Oklahoma Amateur Softball Association Coach Pitch Rules
- Softball rules vary depending on organization.softball image by Steve Brase from Fotolia.com
The Oklahoma Amateur Softball Association was founded in 1933, and has developed into the strongest softball organization in the country. In 1978, the United States Olympic Committee named ASA , based in Oklahoma City, the National Governing Body of Softball. The rules vary in each organization, and coach pitch is one of the many different ones in the ASA. - Each softball team must have nine players on the field at all times. The bases must be sixty five feet apart and the pitcher's mound must be fifty feet from home plate. The field team's ultimate goal is to keep the batting team from scoring. There are three ways the fielding team can accomplish this, such as striking the batter out, catching a fly ball, or tagging the runner between two bases. At no time during the game can a fielder cause inappropriate physical harm to a batter or runner. Such actions will place the guilty player in danger of expulsion from the game.
- In Oklahoma, bats can be no longer than 34 inches.girl up to bat in softball game image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
The Oklahoma Amateur Softball Association requires the use of wood or aluminum bats that are no longer than 34 inches nor weigh more than 38 ounces. The visiting team always bats first. The batting team's goal is to score as many runs as they can within the inning. To achieve a hit, the batter must make contact with the ball and have it fall within the playing field without being caught, all the while making it safely to the base. To score a run, the player must touch all four bases of the diamond without being tagged or forced out. - In coach pitch softball, the coach must throw the ball underhanded, while arcing the ball upward, and having it come down within the strike zone. If the ball hits the player at any spot on her body, she is granted a walk, and proceeds to first base. If the coach does not place the ball within the strike zone four times, the player is also granted a walk. If the coach places the ball in the strike zone three times without the batter making a hit, an out is called and the batter must take her place in the dugout.
- Effective on the opening game in 2010, the following changes must be administered during each softball game. To allow for more accurate foul/fair calls on ground balls, the Double Base rule has been placed in effect, where half of the base is white and the half of the base nearest the foul line is a contrasting color. The contrasting color represents foul territory, and the white color represents fair territory.
