1. 2005 NFHS Baseball Rules Changes

3. BAT SPECIFICATION (1-3-4)  The diameter of a wood bat at the thickest part is 2 3/4 inches or less. A wood bat is considered to be manufactured as a solid piece of wood. The NFHS recognizes only two types of bats, wood and non-wood.

4. BAT SPECIFICATION Cont.  Wood bats are not required to meet the BESR standard. Composite bats are not considered to be wood bats and will need to have the BESR certification mark applied.

6. BAT SPECIFICATION Cont.  The diameter of a non-wood bat at the thickest part is 2 5/8 inches or less. All non-wood bats must meet this specification in order to be used in high school baseball games.

7. BAT SPECIFICATION Cont.  The BESR certification mark shall be either silk-screened in the design of the bat or other permanent markings, such as stickers, labels or decals.  Effective January 1, 2006 no BESR label, sticker or decal will be permitted on any non-wood bat.

8. BAT SPECIFICATION Cont.  Labels that read “Meets high school standards” for non-wood bats are not acceptable and the bat is illegal.  Bats that are altered or that do not meet the rule specifications are illegal (see 7-4- 1a).

9. BAT SPECIFICATION Cont.  A batter is out when he enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat or is discovered having used an illegal bat.  If the infraction is discovered before the next pitch following the turn at bat of the player who used an illegal bat, the defense may take the penalty or the result of the play.

12. ILLEGAL GLOVE/MITT (1-3-6)  All fielders shall wear gloves/mitt made of leather.  Any glove/mitt with any foreign substance that is sticky, tacky or creates an adhesive surface is considered to alter the glove and is illegal.  The glove/mitt worn by the pitcher shall be uniform in color and neither white or gray.

14. ILLEGAL GLOVE/MITT Cont.  The fielder’s glove/mitt is not held to the same standard as the pitcher’s glove and can be multi-colored.  If the ball is touched with an illegal glove/mitt and is discovered by the umpire, the coach or captain of the team at bat has the choice of taking the result of the play or having the award (8-3-3a,b,c) applied.

15. ILLEGAL GLOVE/MITT Cont.  The illegal glove/mitt shall be replaced immediately.  A foul fly caught with an illegal glove/mitt shall be nullified and treated as a foul ball, unless the team at bat elects to take the result of the play.

17. UNIFORMS/FACE MASK/GUARDS (1-4-6)  A face mask/guard may be attached to batting helmets at the time of manufacture.  All face mask/guards shall meet the NOCSAE standard.

18. UNIFORMS/FACE MASK/GUARDS (1-4-6)  A face mask/guard specifically designed for a particular helmet model may be attached after manufacture, provided that procedure is approved by the manufacturer and meets the NOCSAE standard.

19. UNIFORMS/FACE MASK/GUARDS (1-4-6)  Failure by a player to wear proper equipment after being so ordered by the umpire shall result in ejection.

21. ILLEGAL PLAYER- SUBSTITUTION (3-1-1)  For discovery of an illegal player on offense or defense by an umpire or either team, that player shall be restricted to the bench/dugout for the duration of the game.

24. ILLEGAL PLAYER- SUBSTITUTION Cont.  Previously restricted player who plays defense shall be ejected upon discovery by an umpire or either team.  A previously restricted player re-enters the game on offense, he shall be called out immediately and ejected upon discovery by an umpire or either team.

26. UNIFORM REQUIREMENT- COACHES (3-2-1)  A coach who is not in the uniform of the team shall be restricted to the bench/dugout.  However, a coach may leave the bench/dugout to attend to player who becomes ill or injured.

28. UNIFORM REQUIREMENT- COACHES (3-2-1)  A coach who is wearing a team jersey with wind jacket might be legal if state association approves, wearing wind pants are not part of a uniform and is illegal.

30. CHARACTERISTICS OF A DEAD BALL (5-1-1h)  If the umpire erroneously declares a fair batted or fly ball foul, it results in a dead ball.  This eliminates the situation where the umpire would speculate on the result of a particular play if a previously foul ball becomes fair.

