2020NFHSBASEBALLRULESBOOK

Dr.KARISSAL.NIEHOFF,Publisher

B.ElliotHopkins,MLD,CAA,Editor

NFHSPublications

Tomaintainthesoundtraditionsofthissport,encouragesportsmanshipandminimizetheinherentriskofinjury,theNationalFederationofStateHighSchoolAssociationswritesplayingrulesforvarsitycompetitionamongstudent-athletesofhighschoolage.Highschoolcoaches,officialsandadministratorswhohaveknowledgeandexperienceregardingthisparticularsportandagegroupvolunteertheirtimetoserveontherulescommittee.MemberassociationsoftheNFHSindependentlymakedecisionsregardingcompliancewithormodificationoftheseplayingrulesforthestudent-athletesintheirrespectivestates.

NFHSrulesareusedbyeducation-basedandnon-education-basedorganizationsservingchildrenofvaryingskilllevelswhoareofhighschoolageandyounger.InordertomakeNFHSrulesskill-levelandage-levelappropriate,therulesmaybemodifiedbyanyorganizationthatchoosestousethem.Exceptasmaybespecificallynotedinthisrulesbook,theNFHSmakesnorecommendationaboutthenatureorextentofthemodificationsthatmaybeappropriateforchildrenwhoareyoungerorlessskilledthanhighschoolvarsityathletes.

Everyindividualusingtheserulesisresponsibleforprudentjudgmentwithrespecttoeachcontest,athleteandfacility,andeachathleteisresponsibleforexercisingcautionandgoodsportsmanship.Theserulesshouldbeinterpretedandappliedsoastomakereasonableaccommodationsforathletes,coachesandofficialswithdisabilities.

©2019,BytheNationalFederationofStateHighSchoolAssociations.

Neitherthewholenoranypartofthispublicationmaybecopiedorreproducedand/ortranslatedwithoutfirstobtainingexpresswrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.

RepublicationofalloranyportionofthispublicationontheInternetisexpresslyprohibited.PublishedbytheNATIONALFEDERATIONOFSTATEHIGHSCHOOLASSOCIATIONS,POBox690,Indianapolis,Indiana46206;Phone:317-972-6900,Fax:317.822.5700,www.nfhs.org.CoverphotocourtesyofKeithWarren,MississippiHighSchoolActivitiesAssociation.

TABLEOFCONTENTSRule1.Players,FieldandEquipment

Rule2.PlayingTermsandDefinitions

Rule3.Substituting–Coaching–BenchandFieldConduct–ChargedConferences

Rule4.StartingandEndingGame

Rule5.DeadBall–SuspensionofPlay

DeadBallTables

Rule6.Pitching

Rule7.Batting

Rule8.Baserunning

BaserunningAwardsTable

Rule9.Scoring–RecordKeeping

Rule10.Umpiring

SuggestedSpeed–UpRules

SuggestedDoubleFirstBaseRules

PointsofEmphasis

CommentsontheRules

RulesbyStateAssociationAdoption

Officials’SignalChart

MissionStatement

SuggestedGuidelinesforManagementofConcussioninSports

EquipmentGuidelines

CommunicableDiseaseProcedures

LightningGuidelines

CoachesCodeofEthics

OfficialsCodeofEthics

NFHSDisclaimersEachstatehighschoolassociationadoptingtheserulesisthesoleandexclusivesourceofbindingrulesinterpretationsforcontestsinvolvingitsmemberschools.AnypersonhavingquestionsabouttheinterpretationofNFHSrulesshouldcontacttherulesinterpreterdesignatedbyhisorherstatehighschoolassociation.

TheNFHSisthesoleandexclusivesourceofmodelinterpretationsofNFHSrules.StaterulesinterpretersmaycontacttheNFHSformodelrulesinterpretations.Noothermodelrulesinterpretationsshouldbeconsidered.

DISCLAIMER–NFHSPositionStatementsandGuidelines

TheNFHSregularlydistributespositionstatementsandguidelinestopromotepublicawarenessofcertainhealthandsafety-relatedissues.Suchinformationisneitherexhaustivenornecessarilyapplicabletoallcircumstancesorindividuals,andisnosubstituteforconsultationwithappropriatehealth-careprofessionals.Statutes,codesorenvironmentalconditionsmayberelevant.NFHSpositionstatementsorguidelinesshouldbeconsideredinconjunctionwithotherpertinentmaterialswhentakingactionorplanningcare.TheNFHSreservestherighttorescindormodifyanysuchdocumentatanytime.PositionStatementsarelocatedattheendofthiseBook.

Requestsforbaseballruleinterpretationsorexplanationsshouldbedirectedtothestateassociationresponsibleforthehighschoolbaseballprograminyourstate.TheNFHSwillassistinansweringrulesquestionsfromstateassociationswhenevercalledupon.

FACILITIESBecausefacilitiesusedforhighschoolathleticscomeinmanyshapes,sizesandconditions,on-siteeventmanagementmayonoccasionconcludethatcompliancewithNFHSdirectivesabouteventconfigurationisnotfeasible.Underallcircumstances,onsiteeventmanagementshouldutilizeset-upsthatminimizeriskundertheconditionswithwhichtheydeal.Ifagivenfacilitycannotbemadereasonablyhazard-free,theeventshouldberelocated.

Newruleschangesaredenotedwithhighlights.

2020BaseballRulesChanges(Forcommentsonthe2020ruleschanges,seeRulesChangesComments)

3-1-4—Modifiedtheroleofthedefensiveplayerandthedesignatedhitter.

2020BaseballPointsofEmphasis(Foracompletediscussionofthesepointsofemphasis,seePointsofEmphasisDiscussion)

1.Game-EndingProcedures

2.Player/DesignatedHitterRole

3.ProperPitchingPositions

4.ForcePlaySlideRule

5.EnforcementofNFHSJewelryRule

6.ComplianceofPlayer’sEquipment

NFHSBaseballRulesCommittee

Rule1Players,FieldandEquipmentTheNFHSdoesnotperformscientifictestsonanyspecificitemsofequipmenttodetermineiftheequipmentposesundueriskstostudent-athletes,coaches,officialsorspectators.Suchdeterminationsaretheresponsibilityofequipmentmanufacturers.

SECTION1POSITIONSOFPLAYERS

ART.1...Inhighschoolbaseball,eachteamispermittedseventurnsatbat(see4-2-2)duringwhichitattemptstoscorerunsbyhavingitsbattersbecomebaserunnerswhoadvancetoandtouchfirstbase,secondbase,thirdbaseandhomeplate.Theteaminthefieldattemptstoendeachturnatbatoftheopponentbycausingthreeofitsbattersorbaserunnerstobeout.Eachofthetwoteamsconsistsofatleastnineplayersthroughoutthegame(SeeException4-4-1f),oneofwhommustbedesignatedcaptain.

ART.2...Thecaptainandheadcoachrepresenttheteamincommunicationswithumpires.Thecaptain'sandheadcoach’sdutiesshallinclude:1)providingtheumpire-in-chiefwithhisteam'slineupcardwhichshallincludethename,shirtnumber,positionandbattingorderofeachstartingplayer,thenameandshirtnumberofeacheligiblesubstituteshouldalsobelisted;and2)informingallplayersastospecialgroundrulesasannouncedbytheumpire-in-chief.Lineupsbecomeofficialaftertheyhavebeenexchanged,verifiedandthenacceptedbytheumpireduringthepregameconference.Theumpireshallnotacceptthelineupcarduntilallsubstitutesarelisted.Thereisnopenaltyassessed.

Diagram1:

Key:1—Pitcher;2—Catcher;3—1stBaseman;4—2ndBaseman;5—3rd

Baseman;6—Shortstop;7—LeftFielder;8—CenterFielder;9—RightFielder;U—Umpire;X—On-DeckCircle;StippledArea—Grass

ART.3...Aplayerisdesignatedonthelineupcardandinthescorebookbyname,shirtnumber,battingorderpositionandfieldingposition.AcustomaryarrangementofthefieldersisshowninDiagram1.

ART.4...Atthetimeofthepitch,allfieldersshallbeonfairgroundexceptthecatcherwhoshallbeinthecatcher'sbox.Afielderisinfairgroundwhenatleastonefootistouchingfairground.

PENALTY:Illegalpitch.(2-18)

ART.5...Aplayermaychangetoadifferentfieldingpositionatanytimeexceptthatapitcher,afterbeinglistedassuchontheofficiallineupcardhandedtheumpire,cannotchangeuntilconditionsin3-1-1and2aremet.Changesshouldbereportedtotheumpire-in-chiefandscorekeeper.

SECTION2THEFIELD

ART.1...Adiamond(orinfield)shallbea90-footsquare.Whenmeasuringthedistancetofirstbaseandthirdbase,measurefromtheapexofhomeplatetothebackedgeofthebase.TheoutfieldistheareabetweentwofoullinesformedbyextendingtwosidesofthediamondasinDiagram2.Theinfieldandoutfield,includingtheboundarymarksfromhomeplatetofirstandthirdandtheirextendedfoullines,arefairground.Allotherareaisfoulground.

ART.2...Alllinesontheplayingfieldshallbemarkedwithamaterialwhichisnotinjurioustotheeyesorskin.Allnon-permanentlinesshouldbewhite.Limeorcausticmaterialofanykindisprohibited.

ART.3...Theon-deckcircleshouldbetothesideandawayfromhomeplate,37feetifspaceallows.Neitherteam'splayersshallwarmupintheotherteam'son-deckcircle.Theon-deckcircledoesnothavetobeoccupied,butifaplayerwishestowarmup,heshalldosoonlyinhisteam'son-deckcircle,providedtheon-deckcircleislocatedsafelyawayfromhomeplate.(2-23)

ART.4...Whenthedugoutareaistemporarilyextended,foranyreason,itshallbeextendedtowardtheoutfieldonalineparalleltothefoulline.Theextensionofthedugoutareashallbeequallyappliedforbothteams.

ART.5...Whenconstructinganewfieldforhighschoolplay,thedistancefromhomeplatetothenearestobstructiononfairgroundshouldbeatleast300feetdownthefoullinesandatleast350feettocenterfield.Itisrecommendedthatthelinefromhomeplatethroughthepitcher'splatetosecondbaseruneast-northeast.Thisline,usingasteeltapeorastrongtapeoracord,mustmeasure127feet,33/8inchesfromthereartipofhomeplatetothemiddleofsecondbase.Thecatcher'sbox,homeplate,bases,coaches'boxes,batters'boxes,andthree-footrunninglaneshallbeasinDiagram2.Therecommendedwidthofafoullineis2½inches.

ART.6...Onasoddedfield,anunsoddedarea,commonlyreferredtoasthe"pitcher'smound,"shouldhavearadiusofaboutninefeetcentered1½feetinfrontofthemidpointofthefrontedgeofthepitcher'splate.

Diagram2

OFFICIALMEASUREMENTS...forlayingoutbaseballfield

Diagram3

SUGGESTEDLAYOUTOFPITCHER'SMOUND

Thetopofthepitcher'splatemustbe10inchesabovethetopsurfaceofhomeplate.Insidethecircle,apitcher'smoundshouldbeconstructedaccordingtothespecificationsshowninthediagram.

Thedegreeofslopefromapoint6inchesinfrontofthepitcher'splatetoapoint6feettowardhomeplateshallbeoneinchtoonefoot,andsuchdegreeofslopeshallbeuniform.

Thepitchingmoundisan18-footdiametercircle,thecenterofwhichis59feetfromthebackpointofhomeplate.

Locatethefrontedgeoftherubber18inchesbehindthecenterofthemound.

Thefrontedgeoftherubbertothebackpointofhomeplateis60feet,6inches.

Theslopestarts6inchesfromthefrontedgeoftherubber.

Theslopeshallbe6inchesfromthestartingpoint,6inchesinfrontoftherubbertoapoint6feetinfrontoftherubber.

Thelevelareasurroundingtherubbershouldbe6inchesinfrontoftherubber,18inchestoeachsideand22inchestotherearoftherubber.Thetotallevelareais5feetx34inches.

ART.7...Thepitcher'smoundmayconsistinpartofsyntheticmaterialthatiscommerciallymanufacturedforthatpurpose.Ifamoundpadiscomposedofnaturalsoilandsyntheticmaterial,thesyntheticmaterialmustbesecurelyattachedtothegroundandbeinstalledatleastflushorslightlybelowthesurfaceoftheground.ThemoundareashallmeetsuggestedheightandslopespecificationsfoundintheSuggestedLayoutofthePitcher'sMound(Diagram3).

ART.8...Mediashallbeprohibitedfrombeinginlive-ballarea.Ifadesignatedmediaareaistobeused,itshallbeestablishedbeforethegamebegins.Thehometeamorgamemanagementshalldesignatealinedareaforthemedia,whichshallbeconsidereddead-ballarea.

ART.9...First,secondandthirdbasesshallbewhitebags,15inchessquareand2to5inchesinthickness,andmadeofcanvasfilledwithasoftmaterial,ormoldedrubberorsyntheticmaterial,andshallbesecurelyattachedtothegroundorananchorsystemasinDiagram2.Basesmayhavetaperededgesand/orbedesignedtodisengagefromtheiranchorsystems.Bystateassociationadoption,adoublefirstbaseispermitted.Thedoublefirstbaseshallbeawhitebaseandacoloredbase.Thecoloredbaseshallbelocatedinfoulterritory.(SeeSuggestedDoubleFirstBaseRules)

ART.10...Homeplateshallbeafive-sidedslabofwhitenedrubberorothersuitablesimilarmaterial.Oneedgeis17incheslong,twoare8½inchesandtwoare12inches.Itshallbesetinthegroundsothatthetwo12-inchedgescoincidewiththediamondlinesextendingfromhomeplatetofirstbaseandtothirdbase,withthe17-inchedgefacingthepitcher'splate.

ART.11...Thepitcher'splateshallbearectangularslabofwhitenedrubberorsuitablematerial,24inchesby6inches.ItshallbesetinthegroundasshowninDiagram2sothatthedistancebetweentheneareredgeofthepitcher'splateandthereartipofhomeplateshallbe60feet,6inches.

ART.12...Anygamestartedonanonregulationfacilitybymutualagreementoftheopposingcoachesshallnotbeprotestedforthisreason.

SECTION3BATS,BALLSANDGLOVES

ART.1...TheballshallmeetthecurrentNOCSAEstandardforbaseballsatthetimeofmanufactureandisrequiredonballsthatwillbeusedinhighschoolcompetition(EffectiveJanuary1,2020).TheSEI/NOCSAEmarkisrequiredonallballsthatmeettheNOCSAEstandardthatwillbeusedinhighschoolcompetition.Pleaseseethemarkbelow.Aminimumofthreeumpire-approvedbaseballsshallbeprovidedtostartthegame.Unlessotherwisemutuallyagreedupon,thehometeamhasthisresponsibility.Nolessthantwobaseballsshallbeusedtocompleteagame.

TheNFHSAuthenticatingMarkisrequiredonallballsthatwillbeusedinhighschoolcompetition.

AcurrentlistofNFHSauthenticatedproductscanbefoundonthewebsite:www.nfhs.org.

ART.2...Thebatshallhavethefollowingcharacteristicsandcomponents.

a.Eachlegalwood,aluminumorcompositebatshall:

1.Beonepiece,multi-piecesandpermanentlyassembled,ortwo

pieceswithinterchangeablebarrelconstruction.

2.Nothaveexposedattachments,rivets,pins,roughorsharpedgesoranyformofexteriorfastenerthatwouldpresentapotentialhazard.

3.Befreeofrattles,dents,burrs,cracksandsharpedges.Batsthatarebroken,alteredorthatdefacetheballareillegal.Materialsinsidethebatortreatments/devicesusedtoalterthebatspecificationsand/orenhanceperformanceareprohibitedandrenderthebatillegal.

b.Eachlegalwood,aluminumorcompositebatshallhavethefollowingcomponents:

1.Knob–Thebatknobshallprotrudefromthehandle.Theknobmaybemolded,lathed,weldedorpermanentlyfastened.Wrappingsarepermittedexceptthosethatcausetheknobtobecomeflushwiththehandle.Aone-piecerubberknobandbatgripcombinationisillegal.

2.Handle–Thebathandleistheareaofthebatthatbeginsat,butdoesnotinclude,theknobandendswherethetaperbegins.

3.Barrel–Thebarrelistheareaintendedforcontactwithapitchedball.Thebarrelshallberound,cylindricallysymmetric,withasmoothcontour.Thebarrelmaybealuminum,woodorcomposite(madeoftwoormorematerials).Thetypeofbat(wood,aluminumorcomposite)shallbedeterminedbythecompositionofthebarrel.

4.Taper–Thetaperisanoptionaltransitionareawhichconnectsthenarrowerhandletothewiderbarrelportionofthebat.Itslengthandmaterialmayvarybutmaynotextendmorethan18inchesfromthebaseoftheknob.

5.EndCap–Theendcapismadeofrubber,vinyl,plasticorotherapprovedmaterial.Itshallbefirmlysecuredandpermanentlyaffixedtotheendofthebatsothatitcannotberemovedbyanyoneotherthanthemanufacturer,withoutdamagingordestroyingit.By

definition,aone-piececonstructionbatdoesnothaveanendcap.

c.Eachbatnotmadeofasinglepieceofwoodshall:

1.Haveasafetygripmadeofcork,tape(nosmooth,plastictape)orcommerciallymanufacturedcompositionmaterial.Thegripmustextendaminimumof10inches,butnotmorethan18inches,fromthebaseoftheknob.Slipperytapeorsimilarmaterialshallbeprohibited.Resin,pinetaroranydryingagenttoenhancetheholdarepermittedonlyonthegrip.Moldedgripsareillegal.

2.Be25/8”orlessindiameteratthickestpartand36inchesorlessinlength.

3.Notweigh,numerically,morethanthreeounceslessthanthelengthofthebat(e.g.,a33-inch-longbatcannotbelessthan30ounces).

d.BatsthatarenotmadeofasinglepieceofwoodshallmeettheBattedBallCoefficientofRestitution(BBCOR)performancestandard,andsuchbatsshallbelabeledwithasilkscreenorotherpermanentcertificationmark.NoBBCORlabel,stickerordecalwillbeacceptedonanynon-woodbat.Thecertificationmarkshallberectangular,aminimumofoneinchoneachsideandlocatedonthebarrelofthebatinanycontrastingcolortoread:“BBCOR.50.”

NOTE:TheNFHShasbeenadvisedthatcertainmanufacturersconsideralteration,modificationand"doctoring"oftheirbatstobeunlawfulandsubjecttociviland,undercertaincircumstances,criminalaction.

ART.3...Abatmadeofasinglepieceofwoodmayberoughenedorwoundwithtapenotmorethan18inchesfromthehandleendofthebat.Noforeignsubstancemaybeaddedtothesurfaceofthebatbeyond18inchesfromtheendofthehandle.Eachbatmadeofasinglepieceofwoodshallbe:

a.2¾inchesorlessindiameteratthethickestpart

b.36inchesorlessinlength

ART.4...Onlybatsmaybeusedinwarmingup(includingweightedbats

usedforthispurpose)atanylocation.Onlybatsanditemsdesignedtoremainpartofthebat,suchasweightedbats,battingdonuts,andwind-resistantdevicesarelegalatanylocation.

ART.5...Batsthatarealteredfromthemanufacturer’soriginaldesignandproduction,orthatdonotmeettherulespecifications,areillegal(See7-4-1a).Noartificialorintentionalmeansshallbeusedtocontrolthetemperatureofthebat.Noforeignsubstancemaybeinsertedintothebat.Batsthatarebroken,crackedordentedorthatdefacetheball,i.e.,teartheball,shallberemovedwithoutpenalty.Abatthatcontinuallydiscolorstheballmayberemovedfromthegamewithnopenaltyatthediscretionoftheumpire.

ART.6...Gloves/mittsmadeofleathershallbewornbyallfieldersandnotbealteredtocreateanadhesive,sticky,and/ortackysurface.Theglove/mittwornbythecatchermaybeanysize.Theglove/mittwornbythepitcherthatincludesthecolorswhiteand/orgrayshallberemovedfromthegameupondiscoverybyeitherteamand/orumpire.Theglove/mittwornbyallfieldersexceptthecatchershallconformtothefollowingmaximumspecifications(foundinDiagram4):

a.Height(measuredfromthebottomedgeorheelstraightupacrossthecenterofthepalmtoalineevenwiththehighestpointoftheglove/mitt):14inches

b.Widthofpalm(measuredfromthebottomedgeofthewebbingfarthestfromthethumbinahorizontallinetotheoutsideofthelittlefingeredgeoftheglove/mitt):8inches

c.Webbing(measuredacrossthetopendoralonganylineparalleltothetop):5¾inches

Diagram4

ART.7...Looseequipment,suchasgloves,bats,helmetsorcatcher'sgear,ofeitherteammaynotbeonornearthefield.

PENALTY:Iflooseequipmentinterfereswithplay,theumpiremaycallanout(s),awardbasesorreturnrunners,basedonhisjudgmentandthecircumstancesconcerningtheplay.

SECTION4UNIFORMS

ART.1...Uniformsofallteammembersshouldbeofthesamecolorandstyle.Capsandshoesarerequiredequipment(notrackspikesallowed).Whenaplayerisrequiredtowearaheadprotector,itreplacesthecapasmandatoryequipment.

ART.2...Forindividualplayers,uniformsleevelengthsmayvary.However,sleevesofeachindividualplayershallbeapproximatelythesamelengthandshallnotberagged,frayedorslit.Ifthepitcher’sundershirtsleevesareexposed,theyshallnotbewhiteorgray.Compressionsleevesthataresolidblackorsoliddark-coloredshallbetheonlycolorsallowedtobewornbythepitcherbelowhiselbow.Apitchershallnotwearanyitemonhishands,wristsorarmswhichmaybedistractingtothebatter.Apitchershallnotwearwhiteorgrayexposedundershirtsleevesoranywhiteorgraysleevethatextendsbelowtheelbow.Avestandcoordinatingshirtthatiswornunderneathisviewedasatypeofuniformtop.

ART.3...Auniformshallnothaveanydangerousorreflectivebuttonsorornaments.Eachplayershallbenumberedonthebackofhisshirtwithaplainnumberofsolidcolorcontrastingwiththecoloroftheshirt.ThisnumbershallbeaplainArabicstyleandshallbeatleasteightincheshigh,andnoplayersonthesameteamshallwearidenticalnumbers.Anumbermayhaveaborderofnotmorethanone-quarterinchinwidth.

ART.4...Theschool'sofficialuniform(includinguniformpants,jersey,visibleundergarments,socks,stockings,capsandheadwear)maybearonlyavisiblesinglemanufacturer'slogo(partialorwhole)ortrademark.Amanufacturer'slogo/trademarkshallnotexceed2¼squareincheswithnodimensionexceeding2¼inches.Nomorethanonemanufacturer’slogo/trademarkorreferenceshallbepermittedontheoutsideofeachitem.(Thesamerestrictionshallapplytoeitherthemanufacturer’slogo/trademarkorreference.)OneAmericanflag2inchesx3inchesmaybewornoroccupyspaceoneachitemofuniformapparel.

Bystateassociationadoption,toallowforspecialoccasions,commemorativeormemorialpatches,thatwillbeuniformlyplaced,nottoexceed4squareinches,tobewornonjerseysinanappropriateanddignified

mannerwithoutcompromisingtheintegrityoftheuniform.

SECTION5PLAYEREQUIPMENT

ART.1...Itismandatoryforon-deckbatters,batters,runners,retiredrunners,players/studentsinthecoachesboxesaswellasnon-adultbat/ballshaggerstowearabattinghelmetthathasanon-glare(notmirror-like)surfaceandmeetstheNOCSAEstandardatthetimeofmanufacture.ThebattinghelmetshallhaveextendedearflapsthatcoverbothearsandtemplesandalsodisplaytheNOCSAEstampandtheexteriorwarningstatement.Thewarningstatementmaybeaffixedtothehelmetinstickerform,oritmaybeembossedatthetimeofmanufacture.Aviolationbyanon-adultbat/ballshaggershallresultinawarningtothecoachoftheteamandtheindividual.Asubsequentviolationmayresultintheindividualnotbeingallowedonthefield.

PENALTY:Whenanumpireobservesanyonewhoisrequiredtowearabattinghelmetdeliberatelyremovehisbattinghelmetwhileinlive-ballterritoryandtheballislive(non-adultball/batshaggersrequiredtowearbattinghelmetinlive-ballareaevenifballisdead),theumpireshallissueawarningtothecoachoftheinvolvedteam,unlesstheballbecomesdeadwithoutbeingtouchedbyafielderor,afterbeingtouched,goesdirectlytodead-ballarea.Asubsequentviolationoftheruleshallresultinejection.

