Re: Approved ASA Rule Changes

>Old rule is safe because fielder concentrates on catching the
>ball and runner on getting around the fielder to the bag/plate.  New
>rule?  I fear many collisions with runners now steaming straight into
>the bag and fielders concentrating on catching the ball and moving
>into the bag at the same time--especially during transition while the
>players get used to the new way.
>
>Jerr.
>
>
 
To begin, it is not the runner's responsibility to find a way around a fielder
without the ball, but just the opposite.  You cannot compare baseball and
softball, different games with different philosophies and rules.

A good coach, and unfortunately there are not enough of them, will teach their
players how to make the tag properly.

I'm glad to see you are interested in watching the game of softball, we need
all the fans we can get.  However, I've been umpiring for 37 years, baseball
and softball, and I have witnessed quite of few violant collisions and injuries
due to plays which the old rule allowed the fielder to be where they were prior
to the collision.


Mike Rowe  
DASA UIC