DEFINITIONS
INTERFERENCE
THE ACT OF AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OR TEAM MEMBER, UMPIRE OR SPECTATOR, THAT IMPEDES, HINDERS, OR CONFUSES A DEFENSIVE PLAYER ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE A PLAY -CONTACT IS NOT NECESSARY
DEAD BALL - RUNNER WHO INTERFERED IS OUT
RETURN ALL RUNNERS TO THE BASES THEY WERE AT, AT THE TIME OF THE INTERFERENCE
ON A BATTED BALL AWARD THE BATTER FIRST BASE
* USA 7-J-3-F
A THROWN BALL, NOT A PITCH THAT BECOMES A BLOCKED BALL
AWARD ALL RUNNERS TWO BASES FROM POINT OF RELEASE
IT'S WHERE AN ON-DECK BATTER LOCATES
USA: AT EITHER ON-DECK BATTING CIRCLE
NFHS: ON-DECK BATTER IS RESTRICTED TO THE ON-DECK CIRCLE NEAREST THE OFFENSIVE TEAM AREA
WHEN IS THE COACH REQUIRED TO INDICATE THEY ARE USING A DP/FLEX?
BEFORE THE START OF THE GAME WHEN SUBMITTING THE LINEUP TO THE UMPIRE
A. WHEN A BATTER ENTERS THE BATTER'S BOX WITH OR IS DISCOVERED USING AN ALTERED OR NON-APPROVED BAT
B. WHEN DISCOVERED AFTER COMPLETING THEIR TURN AT BAT AND BEFORE THE NEXT PITCH IS THROWN
EFFECT A & B :
1. THE BATTER IS OUT
2. EJECTED
FOR B ADD:
3. ALL OUTS STAND
4. ALL OTHER RUNNERS RETURN TO THE LAST BASE OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE PITCH
IS THE BATTER AWARDED FIRST BASE IF THEY ARE HIT BY THE PITCH?
NFHS
USA
NFHS - WHEN A PITCHED BALL IS NOT SWUNG AT NOR CALLED A STRIKE, THAT IS ENTIRELY IN THE BATTER'S BOX, AND STRIKES THE BATTER OR CLOTHING, THE BATTER DOES NOT HAVE TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO AVOID BEING HIT BY THE PITCH, BUT WILL NOT BE GRANTED THE BASE IF THEY MAKE AN OBVIOUS ATTEMPT TO GET HIT BY THE PITCH
USA IF NO ATTEMPT IS MADE TO AVOID BEING HIT THEY ARE NOT AWARDED FIRST BASE (UNLESS BALL FOUR)
WHAT IF THE PITCH IS NOT ENTIRELY IN THE BATTER'S BOX, NOT SWUNG AT, NOR CALLED A STRIKE? IN BOTH USA AND NFHS THE BATTER MUST MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID BEING HIT BY PITCH
A PITCHED BALL BECOMES BLOCKED
AWARD ALLL RUNNERS ONE BASE FROM THE TIME OF THE PITCH
IT'S THE PENALTY IF A BATTER FAILS TO TAKE THEIR POSITION WITH BOTH FEET INSIDE THE BATTER'S BOX AFTER THE BALL IS RETURNED TO THE PITCHER OR BY STEPPING OUT OF THE BATTER'S BOX WHEN THE PITCHER IS IN CONTACT WITH THE PITCHER'S PLATE
IF THE PITCHER HAS BROUGHT THEIR HANDS TOGETHER, THE BATTER LEAVES THE BATTER'S BOX AT THE RISK OF HAVING A STRIKE CALLED
FOR FAILURE TO BE READY WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE UMPIRE SHALL CALL A STRIKE AND A DEAD BALL (USA) IF IT IS THE THIRD STRIKE THEN THE UMPIRE SHALL CALL TIME AND DECLARE THE BATTER OUT (NFHS)
IN WHAT POSITION IN THE LINEUP MUST THE DP/FLEX BE LISTED?