ART.2...Afacemask/guardmaybeattachedtobattinghelmetsatthetimeofmanufacture.Allfacemask/guardsshallmeettheNOCSAEstandardatthetimeofmanufacture.Afacemask/guardspecificallydesignedforaparticularhelmetmodelmaybeattachedaftermanufacture,providedthatprocedureisapprovedbythemanufacturerandmeetstheNOCSAEstandardatthetimeofmanufacture.

ART.3...Thecatchershallwear,inadditiontoaheadprotector,amaskwithathroatprotector,body/chestprotectorthatmeetstheNOCSAEstandardatthetimeofmanufacture(EffectiveJanuary1,2020),protectivecup(maleonly),andbaseballprotectiveshinguards.TheSEI/NOCSAEmarkisrequiredonallbody/chestprotectorsthatmeetstheNOCSAEstandardatthetimeofmanufacturethatwillbeusedinhighschoolcompetition.Pleaseseetheaccompanyingmark.

ART.4...Thecatcher'shelmetandmaskcombinationshallmeettheNOCSAEstandardatthetimeofmanufacture.Anyhelmetorhelmetandmaskcombinationshallhavefullearprotection(dualearflaps).Athroatprotector,whichiseitherapartoforattachedtothecatcher'smask,ismandatory.Athroatprotectorshalladequatelycoverthethroat.Thecommerciallymanufacturedcatcher'shead,faceandthroatprotectionmaybeaone-pieceormulti-piecedesign.Whileinacrouchposition,anynonadultwarmingupapitcheratanylocationshallwearaheadprotector,amaskwithathroatprotectorandaprotectivecup(maleonly).

PENALTY:Failurebyaplayertowearproperequipmentafterbeingsoorderedbytheumpire,shallresultinejection.

ART.5...Defensiveplayersarepermittedtowearface/headprotectioninthefield.Ifapitcheroranydefensiveplayerwearsface/headprotection,itsoutercoveringshallhaveanon-glare(notmirror-like)surface.

ART.6...Defectiveequipmentmustberepairedorreplacedimmediately.

ART.7...Ifaballistouchedwithanillegalgloveormitt,thatisdiscoveredbytheumpire,thecoachorcaptainoftheteamatbathasthechoiceoftakingtheresultoftheplayorhavingtheaward(8-3-3a,b,c)for

useofanillegalgloveormitt.Theillegalgloveormittmustbereplacedimmediately.Afoulflycaughtwithanillegalglove/mittshallbenullifiedandtreatedasafoulball,unlesstheteamatbatelectstotaketheresultoftheplay.

ART.8...Hardandunyieldingitems(guards,casts,braces,splints,etc.)mustbepaddedwithaclosed-cell,slow-recoveryfoampaddingnolessthan1/2"thick.Kneeandanklebraceswhichareunalteredfromthemanufacturer'soriginaldesign/productiondonotrequireanyadditionalpadding.Eachstateassociationmay,inkeepingwithapplicablelaws,authorizeexceptionstoNFHSplayingrulestoprovidereasonableaccommodationstoindividualparticipantswithdisabilitiesand/orspecialneeds,aswellasthoseindividualswithuniqueandextenuatingcircumstances.Theaccommodationsshouldnotfundamentallyalterthesport,allowanotherwiseillegalpieceofequipment,createrisktotheathlete/othersorplaceopponentsatadisadvantage.

ART.9...Anyplayerequipmentjudgedbytheumpiretobeunreasonablydangerousisillegal.

ART.10...Anyquestionsregardinglegalityofaplayer'sequipmentshallberesolvedbytheumpire-in-chief.

ART.11...Non-traditionalplayingequipmentmustbereviewedbytheNFHSBaseballRulesCommitteebeforeitwillbepermittedtobeused.

ART.12...Jewelryshallnotbeworn(See3-3-1d)exceptforreligiousormedicalmedals.Areligiousmedalmustbetapedandwornundertheuniform.Amedicalalertmustbetapedandmaybevisible.

Rule2PlayingTermsandDefinitions

SECTION1ABBREVIATIONS

ART.1...Forbrevityintheplayrulings,thehometeamisHandthevisitingteamV.

ART.2...PlayersoftheteamatbatareB1,B2,etc.TheplayerwhobatsfirstinhishalfofaninningisdesignatedB1.ThesecondplayertobatisB2,etc.SubstitutesareS1,S2,etc.RunnersareR1,R2,orR3.R1occupiesfirstbase,R2occupiessecondbase,andR3occupiesthirdbase.

ART.3...FieldingplayersareF1,F2,etc.,inaccordancewithDiagram1.

SECTION2AWARDEDBASES

Whenbasesareawarded,itistheresponsibilityoftherunnertolegallytouchthosebases.Inactuality,itistherighttoadvancewithoutaplaybeingmadethatisawarded.

SECTION3BALK

Abalkisanillegalactcommittedbythepitcherwitharunner(s)onbasewhichentitleseachrunnertoadvanceonebase.

SECTION4BALL,BASEONBALLS,INTENTIONALBASEONBALLS

ART.1...Theballisoneoftheplayingimplements(See1-3-1).Thetermisalsousedtodesignateapitchwhichisnottouchedbythebatandisnotastrikeasin7-2-1and7-2-2.

ART.2...Abaseonballsisanawardoffirstbase(oftenreferredtoasa“walk”)ifabatterreceivesfoursuchballs.Thebattermustgoimmediatelytofirstbasebeforetime-outiscalled.

ART.3...Anintentionalbaseonballsmaybegivenbythedefensiveteambyhavingitscatcherorcoachrequesttheumpiretoawardthebatterfirstbase.Thismaybedonebeforepitchingtothebatteroronanyballandstrikecount.Theballshallbedeclareddeadbeforemakingtheaward.

SECTION5FAIRBALL/BASEHIT

ART.1...Afairballisabattedballwhich:

a.settlesonfairterritorybetweenhomeandthirdbaseorbetweenhomeandfirstbase;or

b.contactsfairgroundonorbeyondanimaginarylinebetweenfirstandthirdbase;or

c.isonoroverfairgroundwhenboundingtotheoutfieldpastfirstorthirdbase;or

d.firstfallsonfairgroundonorbeyondfirstorthirdbase;or

e.touchesfirst,secondorthirdbase;or

f.whileonoroverfairterritory,touchesthepersonofanumpireorplayer,theirclothingorequipment;or

g.whileoverfairgroundpassesoutoftheplayingfieldinflight.

1.Aflyballorlinedrive,whichpassesoverorinsidefirstorthirdbaseinflightandcurvestofoulgroundbeyondsuchbase,isnotafairhit;butahitwhichgoesoverorthroughthefenceisafairhitifitisoverfairgroundwhenitleavesthefield.

ART.2...Abasehit(alsocalledasafehitorsingle)isonewhichenablesthebattertoadvancetofirstbasewithoutbeingputout(9-3-2).

ART.3...Anextrabasehitisonewhichenablesthebattertoadvancetofirstbaseandthentooneormoresucceedingbases(9-3-3).Atwo-basehit(double),three-basehit(triple)orhomerunenableshimtoreachsecond,thirdorhomebase,respectively.

SECTION6BATTEDBALL

ART.1...Abattedorthrownballisinflightuntilithastouchedthegroundorsomeobjectotherthanafielder.

ART.2...Aflyballisabattedballwhichrisesanappreciableheightabovetheground.

ART.3...Alinedriveisabattedballwhichtravelsparallel,ornearlyso,withthegroundthroughmostofitsflight.

ART.4...Agroundballisonewhichisneitheraflynoralinedrive.

SECTION7BATTER,BATTER’SBOX,BATTER-RUNNER

ART.1...Thebatteristheplayeroftheteamatbatwhoisentitledto-occupyeitherofthetwobatters’boxesasshowninDiagram2.

ART.2...Thebatter’sboxisthe4footx6footareainwhichthebattershallstandwhenbatting.Thelinesarepartofthebox.(SeeOfficialMeasurementsinDiagram2)

ART.3...Abatter-runnerisaplayerwhohasfinishedatimeatbatuntilheisputoutoruntilplayingactionends.

SECTION8BUNT

Abuntisafairballinwhichthebatterdoesnotswingtohittheball,butholdsthebatinthepathoftheballtotapitslowlytotheinfield.Ifanattempttobuntisafoulball,itistreatedthesameasanyotherfoulball,exceptthatiftheattemptisbyabatterwhohastwostrikes,suchbatterisoutasin7-4-1e.

SECTION9CATCH,CATCHER,CATCHER’SBOX

ART.1...Acatchistheactofafielderingettingsecurepossessioninhishandorgloveofaliveballinflightandfirmlyholdingit,providedhedoesnotusehiscap,protector,mask,pocketorotherpartofhisuniformtotraptheball.Thecatchofaflyballbyafielderisnotcompleteduntilthecontinuingactionofthecatchiscompleted.Afielderwhocatchesaballandthenrunsintoawalloranotherplayeranddropstheballhasnotmadeacatch.Afielder,atfullspeed,whocatchesaballandwhoseinitialmomentumcarrieshimseveralmoreyardsafterwhichtheballdropsfromhisglovehasnotmadeacatch.Whenthefielder,byhisactionofstopping,removingtheballfromhisglove,etc.,signifiestheinitialactioniscompletedandthendropstheball,willbejudgedtohavemadethecatch.Thesamedefinitionofacatchwouldapplywhenmakingadoubleplay.Itisconsideredacatchifafieldercatchesafairorfoulballandthenstepsorfallsintoabench,dugout,stand,bleacheroroveranyboundaryorbarrier,suchasafence,rope,chalkline,orapregamedeterminedimaginaryboundarylinefromthefieldofplay.Fallingintodoesnotincludemerelyrunningagainstsuchobject.(See2-24-4forfielderjugglingballand8-4-1cforintentionallydroppedball;2-16-2and5-1-1dforballstrikingcatcherbeforetouchinghisglove.)Itisnotacatchwhenafieldertouchesabattedballinflightwhichthencontactsamemberoftheoffensiveteamoranumpireandisthencaughtbyadefensiveplayer.

NOTE:Whenabattedballorapitchisinvolved,theabovedefinitionofacatchapplies.Foranyotherthrownball,thetermisusedlooselytoalsoapplytoapick-uportothetrappingofalowthrowwhichhastouchedtheground.Afieldermayhavetheballinhisgraspeventhoughitistouchingthegroundwhileinhisglove.

ART.2...Thecatcheristheplayertowhomthepitcherthrowswhen-deliveringtheballtothebatter.

ART.3...Thecatcher’sboxisanarea43inchesby8feet.Seeofficial-measurementsinDiagram2.

SECTION10CONFERENCES

ART.1...Achargedconferenceisameetingwhichinvolvesthecoachorhisnon-playingrepresentativeandaplayerorplayersoftheteam.Defensive(3-4-1);Offensive(3-4-2).

ART.2...Apregameconferenceisameetinginvolvingtheumpires,bothheadcoachesandteamcaptains(ifavailable)nearhomeplate.Themeetingshouldbeginapproximatelyfiveminutespriortothegame.Thepurposeofthepregameconferenceistoexchangeandcheckeachteam’slineupcardsandtodiscussgroundrules.Umpiresalsoshallasktheheadcoachesofthetwoopposingteamsiftheirplayersarelegallyandproperlyequipped.Inaddition,theexpectationofgoodsportingbehaviorissharedwithbothteamsandrepresentatives(4-1-3a).Bothteamsshallremainintheirdugout(bench)orbullpenareauntilthismeetinghasconcluded.

SECTION11DEADBALL

Theballbecomesdeadwhenactslistedin5-1occurorplayissuspendedasin5-2-1.SeetableinRule5.

SECTION12ERROR

ART.1...Anerrorisamisplaybyafielderorateam(9-5-5),whichis-recordedintheerrorcolumnoftheplayer’sorteam’srecord.

ART.2...Othermisplaysthatarenotrecordedintheerrorcolumnbutareincludedinthegamesummaryincludeabalk(6-2-4),wildpitch(9-6-1),batterhitbypitchedball(8-1-1d)andpassedball(9-6-1).

SECTION13FIELDER

ART.1...Afielderisanyoneofthenineplayersofthedefensiveteam.

ART.2...Theplayerswhoplayleftfield,rightfieldandcenterfieldare-out-fielders.

ART.3...Theothersareinfielders.

ART.4...Thepitcherandcatcherarethebattery.

ART.5...Intheplayrulings,afielderisreferredtoasF1,F2,etc.RefertoDiagram1.

SECTION14FIELDER’SCHOICE

ART.1...Afielder’schoiceistheactofafielderwithaliveball,whoelectstothrowforanattemptedputoutortoretireunassistedanyrunnerorbatter-runner,thuspermittingtheadvanceofanotherrunner(s).Thescorerdecideswhetherthebatteriscreditedwithasafehitoranextrabasehitinaccordancewith9-2-2,9-3-3.Scorersusetheterminthefollowingways:

a.toindicatetheadvanceofthebatter-runnerwhotakesoneormorebaseswhenthefielderwhohandleshisbattedballplaysonaprecedingrunner;

b.toindicatetheadvanceofarunner(otherthanbystolenbaseorerror)whileafielderistryingtoputoutanotherrunner;and

c.toindicatetheadvanceofarunnerduetothedefensiveteam’srefusaltoplayonhim(anundefendedsteal).

SECTION15FORFEITEDGAME

Aforfeitedgameisoneawardedtotheopponentoftheoffendingteam(4-4).

SECTION16FOUL,FOULTIP

ART.1...Afoulisabattedball:

a.whichsettlesonfoulterritorybetweenhomeandfirstbaseorbetweenhomeandthirdbase;or

b.thatboundspastfirstorthirdbaseonoroverfoulterritory;or

c.thatfirstfallsonfoulterritorybeyondfirstorthirdbase;or

d.that,whileonoroverfoulterritory,touchesthepersonofanumpireoraplayeroranyobjectforeigntothenaturalground;or

e.thattouchesthegroundafterinadvertentlybeingdeclaredfoulbyanumpire.

f.thathitsthebatterinthebatter'sbox;or

g.thathitsthegroundorhomeplateandthenhitsthebatterorthebatwhichisheldbythebatter,whileheisinthebatter'sbox.

ART.2...Afoultipisabattedballthatgoesdirectlytothecatcher’shandsandislegallycaughtbythecatcher.Itisastrikeandtheballisinplay.

SECTION17GAME,CALLEDGAME,SUSPENDEDGAME

ART.1...Aregulationinterscholasticgameisseveninnings(turnsatbat)foreachteamunlessshortenedasin4-2-2and4-2-3,orunlessextrainningsarenecessarytobreakatiescore.

ART.2...Acalledgameisonewhichisendedbyorderoftheumpirein-accordancewith4-3.

ART.3...Asuspendedgameisacalledgametobecompletedatalatertime.

SECTION18ILLEGALPITCH

Anillegalpitchisanillegalactcommittedbythepitcherwithnorunneronbase,whichresultsinaballbeingawardedthebatter.Whenanillegalpitchoccurswitharunner,orrunners,onbase,itisruledabalk.

SECTION19INFIELDFLY

Aninfieldflyisafairfly(notincludingalinedrivenoranattemptedbunt)whichcanbecaughtbyaninfielderwithordinaryeffort,(ruledoesnot-precludeoutfieldersfrombeingallowedtoattempttomakethecatch)andprovidedthehitismadebeforetwoareoutandatatimewhenfirstandsecondbasesorallbasesareoccupied.

Whenitseemsapparentthatabattedballwillbeaninfieldfly,theumpireimmediatelyannouncesitforthebenefitoftherunners.Iftheballisnearabaseline,theumpireshalldeclare,“Infieldfly,iffair.”(See8-4-1jforbatterbeingoutandrightofbaserunnertoadvanceafterretouchinghisbase.)

SECTION20INNINGS

ART.1...Aninningisthatportionofthegamewhichincludesaturnatbatforeachteam.

ART.2...Ahalf-inningistheintervalduringwhichoneteamisonoffense(batting)andtheotherisondefense(fielding).Ahalf-inningendswhenthereisathirdoutorwhen,inthelastinning,thewinningrunisscored.Ineithercase,ifthereisadelayedoutdeclaredbytheumpireforabaserunninginfraction,apossiblefourthoutmayberecognized(9-1-1d,e).

ART.3...Anextrainningisonewhichextendsthegameinanattempttobreakthetiescore.

SECTION21INTERFERENCE—OFFENSIVE,UMPIRE,SPECTATOR

ART.1...Offensiveinterferenceisanact(physicalorverbal)bytheteamatbat:

a.whichinterfereswith,obstructs,impedes,hindersorconfusesanyfielderattemptingtomakeaplay;or

b.whenarunnercreatesmaliciouscontactwithanyfielder,withorwithouttheball,inoroutofthebaseline.

ART.2...Itisumpireinterferencewhenheinadvertentlymovessoasto-hinderacatcher’sattempttothrow,orwhenafairballtouchesanumpireasin5-1-1f,orthrownballasin5-1-1g.

ART.3...Spectatorinterferenceisanactbyaspectatorwhichimpedestheprogressofthegame.

ART.4...Follow-throughinterferenceiswhenthebathitsthecatcherafterthebatterhasswungatapitchandhindersactionathomeplateorthecatcher’sattempttoplayonarunner.

ART.5...Backswinginterferenceiswhenabattercontactsthecatcherorhisequipmentpriortothetimeofthepitch.

SECTION22OBSTRUCTIONANDFAKETAG

ART.1...Obstructionisanact(intentionalorunintentional,aswellas-physicalorverbal)byafielder,anymemberofthedefensiveteamoritsteampersonnelthathindersarunnerorchangesthepatternofplayasin5-1-3and8-3-2;orwhenacatcherorfielderhindersabatterasin5-1-2b,8-1-1e,8-3-1cand8-3-2.Whenobstructionoccurs,theballbecomesdeadattheendofplayingactionandtheumpirehasauthoritytodeterminewhichbaseorbasesshallbeawardedtherunnersaccordingtotheruleviolated(Exceptions8-4-2c,8-4-2d).

ART.2...Afaketagisanactbyadefensiveplayerwithouttheballthat-simulatesatag.Afaketagisconsideredobstruction.

ART.3...Thefielderwithoutpossessionoftheballdeniesaccesstothebasetherunnerisattemptingtoachieve.

SECTION23ON-DECKCIRCLE

Anon-deckcircleforeachteamisacirclefivefeetindiameterlocated37feettothesideandawayfromhomeplateifspacepermits.Otherwise,itshouldbeasafedistancetothesideandawayfromhomeplate(SeeDiagram2).

SECTION24OUT:FORCE-OUT,PUTOUT,STRIKEOUT,TAGOUT,THROW-OUT

ART.1...Aforce-outisaputoutduringwhicharunnerwhoisbeingforcedtoadvanceistaggedout,orisputoutbyafielderwhoholdstheballwhiletouchingthebasetowardwhichtheforcedrunnerisadvancing(9-1-1forspecialcase.)

ART.2...Aputoutistheactofafielderinretiringabatterorrunner.Forputoutscreditedtothecatcherandtootherfielders,see9-5-2.An“out”isoneofthethreerequiredretirementsofplayersoftheteamatbat.

ART.3...Astrikeoutistheresultofthepitchergettingathirdstrikechargedtoabatter.Thisusuallyresultsinthebatterbeingout,butdoesnotsoresultifthethirdstrikeisnotcaughtandthebatter-runnerlegallyreachesfirstbase.

ART.4...Atagoutistheputoutofarunner,includingthebatter-runner,whoisnotincontactwithhisbasewhentouchedwithaliveball,orwiththegloveorhandwhentheliveballisheldsecurelythereinbyafielder.Theballisnotconsideredashavingbeensecurelyheldifitisjuggledordroppedafterthetouching,unlesstherunnerdeliberatelyknockstheballfromthehandofthefielder(8-4-2h2).

ART.5...Athrowoutisaputoutcausedbyathrowtofirstbasetoretireabatter-runner,ortoanyotherbasetowhicharunnerisforcedorisrequiredtoretouch.

SECTION25OVERRUNNINGOROVERSLIDING

ART.1...Overrunningoroverslidingistheactofarunnerwho,aftertouchingthebasetowhichheisadvancing,allowshismomentumtocarryhimpastthebasesothathelosescontactwithit.

Fortherighttooverrunfirstbase,see8-2-7.Forcaseswherearunnerisnotcreditedwithastolenbaseorabatterwithanextrabasehit,see2-5-3,9-3-3and9-4-1.Ifaforceisinvolved,2-29-3statesthattouchingabaseendsaforce.

SECTION26PASSEDBALL

Apassedballisapitchwhichthecatcherfailstostoporcontrolwhenheshouldhavebeenabletodosowithordinaryeffort,andwhichenablesarunnerincludingthebatter-runnertoadvance.

SECTION27PENALTY

ART.1...Apenaltyistheactiontakenbytheumpireagainstaplayer,coachorteamforaruleinfraction.Penaltiesinclude:

a.restrictingthecoachtothedugout;

b.ejectinganoffendingplayerorcoach;

c.declaringabatterorrunnerout;

d.awardingabasetoabatterorrunner;

e.awardingaballtoabatter(foranillegalpitchwhenthereisnorunnerorfordelaybythepitcher);

f.chargingabatterwithastrike(fordelay);

g.forfeitingagame;or

h.removingnonplayersfromthebenchorfield.

SECTION28PITCHER,PITCH,PIVOTFOOT

ART.1...Thepitcheristheplayerwhoisdesignatedinthelineupasbeingresponsiblefordelivering(pitching)theballtothebatter.

ART.2...Aliveballdeliveredtothebatterisapitch.Thetermimpliesa-legallydeliveredballunlessotherwisestated.Whenapitchercommitsabalkandcompleteshisdeliverytothebatter,ordeliversanillegalpitch,itisnotconsideredapitch,becausetheballbecamedeadatthetimeoftheinfraction.

ART.3...Timeofthepitchiswhenthepitcherhascommittedhimselftodeliveringthepitchtothebatter.Forthewindupposition,the“timeofthepitch”occurswhenthepitcher,(a)firststartsanymovementofhisarm(s)orleg(s)aftersteppingontothepitcher’splatewithhishandsalreadytogetherinfrontofhisbody;(b)withbothhandsathisside,firststartsanymovementwithbotharmsorleg(s)priortothepitch;(c)witheitherhandinfrontofthebodyandtheotherhandathisside,afterbringinghishandstogether,firststartsanymovementofhisarm(s)orleg(s)priortothepitch.Forthesetposition,the“timeofthepitch”occurstheinstantthepitcher,aftercomingtoacompleteanddiscerniblestop,startsanymovementwitharm(s)and/orleg(s)thatcommitshimtopitch.

ART.4...Apitchendswhenthepitchedball:

a.issecuredbythecatcher,

b.comestorest,

c.goesoutofplay,

d.becomesdead,

e.orthebatterhitstheball(otherthanafoultip).

ART.5...Afeintisamovementwhichsimulatesthestartofapitchorathrowtoabaseandwhichisusedinanattempttodeceivearunner.

ART.6...Thepitcher’spivotfootisthatfootwithwhichthepitcher

contactsthepitcher’splatewhenhedeliverstheball.Forexample,thepivotfootistheleftfootforaleft-handedpitcher(6-1-1).

SECTION29PLAY,DOUBLEPLAY,FORCEPLAY,PLAYRULING,SQUEEZEPLAY

ART.1...“Play”istheordergivenbytheumpirewhenitistimeforthegametobegin,ortoberesumedafterhavingbeensuspendedwhenhecalled“time.”Thetermisalsousedtodenoteaunitofactionwhichbeginswhenapitcherhastheballinhispossessioninpitchingpositionandendswhenballbecomesdeadorpitcheragainholdstheballwhileinpitchingposition.

ART.2...AdoubleplayiscontinuousactivitywhichresultsintwoputoutsduringaplayasdefinedinArticle1.

ART.3...Aforceplayisaplayinwhicharunner(ortwoorthreerunners)loseshisrighttothebaseheoccupiesandisforcedtoadvancebecausethe-batterbecomesabatter-runner.Foragivenrunner,aforceplayendsassoonashetouchesthenextbaseorafollowingrunnerisputoutatapreviousbase.Whenarunneradvancesbeyondabasetowhichheisforcedwithouttouchingit,theforceplayremains.Also,aforcesituationisreinstatedwhenarunnerretreatspastthebasetowhichhewasforcedtoadvance.

ART.4...Aplayrulingisastatementofaplaysituationandthecorrect-ruling.Itisconsideredanintegralpartoftherulesandappliestoanalogoussituations.

ART.5...Asqueezeplayisoneinwhicharunneradvancestowardhomeplatefromthirdbaseastheballisbeingpitched,andduringwhichthebatterbuntstopermittherunnertoscore.

