2015 NFHS High School Baseball Rules By Topic - Sample Chapter

2015 High School

Baseball

Rules By

Topic

Rules, Caseplays, Rationales Linked BBSRBT15

Table of Contents 2015 Rules Changes, Points of Emphasis, New Caseplays ����������������6 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Topic 1 Pregame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Topic 2 Pitching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Topic 3 Fielding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Topic 4 Hitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Topic 5 Baserunning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Topic 6 Game Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Topic 7 Record Keeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 Signal Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

Topic 1

Pregame

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2015 Rules By Topic 9

Topic 1: Pregame

Topic: Umpires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Topic: Equipment, Field Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Bases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Bats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Casts, Splints, Braces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Condition of Field Before the Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Field Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Helmets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Jewelry, Bandanas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Pitcher’s Mound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Uniforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Topic: Pregame Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Ground Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Lineup Cards, Batting Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Confirm Players are Properly Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Legality of Lineup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Topic: Designated Hitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Topic: Speed-up Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 After Putouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Courtesy Runners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Topic: Start of Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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Topic:

Umpires Game officials include the umpire-in-chief and one, two, three or more field umpires. Whenever possible, at least two umpires are recommended. Any umpire has the authority to order a player, coach or team attendant to do or refrain from doing anything that affects the administration of these rules and to enforce prescribed penalties (10-1-1).

Umpires shall wear gray slacks and navy pullover shirt or state association-adopted shirt (10-1-9).

If there are two or more umpires, the umpire-in-chief shall stand behind the catcher. The umpire-in-chief, when behind the plate, shall wear proper safety equipment including but not limited to: chest protector, face mask, throat guard, plate shoes, shin guards and protective cup (if male). He shall call and count balls and strikes, signal fair and foul balls and make all decisions on the batter. When calling a foul ball, the umpire-in-chief should always signal a foul ball, but should only call out “Foul Ball,” when the ball is not a caught foul fly ball. He shall make all decisions except those commonly reserved for the field umpire (10-2-1).

In Simple Terms While crews may designate a senior umpire, the umpire-in-chief for a particular game is the plate umpire.

The umpire-in-chief has sole authority to forfeit a game and has jurisdiction over any rules matters not mentioned in 10-2-1 and not assigned to the field umpire (10-2-2).

Any umpire’s decision which involves judgment, such as whether a hit is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. But if there is reasonable doubt about some decision being in conflict with the rules, the coach or captain may ask that the correct ruling be made. The umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize or interfere with another umpire’s decision unless asked by the one making it (10-1-4). The use of videotape or equipment by game officials for the purpose of making calls or rendering decisions is prohibited (10-1-5).

A field umpire shall aid the umpire-in-chief in administering the rules. He shall make all decisions on the bases except those reserved for the umpire-in-chief. He shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the umpire-in-chief in calling time, balks, infield fly, defacement or 2015 Rules By Topic 11

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discoloration of the ball by the pitcher, illegal pitches, when a fly ball is caught, or in ejecting any coach or player for flagrant, unsportsmanlike conduct or infraction as prescribed by the rules. In some instances, he will rule on the ball being fair or foul (10-3-1).

No umpire may be replaced during a game unless he becomes ill or is injured. His right to disqualify players or to remove nonplayers for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct is absolute.

Ejections will be made at the end of playing action (10-1-6).

When there is only one field umpire, he shall make all calls primarily at first, second and third unless the calls are more conveniently made by the umpire-in-chief (10-3-2). If additional field umpires are used, they are referred to as base umpires and their normal positions are behind third and second bases. They have concurrent jurisdiction with the first field umpire (10-3-3).

Rationale

In 2009, the rules committee updated the uniform requirement for umpires.

Umpires are no longer required to wear “heather” gray slacks. Because umpire pants fade over time and not all “heather” grays look the same, the word “heather” was deleted from the requirement. The only requirement is that umpires wear gray slacks.

Umpires: Caseplays

10.1.4 SITUATION: The coach of Team A informs the umpire that five runs scored in an inning by Team A, rather than the four credited, and that this fact can be verified on a parent’s or team’s videotape of the game. RULING: The umpire may not allow the use of video to assist in rendering any decision.

10.1.9 SITUATION A: Umpires arrive at the field wearing light gray slacks. Are these slacks legal? RULING: Yes. Umpires are no longer required to wear “heather” gray slacks.

