1. RULE CHANGES

2. RULE CHANGES
A batter-runner who reaches first base safely and then over-runs 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 a base on balls does not have this right.
Rationale: This is a simple change that is fair for all batters and is more umpire-friendly.

3. POINTS OF EMPHASIS Sportsmanship Jewelry Rule Enforcement
Proper Administration of NFHS Rules
Proper Pitching Positions

4. Sportsmanship POINTS OF EMPHASIS National Anthem Standoff
The standing and singing of the national anthem is a valued tradition that is held prior to sporting events. Staring down an opponent after the national anthem, trying to intimidate them or refusing to leave the respective baseline before the other team departs is not consistent with the mission of education-based athletics. Coaches are the closest role models to these students and are held accountable for the behavior of their players as they represent their school and community. If those actions are not representative of high school sports and what they stand for, then corrective measures should take place.

5. NFHS Jewelry Rule POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Items that are attached except medical appliances/devices are considered to be jewelry. The primary cause for the restriction of jewelry is primary for risk minimization for the wearer and for their opponent. Earrings and various other piercings can be problematic for a player if the piercing gets caught on equipment and torn away from the body. Obviously, if a physician has provided documentation in support of a particular piercing, the local state association has the latitude (with proper justification) to make a special accommodation for the player. We need to be more vigilant to protect our players and their opponents.

6. Enforcement of NFHS Rules
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Enforcement of NFHS Rules
The rules of high school baseball are written for the age and skill level of varsity high school players. The role of interscholastic athletics is not to prepare young people for the next level. In fact, the purpose of education-based athletics is three-fold. First, the purpose of high school baseball rules is to minimize risk. Secondly, the rules are designed to maintain the balance between offense and defense. Thirdly, the rules are to preserve the sound traditions of the game. Essentially, the NFHS and their member state associations use athletics to teach valuable life lessons. In addition, simplicity, fairness and ease to implement as an umpire or to teach or illustrate as a coach are additional reasons why our playing rules are designed in this manner. Other rules code have significantly different objectives and rationales for their rules. When non-approved interpretations or rulings that are contradictory to NFHS rules as written are used, they can confuse student, coaches, umpires and fans.

7. Proper Pitching Positions
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Proper Pitching Positions
The rules that govern the pitcher’s movement and his position on the pitcher’s plate have not varied over the years. However, modified or hybrid positions continually are developed and are attempted to be introduced into the high school game. While these creative pitcher's stances might work for advance levels of baseball, they are not appropriate for interscholastic baseball. Our rules are perfect for the age and skill level of the students we write playing rules for participation. The game has evolved over the years and new equipment and strategies have been very beneficial for our game. However, there are some things that stand the test of time and the proper position of the pitcher is one of those rules that enjoys a rich tradition.
The pitching requirements begin once he engages the pitcher’s plate. In NFHS sanctioned baseball there are only two positions the pitcher can possess, the windup and the set (also known as the stretch) position. The starting position of the non-pivot foot determines whether the pitcher is going to pitch from the windup or set position.

8. HYBRID PITCHING STANCE
“I’m not calling it because the pitcher is not gaining an advantage”
“They don’t call it at the pro / college level”
We can’t enforce some rules and not enforce others
This rule is not necessarily about advantage / disadvantage
The pitcher is gaining an advantage with runners on base
We need to understand that the rule is the same at all levels

9. HYBRID PITCHING STANCE
Legal Pitching Positions Rule 6-1-3
The set is one of two legal pitching positions. For the set position, a pitcher shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate and with his entire pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher’s plate.

10. HYBRID PITCHING STANCE
Legal Pitching Positions Rule 6-1-3
The windup is second of two legal pitching positions. For the windup, the pitcher’s non-pivot foot shall be in any position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate.

11. HYBRID PITCHING STANCE
Illegal Pitching Position Rule 6-1-3
A number of pitchers are starting in this position and coming set. This is not a legal position because it does not meet the requirements of either the windup or set position.

12. HYBRID PITCHING STANCE
Rationale: Set Position
Rule 6-1-3
This rule change emphasizes that the so-called “hybrid” stance is ILLEGAL. It is, at times, difficult for the offensive team, as well as umpires, to determine the stance of a pitcher. The Rules Committee’s goal is to eliminate any confusion or circumvention of the set position rule by emphasizing the pivot foot requirement to be in a legal set position.

13. HYBRID PITCHING STANCE
Rule Differences Between the Stances
How he can hold the ball
Does he have to come set
With his feet in the wind-up position, the pitcher may only deliver a pitch or step backward off the pitcher’s plate with his pivot foot first.
During the set position…, the pitcher may turn on his pivot foot or lift it in a jump turn to step with the non-pivot foot toward a base while throwing or feinting…

14. HYBRID PITCHING STANCE
All Rule Sets are the Same
Under all rule sets, the pitcher must either be in the wind-up or the set position
The only difference is how this is determined
Under Pro Rules, the pitcher must declare set or wind-up
Under NCAA Rules, the stance is determined by the position of the pitchers shoulders, not his feet.

15. By-Law Changes from the October 16th Board of Trustee’s Meeting
PROPOSED BYLAW CHANGES
By-Law Changes from the October 16th Board of Trustee’s Meeting
8. Proposal to add an item “g” to by-law 2.92 on Page 44 as follows: “Judgement calls by contest officials are not reviewable or reversible.” (GHSA office) Effective Immediately
PROPOSAL PASSED (unanimously)  
13. Proposal to reword by-law 2.62-e-7 on page 36 as follows (new wording in italic): “Drones shall not be permitted to fly during any GHSA sanctioned event (Note: This prohibition begins when the gates or doors open and extends until the last spectator has left the field or arena.)” (GHSA office) Effective Immediately
15. Proposal to reword item 2. (e) on page 58 under the Baseball Pitching Restrictions to eliminate the requirement for a registered umpire to be paid to monitor the pitch counts. Instead, the home team will be responsible for providing an adult (21 or over) Pitch Count Monitor who will monitor the pitch counts for both teams, notify the umpire when a pitcher is nearing a threshold and later record the pitch counts on the GHSA MIS web site. (Baseball ad-hoc committee) Effective Immediately
PROPOSAL DENIED (8-2)

16. By-Law Changes from the October 16th Board of Trustee’s Meeting
PROPOSED BYLAW CHANGES
By-Law Changes from the October 16th Board of Trustee’s Meeting
16. Proposal to add wording to item 2. (e) on page 58 under the Baseball Pitching Restrictions to the effect that once a coach is warned that the pitcher is approaching a pitch count threshold, that pitcher shall be allowed to finish the batter. But, upon completion of that batter, the Days of Rest restrictions will only be based on the number of pitches that were thrown PRIOR to reaching the threshold. (Baseball ad-hoc committee) Effective Immediately
PROPOSAL DENIED (unanimously)  
17. Proposal to add wording to item 2. (e) on page 58 under the Baseball Pitching Restrictions to the effect that any pitches that were thrown during a game that was suspended or rained out shall be counted for that pitcher towards any pitching restriction thresholds. (Baseball ad-hoc committee) Effective Immediately
PROPOSAL PASSED (unanimously)
18. Proposal to reword item 2. (h) on page 58 under the Baseball Pitching Restrictions to add the following under penalties for violating the pitch count restrictions (new wording in italic): “… the offending school shall be fined $250, the head coach at that level assessed a two-game suspension, and the game forfeited.” (Baseball ad-hoc committee) Effective Immediately