32. CHARACTERISTICS OF A DEAD BALL (5-1-1h)  Umpires should pay particular attention to the timing of their foul ball calls and not announce “Foul Ball!” prematurely.

35. ON DECK BATTER INDUCES BALK (5-1-2d)  Offensive personnel who calls “Time!” or uses other commands or commits any act(s) for the purpose of trying to cause the opposing pitcher to balk.  The penalty is a delayed dead ball, unless the action causes a balk, the balk is ignored and the offender is ejected (3-3- 1o).

38. PITCHING RESTRICTIONS (6-1-1)  Turning the shoulders while in the set position to check runners while in contact with the pitcher’s plate is legal.  Turning the shoulders to check runners after bringing the hands together during or after the stretch is a balk.

40. PITCHING RESTRICTIONS (6-1-1)  Turning the shoulders to check runners in the windup position is a balk.  If there are no runners on base and the turning of shoulders occur after bringing the hands together while in contact with the pitcher’s plate then that is an illegal pitch, the ball is dead immediately and a ball is awarded to the batter’s count.

43. BATTING INFRACTIONS PENALTY (7-3-4)  A batter has the responsibility to avoid having a pitched ball touch him. Should he make no effort to avoid being hit with a pitched ball, he shall not be awarded with a base.  He will remain at bat and a ball or strike (based on the pitch) will be added to his count.

44. 2005 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

45. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- FACE PROTECTION  Batted ball injuries are rare.  The NFHS Baseball Rules committee wants to emphasize that the opportunity for head and/or face protection is available by rule.  Either an offensive or defensive player may wear face protection.

46. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- FACE PROTECTION  If a pitcher or defensive player elects to wear a mask or helmet/ mask combination, it shall have a non-glare surface.  If the batter chooses to wear a face mask/guard that is attached to the batting helmet, it shall meet the NOCSAE standard.

47. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- FIELD CONDUCT  Home run or winning run celebrations are becoming a problem and a detriment to good sporting behavior.  Please remind the players and coaches that no team personnel other than a batter, runner, on-deck batter, occupant of coach’s box or a defensive player should be in live ball territory.

48. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- GAME MANAGEMENT  All lines should be placed on the playing field to differentiate fair-ball territory and proper boundaries.  Special emphasis should be placed on measuring and maintaining the correct height of the pitcher’s mound, which is 10 inches.

49. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- GAME MANAGEMENT  Repair holes around the pitcher’s plate and in the area he steps with his non-pivot foot.  The on-deck circle should be to the side and away from home plate at least 37 feet if space is allowed.

50. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- GAME MANAGEMENT  If the field does not allow for a safe on- deck circle placement, common sense should prevail and a secondary location (not the opponent’s on-deck circle) should be identified and utilized.

51. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- AVOIDING PITCHED BALLS  Do not reward the batter with a base award if he makes no effort to avoid being hit.  A ball or strike should be called depending of the location of the pitch.  The hitting of the batter is disregarded except that the ball is dead. The batter shall remain at bat unless the pitch is a third strike.

52. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- UMPIRE’S PROFESSIONALISM  Enforce only the rules that have been written and interpreted by the NFHS.  Do not create new rules, or use selective enforcement or apply another rules’ code rules.  Umpire’s have the responsibility to enforce the rules in a consistent manner and provide a level playing for the participants.

53. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- GOOD SPORTING BEHAVIOR  The NFHS Baseball Rules Committee feels so strongly about the sportsmanship of players and coaches that they want to emphasize the need for collaboration between both groups for the good of the students/players.

54. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- GOOD SPORTING BEHAVIOR  Game officials and coaches are encouraged to work together. Each contest is an excellent opportunity for both to teach skills and model good sporting behavior.

55. POINTS OF EMPHASIS- GOOD SPORTING BEHAVIOR  The practice of intimidation before, during or after the game is not acceptable. The positive values that are realized will serve the student/players long after their high school baseball experience has concluded.