10.1.9 SITUATION B: Umpires arrive at the field wearing (a) navy pullover shirts, or (b) red pullover shirts, or (c) one umpire is wearing a black shirt while the other umpire is wearing a gray shirt. RULING: (a) Legal (b) Umpires may wear an alternate shirt if approved by the state association; (c) Illegal. Both umpires shall be wearing identical, approved uniforms.

10.2.2 SITUATION A: With the home team behind by one run in the bottom of the seventh and two outs, B4 singles. R2 scores, but then maliciously runs over the catcher. The umpire ejects R2 and nullifies his 12 2015 Rules By Topic

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run. As both teams begin to go to their respective dugouts, R1’s coach informs an umpire that the run should score, since he touched the plate before the malicious contact. The umpire summons the other umpires and asks them to wait. The umpire disagrees, at which time the coach lodges a protest with the umpire-in-chief. RULING: The coach’s protest is on record since he lodged the protest with an umpire before the umpires left the field. If the umpire-in-chief realizes an error has been made, the game would resume, as long as an umpire has remained on the field.

Jurisdiction

Umpire jurisdiction begins upon the umpires arriving at the field (within the confines of the field) and ends when the umpires leave the playing field at the conclusion of the game. The game officials retain clerical authority over the contest through the completion of any reports, including those imposing disqualification, that are responsive to actions occurring while the umpires had jurisdiction. State associations may intercede in the event of unusual incidents after the umpires’ jurisdiction has ended or in the event that a game is terminated prior to the conclusion of regulation play (10-1-2). If there is only one umpire, he has complete jurisdiction in administering the rules and he may take any position he desires, preferably behind the catcher (10-1-3). The umpirein-chief shall make the final decision on points not covered by the rules (10-2-3g).

Rationale

Since the umpires have pregame duties to perform (check field and backstop, etc.), the committee felt that official jurisdiction should begin upon arrival on the playing field. This change was made in 1995. Previously, the committee had ruled that jurisdiction began at the pre-game conference.

Jurisdiction: Caseplays

10.1.2 SITUATION A: Upon arriving on the playing field, the umpire(s) observe F1 warming up with F2 outside the confines of the field. The umpire informs F2 that he must wear a mask with a throat protector and a head protector to continue. F2 puts his mask and head protector on immediately and continues warming up F1. RULING: Legal. Umpire jurisdiction begins when the umpire arrives within the confines of the field.

10.1.2 SITUATION B: As an umpire is walking to the field, a player from one of the teams swears at the umpire. RULING: Unless the

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umpire is within the confines of the field, he cannot impose any penalties.

COMMENT: The umpire should inform the player’s coach immediately, and if circumstances warrant, submit a written account to the state association.

10.2.2 SITUATION B: With the score tied in the bottom of the seventh and R1 on third and R2 on first, R2 is obstructed trying to steal second.

The umpire awards R2 third base, which forces R1 home to win the game. Both teams leave the field and are entering their respective dugouts as the umpires leave. The coach of the defensive team, after talking to his assistant coach, realizes the obstruction award was misapplied. He finds the umpire-in-chief behind the backstop. Is the coach allowed to lodge a protest? RULING: No. A protest would have to have been lodged with an umpire before the umpires left the field. Once the umpires have left the field, even if nearby, it is too late.

Topic:

Equipment, Field Check Ball

The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material and covered with two strips of white horsehide or two strips of white cowhide tightly stitched together.

It shall be 5 to 5 1/4 ounces in weight and have a circumference of 9 to 9 1/4 inches. The Coefficient of Restitution (COR) of baseballs shall not exceed .555. A minimum of three umpire-approved baseballs shall be provided to start the game. Unless otherwise mutually agreed upon, the home team has this responsibility. No less than two baseballs shall be used to complete a game. The NFHS Authenticating Mark is required on all balls that will be used in high school competition. A current list of NFHS authenticated products can be found on the Web site: www.nfhs. org (1-3-1).

Ball: Caseplay

1.3.1 SITUATION: (a) The home team provides the umpire-in-chief with three new baseballs or (b) game management at a tournament or a playoff site provides the umpire-in-chief with three new baseballs.

RULING: Legal in both (a) and (b). In fact, some leagues may have a rule that the visiting team will supply one new baseball and the home team will supply two. That would be legal, too, since the intent of the 14 2015 Rules By Topic