USSSA - SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL

2004 UMPIRE TEST

The purpose of this test is not to confuse or trick you, the umpire, but to help you better understand the rules as they are written and interpreted.

Our goal is to now provide a new umpire test each year that will include some different questions in addition to questions on new rules. Some may be repeated, however, we will try to keep the test fresh and interesting. Please feel free to send any of your questions to be reviewed and possibly added to the test in future years. Your comments, whether pro or con, will be greatly appreciated. Please send all correspondence to Rick Robertson, USSSA National Slow Pitch Umpire-In-Chief at brusssa@bellsouth.net.

Good luck and may we all learn from these questions so that we can better administer the rules of the game we umpire.

1. Runner on 1^st base and nobody out. Batter hits a hard line drive that hits the runner standing on 1^st base in fair territory and bounces to the second baseman who throws to the shortstop at 2^nd base for an out and then on to 1^st base for an out. You make the correct call.

a) Runner out at first for being hit with the batted ball in fair territory. Batter awarded 1^st base.

b) Double play.

c) Dead ball. Batter out. Runner stays at 1^st.

d) None of the above.

2. Bases loaded, no outs. Batter hits an infield fly which is called by the plate umpire. However, the ball falls to the ground in fair territory. Runner on 3^rd advances towards the plate where the catcher now has the ball and steps on home to force the runner.

a) Base runner from 3^rd is out on the called infield fly.

b) Base runner on 3^rd is out on the force play at the plate.

c) Dead Ball, no runners may advance.

d) Base runner is safe as he needed to be tagged at the plate.

3. Bases loaded, no outs. Batter number # 7 is due up. However, batter # 8 gets into the batters box. With a count of 2 balls and 1 strike, the error is realized and the proper batter, # 7, assumes his position in the batters box.

a) On appeal by the defensive team, batter is out, the inning is over.

b) Legal move. The correct batter assumes the count of 2 balls and 1 strike.

c) Legal move. The correct batter restarts with a count of 0 and 0.

d) Don’t let batter #8 get in the batter’s box.

4. Runner on 1^st base and the batter hits a ball to the shortstop who throws wildly to 2^nd base, the ball going out of play. By the time the ball goes out of play, the runner on 1^st base has scored and the batter is on 3^rd base. What are the base awards and how many runs score?

a) Dead ball. Runner awarded home. Batter awarded 3^rd. Run scores

b) Dead ball. Runner awarded 3^rd. Batter awarded 2^nd. No run.

c) Dead ball. Runner awarded home. Batter awarded 2^nd. Run scores.

d) Dead ball. Runner awarded home. Batter awarded home. 2 runs score.

5. A substitute pitcher enters the game with a glove with the inside (pocket and fingers) painted white. Can this altered glove be used in USSSA competition?

a) Yes. Multi-colored gloves are legal.

b) No. Multi-colored gloves are not legal.

c) No. This is not the way the manufacturer produced the glove and in the umpire’s judgment the pitcher is only using it to distract the batter and is considered to be unsportsmanlike conduct.

d) Don’t know, therefore should be legal.

6. With runners on 1^st and 2^nd bases and no outs, the batter hits a high pop up ruled as an infield fly. However, the ball falls untouched to the ground and starts rolling towards the foul line. The 1^st baseman throws his glove at the ball hitting the ball while in fair territory. How many runs score and what are the base awards?

a) 2 runs score. Batter awarded 3^rd base.

b) 1 run scores. Runner at 1^st awarded 3^rd base. Batter awarded 2^nd base.

c) 2 runs score. Both runners are awarded home. Batter out on infield fly.

d) No runs score. Foul ball.

7. The offensive coach requests time for a charged conference. However, the coach has already been charged with a conference earlier in the inning. Can he have a 2^nd conference?

a) Yes. Second conferences are allowed but the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.

b) No. Only one offensive conference allowed per inning.

c) Yes. He didn’t use one the last inning so he gets two this inning.

d) No. Because the coach is trying to delay the game.

8. Runner on 1^st base with one out and the batter hits a towering pop up to the infield. The ball is lost in the sun and falls in fair territory. The batter, thinking that he has hit a routine out, goes and sits in the dugout area. The 1st baseman picks up the fair ball, now near the foul line, and goes into the dugout area to tag out the batter. How many out(s) and what bases are awarded if any?

a) 1 out. Runner awarded 3^rd. Batter is awarded 2^nd.

b) 2 outs. Runner awarded 3^rd. Batter out on the tag.

c) 2 outs. Runner remains on 1st. Batter out for entering dead ball area.

d) 2 outs. Runner remains on 1^st. Batter out on infield fly.

9. If the pitcher releases the ball from his glove, what is the correct call?

a) This is a legal pitch.

b) Throw the pitcher out for unsportsmanlike conduct.

c) Unfairly delivered pitch.

d) Illegal pitcher’s action.

10. With runners on 1^st and 3^rd bases and one out, the batter hits a line drive to the left fielder who catches the ball with a first baseman’s mitt. What is the correct call?

a) This is legal. Batter is out.

b) Remove the player and the glove from the game. Award the batter and all runners one base.

c) Remove the glove. Nullify the out. Award the batter and runners one base.

d) Batter is out. Tell the outfielder to get a different glove before the next inning.

11. The batter hits a line drive down the foul line and while he is heading for 2^nd base, he collides with the umpire between bases, falls down, and is tagged out. The offensive team claims umpire interference. What is the correct call?

a) No interference. Runner is out.

b) Interference. Runner awarded 2^nd base.

c) Interference. Runner awarded 1^st base.

d) Umpire should apologize and let the batter bat over.