ART.6...Adefensiveappealofarunnerfailingtotouchabaseortagupisnotaplay.

SECTION30RUN,RUNNERS,RETIREDRUNNERS

ART.1...Arunisthescoremadebyarunnerwholegallyadvancestoandtoucheshomeplate(9-1).

ART.2...Arunnerisaplayeroftheteamatbatwhohasfinishedhistimeatbatandhasnotyetbeenputout.Thetermincludesthebatter-runnerandalsoanyrunnerwhooccupiesabase.

ART.3...Aretiredrunnerisaplayeroftheteamatbatwhohasbeenputout,orwhohasscoredandisstillinlive-ballarea.

SECTION31SACRIFICE

Asacrificeisabuntwhichenablesanyrunnertoadvance,oraflyball(sacrificefly)whichenablesarunnertoscore.Ineithercase,theresultisthebatter-runnerbeingputoutbeforehereachesfirstbase,orwouldhaveresultedinhisbeingputoutifthebattedballhadbeenfieldedwithouterror,andprovidedtwowerenotoutwhentheballwashit.Asacrificeisnotlistedasatime-at-bat(9-3-4).

SECTION32SLIDE

ART.1...Alegalslidecanbeeitherfeetfirstorheadfirst.Ifarunnerslidesfeetfirst,atleastonelegandbuttockshallbeontheground.Ifarunnerslides,hemustslidewithinreachofthebasewitheitherahandorafoot.Arunnermayslideorruninadirectionawayfromthefieldertoavoidmakingcontactoralteringtheplayofthefielder(8-4-2b).

ART.2...Aslideisillegalif:

a.therunnerusesarolling,cross-bodyorpop-upslideintothefielder,or

b.therunner’sraisedlegishigherthanthefielder’skneewhenthefielderisinastandingposition,or

c.exceptathomeplate,therunnergoesbeyondthebaseandthenmakescontactwithoralterstheplayofthefielder.Athomeplate,itispermissiblefortheslider’smomentumtocarryhimthroughtheplateinastraightline(baselineextended),or

d.therunnerslashesorkicksthefielderwitheitherleg,or

e.therunnertriestoinjurethefielder,or

f.therunner,onaforceplay,doesnotslideonthegroundandinadirectlinebetweenthetwobases.

SECTION33SPEED-UPRULES

Rulemodificationstospeedupthegamemaybeadoptedbystateassociations(seeSpeed-UpRules).

SECTION34STOLENBASE,DOUBLESTEAL,TRIPLESTEAL

ART.1...Astolenbaseisanadvanceofarunnertothenextbasewithouttheaidofabasehit,aputoutorafielding(includingbattery)error(9-4).

ART.2...Adoublestealistworunnersadvancingonsuchaplay.

ART.3...Atriplestealisthreerunnersadvancingonsuchaplay.

SECTION35STRIKEZONE

Thestrikezoneisthatspaceoverhomeplate,thetopofwhichishalfwaybetweenthebatter’sshouldersandthewaistline,andthebottombeingtheknees,whenheassumeshisnaturalbattingstance.Theheightofthestrikezoneisdeterminedbythebatter’snormalbattingstance.Ifhecrouchesorleansovertomaketheshoulderlinelower,theumpiredeterminesheightbywhatwouldbethebatter’snormalstance.

SECTION36SUBSTITUTIONS

ART.1...Asubstituteisaplayerwhoiseligibletoreplaceanotherplayeralreadyinthelineup.

ART.2...Anunreportedsubstituteisaplayerwho,byrule,canbeinthegamebuthasenteredwithoutreporting.

ART.3...Anillegalsubstituteis:

a.aplayerwhoentersorre-entersthegamewithouteligibilitytodoso,or

b.aplayerwhore-entersthegameinthewrongpositioninthebattingorder,or

c.aplayerwhoentersthegameondefensewhiletheplayerforwhomheisbattingisalsoondefense;or(availableonlyforplayer/DHoption1)

d.whentheplayerforwhomtheDHisbattingentersthegameasabatterorrunnerinadifferentpositioninthebattingorder;or(availableonlyforplayer/DHoption1)

e.aplayerwhoviolatesthecourtesyrunnerrule.

SECTION37THROW

Athrowistheactofvoluntarilylosingpossessionthroughhavingtheballleavethehandforapurposeotherthanapitch.Itmayresultintheballbeingbounced,handed,rolled,tossedorthrown.

SECTION38TIME

“Time”isthecommandoftheumpiretosuspendplay.Theballbecomesdeadwhenitisgiven(5-2-1).Thetermisalsousedinrecordingthelengthofthegame.

SECTION39TIMEATBAT

Timeatbatistheperiodbeginningwhenabatterfirstentersthebatter’sboxandcontinuinguntilheisputoutorbecomesarunner.Abatterisnotchargedintherecordswithatimeatbatwhenhemakesasacrificehit,ishitbyapitchedball,isawardedabaseonballs,isreplacedbeforebeingchargedwithtwostrikes,isreplacedafterbeingchargedwithtwostrikesandthesubstitutedoesnotstrikeout,orwhenheadvancestofirstbasebecauseofobstructionbyafielder.

SECTION40TOUCHINGBALL,BASEORRUNNER

Touchingiscontactwith,andthereisnodistinctionbetweentheactoftouchingorbybeingtouched.Thetermappliestocontactwithanypartofthepersonorhisclothingiftheclothingisreasonablywellfitted.Thisincludes:

a.apitchedballtouchingabatter,or

b.abattedballtouchingabatteroranyrunner,or

c.thecatchertouchingthebat,or

d.aplayertouchingabase,or

e.aballtouchingaplayerornonplayer.

NOTE:Forfailuretotouchhomeplate,see8-2-5PENALTY;forretouchingbase,see8-2-8;forbasecomingloose,see8-4-2h;andforoversliding,see2-25-1.

SECTION41WILDPITCH

Awildpitchisonewhichcannotbehandledbythecatcherwithordinaryeffort(9-6-1).

SECTION42PLAYINGFIELD

Theplayingfieldincludesbothfairandfoulterritory.Anyotherareasbeyondtheplayingfieldaredefinedasbeingoutsidetheplayingfield(deadballarea).Anywall,fence,barricade,rope,wire,markedorimaginarylineisconsideredapartoftheplayingfield.Anyareasbeyondthoseboundariesareoutsidetheplayingfield.

Rule3Substituting–Coaching–BenchandFieldConduct–ChargedConferences

SECTION1SUBSTITUTING

ART.1...Afterthelineupcardsareofficial(1-1-2)priortothegame,theplayerlistedaspitchershallpitchuntilthefirstopposingbatterhasbeenputoutorhasadvancedtofirstbase.Inanyothercase,asubstitutemayreplaceaplayerofhisteamwhentheballisdeadandtimehasbeencalled.Theumpire-in-chiefshallrecordanyreportedsubstitutionsonthelineupcardandthenannounceimmediatelyanychange(s)totheopposingteam.Projectedsubstitutionsarenotallowed.Ineachofthefollowingsituations,theballisdeclaredlivebytheumpire-in-chief.Shouldtherebenoannouncementofsubstitutions,asubstitutehasenteredthegamewhentheballisliveand:

a.arunnertakestheplaceofarunnerhehasreplaced,

b.apitchertakeshisplaceonthepitcher’splate,

c.afielderreachesthepositionusuallyoccupiedbythefielderhehasreplaced,or

d.abattertakeshisplaceinthebatter’sbox.

PENALTY:Ifthestartingpitcherdoesnotfaceonebatter,hemayplayanotherposition,butnotreturntopitch.

Fordiscoveryofanillegalsubstitute(2-36-3)onoffensebyanumpireoreitherteam,thatplayershallbecalledoutandrestrictedtothebench/dugoutforthedurationofthegame.Anillegalplayerdiscoveredondefenseshallberestrictedtothebench/dugoutforthedurationofthegame.Ifarestrictedplayerre-entersthegameonoffense,heshallbecalledoutimmediatelyandejectedupondiscoverybyanumpireoreitherteam.Ifarestrictedplayerre-entersondefense,heshallbeejectedupondiscoverybyanumpireoreitherteam.

Thepenaltyforillegalsubstitutionshallsupersedethepenaltyforbattingoutoforder.

Iftheillegalsubstituteshouldscorearun,advanceorcauseaplaytobemadethatallowsanotherrunner(s)toadvance,discoverymustbemadebyanumpireoreitherteambeforethefirstpitchtothenextbatterofeither

team.Thiswouldinvalidatetheactionoftheillegaloffensivesubstitute.Anyout(s)madeontheplaystandsandallotherrunnersreturntothebase(s)occupiedatthetimeofthepitch.

Inagame-endingsituation,discoverymustbemadebeforeallinfieldersleavethediamond(i.e.,allinfielderscrossthefoullines).

Anillegalsubstituteondefenseshallbereplacedimmediatelyupondiscoverybytheumpireoreitherteam.Ifanillegalplayerondefenseisinvolvedinaplay,andtheinfractionisdiscoveredbyanumpireoreitherteampriortothefirstpitchtothenextbatterofeitherteam,theteamonoffensehastheoptiontolettheplaystandortoallowthebattertobatagain.

Anyplayerwhoissubstitutedforbyanillegalsubstitutemayre-enteronlyifheiseligibletodosounderthere-entryrule.(3-1-3)

ART.2...Ifapitcherisreplacedwhilehisteamisondefense,thesubstitutepitchershallpitchtothebatterthenatbat,oranysubstituteforthatbatter,untilsuchbatterisputoutorreachesfirstbase,oruntilathirdouthasbeenmade.Toensurethattherequirementsofthisarticlebefulfilled,theumpirewilldenyanycoach-defensiveplayerconferencethatwillviolatetherule.Ifapitcherisincapacitatedorguiltyofflagrantunsportsmanlikeconduct,thisruleisignored.Aplayermayberemovedaspitcherandreturnedaspitcheronlyonceperinning,providedthereturnaspitcherdoesnotviolateeitherthepitching,substitutionorchargedconferencerule.Ifthepitcher,becauseofaninjuryorbeingincapacitated,isreplacedaspitcherandtheaboveruleisnotsatisfied,orifhisreplacementrequiresmorewarm-upthrowsthanpermittedin6-2-2exception,hecannotreturntothegameasapitcher.

ART.3...Anyofthestartingplayersmaybewithdrawnandre-enteredonce,includingaplayerwhowasthedesignatedhitter,providedsuchplayeroccupiesthesamebattingpositionwheneverheisinthelineup.ThepitcherisgovernedbytheprovisionsofArticle2above.Asubstitutewhoiswithdrawnmaynotre-enter.AstartingpitcherwhoisreplacedinthetopofthefirstinningwhilehisteamisatbatshallbegovernedbytheprovisionsofArticles1and2above.

ART.4...Ahittermaybe(notmandatory)designatedforanyonestarting

player(notjustpitchers)andallsubsequentsubstitutesforthatplayerinthegame.Adesignatedhitterforsaidplayershallbeselectedpriortothestartofthegame,andhisnameshallbeincludedonthelineupcardspresentedtotheumpire-in-chiefandtotheofficialscorer.Ateamforfeitstheuseofadesignatedhitterifitfailstodeclareadesignatedhitterpriortothegame.Ifapinchhitterorpinchrunnerforthedesignatedhitterisused,thatplayerbecomesthenewdesignatedhitter.Theplayerwhowasthedesignatedhittermayre-enterasthedesignatedhitterunderthere-entryrule.Adesignatedhitterandtheplayerforwhomheisbattingarelockedintothebattingorder.Nomultiplesubstitutionsmaybemadethatwillalterthebattingrotation.Adesignatedhittermaybeusedinoneofthetwoscenarios:

a.Thedesignatedhittermaybea10thstarterhittingforanyoneoftheninestartingdefensiveplayers.Ifthedesignatedhitter(DH)isusedinthismanner,theroleoftheDHisterminatedfortheremainderofthegamewhen:

1.Thedefensiveplayer,oranypreviousdefensiveplayerforwhomthedesignatedhitterbatted,subsequentlybats,pinch-hitsorpinch-runsforthedesignatedhitter;or

2.Thedesignatedhitteroranypreviousdesignatedhitterassumesadefensiveposition.

b.Thestartingdesignatedhittermaybeanyoneofthestartingdefensiveplayers.Inthismanner,thestartingdefensiveplayerhastwopositions:thedefensiveplayerandthedesignatedhitter.Theroleofthedefensiveplayermaybesubstitutedforbyanylegalsubstitute.Ifthedefensiveplayerhasbeensubstitutedfor,theoriginalplayer/DHmayre-enteronetime.TheroleoftheDHisterminatedfortheremainderofthegamewhen:

1.Asubstituteorformersubstituteforthedefensiverolesubsequentlyparticipatesinanoffensiverole;or

2.Thestartingdefensiveplayer/DHissubstitutedforeitherasahitterorarunner.

ART.5...Anyplayerwhoexhibitssigns,symptomsorbehaviorsconsistentwithaconcussion(suchaslossofconsciousness,headache,

dizziness,confusionorbalanceproblems)shallbeimmediatelyremovedfromthegameandshallnotreturntoplayuntilclearedbyanappropriatehealth-careprofessional.(SeeNFHSSuggestedGuidelinesforManagementofConcussions.)

ART.6...Aplayerorcoachwhoisbleedingorwhohasanopenwoundshallbeprohibitedfromparticipatingfurtherinthegameuntilappropriatetreatmenthasbeenadministered.Ifmedicalcareortreatmentcanbeadministeredinareasonableamountoftime,theindividualwouldnothavetoleavethegame.Thelengthoftimethatisconsideredreasonableisumpirejudgment.There-entryruleappliestostarters.Ifthereisanyamountofbloodontheuniform,itshallbechangedorcleanedbeforethatindividualparticipatesagain.(SeeCommunicableDiseaseProcedures.)

SECTION2COACHING

ART.1...Oneplayerorcoachmayoccupyeachcoach’sboxwhilehisteamisatbat.Acoachwhoisnotintheuniformoftheteamshallberestrictedtothebench/dugout.However,acoachmayleavethebench/dugouttoattendtoaplayerwhobecomesillorinjured.Hemayaddressbaserunnersorthebatter.Coachesmaywearprosthesesandusemobilitydevices.Anymemberoftheteamatbat,whohasnotbeenejectedforunsportsmanlikeconduct,mayoccupyacoach’sbox.

ART.2...Nocoachshallphysicallyassistarunnerduringplayingaction.

PENALTY:Therunnershallbecalledoutimmediately.(8-4-2s).

ART.3...Nooffensiveteampersonnel,otherthanthebasecoach,shallbenearabaseforwhicharunneristryingsothatafieldermaybeconfused;norbeonornearthebaselineinsuchawayastodrawathrow;norshallthebasecoachormembersoftheteamatbatfailtovacateanyareaneededbyafielderinhisattempttoputoutabatterorrunner.

Ifathrownliveballunintentionallytouchesabasecoachinfoulterritory,orapitchedorthrownballtouchesanumpire,theballisliveandinplay.Ifthecoachisjudgedbytheumpiretohaveinterferedintentionallywiththethrownball,orinterferesinfairterritory,theinterferencepenaltyisinvoked.

PENALTY:Theballisdeadimmediatelyandtherunnerisout.Thebatter-runnerorrunnermaybeoutasin7-4-1fand8-4-2g.Otherrunnersreturnasin8-2-8.

ART.4...Theheadcoachmustattendthepregameconference,ifavailable.

PENALTY:Theheadcoachwillberestrictedtothedugoutfortheremainderofthegame(excepttoattendtoasickorinjuredplayer)ifherefusestoattendthepregameconference.

SECTION3BENCHANDFIELDCONDUCT

ART.1...Acoach,player,substitute,attendantorotherbenchpersonnelshallnot:

a.leavethedugoutduringaliveballforanunauthorizedpurpose;

b.fakeatagwithouttheball;

c.carelesslythrowabat;

d.wearjewelry(playersparticipatinginthegame)orwearbandannas;

e.hittheballtoplayersondefenseafterthegamehasstarted;

PENALTY:Attheendofplayingaction,theumpireshallissueawarningtothecoachoftheteaminvolvedandthenextoffenderonthatteamshallbeejected.In(b),itisalsoobstruction(8-3-2).

f.commitanyunsportsmanlikeacttoinclude,butnotlimitedto,

1.useofwordsoractionstoinciteorattempttoincitespectators-demonstrations,

2.useofprofanity,intimidationtactics,remarksreflectingunfavorablyuponanyotherperson,ortauntingorbaiting.TheNFHSdisapprovesofanyformoftaunting.

3.useofanylanguageintendedtointimidate,

4.behaviorinanymannernotinaccordancewiththespiritoffairplay;

5.beinginliveballterritory(excludingteam’sbullpenarea)duringtheopponent’sinfieldpracticepriortothestartofthegame.

6.anymemberofthecoachingstaffwhoisnottheheadcoach(ordesignee)in3-2-4leavingthevicinityofthedugoutorcoachingboxtodisputeajudgmentcallbyanumpire.

7.Confrontingordirectingunsportsmanlikeconducttotheumpiresafterthegamehasconcludedanduntiltheumpireshavedepartedthegamesite.

g.entertheareabehindthecatcherwhiletheopposingpitcherandcatcherareintheirpositions;

h.useofanyobjectinhispossessioninthecoach’sboxotherthanastopwatch,rulebook(hardcopy),scorebook;

i.beoutsidethedesignateddugout(bench)orbullpenareaifnotabatter,runner,on-deckbatter,inthecoach’sboxoroneofthenineplayersondefense;

j.chargeanumpire;

k.useamplifiersorbullhornsforcoachingpurposesduringthecourseofthegame;

PENALTY:Theumpireshallwarntheoffenderunlesstheoffenseisjudgedtobemajor,inwhichcaseanejectionshalloccur.Awarningmaybeverbalorwritten.Ifwritten,theoffendershallberestrictedtothebench/dugoutfortheremainderofthegame.Ifacoachhaspreviouslyreceivedaverbalwarning,heshallreceiveawrittenwarning(10-2-3j)andberestrictedtothebench/dugoutfortheremainderofthegame.Ifacoachhaspreviouslyreceivedawrittenwarning,heshallbeejectedforanysubsequentoffense.Anyoffensejudgedtobemajorinnatureshallresultinanimmediateejection.Forcoacheswhoviolatef(1-5),g,h,i,jork,theumpiremay:(1)issueaverbalwarningtotheoffender,(2)issueawrittenwarningtotheoffender(anyoffenderreceivingawrittenwarningshallberestrictedtothebench/dugoutfortheremainderofthegame),or(3)ejecttheoffenderforamajoroffense.Forviolationoff(6)boththeheadcoachandoffendingcoachshallreceiveawrittenwarningandberestrictedtothedugoutfortheremainderofthegameunlesstheoffenseissoseveretheumpiremayejecttheoffenderandrestrictorejecttheheadcoach.Acoachmayleavethebench/dugouttoattendtoaplayerwhobecomesillorinjured.Inf(7),thestateassociationshalldetermineappropriateaction.

l.deliberatelythrowabat,helmet,etc.;

m.initiatemaliciouscontactonoffenseordefense;

n.call“Time”oruseanycommandorcommitanyactforthepurposeofcausingabalk;

o.usetobaccoortobacco-likeproductswithintheconfinesofthefield;

p.leavetheirpositionsorbenchareaduringafightorphysicalconfrontation;or

q.havephysicalcontact,spit,kickdirtorengageinanyotherphysicalactiondirectedtowardanumpire.

PENALTY:Theumpireshallejecttheoffenderfromthegame.Failuretocomplyshallresultingamebeingforfeited.In(m),theballisimmediatelydead,ifonoffense,theplayerisejectedanddeclaredout,unlesshehasalreadyscored.Ifthedefensecommitsthemaliciouscontact,theplayerisejected;theumpireshallruleeithersafeoroutontheplayandawardtherunner(s)theappropriatebase(s)hefelttheywouldhaveobtainedifthemaliciouscontacthadnotoccurred.In(p),acoachwhoattemptstopreventafightorrestoreorderisnotinviolationoftherule.

ART.2...Acoachwhoisejectedshallleavethevicinityoftheplayingareaimmediatelyandisprohibitedfromfurthercontact,directorindirect,withtheteamduringtheremainderofthegame.Hemayreturnwhenrequestedtoattendtoanillorinjuredplayer.

ART.3...Playerslooseninguptobatshallremainintheareaoftheirteam’son-deckcirclewhilethepitcheriswarmingup(1-2-3).

PENALTY:Theumpireshallissueateamwarningtothecoachoftheteaminvolved.Thenextoffenderonthatteamshallbeejected.

ART.4...Wheneverteammembersarelooseningupinanareawhichisnotprotectedbyafenceorotherstructure,anothermemberoftheteamwithaglovemustbepositionedbetweenthemandthebattertoprotectthemfromabattedorthrownballwithintheconfinesoftheplayingfield.Nooneistointerferewithaliveball.

SECTION4CHARGEDCONFERENCES

ART.1...Eachteam,whenondefense,maybegrantednotmorethanthreechargedconferencesduringaseven-inninggame,withoutpenalty,topermitcoachesortheirnon-playingrepresentativestoconferwithadefensiveplayerorplayers.Inanextrainninggame,eachteamshallbepermittedonechargedconferenceeachinningwhileondefensewithoutpenalty.Thenumberofchargedconferencespermittedisnotcumulative.Arequestfortimeforthispurposeshallbemadebyacoach,player,substituteoranattendant.Timegrantedforanobviouslyincapacitatedplayershallnotconstituteachargedconference.Priortoaccumulatingthreechargedconferencesinseveninningsorless,aconferenceisnotchargedifthepitcherisremovedaspitcher.

PENALTY:Afterthreechargedconferencesinaseven-inninggame,orforanychargedconferenceinexcessofoneineachextrainning,thepitchershallberemovedaspitcherfordurationofthegame.

ART.2...Eachteam,whenonoffense,maybegrantednotmorethanonechargedconferenceperinningtopermitthecoachoranyofthatteam’spersonneltoconferwithbaserunners,thebatter,theon-deckbatterorotheroffensiveteampersonnel.Theumpireshalldenyanysubsequentoffensiveteamrequestsforchargedconferences.

ART.3...Adefensivechargedconferenceisconcludedwhenthecoachornon-playingrepresentativecrossesthefoullineiftheconferencewasinfair-territory.Iftheconferencewasinfoulterritory,theconferenceconcludeswhenthecoachornon-playingrepresentativeinitiallystartstoreturntothedugout/bencharea.

ART.4...Anoffensivechargedconferenceisconcludedwhenthecoachorteamrepresentativeinitiallystartstoreturntothecoach’sboxordugout/bencharea.ForArticles3and4,ifacoachwhohasbeenrestrictedtothedugout/benchareaisinvolvedinachargedconference,thatconferenceshallendwhentheplayersinvolvedinitiallystarttoreturntotheirpositionsonthefield.Thecoachshallbegivenareasonableamountoftimeforthechargedconferenceasdeterminedbytheumpire-in-chief.

ART.5...Wheneitherteamhasachargedconference,theotherteammayalsohaveaconference,whichisnotcharged,providedtheconferenceconcludeswhentheopposingteam’schargedconferenceconcludes,sothatthegameisnotfurtherdelayed.

Rule4StartingandEndingGame

SECTION1STARTINGAGAME

ART.1...Thehomecoachshalldecidewhetherthegroundsandother-conditionsaresuitableforstartingthegame.Afterthegamestarts,theumpiresaresolejudgesastowhetherconditionsarefitforplayandastowhetherornotconditionsaresuitableforstartingthesecondgameofascheduleddouble-header(twogamesbetweenthesameteamsduringthesameday).

ART.2...Ifthereareunusualconditions,suchasspectatorsorobstaclestooneartheplayingfield,thehomecoachshallproposespecialgroundrules.Ifsanctionedbythevisitingteam,theseshallbeinforce.Iftheteamscannotagree,theumpiresshallformulategroundrules.Groundrulesdonotsupersedearulesbookrule.Allspecialrulesshallbeannounced.

a.Thefieldshouldbeclearlymarked.Markingsshouldincludepolesalongthefoullinesatleast210feetpastfirstandthirdandverticalfoullinemarkingsonanywallthatlimitstheoutfield.

b.Whenafairorfoulflycomesdownnearastandorfence,7-4-1dapplies.Ifthereisascreenbehindthecatcherorotherpermanentobstructioninfrontofthestand,abattedballthatgoesbehindthesebecomesdeadandcannotbecaught.Itisrecommendedthatnosuchobstructionbelessthan60feetfromthediamond.

c.Wildpitches,overthrowsandbattedballsthatgoover,throughorwedgesinafencearegovernedbyRule8-3-3.Ifthefieldhasunusualobstructions,groundrulesshould,asnearlyaspossible,besimilartothisrule.

d.Foraspecialfieldcondition,suchasadrainpipethatmakesaspotwhereitisimpossibleorverydifficultforafieldertoretrievetheball,theballshouldbecomedeadifitgoestothatspotandeachrunner’sadvanceshouldbelimitedtotwobases.

e.Inanunfencedfieldwherecarsareparkedalongthefoullines,umpiresshouldconsiderthesethesameasbleachersandballbecomesdeadifitbouncesintothelineofcars.Theyshouldanticipatesuchasituationandannouncethegroundruleinadvance.

