Positioning of infielders

Question
We play in a Men's Open league, under ASA rules.  Tonight the umpire told our shortstop that he could not play in the outfield grass; that he had to start in the infield dirt.  He said that it was an ASA rule and was very adamant about it, but I can't find it in the rule book and it doesn't sound like a "softball/baseball rule" to me.  Can we not position our players according to a batter's tendencies?  There was a man on first with a slugger up to bat.  Our SS wanted to play back to just be sure to get the out a second on a hard hit ground ball.  He wasn't playing the whole game in the grass, he just needed to for that batter.  I could understand in co-ed that may not be acceptable (usually the other way around, though, where the outfield is playing way in, just off the dirt).  But for Men's Open I would think you could position players where ever you wanted if we thought that was the best way to get the out.

Answer
Hi Noel,

In ASA play other than coed the only requirement is that all defensive players (other than F2) be in fair territory at the time of the pitch.  6-4-A

he may have been adamant about it.... but he was adamantly wrong.  You could put everybody in left field if you want to or 9 on the right side of the infield if you chose to.

What about 5 man which is very common, especially in the upper levels.  How can an outfielder play the infield if there was some rule about defensive positioning?

Print this out and show it to him if it comes up again, and protest if he sticks to his position.  this is a mis-application of the playing rules

mark