1. RULE CHANGES AND POINTS OF EMPHASIS
2018 ANNUAL MEETING
NFHS 2018
RULE CHANGES AND POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Welcome. AS you know, every year in June, the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee meets to review proposed changes to the rules and discuss needed points to be emphasized across the nation.
Today we will talk about those rule changes and points of emphasis for the upcoming 2018 season.

2. BASEBALL Nationally, High School Baseball is in excellent shape.
Almost 16,000 schools (#3) sponsor the sport with 491,790 (#4) students participating in the nation.
Across the nation, High School Baseball had 143 reported injuries in , with 81 occurring during competition.
This injury rate, 0.84, is down from previous years.
Strains and sprains are #1 injury.
Arm and elbow injuries increased (impact from 2017 pitch count rule change not yet seen).
Lowest concussion rate in all sports.
Two deaths in baseball last year (2017) Pre-existing medical conditions.
Overall, across the nation, High School Baseball is in great shape. Participation is again growing after a few years of decline. Baseball is the 4th most participated sport in the nation. It is third in the nation with the number of schools who offer the sport at a varsity level. And that too has been growing.
Baseball continues to be one of the safest sports offered Varsity data, of the schools who reported their sport injury information, showed baseball with only 143 reported injuries.
Of those 143, slightly more than half occurred during competition with the rest of the injuries happening in practice. Strains and sprains remain the number one injury, particularly to the ankle and knee. Arm and elbow injuries did increase from the previous year. It will be another year before we have the data to see the impact the nation wide pitch count rule had on baseball.
Baseball remains the sport with the lowest incident rate for concussions.
Unfortunately, we did have 2 deaths in 2017, both were from pre-existing medical conditions.

3. 2018 RULE CHANGES
Had 12 rule change proposals (least number in over six years).
Four passed, with only 2 having implementation in
For 2018, we had only a few proposed rule changes, 12 actually. This is much less than in previous years and is a testament to the excellent shape the sport is in.
Of the 12 proposals, 4 passed, with only 2 of those that passing having any impact in the 2018 season.

4. BASEBALLS – RULE 1-3-1 Effective January 1, 2019:
The ball shall meet the NOCSAE standard for baseballs.
A performance standard that measures the ball’s circumference, mass, coefficient of restitution, and compression deflection.
Studied samples purchased across the nation were not as standard and consistent as expected.
For umpires:
No true impact.
Check to have the authenticating mark.
To ensure that every baseball manufactured
meets the same level of quality and playability.
Are 14 companies licensed to make NFHS baseballs.
None are made in the U.S.
Our first rule change will not go into effect until the 2019 season.
Over the past two years, the NFHS has been made aware that “certified” baseballs had too much variability in their manufacturer and in their meeting specifications, hence there was too much inconsistency. Purchased baseballs from sporting goods stores across the nation verified this conclusion.
As a result, the NFHS has incorporated the NOCSAE standard for baseballs which includes in-factory testing.
This should better provide for all players, more consistent baseballs that meet our standards and requirements.
There currently only 14 companies licensed to put the NFHS certification mark on their baseball.
There are no baseballs made in the US. Most are made in China.
For the umpire, this change will have little to no impact. AS in the past, we just need to insure baseballs that are used have the NFHS certification mark.

5. BATS - RULE 1-3-2a2
Bats shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener or attachments that would present a potential hazard.
Clarification concerning attachments that would present a potential hazard are not permitted.
New bats with Smart technology and/or rivets, attachments or pins are not legal.
Last year a bat, the Easton Lock n Load was allowed to be used despite having an exposed pin.
While that bat is “grandfathered” and remains legal, this rule change explicitly disallows any future bats with attachments, fasteners or pins.
Bats having in them or on them any Smart Technology are illegal.
ILLEGAL

6. RULE 4-5-3 CATCHER’S CHEST PROTECTOR
ART The catcher shall wear, in addition to a head protector, a mask with a throat protector, body/chest protector that meets the NOCSAE standard (Effective January 1, 2020), protective cup (male only), and baseball protective shin guards.
Rationale: A NOCSAE standard has been developed to protect the heart and the cardiac silhouette from commotio cordis. The effective date is January 1, 2020.
This rule change has little to do with umpires, other than in 2020 knowing that a catcher’s chest protector shall have the protective device in it.
NOCSAE has developed a standard for chest protectors that now allow testing for protection from possible commotio cordis.
This rule change is to be implemented in the 2020 High School baseball season.
The new rule language is seen here.

