The Amateur Softball Association of America was founded in 1933 by Leo Fischer and Michael Pauley as a way to organize the recently founded sport of softball on a national level. The duo formalized their efforts by hosting a national tournament at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. From 1934 onward, the ASA has worked to develop the rules of the game. An appointed committee revisits the rules annually, including those on incomplete games, to make changes mandated by the membership body.
Regulation Game
The ASA defines a completed regulation game of softball as having seven full innings. However, the umpire can declare a game complete after five innings have been completed regardless of the score. Additionally, he can call a game completed if the second team to bat has scored more runs than the first by the end of the fourth inning. Anything less than these standards is considered an incomplete game.
Field Condition
Before the play of each game, the plate umpire must assess the quality of the playing field and ensure it is fitting with the standards laid out by the ASA. If the field is not found to be fitting for play, the game is incomplete and must be rescheduled. Any rescheduling must take place from the point that the game is deemed incomplete.
Protested Games
Teams may file protests over completed games in which they claim a violation of the ASA rules took place. If the umpire decides to uphold the protest, the previously completed game is considered incomplete and must be rescheduled. The ASA encourages teams to use the same team roster to finish the incomplete game, but the umpire will not issue a penalty if the team makes substitutions. The only time a player is banned from a rescheduled game he previously played in is if he was banned from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Threat to Players or Patrons
The umpire has the right to stop a game at any time due to weather, darkness, fire or anything else that can present a danger to the players or patrons. A called game follows the same rules for regulation play, namely that if a clear winner is not determined after four complete innings the game must resume later from its stopping point to be completed. If a regulation game is stopped with innings remaining and the score is tied, it is also incomplete and the teams will reschedule.
Member Comments