Crossing the 20 committment line

Question
Dr. Mark,

Can you help clarify what constitutes CROSSING the '20 foot committment line' between third base and home plate used in Senior Slow Pitch (ASA Rule:8-D-6)?  Is it just touching the line, one foot being completely over the line, or do both feet need to be over the line?  We umpires are unclear as how to make this call.  Thank you, Mike

Answer
Good morning Mike,
This is an excellent thought-provoking question.

The rule does not tell us what constitutes crossing.  The actual rule is 8-9-d-6.  There is nothing in the POEs or case book plays on 8-9-d-6 I can find.

I am going to answer this as if I was UIC of the tournie and one of my umpires asked the question at the umpire meeting, so that would be law for the weekend.  I am going to e-mail this question to some ASA people and will post their answer when I get it...we'll see if we agree.

We do have other lines in softball. A batter would be out if an entire foot is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter's box when the ball makes contact with the bat.  We would consider them in the box if any part of the foot is touching the line.

POE 27 tells us If a chalk line is uses to determine an out-of-play area the line is considered in play.  If a fielder is touching the line, the fielder is considered in the field of play and may make a legal catch or throw.  If either foot is on the ground completely in dead ball area the ball becomes dead and no play can be made.

If a player has one foot inside the line or touching the line and another foot in the air at the time the catch is made, the catch is legal... .  If the fielder then steps into a dead ball area (foot on the ground)the ball becomes dead... .

In fp the look back rule tells us ...being in the 8 foot circle is defined as having both feet within or partially within the lines.  The pitcher is not considered in the circle if either foot is completely outside the lines.

The definition of "catch" is similar to POE 27 as to feet and field of play.

So...it is my opinion based on other rules that the runner has crossed the line if one foot has completely crossed the line and is on the ground.

Mark