7. RULE 4-5-3 CATCHER’S CHEST PROTECTOR
In the past decade High School Baseball has had one death due to commotio cordis; player sliding into second base hit in the chest by the ball.
Commotio cordis occurs when an impact occurs to the chest at a certain time of the heart cycle. Risk decreases as player ages.
This device will be in the chest protector for catchers.
Will help minimize injury and death for players.
Commotio Cordis is a situation where an impact to the chest area occurs at a precise time in the heart cycle that causes the heart to stop beating. The risk for it tends to be with younger players and decreases with age.
While in the past 10 years High School Baseball has only had one death caused by commotio cordis, (it occurred to a player sliding into second base who was hit by a thrown ball in the chest), if we can prevent any from happening we should try.
At the younger ages, the catcher is the most susceptible to the situation.
This rule change requiring a device to protect from commotio cordis be implemented in the chest protector by 2020 is important.

8. RULE 8-2-7 BATTER OVERRUNS FIRST BASE
A batter-runner who reached first base safety and then overruns or over slides may immediately return without liability of being put out provided he does not attempt or feint an advance to second. This now applies to a player who is awarded first base on a base on balls as well as batter-runner who has a base hit.
This is the only rule change for 2018 that has an impact on the play of the game.
In the past a batter runner who hit the ball was allowed to overrun first base and return without jeopardy of being put out (provided he make no attempt or feint to advance to second base). A batter runner who was awarded first base did not have that exclusion or ability to over run first base and have protection to return.
This rule change extends this ability to overrun first and return without risk to all batter-runners, including those who received a base on balls.

9. RULE 8-2-7 BATTER OVERRUNS FIRST BASE
ART A runner who reaches first base safely and then overruns or over slides may immediately return without liability of being put out provided he does not attempt or feint an advance to second. A player who is awarded first base on balls does not have this right.
Play at issue: With a 3-2 count, B checks his swing on a pitch that the catcher drops and does not catch. He cannot wait to see what the PU or the BU calls if it is appealed to him. So B runs as fast as he can to first. If called a ball and he overruns first, with old rule he is at risk to be tagged out.
Here we see the new rule language, where the player with a base on balls was excluded is now omitted.
The play that made the rule change be passed was this:
A batter had a 3-2 count with first base empty. He attempts to check his swing on a pitch that the catcher does not catch. He has no idea whether he successfully checked his swing, hence ball four, and is awarded first base; or if the did not successfully check his swing, hence strike three and he needs to run to first. As a result, he immediately heads to first base and runs through the base. If the plate or base umpire decide he did successfully check his swing, he is not at risk to be tagged out as he returns to first.
This rule change negates this unfair situation.

10. EDITORIAL CHANGE
Rule language was updated to better reflect the 2017 rule change regarding a coach physically assisting a runner during playing action. If a runner is physically assisted by a coach, the runner is called out immediately and the ball remains live.
Corrected Dead-Ball Table.
There was one editorial rule change that caught all of the rule book up with a 2017 rule change.
Last year, the rule change regarding a coach physically assisting a runner was made to have the out called when the infraction occurred, and there was no longer a delayed-dead ball situation. The ball simply remained live and in play.
Unfortunately the dead ball table was not changed in 2017 to reflect the rule change.
It now has been corrected.

