Rule 1 - Section 1 - Article 1

High school baseball:

-7 Innings

-3 Outs per half inning

- Each of the two teams consists of at least nine players throughout the game (See Exception 4-4-1f), one of whom must be designated Captain.

The captain and head coach represent the team in communications w/ umps. Captain and HC's duties shall include:

1) Providing UIC w/ team lineup card which shall include name, shirt #, position, and batting order of each starting player; name and shirt # of each eligible substitute should also be listed

2) Informing all players as to special ground rules as announced by the UIC.

Lineups become official after they have been exchanged, verified, and then accepted by the umpire during the pregame conference. The ump shall not accept the lineup card until all substitutes are listed. There is no penalty assessed.

A player is designated on the lineup card and in the scorebook by:

1)  Name

2)  Shirt number

3)  Batting order position

4)  Fielding position

At the time of the pitch, all fielders shall be on fair ground except the catcher who shall be in the catcher's box.  A fielder is in fair ground when at least one foot is touching fair ground.

Penalty:  Illegal Pitch (2-18)

A player may change to a different fielding position at any time.

Exception - A pitcher, after being listed as such on the official lineup card handed to the ump, cannot change until condition in 3-1-1 and 2 are met.  Changes should be reported to the UIC and scorekeeper.

-A diamond (or infield) shall be a 90-foot square.  When measuring the distance to firt base and third base, measure from the apex of home plate to the back edge of the base.

-The outfield is the area between two foul lines formed by extending two sides of the diamond. 

-The infield and outfield, including the  boundary marks from home plate to first and third and their extended foul lines are fair ground.  All other area is foul ground.

- All lines on the playing field shall be marked with a material which is not injurious to the eyes or skin. 

- All non-permanent lines should be white. 

- Lime or cuastic material of any kind is prohibited.

- The on-deck circle should be on the side and awat from home plate, 37 feet if space allows.

- Neither team's players shall warm up in the other team's on-deck circle.

- The on-deck circle does not have to be occupied, but if a player wishes to warm up, he shall do so only in his team's on-deck circle, provided the on-deck circle is located safely away from home plate. (2-23)

- When the dugout area is temporarily extended, for any reason, it shall be extended toward the outfield on a line parallel to the foul line.

- The extention of the dugout area shall be equally applied for both teams.

- When constructing a new field for HS play, the distance from home plate to the nearest obstruction on fair ground should be at least 300 feet down the foul lines and at least 350 feet to center field.

- It is recommended that the line from home plate through the pitcher's plate to second base run east-northeast.  This line, using a steel tape or a strong tape or cord, must measure 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches from the rear tip of home plate to the middle of second base. 

- The catcher's box, home plate, bases, coache's boxes, batters boxes, and three-foot running lane shall be as in Diagram 2. 

- The recommended width of a foul line is 2.5 inches.

- On a sodded field, an unsodded area, commonly referred to as the "pitcher's mound," should have a radius of about nine feet centered 1.5 feet in of the midpoint of the front edge of the pitcher's plate.

1) The top of the plate must be 10 inches above home plate.

2) The degree from a point 6 inches in front of the pitcher's plate to a point 6 feet toward home plate shall be one inch to one one foot, and such degree of slope shall be uniform.

3) The pitching mound is an 18-foot diamater circle, the center of which is 59 feet from the back point of home plate.

4) Locate the front edge of the rubber 18 inches behind the center of the mound.  The front edge of the rubber to the back point of home plate is 60 feet 6 inches.

5) The slope starts 6 inches from the front edge of the rubber.

6) The level area surrounding the rubber should be 6 inches in front of the rubber, 18 inches to each side, and 22 inches to the rear of the rubber.  The total level area is 5 feet x 34 inches.

- The pitcher's mound may consist in part of synthetic material that is commercially manufactured for that purpose.  If a mound pad is composed of natural soil and synthetic material, the synthetic material must be securely attached to the ground and be installed at least flush or slightly below the surface of the ground. 

- The mound area shall meet suggested height and slope specifications found in the Suggested Layout of the Pitcher's Mound (Diagram 3)

- Media shall be prohibited from being in live-ball area.  If a designated media area is to be used, it shall be established before the game begins. 