ART.3...Beforegametime,thehometeamandthenthevisitingteamshalldelivertheirrespectivebattingordersinduplicatetotheumpire-in-chief.Theumpirethenshallpermitinspectionbybothheadcoachesand/orcaptainsifavailable.Eachteam’slineupcardshalllistaminimumofnineplayerstostartthegame.(See4-4-1fforgametocontinuewithlessthannineplayers.)Thesubstitutionregulations,asinRule3,arethenineffect.

a.Theumpire-in-chiefshallemphasizetobothheadcoachesandcaptainsthatallparticipantsareexpectedtoexhibitgoodsportingbehaviorthroughoutthegame(s).

b.Priortothestartofthegame,theumpire-in-chiefshallreceiveverificationfromeachheadcoachthathisparticipantsareproperlyequippedinaccordancewithNFHSrules.Inaddition,eachcoachshallverifythathisparticipantsareusingonlylegalequipment,includingbatsandballsthatareunalteredfromthemanufacturer'soriginaldesignandproductionandthatmeettheprovisionsof1-3-1and1-3-2,andhelmetsthatmeettheprovisionsof1-5-1andarefreeofcracksanddamage.

PENALTY:Onthefirstviolationof4-1-3bforenteringtheboxwithanillegalbat,thepenaltyforanillegalbatisapplied(7-4-1a)andtheheadcoachshallberestrictedtothebench/dugoutfortheremainderofthegame.Onthesecondviolationforenteringtheboxwithanillegalbat,thepenaltyforanillegalbatisappliedandtheheadcoachshallbeejected.Onsubsequentviolationsforenteringtheboxwithanillegalbat,thepenaltyforanillegalbatisappliedandthedesignatedheadcoachshallbeejected.Ondetectedviolationsof4-1-3bfortheuseofadamagedhelmet,thehelmetshallbeimmediatelyremovedfromplay.

ART.4...Thevisitingteamshallbethefirsttotakeitsturnatbat.Ona-neutralfieldorbyagreement,eitherteammaybedesignatedasHomeTeam.

ART.5...Thegamebeginswhentheumpirecalls“Play”afterallinfielders,pitcher,catcherandbatterareinpositiontostartthegame.

SECTION2ENDINGAREGULATIONGAME

ART.1...Aregulationinterscholasticgameconsistsofseveninnings(turnsatbat)unlessextrainning(s)arenecessarybecauseofatiescore,orunlessshortenedbecausethehometeamneedsnoneofitshalfoftheseventhoronlyafractionofit(Art.2);orbecauseofweather,ordarkness(Art.3).Eachteammusthavenineplayersinitslineupthroughoutthegame(see4-4-1fNote2).Otherwise,thegamewillbeforfeited.Aforfeitedgameisregulation,regardlessofinningsplayed(4-4-2).

ART.2...Thegameendswhentheteambehindinscorehascompleteditsturnatbatintheseventhinning,oranyinningthereafterifextrainningsarenecessary.Ifthehometeamscoresago-aheadruninthebottomoftheseventhinning,orinanyextrainning,thegameisterminatedatthatpoint.Anygamethatistiedattheendof4½oratleastfivefullinningswhenthegameiscalledshallbeatiegame,unlessthestateassociationhasadoptedaspecificgameendingprocedure.Battingandfieldingrecordsarecounted,butthegameisnotcountedincomputingpercentagesofgameswonandlost.Bystateassociationadoption,thegameshallendwhenthevisitingteamisbehind10ormorerunsafter4½innings,orafterthefifthinning,ifeitherteamis10runsbehindandbothteamshavehadanequalnumberoftimesatbat.

a.Ifanover-the-fencehomerunishit,allrunsscorebeforethegameisterminated.

b.Twoseven-inninggamesshallconstituteadoubleheader.

ART.3...Ifweatherordarknessinterfereswithplaysothatthegameiscalled(ended)bytheumpire,itisaregulationgame:

a.iffivefullinningshavebeenplayed,orifthehometeamhasscoredanequalorgreaternumberofrunsinfourorfourandafractionturnsatbatthanthevisitingteamhasscoredinfiveturnsatbat;or

b.ifplayhasgonebeyondfivefullinnings.

Ifthegameiscalledwhentheteamshavenothadanequalnumberofcompletedturnsatbat,thescoreshallbethesameasitwasattheendofthe

lastcompletedinning;exceptthatifthehometeaminitshalfoftheincompleteinning,scoresarun(orruns)whichequalsorexceedstheopponent’sscore,thefinalscoreshallbeasrecordedwhenthegameiscalled.

ART.4...Astateassociationmayadoptgame-endingproceduresthatdeterminehowgamesareended,includingsuspendedgames.However,ifastatedoesnotadoptgame-endingprocedures,orbymutualagreementoftheopposingcoachesandtheumpire-in-chief,anyremainingplaymaybeshortenedorthegameterminated.Ifastateassociationhasadoptedgame-endingprocedures,onlythosegame-endingproceduresmaybeused,unlesstheopposingcoacheswishtoterminatethegame.

SECTION3CALLEDGAME

Ifagameiscalledbeforecompletionofthenumberofinningsandconditionsasspecifiedin4-2-3,theumpireshalldeclarethecontest“nogame,”unlessplayisterminatedby4-2-4.Bystateassociationadoption,aregulationcalledgamewhereawinnercannotbedetermined(see4-2-3)shallbecountedas½gamewonand½gamelostforeachteam.

SECTION4FORFEITEDGAME

ART.1...Agameshallbeforfeitedtotheoffendedteambytheumpirewhenateam:

a.islateinappearingorinbeginningplayaftertheumpirecalls“Play.”Stateassociationsareauthorizedtospecifythetimeframeand/orcircumstancebeforeaforfeitwillbedeclaredforalatearrivalbyoneoftheteams;or

b.refusestocontinueplayafterthegamehasstarted;or

c.delaysmorethanareasonableamountoftimeinresumingplay,orinnotobeyingtheumpire’sordertoremoveaplayerforviolationoftherules;or

d.persistsintacticsdesignedtodelayorshortenthegame;or

e.willfullyandpersistentlyviolatesanyoftherulesafterbeingwarnedbytheumpire;or

f.isunabletoprovideatleastnineplayerstostartthegameorcannotprovideeightplayerstofinishthegame;or

NOTES:

1.Anoutwillbecalledeachtimethatspotinthebattingordercomestobat.Iftheoffensiveplayermustbesubstitutedforafterreachingbase,themostrecentbatternotonbaseisallowedtorunforthatplayer.

2.Ateamplayingwithfewerthannineplayersmayreturntonineplayers.

g.onitshomefield,failstocomplywiththeumpire’sordertoputthefieldinconditionforplay.

ART.2...Scoreofaforfeitedgameis7to0exceptifthegameisforfeitedafterthenumberofinningsrequiredforaregulationgameandtheoffendingteamisbehind.Thenthescoreremainsasrecorded.Iftheoffendingteamisleading,thescoreshallbe7to0.

SECTION5PROTESTEDGAME

Itisoptionalonthepartofastateassociationastowhetherprotestsarepermitted.Whenallowed,protestsarepermittedregardingrulesonethroughnineonly.Whenprotestsaresubmittedtoorganizationswhichdoallowthefiling,suchprotestmustbesubmittedusingaprescribedprocedure(10-2-3i).Allindividualandteamaveragesshallbeincludedintheofficialrecords,exceptthatnopitchershallbecreditedwithavictoryorchargedwithalossinsuchagame,ifthegameisnotregulation.

Rule5DeadBall—SuspensionofPlay

SECTION1DEADBALL

ART.1...Ballbecomesdeadimmediatelywhen:

a.apitchtouchesabatterorhisclothing(8-1-1d),arunner(8-3-1a);

1.Theballbecomesdeadeventhoughthebatterstrikesatit(8-1-1d).

b.theballisillegallybatted(7-3-2and7-4-1a)orisintentionallystruckasecondtimewiththebatasin8-4-1d;

c.thebatterentersthebatter’sboxwithanillegalbat;

d.afoulball(2-16-1):

1.touchesanyobjectotherthanthegroundoranypersonotherthanafielder;or

2.goesdirectlyfromthebattothecatcher’sprotector,maskorpersonwithoutfirsttouchingthecatcher’sgloveorhand;

3.orbecomesanuncaughtfoul;or

e.thereisinterferencebyarunner,batter-runner(8-4-1g),oraretiredrunner(3-3-1m,8-4-1a,hor8-4-2b,e,f,gork),thebatter(7-3-5),orbyanyperson(3-2-3);

f.afairbattedball:

1.touchesarunneroranumpirebeforetouchinganyfielderandbeforepassinganyfielderotherthanthepitcher,

2.touchesarunnerafterpassingthroughorbyaninfielderandanotherinfieldercouldhavemadeaplayontheball,

3.touchesaspectator,

4.goesoverorthroughorwedgesinthefieldfence,or

5.lodgesinplayer'sorumpire'sequipmentoruniform;or

g.apitchoranyotherthrownball:

1.istouchedbyaspectator;

2.isintentionallytouchedbyanon-participatingsquadmember;

3.goesintoastandorotherdead-ballareaorplayers’bench(evenifitreboundstothefield),oroverorthroughorwedgesinthefieldfence(8-3-3cord);

4.lodgesinanumpire’s,catcher’soroffensiveplayer’sequipmentoruniform;or

h.theumpirehandlesaliveballorcalls“Time”forinspectingtheballorforanyotherreason,includingitemsinSection2orgivesthe“DoNotPitchSignal”orinadvertentlyannounces“Foul”onaballthattouchestheground;or

i.afielder,aftercatchingafairorfoulball(flyorlinedrive),leavesthefieldofplaybysteppingwithbothfeetorbyfallingintoabench,dugout,stand,bleacher,oroveranyboundaryorbarriersuchasafence,rope,chalkline,orapregamedeterminedimaginaryboundaryline;or

j.aninfielderintentionallydropsafairfly,fairlinedriveorfairbuntinflightwithatleastfirstbaseoccupiedandwithlessthantwoouts.

EXCEPTION:Infield-flyrule(2-19).

k.abalkoranillegalpitchiscommitted;or

l.abatted,thrownorpitchedballtouchesadesignatedmediaareaoranyoneoranythingthatisentirelyorpartiallyinthedesignatedmediaarea.

1.Theumpirehastheauthoritytoremoveanymemberofthemediafornotstayinginorkeepingtheirequipmentinthedesignateddeadballarea.

m.whenmaliciouscontact(offensiveordefensive)occurs;

n.Backswinginterferenceoccurs.

DeadBallandDelayedDeadBallTable:

BallDeadImmediately

Activity Reference AwardsorPenalties References1. Illegalpitch(norunner) 5-1-1k 1. Thepitchisruledaball 6-1-2,3;

Pen;8-3-1a2. Pitchtouchesbatter 5-1-1a 2. Batterawardedfirstbase

exceptwhenhepermitstheballtotouchhimorpitchisastrike

8-1-1d

3. Pitchtouchesrunner 5-1-1a 3. Allrunnersadvanceonebaseexceptwhenpitchisastrikeforthirdout

8-3-1a;6-1-4

4. Illegallybattedball 5-1-1b 4. Batterisout.Runnersreturn 7-3-2;7-4-1a;8-2-2

5. Intentionallyhittingballsecondtime

5-1-1b 5. Batterisout.Runnersreturn 8-4-1d;8-2-2

6. Anuncaughtfoul 5-1-1d 6. Runnersreturntobasesoccupiedattimeofpitch

8-2-2

7. Interferencebyrunnerorretiredrunner(includingmaliciouscontact)

5-1-1e 7. Interfererisout,alsobatter-runnerifinterferencepreventedadoubleplayatfirstbase.Interfererisoutandsoisanotherrunnerifinterferencepreventedadoubleplayonthelatter.Otherrunnersreturn.Formaliciouscontacttheplayerguiltyoftheinfractionisejected

3-3-1m;8-2-6;8-4-1a,h;8-4-2b,f,g,k

8. Interferencewithfielderbyrunnerattemptingtocatchfoulflyball

5-1-1e 8. Runnerisoutandanotherrunnerisoutifinterferencepreventedapossibledoubleplay

8-4-2g

9. Interferencebyothersconnectedwithteam

5-1-1e 9. Runnerisout.Otherrunnersreturn

8-4-2g;3-2-3;8-2-6;7-3-5

10. Fairballoverfenceinflightorpreventedbyspectatororplayer’sdetachedequipment

5-1-1f 10. Awardallrunnershomebase 8-3-3a

11. Fairballtouchesaspectator 5-1-1f 11. Awardorpenalizeaccordingtoumpire’sjudgment

8-3-3e

12. Fairballbouncesover,throughor 5-1-1f 12. Awardallrunnerstwobases 8-3-3c

lodgesinfenceorlodgesinplayer’sorumpire'suniformorequipment(exceptballlodgedinglove)

frombaseoccupiedattimeofpitch

13. Fairballtouchesrunnerbeforeittouchesaninfielderorafteritpassesanyinfielderexceptthepitcherandanotherfielderhasaplay

5-1-1f 13. Hitrunnerisout.Batterawardedfirstbaseandcreditedwithsingle.Othersreturntobaseoccupiedattimeofinterferenceunlessforcedbybatter-runner

8-4-2k

14. Fairbattedballtouchesumpirebeforeittouchesafielderorpassesanyfielderexceptthepitcher

5-1-1f 14. Runnersreturntobasesoccupiedattimeofpitchunlessforcedbybatter-runner.Batterawardedfirstbaseandcreditedwithasingle.

8-1-2b

15. Athrownball,notbypitcherfromplate,goesintobench,stand,throughoroverfence

5-1-1g 15. Awardallrunnerstwobases 8-3-3c;8-3-4

16. Apitchorballthrownbypitcherfromplategoesintostand,bench,overorthroughfence,backstop,ortouchesaspectator(inliveballarea)orlodgesinumpire’sorcatcher’sequipment

5-1-1g 16. Awardallrunnersonebase 8-3-3d

17. Umpirehandlesaliveballorcallstimetoinspectballorforotherreason,includingitemsin5-1orumpireinadvertentlydeclares“Foul”asin2-16-1e

5-1-1h 17. Runnersreturntobasestheyhadreachedorpassedwhenballbecomesdead

8-2-9

18. Fairorfoulballiscaughtbyafielder,whothenstepsorfallswithbothfeetfromfieldofplayoveranyboundaryorbarriersuchasafence,rope,chalklineorpre-gamedeterminedimaginarylineorintoastand,benchordugout

5-1-1i 18. Awardallrunnersonebaseexceptwhencaughtballisthirdout

8-3-3d

19. Infielderintentionallydropsafairfly,fairlinedriveorfairbuntinflightwithatleastfirstbaseoccupiedandwithlessthantwoouts

5-1-1j 19. Batterisoutandallrunnersreturntobaseoccupiedattimeofpitch

8-4-1c

20. Balk 5-1-1k 20. Allrunnersadvanceonebase.Batterremainsatbat

6-2-4,5;8-3-1a;8-3-4

21. Umpiregives“donotpitchsignal”

5-1-1h 21. Noplaycantakeplace 5-2-1

22. Awardintentionalbaseonballs 5-1-3 22. Batterawardedfirstbase 8-1-1c23. Batterentersboxwithanillegal

bat5-1-1c 23. Batterisout.Coachis

restrictedtothedugout/benchuponfirstoffense,then

7-4-1a;1-3-5;4-1-3bPENALTY

ejectedaftersecondoffense

24. Batterrefusestoenterboxafterbeingwarnedbyumpire

7-3-4 24. Strikeiscalled 7-3-1PENALTY

25. Interferencebybatterwhohitsthrowfromthepitcher,notincontactwithpitcher’splatewhenrunnerisadvancingtohomebase

5-1-1b 25. Withlessthantwoouts,therunnerisout.Otherwisebatterisout

7-3-5PENALTY

26. Abatted,thrownorpitchedballtouchesadesignatedmediaareaoranyoneoranythingthatisentirelyorpartiallyinthedesignatedmediaarea

5-1-1l 26. Awardeachrunnerthefollowingtwobases—fairbattedballorthrownballnotbypitcherincontactwiththepitcher’splate;onebase—throworpitchbypitcher

8-3-3c

27. DefensiveMaliciousContact 5-1-1m 27. Umpirewillrulesafeoroutontheplayandawardrunner(s)appropriatebase(s)perhisjudgement

8-4-2e

28. Battercontactsthecatcherorhisequipmentpriortothetimeofthepitch

5-1-1n 28. Theballisdeadimmediatelyandthereisnopenalty

2-21-5

AfterInfraction,BallNotDeadUntilUmpireCalls“Time”

Activity Reference AwardsorPenalties References1. Interferencebybatterwhen

attemptedputoutisonrunnerotherthanathome

5-1-2a 1. Withtwoout,batterisout.Otherwise,ifattemptonrunnerisunsuccessful,ballisdead,batterisoutandrunnersreturn.Ifthirdstrike,batterisoutandumpirecancallasecondout

7-3-5;8-2-6;8-4-2g

2. Interferencebybatterwhenrunnerisadvancingtohomeplate(otherthanhittingathrowfromthepitcher,notincontactwithpitcher’splate)

5-1-2a 2. Runnerisoutunlesstwoareout,thenbatterisout.Ifrunnerisputout,ballremainsalive

7-3-5;8-4-2l

3. Obstructionwithbatterbycatcherorfielder

5-1-2b 3. Ifbatterandallrunnersattemptingtostealorwhoareforceddonotadvance,awardeachonebase

8-1-1e;8-3-1c

4. Obstruction 5-1-2b;5-1-3

4. Ifobstructedrunnerandallotherrunnershinderedbytheobstructiondonotreachbasestheyotherwisewouldhavereached,awardrunneror

8-3-2

runnerssuchbases5. Intentionallytouchingbatted

ballwithdetachedplayerequipmentoverfairground,oroverfoulgroundwhichmightbecomefairball

5-1-2b 5. Awardbatter-runnerandrunnersthreebasesifnotmade

8-3-3b

6. Intentionallytouchingthrownball(includingapitch)withdetachedplayerequipment

5-1-2b 6. Awardrunnerstwobasesifnotmade

8-3-3c

7. Offensiveteampersonnelcalls“Time”orusesanyothercommandorcommitsanactforthepurposeoftryingtocauseopposingpitchertobalk

5-1-2d 7. Norunnersallowedtoadvance.Ejectoffenderfromthegame

3-3-1n

8. Interferencewithcatcherbyumpire

5-1-2c 8. Ifrunnerisnotputout,runnersreturn

8-3-5

9. Deliberatelyremovingbattinghelmetinliveballterritorywhileballisalive

5-1-2e 9. Teamwarning.Subsequentplayersonthatteamtoviolateruleareejected

1-1-5,1-5-1

10. Useofillegalglove/mitt 5-1-2g 10. Awardfourbasesforhomerunoverfence,threebasesforotherfairbattedball,twobasesforthrownorpitchedball

8-3-3a-c

ART.2...Itisadelayeddeadballwhen:

a.thereisinterferencebyabatter(Exception7-3-5PENALTY),

1.Whenthebatterinterfereswiththecatcherattemptingtoplayonarunner,ifanoutdoesnotresultattheendofthecatcher’sthrow,theballshallbecomedeadimmediately.

b.acatcheroranyfielderobstructsabatterorrunner;orobstructstheballthroughuseofdetachedplayerequipment(8-3-3);

c.umpireinterfereswiththecatcherwhoisattemptingtothrow;

d.anypersonnelconnectedwiththeoffensiveteamcalls“Time”orusesanyothercommandorcommitsanyactforthepurposeoftryingtocausetheopposingpitchertobalk;

e.anyonewhoisrequiredtowearabattinghelmetdeliberatelyremoves

hishelmet,whiletheballisinlive-ballterritoryandtheballislive;

f.aballtouchesanillegalglove/mitt.

ART.3...Theballbecomesdeadwhentimeistakentomakeanawardwhenacatcheroranyfielderobstructsarunner,whenanintentionalbaseonballsistobeawarded,orwhenbaserunningpenaltiesareimposed.

ART.4...Afteradeadball,theballbecomeslivewhenitisheldbythe-pitcherinalegalpitchingposition,providedthepitcherhasengagedthepitcher’splate,thebatterandthecatcherareintheirrespectiveboxes,andtheumpirecalls“Play”andgivestheappropriatesignal.

SECTION2SUSPENSIONOFPLAY

ART.1...“Time”shallbecalledbytheumpireandplayissuspendedwhen:

a.theballbecomesdead(5-1-1,5-1-3);

b.theumpireconsiderstheweatherorgroundconditionsunfitforplay;

1.After30minutes,hemaydeclarethegameended.

c.aplayer,benchpersonnelorspectatorisorderedfromthegrounds,oraplayerisorderedtosecureprotectiveequipment;

d.anumpireorplayerisincapacitated,exceptthatifinjuryoccursduringaliveball,timeshallnotbecalleduntilnofurtheradvanceorputoutispossible;

1.Ifthereisamedicalemergencyorif,intheumpire’sjudgment,furtherplaycouldjeopardizetheinjuredplayer’ssafety,“Time”shallbecalled.

e.aplayerorcoachrequests“Time”anditisgrantedbytheumpireforasubstitution,conferencewiththepitcherorforsimilarcause;or

f.theumpiresuspendsplayforanyothercause,includinganawardofabaseafteraninfraction,orforinspectionoftheball.

ART.2...Whentheballbecomesdead:

a.noactionbythedefensecancauseaplayertobeputout(unlessitisadead-ballappeal);

b.arunnermayreturntoabasehelefttoosoononacaughtflyballorthatwasnottouchedduringaliveball;

1.Arunnerwhoisonorbeyondasucceedingbasewhentheballbecamedead,oradvancesandtouchesasucceedingbaseaftertheballbecamedead,maynotreturnandshallbecalledoutupon

properandsuccessfulappeal(8-4-2q).

c.anyrunnermayadvancewhenawardedabase(s)foranactwhichoccurredbeforetheballbecamedeadprovidedanybasein(b)aboveisretouchedandallbasesaretouchedintheirproperorder(8-1-2,8-2-1,8-3)

Rule6Pitching

SECTION1PITCHING

ART.1...Thepitchershallpitchwhilefacingthebatterfromeitherawindupposition(Art.2)orasetposition(Art.3).Thepositionofhisfeetdeterminewhetherhewillpitchfromthewinduporthesetposition.Heshalltakehissignfromthecatcherwithhispivotfootincontactwiththepitcher’splate.Thepitchingregulationsbeginwhenheintentionallycontactsthepitcher’splate.Turningtheshoulderstocheckrunnerswhileincontactwiththepitcher’splateinthesetpositionislegal.Turningtheshouldersafterbringingthehandstogetherduringorafterthestretchisabalk.Heshallnotmakeaquick-returnpitchinanattempttocatchabatteroffbalance.Thecatchershallhavebothfeetinthecatcher’sboxatthetimeofthepitch.Ifapitcherisambidextrous,theumpireshallrequirethepitchertofaceabatteraseitheraleft-handedpitcherorright-handedpitcher,butnotboth.

ART.2...Forthewind-upposition,thepitcherisnotrestrictedastohowheshallholdtheball.Apitcherassumesthewinduppositionwhenhishandsare:(a)togetherinfrontofthebody;(b)bothhandsareathisside;(c)eitherhandisinfrontofthebodyandtheotherhandisathisside.Thepitcher’snon-pivotfootshallbeinanypositiononorbehindalineextendingthroughthefrontedgeofthepitcher’splate.Heislimitedtonotmorethantwopumpsorrotations.Afterhestartshismovementtopitch,hemustcontinuethemotionwithoutinterruptionoralteration.Withhisfeetinthewind-upposition,thepitchermayonlydeliverapitchorstepbackwardoffthepitcher’splatewithhispivotfootfirst.Afterthepitcherhasplacedhispivotfootclearlybehindtheplate,hehastherighttochangetothesetpositionorthroworfeinttoabasethesameasthatofanyinfielder.Duringdelivery,hemaylifthisnon-pivotfootinastepforward,astepsideways,orinastepbackwardandastepforward,butheshallnototherwiselifteitherfoot.

