ASA vs NSA Rules

[obbay]

is there a difference?
we will be playing a 14U tournament next week and I don't know if there's a difference in the rules. The teams manager doesn't know either but he will be asking me about it.

 

[smddad]

ASA used the DP/Flex rule. NSA has a DH rule, which is very similar to the MLB DH rule. You can also use (2) EP or extra players. So if you have 12 girls on your team, you can bat 11 girls. One would play only defense and the other would hit for her.

ASA also mandates chinstraps on the helmets, NSA does not. Other than that, there is not much different.

If this is a typical friendly spring tournament where you are allowed to bat the lineup, you will find no differences.

 

[obbay]

Great! Thanks.

 

[BretMan]

If you were to make a point-by-point comparison between their rule books, you would find dozens of differences. To the casual observer, all they're going to see is generic "softball" being played. Most rule differences are things that won't come up or you'll probably never notice, like uniform requirements. Others might come up...you never know.

- Bat standards are different. NSA uses the 1.20 BBF standard. Both sanctions use a differnent approved bat list.

- In NSA, only the catcher and first baseman may wear a mitt. ASA allows a mitt to be used by any player.

- NSA requires 9 players to start a game, except for pool games which may start with 8. ASA allows a team to start with 8 players in any game.

- In ASA an unreported sub may at times, depending on when discovered, be called out or simply noted without penalty. In NSA unreported subs are considered to be illegal subs and are ejected from the game.

- For NSA, a starting or substitute pitcher must face at least one batter to the completion of the at-bat. No such requirement for ASA.

- NSA allows players who have left the game and have no more re-entires to be used as a courtesy runner. ASA does not.

- NSA allows the player who made the last recored out to be used as a courtesy runner. ASA does not.

- The game ending run rules-ahead rules are different. NSA is 12/10/8 after 3/4/5 innings. ASA is 15/12/8 after 3/4/5.

- Pitching: NSA the pitch begins when the hands are separated OR the pitcher makes any motion that is part of her delivery. ASA is when hands separate only.

- NSA prohibits tape on the pitcher's fingers or hand. ASA prohibits it only if judged distracting to the batter.

- In NSA a second charged conference in the same inning means that the pitcher must be removed. ASA does not have that rule.

- NSA, batter cannot carry bat and touch first base or they are out. No such rule in ASA.

- NSA does not have the same rule as ASA about batters remaining in the batter's box between pitches.

- They each have some differences on how obstruction is handled (ie: when the ball becomes dead, when the runner can be put out).

- In NSA a fake tag is an automatic ejection. Not so in ASA.

- They have differences in how base awards are determined on balls thrown out of play.

- They have different penalties for batter interference, depending on the number of outs and if third base is occupied and if the play is at the plate.

- They have some different rules covering the use of the double first base.

- For NSA a runner hit with a fair batted ball while in contact with her base- the ball is immediately dead. In ASA the ball may be either dead or live, depending on the location of the nearest fielder.

Well, you get the picture. This is just from a cursory scan of both rule books. But it does serve to illustrate that there are more than just a few minor differences.