Home of Senior Softball-USA and Senior Softball World Championships
| Nov. 22, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: What is the ruling B.J., thanks. I guess that I took it too literal that didn’t say that touched first. Yes, doing the right thing is not usually the popular alternative. These things do not happen often, thank goodness. |
| Nov. 21, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: What is the ruling B.J., there is definitely a lot going on here. So let me make it a little more interesting. I am referencing 8.3 C. So when the batter-runner enters the dugout, the ball should be dead; batter-runner should be out, and the other runners return to their bases at the pitch. Yes, the umpire totally missed it. So I believe that this is a correctable error. So while unpopular in many ways to the defense, I believe that to make it correct that would have to restart at that out but would have to make the next batter bat again since the ball was dead. Now Dave knows as an offensive coach (yes, batting team joke) that I would be all over it because that would eliminate the out at home. So please let me know if totally misunderstood the scenario because didn’t see it. I have had it happen but called it correctly. Yes, I did look it up when got home because is very odd. That one was just like this one, just didn’t go to first. The only other one had, he thought that he hit a home run. He did hit it deep. I was sure was not deep enough though. Sure enough it loudly hit a board on the fence. There he sat in the dugout…out. |
| Oct. 31, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: looking for a 85 team Raycap, since you didn’t include your location in your Details or post, you may not get any responses. I know a couple of teams but without knowing your location, there is nothing can do with your request. Best wishes. It is probably my favorite age group. |
| Oct. 22, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Illegal Pitch Rule B.J., it does amuse me as loud as I tend to be when a man says that they did not hear me yell Foul ball. You could probably hear me from there. Yes, I have been know to look at them and say Do I sound like your wife? Yes, we girls can say things that you boys cannot for sure. I do have to give a shout out to The Villages. I had lady friends on both the first and second place teams last weekend. They were very impressed and said had 4 umpires on the championship games. If they were lucky, you were one of them. |
| Oct. 21, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Illegal Pitch Rule stick8, I know that SPA calls it too, but I really don’t know about other senior associations besides those 2. The trouble though is that other than USA Softball or seniors umpires, that many have never done that before. I really don’t like the idea of them trying to learn it during a senior tournament. They will definitely mess it up at least to start if they ever do it right. I do watch the umpires at ISA seniors tournaments and is an interesting exercise. Like I said, I really don’t get much heck on calling it on the high pitches but do on the low ones most likely because am pretty vocal and say that it messes up their swing. Now if I sound like their wife, they can’t hear me anyway. ???? |
| Oct. 21, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Illegal Pitch Rule The only association that I am aware of besides senior ones is USA Softball which have worked for years and do call illegal pitches. My honest opinion only is that it is just another way for umpires to get into trouble when they already have enough ways to do that. As a batter, I know what I want to hit. More people seem to want to hit flat pitches anymore. It is a tough call for the umpire because the ball is quicker to get to the batter at its highest arch because is low. In my experience more batters complain about the correct call on a ball under 6’ because messes up their swing when are going for it. |
| Oct. 17, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Eric Stephens You do not have your location in your details. I believe that is a Texas exchange but is often not a good indicator anymore of where a person actually resides. I would include location details in at least in your post for better results. Best wishes. It is fun to play with kids your own age. |
| Oct. 17, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Team Ratings That would be a question for the office. Some things don’t happen until all of the results are in after the tournament is over, and results can be further analyzed in an office setting. I just thought that you would want to see what the rulebook says. Thank you for your analysis. |
| Oct. 16, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Team Ratings TJSenior, did you read page 66 of the rulebook? I would start there with your question. |
| Oct. 16, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Purposeful Stalling stick8, yes, it does say that time may be added to the game. It doesn't say will be though. I have a personal taboo about touching or adjusting the clock at all. While it has rarely happened in my games (a little math says .07% and probably less than that), if the delay is offense, a couple of times have called a strike. Usually it is defense in my many games but still very rare. Putting the batter in the box and calling a ball usually gets their attention and takes care of the problem. I only ever had one so bad that the batter got advanced to first which described earlier. I think that the clock really only bothers me because of clock cheats. One year the park that I worked at had this guy that we called The Closer. If a diamond got behind, suddenly he was there to do your next game. Magically it was caught up before the next game. So the umpires lost a game pay and came back to an on time diamond. That really bothered me. I only ever had it happen to me once, but we all were aware of what he must be doing. Yes, Dave, it is that park. I have never done One Nation and at this point probably never will. I have had a long and great umpiring "career" and am very grateful for it. |
