule when the
unreported substitute is discovered while still at bat.
Rule 5 Section 1: Prior to the start of all games, the choice of which team will bat first
or last in the inning shall be decided by a coin flip.
Comment: Clarifies that a coin flip is required before the game.
Rule 5 Section 9A [2]: Modified Pitch, 15 after three innings, 12 after four innings, and
10 after 5 innings.
Comments: Adds a run ahead rule after four innings to the Modified game.
Rule 5 Section 9C: (Men’s Senior Slow Pitch Only) All age groups will have a
maximum number of runs allowed per inning except for the seventh inning, the last
inning of a time limit game or any extra inning. The Major will have a maximum of 7 runs
and the AAA & AA Divisions will have a maximum of 5 runs. The seventh inning, the last
inning of a time limit game or any extra innings will have unlimited runs allowed.
Comment: Institutes a runs allowed per inning rule except in the 7th inning, the
last inning of a time limit game or any extra innings in Men’s Senior Slow Pitch
Classifications of play.
Rule 5 Section 12: Dugout Conduct:
a) Coaches, players, substitutes, and other bench personnel shall not be outside the
designated bench, dugout/team area except when the rules allow or it is justified.
b) Adult: Participants may not smoke or use alcohol beverages inside the dugout or
on the playing field.
c) Junior Olympic Only: The use of alcoholic beverages or tobacco product is
prohibited at all Junior Olympic Championships.
EFFECT: The first offense is a team warning. Any repeat offense shall result in the
ejection of that team member.
Comment: Better defines Dugout Conduct in the ASA Rule Book.
Rule 6 Section 1C [1] FP: (Male and Junior Olympic Boys) The pitcher shall take a
position with their pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and their non pivot foot in
contact with it behind the pitcher’s plate.
Comment: Allows Junior Olympic Boys Classifications of play to pitch by the
Men’s Fast Pitch pitching rule by starting with both or one foot on the pitcher’s
plate.
Rule 6 Section 1E [1]: FP (Male and JO Boys) A backward step may be taken before,
simultaneous with or after the hands are brought together. The pivot foot must remain in
contact with the pitcher’s plate at all times prior to the forward step.
Comment: Clarifies that Boys Junior Olympic Classifications of play can step
back with the non pivot foot like the Men’s Fast Pitch pitching rule.
Rule 6 Section 3H: FP (Men’s & Junior Olympic Boys Fast Pitch) In the act of
delivering the ball, the pitcher must take one step with the non-pivot foot, simultaneous
with the release of the ball. The step must be forward toward the batter. It is not a step if
the pitcher slides the pivot foot across the pitcher’s plate toward the batter, or if the pivot
foot turns or slides in order to push off the pitcher’s plate, provided contact is maintained
with the plate. Raising the foot off of the pitching plate and returning it to the plate
creates a rocking motion and is an illegal act.
Comment: Allows for the Junior Olympic Boys Classifications of play to step
outside the 24” width of the pitcher’s plate during the delivery of the pitch like the
Men’s Fast Pitch pitching rule.
Rule 6 Section 3L: FP (Men’s and Junior Olympic Boys) Pushing off and dragging the
pivot foot in contact with the ground, or if both feet are in the air, having the toes of the
pivot foot in the downward direction is required.
Comment: Allows for the Junior Olympic Boys Classifications of play to leap
during the delivery of the pitch like the Men’s Fast Pitch pitching rule.
Rule 6 Section 1E MP: The pitcher shall bring the hands together for not less than one
second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing it, and both feet must remain in
contact with the pitching plate at all times prior to the forward step.
Comment: Aligns the rule with fast pitch so that the pitcher only needs to bring
the hands together not hold the ball in both hands.
Rule 7 Section 2D [2]: If batting order is discovered after the incorrect batter has
completed a turn at bat:
a. The improper batter’s time at bat is negated.
b. The player who should have batted is out.
c. Any advancement or score of a runner as a result of the improper batter is
negated. Runners not called out must return to the last base occupied at the time of
the pitch. Any runner, who is called out prior to the discovery of the infraction,
remains out
d. The next batter is the player whose name follows that of the player called out for
failing to bat.
EXCEPTION: (Co-ed Only) If the incorrect batter is called out as a result of their
time at bat, and is scheduled to be the proper batter, skip that player and the next
person in the line-up will be the batter.
Comment: Rewords the rule so if the Batter-Runner is called out that out applies
to the batter who should have batted. All outs made by runners are still out. If the
incorrect batter makes and out and is the next legal batter they simply bat again.
The old rule of all out stands including the batter runner and skipping the batter if
they make an out and they are the next legal batter, still applies to the game of
Co-ed.
Rule 7 Section 6B: When a batter enters the batter’s box with or is discovered using an
altered or non-approved bat. EFFECT: The batter shall be ejected from the game, and
if in a tournament may be subject to future penalties by the protest committee.
Comment: Establishes an appeal process for players who have used an altered
or non approved bat before possibly being ejected for the entire Championship. -
Looking for 2013 Tournament Hosts
Mass. ASA Softball is looking for Cities, Towns, and/or Leagues wanting to host the 2013 Mass. State Championships. Please contact Joe Alfonse at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details.
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Sliding Rule
To All:
We’d like to clarify a rule in ASA play. There is NO REQUIREMENT to either slide, or that head first sliding constitutes an out (or ejection). The ASA rule book is very clear and easily read in terms of our rules. We also have over 40 pages devoted just to player safety as well. Please take a few moments to read your team or umpire rule book to clearly understand this rule.
Regards,
Jeff Amaral
Umpire in Chief
Mass. ASA
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Boston Championship Results
Thank you to all the teams that attended the 2012 Boston Championships. Here are the winners of each division.
U12 - Hurricanes
U14 - Rapid Fire
U16 – Raiders
U18 - Smackdown
Congratulations to all of you.
