Differences between NFHS and Official Baseball Rules (OBR)

Differences between NFHS and Official Baseball Rules (OBR) OBR is used by mst Yuth Sprts Baseball Leagues (Pny/Clt, Little League, Babe Ruth, American Legin) as well as mst adult baseball leagues The rules differences shwn n the next several pages are the MAJOR differences between NFHS and OBR rules. There are ther, mre subtle, differences that the umpire needs t knw and understand. During any game called as an umpire, it is critical that yu knw WHICH rules the teams are playing under. If they are playing under OBR, then yu als need t knw the revisins t thse rules the league has adpted. (e.g.: American Legin uses OBR, but has adpted sme f the slide rules frm NFHS fr play in that league) NFHS Rule OBR Rule Subject NFHS Rule Reference Reference 1-3-2,3,4,5 1.10 Legal Bat NFHS allws bth wd and nn-wd bats Wd Bats: Must be nt mre than 2-3/4 in diameter Must have n mre than a negative three rati between weight and length (a 36 bat must weigh at least 33 unces) May have tape r ther substance nt mre than 18 frm the handle end f the bat Nn-Wd bats must: Be nt mre than 2-5/8 in diameter Have n mre than a negative three rati between weight and length (a 36 bat must weigh at least 33 unces) Be certified and labeled as meeting the BBCOR standard (permanently imprinted r silk-screened by the manufacturer) Have a safety grip that extends a minimum f 10, but nt mre than 18, frm the handle end f the bat 2-4-3 6.08a Intentinal Base n Balls NFHS allws an intentinal base n balls simply by request f either the cach r the catcher. It is NOT necessary t pitch ut fr fur balls. The request can be made at any time while the batter is still at bat. Upn request, call TIME and award the batter first base

2-22-1 7.06 Obstructin Obstructin f a runner is ALWAYS a delayed dead ball in NFHS 2-32 N Rule Illegal Slide An illegal slide is specifically defined A LEGAL slide Can be either head first r feet first If feet first, must have at least ne leg and ne buttck n the grund Must slide within reach f the base with either a hand r ft An ILLEGAL slide A rlling, crss-bdy, r pp-up slide that makes cntact with a fielder The runner s raised leg/ft is higher than the fielder s knee wuld be if the fielder were in a standing psitin The runner slides beynd a base, and THEN makes cntact with a fielder r alters the play f the fielder The runner slashes r kicks the fielder with either leg The runner tries t injure the fielder The runner, n a FORCE PLAY, des nt slide n the grund, and in a direct line between the tw bases, UNLESS The runner is sliding r running away frm the fielder t avid cntact r altering the play f the fielder NOTE: A runner is NEVER required t slide. Hwever, if he des, it must be a legal slide ------ There in NOT at mandatry slide rule. 3-1-1 Illegal Substitute 3-1-3 N Rule Re-entry f starting players Illegal substitute, when identified, is restricted t the bench fr the remainder f the game. He is nt ejected. If the same player re-enters the game, he is ejected. Starting players may be pulled ut f the game (substituted fr) and then re-enter the game later, but nly ONE TIME. The re-entered player must remain in the same spt in the batting rder. NOTE: This applies ONLY t starting players, nt t substitutes. This applies t the PITCHER, wh may RE-ENTER AS PITCHER even thugh he was put n the bench, unless that player r cach has vilated certain ther prvisins (See Trublesme Rules Substitutin fr clarificatin) 3-1-4 6-10b Designated Hitter The Designated Hitter may hit fr ANY player in the lineup, nt just the pitcher 3-3-1a 8-3-2 2-22-2 N Rule Fake Tag A fake tag is, by definitin, bstructin. Bases may be awarded by the umpire fr bstructin. A fake tag is, by definitin, an illegal act. First instance by a team results in a bench warning, Subsequent instances result in ejectin f the player invlved. 3-3-1n (Penalty) N Rule Malicius Cntact by Runner Malicius cntact is interference by the runner and results in ejectin f the player invlved. If the runner has nt scred prir t the cntact, he is als ut. 3-3-1n (Penalty) N Rule Malicius Cntact by Fielder Malicius cntact by a fielder results in ejectin f the player invlved. The runner is either safe r ut n the play. If the player was bstructed by the cntact, then the umpire may enfrce the bstructin rule.

