| 1-1-5 (Add) |
To add to the end of the rule: . . . And have full ear protection (dual ear flaps). Rationale: Require a catcher to wear head protection with double ear flaps. In order to qualify for the NOCSAE standard the testing procedures entails side of head impact test. |
| 1-1-6 (New) |
Replace first sentence with: All casts, splints and braces on coaches and players must be padded with at least �" of closed cell, slow recovery rubber or other material of the same minimum thickness and having similar physical properties. Rationale: Being more specific in regards to casts, splints and braces. |
| 1-1-6 Note (New) |
Replace first sentence with: Any player equipment judged by the umpire to be unreasonably dangerous is illegal. Rationale: Being more specific in regards to player's equipment. |
| 1-3-5 (Add) |
Add to end of the rule and before Note 1: All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR) performance standard and such bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark. Effective January 1, 2003. Rationale: The baseball bat manufacturers have begun to promote new bats that, although they meet our current standards, may have enhanced performance values. |
| 1-3-5 Note 1 (New) |
Bats that are altered or that do not meet the rule specification are illegal (See 7-4-1a). Bats that are broken, cracked, dented or deface the ball (i.e. tear the ball) shall be removed without penalty. A bat that continually discolors the ball may be removed from the game with no penalty at the discretion of the umpire. Rationale: The committee felt that the prior penalty was too severe and wanted to provide the umpire the ability to use his discretion in removal of the bat. |
| 3-2-1 (New) |
Add to end of the rule: Coaches may wear prostheses and use mobility devices. Rationale: These rule changes are recommended to require that baseball rules conform to ADA requirements and assist in limiting umpires liability as well as that of the schools, coaches, players, state associations and NFHS. |
| 4-2-2 (Add) |
Add to the front of the rule: By state association adoption . . . Rationale: To allow states that have concerns to either use the "10 run Mercy Rule" or not. |
| 8-2 Pen. (New) |
Replace rule with:. . .For failure to touch a base (advancing or returning), or failure to tag up as soon as the ball is touched on a caught fly ball, the runner may be called out if an appeal is made by the defensive team. The defense may appeal during a live ball immediately following the play and before a pitch, legal or illegal. A live ball appeal may be made by a coach or any defensive player with the ball in his possession by tagging the runner or touching the base that was missed or left too early. A dead ball appeal may be made by a coach or any defensive player with or without the ball by verbally stating that the runner missed the base or left the base too soon. Appeals must be made (1) before the next legal or illegal pitch, (2) at the end of an inning, before the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory, or (3) on the last play of the game, an appeal can be made until the umpires leave the field of play. NOTE: When a play, by its very nature is imminent and is obvious to the offense, defense, and umpire(s), no verbal appeal is necessary (e.g. runner attempting to retouch a base that was missed, or a failure to tag up and a throw has been made to that base or plate while a play is in progress). APPEAL PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES 1. Types a. Missing a base b. Leaving a base on a caught fly ball before the ball is first touched. 2. Live Ball. In all games an appeal may be made during a live ball by any fielder in possession of the ball touching the base missed or left too soon on a caught fly ball, or by tagging the runner committing the violation if he is still on the playing field. 3. Dead Ball. The dead ball appeal may be made: 1) Once all runners have completed their advancement and time has been called, a coach or any defensive player, with or without the ball, may make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base or leaving a base too soon on a caught fly ball. The administering umpire should then make a decision on the play. 2) If the ball has gone out of play, runners must be given the opportunity to complete their base running responsibilities before the dead ball appeal can be made. 4. May Not Return. A runner may not return to touch a missed base or one left too soon on a caught fly ball if: a) he has reached a base beyond the base missed or left too soon and the ball becomes dead, b) he has left the field of play, or c) a following runner has scored. 5. Advance. Runners may advance during a live ball appeal play. If a time out is requested for an appeal, the umpire should grant it, and runners may not advance until the ball becomes live again. 6. More Than One Appeal. Multiple appeals are permitted as long as they do not become a travesty of the game. 7. Awards. An appeal must be honored even if the base missed was before or after an award. 8. Tag-Ups. If a runner leaves a base too soon on a caught fly ball and returns in an attempt to retag, this is considered a time play and not a force out. If the appeal is the third out, all runs scored by runners in advance of the appealed runner and scored ahead of the legal appeal would count. 9. Fourth Out Appeal. An appeal may be made after the third out as long as it is made properly and the resulting appeal is an apparent 4th out. 10. End of Game. If any situation arises which could lead to an appeal by the defense on the last play of the game, the appeal must be made while an umpire is still on the field of play.Rationale: The appeal play is a traditional play in baseball and has remained so in other rule codes. |
| 10-1-7 (New) |
Add to the end of the rule: Umpires may wear prostheses and use mobility devices. Rationale: To make the rule consistent for the officials, as well as the coaches. |
| 1-2-4 | Add to the end of the rule: (2-23-1). Rationale: To make proper reference to the other affected rule. |
| 5-1-1L | Change #26 in Dead Ball Table to read the same as 5-1-1L Rationale: To assist in consistency within the rule book and the dead ball table. |