ART.3...Forthesetposition,thepitchershallhavetheballineitherhisglovedhandorhispitchinghand.Hispitchinghandshallbedownathissideorbehindhisback.Beforestartinghisdelivery,heshallstandwithhisentirenon-pivotfootinfrontofalineextendingthroughthefrontedgeofthepitcher'splateandwithhispivotfootincontactwithordirectlyinfrontofandparalleltothepitcher'splate.Heshallgotothesetpositionwithoutinterruptionandinonecontinuousmotion.Heshallcometoacompleteanddiscerniblestop(achangeofdirectionisnotconsideredanacceptablestop)

withtheballinbothhandsinfrontofthebodyandhisgloveatorbelowhischin.Naturalpreliminarymotionssuchasonlyonestretchmaybemade.Duringthesepreliminarymotionsandduringthesetpositionuntiladeliverymotionoccurs,thepitchermayturnonhispivotfootorliftitinajumpturntostepwiththenon-pivotfoottowardabasewhilethrowingorfeintingasoutlinedin6-2-4and2-28-5,orhemaylifthispivotfootinastepbackwardoffthepitcher'splatewhichmustbeinorpartiallywithinthe24-inchlengthofthepitcher'splate.Inordertochangetothewind-upposition,hemustfirststepclearlybackwardoffthepitcher'splatewithhispivotfootfirst.Afterthepitcherhasplacedhispivotfootonthegroundclearlybehindtheplate,hethenhastherighttothroworfeinttoabasethesameasthatofanyotherinfielder.

PENALTY(Arts.1,2,3):Theballisdeadimmediatelywhenanillegalpitchoccurs.Ifthereisnorunner,aballisawardedthebatter.Ifthereisarunner,suchillegalactisabalk.Inbothsituations,theumpiresignalsdeadball.

ART.4...Eachlegalpitchshallbedeclaredbytheumpireasastrike,ball,fairorfoulhitoradeadball.Apitchdroppedduringdeliveryandwhichcrossesafoullineshallbecalledaball.Otherwise,itwillbecallednopitch.Apitchdroppedduringdeliverywithatleastonerunneronbasewouldbeabalkifitdoesnotcrossafoulline.

ART.5...Whenapitcherisattemptingtofieldabattedorthrownballoristhrowingtoabasewhilehispivotfootisclearlyoffhisplate,hisstatusisthatofaninfielderexceptthatifabattedballpassesbutdoesnottouchhimandthenstrikesanumpireorarunner,theballmaybecomedeadbecauseofinterference(8-4-2g,8-4-2k).

ART.6...Eachstateassociationshallhaveapitchingrestrictionpolicybasedonthenumberofpitchesthrowntoaffordpitchersarequiredrestperiodbetweenpitchingappearances.

SECTION2INFRACTIONSBYPITCHER

ART.1...Illegalactsinclude:

a.applyingaforeignsubstancetotheball;

b.spittingontheballorglove;

c.rubbingtheballontheglove,clothingorpersoniftheactdefacestheball;

d.discoloringtheballwithdirt;

e.bringingthepitchinghandincontactwiththemouthwithoutdistinctlywipingoffthepitchinghandbeforeittouchestheball;

f.wearinganyitemsonthehands,wristsorarmsthatmaybedistractingtothebatter;

g.wearingorplacingtape,bandagesorotherforeignmaterial(otherthanrosin)onthefingersorpalmofhispitchinghandthatcouldcomeincontactwiththeball;

h.wearingaglove/mittthatincludesthecolorswhiteorgray;

i.wearingexposedundershirtsleevesthatarewhiteorgray.

NOTE:Underumpiresupervision,thepitchermaydryhishandsbyusingafinelymeshedclothbagofpowderedrosin.Hemayrubtheballwithhisbarehandstoremoveanyextraneouscoating.

PENALTY:Fordefacingtheball(a-d),theballisdeadimmediately.Theumpiremayejectthepitcher.Ifsuchdefacedballispitchedandthendetected,itisanillegalpitch.Forinfraction(e),aballshallbeawardedeachtimeapitcherviolatesthisruleandsubsequentlyengagesthepitchingplate.Forinfraction(f-i),theinfractionmustbecorrectedbeforethenextpitch.In(f),theumpirehassoleauthoritytojudgewhetherornotanitemisdistractingandshallhavethatitemremoved.

ART.2...Delayofthegameincludes:

a.throwingtoanyplayerotherthanthecatcher,whenthebatterisinthebatter’sbox,unlessitisanattempttoretirearunner;

PENALTY:Thepitchershallbeejectedfromthegameafterawarning.

b.consumingtimeastheresultofthecoachorhisrepresentativeconferringwithadefensiveplayerorplayersafterbeingchargedwiththreeconferences(3-4-1);

PENALTY:Thepitchershallbereplacedaspitcherforthedurationofthegame.

c.failingtopitchormakeorattemptaplay,includingalegalfeint,within20secondsafterhehasreceivedtheball.

PENALTY:Thebattershallbeawardedoneball.

NOTE:Umpiresshallrequirethattheballbereturnedpromptlytothepitcher.

EXCEPTION:Thestartingpitchersmaywarmupbyusingnotmorethaneightthrows,completedinoneminute(timedfromthefirstthrow).Whenapitcherisreplacedduringaninningorpriortoaninning,thereliefpitchermaynotusemorethaneightthrowscompletedinoneminute(timedfromthefirstthrow).Atthebeginningofeachsubsequentinning,thepitchermaywarmupbyusingnotmorethanfivethrows,completedinoneminute(timedfromthethirdoutoftheprevioushalf-inning)(3-1-2).Ineithercase,theumpire-in-chiefmayauthorizemorethrowsbecauseofaninjury,ejectionorinclementweather.

ART.3...Intentionallypitchclosetoabatter.

PENALTY:Thepitchershallbeejectediftheactisjudgedtobe-intentional.Incaseofdoubt,theumpiremayfirstwarnthepitcher.

ART.4...Balk.Ifthereisarunnerorrunners,anyofthefollowingactsbyapitcherwhileheistouchingthepitcher’splateisabalk:

a.anyfeintingtowardthebatterorfirstbase,oranydroppingoftheball(eventhoughaccidental)andtheballdoesnotcrossafoulline(6-1-4);

b.failingtostepwiththenon-pivotfootdirectlytowardabase(occupiedorunoccupied)whenthrowingorfeintingthereinanattempttoputout,ordrivebackarunner;orthrowingorfeintingtoanyunoccupiedbasewhenitisnotanattempttoputoutordrivebackarunner;

c.makinganillegalpitchfromanyposition(6-1,6-2-1a-d);

d.failingtopitchtothebatterinacontinuousmotionimmediatelyafteranymovementofanypartofthebodysuchashehabituallyusesinhisdelivery;

1.Ifthepitcher,witharunneronbase,stopsorhesitatesinhisdeliverybecausethebatterstepsoutofthebox(a)withonefootor(b)withbothfeetor(c)holdsuphishandtorequest“Time,”itshallnotbeabalk.In(a)and(c),thereisnopenaltyoneitherthebatterorthepitcher.Theumpireshallcall“Time”andbeginplayanew.In(b),astrikeshallbecalledonthebatterforviolationof7-3-1.In(a),(b)and(c),ifthepitcherlegallydeliverstheball,itshallbecalledastrikeandtheballremainslive.Thus,twostrikesarecalledonthebatterin(b).Iftheumpirejudgesthebatter’sactiontobeadeliberateattempttocreateabalk,hewillpenalizeaccordingto3-3-1n.

e.takingahandofftheballwhileinasetposition(6-1-3),unlesshepitchestothebatterorthrowstoabaseorhestepstowardandfeintsathrowtosecondorthirdbaseasin(b);or

f.failingtopitchtothebatterwhentheentirenon-pivotfootpassesbehindtheperpendicularplaneofthebackedgeofthepitcher’splate,exceptwhenfeintingorthrowingtosecondbaseinanattempttoputoutarunner.

ART.5...Itisalsoabalkifarunnerorrunnersareonbaseandthepitcher,whileheisnottouchingthepitcher’splate,makesanymovementnaturally-associatedwithhispitch,orheplaceshisfeetonorastridethepitcher’splate,orpositionshimselfwithinapproximatelyfivefeetofthepitcher’s

platewithouthavingtheball.

Rule7Batting

SECTION1POSITIONANDBATTINGORDER

ART.1...Eachplayeroftheteamatbatshallbecomethebatterandshalltakehispositionwithinabatter’sbox,oneithersideofhomeplate,intheorderinwhichhisnameappearsonthelineupcardasdeliveredtotheumpirepriortothegame(4-1-3).Thisordershallbefollowedduringtheentiregameexceptthatanenteringsubstituteshalltakethereplacedplayer’splaceinthebattingorder.Abatterisinproperorderifhefollowstheplayerwhosenameprecedeshisinthelineup,eventhoughsuchprecedingbattermayhavebattedoutoforder.Animproperbatterisconsideredtobeatbatassoonasheisinthebatter’sboxandtheballislive.Whentheimproperbatter’sinfractionisfirstdiscoveredbyeitherteam,timemayberequestedandtheimproperbatterreplacedbytheproperbatterwiththeimproperbatter’sballandstrikecountstillineffect,providedtheinfractionisdetectedbeforetheimproperbatterisputoutorbecomesabaserunner.Onlythedefensiveteammayappealbattingoutoforderafterthebatterhascompletedhistimeatbat.Anyoutsmadeontheplaystand.Anoutforbattingoutofordersupersedesanoutbytheimproperbatteronaplay.Whiletheimproperbatterisatbat,ifarunneradvancesbecauseofastolenbase,balk,wildpitchorpassedball,suchadvanceislegal.

ART.2...Afterthefirstinning,thefirstbatterineachinningshallbethe-playerwhosenamefollowsthatofthelastbatterwhocompletedhistimeatbatintheprecedinginning.

PENALTIES:Forbattingoutoforder(Arts.1and2):

1.Abattershallbecalledout,onappeal,whenhefailstobatinhisproperturnandanotherbattercompletesatimeatbatinhisplace.

2.Whenanimproperbatterbecomesarunnerorisputoutandthedefensiveteamappealstotheumpirebeforethefirstlegalorillegalpitch,or,playorattemptedplay,orpriortoanintentionalbaseonballsorbeforetheinfieldersleavethediamondifahalf-inningisending,theumpireshalldeclaretheproperbatteroutandreturnallrunnerstothebaseoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch.

3.Whenanimproperbatterbecomesarunnerorisputoutandalegal

pitchorillegalpitchhasbeendeliveredtothesucceedingbatter,oranintentionalbaseonballshasoccurred,orallinfieldershaveleftthediamondifahalfinningisending,andbeforeanappealismade,theimproperbatterbecomestheproperbatterandtheresultsofhistimeatbatbecomelegal.

4.Whentheproperbatteriscalledoutbecausehehasfailedtobatinturn,thenextbattershallbethebatterwhosenamefollowsthatoftheproperbatterthuscalledout.

5.Whenanimproperbatterbecomesaproperbatterbecausenoappealisproperlymadeasabove,thenextbattershallbethebatterwhosenamefollowsthatofsuchlegalizedimproperbatter.Theinstantanimproperbatter’sactionsarelegalized,thebattingorderpicksupwiththenamefollowingthatofthelegalizedimproperbatter.

NOTE:Whenseveralplayersbatoutoforderbeforediscoverysothataplayer’stimeatbatoccurswhileheisarunner,suchplayerremainsonbase,butheisNOToutasabatter.

SECTION2STRIKES,BALLSANDHITS

ART.1...Astrikeischargedtothebatterwhen:

a.apitchentersanypartofthestrikezoneinflightandisnotstruckat;

b.apitchisstruckatandmissed(evenifthepitchtouchesthebatter);

c.apitchbecomesafoulwhenthebatterhaslessthantwostrikes;

d.apitchbecomesafoultip(evenonthirdstrike)orafoulfromanattemptedbunt;

e.abatterdelays(6-2-4d-1and7-3-1);or

f.abattedballcontactsthebatterinthebatter’sbox(foulball).

ART.2...Aballiscreditedtothebatterwhenapitchisnottouchedbythebatandisnotastrikeorwhenthereisanillegalpitch(6-1PENALTY,6-1-4)orpitcherdelay(6-2-2c).

ART.3...Afoulballorafairhit(whichmaybeabunt)occurswhenapitchistouchedbythebatofthebatterwhoisinhisbox(2-5-1,2-16-1,2).

SECTION3BATTINGINFRACTIONS—ABATTERSHALLNOT:

ART.1...Delaythegamebyfailingtotakehispositionpromptlyinthe-batter’sboxwithin20seconds.Thebattermustkeepatleastonefootinthe-batter’sboxthroughoutthetimeatbat.

EXCEPTION:Abattermayleavethebatter’sboxwhen:

a.thebatterswingsatapitch,

b.thebatterisforcedoutoftheboxbythepitch,

c.thebatterattemptsa“dragbunt,”

d.thepitcherorcatcherfeintsorattemptsaplayatanybase,

e.thepitcherleavesthedirtareaofthepitchingmoundortakesapositionmorethanfivefeetfromthepitcher’splateafterreceivingtheball,

f.amemberofeitherteamrequestsandisgranted“Time,”

g.thecatcherleavesthecatcher’sboxtoadjusthisequipmentorgivedefensivesignals,or

h.thecatcherdoesnotcatchthepitchedball.

PENALTY:Forfailureofthebattertobereadywithin20secondsaftertheballhasbeenreturnedtothepitcher,theumpireshallcallastrike.Ifthebatterleavesthebatter’sbox,delaysthegame,andnoneoftheaboveexceptionsapply,theplateumpireshallchargeastriketothebatter.Thepitcherneednotpitch,andtheballremainslive.

ART.2...Hittheballwhileeitherfootorkneeistouchingthegroundcompletelyoutsidethelinesofthebatter’sboxortouchinghomeplate.

ART.3...Disconcertthepitcherbysteppingfromtheboxononesideofhomeplatetotheboxontheothersidewhilethepitcherisinpositionready

topitch.

PENALTY:ForinfractionofArticles2and3,theballbecomesdeadimmediatelyandthebatterisout.

ART.4...Permitapitchedballtotouchhim.

PENALTY:Thebatterremainsatbat(pitchisaballorstrike)unlesspitchwasathirdstrikeorballfour.

ART.5...Interferewiththecatcher’sfieldingorthrowingby:

a.leaningoverhomeplate,

b.steppingoutofthebatter’sbox,

c.makinganyothermovement,includingfollow-throughinterference,whichhindersactionsathomeplateorthecatcher’sattempttoplayonarunner,or

d.failingtomakeareasonableefforttovacateacongestedareawhenthereisathrowtohomeplateandthereistimeforthebattertomoveaway.

PENALTY:Whentherearetwoouts,thebatterisout.Whentherearenottwooutsandtherunnerisadvancingtohomeplate,iftherunneristaggedout,theballremainsliveandinterferenceisignored.Otherwise,theballisdeadandtherunneriscalledout.Whenanattempttoputoutarunneratanyotherbaseisunsuccessful,thebatterisoutandallrunnersmustreturntobasesoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch.Ifthepitchisathirdstrikeandintheumpire'sjudgmentinterferencepreventsapossibledoubleplay(additionalouts),twomayberuledout.[8-4-2g,8-4-2l(1)]

ART.6...Ifthebatbreaksandishitbytheballorhitsarunnerorafielder,nointerferenceshallbecalled.Ifawholebatisthrownandinterfereswithadefensiveplayerattemptingaplay,interferencewillbecalled.

PENALTY:Thebatterisoutandrunnersreturn.If,intheumpire’sjudgment,interferencepreventedapossibledoubleplay,twoplayers

mayberuledout.

ART.7...Commitbackswinginterference.

PENALTY:Theballisimmediatelydead.

SECTION4BATTERISOUT

ART.1...Abatterisoutwhen:

a.thebatterentersthebatter’sboxwithanillegalbat(see1-3-5)orisdiscoveredhavingusedanillegalbat.Iftheinfractionisdiscoveredbeforethenextpitchfollowingtheturnatbatoftheplayerwhousedanillegalbat,thedefensemaytakethepenaltyortheresultoftheplay;

b.athirdstrikeisnotcaught,providedarunneroccupiesfirstbaseandtherearelessthantwoouts;

1.Iftherearetwooutsorifnorunneroccupiesfirstbase,thebatterisnotoutunlessthethirdstrikeiscaught.Heisentitledtotrytoreachfirstbasebeforebeingtaggedoutorthrownout.

c.athirdstrike(7-2)iscaught;

d.afoulball(otherthanafoultipnotathirdstrike)iscaughtbyafielderorsuchcatchispreventedbyaspectatorreachingintotheplayingarea(8-3-3e);

e.anattempttobuntonthirdstrikeisafoul;

f.anymemberoftheoffensiveteamorcoachotherthantherunner(s)interfereswithafielderwhoisattemptingtofieldafoulflyball;

g.ateamplayingwithonelessthanthestartingnumberandthatturntobatisreached;

h.heentersthegameasanillegalsubstituteandisdiscovered;or

i.heintentionallydeflectsafoulballwhichhasachanceofbecomingfair.

Rule8Baserunning

SECTION1WHENBATTERBECOMESARUNNER

ART.1...Abatterbecomesarunnerwiththerighttoattempttoscorebyadvancingtofirst,second,thirdandhomebasesinthelistedorderwhen:

a.hehitsafairball(2-5-1);

1.Hebecomesabatter-runnerwhenentitledtorun.

b.heischargedwithathirdstrike;

1.Ifthirdstrikeiscaught,heisoutaninstantafterhebecomesarunner.

c.anintentionalbaseonballsisawarded,orafourthballiscalledbytheumpire;

d.apitchedballhitshispersonorclothing,providedhedoesnotstrikeattheball;or

1.Ifhepermitsthepitchedballtotouchhim(7-3-4),oriftheumpirecallsthepitchedballastrike,thehittingofthebatterisdisregardedexceptthattheballisdead.Itisastrikeorballdependingonlocationofthepitch.

2.Ifabatter’sloosegarment,suchasashirtthatisnotwornproperly,istouchedbyapitchedball,thebatterisnotentitledtofirstbase.

e.thecatcheroranyotherdefensiveplayerobstructshim.Thecoachorcaptainoftheteamatbat,afterbeinginformedbytheumpire-in-chiefoftheobstruction,shallindicatewhetherornotheelectstodeclinetheobstructionpenaltyandaccepttheresultingplay.Suchelectionshallbemadebeforethenextpitch(legalorillegal),beforetheawardofanintentionalbaseonballs,orbeforetheinfieldersleavethediamond.Obstructionofthebatterisignoredifthebatter-runnerreachesfirstandallotherrunnersadvanceatleastonebase.

1.Anyrunnerattemptingtoadvance(i.e.,stealorsqueeze)ona

catcher’sobstructionofthebattershallbeawardedthebaseheisattempting.Ifarunnerisnotattemptingtoadvanceonthecatcher’sobstruction,heshallnotbeentitledtothenextbase,ifnotforcedtoadvancebecauseofthebatterbeingawardedfirstbase.Ifobstructionisenforced,allotherrunnersontheplaywillreturntobaseoccupiedattimeofthepitch.Thebatterisawardedfirstbase,ifhedidnotreachbase.

2.Ifobstructionisnotenforced,allotherrunnersadvanceattheirownrisk.

ART.2...Abatter-runnerisawardedfirstbaseif:

a.heisarunnerbecauseof8-1-1c,d,e;or

b.hisfairball,otherthananinfieldfly,becomesdead[5-1-1f(1),(2)]andprovidedaprecedingrunnerorretiredrunnerdoesnotinterfereinsuchawayastopreventapotentialdoubleplay(8-4-1h).

NOTE:Unlessawardedfirstbaseasabove,abatter-runnerisentitledtofirstbaseonlyifhereachesitbeforebeingtaggedoutorthrownoutorcalledoutforhittinganinfieldfly(8-4-1).

SECTION2TOUCHING,OCCUPYINGANDRETURNINGTOABASE

ART.1...Anadvancingrunnershalltouchfirst,second,thirdandthenhomeplateinorder,includingawardedbases.

ART.2...Areturningrunnershallretouchthebasesinreverseorder.Iftheballisdeadbecauseofanuncaughtfoul,itisnotnecessaryforareturning-runnertoretouchinterveningbases.Theumpirewillnotmaketheballliveuntiltherunnerreturnstotheappropriatebase.

ART.3...Anyrunnerwhomissesabasewhileadvancingmaynotreturntotouchitafterafollowingrunnerhasscored.

NOTE:Anyrunnerwhomissesthefirstbasetowhichheisadvancingandwhoislatercalledoutshallbeconsideredashavingadvancedonebase.

ART.4...Ifafairorfoulbattedballiscaught,otherthanafoultip,eachbaserunnershalltouchhisbaseafterthebattedballhastouchedafielder.(See8-4-1cforfielderintentionallydroppingtheballand8-4-2iforrunnerbeingputout.)

ART.5...Ifarunnerwhomissesanybase(includinghomeplate)orleavesabasetooearly,desirestoreturntotouchthebase,hemustdosoimmediately.Iftheballbecomesdeadandtherunnerisonorbeyondasucceedingbase,hecannotreturntothemissedbaseand,therefore,issubjecttobeingdeclaredoutuponproperandsuccessfulappeal.

PENALTY(Arts.1-5):Forfailuretotouchabase(advancingandreturning),orfailuretotagupassoonastheballistouchedonacaughtflyball,therunnermaybecalledoutifanappealismadebythedefensiveteam.Thedefensemayappealduringaliveballimmediatelyfollowingtheplayandbeforeapitch(legalorillegal),grantinganintentionalbaseonballs,orbeforethenextplayorattemptedplay.Iftheoffensiveteaminitiatesaplaybeforethenextpitch,thedefensiveteamdoesnotlosetherighttoappeal.Alive-ballappealmaybemadebyadefensiveplayerwiththeballinhispossessionbytaggingtherunnerortouchingthebasethatwasmissedorlefttooearly.Adead-

ballappealmaybemadebyacoachoranydefensiveplayerwithorwithouttheballbyverballystatingthattherunnermissedthebaseorleftthebasetooearly.Appealsmustbemade(1)beforethenextlegalorillegalpitch;(2)attheendofaninning,beforethepitcherandallinfieldershaveleftfairterritory;(3)beforeanintentionalbaseonballsisgranted;or(4)onthelastplayofthegame,anappealcanbemadeuntiltheumpire(s)leavethefieldofplay.NOTE:Whenaplaybyitsverynatureisimminentandisobvioustotheoffense,defenseandumpire(s),noverbalappealisnecessary,e.g.runnerattemptingtoretouchabasethatwasmissed,orafailuretotagupandathrowhasbeenmadetothatbaseorplatewhileaplayisinprogress.

ART.6...Appealproceduresandguidelines

a.Types

1.Missingabase

2.Leavingabaseonacaughtflyballbeforetheballisfirsttouched.

b.LiveBall.Inallgamesanappealmaybemadeduringaliveballbyanyfielderinpossessionoftheballtouchingthebasemissedorlefttoosoononacaughtflyball,orbytaggingtherunnercommittingtheviolationifheisstillontheplayingfield.

c.DeadBall.Thedead-ballappealmaybemade:1)Onceallrunnershavecompletedtheiradvancementandtimehasbeencalled,acoachoranydefensiveplayer,withorwithouttheball,maymakeaverbalappealonarunnermissingabaseorleavingabasetoosoononacaughtflyball.Theadministeringumpireshouldthenmakeadecisionontheplay.2)Iftheballhasgoneoutofplay,runnersmustbegiventheopportunitytocompletetheirbase-runningresponsibilitiesbeforethedead-ballappealcanbemade.

d.MayNotReturn.Arunnermaynotreturntotouchamissedbaseoronelefttoosoononacaughtflyballif:

1.hehasreachedabasebeyondthebasemissedorlefttoosoonandtheballbecomesdead,

2.hehasleftthefieldofplay,or

3.afollowingrunnerhasscored.

e.Advance.Runnersmayadvanceduringalive-ballappealplay.Ifatimeoutisrequestedforanappeal,theumpireshouldgrantit,andrunnersmaynotadvanceuntiltheballbecomesliveagain.

f.MoreThanOneAppeal.Multipleappealsarepermittedaslongastheydonotbecomeatravestyofthegame.

g.Awards.Anappealmustbehonoredevenifthebasemissedwasbeforeorafteranaward,unlessitwassubsequentlycorrected.

h.Tag-Ups.Ifarunnerleavesabasetoosoononacaughtflyballandreturnsinanattempttoretag,thisisconsideredatimeplayandnotaforceout.Iftheappealisthethirdout,allrunsscoredbyrunnersinadvanceoftheappealedrunnerandscoredaheadofthelegalappealwouldcount.

i.Fourth-OutAppeal.Anappealmaybemadeafterthethirdoutaslongasitismadeproperlyandtheresultingappealisanapparentfourthout.

j.EndofGame.Ifanysituationariseswhichcouldleadtoanappealbythedefenseonthelastplayofthegame,theappealmustbemadewhileanumpireisstillonthefieldofplay.

k.Third-outBaserunningInfraction.Ifabaserunninginfractionisthethirdout,runsscoredbythefollowingrunner(s)wouldnotcount.Withtwoouts,ifthebasemissedwasthefirsttowhichthebatterorrunnerwasforcedtoadvance,norunswouldscore.Whenarunnerislegallyreturningafteraflyballhasbeencaught,hecanbeputoutbybeingtaggedwiththeballbyadefensiveplayerormerelybythedefensiveplayerwiththeballtouchingthebaseoccupiedbytherunneratthetimeofthepitch.

l.LastTimeBy.Ifarunnercorrectlytouchesabasethatwasmissed(eitherinadvancingorreturning),thelasttimehewasbythebase,thatlasttouchcorrectsanypreviousbaserunninginfraction.(8-4-2q

EXCEPTION)

ART.7...Abatter-runnerwhoreachesfirstbasesafelyandthenoverrunsoroverslidesmayimmediatelyreturnwithoutliabilityofbeingputoutprovidedhedoesnotattemptorfeintanadvancetosecond.