12. Base umpire is standing behind the pitcher when the batter hits a line drive that strikes the umpire.

a) If the pitcher had no chance of catching the ball, the ball is dead and the batter is awarded 1^st base.

b) If the pitcher had a reasonable chance of catching the ball, the ball remains alive and all base runners are in jeopardy.

c) After an umpire deliberation, a “do-over” is declared.

d) Dead ball. Umpire obstruction. Batter and all runners awarded one base.

13. During an inning, the umpire notices that the on-deck batter is using a lead pipe as a warm-up device. What is the correct call?

a) Remove both the lead pipe and the batter from the game.

b) Pretend he didn’t see it.

c) Remove the lead pipe from the game because it is not a USSSA approved warm-up device.

d) Do nothing until it is protested by the defensive team.

14. With a runner on 2^nd base, the batter hits a single to center field. The fielder picks the ball up and throws home. As the runner rounds 3^rd base, the base coach reaches out and grabs the runner stopping him from advancing towards home. What is the correct call?

a) Award the runner home. Coach’s interference.

b) No call. Warn the coach not to touch the runners again.

c) Eject the coach because he should have known better than to touch the runner.

d) Runner is out for coach assisting runner.

15. After having been warned by the umpire, the pitcher delivers another pitch with excessive speed. What should the umpire do this time?

a) Warn him again not to pitch with excessive speed.

b) Remove the pitcher from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.

c) Eject the pitcher from the game for pitching with excessive speed.

d) Remove the pitcher from the pitching position for the remainder of that inning.

16. On his way to his position, the 2^nd baseman throws a warm up pitch from the pitching rubber. What should the umpire do?

a) Make him pitch one pitch to the first batter of the inning.

b) Do nothing. Pretend you didn’t see it.

c) Make him pitch to the first batter of the inning until his turn at bat is completed.

d) Make him pitch for the remainder of the game.

17. Batter hits a ball down the left field line and it hits the foul side of the chalk line. What should the umpire do?

a) Point toward fair territory. Say nothing.

b) Yell “Foul Ball.”

c) Yell “Dead Ball.” Allow a do over – too close to call.

d) Yell “Fair Ball” and point toward the infield.

18. Bases loaded with no outs. The batter hits a lazy fly ball to the left fielder who drops the ball. The frustrated outfielder picks the ball up but turns around and throws it over the fence into dead ball territory. How many runs score and what are the base awards?

a) 4 runs. Award the batter a home run.

b) 3 runs. In the umpire’s judgment that is where he would have gotten.

c) 2 runs. Batter and all runners are awarded two bases from the time of the throw.

d) Manager is given the choice of (a) (b) or (c) above depending on number of runs needed to win the game.

19. Bases loaded and no outs. The batter hits a long fly ball to the fence where the outfielder leaps high in the air catching the ball, but falls over the fence into dead ball area. The outfielder then throws the ball back into the infield where the confused runners are forced out at both 2^nd and 1^st bases ending the inning. What is the correct call?

a) Double play.

b) Triple play.

c) Batter is out. All runners are awarded one base.

d) Home run.

20. The USSSA bat Performance Factor (BPF) which needs to be visible on each bat, is

a) 1.00

b) 1.10

c) 1.20

d) 1.25

21. In the Men’s Class “E” program, any batter hitting an untouched fly ball over the fence in fair territory will be…

a) Declared “out”.

b) Declared “out” every subsequent time at bat.

c) Ejected from the game

d) Declared “out” each subsequent time that position in the lineup is due to bat the batter shall automatically be declared out. The player shall remain in the game for defensive purposes only. This applies to any substitute in that batting position.

22. What are the three types of interference?

a) Offensive, spectator and umpire.

b) Defensive, spectator and umpire

c) Defensive, catcher and spectator.

d) Catcher, spectator and umpire.

23. A long fly ball hit down the left field line hits the left fielder’s glove in fair territory and bounces over the outfield fence in foul territory. What is the correct call?

a) 4 base award.

b) Foul ball.

c) 2 base award.

d) Don’t know. Batter re-hits.

24. As the pitch is delivered, the pitcher runs toward the batter yelling and waving his arms. The batter appears to be confused and swings and misses, striking out. The offensive team claims this action is illegal. What is the correct call?

a) Legal. No penalty.

b) Defensive interference on the pitcher. Batter awarded 1^st.

c) Obstruction. Batter awarded 1^st. Warn the pitcher not to repeat this action.

d) Illegal. Remove the pitcher from the pitching position. Batter awarded 1^st.

25. The baseline distance, except in Men’s Major and A Division Programs is…

a) 60 feet

b) 65 feet

c) 70 feet

d) 80 feet

26. The “Flip-Flop” Rule is used in…

a) All Programs

b) Men’s Major Program only

c) All Youth Programs

d) Synchronized swimming

27. When after hitting a fair ball and while the ball is still alive, the batter-runner carries his bat to, and touches 1^st base, or runs beyond 1^st base while carrying his bat, …

a) Legal play

b) Batter-Base Runner is declared out and ball remains live.

c) Batter-Base Runner is declared out and ball becomes dead. Runners return to previous base occupied.

d) Call the tournament or park director and write him up for disbarment.

28. A late arriving player is wearing his loafers while playing 3^rd base.

a) Legal play

b) Illegal play

c) Illegal play unless he cannot find appropriate footwear. If not, allow the player to continue.

d) Make him play with no shoes.

29. Prior to the pitcher beginning his delivery, a batter steps out of the batters box without asking for “time”. The pitcher then delivers his pitch.

a) Automatic strike on the batter.

b) The call is determined by the merit of the pitch.

c) Ball is dead, no pitch, as a player does not have to ask for “time” as long as the pitcher has not started his motion.

d) Automatic ball on the batter.

30. Upon inspection prior to a game, an altered bat is discovered and the player refuses to give the bat to the Tournament Director to send to the Altered Bat Committtee.