NEW RULES AND POINTS OF INTEREST
2014 NFHS
FOOTHILL-CITRUS BASEBALL
UMPIRES ASSOCIATION
6-1-3 – Legal Set Position
6-1-3 – Legal Set Position
• Clarified the correct and legal position of the
pivot foot in the set position.
• Comment: The pivot foot must now be in
contact with or directly in front of and parallel
to the pitcher’s plate. This rule eliminates the
so called “hybrid stance” where base runners
can become confused as to whether a pitcher
is in the windup or set position.
Legal – Wind-up Position
• Wind-up Position
Legal – Set Position
• Set Position
Illegal – Set or Wind-up Position
• “Hybrid” Illegal Position
7-3-5c – Backswing Interference
7-3-5c – Backswing Interference
• Clarified the rules for a specific type of
interference by the batter.
• Comment: The words “including backswing
interference” have been added to the rule.
Backswing interference has always been
considered a type of batter’s interference.
This clarification merely adds the words to the
rule.
POE – Malicious Contact
POE – Malicious Contact
• The NFHS is concerned this rule is not being
consistently enforced.
• In determining whether contact is malicious,
the following should be considered:
POE – Malicious Contact
• Did the runner have a chance to avoid the
contact?
If the ball arrives ahead of the runner, the
umpire must decide if the runner had a chance
to avoid contact. If contact occurs, it could be
called an illegal slide or malicious contact.
This is umpire judgment.
POE – Malicious Contact
• Was the contact the result of excessive force?
The intentional lowering of a shoulder into a
defensive player, usually the catcher, would be
considered excessive force, and thus, malicious
contact.
A player who loses his balance then collides with
the catcher or fielder may be guilty of an illegal
slide but not necessarily malicious contact.
POE – Malicious Contact
• Excessive force (continued)
Sometimes, a runner will put up his arms to protect
himself against a collision with a fielder or a catcher.
In this case, even if a fielder or catcher is knocked
off his feet, it would be an illegal slide, but it may
not necessarily be malicious contact. These are
judgment calls for the umpire. Process what you
see and determine the intent of the runner.
POE – Malicious Contact
• Did the contact occur above the waist of the
receiving player?
Home plate and the bases are on the ground. A
runner who makes intentional contact above the
waist is quite likely not attempting to reach the
plate or base.
POE – Malicious Contact
• Was there intent to injure?
The throwing of an elbow or the intentional
lowering of a shoulder would be an example of an
intent to injure. Remember, malicious contact
supersedes obstruction. Blocking a base without
the ball in NOT a mitigating factor in determining
malicious contact. The runner is still obligated to
perform a legal slide or attempt to avoid contact. 232-1,2
POE – Coaching Attire
POE – Coaching Attire
This does not seem to be a wide-spread problem
in California. However, umpires are expected to
enforce this rule.
Legal:
Per rule 3-2-1, coaches must be in the uniform
of their team; baseball shoes, baseball pants,
jersey top similar to what the team wears, either
a t-shirt with a team logo, wind shirt with a
team logo, jacket and a baseball cap.
POE – Coaching Attire
Illegal:
Coaches who are wearing shorts, or other nonbaseball attire such as, but not limited to,
sweatpants, jeans, tennis shoes or sandals.
Penalty:
The coach is restricted to the dugout. If the
team’s only coach is in non-compliance, he will
be allowed on the field to participate in pregame meeting or attend to injured player.
POE – Umpire Authority
POE – Umpire Authority
The NFHS wants to emphasize the importance of
cooperation between coaches and umpires. The
sole purpose of umpires is to administer the
game and keep the game under control. To help
achieve that end, coaches need to cooperate
with umpires and comply with umpire requests.
Coaches will sometimes have issues with various
developments during the game. However,
coaches and umpires are expected to act in a
professional manner.
POE – Umpire Authority
Once a coach has received an explanation of his
question, the coach needs to return to the
coaching box or dugout in a timely manner.
Coaches who fail to comply with an umpire’s
request, such as remaining outside the dugout
during a live ball, exaggerating the time for
offensive and/or defensive conferences,
gamesmanship and challenging the umpire’s
authority cannot be tolerated in educationbased athletics.
POE – Umpire Authority
Coaches must understand they are setting the
sportsmanship example for their team. Everyone
benefits when it is a positive example.
It also should be noted that umpires are expected
to act in a professional manner in dealing with
coaches and players. Coaches should report issues
involving umpire professionalism to either the local
assigner or liaison.
Reminders
• Lineup Cards
Please do not separate lineup cards. Just hand
everything to the plate umpire. It is acceptable
to provide a lineup card to the opposing team
scorekeeper before the pregame meeting at
home plate. Umpires are instructed to take the
home lineup card first, then the visiting lineup
card before inspecting either of the lineup cards.
Reminders
• Lineup Cards II
If you are using a designated hitter, please list
the DH either directly below or directly across
from the player for whom he is hitting. Please
do not list the DH at the bottom of the lineup
card, unless of course, he is batting for the
player ninth in the order.
Reminders
• Pregame Meeting
It has been noted during the pregame meeting
at home plate, members of the visiting team
have often been observed outside their dugout
warming up with bats. Rule 2-10-2 provides
BOTH teams must remain in the dugout during
the pregame meeting.
Reminders
• Leaving Dugout During Live Ball
Coaches are doing a much better job in helping
umpires enforce this rule. A reminder that players
who leave the dugout to congratulate a scoring
runner during a live ball will receive a team
warning. Any following violators are subject to
ejection. Coaches are also reminded to remain in
the dugout as provided by rule. Coaches may leave
a dugout to position defensive players, but must
immediately return to the dugout.
Reminders
• Field Markings
There have been issues with the correct marking of
the field. Complaints have been made about
batter’s boxes not drawn correctly with the inside
lines missing or the lack of a catcher’s box. On deck
circles need to be marked as well as coach’s boxes.
Foul lines should be marked all the way to the
fence. Those who are involved with marking the
field can use the diagram on page seven of the 2014
rule book as a guideline.
Reminders
Good luck during the 2014 season.