3-3-1 (Penalty) 9.0.1d Umpire discipline f cach NFHS allws the umpire t restrict the cach t the bench fr the remainder f the game rather than ejecting him. Once restricted t the bench, any further infractins results in ejectin. 3-3-1 N Rule Team Warnings NFHS prvides fr bench warnings fr several vilatins rather than ejecting the first player vilating certain rules 3-3-1 (Penalty) 8.06b Defensive Cnferences A cach is allwed 3 charged cnferences during a regular 7-inning game. There is n restrictin as t when these cnferences can be used They culd, if a cach desired, be used all in ne inning r all during ne batter s at-bat. After three charged defensive cnferences, the cach must replace the pitcher n each subsequent visit Fr extra inning games, each team is allwed ne charged defensive cnference in each extra inning 3-3-2 4.07 Ejectins COACH A cach wh has been ejected must leave the vicinity f the playing field an is prhibited frm further cntact, direct r indirect, with his players. EXCEPTION: The cach may return t the field t attend t an injured player when requested by the umpire PLAYER (Official Interpretatin frm NFHS) A player wh has been ejected frm a game is NOT required t leave the field. He may, if the cach s desires, remain in the dugut s that he is still under the direct supervisin f the caching staff. 3-4-2 N Rule Offensive Cnferences Each team is allwed ne charged ffensive cnference in each inning f regular r extra-inning play 4-2-2 N Rule 10-Run Rule The game shall end when the visiting team is behind 10 r mre runs after 4 ½ innings, OR after the fifth inning, if either team is behind by 10 r mre runs, and bth teams have had an equal number f times at bat. 4-4-1f 4.17 Finishing game with 8 players 5.1.1h 5.10e Umpire handles live ball NFHS requires a team t start a game with nine (9) players, but allws them t finish the game with (8) players. Once they have gne t eight players, they can return t having nine players, if additinal eligible substitutes shw up fr the game. An ut is called each time the vacant batting slt cmes up t bat In NFHS, the ball is dead IMMEDIATELY if an umpire handles a live ball 5-1-1k 8.05 (Penalty) Balk In NFHS a balk is an IMMEDIATE DEAD BALL. All playing actin after the balk is autmatically negated (steals, hme runs, etc.) 6-1-2 8.01a Allwable mvements frm the windup psitin In NFHS, n pickff mve can ccur frm the windup psitin. The pitcher can nly d ne f tw things: Pitch t the batter Step ff the rubber legally

8-2 (Penalty) 7.10 Missed base r leaving base t sn n caught fly ball (Appeals) In NFHS, an appeal fr a runner missing a base r leaving a base t sn n a caught fly ball can be made either during a LIVE ball r DEAD ball situatin. During a live ball appeal, it is NOT necessary fr the pitcher t cntact the rubber and then step ff and thrw t the fielder making the appeal. 8-3-3d 5.10f 7.04c Fielder steps int dead ball territry after a catch READ AND KNOW THE APPEALS SECTION!! There is n catch and carry in NFHS. If a fielder steps int dead ball territry with bth feet after having caught a ball, it is an immediate dead ball and bases are awarded NOTE: If he slides int dead ball territry and the upper part f his bdy is still in live ball territry, then he has nt stepped ut f play. If he thrws frm this psitin the ball is alive. If he stands up and BOTH FEET remain in dead ball territry, then he HAS stepped ut f play and the ball is dead and bases are awarded. 8-4-2g 7.09g Interference n a duble play 8-4-2d N Rule Hurdling r Jumping ver fielder Interference des nt have t intentinal. Any illegal cntact that alters the play is interference by definitin It is ILLEGAL t jump r hurdle a fielder, with r withut the ball, wh is standing r kneeling. (NFHS Casebk 3.3.1 Situatin G; 8.4.2 Situatins T, U) Hurdling, Jumping, r Leaping ver a fielder is LEGAL -- ONLY IF the fielder is lying n the grund. This means laying flat n the grund in a prne psitin (NFHS Casebk 3.3. Situatin G; 8.4.2 Situatin T, U) It is LEGAL t jump r hurdle ver an utstretched arm (NFHS Casebk 8-4-2 Situatin D) The key t this is jumping r hurdling ver the trs r head is ILLEGAL unless the fielder is laying flat (prne) n the grund. It des nt matter if the fielder has the ball, is attempting t make a play, r just in the base path. DIVING ver a fielder, regardless f the reasn, is ALWAYS ILLEGAL. Fr purpses f this rule, diving means headfirst. (NFHS Casebk 8.4.2 Situatin W)

