Baseball Rules Changes February 09, 2021
NOTE: Due to the cancellation of spring sports last year because of the Coronavirus, the 2020 NFHS Baseball Rules will be used for the 2021 season. The Rules Changes written last year will apply for the 2021 season. These changes, which all reference the 2020 NFHS Baseball Rules Book, will be in effect for the 2021 season.
3-1-4: Designated Hitter (DH) can be used in two ways. The DH can be listed as the tenth starter replacing one of the other nine players when it is their turn to bat. The other method is that that any one of the starting defensive players can be their own DH (in effect having two positions) within the confines of the rule requirements.
Rationale: This rule change assists coaches with an alternative to keep their better players in the game to contribute to the offensive output of the team and give another player a chance to participate on defense. In addition, considering the pitch count rules, this change would help pitchers to keep their bat in the game, but can come out of the game defensively to protect their arms from overuse.
2020 BASEBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES
1-3-2b1, 3-1-1, 4-1-3b, 4-2-4, 5-1-1f5, 7-4-1, 8-3-3c, Dead Ball and Delayed Dead Ball Table, Baserunning Awards Table and Rules by State Association Adoption
2020 BASEBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS
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Game Ending Procedures
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Player/Designated Hitter
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Proper Pitching Positions
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Force Play Slide Rule
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Enforcement of NFHS Jewelry Rule
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Compliance of Player’s Equipment
Baseball Points of Emphasis NFHS on February 09, 2021 baseball
NOTE: Due to the cancellation of spring sports last year because of the Coronavirus, the 2020 NFHS Baseball Rules will be used for the 2021 season. The Points of Emphasis written last year will apply for the 2021 season. These points, which all reference the 2020 NFHS Baseball Rules Book, will be in effect for the 2021 season.
The NFHS Baseball Rules Committee and the NFHS Board of Directors believes there are areas of the game of interscholastic baseball that need to be addressed and given special attention. These areas of concern are often cyclical – some areas need more attention than others, and that is why they might appear in the rules book for consecutive editions. These concerns are identified as “Points of Emphasis.” For the 2020 high school baseball season, attention is being called to: Game Ending Procedures, Player/Designated Hitter Role, Proper Pitching Positions, Force Play Slide Rule, Enforcement of NFHS Jewelry Rule, Compliance of Player’s Equipment. When a topic is included in the Points of Emphasis, these topics are important enough to reinforce throughout the academic year because they are not being given the proper attention.
Game Ending Procedures
Per rule, by state association adoption, a baseball game shall end when the visiting team is behind 10 or more runs after 4½ innings or after the fifth inning. However, if a state association does not adopt a game-ending procedure or by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the umpire-in-chief, any remaining play may be shortened, or the game terminated. Lopsided scores provide no educational value, increase the risk of unsportsmanlike behavior, and put undue pressure on the pitcher’s arm that would impact his/her pitch count.
Player/Designated Hitter Role
With the adoption of the changes to the designated hitter rule, teams now have three choices with respect to the use of a designated hitter in a specific game. First, a team may elect to not use a designated hitter. Such a team would have a “traditional” nine player line-up for that game. Second, a team may elect to use the same designated hitter rule that has existed for the last several decades. This option is selected when the team’s lineup card presented at the plate meeting has 10 players listed, one of whom is a designated hitter not playing defensively at the start of the game. Third, under the new change to the DH rule, a team may elect to have one player start the game as both a defensive player and designated hitter. This option is selected when the team’s lineup card presented at the plate meeting has nine players listed, one of whom has both a defensive position and “DH” written next to his name on the lineup card. If the third option is selected, a player can be substituted for the DH on defense and the starter will remain as the DH. However, if the third option is selected, the DH role is terminated if the starter is substituted for on offense. In either case, the starting defensive player/DH can re-enter if he has a re-entry remaining.
Proper Pitching Positions
The NFHS Baseball Rules Committee continues to be concerned with pitchers whose feet are not in a proper position prior to starting their delivery. Specifically, certain pitchers across the country continue to place their feet in an illegal “hybrid” stance. This appears to be a result of both coaches who continue to teach improper pitcher positions, and umpires who refuse to enforce the rules as written and apply the proper penalty. Pitchers are required to use one of two positions; the wind-up or the set. In the wind-up position, the pitcher’s non-pivot foot must be in a position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. If the heel of the pitcher’s non-pivot foot is closer to home plate than the front edge of the pitcher’s plate, then the pitcher is in an illegal “hybrid” stance, unless he is using a proper set position. In the set position, the pitcher’s pivot foot must be on or in front of and touching the pitcher’s plate. The pivot foot must also be parallel to the pitcher’s plate. The non-pivot foot must be entirely in front of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. If the non-pivot foot is touching (or next to) the front edge of the pitcher’s plate, the pitcher is in an illegal “hybrid” stance, unless he is using a proper wind-up position.
Force Play Slide Rule
Simply stated, the runner never has to slide. However, on a force play when he does slide, it must be legal and in a direct line between the two bases. A runner may slide or run in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. The force play slide rule is in effect at second, third and home plate.
Enforcement of NFHS Jewelry Rule
Items that are attached except medical appliances/devices are considered to be jewelry. The restriction of jewelry is primarily for risk minimization for the wearer and for the 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. Compliance of Player’s Equipment In preparation of the new equipment that will have the NOCSAE stamp being introduced into high school baseball, it is appropriate to begin to have those discussions with players, coaches, umpires and parents. The NOCSAE stamped baseball has been available for use during the 2019 high school baseball season. The transition will be easier when all the baseballs have both the NFHS Authenticating Mark and NOCSAE seal effective January 1, 2020.
REMINDER
Beginning with the 2015 high school baseball season, teams will be allowed to use video monitoring or replay equipment for coaching purposes during games.
This revision to Rule 3-3-1 was one of five changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 8-10 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Previously, video equipment was permitted but it could not be used during games for coaching purposes.
“With advancements in technology, it was extremely difficult for officials to determine if teams were using video replay during games,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and educational services and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee. “The committee determined it was the right time to permit teams to use these technological aids if they so choose.”
.....some schools continue to try and let their catcher’s wear the skull cap and mask combination when behind the plate during a game or in the bullpen while warming up pitchers. THIS IS ILLEGAL IN BOTH SITUATIONS!!!!
Rule 1-5-4 states that the catcher’s helmet and mask combination must meet NOCSAE standards just like the batting helmets. At this time there are no skull cap and mask combinations that meet the NOCSAE standards.
This means that the only helmet and mask combination a catcher may wear behind the plate or in the bullpen is the hockey style helmet and mask combination. Please make sure this rule is enforced at all times.
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.....regarding rubber sleeves that pitchers are wearing. These sleeves are LEGAL, if they are not white or gray! The pitcher DOES NOT have to have one on each arm. The arms DO NOT have to be uniform! If the pitcher has a sleeve on his right arm, he does not have to have one on his left arm.
You do have the option of deeming this look, sleeve on one arm not on the other, as distractive and make him remove it or add one to his other arm. Please explain to the coach why you are making him remove the sleeve.
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.....the wind-up stance for the pitcher. Number 1, this is NOT a rule change. The rule has always stated that the pitcher’s non-pivot foot has to be ON or BEHIND a line that extended through the front edge of the rubber. ON the line DOES NOT mean butting up against it, IT HAS TO BE “ON” IT. We have let this situation go over the last few years and it has now become a big problem.
Below are graphics that show the legal and illegal positions of the pivot foot and non-pivot foot. The pivot foot is for a right-handed pitcher. The other graphics are for the non-pivot foot.
