1. 2014 Rule Updates (To be applied to all Australian competitions – effective 1/9/14) ACT Baseball Umpires Association

2. COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE: (7.13) A runner attempting to score may not deviate from their direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate). If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate), the umpire shall declare the runner out (even if the player covering home plate loses possession of the ball). Collisions In such circumstances, the umpire shall call the ball dead, and all other base runners shall return to the last base legally touched, at the time of the collision.

3. ACT Baseball Umpires Association COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE: (7.13) Comment (1): Either; a) the failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate or, b) the lowering of their shoulder or, c) the pushing through with their hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from their direct pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher, in violation of Rule 7.13. Collisions

4. ACT Baseball Umpires Association COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE: (7.13) Comment (2): If the runner slides into the plate in an appropriate manner, he/she shall not be adjudged to have violated Rule 7.13. A slide shall be deemed appropriate if; Feet First Slide: the runner’s buttocks and legs should hit the ground before contact with the catcher; Head First Slide: if the runner’s body should hit the ground before contact with the catcher. Collisions This means: the runner must only be attempting to touch home plate and, not attempting to take the catcher out.

5. ACT Baseball Umpires Association COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE: (7.13) Comment (3): Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, they cannot block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. If, in the judgment of the umpire the catcher, without possession of the ball, blocks the pathway of the runner, the umpire shall call the runner ‘safe’. Collisions In such circumstances, the ball shall still be “live” and other runners may advance at their own risk.

6. ACT Baseball Umpires Association COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE: (7.13) Note:It shall not be considered a violation of Rule 7.13 if, in the umpires judgment, the catcher could not have fielded the ball without blocking the runner and, that any contact with the runner was ‘unavoidable’. Collisions For the practical application of this rule, and for contact of the runner by the catcher to be considered as ‘unavoidable’ and ‘in the act of fielding the ball’, the ball needs to be “in-flight or bounding within the infield” area. That is, if contact is made whilst the ball is still in flight in the outfield area, it should not be judged as unavoidable.

7. ACT Baseball Umpires Association COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE: Point to Remember: Although the runner should slide into home plate to avoid a collision, (in an appropriate manner as described previously), if that runner interferes with the catcher in an obvious attempt to breakup a double play (eg, take-out slide as is usually permitted at 2 nd base), then both the runner and the batter runner will be called out and the ball is dead. Collisions This situation would most likely occur with loaded bases and a ground ball is hit to the infield. In this play, the catcher usually sets up in a 1st base style positioning in front of home plate ready to take the throw, touch home plate for the force out, then attempt to throw the batter runner out at 1st base.