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USSSA National Umpire Test

1. True A double coin flip will determine who the home team is in USSSA Tournament games.
2. True No inning shall start after one hour and thirty minutes.  If an inning starts it must be completed.
3. True There are no ties in USSSA tournament play.
4. True

If a tie occurs at the end of a regulation game or if time has expired, the international tiebreaker will be used.

5. True

If international tie breaker is used the last completed at bat goes to second base to start the inning.

6. True

If a runner is tagged out between the two bases where she was obstructed, the runner is awarded the base(s) she would have made, had there been no obstruction.

7. True

A runner may leap or hurdle a defensive player who is lying on the ground.

8. False

A runner is out if a fair batted ball strikes her after it passes a fielder (other than the pitcher) and the umpire judges that no other fielder has a play.

9. False

Runners are permitted to return to a missed base or a base left too soon before a dead-ball appeal can be made.

10. True

The batter shall not delay the game by stepping out of the batter’s box when the pitcher is on the pitcher’s plate.

11. True

If the batter fails to be ready within 20 seconds after the ball is returned to the pitcher, the umpire shall call a strike.

12. False

A batter may hit a ball fair or foul while one foot is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter’s box, but not both feet.

13. False If a batter permits a pitched ball to touch her, she is declared out.
14. True

An improper batter is considered to be at bat as soon as she enters the batter’s box and one pitch has been thrown.

15. True

After the first inning, the first batter in each inning shall be the player whose name follows that of the last batter to complete her turn at bat in the preceding inning.

16. True

When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, all outs made on the play stand if the defensive team properly appeals.

17. False When an improper batter becomes a runner and a pitch (legal or illegal) has been delivered to the next batter, the proper batter is declared out.
18. True

An appeal must be made before the next pitch, legal or illegal, or before all defensive players have left fair territory except for the catcher.

19. False Batters become batter-runners when they reach 1B safely.
20. True In establishing a catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove she has complete control of it and that the release of the ball is voluntary.
21. False

Stepping or hopping off the front of the pitchers plate and replanting is a crow hop and illegal, but dragging the pivot foot and replanting is legal.

22. True A fake tag is a form of obstruction.
23. False

Metal bats made of titanium alloys cannot be used in USSSA play even if the Approved Seal is stamped on the bat.

24. False

All fast pitch divisions of play must use the .50 core white or yellow optic cover softball.

25. True

When the re-entry rule is violated only the player who violated the rule is disqualified.

26. True

Should a runner become injured during a dead ball, a substitute can enter the game and proceed to any base the injured player had been awarded.

27. False

A substitute who has legally been in the game cannot return to the game after being replaced by the starting player or a substitute.

28. False

The batter is out if a coach insists having a second offensive conference in the same inning.

29. True

If one team is ahead of their opponent by 15 runs after three full innings of play the game will be considered over.

30. False Batting gloves may be worn on the pitching hand.
31. False

The on-deck batter may use two bats as long as one is a warm-up bat.

32. True

The batter is not out if he steps on the plate while swinging and missing a pitch.

33. False

The 1B coach interferes with the F3’s attempt to catch a pop fly ball in foul territory so the runner on 1B is out and batter returns to The bat with the same count prior to the last pitch.

34. True

R1 on 2B gets hit with a  line drive while standing on the bag. The umpire rules dead ball, R1 remains at 2B and the batter-runner is awarded 1B.

35. True

A runner who physically passes a preceding runner will be called out immediately and the ball remains alive.

36. False

A runner who is not being played on, is assisted by the coach in  returning to a base.  The runner is not out because no play is being made on the assisted runner.

37. False

R1 is on 3B when a fair-batted ball hits the base, caroms into foul territory and hits R1 standing off the base. R1 is ruled out.

38. True

The runner is not out when he is touched with a ball not securely held by a fielder.

39. True Any umpire can call a runner out for leaving a base too soon.
40. False If a thrown ball hits an umpire; the ball should be ruled dead.
41. True

If a batter drops the bat and the ball rolls against it in fair territory the batter is not out.

42. False

The runner is out when he is touched while off base with a hand or glove of a defensive player and the ball is securely held in the other hand.

43. True

A coach may leave the dugout to attend to an injured/ill player if recognized by the umpire.

44. False

Deliberately throwing a bat or helmet always results in the offender being ejected.

45. True

Wearing metal cleats is prohibited in the 8 thru the 18 and under and are legal in the 18 and over.

46. True

A coach who is ejected shall be out of sight and out of sound of the playing area.

47. True

A defensive conference is not charged when the pitcher is removed as pitcher.

48. True

Each team, when on defense may be granted not more than three charged conferences without penalty during a seven-inning game.

49. False

Time granted for an incapacitated player shall constitute a charged conference for the offense or defense.

50. False

During a conference charged to the defensive team, the offensive team may not meet.

