NFHS

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Baseball Rules
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• Rule 1
• Players, Field and Equipment

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Players

• Nine Players per Team
• One Player is Designated as Captain
• Captain and Head Coach represent the team in
  communication with umpires
• Lineup Card shall include Name, Number, Position
  and Batting Order of Starting Players
• Must List the Name and Number of all Substitutes
  on the Lineup Card (2011 Rule Change)
• Lineups become official when exchanged, verified
  and accepted by the umpire-in-chief at pregame
  conference

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Players

• All fielders except the Catcher shall be on fair
  ground at the Time of the Pitch
• At least one foot touching fair ground
• PENALTY Illegal Pitch (Balk with Runners)
• Players, except Pitcher, may change fielding
  positions at any time
• Pitcher must satisfy Rules 3-1-1 and 3-1-2
• No Substitution may change the Batting Order
• All Substitutions are reported to the Plate Umpire

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Field

• On-Deck Circle
• Teams may not warm up in the other Teams On-Deck
  Circle
• Temporary Dugout Extension
• Must be extended toward Outfield (parallel to the
  foul line)
• Must be equal extension for both Teams
• Pitching Mounds that do not meet regulations
• Play the game
• Batter / Catcher Box
• Batter 4 wide x 6 long centered on middle of
  home plate
• Catcher 43 wide x 8 long starting from the
  point of home plate
• Usually not marked on the field. Play anyway.
• Media on the field
• Not allowed in live ball area
• Designated Media Areas will be Dead Ball Areas

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Field Player / Umpire (2-man) positions
F8
F9
F7
Defense F1 Pitcher F2 Catcher F3 1st
Baseman F4 2nd Baseman F5 3rd Baseman F6
Shortstop F7 Left Fielder F8 Center
Fielder F9 Right Fielder
Offense R1 Lead Runner R2 Second Runner R3
Last Runner BR Batter-Runner
F4
F6
R2
F3
F5
U1
R3
F1
R1
Umpires Plate) Home plate (Umpire-in-Chief) U1
Base Umpire
BR
F2
P
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Plate, Batting Catcher Boxes
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3
4
3
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Balls

• What are the regulations for balls?
• Spherical, cork, rubber, or similar core
• 5 5.25 ounces in weight
• 9 9.25 in circumference
• Only NFHS balls are allowed by rule
• What if they dont have any?
• Play the game
• What if they arent new?
• Play the game

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Bats

• Bat Regulations
• Wood or Non-Wood
• Any Bat not made from a Single Piece of Wood must
  have the BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of
  Restitution) Silkscreen or Permanent Mark. (2012
  Rule Change)
• Non-Wood Bats must have a Safety Grip (10 to 18
  in length from the handle)
• Diameter/Length/Weight
• Wood 2 3/4 maximum diameter, 36 Max. Length
• Non-Wood 2 5/8 maximum diameter, 36 Max.
  Length
• -3 rule. Non-Wood Bat can weigh no less than 3
  ounces less than the length (33 bat can not
  weight less than 30 ounces)

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Bats

• Altering Bats
• Bats altered from the manufacturers original
  design are illegal.
• No artificial or intentional means shall be used
  to control the temperature of the bat. (New 2012
  Rule)

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Gloves

• What are the regulations for Gloves?
• Pitchers Glove may not include the colors white
  and/or gray
• Catchers Glove may be any size
• Fielders Glove
• No more than 14 long 8 wide 5 ¾ web
• What if it is larger?
• Loose Equipment - Gloves, Bats, Helmets,
  Catchers Gear may not be on or near the field
• Get it in the Dugout!
• PENALTY If equipment interferes with play, you
  decide how to assess penalties

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Uniforms

• Pitchers Undershirt
• Pitchers exposed undershirt sleeves may not be
  white or gray
• Vest and Coordinating Shirt
• If coordinating undershirt is white or gray, it
  shall not extend below the elbow
• Pitcher wearing batting gloves or wrist bands
• The Pitcher shall not wear any items on his
  hands, wrists or arms which may be distracting to
  the batter
• No dangerous of reflective ornaments
• Each player has 8 tall unique number
• What if 2 players have the same number?

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Helmets

• Batting Helmet
• Mandatory for batters, runners, on-deck, player
  coaches, non-adult bat/ball shaggers
• Dual Ear Flaps
• NOCSAE Stamp and warning label
• Good Condition (No cracks or damage)
• Mask or Face Guards are allowed (NOCSAE)
• Must be worn in live ball areas during live ball
• PENALTY Warning to Coach, Second Violation shall
  result in ejection.
• Application Warn. Warn again. Restrict to
  bench and eject as a last resort.

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Catchers Gear

• Helmet
• Full Cover with Mask No Skull Caps are allowed
• NOCSAE Stamp
• Good Condition (No cracks or damage)
• Throat Guard must be attached
• Hockey Style masks have built in throat guard
• Chest Protector, Cup, Shin Guards
• Players warming up a Pitcher shall wear
  Catchers Helmet and Cup when in a crouch position

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Fielders, Casts, Jewelry

• Fielders
• Face/head protection in the field is allowed
• No reflective outer surface
• Guards, Casts, Braces Splints (Hard and
  Unyielding Items)
• Allowed, Must be Padded with ½ Closed-Cell,
  Slow-Recovery Foam Padding (Rule Change for 2011)
• Jewelry
• Not allowed except for religious or medical
  medals
• Religious Medals must be taped and worn under the
  uniform
• Medical Alert must be taped and may be visible

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Equipment Legality

• Head coach responsible for verifying that all his
  players and equipment are legal and meet safety
  standards.
• Confirmed during the plate meeting.
• The UIL may authorize exceptions to the rules for
  reasonable accommodations to individuals with
  disabilities and/or special needs. (2012 New
  Rule)
• Questions regarding legality of equipment
• Brought to and resolved by the plate umpire.

