NFHS

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Baseball Rules
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• Rule 4
• Starting and Ending Game

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Rule 4

• Field Conditions Is the field playable?
• Home coach has jurisdiction prior to game
• Umpires have jurisdiction after the game begins
• Umpires have jurisdiction for second game of DH
• You should be there early enough to inspect the
  field
• Ground Rules
• Home coach proposes at plate meeting
• Visiting team must agree
• Umpire must agree
• May not supersede any rules book rule

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Rule 4

• Starting the Game - Plate Meeting
• Check Equipment (partners stay together)
• Introductions
• Pay Cards (if not done at gate)
• Verify Designated Administrator for the game
• Receive and verify Home lineup, the Visitor
  lineup
• Ask Home skipper to cover ground rules
• Ask and received verification from head coaches
  that all players are properly equipped and all
  equipment is legal IAW the rules (2012 Rule
  Change Coach is Restricted/Ejected for use of
  illegal bat - Rule 4-1-3b)
• Cover Points of Emphasis
• Emphasize Good Sportsmanship
• Home team takes the field

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Rule 4

• How many Players are required per team?
• 9 players on each team are required to start a
  game
• A team may play with 8 players after the game has
  started
• Out is called when that spot in the order comes
  to bat
• If an offensive player must be substituted after
  reaching base, the most recent batter not on base
  may be allowed to run for that player
• A team may return to 9 players during the game

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Rule 4

• Ending the game
• A regulation game in 7 innings
• May be extended to break a tie
• May be shortened if
• Home team is ahead by 10 runs after 4 ½ or 5
  innings

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• Rule 5
• Dead Ball
• Suspension of Play

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Rule 5 - Dead Ball

• Illegal Pitch (No Runners on)
• The pitch is ruled a ball
• Pitch touches batter
• Batter awarded 1B (unless no attempt to avoid or
  pitch is a strike)
• Pitch touches runner
• All runners advance one base (unless strike for
  3rd out)
• Illegally batted ball
• Batter is out, Runners return
• Intentionally hitting ball a second time
• Batter is out, Runners return
• Uncaught Foul
• Runners return to base occupied at time of pitch
• Interference by Runner or retired Runner
• Interferer is out, Get 2 on a double play, other
  Runners return
• Malicious contact guilty player is ejected
• Interference (other than the runner with fielder
  trying to catch a fly foul ball
• Batter is out, get 2 if double play was prevented
• If runner interferes, runner is out, batter
  remains at bat

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Rule 5 - Dead Ball

• Interference by others connected with team
• Runner is out, other Runners return
• Fair ball over fence in flight or prevented by
  spectator interference or detached player
  equipment
• Award all Runners Home Base
• Fair ball touches a spectator
• Award or Penalize according to Umpires judgment
• Fair ball bounces over, through or lodges in
  fence or lodges in players uniform or equipment
• Award all Runners 2 bases from base occupied at
  time of pitch
• Fair ball touches Runner before it touches a
  fielder or passes any fielder other than the
  pitcher
• Hit Runner is out, Batter awarded 1B, Other
  Runners return to bases occupied at time of
  interference (unless forced by batter-runner)
• Fair batted ball touches umpire before it touches
  an infielder or passes any infielder except the
  pitcher
• Batter awarded first base, Runners return to base
  occupied at time of pitch, unless forced by
  Batter-Runner

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Rule 5 - Dead Ball

• A thrown ball (not by pitcher from plate) goes
  into bench, stand, through or over the fence
• Award all Runners two bases
• A pitch or ball thrown by pitcher from plate goes
  into bench, stand, through or over the fence,
  backstop, or touches a spectator (in live ball
  area) or lodges in umpires or catchers
  equipment
• Award all Runners one base
• Umpire handles a live ball or calls time
• Runners return to base they had reached or passed
  when the ball becomes dead
• Fair or foul ball is caught by a fielder, who
  then steps or falls into a dead ball area
• Award all Runners one base (except when catch is
  3rd out)
• Infielder intentionally drops a fair fly, fair
  line drive or a fair bunt in flight with at least
  first base occupied and less than 2 outs
• Batter is out, Runners return to base occupied
  at time of pitch
• Balk
• All Runners advance one base, Batter-Runner
  remains at bat

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Rule 5 - Dead Ball

• Umpire give Do not Pitch signal
• No play can take place
• Award Intentional base on balls
• Batter awarded first base
• Batter enters box with illegal bat
• Batter is out
• Batter refuses to enter box after being warned by
  Umpire
• Strike is called
• Interference by batter who hits throw from
  pitcher not in contact with pitchers plate when
  Runner is advancing home
• With less than two outs, Runner is out, otherwise
  the Batter is out
• A batted, pitched or thrown ball touches a
  designated media area or anyone or anything in or
  partially in this area
• Award Runners 2 bases (one base if throw or pitch
  by pitcher)
• Defense Malicious Contact
• Umpire rules safe or out on the play and awards
  runner(s) appropriate bases per his judgment
• Defensive player ejected from game

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Rule 5 - Delayed Dead Ball

• Interference by Batter when attempted put-out is
  on Runner other than at home
• With 2 out, Batter is out.
• With less than 2 out and put-out is not made,
  ball is dead, batter is out and Runners return.
• If on a 3rd strike, Batter is out and Umpire may
  call a 2nd out
• Interference by Batter when Runner is advancing
  to home (other than hitting a throw from Pitcher
  not in contact with pitchers plate)
• With 2 out, Batter is out
• With less than 2 out, Runner is out
• If Runner is put out, ball remains in live
• Obstruction with Batter by Catcher or Fielder
• If Batter and all Runners attempting to steal or
  who are forced do not advance, award each one base

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Rule 5 - Delayed Dead Ball

• Obstruction (Runner)
• If obstructed Runner and all other Runners
  hindered by the obstruction do not reach bases
  they otherwise would have reached, award such
  Runner or Runners such bases
• Intentionally touching batted ball with detached
  player equipment over fair ground, or over foul
  ground which might become fair ball
• Award Batter-Runner and Runners 3 bases if not
  made
• Intentionally touching thrown ball (including a
  pitch) with detached player equipment
• Award Runners 2 bases if not made
• Offensive Team personnel call Time or uses any
  other command or commits an act for the purpose
  of trying to cause a balk
• Runners may not advance, eject offender from game
• Interference with Catcher by Umpire
• If Runner is not put out, Runners return

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Rule 5 - Delayed Dead Ball

• Deliberately removing batting helmet in live ball
  territory while ball is live
• Team Warning, Subsequent violations result in
  ejection
• A Coach physically assists a Runner
• Involved Batter-Runner or Runner is out.
• Outs on play stand
• Other Runners return to bases occupied at time of
  interference
• Use of Illegal glove/mitt
• Award 4 bases for home run over fence
• Award 3 bases for other fair batted ball
• Award 2 bases for thrown or pitched ball

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Rule 5 - Putting Ball in Play

• After a Dead Ball, the ball becomes live when
• Pitcher has the ball and is on the pitching plate
• The Catcher is in his box
• The Batter is in his box
• THE UMPIRE CALLS PLAY AND GIVES THE APPROPRIATE
  SIGNAL
• EVERY TIME!
• NO EXCEPTIONS!

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Questions ?