ART.8...Arunneracquirestherighttotheproperunoccupiedbaseifhetouchesitbeforeheisout.Heisthenentitledtothisbaseuntilheisputout,oruntilhelegallytouchesthenextbasewhileitisunoccupiedoruntilafollowingrunnerisforced(2-24-1)toadvancetothebasehehasoccupied.Arunnerneednotvacatehisbasetopermitafieldertocatchaflyballintheinfield,buthemaynotinterfere.

a.Iftworunnersareonthesamebase,atthesametimeandbotharetagged,thefollowingrunnerisdeclaredout.Onaforceplaysituation,therunnerwhoisforcedtoadvanceshallbedeclaredoutwhentaggedonthebaseorthebasetowhichheisforcedistouchedbyafielderwhileinpossessionoftheball.

ART.9...Eachrunnershalltouchhisbaseaftertheballbecomesdead.Allawardedbasesmustbetouchedintheirproperorder.Therunnerreturnstothebasehehadreachedorpassedwhentheballbecamedead.Intheeventofinterference,arunnerreturnstothebasehehadlegallyreachedatthetimeoftheinterference.Iftheinterferencedoesnotcausethebattertobeoutandanyotherrunnercannotreturntothebaselastlegallyoccupiedatthetimeoftheinterference,heisadvancedtothenextbase.

a.Therunnerreturnstothebaseoccupiedatthetimeofthepitchifhisadvancewasduringanuncaughtfoul.

SECTION3BASERUNNINGAWARDS

ART.1...Eachrunnerotherthanthebatter-runner(whoisgovernedby8-1-2)isawardedonebasewhen:

a.thereisabalk(6-1-4,6-2-4)orapitchstrikesarunner(5-1-1a);

b.heisforcedfromthebaseheoccupiesbyafollowingrunnerwhomustadvancebecauseabatterreceivesafourthball,orishitbyapitchedball,orhitsafairballwhichbecomesdead(5-1-1f);

c.heisattemptingtostealorheisforcedfromthebaseheoccupiesbyabatter-runnerorrunnerwhomustadvancebecausethecatcherorany-fielderobstructsthebatter,suchassteppingonoracrosshomeorpushingthebattertoreachthepitchortouchingthebat(8-1-1e).Instancesmayoccurwhentheinfractionmaybeignored(8-1-1e).

ART.2...Whenarunnerisobstructedwhileadvancingorreturningtoabase,theumpireshallawardtheobstructedrunneraminimumofonebasebeyondhispositiononbasewhentheobstructionoccurred.Theumpireshallawardtheobstructedrunnerandeachotherrunner(s)anyadditionalbasesthatwouldnullifytheobstruction.

ART.3...Eachrunnerisawarded:

a.fourbases(home)ifafairballgoesoverafenceinflightorhitsafoulpoleabovethefence,orispreventedfromgoingoverbybeingtouchedbyaspectator,oristouchedbyanillegalglove/mittordetachedplayerequipmentwhichisthrown,tossed,kickedorheldbyafielder;

b.threebasesifabattedball(otherthaninitema)istouchedbyanillegalgloveormitt,orbydetachedplayerequipmentwhichisthrown,tossed,kickedorheldbyafielder,providedtheballwhentouchedisonoroverfairground,orisafairballwhileonoroverfoulground,orisoverfoulgroundinasituationsuchthatitmightbecomeafairball;

c.twobasesifafairbattedorthrownballbecomesdeadbecauseofbouncingoverorpassingthroughafence,orlodgesinadefensive

player'sorumpire'sequipmentoruniform(exceptballlodgedinglove);orifalivethrownball:

1.includingapitch,istouchedbyanillegalgloveormitt,orbydetachedplayerequipmentwhichisthrown,tossed,kickedorheldbyafielder;or

2.goesintoastandforspectators,dugoutorplayer’sbenchoroverorthroughorlodgesinafenceanditisnotthrownbyapitcherfromhisplateasin8-3-3d;

3.Whentworunnersarebetweenthesamebasesonanoverthrowintodeadballterritory,theleadrunnerreceivestwobasesandthefollowingrunnerisawardedone,sincebothrunnerscannotsharethesameawardedbase.

4.Runnersbetweensecondandthirdwouldscore,becausetheawarddoesnotresultinbothrunnersoccupyingthesamebase.

d.onebaseifapitchoranythrowbythepitcherfromhispitchingpositiononhisplategoesintoastandorbenchoroverorthroughorlodgesinafenceorbackstoportouchesaspectatororlodgesinanumpire’sorcatcher’sequipment;orwithlessthantwoouts,thebatterhitsafairorfoulball(flyorlinedrive)whichiscaughtbyafielder,whothenleavesthefieldofplaybysteppingwithbothfeetorbyfallingintoabench,dugout,stand,bleacheroroveranyboundaryorbarriersuchasafence,rope,chalklineorpre-gamedeterminedimaginaryboundaryline.Arunnershallnotbedeclaredoutifthefielderdeliberatelythrowsorcarriestheballintodeadballterritorytopreventthatrunnerwhohastouchedoradvancedbeyondasucceedingbasefromreturningtoamissedbaseorabaselefttoosoon.Awardtherunnertwobases.Thisallowstherunner(s)tocorrectanybase-runningerror.Defensemaystillappealtheplay.

e.basesasdeterminedbytheumpire,whoshallalsoimposesuchpenaltiesasinhisjudgmentwillnullifytheactofspectatorinterferencewithanythrownorbattedball.Theballshallbecomedeadatthemomentoftheinterference(8-3-3a,8-3-3b,8-3-3c,8-3-3d).Itisnotspectatorinterferenceifaspectatorphysicallyhindersafielderwhois

reachingintoadeadballareatomakeaplayonabattedorthrownball.

f.onebasebeyondthelastlegallyacquiredbase,ifintheumpire’sjudgmenttherunnerwasattemptingtoadvanceatthetimetheballbecomeslodgedinanoffensiveplayer’suniformorequipment.Ifthelodgedballoccursduringplaywhenthebatter-runnerwasattemptingtoreachfirstbase,thebatter-runnerwillbeawardedfirstbase.Precedingrunnerswillbeawardedbasesneededtocompletetheaward.

ART.4...Illegaluseofdetachedplayerequipment(8-3-3a,8-3-3b,8-3-3c)oranillegalglove/mittdoesnotcauseballtoimmediatelybecomedead.Ifeachrunneradvancestoorbeyondthebasewhichhewouldreachasaresultoftheaward,theinfractionisignored.Anyrunnerwhoadvancesbeyondthebasehewouldbeawardeddoessoathisownriskandmaybeputout.

ART.5...Anawardisfromthebasedeterminedasfollows:

a.Iftheawardisthepenaltyforaninfractionsuchasabalk,useofdetachedplayerequipment,oranillegalglove/mitt,theawardisfromthebaseoccupiedatthetimeoftheinfraction.

b.Ifanypitch(battedorunbatted)isfollowedbyadeadballbeforethepitcherisinpositionforthenextpitchandbeforethereisanythrowbythefieldingteam,anyawardisfromthebaseoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch.

Whenarunner,whoisreturningtotouchabaseafterabattedballhasbeencaughtispreventedfromdoingsobecauseathrownliveballhasbecomedead(5-1-1g),hisawardshallbefromthebaseheoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch.Inanysituationsotherthan(a)or(b),onabattedballwhichisthefirstplaybyaninfielder,allrunnersincludingthebatter-runnerareawardedtwobasesfromtheirpositionsatthetimeofthepitch.Forpurposesofthisrule,theactoffieldingisnotconsideredaplay.Ifeveryrunner,includingthebatter-runner,hasadvancedonebaseatthetimeofthefirstplay,theawardistwobasesfromthetimeofthethrow.Foranysubsequentplaybyaninfielderorforanythrowbyanoutfielder,theawardistwobasesfromthetimeofthethrow.

ART.6...Whenaplateumpirehinders,impedesorpreventsacatcher’sthrowattemptingtopreventastolenbaseorretirearunneronapickoffplay,

ifanoutisnotmadeattheendofthecatcher’sinitialthrow,theballshallbedeadandallrunnersshallreturntothebasesoccupiedatthetimeoftheinterference.

BASERUNNINGAWARDSTABLE:

NO.BASESAWARDEDDETERMINEDFROMBASENO.BASESAWARDEDOCCUPIEDATTIMEOF:

ONEBASE(runners)1. Balk 1. Infraction2. Pitchfrompitcher’splatethrownoutofplay 2.3. Throwfrompitcher’splategoesoutofplay 3. Throw4. Unintentionalcatchandcarry 4. Pitch5. *Catcherobstruction(ifattemptingtoadvance) 5. Pitch6. Forced(becausebatterisawarded1stbase) 6. Pitch7. Pitchstrikesrunner 7. Pitch

ONEBASE(batter)1. Walk 1. Pitch2. Pitchthrownoutofplayonballfour 2. Pitch3. *Batterisobstructed 3. Pitch4. Hitbypitch 4. Pitch5. Runnerinterference(unintentional) 5.6. Umpireinterference(hitbybattedball) 6. Pitch

7. Pitchlodgesindefensiveplayer’sorumpire’suniformorequipmentonballfour 7. Pitch

TWOBASES(batterandrunners)

1. Fairbattedballbouncesover,through,goesunder,lodgesinorunderfence 1. Pitch

2.#Fairbattedballorthrownballlodgesindefensiveplayer’sorumpire’suniformorequipment(exceptballlodgedinglove)

2. Pitch

3. *#Livethrownballorpitchtouchedbyillegalgloveormitt 3. Infraction

4.*#Livethrownballorpitchtouchedbydetachedplayerequipmentwhichisthrown,tossed,kickedorheldbyfielder

4. Infraction

5. Firstthrowbyinfielderandballgoesoutofplayorlodgedinorunderfence 5. Pitch

6.Foranysubsequentplaybyaninfielderorforanythrowbyanoutfielderandballgoesoutofplayorlodgesinorunderfence.

6. Throw

7. Intentionalcatchandcarry(runnersonly) 7. Pitch

THREEBASES(batterandrunners)

1. Fairbattedballcontactedwithdetachedplayerequipmentorillegalglove/mitt 1. Infraction

FOURBASES(batterandrunners)1. Fairbattedballoverfenceinflight 1. Pitch2. Fairbattedballhitsfoulpoleabovefenceinflight 2. Pitch

3. Fairbattedballpreventedfromgoingoverfencebecauseitistouchedbyspectator 3. Pitch

4.Fairbattedballpreventedfromgoingoverfencebecauseofcontactwithdetachedplayerequipmentorillegalglove/mitt

4. Pitch

UMPIREJUDGMENT1. Spectatorinterference 1. Infraction2. *Runner(s)obstruction(minimumofonebase) 2. Infraction3. Defensivemaliciouscontact 3. Infraction

*Awardonlyifinfractionisnotignored#Anawardtothebatter-runneronapitchisonlymadeifhehastherighttoadvancetofirstbase.

SECTION4RUNNERISOUT

ART.1...Thebatter-runnerisoutwhen:

a.heintentionallyinterfereswiththecatcher’sattempttofieldtheballafterathirdstrike;

b.hisfairhitorfoul(otherthanafoultipwhichisnotathirdstrike)iscaughtbyafielder,orsuchcatchispreventedbyaspectatorreachingintotheplayingfield;

c.hisfairfly,fairlinedriveorfairbuntinflightisintentionallydroppedbyaninfielderwithatleastfirstbaseoccupiedandbeforetherearetwoouts.Theballisdeadandtherunnerorrunnersshallreturntotheirrespectivebase(s).

1.Inthissituation,thebatterisnotoutiftheinfielderpermitsthefairfly,fairlinedriveorfairbuntinflighttodropuntouchedtotheground,exceptwhentheinfieldflyrule(2-19)applies(5-1-1j).

d.afterhittingorbuntingaball,heintentionallycontactstheballwiththebatasecondtimeinfairorfoulterritory.Theballisdeadandnorunner(s)advance.

1.Inthecaseofafoulball,itmusthaveachancetobecomefairintheumpire’sjudgment.

2.Ifthebatandballaccidentallycomeincontactwitheachotherasecondtimewhilethebatterisholdingthebatinthebatter’sbox,itisafoulball.

e.athirdstrikeiscaughtbythecatcher;orthethirdstrikeisnotcaughtwithfirstbaseoccupiedandtherearelessthantwoouts(2-16-2);

f.afteradroppedthirdstrike(see8-4-1e)orafairhit,iftheballheldbyanyfieldertouchesthebatterbeforethebattertouchesfirstbase;orifanyfielder,whileholdingtheballinhisgrasp,touchesfirstbaseortouchesfirstbasewiththeballbeforethebatter-runnertouchesfirstbase:or

g.herunsoutsidethethree-footrunninglane(lasthalfofthedistancefromhomeplatetofirstbase),whiletheballisbeingfieldedorthrowntofirstbase;or

1.Thisinfractionisignoredifitistoavoidafielderwhoisattemptingtofieldthebattedballoriftheactdoesnotinterferewithafielderorathrow.

2.Thebatterrunnerisconsideredoutsidetherunninglanelinesifeitherfootisoutsideeitherline.

h.anyrunnerorretiredrunnerinterferes(2-21-1,2-30-3)inawaywhichobviouslyhindersanobviousdoubleplay;or

i.onadroppedthirdstrike,hegivesupbyenteringthebenchordugoutarea,orwithtwooutshedoesnotattempttoreachfirstbasebeforeallinfieldersleavethediamondattheendofthehalf-inning;

j.hitsaninfieldflyandtheinfield-flyruleisineffect;

k.entersthegameasanillegalsubstituteandisdiscovered.

ART.2...Anyrunnerisoutwhenhe:

a.runsmorethanthreefeetawayfromadirectlinebetweenbasestoavoidbeingtaggedortohinderafielderwhiletherunnerisadvancingorreturningtoabase;

1.Thisisnotaninfractionifafielderattemptingtofieldabattedballisintherunner’sproperpathandiftherunnerrunsbehindthefieldertoavoidinterferingwithhim.

2.Whenaplayisbeingmadeonarunnerorbatter-runner,heestablisheshisbaselineasdirectlybetweenhispositionandthebasetowardwhichheismoving.

b.doesnotlegallyslideandcausesillegalcontactand/orillegallyalterstheactionsofafielderintheimmediateactofmakingaplay,oronaforceplay,doesnotslideinadirectlinebetweenthebases;or

1.Arunnermayslideinadirectionawayfromthefieldertoavoidmakingcontactoralteringtheplayofthefielder.

2.Runnersareneverrequiredtoslide,butifarunnerelectstoslide,theslidemustbelegal.(2-32-1,2)Jumping,hurdling,andleapingarealllegalattemptstoavoidafielderaslongasthefielderislyingontheground.Divingoverafielderisillegal.

PENALTY:Therunnerisout.Interferenceiscalledandtheballisdeadimmediately.Onaforce-playslidewithlessthantwoouts,therunnerisdeclaredout,aswellasthebatter-runner.Runnersshallreturntothebasesoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch.Withtwoouts,therunnerisdeclaredout.Thebatteriscreditedwithafielder’schoice.

c.doesnotlegallyattempttoavoidafielderintheimmediateactofmakingaplayonhim;or

PENALTY:Therunnerisout,theballremainsliveunlessinterferenceiscalled.

d.divesoverafielder;or

PENALTY:Therunnerisoutandtheballremainsliveunlessinterferenceoccursandisdeclared.

e.initiatesmaliciouscontact;

1.Maliciouscontactalwayssupersedesobstruction.Runner(s)willbeawardedappropriatebase(s)perumpire’sjudgment.

f.asarunnerorretiredrunner,failstoexecutealegalslide,ordoesnotattempttoavoidthefielderortheplayonaforceplayatanybase;or

g.intentionallyinterfereswithathroworathrownball;orhehindersafielderonhisinitialattempttofieldabattedball.Afielderisnotprotected,exceptfromintentionalcontactifhemisplaystheballandhastomovefromhisoriginallocation;orhisbeingputoutispreventedbyanillegalactbyanyoneconnectedwiththeteam(2-21-1,3-2-2,3)orbythebatter-runner;forrunnerreturningtobase(8-2-6);andforrunnerbeinghitbyabattedball(8-4-2k).If,inthejudgmentofthe

umpire,arunnerincludingthebatter-runnerinterferesinanywayandpreventsadoubleplayanywhere,twoshallbedeclaredout(therunnerwhointerferedandtheotherrunnerinvolved).Ifaretiredrunnerinterferes,andinthejudgmentoftheumpire,anotherrunnercouldhavebeenputout,theumpireshalldeclarethatrunnerout.Iftheumpireisuncertainwhowouldhavebeenplayedon,therunnerclosesttohomeshallbecalledout;or

1.Iftwofielderstrytofieldabattedballandtherunnercontactsoneorboth,theumpireshalldecidewhichoneisentitledtofieldtheballandthatfielderonlyisentitledtoprotection.Ifafielderdropsabattedballandcontactwitharunneroccursduringasubsequentattempttofieldtheball,thefielderhasthegreaterresponsibilityforavoidingcontact.

h.istouchedbyaliveballsecurelyheldbyafielderoristouchedbyafielder’sgloveorhandwiththeliveballheldtherein,whiletherunnerisnottouchinghisbase.

1.Ifabatter-runnersafelytouchesfirstbaseandthenoverslidesoroverrunsit,hemayimmediatelyreturntofirstbasewithoutliabilityofbeingtaggedout,providedhedidnotattempttorunorfeinttosecond.Also,ifanybasecomesloosefromitsfasteningwhenanyrunnercontactsit,suchrunnercannotbetaggedoutbecausethebaseslidesawayfromhim.

2.Theballisnotsecurelyheldifitisdroppedorjuggledaftertherunneristouched.

i.doesnotretouchhisbasebeforeafieldertagshimoutorholdstheballwhiletouchingsuchbaseafteranysituation(8-2-1,8-2-3,8-2-4).Umpiremayalsocallhimoutatendofplayingactionuponproperandsuccessfulappeal.Also,itisnotnecessaryforrunnertoretouchhisbaseafterafoultip(2-16-2);or

j.failstoreachthenextbasebeforeafieldereithertagstherunneroutorholdstheballwhiletouchingsuchbase,afterrunnerhasbeenforcedfromthebaseheoccupiedbecausethebatterbecamearunner(withballinplay)whenotherrunnerswereonfirstbase,oronfirstandsecond,or

onfirst,secondandthird.Thereshallbenoaccidentalappealsonaforceplay.

1.Norunnermaybeforcedoutifarunnerwhofollowshiminthebattingorderisfirstputout(includingabatter-runnerwhoisoutforaninfieldfly).

k.iscontactedbyafairbattedballbeforeittouchesaninfielder,orafteritpassesanyinfielder,exceptthepitcher,andtheumpireisconvincedthatanotherinfielderhasaplay(5-1-1f,6-1-5).

1.Ifarunneristouchinghisbasewhenheishitbyaninfieldfly,heisnotout,butthebatterisoutbytheinfieldflyrule.Theballisdead,evenintheexception.

2.Ifarunnerishitbyaninfieldflywhenheisnottouchinghisbase,bothheandthebatterareout.

l.attemptstoadvancetohomebasewhenthebatterinterfereswithaplayathomebase,withlessthantwoouts;or

1.Iftherearetwoouts,thebatterisoutbecauseofhisinterferenceandsinceheisthethirdout,therunnercannotscore.Butiftherearenottwoouts,therunnerisoutandthebatterisnotpenalized.

m.passesanunobstructedprecedingrunnerbeforesuchrunnerisout(includingawardedbases);or

n.runsbasesinreversetoconfuseopponentstomakeatravestyofthegame;or

o.positionshimselfbehindabasetogetarunningstart;or

p.afteratleasttouchingfirstbase,leavesthebaseline,obviouslyabandoninghisefforttotouchthenextbase;or

NOTE:Anyrunner,afterreachingfirstbase,wholeavesthebaselineheadingforthedugoutorhisdefensivepositionbelievingthatthereisnofurtherplay,shallbedeclaredoutiftheumpirejudgestheactoftherunnertobeconsideredabandoninghiseffortstorunthebases.

q.isonorbeyondasucceedingbasewhentheballisdeclareddead(5-2-2b-1)afterhavingleftabasetoosoononacaughtflyball,orhefailedtotouchaprecedingbase,orhecontinuesandtouchesasucceedingbaseaftertheballhasbecomedeadandthedefenseinitiatesaproperandsuccessfulappeal;

r.deliberatelyknockstheballfromafielder’shand.

s.isphysicallyassistedbyacoach.(3-2-2)

Rule9Scoring—RecordKeeping

SECTION1HOWATEAMSCORES

ART.1...Arunnerscoresoneruneachtimehelegallyadvancestoandtouchesfirst,second,thirdandthenhomeplatebeforetherearethreeoutstoendtheinning.

EXCEPTION:Arunisnotscorediftherunneradvancestohomeplateduringactioninwhichthethirdoutismadeasfollows:

a.bythebatter-runnerbeforehetouchesfirstbase;or

b.byanotherrunnerbeingforcedout;or

c.byaprecedingrunnerwhoisdeclaredoutuponappealbecausehefailedtotouchoneofthebasesorleftabasetoosoononacaughtflyball;or

d.whenathirdoutisdeclaredduringaplayresultingfromavaliddefensiveappeal,whichresultsinaforceout(thisouttakesprecedenceifenforcementofitwouldnegateascore);or

e.whenthereismorethanoneoutdeclaredbytheumpirewhichterminatesthehalfinning,thedefensiveteammayselecttheoutwhichistoitsadvantageasin2-20-2.Credittheputouttothenearestdesignatedbaseman.

EXAMPLE:Ifsecondbaseisinvolved,creditthesecondbasemanwiththeputout.

NOTES:

1.Ifafielderillegallyobstructsarunnerandisresponsibleforfailureofthatrunnertoreachhomeplate,theumpirehasauthoritytoawardhomeplatetothatrunner.

2.Whenthewinningrunisscoredinthelasthalfinningofaregulationgame,orinthelasthalfofanextrainning,astheresultofabaseonballs,hitbatteroranyotherplaywiththebasesloadedwhichforcestherunneronthirdbasetoadvance,theumpireshallnotdeclarethegameoveruntilall

runnershaveadvancedtothenextbase.

ART.2...Thenumberofrunsscoredbyeachteamisenteredinthescorebookforeachinning.Theteamwhoserunnersscorethegreatesttotalnumberofrunsfortheentireregulationgameisthewinner(4-2).

SECTION2RECORDINGGAMEACTIVITY

ART.1...Uniformityinrecordsofgameactivityispromotedbyuseofa-standardtabulationsheetcontainingcolumnsasshowninthediagrambelow.

ART.2...Theofficialscorershallkeeprecordsasoutlinedinthefollowingrules.Heorshehasthefinalauthoritywhenjudgmentisinvolvedindeterminingwhetherabatter-runner’sadvancetofirstbaseistheresultofanerrororofabasehit.Thescorebookofthehometeamshallbetheofficialscorebook,unlesstheumpire-in-chiefrulesotherwise.

SECTION3PLAYER’SBATTINGRECORD

ART.1...Eachplayer’sbattingrecordshallinclude:

a.incolumns1,2and3afternameandposition,thenumberoftimeshebatted(2-39-1),therunshescored(9-1-1),andthebasehitshemade(9-3-2);

b.inthesummary,thenumberoftotalbasehitsandthetype(single,double,tripleorhomerun),sacrifices,andnumberofrunshebattedin;

c.sluggingpercentage,whichistotalbases(i.e.,double=twobases,triple=threebases,etc.)dividedbyofficialatbats;and

d.on-basepercentage,whichisthenumberofhits,walksandhitbypitchdividedbythenumberofofficialat-bats,walks,hitbypitchandsacrificeflies).

