R3 Sec. 1. THE OFFICIAL BAT.


a. Shall be of one-piece construction, multi-piece permanently assembled or two piece interchangeable  construction.  If the bat is designed with interchangeable components it must meet the following criteria:
1. Mating components must have a unique locking key to prevent uncertified equipment combinations in the field.
2. All component combinations must meet the same standards as if it were a one-piece bat when combined or a portion of a one-piece bat if separated.  
b. Shall be made of one piece of hardwood or formed from a block of wood consisting of two or more pieces of wood bonded together with an adhesive in such a way that the grain direction of all pieces is parallel to the length of the bat.
c. Shall be metal, bamboo, plastic, graphite, carbon, magnesium, fiberglass, ceramic, or any other composite material approved by the ISF Equipment Standards Commission.  
d. Can be laminated, but must contain only wood or adhesive and have a clear finish (if finished).
e. Shall be round and shall be smooth.
f. Shall not be more than 86.4cm (34 in) long, nor exceed 1077.0 g (38 ounces) in weight.
g. Shall not be more than 5.7cm (2 ¼ in) in diameter at its largest part.  A tolerance of 0.80mm (1/32 in) is permitted to allow for expansion.
h. If metal, may be angular.
i. Shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges, or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard. A metal bat shall be free of burrs and cracks.
j. If metal, shall not have a wooden handle.
k. Shall have a safety grip of cork, tape (no smooth, plastic tape), or composition material. The safety grip shall not be less than 25.4cm (10 in) long and shall not extend more than 38.1cm (15 in) from the small end of the bat. Resin, pine tar, or spray substances placed on the safety grip to enhance the grip are permissible on the grip only.

NOTE: Tape applied to any bat must be continuously spiral. It does not have to be a solid layer of tape. It shall not exceed two layers.
l. If metal and not made of one-piece construction with the barrel end closed, shall have a rubber or vinyl plastic or other material insert approved by the ISF Equipment Standards Commission, firmly secured at the large end of the bat firmly secured in the large end of the bat.
1. The insert of the end cap shall be firmly and permanently sealed so it cannot be removed by anyone other than the manufacturer without damaging or destroying the end cap or barrel.
2. The bat shall be free of rattles.
3. The bat shall not have signs of tampering.
Note: A bat that is not free of rattles shall be considered an illegal bat.  A bat that shows signs of tampering shall be considered an altered bat.

m. Shall have a safety knob of a minimum of 0.6cm (1/4”) protruding at a 90-degree angle from the handle. The safety knob may be molded, lathed, welded, or permanently fastened.

NOTE: A “flare" or "cone" grip attached to the bat will result in the bat being considered an altered bat.

n. Shall be marked by the manufacturer in a prominent manner so as to be easily visible: “OFFICIAL ISF APPROVED SOFTBALL” or other notification as may be selected and approved by the ISF Equipment Standards Commission.  If the approval notice cannot be read due to wear on the bat, the bat may still be permitted in play if it is in compliance with ISF Rules in all other respects and that compliance is determinable with reasonable certainty.
NZ NOTE: As per SNZ Policy
A bat will be approved for use if it is listed on the current ISF Certified Bat List or listed on the current ASA Approved Bat List.

o. The weight, distribution of weight, or length of the bat must be permanently fixed at the time of manufacture and may not be altered in any way thereafter, except as otherwise specifically provided in Rule 3, Section 1.

R3 Sec. 5. SHOES.


All players must wear shoes. A shoe shall be considered official if it is made with either canvas or leather uppers or similar materials.
a. The soles may be either smooth or have soft or hard rubber cleats.
b. Ordinary metal sole and heel plates may be used if the spikes on the plates do not extend more than 1.9cm (3/4 in) from the sole or heel of the shoe. Shoes with rounded metal spikes are illegal.
c. No hard plastic, nylon or polyurethane spikes similar to a metal sole and heel plate are allowed in any division at any level of play.
d. Shoes with detachable cleats that screw onto the shoe are not allowed; however, shoes with detachable cleats that screw into the shoe are allowed.

YOUTH DIVISION, MODIFIED FAST PITCH AND CO-ED SLOW PITCH ONLY: No metal cleats are allowed in any division at any level of play.                                       NZ Note: Metal cleats are allowed at all levels of play

Effect: Section 5:  Failure to comply with the provisions of Section 5, after a warning from the umpire, shall result in the ejection of the player from the game.  

R3 Sec. 7. EQUIPMENT ON PLAYING FIELD.


Equipment that is not part of the official equipment shall not be left lying on the playing field in either fair or foul territory.
EFFECT – Sec. 7:
The ball is dead if it contacts equipment that is not part of the official equipment.
a. For offensive equipment causing a blocked ball (and creating interference), the player being played on is out
b. If no apparent play is obvious, no runner will be called out, but all runners will return to the last base touched at the time of the dead ball declaration.
c. For defensive equipment causing a blocked ball, runners are awarded:
(i)  one base from the base last touched at the time of the pitch on a pitched ball,
(ii)  two bases from the base last touched at the time of the throw on a thrown ball, or
(iii)  two bases from the base last touched at the time of the pitch on a fair batted ball.