THE DP'S NAME IS LISTED AS ONE OF NINE HITTERS. THE FLEX MUST BE LISTED IN THE TENTH POSITION
THE COACH WANTS THE SAME COURTESY RUNNER WHO RAN FOR THE PITCHER IN THE FIRST INNING, TO RUN FOR THE CATCHER IN THE SIXTH INNING
LEGAL OR ILLEGAL?
ILLEGAL. THE SAME COURTESY RUNNER MAY NOT RUN FOR BOTH THE PITCHER AND THE CATCHER AT ANY TIME DURING THE GAME.
OBSTRUCTION
THE ACT OF A DEFENSIVE TEAM MEMBER WHO HINDERS OR IMPEDES A BATTER FROM STRIKING OR HITTING A PITCHED BALL
IMPEDES THE PROGRESS OF A RUNNER OR BATTER RUNNER WHO IS LEGALLY RUNNING THE BASES UNLESS THE FIELDER IS IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL OR IN THE ACT OF FIELDING A BATTED BALL (CONTACT IS NOT NECESSARY)
A FAIR OR FOUL BALL IS CAUGHT BY A FIELDER , WHO THEN LEAVES THE FIELD OF PLAY WITH ONE OR BOTH FEET
AWARD ALL RUNNERS ONE BASE FROM THE TIME THE BALL BECAME DEAD (EXCEPT ON THIRD OUT)
THE EFFECT WHEN A CATCHER OR ANOTHER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OBSTRUCTS, HINDERS, OR PREVENTS THE BATTER FROM HTTING A PITCHED BALL
1.THE UMPIRE GIVES A DELAYED DEAD BALL SIGNAL
2. IF THE BATTER REACHES FIRST BASE SAFELY AND IF ALL RUNNERS HAVE ADVANCED ONE BASE ON THE BATTED BALL. CATCHER'S OBSTRUCTION IS CANCELED, ALL ACTION STANDS
OTHERWISE, THE COACH OF THE TEAM AT BAT, AFTER BEING INFORMED BY THE UMPIRE OF THE OBSTRUCTION, HAS THE OPTION- PLACING THE BATTER AT FIRST BASE AND ADVANCING OTHER RUNNERS ONLY IF FORCED
WHO CAN PLAY IN PLACE OF THE DP? FLEX?
ANY LEGAL SUBSTITUTE CAN ENTER THE GAME FOR EITHER THE DP OR THE FLEX. THE DP MAY PLAY DEFENSE FOR THE FLEX AND THE FLEX MAY PLAY OFFENSE FOR THE DP.
THE AWARD WHEN A BALL HITS LOOSE EQUIPMENT ON FIELD OF THE TEAM ON DEFENSE
ALL RUNNERS ARE ADVANCE TWO BASES
DAILY DOUBLE
THESE ARE THE FOUR TYPES OF APPEALS
1. MISSING A BASE
2. LEAVING A BASE ON A CAUGHT FLY BALL BEFORE IT IS CAUGHT OR TOUCHED
3. BATTING OUT OF ORDER
4. ATTEMPTING TO ADVANCE TO SECOND BASE AFTER MAKING THE TURN AT FIRST BASE OVERRUNNING FIRST BASE
A LIVE BALL IS INTERNTONALLY CARRRIED, KICKED, PUSHED OR THROWN INTO DEAD BALL TERRITORY
AWARD ALL RUNNERS TWO BASES FROM THE TIME THE BALL BECAME DEAD
THE EFFECT FOR AN IMPROPER BATTER WHO HAS BECOME A RUNNER OR IS PUT OUT AND APPEALED BY THE DEFENSE BEFORE THE NEXT PITCH IS THROWN, AN INTENTIONAL BASE ON BALLS HAS OCCURRED, OR ALL INFIELDERS HAVE LEFT FAIR TERRITORY
1. THE UMPIRE DECLARES THE BATTER WHO SHOULD HAVE BATTED OUT
2. THE IMPROPER BATTER'S TURN AT BAT IS NEGATED, AND THE BATTER IS RETURNED TO THEIR DUGOUT AREA
3. ALL RUNNERS CALLED OUT PRIOR TO THE INFRACTION REMAIN OUT, AND RUNNERS NOT DECLARED OUT MUST RETURN TO THE LAST OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE PITCH
4. RUNNERS THAT ADVANCED BECAUSE OF A STOLEN BAS, WILD PITCH OR PASSSED BALL IS LEGAL
CAN THE THE DP AND THE FLEX PLAY OFFENSE AT THE SAME TIME? DEFENSE?