| Oct. 11, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Purposeful Stalling Anthony, if you want the rules committee to discuss something, you need to make a formal request. This forum is not part of that process. Stick8, I have never touched the clock, but I have awarded balls to the offense on defensive stalls. My favorite one was in a tournament that started with a 1-1 count. For some reason after I said Play, the pitcher turned around and was looking at his left center fielder. When he didn’t turn around I said Ball 2 (you and Dave know that I tend to be loud). So then the pitcher is talking to the shortstop while still looking at his left center. Ball 3. Still doesn’t turn around. Ball 4, take your base. When he finally does turn around after about a minute total, he looks at the new batter and then at the runner on first. What happened? Perhaps you should ask your left center. They turned a double play on that next batter, so worked out for the defense, but I am sure that they had some lively discussion over adult beverages that night. |
| Aug. 20, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Pump Fake stick8, exactly. That ship had long sailed. |
| Aug. 19, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Pump Fake stick8, never heard of an unintentional fake pump and shaking my head a little. It sounds like without seeing it that the umpire got it right and then let another umpire talk him out of it but at an inappropriate time. That definitely makes both of them look bad. |
| Aug. 5, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Illegal batter Brotherhood Management, I know are upset over this but are some details that omitted that won’t go into since is your dime. I am not here to disrespect you at all. What stick8 said is the proper way to handle an illegal batter, substitute, etc. I kept score for our teams for over 20 years and watched for things like this. I had a very similar situation in a NSA senior world series. Oddly also 12 instead of 13 batters listed. I did it correctly and got it taken care of correctly although that director had to think on it a little. I guess that my only question is why did you wait until the 6th inning to ask the umpire for anything? Yes, it has to be just like stick8 said for the situation. |
| Aug. 5, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Infield Fly Rule If in the umpire's judgement (you called it an opinion which is not the same), the ball was not a routine pop up that an infielder could easily catch, then I will always agree with the umpire. Even if I don't, it is their judgement call. While a 30 year old B player that is a pitcher can possibly easily field that, a 65 and over player or a 12 and under player probably cannot. So experience is also an important part of that judgement. You also said that the pitcher let it drop which implies intention. While that relates to a different ruling, again this is in an umpire's judgement call as well. Now as umpires do we learn with experience and possibly misjudge a play at times? Of course we do. With what you have detailed but not seeing the play, I agree with the umpire. Judgement is something that cannot be appealed, protested, or any other words that might come up with. Honestly infield fly is one of the most commonly misunderstood rules that exist. I had to wait 2 minutes to call time once in a coed game because the defense couldn't figure it out and kept throwing the ball and stomping bags. The runner just kept walking between 2nd and 3rd. They never tagged him, and he had tagged up for the catch. Finally he decides to just stand on 2nd base. I call Time and then had to answer lots of questions from the defense because they didn't know why. That was the worst one that I ever had. I can't call Time with an offensive player just walking around between bags. I do tell new umpires that coed is the best place to learn about infield fly because it is usually where it gets totally complicated. So your question is good but definitely a misunderstood rule; so you are fine with asking and hopefully learning more about it. The rule was designed to protect the offense, but they are usually the ones that get the most upset at the valid call because their batter is out. |
| Aug. 5, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Illegal batter Stick8, no, they did not. The umpire handled it correctly for the situation. There are a lot of details left out. You are more than welcome to the rest of the story if want to talk privately. I was hoping to catch up with you but was only in Columbus one day. |
| May 28, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Who won Reno? Double Dee, here is the link to the tournament for your reference: https://seniorsoftball.com/?event=2109 On a 193 team tournament over many days and 3 parks, a little patience is best. The directors at these tournaments are busy most hours in the day with the event and have to find a little time to eat and sleep as well. I know is hard to understand unless have ever been a director at a major tournament. It is not an easy job. |
| Jan. 17, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Nearest major airport Definitely Las Vegas for location and price. Enjoy your trip. |
| Jan. 16, 2025 Nancy Allen | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batting or fielding team leaves their gate open by accident Dave, hey, you and I handled it on Diamond 3. Ricky could not argue with Do you think that he was smart enough to leave that gate open knowing that the shortstop would overthrow it? They have new fencing and think that gate is gone. Thank you, fond memory. |
| Dec. 19, 2024 Nancy Allen | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Thank You, Stephanie There are so many people that make SSUSA tournaments happen; many are behind the scenes. For any director, coach, and others that have ever needed anything, Stephanie Hopkins has always been there to help us. We rely on her so much for tournaments, events, and to keep all of us in line and moving. ISA, SSUSA's sister association, awarded Stephanie their Bill Ruth Base Burglar Award last weekend. I do not think that past recipients will mind if I say that she is the prettiest of the recipients. So if you have a chance, be sure to congratulate her. She definitely is the force and glue that keeps all of us together at times. Appreciate you, Stephanie |
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