ART.2...Abasehitiscreditedtoabatterwhenheadvancestofirstbasesafely:

a.becauseofhisfairhit(ratherthanbecauseofafielder’serror);

1.Itisnotabasehitifanyrunnerisoutonaforceplaycausedbythebatteradvancingtowardfirstbase.

2.Basehitsincludeanyfairhitwhichcannotbefieldedintimetothrowoutortagoutabatter-runneroranyotherrunnerwhenheisbeingforcedtoadvance.Illustrationsare:ballisstoppedorcheckedbyafielderinmotionwhocannotrecoverintime,orballmovestooslowly;orballishitwithsuchforcetoafielderthatneitherhenoranassistingfieldercanhandleit.

b.withoutliabilityofbeingputoutbecause:arunnerisdeclaredoutforbeinghitbythebattedball(8-4-2k),ortheumpireishitbyabattedball(8-1-2b),or

c.becauseofafielder’schoice(2-14-1)whenafielderattemptstoputoutanotherrunnerbutisunsuccessfulandthescorerbelievesthebatter-runnerwouldhavereachedfirstbaseevenwithperfectfielding.

ART.3...Abasehitforextrabasesiscreditedtothebatterwhenitisthesolereasonforhissafearrivalatsecond(double),third(triple)orhomebase(homerun).

ART.4...Asacrificeiscreditedtothebatterwhen,withnotmorethanoneout,hisbuntenablesanyrunnertoadvanceorhisflyballenablesarunnertoscorebutwhich,ineithercase,resultsinthebatter-runnerbeingoutbeforehereachesfirst,orwouldhaveresultedinhisbeingputoutifhisbuntorbattedballhadbeenfieldedwithouterror.

ART.5...Arunbattediniscreditedtothebatterwhenarunnerscoresbecauseofabasehit,includingthebatter-runner’sscoreonahomerun;a-sacrifice;anyputout;aforcedadvance,suchasforabaseonballsorbatterbeinghit;oranerror,providedtherearenottwooutsandthatactionissuchthattherunneronthirdwouldhavescoredeveniftherehadbeennoerror.

a.Itisnotarunbattedinifthereisadoubleplayfromaforceoroneinwhichthebatterisputoutorshouldhavebeenputoutonabattedgroundball.

ART.6...Whenastrikeoutinvolvesmorethanonebatter,itischargedtotheonewhoreceivedatleasttwostrikes.Ifnobatterreceivedmorethanone

strike,itischargedtothebatterwhoreceivedthethirdstrike.

SECTION4PLAYER’SBASERUNNINGRECORD

ART.1...Astolenbaseshallbecreditedinthesummarytoarunnereachtimeheadvancesabasewithouttheaidofabasehit,aputout,afielding(includingbattery)errororfielder’schoice.

EXCEPTION:Norunneriscreditedwithastealif:

a.afterreachingthebase,therunneroverslidesandisputout;or

b.inanattempteddoubleortriplesteal,anyrunnerisputout;or

c.opponentsareincollusionasinadeliberateattempttohelpestablisharecord;or

d.thereisdefensiveindifferenceandnoplayisattempted.

SECTION5PLAYER’SFIELDINGRECORD

ART.1...Eachplayer’sfieldingrecordshallincludethetimesheputoutabatterorrunner,thetimesheassistedateammateinputtingoutarunner,andthenumberoferrorshecommitted.Theseshallberecordedrespectivelyincolumns4,5,and6.

ART.2...Aputoutiscreditedtoafielderwhocatchesabattedballinflight,orwhotagsoutarunner,orwhoputsoutarunnerbyholdingtheballwhiletouchingabasetowhicharunnerisforcedtoadvanceorreturn.

EXCEPTIONS:

1.Catcheriscreditedwiththeputoutwhenbatterisoutforillegallybattingtheball,forathirdstrikebuntedfoul,forbeinghitbyhisownbattedball,forbattingoutofturnorforbatter’sinterference.

2.Foraninfieldfly,theputoutiscreditedtothefielderwhowouldordinarilyhavemadethecatch.

3.Forrunnerbeingoutbecauseofbeinghitbyabattedball,theputoutis-creditedtothefielderwhoisnearesttheballatthetime.

4.Forrunnercalledoutformissingbase,creditputouttofielderatthatbase.

5.Formaliciouscontactbyarunner,credittheputouttotheinvolvedfielder.

ART.3...Anassistiscreditedtoafieldereachtimehehandlesordeflectstheballduringactionwhichisconnectedwiththeputoutorhehandlestheballpriortoanerrorwhichpreventswhatwouldhavebeenaputout.Ifseveralfieldershandletheballoronefielderhandlesitmorethanonceduringaplay,suchaswhenarunneriscaughtbetweenbases,onlyoneassistiscreditedtoeachofsuchfielders.

a.Afterapitch,ifcatchertagsoutorthrowsoutarunner,thepitcherisnotcreditedwithanassist.

ART.4...Adoubleplayortripleplayiscreditedtooneormorefielderswhentwoorthreeplayersareputoutbetweenthetimeapitchisdelivered

andthetimetheballnextbecomesdeadorisnextinpossessionofthepitcherinpitchingposition.

ART.5...Anerrorischargedagainstafielderorateamforeachmisplaythatprolongsthetimeatbatofthebatterorthetimeaplayercontinuestobearunner,orpermitstherunnertoadvanceoneormorebases.

EXCEPTIONS:

1.Apitcherisnotchargedwithanerrorforabaseonballs;orabatterbeinghit,orabalk,orawildpitch.

2.Acatcherisnotchargedwithanerrorforawildthrowinhisattemptto-preventastolenbaseunlesstherunneradvancesanotherbasebecauseofthewildthrow.

3.Neithercatchernorinfielderischargedwithanerrorforawildthrowinanattempttocompleteadoubleplay,unlessthethrowissowildthatitpermitsarunnertoadvanceanadditionalbase.Butifaplayerdropsathrownball,whenbyholdingithewouldhavecompletedthedouble(ortriple)play,itisanerror.Apassedballisapitchthecatcherfailstostoporcontrolwhenheshouldhavebeenabletodosowithordinaryeffortandonwhicharunner,otherthanthebatter,isabletoadvance.Whenapassedballoccursonathirdstrike,permittingabattertoreachfirstbase,scoreastrikeoutandapassedball.

4.Afielderisnotchargedwithanerrorforaccuratelythrowingtoabasewhosebasemanfailstostoportriestostoptheball,providedtherewasgoodreasonforthethrow.Iftherunneradvancesbecauseofthethrow,theerrorischargedtotheteamorfielderwhoshouldhavecoveredthatbase.

5.Ifafielderdropsafairflyballbutrecoversintimetoforceoutarunner,heisnotchargedwithanerror.Itisrecordedasaforce-out.

SECTION6PITCHER’SRECORD

ART.1...Awildpitchshallbechargedinthesummarytothepitcherwhenaballlegallydeliveredtothebatterissohigh,orsolow(includinganypitchthattouchesthegroundinfrontofhomeplate),orsofarawayfromhomeplatethatthecatcherdoesnotstoporcontrolitwithordinaryeffortsothatthebatter-runneradvancestofirstbaseoranyrunneradvancesabase.Whenthecatcherenablesarunner,otherthanthebatter-runner,toadvancebyfailingtocontrolapitchthatheshouldhavebeenabletocontrol,itisnotawildpitchbuta“passedball.”

ART.2...Thenumberofbasesonballs,battersbeinghitbyapitch,strikeouts,andbasehitsallowedbyeachpitchershallberecordedinthesummary.Ifbatterishitbywhatwouldhavebeenthefourthball,itisrecordedasahitbatter.

ART.3...Inorderforaruntobeearned,itmustbescoredwithouttheaidoferrors,orpassedballs.Todeterminewhetherrunsareearnedornot,reconstructtheinningwithouttheerrorsandpassedballs.Ifthereisdoubtastowhetherornotarunisearned,thepitchershallbegiventhebenefit.

ART.4...Astrikeoutiscreditedtothepitcherwhenathirdstrikeisdeliveredtoabattereventhoughthebattermightreachfirstbasebecausethethirdstrikeisawildpitchorisnotcaught.Itisalsoastrikeoutifanattemptedthirdstrikebuntisanuncaughtfoul.

ART.5...Areliefpitchershallnotbechargedwithanyearnedrunscoredbyarunnerwhowasonbasewhensuchpitcherentered,norwithanyhitoradvancebyabatterwhohadmoreballsthanstrikeswhensuchpitcherentered.

ART.6...Winningandlosingpitchersaredeterminedasfollows:

a.Ifthestartingpitcherhaspitchedthefirstfourinningsormoreandhisteamisaheadwhenheisreplacedandtheteamholdstheleadfortheremainderofthegame,heshallbethewinningpitcher.

b.Ifagameendsforwhateverreason,havinggonelessthanseveninnings,thenthestartingpitchershallhavepitchedthreeormore

consecutiveinningstobedeclaredthewinningpitcher.Ifthestartingpitchercannotbedeclaredthewinningpitcher,andmorethanonereliefpitcherisused,thewinningpitchershallbedeterminedusingthefollowingcriteria:

1.Ifthescoreistied,itresultsinthegamebecominganewcontestsofarasjudgingwhoisthewinningandlosingpitcher.

2.Ifthestartingpitcherisremovedbeforehavingpitchedfourormoreinningsandhisteamisahead,theofficialscorershalldeterminethewinningpitchertobethereliefpitcherwhohasbeenthemosteffective.

3.Iftheoppositiongoesahead,pitchersuptothattimeinthegamecannotbecreditedwiththewin.However,ifthepitcherpitchingsubsequentlytakesandmaintainsaleadtheremainderofthegame,saidpitcheriscreditedwiththewin.

4.Generallythereliefpitchercreditedwiththewinisthepitcherwhenhisteamtakestheleadandholdsitfortherestofthegame.However,ifthereliefpitcherpitchesonlyashortwhileornoteffectivelyandasucceedingreliefpitcherreplaceshimanddoesbetterworkinkeepingthelead,thelattershallbegrantedthewin.

c.Ifapitcherisremovedforapinch-hitterorapinch-runner,therunsscoredbyhisteamduringtheinningofhisremovalaretobecreditedtohisbenefittodecidethepitcherofrecord.

d.Thestartingpitchershallbechargedwiththelosswhenheisreplacedandhisteamisbehindorfallsbehindbecauseofrunsassessedtohimafterbeingreplacedandhisteamdoesnotsubsequentlytiethescoreortakethelead.

e.Apitchercannotbegivencreditforpitchingashutoutwhenhedoesnotpitchthecompletegameexceptwhenheentersthegamewithnooneoutbeforetheopponentshavescoredinthefirstinninganddoesnotpermittheoppositiontoscoreduringthegame.

ART.7...Inorderforapitchertobecreditedwithasave,heshallmeetallthreeofthefollowingcriteria:

a.heisthelastpitcherinagamewonbyhisteam;and

b.heisnotthewinningpitcher;and

c.hemeetsatleastoneofthefollowing:

1.heentersthegamewithaleadofnotmorethanthreerunsandpitchesatleastoneinning;or

2.heentersthegameregardlessofthecountonthebatterwiththepotentialtyingruneitheronbase,atbatorondeck;or

3.hepitcheseffectivelyforatleastthreeinnings.

4.Astartingpitcherwhoisreplacedandthenre-entersaspitchercanbecreditedwithawinbutnotasave.

SECTION7GENERALSUMMARY

ART.1...Thegamesummaryincludesthefollowing:

a.Totalscoreandrunsscoredineachinning.

b.Stolenbasesforeachrunner.

c.Sacrificesbyeachbatter.

d.Basehitsbyeachbatterandtotalagainsteachpitcher.

e.Two-orthree-basehitsandhomeruns.

f.Timesatbatforeachplayerandtotalagainsteachpitcher.

g.Strikeoutsbyeachpitcher.

h.Basesonballsbyeachpitcher.

i.Wildpitchesbyeachpitcher.

j.Timeseachpitcherhitsbatterwithpitchandnamesofthosehit.

k.Passedballsbycatcher.

l.Timerequiredtoplaygameandnameofeachumpire.

m.Namesofwinningandlosingpitchers.

n.Nameofpitchertoreceivecreditforasave.

ART.2...Percentagerecordsarecomputedasfollows:

a.Percentageofgameswonandlost—dividethenumberofgameswonbytotalgamesplayed.

b.Battingpercentage—dividethetotalnumberofbasehits,notthetotalbasesonhits,bythetotaltimesatbat.

c.Fieldingpercentage—dividethetotalputoutsandassistsbythetotalofputouts,assistsanderrors.

d.Pitcher’searnedrunaverage—dividethetotalrunsearnedduringhispitchingbythetotalnumberofinningshepitchedandmultiplybyseven.

1.Initemsa,b,cord,ifthereisafractionof½ormore,afullpointisadded.

Rule10Umpiring

SECTION1GENERAL

ART.1...Gameofficialsincludetheumpire-in-chiefandone,two,threeormorefieldumpires.Wheneverpossible,atleasttwoumpiresarerecommended.Anyumpirehastheauthoritytoorderaplayer,coachorteamattendanttodoorrefrainfromdoinganythingthataffectstheadministrationoftheserulesandtoenforceprescribedpenalties.

ART.2...Umpirejurisdictionbeginsupontheumpiresarrivingatthefield(withintheconfinesofthefield)andendswhentheumpiresleavetheplayingfieldattheconclusionofthegame.Thegameofficialsretainclericalauthorityoverthecontestthroughthecompletionofanyreports,includingthoseimposingdisqualification,thatareresponsivetoactionsoccurringwhiletheumpireshadjurisdiction.Stateassociationsmayintercedeintheeventofunusualincidentsaftertheumpires'jurisdictionhasendedorintheeventthatagameisterminatedpriortotheconclusionofregulationplay.

ART.3...Ifthereisonlyoneumpire,hehascompletejurisdictioninadministeringtherulesandhemaytakeanypositionhedesires,preferablybehindthecatcher.

ART.4...Anyumpire’sdecisionwhichinvolvesjudgment,suchaswhetherahitisfairorfoul,whetherapitchisastrikeoraball,orwhetherarunnerissafeorout,isfinal.Butifthereisreasonabledoubtaboutsomedecisionbeinginconflictwiththerules,thecoachorcaptainmayaskthatthecorrectrulingbemade.Theumpiremakingthedecisionmayaskanotherumpireforinformationbeforemakingafinaldecision.Noumpireshallcriticizeorinterferewithanotherumpire’sdecisionunlessaskedbytheonemakingit.

a.Theumpire-in-chiefsometimesasksforaidfromthebaseumpirewhenthereisaquestionastowhetherabatter’s“halfswing”issuchastobecalledastrike.Asanaidindeciding,theumpiremaynotewhethertheswingcarriedthebarrelofthebatpastthebodyofthebatter,butfinaldecisionisbasedonwhetherthebatteractuallystruckattheball.

ART.5...Theuseofvideotapeorequipmentbygameofficialsforthepurposeofmakingcallsorrenderingdecisionsisprohibited.

ART.6...Noumpiremaybereplacedduringagameunlesshebecomesillorisinjured.Hisrighttodisqualifyplayersortoremovenonplayersforobjectingtodecisionsorforunsportsmanlikeconductisabsolute.Ejectionswillbemadeattheendofplayingaction.

ART.7...Casts,splintsandbracesmaybeworn,ifpadded.Umpiresmaywearprosthesesandusemobilitydevices.

ART.8...Umpiresshallnotusetobaccoortobacco-likeproductsonorinthevicinityoftheplayingfield.

ART.9...Umpiresshallweargrayslacks,andnavypullovershirtorstateassociation-adoptedshirt.

SECTION2UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF

ART.1...Iftherearetwoormoreumpires,theumpire-in-chiefshallstandbehindthecatcher.Theumpire-in-chief,whenbehindtheplate,shallwearpropersafetyequipmentincluding,butnotlimitedto,chestprotector,facemask,throatguard,plateshoes,shinguardsandprotectivecup(ifmale).Heshallcallandcountballsandstrikes;signalfairballs;callout“FoulBall,”exceptonacaughtfoulflyball,whilesignalingafoulball,exceptonfair/foulsituationscommonlycalledbythefieldumpire(s);andmakeall-decisionsonthebatter.Heshallmakealldecisionsexceptthosecommonlyreservedforthefieldumpire.

ART.2...Theumpire-in-chiefhassoleauthoritytoforfeitagameandhasjurisdictionoveranyrulesmattersnotmentionedin10-2-1andnotassignedtothefieldumpirein10-3.

ART.3...Hisdutiesincludethoselistedin10-2-1,2andthefollowing:

a.Inspecttheconditionofthefield,receivebattingorderofbothteams,announcespecialgroundrulesandformulatesuchifthetwoteamscannotagree,designatetheofficialscorer(9-2-2)andseethateachplayertakeshisgloveandotherlooseequipmenttothebenchattheendofhisterminthefield.

b.Call“Play”andusethecorrecthandsignaltostartthegameortoresumeplay;andcall“Time”wheneverballbecomesdead.

c.Ejectaplayerorcoachorclearthebenchorsendacoachfromthefieldorrestrictacoachorplayer(illegalsubstitution)tothebench/dugoutifitbecomesnecessary.

d.Announceeachsubstitution.

e.Callthegameifconditionsbecomeunfitforplay.

f.Penalizeforruleinfractions,suchasbalk,interference,baserunning-infractions,delay,unwarranteddisputingofdecision,orunsportsmanlikeconduct.

g.Makefinaldecisiononpointsnotcoveredbytherules.

h.Forfeitthegameforprescribedinfractionsbyspectators,coaches,playersorattendants.

i.Whengameisplayedundertheauspicesofanorganizationwhichpermitsproteststobefiled,heshallreporttheprotesttotheorganizationalongwithallrelatedconditionsatthetimeoftheprotestedplay,providedtheprotestisbroughttotheattentionofanumpirebytheoffendedteamatthetimeoftheplayandbeforethenextpitchaftersuchplay,orbeforetheumpiresleavethefieldiftheplayinquestionisthelastplayofthegame.Theumpire-in-chiefshalltheninformthecoachoftheopposingteamandtheofficialscorekeeper.

1.Ifthereisaquestionaboutarulethatwaspossiblymisapplied,theteam’scoachorcaptainshallinformtheumpireattimeoftheplayandbeforeapitchtothenextbatterofeitherteam,orbeforetheumpiresleavethefieldiftheplayinquestionwasthelastplayofthegame.

j.Keepawrittenrecordofdefensiveandoffensiveteamchargedconferencesforeachteamandnotifytherespectivecoacheachtimeaconferenceischargedtohisteam.Heshallalsoberesponsibleforkeepingalineupcardandrecordingallsubstitutes,courtesyrunnerparticipation,andwarnings(1-1-5,3-4-1,CourtesyRunnerRule#6).

k.Prohibitanyplayerwhoexhibitssigns,symptomsorbehaviorsconsistentwithaconcussion(suchaslossofconsciousness,headache,dizziness,confusionorbalanceproblems)fromreturningtoplayuntilclearedbyanappropriatehealth-careprofessional.

l.Rectifyanysituationinwhichanumpire’sdecisionthatwasreversedhasplacedeitherteamatadisadvantage.

m.Correctascorekeepingerrorifbroughttoanumpire’sattentionbeforetheumpiresleavethefieldwhenthegameisover.

n.Orderthelightsturnedonwheneverhebelievesdarknesscouldmakefurtherplayhazardous.Wheneverpossible,lightsshouldbeturnedonatthebeginningofaninning.

SECTION3FIELDUMPIRE

ART.1...Afieldumpireshallaidtheumpire-in-chiefinadministeringtherules.Heshallmakealldecisionsonthebasesexceptthosereservedfortheumpire-in-chief.Heshallhaveconcurrentjurisdictionwiththeumpire-in-chiefincallingtime,balks,infieldfly,defacementordiscolorationofballbythepitcher,illegalpitches,whenaflyballiscaught,orinejectinganycoachorplayerforflagrant,unsportsmanlikeconductorinfractionasprescribedbytherules.Insomeinstances,hewillruleontheballbeingfairorfoul.

ART.2...Whenthereisonlyonefieldumpire,heshallmakeallcallsprimarilyatfirst,secondandthirdunlessthecallsaremoreconvenientlymadebytheumpire-in-chief.

ART.3...Ifadditionalfieldumpiresareused,theyarereferredtoasbaseumpiresandtheirnormalpositionsarebehindthirdandsecondbases.Theyhaveconcurrentjurisdictionwiththefirstfieldumpire.

SUGGESTEDSPEED-UPRULESBystateassociationadoptionany,all,oranypartofthesuggestedspeed-uprulesmaybeused.

COURTESYRUNNERS

1.Atanytime,theteamatbatmayusecourtesyrunnersforthepitcherand/orthecatcher.Intheeventthattheoffensiveteambatsaround,thepitcherand/orcatcherwhohadacourtesyrunnerinsertedontheirbehalfmaybatintheirnormalpositioninthebattingorder.

2.Thesameindividualrunnermaynotbeusedforbothpositions(pitcherandcatcher)duringthegame.

3.Neitherthepitchernorthecatcherwillberequiredtoleavethegameundersuchcircumstances.

4.Playerswhohaveparticipatedinthegameinanyothercapacityareineligibletoserveascourtesyrunners.

5.Aplayermaynotrunasacourtesyrunnerforthepitcherorthecatcherandthenbeusedasasubstituteforanotherplayerinthathalfinning.Ifaninjury,illnessorejectionoccursandnootherrunnersareavailable,thecourtesyrunnermaybeusedasasubstitute.

6.Theumpire-in-chiefshallrecordcourtesyrunnerparticipationandalsoannounceittothescorer.

7.Aplayerwhoviolatesthecourtesy-runnerruleisconsideredtobeanillegalsubstitute.

a.Shouldaninjury,illnessorejectionoccurtothecourtesyrunner,anothercourtesyrunnerforthepitcherorcatchermayrun.

AFTERPUTOUTS

1.Afteraputoutintheoutfieldandwithnorunnersonbase,theballshallbethrowntoacutoffmanand,ifdesired,tooneadditionalinfielderbefore

beingreturnedtothepitcherfordeliverytothenextbatter.

2.Afteraputoutintheinfieldandwithnorunnersonbase,theballshallbereturneddirectlytothepitcher.

3.Followingthefinaloutinanyinning,theballshallbegiventothenearestumpire.Theplateumpireshallgivetheballtothecatcher.Thebaseumpireshallplacetheballonthepitcher’splate.

SUGGESTEDDOUBLEFIRSTBASERULES1.Runnershouldusethecoloredbaseoninitialplayatfirstbase(droppedthirdstrikeonly),unlessthefielderisdrawntothesideofthecoloredbase(droppedthirdstrikeonly),inwhichcasetherunnerwouldgothewhitebaseandthefieldertothecoloredbase.

2.Onadroppedthirdstrike,fielderandrunnermaytouchwhiteorcoloredbase.

3.Arunnerisneveroutfortouchingthewhitebaseratherthanthecoloredbase.

4.Oncetherunnerreachesfirstbase,therunnershallthenusethewhitebase.

2020POINTSOFEMPHASISTheNFHSBaseballRulesCommitteeandtheNFHSBoardofDirectorsbelievesthereareareasofthegameofinterscholasticbaseballthatneedtobeaddressedandgivenspecialattention.Theseareasofconcernareoftencyclical–someareasneedmoreattentionthanothers,andthatiswhytheymightappearintherulesbookforconsecutiveeditions.Theseconcernsareidentifiedas“PointsofEmphasis.”Forthe2020highschoolbaseballseason,attentionisbeingcalledto:GameEndingProcedures,Player/DesignatedHitterRole,ProperPitchingPositions,ForcePlaySlideRule,EnforcementofNFHSJewelryRule,ComplianceofPlayer’sEquipment.WhenatopicisincludedinthePointsofEmphasis,thesetopicsareimportantenoughtoreinforcethroughouttheacademicyearbecausetheyarenotbeinggiventheproperattention.

GameEndingProcedures

Perrule,bystateassociationadoption,abaseballgameshallendwhenthevisitingteamisbehind10ormorerunsafter4½inningsorafterthefifthinning.However,ifastateassociationdoesnotadoptagame-endingprocedureorbymutualagreementoftheopposingcoachesandtheumpire-in-chief,anyremainingplaymaybeshortened,orthegameterminated.Lopsidedscoresprovidenoeducationalvalue,increasetheriskofunsportsmanlikebehavior,andputunduepressureonthepitcher’sarmthatwouldimpacthis/herpitchcount.