11. POINTS OF EMPHASIS SPORTSMANSHIP
NATIONAL ANTHEM STAND-OFF
BENCH BEHAVIOR
ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF NFHS BASEBALL RULES
PITCHING REQUIREMENTS
There were three points of emphasis for the 2018 season.
Sportsmanship, particularly with bench behavior and a national intimidation game called National Anthem stand off. We, unfortunately, have had too much of that here in Texas.
Across the nation, there has been a rise in umpires disregarding NFHS rules and enforcing other baseball rules or one of their liking. WE cannot do this.
Several issues are across the nation that are being allowed but are in violation of our pitching rules.

12. Sportsmanship — National Anthem Stand-Off
National anthem standoffs do not reflect the mission of education-based athletics. Staring down opponents after the national anthem to try to intimidate them or refusing to leave the respective baseline before the other team departs is poor sporting behavior.
The National Anthem is played before the game to honor the United States and to demonstrate to all that while we are competing against each other, we are all Americans before, during, and after the game.
Too often this tradition is being used in an attempt to intimidate or play one up-man ship with the opposing team.
If the teams engage in this stand-off, the home coach should be instructed to have his team move to their dugout or positions on the field. Failure to do so should result in a verbal warning to the coach. Restriction may or may not be warranted.

13. Sportsmanship — Bench-Jockeying
While this rule has been in place for years, the outlawed practice of a team coming out during the opposing team’s infield practice and making disparaging remarks is beginning to happen more and more often.
The rule is in the book, we need to enforce the rule as written. Reminder, warning, restriction are all possibilities depending on the resulting coach/team behavior.
Players are not allowed to stand outside their dugout/bench area and make “cat-calls” or other disparaging remarks while the other team is taking infield practice.

14. Sportsmanship-Celebrations
Coaches, players, substitutes, attendants or other bench personnel shall not leave the dugout during a live ball for any unauthorized purposes.
When the ball is dead and out of play, as in a home run, the scoring team may come out to congratulate teammates and celebrate, providing it is done without any unsporting behavior to the defensive team.
Lately, however, players have been coming out of the dugout to congratulate a runner who scored, with the ball still in play and action either occurring or a possibility.
A rule has been in existence for years that prevents anyone leaving the dugout during a live ball for an unauthorized reason. Leaving during a live ball puts players at risk and may unfairly change the course of play.
On the first violation, a warning is to be given to the coach, and on the next violation a player is ejected.

15. Sportsmanship — Negative Comments
Chants, intentional distractions and loud noises directed at the opponent’s pitcher prior to his pitching, at the batter getting ready to hit, or at a fielder getting ready to make a play are not good sportsmanship.
Players having fun, creating chants and choreography can be fun and enjoyable.
Too often, however, intentional distractions aimed at disrupting a pitcher, or batter, or fielder have been occurring.
These are not to be tolerated and can be treated as interference or obstruction and is certainly in violation of good sporting behavior.

16. Enforcement and Administration of NFHS Rules
High School rules are written for the high school game and athlete. We play the game at the high school level for very different reasons than college or professional play their games. Safety is paramount; expecting sporting behavior, and most importantly this game is to educate our players on how to be successful in life; to provide valuable life lessons.
Using another set of rule s is not to be tolerated. Ignoring a high school rule because one doesn’t like it is not to be tolerated.
Using an interpretation or ruling that is not in line with NFHS rules cannot be tolerated.
Doing so is unfair to the coach and players – every game has a possibility of having a different set of rules in play.
This practice is also unfair to fellow umpires, who later use the correct rules and interpretations.
The rules of high school baseball are designed for the age and skill level of high school players and best serve education-based athletics. Use of non-approved interpretations or rulings that are contradictory to NFHS rules as written can confuse students, coaches, umpires and fans.

17. Proper Pitching Positions
The so-called hybrid stance is illegal as it does not meet the requirements of either the windup or set position.
We have talked for several years that the “hybrid” stance is illegal. It does not meet the rule requirements of the windup or of the set position.
Yet, we still have pitchers, late in the season who pitch from this illegal position and have not had the rule enforced with them.
If all umpires simply enforced the rule as written and as intended, this would go away.
ILLEGAL

18. Replanting the Pivot Foot
Pitching regulations do not permit a leap/hop and replanting of the pivot foot before delivery of a pitch from either the wind-up or set position (NFHS 6-1-2, 6-1-3).
There has been a professional pitcher last year who pitched with a “crow-hop” in his delivery that was allowed.
In high school, replanting the pivot foot in a leap or a hop before releasing the pitch is a violation of the pitching rule, and hence an illegal pitch.
It takes little imagination to see how a pitcher gains an advantage not allowed by the rules.

