Official results of the Rules voting at the 2007 NHPA Convention

There were 121 delegates in attendance, requiring 81 votes to make a 2/3 majority, which is what is required to pass a rules change.
An RGS book change was proposed from the floor by a special 2/3 majority vote to add a change to the specifications section. This addition will be placed at the end of the opening paragraph of the Specifications section at the top of page 33 of the RGS book.
“These specifications will apply to all courts built after January 1st 2007. All other existing courts will be required to comply with the fundamental requirements specified in Part Two – SPECIFICATION FOR COURT LAYOUT, SECTION A.2, Conditional Court Sanction, effective January 1st, 2008.”
This addition was passed by a nearly unanimous yes vote.



Official Rules Change Proposals for 2007

Rule 3, Sec. C.1  FAILED 32 YES 89 NO
Currently reads:
Section C. Delivery of Shoes
1. The contestant pitching first shall deliver both shoes (one at a time) and then the other contestant shall deliver both shoes (one at a time). A contestant may deliver the shoes from either the left or right pitching platform, but in any one inning, both shoes must be delivered from the same platform. A contestant shall pitch the entire tournament with the same hand or arm, except in the case of a medical emergency (to be determined by the Tournament/League Officials).
Change to read:
Section C. Delivery of Shoes
1. The contestant pitching first shall deliver both shoes (one at a time) and then the other contestant shall deliver both shoes (one at a time). A contestant may deliver the shoes from either the left or right pitching platform, but in any one inning both shoes must be delivered from the same platform. A contestant may pitch with either hand/arm, but must use that same hand/arm for the entire game, except in the case of a medical emergency (to be determined by the Tournament/League Officials).
Reason:
Rules do allow using different “turns”, pitching from different platforms, using different shoes, and pitching with either foot forward during the same tournament; all of which could affect the pitcher’s performance, so why not allow pitchers to switch pitching arms?

RULE 1, Section A-1 first paragraph FAILED 73 YES 48 NO
Currently reads:
1. Junior Cadets (any pitcher nine (9) years old or under for the entire calendar year)
Change to read:
1. Junior Cadets (any pitcher ten (10) years old or under for the entire calendar year)
Reason:
Thirty feet is too far for many 10 year olds. It is not good to get them interested and then move them back where they get discouraged.

RULE 1, Section A -2 and 3 (first paragraph of each) FAILED 41 YES 80 NO
Currently reads:
2. Junior Boys (any male pitcher eighteen (18) years old or younger for the entire calendar year)
3. Junior Girls (any female pitcher eighteen (18) years old or younger for the entire calendar year)
Change to Read:
2. Junior Boys (any male pitcher seventeen (17) years old or younger for the entire calendar year)
3. Junior Girls (any female pitcher seventeen (17) years old or younger for the entire calendar year)
Reason:
The official legal turning point for “adulthood” is generally 18 years of age for many things across the country. Things like smoking, military service, legal guardianship, drinking (in some states), gambling, etc., are all permitted at the age of 18. The current rules allow for a junior to pitch at short distance through the year of their 18th birthday, which could be a day short of their 19th birthday.

RULE 11, Section F, 4th sentence FAILED 63 YES 58 NO
Currently reads:
Rule 7 Section C – Handicap Rotation
Any game played under any kind of handicap system shall use one of the alternate – pitch formats, described above in Section A-2
Rule 11 Section F - Handicapping
Handicapping may be used in open tournaments and in league play. The Tournament/League Officials shall determine the amount of the handicap. Class winners will be determined by win/loss record or by total points. An alternate-pitch format shall be used. For the breaking of ties, the options in Section B (above) may apply, except that ringer percentage shall not be used. Game handicapping shall not be used in any World, National, or Regional Tournament or in the Championship Class of a designated Division of any State Championship Tournament.

Change To Read:
Entirely Delete Rule 7 Section C
Deleted 4th sentence of Rule 11 Section F

Rule 11 Section F - Handicapping
Handicapping may be used in open tournaments and in league play. The Tournament/League Officials shall determine the amount of the handicap. Class winners will be determined by win/loss record or by total points. For the breaking of ties, the options in Section B (above) may apply, except that ringer percentage shall not be used. Game handicapping shall not be used in any World, National, or Regional Tournament or in the Championship Class of a designated Division of any State Championship Tournament.
Reason:
Alternate first pitch is already required for all count-all scoring (RULE 7, Section B) and permitted in any cancellation tournament (RULE 7, Section A- 2). It should not be required for handicapped cancellation. We are all accustomed to pitching first when we score using cancellation. The current rule disrupts the flow of the game for both players. We have run several handicapped tournaments and the stats show lower percentages for almost all players when using alternate first pitch. If the tournament director feels the higher player has an unfair advantage, he would still have the option for alternate first pitch or he could just use a higher handicap percentage.

RULE 7, Section D-Pacer Rotation (change to C if former C is omitted)
Currently reads: FAILED 55 YES 66 NO
If a pacer is used, the pacer will always pitch last; for all innings (see GUIDELINES PART I #5 for additional information about pacers).
Change to read:
If a pacer is used, the scheduled player may pitch first every inning or let first pitch be determined by the same method as the rest of the event if he or she desires. (See GUIDELINES PART I, #5 for additional information about pacers).
Reason:
To force the player to pitch first is a distraction to some. I see no reason to force the scheduled player to pitch first.