Player/DesignatedHitterRole

Withtheadoptionofthechangestothedesignatedhitterrule,teamsnowhavethreechoiceswithrespecttotheuseofadesignatedhitterinaspecificgame.First,ateammayelecttonotuseadesignatedhitter.Suchateamwouldhavea“traditional”nineplayerline-upforthatgame.Second,ateammayelecttousethesamedesignatedhitterrulethathasexistedforthelastseveraldecades.Thisoptionisselectedwhentheteam’slineupcardpresentedattheplatemeetinghas10playerslisted,oneofwhomisadesignatedhitternotplayingdefensivelyatthestartofthegame.Third,underthenewchangetotheDHrule,ateammayelecttohaveoneplayerstartthegameasbothadefensiveplayeranddesignatedhitter.Thisoptionis

selectedwhentheteam’slineupcardpresentedattheplatemeetinghasnineplayerslisted,oneofwhomhasbothadefensivepositionand“DH”writtennexttohisnameonthelineupcard.Ifthethirdoptionisselected,aplayercanbesubstitutedfortheDHondefenseandthestarterwillremainastheDH.However,ifthethirdoptionisselected,theDHroleisterminatedifthestarterissubstitutedforonoffense.Ineithercase,thestartingdefensiveplayer/DHcanre-enterifhehasare-entryremaining.

ProperPitchingPositions

TheNFHSBaseballRulesCommitteecontinuestobeconcernedwithpitcherswhosefeetarenotinaproperpositionpriortostartingtheirdelivery.Specifically,certainpitchersacrossthecountrycontinuetoplacetheirfeetinanillegal“hybrid”stance.Thisappearstobearesultofbothcoacheswhocontinuetoteachimproperpitcherpositions,andumpireswhorefusetoenforcetherulesaswrittenandapplytheproperpenalty.Pitchersarerequiredtouseoneoftwopositions;thewind-uportheset.Inthewind-upposition,thepitcher’snon-pivotfootmustbeinapositiononorbehindalineextendingthroughthefrontedgeofthepitcher’splate.Iftheheelofthepitcher’snon-pivotfootisclosertohomeplatethanthefrontedgeofthepitcher’splate,thenthepitcherisinanillegal“hybrid”stance,unlessheisusingapropersetposition.Inthesetposition,thepitcher’spivotfootmustbeonorinfrontofandtouchingthepitcher’splate.Thepivotfootmustalsobeparalleltothepitcher’splate.Thenon-pivotfootmustbeentirelyinfrontofthefrontedgeofthepitcher’splate.Ifthenon-pivotfootistouching(ornextto)thefrontedgeofthepitcher’splate,thepitcherisinanillegal“hybrid”stance,unlessheisusingaproperwind-upposition.

ForcePlaySlideRule

Simplystated,therunnerneverhastoslide.However,onaforceplaywhenhedoesslide,itmustbelegalandinadirectlinebetweenthetwobases.Arunnermayslideorruninadirectionawayfromthefieldertoavoidmakingcontactoralteringtheplayofthefielder.Theforceplayslideruleisineffectatsecond,thirdandhomeplate.

EnforcementofNFHSJewelryRule

Itemsthatareattachedexceptmedicalappliances/devicesareconsideredto

bejewelry.Therestrictionofjewelryisprimarilyforriskminimizationforthewearerandfortheopponent.Earringsandvariousotherpiercingscanbeproblematicforaplayerifthepiercinggetscaughtonequipmentandtornawayfromthebody.Obviously,ifaphysicianhasprovideddocumentationinsupportofaparticularpiercing,thelocalstateassociationhasthelatitude(withproperjustification)tomakeaspecialaccommodationfortheplayer.Weneedtobemorevigilanttoprotectourplayersandtheiropponents.

ComplianceofPlayer’sEquipment

InpreparationofthenewequipmentthatwillhavetheNOCSAEstampbeingintroducedintohighschoolbaseball,itisappropriatetobegintohavethosediscussionswithplayers,coaches,umpiresandparents.TheNOCSAEstampedbaseballhasbeenavailableforuseduringthe2019highschoolbaseballseason.ThetransitionwillbeeasierwhenallthebaseballshaveboththeNFHSAuthenticatingMarkandNOCSAEsealeffectiveJanuary1,2020.

COMMENTSONTHE2020RULESCHANGESModifiedtheRoleoftheDefensivePlayerandtheDesignatedHitter(3-1-4)—Modifyingtheroleofthedefensiveplayerandthedesignatedhitterwillassistcoachestostrategizehowtokeeptheirbetterplayersinthegametocontributetotheoffensiveoutputoftheteamandgiveanotherplayerachancetoparticipateondefense.Inaddition,consideringthepitch-countrules,thischangewillhelppitchers(whoaretypicallysomeofthebetterhitters)contributeoffensivelyinthegame,butstillallowthemtocomeoutofthegametoprotecttheirarmsfromoveruse.

RulesbyStateAssociationAdoption1-2-9–Adoublefirstbaseispermitted.

1-4-4–Toallowforspecialoccasions,commemorativeormemorialpatches,thatwillbeuniformlyplaced,nottoexceed4squareinches,tobewornonjerseysinanappropriateanddignifiedmannerwithoutcompromisingtheintegrityoftheuniform.

2-33-1–Suggestedspeed-uprules.

4-2-2–Bystateassociationadoption,thegameshallendwhenthevisitingteamisbehind10ormorerunsafter4½innings,orafterthefifthinning,ifeitherteamis10runsbehindandbothteamshavehadanequalnumberoftimesatbat.

4-2-4–Game-endingproceduresmaybedetermined.

4-3-1–Aregulationcalledgamewhereawinnercannotbedeterminedshallbecountedas½gamewonand½gamelostforeachteam.

4-4-1a–Stateassociationsareauthorizedtospecifythetimeframeand/orcircumstancesbeforeaforfeitshallbedeclaredforalatearrivalbyoneoftheteams.

4-5-1–Itisoptionalonthepartofthestateassociationastowhetherprotestsarepermitted.

10-1-9–Umpiresshallwearthenavybluepullovershirtorstateassociation-adoptedshirt.

OfficialNFHSBaseballSignalsA.Rightarmstraightoutfrontwithpalmoutwardandfingersup–signifiesdonotpitch,theballisdead.

B.Pointingwithrighthandindexfingerwhilefacingpitcher–signifiesplayistostartorberesumedandsimultaneouslyumpirecalls“Play.”

C.Bothhandsopenabovethehead–signifiesfoulball,time-outorballisdeadimmediately.

D.Fistupandthenoutawayfrombody.Coordinate,verbalcall,“He’sout!”or“Strike!”,withthehammeringactionoftheclosedfist.

E.Indexfingerofrighthandisheldabovethehead–signifiesinfieldfly.

F.Bumpbothfistsontopofeachotherwiththeindexfingeroftherighthandextended.

G.Coordinateverbalcall,“Safe.”Signalalsousedfordroppedballsintheoutfieldandtodetermineifabatter’scheckedswingwaslegal.

H.Pointtowardfairgroundwithindexfinger.Noverbalcall.

I.Thepalmsofthehandsglanceoffeachotherastheypassaboveeyelevel,followedbyastrikecall.

J.Lefthandindicatesballsfollowedbythenumberofstrikesthrownontherighthand.Verballygivecount.

K.Placetwofingersoftherighthandontheleftwrist,asifontopofawatch.Thissignalwillonlybeusedintwo-outsituationswhereatimeplayinvolvingapotentialrunislikely.

L.Ina3or4-manmechanic,theumpiresindicatetotheirpartner(s)wheretheyarerotatingtoaspecificbaseforcoverageofananticipatedplay.Theumpire(s)pointswithbothhandsinthedirectionofthebasethattheyaremovingtoward.

M.Thegameumpireisindicatingthathe/shehassomeinformationthatisrelevanttotheirpartnerbytappingtwotimesoverhis/herleftchest(heart).

MISSIONSTATEMENTTheNationalFederationofStateHighSchoolAssociations(NFHS)servesitsmembersbyprovidingleadershipfortheadministrationofeducation-basedhighschoolathleticsandactivitiesthroughthewritingofplayingrulesthatemphasizehealthandsafety,educationalprogramsthatdevelopleaders,andadministrativesupporttoincreaseparticipationopportunitiesandpromotesportsmanship.

COREBELIEFSANDVALUES

WEBELIEVE

Studentparticipationineducation-basedhighschoolathleticsandactivities:

Isaprivilege.Enrichestheeducationalexperience.Encouragesacademicachievement.Promotesrespect,integrityandsportsmanship.Preparesforthefutureinaglobalcommunity.Developsleadershipandlifeskills.Fosterstheinclusionofdiversepopulations.Promoteshealthylifestylesandsafecompetition.Encouragespositiveschool/communityculture.Shouldbefun.

THENFHS:

Servesasthenationalauthoritythatpromotesandprotectsthedefiningvaluesofeducation-basedhighschoolathleticsandactivitiesincollaborationwithitsmemberstateassociations.Servesasthenationalauthorityoncompetitionruleswhilepromotingfairplayandseekingtominimizeriskofinjuryforstudentparticipantsineducation-basedhighschoolathleticsandactivities.Promoteslifelonghealthandsafetyvaluesthroughparticipation.Developsanddeliversimpactful,innovativeandengagingeducationalprogramstoservethechangingneedsofstateassociations,administrators,coaches,directors,officials,studentsandparents.

Providesprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesformemberstateassociationstaffs.Promotescooperation,collaborationandcommunicationwithandamongstateassociations.Collectsandprovidesdataanalysisinordertoallowitsmembershiptomakeinformeddecisions.

SUGGESTEDGUIDELINESFORMANAGEMENTOFCONCUSSIONINSPORTSCommonSignsandSymptomsofConcussionInclude:

Dazedorstunnedappearance;Confusionaboutassignmentorposition;Forgetfulness;Uncertaintyofgame,score,oropponent;Clumsymovements;Slowresponsetoquestions;Mood,behaviororpersonalitychanges;Can’trecalleventspriortoorafterhitorfall;Headacheor“pressure”inhead;Nausea;Balanceproblemsordizziness;Doubleorblurryvision;Sensitivitytolightornoise;Feelingsluggish,hazy,foggyorgroggy;Concentrationormemoryproblems;Emotionsof“notfeelingright”or“feelingdown.”

ActivatetheEmergencyMedicalSystemorCall9-1-1if,afterabump,blow,orjolttotheheadorbody,anathletehasoneormoreofthesedangersigns:

Onepupillargerthantheother;Drowsinessorinabilitytowakeup;Aheadachethatgetsworseanddoesnotgoaway;Slurredspeech,weakness,numbness,ordecreasedcoordination;Repeatedvomitingornausea;Convulsionsorseizures(shakingortwitching);Unusualbehavior,increasedconfusion,restlessness,oragitation;Lossofconsciousness(passedout/knockedout).Evenabrieflossofconsciousnessshouldbetakenseriously.

SuggestedConcussionManagement:

1.Noathleteshouldreturntoplay(RTP)orpracticeonthesamedayofa

concussion.

2.Anyathletesuspectedofhavingaconcussionshouldbeevaluatedbyanappropriatehealth-careprofessionalassoonaspossible.

3.Anyathletewithaconcussionshouldbemedicallyclearedbyanappropriatehealth-careprofessionalpriortoresumingparticipationinanypracticeorcompetition.

4.Aftermedicalclearance,RTPshouldfollowastep-wiseprotocolwithprovisionsfordelayedRTPbaseduponreturnofanysignsorsymptomsatrest,whiledoingschoolworkorwithphysicalactivity.

Forfurtherdetailspleaseseethe“NFHSSuggestedGuidelinesforManagementofConcussioninSports”atwww.nfhs.org.

RevisedandApprovedFebruary2019

EQUIPMENTGUIDELINES1.EachNFHSsportsrulescommitteeisresponsibleforrecommendingtheofficialplayingrulestotheNFHSBoardofDirectorsforadoption.ThecommitteeisNOTresponsiblefortestingorapprovingplayingequipmentforuseininterscholasticsports.Equipmentmanufacturersareresponsibleforthedevelopmentofplayingequipmentthatmeetsthespecificationsestablishedbythecommittee,andthatisotherwiseofgooddesignandquality.TheNFHSurgesmanufacturerstoworkwiththevariousindependenttestingagenciestoensuretheproductionofsafeproducts.NeithertheNFHSnortheapplicableNFHSsportrulescommitteecertifiesthesafetyofanysportequipment.Non-compliantequipmentisinappropriateforuseincompetitionunderNFHSsportsrules.Whilethecommitteedoesnotregulatethedevelopmentofnewequipmentanddoesnotsettechnicalorscientificstandardsfortestingequipment,thecommitteemay,fromtimetotime,providemanufacturerswithguidanceastotheequipment-performancelevelsitconsidersconsistentwiththeintegrityofthegame.Thecommitteereservestherighttointercedetoprotectandmaintainthatintegrity.

2.EachNFHSsportrulescommitteesuggeststhatmanufacturersplanninginnovativechangesinsportsequipmentsubmittheequipmenttotheapplicableNFHSsportruleseditorand/orrulescommitteeforreviewbeforeproduction.

3.ProtectiveheadgearisrequiredbyNFHSrulesinsomesportsandispermissiveinothers.Hardhelmetscandecreasetheincidenceofcertainheadtrauma,suchasskullfracturesandsubduralhematomas.Softheadgearmayprotectagainstcutsandbruisestothescalpandforehead.Coaches,athletesandparents/guardiansshouldreviewthemanufacturers’warningsaboutproperusageandperformancelimitsofsuchproducts.Nohelmetorheadgearcaneliminatetheriskofconcussionandallsportsshouldbeplayed,coachedandofficiatedinrecognitionofthatfact.

RevisedandApprovedMarch2019

GENERALGUIDELINESFORSPORTSHYGIENE,SKININFECTIONSANDCOMMUNICABLEDISEASESProperprecautionsareneededtominimizethepotentialriskofthespreadofcommunicablediseaseandskininfectionsduringathleticcompetition.Theseconditionsincludeskininfectionsthatoccurduetoskincontactwithcompetitorsandequipment.ThetransmissionofinfectionssuchasMethicillin-ResistantStaphylococcusaureus(MRSA)andHerpesGladiatorum,bloodbornepathogenssuchasHIVandHepatitisB,andotherinfectiousdiseasessuchasInfluenzacanoftenbegreatlyreducedthroughproperhygiene.TheNFHSSMAChasoutlinedandlistedbelowsomegeneralguidelinesforthepreventionofthespreadofthesediseases.

UNIVERSALHYGIENEPROTOCOLFORALLSPORTS

Showerimmediatelyaftereverycompetitionandpractice,usingliquidsoapandnotasharedbarsoap;Washallworkoutclothingaftereachpractice,washinginhotwateranddryingonahighheatsetting;Cleanand/orwashallpersonalgear(kneepads,headgear,braces,etc.)andgymbagsatleastweekly;Donotsharetowelsorpersonalhygieneproducts(razors)withothers;Refrainfromfullbodyand/orcosmeticshavingofhead,chest,arms,legs,abdomen,andgroin;Studentsshouldcleanhandswithanalcohol-basedgelorsoapandwaterbeforeandaftereverypracticeandcontesttodecreasebacterialloadonthehands.

INFECTIOUSSKINDISEASES

Strategiesforreducingthepotentialexposuretotheseinfectiousagentsinclude:

Studentsmustnotifyaparent/guardianandcoachofanyskinlesionpriortoanycompetitionorpractice.Anappropriatehealth-careprofessionalmustevaluateallconcerningskinlesionsbeforereturningtopracticesor

competition;Ifanoutbreakoccursonateam,especiallyinacontactsport,allteammembersshouldbeevaluatedtohelppreventthepotentialspreadoftheinfection.Allsharedequipmentshallbeproperlycleaned/disinfectedpriortouse;Coaches,officials,andappropriatehealth-careprofessionalsmustfollowNFHSorstate/localguidelineson“timeuntilreturntocompetition.”ParticipationwithacoveredlesionmaybeconsideredifinaccordancewithNFHS,stateorlocalguidelinesandthelesionisnolongercontagious.

BLOOD-BORNEINFECTIOUSDISEASES

StrategiesforreducingthepotentialexposuretotheseagentsincludefollowingUniversalPrecautionssuchas:

Astudentwhoisbleeding,hasanopenwound,hasanyamountofbloodonauniform,orhasbloodontheirbody,shallbedirectedtoleavetheactivity(gameorpractice)untilthebleedingisstopped,thewoundiscovered,theuniformand/orbodyisappropriatelycleaned,and/ortheuniformischangedbeforereturningtoactivity;AthletictrainersorothercaregiversmustwearglovesanduseUniversalPrecautionstopreventbloodorbodyfluid-splashfromcontaminatingthemselvesorothers;Intheeventofabloodorbodyfluid-splash,immediatelywashcontaminatedskinormucousmembraneswithsoapandwater;Cleanallcontaminatedsurfacesandequipmentwithdisinfectantbeforereturningtocompetition.Besuretousegloveswhencleaning;Anybloodexposureorbitestotheskinthatbreakthesurfacemustbereportedandimmediatelyevaluatedbyanappropriatehealth-careprofessional.

OTHERCOMMUNICABLEDISEASES

Meansofreducingthepotentialexposuretotheseagentsinclude:

Makecertainthatstudents,coachingstaff,andmedicalstaffarecurrentonallrequiredvaccinations(MMR,HepatitisB,Chickenpox,etc)andstronglyencourageyearlyinfluenzavaccinations;Duringtimesofoutbreaks,followtheguidelinessetforthbytheCDCas

wellasStateandlocalHealthDepartments.

Formoredetailedinformation,refertothe"Blood-BornePathogens,"“InfectiousMononucleosis”and“SkinConditionsandInfections”sectionscontainedintheNFHSSportsMedicineHandbook.

RevisedandApprovedinOctober2018

GUIDELINESONHANDLINGPRACTICESANDCONTESTSDURINGLIGHTNINGORTHUNDERDISTURBANCESTheseguidelinesprovideadefaultpolicytothoseresponsibleorsharingdutiesformakingdecisionsconcerningthesuspensionandrestartingofpracticesandcontestsbasedonthepresenceoflightningorthunder.ThepreferredsourcesfromwhichtorequestsuchapolicyforyourfacilitywouldincludeyourstatehighschoolactivitiesassociationandthenearestofficeoftheNationalWeatherService.

PROACTIVEPLANNING

1.Assignstafftomonitorlocalweatherconditionsbeforeandduringpracticesandcontests.

2.Developanevacuationplan,includingidentificationofappropriatenearbysaferareasanddeterminetheamountoftimeneededtogeteveryonetoadesignatedsaferarea:

a.Adesignatedsaferplaceisasubstantialbuildingwithplumbingandwiringwherepeopleliveorwork,suchasaschool,gymnasiumorlibrary.Analternatesaferplacefromthethreatoflightningisafullyenclosed(notconvertibleorsofttop)metalcarorschoolbus.

3.Developcriteriaforsuspensionandresumptionofplay:

a.Whenthunderisheardorlightningisseen*,theleadingedgeofthethunderstormiscloseenoughtostrikeyourlocationwithlightning.Suspendplayforatleast30minutesandvacatetheoutdooractivitytothepreviouslydesignatedsaferlocationimmediately.

b.30-minuterule.Onceplayhasbeensuspended,waitatleast30minutesafterthelastthunderisheardorlightningiswitnessed*priortoresumingplay.

c.Anysubsequentthunderorlightning*afterthebeginningofthe30-minutecountwillresettheclockandanother30-minutecountshould

begin.

d.Whenlightning-detectiondevicesormobilephoneappsareavailable,thistechnologycouldbeusedtoassistinmakingadecisiontosuspendplayifalightningstrikeisnotedtobewithin10milesoftheeventlocation.However,youshouldneverdependonthereliabilityofthesedevicesand,thus,hearingthunderorseeinglightning*shouldalwaystakeprecedenceoverinformationfromamobileapporlightning-detectiondevice.

*–Atnight,undercertainatmosphericconditions,lightningflashesmaybeseenfromdistantstorms.Inthesecases,itmaybesafetocontinueanevent.Ifnothundercanbeheardandtheflashesarelowonthehorizon,thestormmaynotposeathreat.Independentlyverifiedlightningdetectioninformationwouldhelpeliminateanyuncertainty.

4.Reviewthelightningsafetypolicyannuallywithalladministrators,coachesandgamepersonnelandtrainallpersonnel.

5.Informstudent-athletesandtheirparentsofthelightningpolicyatstartoftheseason.

RevisedandApprovedMarch2018

COACHESCODEOFETHICSThefunctionofacoachistoeducatestudentsthroughparticipationininterscholasticcompetition.Aninterscholasticprogramshouldbedesignedtoenhanceacademicachievementandshouldneverinterferewithopportunitiesforacademicsuccess.Eachstudentshouldbetreatedwiththeutmostrespectandhisorherwelfareshouldbeconsideredindecisionsbythecoachatalltimes.Accordingly,thefollowingguidelinesforcoacheshavebeenadoptedbytheNFHSBoardofDirectors.

Thecoachshallbeawarethatheorshehasatremendousinfluence,foreithergoodorill,ontheeducationofthestudentand,thus,shallneverplacethevalueofwinningabovethevalueofinstillingthehighestidealsofcharacter.Thecoachshallupholdthehonoranddignityoftheprofession.Inallpersonalcontactwithstudents,officials,athleticdirectors,schooladministrators,thestatehighschoolathleticassociation,themedia,andthepublic,thecoachshallstrivetosetanexampleofthehighestethicalandmoralconduct.Thecoachshalltakeanactiveroleinthepreventionofdrug,alcoholandtobaccoabuse.Thecoachshallavoidtheuseofalcoholandtobaccoproductswhenincontactwithplayers.Thecoachshallpromotetheentireinterscholasticprogramoftheschoolanddirecttheprograminharmonywiththetotalschoolprogram.Thecoachshallmasterthecontestrulesandshallteachthemtohisorherteammembers.Thecoachshallnotseekanadvantagebycircumventionofthespiritorletteroftherules.Thecoachshallexerthisorherinfluencetoenhancesportsmanshipbyspectators,bothdirectlyandbyworkingcloselywithcheerleaders,pepclubsponsors,boosterclubs,andadministrators.Thecoachshallrespectandsupportcontestofficials.Thecoachshallnotindulgeinconductwhichwouldinciteplayersorspectatorsagainsttheofficials.Publiccriticismofofficialsorplayersisunethical.Thecoachshouldmeetandexchangecordialgreetingswiththeopposingcoachtosetthecorrecttonefortheeventbeforeandafterthecontest.Thecoachshallnotexertpressureonfacultymemberstogivestudentsspecialconsideration.

Thecoachshallnotscoutopponentsbyanymeansotherthanthoseadoptedbytheleagueand/orstatehighschoolathleticassociation.

OFFICIALSCODEOFETHICSOfficialsataninterscholasticathleticeventareparticipantsintheeducationaldevelopmentofhighschoolstudents.Assuch,theymustexerciseahighlevelofself-discipline,independenceandresponsibility.ThepurposeofthisCodeistoestablishguidelinesforethicalstandardsofconductforallinterscholasticofficials.

Officialsshallmasterboththerulesofthegameandthemechanicsnecessarytoenforcetherules,andshallexerciseauthorityinanimpartial,firmandcontrolledmanner.Officialsshallworkwitheachotherandtheirstateassociationsinaconstructiveandcooperativemanner.Officialsshallupholdthehonoranddignityoftheprofessioninallinteractionwithstudent-athletes,coaches,athleticdirectors,schooladministrators,colleagues,andthepublic.Officialsshallavoidtheuseofalcoholandtobaccoproductsbeginningwiththearrivalatthecompetitionsiteuntildeparturefollowingthecompletionofthecontest.Officialsshallpreparethemselvesbothphysicallyandmentally,shalldressneatlyandappropriately,andshallcomportthemselvesinamannerconsistentwiththehighstandardsoftheprofession.Officialsshallbepunctualandprofessionalinthefulfillmentofallcontractualobligations.Officialsshallremainmindfulthattheirconductinfluencestherespectthatstudent-athletes,coachesandthepublicholdfortheprofession.Officialsshall,whileenforcingtherulesofplay,remainawareoftheinherentriskofinjurythatcompetitionposestostudent-athletes.Whereappropriate,theyshallinformeventmanagementofconditionsorsituationsthatappearunreasonablyhazardous.Officialsshalltakereasonablestepstoeducatethemselvesintherecognitionofemergencyconditionsthatmightariseduringthecourseofcompetition.Officialsshallmaintainanethicalapproachwhileparticipatinginforums,chatroomsandallformsofsocialmedia.