51. True

If a base coach in foul territory, intentionally interferes with a thrown ball, any runner being played on is out.

52. False Only one appeal can be made on a given runner.
53. False An “infield fly” cannot be ruled if an outfielder catches the ball.
54. True

A leap is when both feet of the pitches are airborne prior to delivering the pitch.

55. False

The same courtesy runner may run for the pitcher and the catcher in the same inning.

56. True

The pitcher and catcher are identified as the last players who physically played that position on defense, except for the top of the first inning.

57. False

Players currently in the game are eligible to serve as courtesy runners.

58. False

If a courtesy runner fails to report, she is considered an illegal substitute.

59. False

The ball becomes dead immediately if a base coach physically assists a runner.

60. True

The ball becomes dead immediately when the batter swings at a pitch that touches her clothing.

61. False

The ball becomes dead immediately when interference occurs on an offensive player.

62. True

A delayed dead-ball situation occurs when the umpire interferes with the catcher who is attempting to throw.

63. True

The ball becomes dead when time is taken to make an award when a catcher illegally obstructs a runner.

64. False

After a dead ball situation, the ball becomes live when it is thrown back to the pitcher in the 16-foot circle.

65. True

A dead ball is called if an obstructed runner is tagged out between the two bases where the obstruction occurred.

66. False

A legal catch cannot be made if the fielder is contacting a collapsible fence.

67. True

A catch is not credited if the ball strikes anything other than a defensive player while it is in flight.

68. True

A crow hop is the replant of the pivot foot by the pitcher prior to delivering the pitch.

69. True Faking a tag is always considered obstruction.
70. True

A DH and the player for whom she is batting are locked into the same position in the batting order.

71. False Teams may declare the use of a DH at any time during the game.
72. False

The DH and the player for whom she is batting may both play defense at the same time.

73. True

The role of the DH is terminated when the defensive player for whom the DH was batting subsequently bats.

74. True

With the look-back rule in effect, if two or more runners are off their bases, only one runner may be called out and the other returned to the last base touched.

75. True

Once the pitcher has the ball within the 16-foot circle, the runner is obligated to move directly toward the next base or the last touched base without any motion or recognition by the pitcher.

76. True

The look-back rule is in effect when the batter-runner reaches first base.

77. True

While the pitcher has the ball within the 16-foot circle, a batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and immediately stops, must then return to first or attempt to advance to second base.

78. True

While in the pitching position, the pitcher must take (or simulate taking) a signal from the catcher.

79. False

The pitcher may take the pitching position on or near the pitcher’s plate without having possession of the ball.

80. True

The pivot foot may remain in contact with or may push off and drag away from the pitching plate prior to the front foot touching the ground.

81. False

Once the ball has been returned to the pitcher, she has 40 seconds to release the next pitch.

82. False

An illegal pitch call always result in the batter being awarded a ball and all runners awarded one base without liability to be put out.

83. True

“No pitch” shall be declared if a runner is called out for leaving the base too soon.

84. True

If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during the back swing or forward motion, it is a pitch and a ball is called on the batter unless the batter swings at a hittable pitch.

85. False

A pitcher may throw to a base while a foot is in contact with the pitcher’s plate after having taken the pitching position.

86. True

Substitution rules are in effect when the umpire-in-chief accepts the line-up cards from both coaches.

87. True

If teams cannot agree on ground rules, the umpires shall formulate the ground rules.

88. False

When a ground rule is in conflict with a playing rule, the ground rule shall be enforced.

89. False

After the game starts; game management is the sole judge as to whether conditions, including grounds, are fit for play.

90. True

It is legal for S1 to substitute for the starting pitcher F1 in the third inning, and then re-enter the original pitcher in the fifth inning in the same position in the batting order.

91. False

It is legal for S1 who entered the game in the third inning in the fourth batting position to leave the game in the fifth inning, and  re-enter the game in the sixth inning in the ninth batting position.

92. False Only starting players may re-enter the game once.
93. False

A player who has been rendered apparently unconscious during the game may resume participation when physically able to do so.

94. True

Umpire jurisdiction begins upon the arrival of one umpire within the confines of the field.

95. False

An umpire’s decision involving judgment may be appealed by requesting assistance from another umpire.

96. True The umpire-in-chief has sole authority to forfeit a game.
97. True

The umpire-in-chief shall ask each team’s adult coach if their teams are legally and properly equipped, and remind participants that appropriate sporting behavior is expected throughout the contest.

98. False The field umpire shall record defensive team charged conferences.
99. True

Either the umpire-in-chief or the field umpire may call an illegal pitch.

100. True

Umpires working the plate are required to wear a mask and throat protector.

101. True

The proper uniform for an umpire consists of a licensed red mesh short-sleeved pullover shirt, heather gray slacks with black sock, USSSA licensed cap, and a gray or black ball bag.