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• Rule 2
• Playing Terms and Definitions

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Intentional Walk

• How do you handle an Intentional Walk?
• It may be requested by the catcher or the coach
• It may be done before pitching to the batter, or
  on any count
• Call time and award the batter first base
• When is the Ball put back in Play?

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Fair, Foul Ball, Foul Tip

• How do we determine Fair / Foul?
• Determine by the ball location when it hits the
  ground or a player
• Dont get in a hurry to signal fair or foul.
• How do we signal a Fair Ball?
• Signal with your arm not your voice (Home plate
  or field umpire)
• How do we signal a Foul ball?
• If everyone saw it go foul, dont need to call
  foul ball
• As necessary, be clear and loud with arms raised
• Ball is dead immediately
• Foul Tip?
• Batted ball that goes directly into the catchers
  glove/hands.
• Must be caught by catcher (2011 Rule Change)
• Foul Tip Mechanics (Signal only, no verbal call)
• Ball remains live

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Catch / No Catch

• How do we determine Catch / No-Catch?
• Fielder getting secure possession of ball in
  his hands and/or glove and the continuing
  action is complete
• Cant use his cap, protector, mask, pocket or
  other parts of the uniform to trap the ball
• Dont get in a hurry to signal catch / no-catch
• How / Why do we signal a Catch?
• Signal in a clear voice along with the arm
  signaling an out
• Signal is for your partner(s) to let them know
  that a catch has been made, not for the
  players/coaches
• Important for determining tag-ups (Determined
  once the fielder has touched the ball)

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Illegal Pitch

• What is an Illegal Pitch?
• Quick Pitch
• Pitches while not in contact with the Pitchers
  Plate
• Defaces the ball which is then pitched
• Penalty with no runners
• The Ball is Dead, batter is awarded one ball
• Penalty with runners on
• The Ball is Dead, This is a balk

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Infield Fly

• What conditions trigger the Infield Fly Rule?
• Less than 2 outs Runners on 1st and 2nd or the
  bases are juiced
• Fair Fly Ball (not a line drive or attempted
  bunt)
• Can be caught with ordinary effort by an
  infielder
• Batter is out, other runners may advance at their
  own risk
• What if an outfielder makes the catch?
• What if the ball is dropped
• After being touched in fair or foul territory?
• untouched in fair territory?
• untouched in fair territory, then rolls foul?

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Infield Fly

• Know that the situation exists before the play
  Exchange signals with your partner(s)
• Dont get in a hurry to signal/declare an Infield
  Fly
• Who makes the call?
• Umpire CommunicationHow / Why do we signal an
  Infield Fly?
• Signal in a clear loud voice (Infield Fly,
  batter is out) along with the arm raised
  signaling an infield fly
• Signal is for the base runners
• If ball near the foul line, declare In-field
  Fly, if fair

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Interference

• Offensive Team
• Verbal or Physical
• Player interferes with, obstructs, impedes
  hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to
  make a play
• Runner creates Malicious Contact
• Coach physically assists a runner
• Umpire
• Hinders the catchers throw
• Fair ball touches the umpire
• Thrown ball lodges in umpires gear
• Spectator
• Ball is Dead Immediately

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Obstruction

• Physical, Verbal, Intentional or Unintentional
• Defensive Team
• Hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play
• Catcher
• Hinders a batter
• Ball is Dead at the end of playing action
• Fake Tag (See next Slide)
• A Fielder may not deny the runner access to a
  base without possession of the ball. (No play is
  imminent rule in NFHS Rules)

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Fake Tag

• Prohibited by rule
• By definition, a fake tag is obstruction
• A fake tag is also illegal conduct
• PENALTY
• Warning to coach of team involved and next
  offender shall be ejected
• Award obstructed runner minimum of one base

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Slides

• Can be either feet or head first
• Slide must be within reach of the bag by either a
  hand or foot
• Illegal Slides
• Rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide into a
  fielder
• Feet higher than the fielders knees (Standing
  position)
• Runner goes beyond the base and then makes
  contact with or alters the play of the fielder.
• Runner slashes, kicks, and/or tries to injure the
  fielder
• On force play does not slide on the ground and in
  a direct line between the bases
• Note A Runner is never required to slide, but if
  he does not slide he may not interfere

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Substitutions

• Eligible substitute that replaces a player
  already in the line-up
• Unreported substitute Player who, by rule, can
  be in the game but has entered without reporting.
  No penalty
• Illegal Substitutes
• Player who enters or re-enters the game without
  eligibility
• Player who re-enters that game in a different
  batting order
• Enters on defense while the player being replaced
  is also on defense
• Player for whom the DH is batting, enters the
  game as a batter/runner in a different position
  in the order
• Player who violates the courtesy runner rule

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Questions ?