THE FLEX AND THE DP MAY DEFENSE AT THE SAME TIME, BUT CANNOT PLAY OFFENSE AT THE SAME TIME
THE EFFECT WHEN HITTING OR BUNTING A BALL, THE BATS HITS THE BALL A SECOND TIME WHILE THE BALL IS IN FAIR TERRITORY, OR IS ON OR OVER FOUL TERRITORY AND, IN THE JUDGEMENT OF THE UMPIRE, HAD A CHANCE TO BECOME A FAIR BALL
THE BATTER IS OUT
EXCEPT IF THE BATTER IS IN THE BATTER'S BOX AND THE BAT IS IN THE BATTER'S HANDS WHEN THE SECOND CONTACT OCCURS, IT IS A FOUL BALL REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT WAS OVER FAIR OR FOUL TERRITORY, UNLESS IN THE UMPIRE'S JUDGMENT THE BATTER INTENTIONALLY HIT THE BALL A SECOND TIME
It can happen when there's one out with runners on first and third bases. The batter hits a fly ball that is caught. The runners on both first and third leave before the ball is caught or touched.
Fourth Out Appeal
One out with runners on first and third base. The batter hits a fly ball that is caught. Both runners leave their base before the caught ball is touched. An appeal is made at first base for the third out.
The defense then makes an appeal at third base before all infielders leave the infield.
The runner on third base should be called out, and the run does not count.
A. INTENTIONALLY TOUCHING A BATTED BALL WITH DETACHED EQUIPMENT OVER FAIR TERRITORY
B. INTENTIONALLY TOUCHING A THROWN BALL WITH DETACHED EQUIPMENT
A. AWARD BATTER RUNNER THREE BASES
B. AWARD RUNNERS TO BASES
THE EFFECT FOR THE BATTER INTERFERING WITH A PLAY AT HOME PLATE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT AN OUT AT HOME PLATE
THE BATTER IS DECLARED OUT, AND RUNNER(S) RETURN TO THE LAST BASE TOUCHED AT THE TIME OF THE INTERFERENCE
CAN A COURTESY RUNNER BE INSERTED INTO THE LINEUP FOR THE DP OR THE FLEX?
YES, SO LONG AS IT ISN'T IN THE SAME INNING IN WHICH THEY WERE A COURTESY RUNNER
WHAT IS THE PROPER UNIFORM FOR AN UMPIRE IN 2026 - NFHS/USA?
THE POWDER BLUE SHIRT WITH THE WOA LOGO (NFHS) AND POWDER, NAVY, OR WHITE WITH USA LOGO
HEATHER GRAY, CHARCOAL GRAY, OR NAVY BLUE SLACKS, NAVY BLUE JACKET, SWEATER, AND BALL BAG (PLATE UMPIRE ONLY) (USA HEATHER GRAY BALL BAGS ONLY WITH HEATHER GRAY PANTS) SHOES, SOCKS, AND BELT SHALL BE BLACK. IF AN UNDERSHIRT IS WORN UNDER THE POWDER BLUE SHIRT IT SHALL BE WHITE AND SHORT SLEEVED (NFHS) OR WHITE OR NAVY BLUE (USA)