19. SKUNK OR SNAKE IN THE GRASS
Has been making a comeback.
The so-called “skunk or snake in the grass” play involves R1 taking a lead- off into right field, attempting to cause confusion or draw the throw to give R3 an opportunity to advance home.
“Skunk or Snake In The Grass” play has been around baseball for a long time. It has emerged again this past season.
NFHS Rule 8-4-2a2 provides guidance that, “When a play is being made on a runner or batter-runner, he establishes his baseline as directly between his position and the base toward which he is moving.”
This is a ruse to create a possible distraction for the defense in order to score the run from third base.
This play has been around for over 30 years. It seems to move across the nation and then go back to the originating coast. For many years, umpires wanted to have this play be illegal and eject players and coaches who were involved for behavior detrimental to the game and other reasons.
In this play, which only happens when there are runners only at third and first, the offense attempts to distract the defense with the runner at first base taking an unorthodox lead and getting him in a rundown, and subsequently allowing the runner from third to score.
As set up, the play is legal. No where in the rulebook do we state how a runner may take a lead off or even in what direction.
What the rule book does say is that once a play is being made on him, he must advance from that point directly to the next base or return directly to his previous base. Running from a pick-off out to the outfield would be a violation of the rule resulting in an out on the runner.

20. SKUNK OR SNAKE IN THE GRASS
R1 may legally lead-off that way. But once a defensive player with the ball attempts to tag R1, his base path is locked in place — a straight line to each of the bases he is between.
So, we can’t tell the coach he can’t use the play. WE can’t tell the runner where or how to lead off, but we can enforce the rule.
If a play, pickoff is made on the runner, he must advance directly to second or directly back to first or he is out for being out of the baseline.
In truth, the best way for the defense to handle this is to ignore. The offense gains no advantage and if the defense doesn’t take the bait, they will quit doing it.

21. WEARABLE AND SMART TECHNOLOGY
Huge growth of products with electronic wear-ables and smart technology. Can be attached to:
Bat
Glove
Player
Tattoo technology
Sensors in Uniforms
Measure swing speed, time to contact, swing direction and much more.
Concerns include safety, equipment alteration, privacy, durability and more.
May be worn in practice as a coach desires; not legal for competition.
Smart technology is the next big item on the horizon. Wearable and attachable technology that gathers huge amounts of information are becoming a must have for many coaches.
And it won’t stop.
NFHS rules are written for Varsity competition, and these items are not allowed in a varsity game. What a coach does with it in practice is always up to him.
This electronic technology is not going away, and the committee is evaluating and talking with experts to better understand its use and potential in the game.

22. PIERCINGS
A player may, with a doctor’s permit, ask his school to approve his wearing of a piercing.
The school, if they approve, must take the request to the UIL for approval.
If the UIL approves, the coach is to present the UIL approval copy to the umpire at the game.
The piercing may stay provided it is covered.
Recent legal action and associated cost.
After several court proceedings where players proved they were at a disadvantage having to take off a piercing, there is now a protocol for them to be used.
If a player wishes to keep a piercing on during a game, he must, with a doctor’s permit ask his school to approve. Once approved, then the school must take the request to the UIL for approval. If approved, at each game the coach is to give the umpire a copy of the UIL approval.
The piercing while the player is in the game, must be covered.

23. QUESTIONS? Feel free to contact me concerning a rule or situation.
Kyle McNeely
Any questions or situations that arise, feel free to call Kyle.
His contact information is on the slide.

24. HAVE A GREAT SEASON 2018 ANNUAL MEETING Have a great season.
May it be what you have worked to have.
HAVE A GREAT SEASON