Speed-Up Rules N Rule Curtesy Runner A team may use curtesy runners fr the pitcher and/r catcher. If a curtesy runner is used, the fllwing rules apply: 1. The UIC shall recrd curtesy runner participatin 2. A curtesy runner is nt a substitutin and the catcher and pitcher d nt have t leave the game, nr is the curtesy runner cnsidered t be a substitute (hwever, see case play belw fr an exceptin t this fr prjected substitutins ) 3. The curtesy runner runs fr the psitin, NOT the individual. 4. Mre than ne player may run fr a psitin during the game 5. The same player may nt run fr bth the catcher and the pitcher psitins 6. The curtesy runner must be an eligible substitute. A player wh has entered the game in any ther capacity is nt eligible t be a curtesy runner. 7. A player may nt run as a curtesy runner and als be used as a substitute fr any ther player in the same half inning. (EXCEPTION: If an injury, illness, r ejectin ccurs and there are n ther runners are available, the curtesy runner may be used as a substitute) 8. A player wh vilates the curtesy runner rule is an illegal substitute 9. A cach is nt required t use a curtesy runner 10. A curtesy runner can replace the catcher r pitcher at any time during the half inning NOTE: Prjected substitutins fr the pitcher/catcher during the team s time at bat are nt allwed. The pitcher/catcher are the players wh were in thse psitins during the last half inning when the team was n defense CASE PLAY 3.1.1-N: Adams is the pitcher and Smith is the curtesy runner. In the bttm half f the sixth inning, Baker pinch hits fr Adams and gets a single. The cach sends Smith ut as a curtesy runner fr Baker after advising the umpire that Baker will be the pitcher in seventh inning. RULING: Illegal. Prjected substitutins are nt allwed. Baker is a substitute and is nt the pitcher until he actually takes the mund in the next half inning. A curtesy runner is nly allwed fr the player, in this case Adams, wh was the pitcher n defense befre cming t bat. If Smith runs, he is a substitute, nt a curtesy runner.

8-4-2 b-f N Rule Runner shall slide r avid cntact n a frce r tag play The Runner is OUT if: 8-4-2(b) Des nt legally slide makes illegal cntact that alters the actins f a fielder in the immediate act f making a play Des nt legally slide that des nt make cntact, but alters the actins f a fielder in the immediate act f making a play On a frce play, des nt slide n the grund, and in a direct line between the tw bases, UNLESS The runner is sliding r running away frm the fielder t avid cntact r altering the play f the fielder NOTE: Runners are never required t slide, but if a runner elects t slide, the slide must be legal Interference is called Ball is dead Runner is ut On a FORCE PLAY, bth the runner and the batter-runner are ut Other runners return t bases ccupied at the time f the pitch 8-4-2(c) Des nt legally attempt t avid a fielder in the immediate act f making a play n him (tag, frce play, etc.) NOTE: See sectin belw n Hurdling, Jumping a fielder fr further clarificatin Runner is ut Ball remains alive unless interference ccurs 8-4-2(d) Dives ver a fielder Diving ver a fielder (headfirst) is ALWAYS illegal Runner is ut Ball remains alive 8-4-2(e) Initiates malicius cntact Malicius cntact supersedes bstructin Runner is ejected If the runner scred befre the cntact, the run cunts If the runner has nt scred, then the runner is als called ut If the malicius cntact interferes with a fielder in the act f making a play, it is als interference and the ball is dead Runners return t bases ccupied at the time f the infractin Award ther uts that, in the umpires judgment, wuld have been made 8-4-2(f) As a runner r retired runner, fails t execute a legal slide, r des nt attempt t avid the fielder r the play n a frce play at any base