- The home team or game management shall designate a lined area for the media, which shall be considered dead-ball area.

- First, second, and third bases shall be white bags, 15 inches square and 2 to 5 inches in thickness, and made of canvas filled with a soft material, or molded rubber or synthetic material, and shall be securely attached to the ground or an anchor system as in Diagram 2. 

- Bases may have tapered edges and/or be designed to disengage from their anchor systems.

- By state association adoption, a double first base is permitted.  The double first base shall be a white base and a colored base.  The colored ball shall be located in foul territory.

- Home plate shall be a five-sided slab of whitened rubber or other suitable similar material.

- One edge is 17 inches long, two are 8.5 inches, and two are 12 inches. 

- The pitcher's plate shall be a rectangular slab of whitened rubber or suitable material, 24 inches by 6 inches. 

- It shall be set in the ground as shown in Diagram 2 so that the distance between the nearer edege of the pitcher's plate and the rear tip of home plate shall be 60 feet 6 inches.

Any game started on a nonregulation facility by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches shall not be protested for this reason.

- The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber, or similar material and covered with two strips of white horsehide or two strips of white cowhide tightly stitched together. 

- It shall be 5 - 5.25 ounces in weight and have a circumference of 9 to 9.25 inches. 

- The Coefficient of Restitution (COR) of baseball shall not exceed .555. 

- A minimum of three umpire-approved baseballs shall be provided to start the game.  Unless otherwise agreed upon, the home team has this responsibility. 

- No less than two baseball shall be used to complete a game.

- The NFHS Authenticating Mark is required on all balls that will be used in HS competition.

Rule 1 - Section 3 - Article 2

The bat shall have the following characteristics and components:

1) Eah legal wood, aluminum or composite bat shall:

a) Be one piece, multi-pieces and permanently assembled, or two pieces with interchangeable barrel construction.

b) Not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard.

c) Be free of rattles, dents, burrs, cracks, and sharp edges.  Bats that are broken, altered or that deface the ball are illegal.  Materials inside the bat or treatments/devices used to alter the bat specifications and/or enhance perofrmance are prohibited and render the bat illegal.

2. Each legal wood, aluminum or compositie bat shall have the following components:

a) Knob - The bat knob shall protrude from the handle.  The knob may be molded, lathed, welded, or permanently fastened.  Devices, attachements or wrappings are permitted except those that cause the knob to become flush with the handle.  A one-piece rubber knob and bat grip combination is illegal.

b) Handle - The bat handle is the area of the bat that begins at, but does not include, the knob and ends where the taper begins.

c) Battel - The barrel is the area intended for contact with the pitch.  the barrel shall be round, cylindrically summetric and smooth.  The barrel may be aluminum, wood, or composite (made of two or more materials).  The type of bat shall be determined by the composition of the barrel.

d) Taper - The taper is an optional transition area which connects the narrower handle to the wider barrel portion of the bat.  Its length and material may vary but may not extend more than 18 inches from the base of the knob.

e) End Cap - The end cap is made of rubber, vinyl, plastic or other approved material.  It shall be firmly secured and permanently affixed to the end of the bat so that it cannot be removed by anymore other than the manufacturer, without dmaging or destroying it.  By definition, a one-piece construction bat does not have an end cap.

3. Each bat not made of a single piece of wood shall:

a) Have a safety grip made of cork, tape (no smooth, plastic tape) or commercially manufactured composition material.  The grip must extend a minimum of 10 inches, but not more than 18 inches, from the base of the knob.  Slippery tape or similar material shall be prohibed.  Resin, pine tar, or any drying agent to enhance the hold are permitted only on the grip.  Molded grips are illegal.

b) Be 2 5/8 inches or less in diameter at thickest part and 36 inches or less in length.

c) Not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat.

4) All bats not made of a single piece of wood shall meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such bats shall be labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark.  The certification mark shall be rectangual, a minimum of one inch on each and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color to read: "BBCOR .50"

- A bat made of a single piece of wood may be roughened or wound with tape not more than 18 inches from the handle end of the bat. 

- No foreign substance may be added to the surface of the bat beyond 18 inches from the end of the handle.

- Each bat made of a single piece of wood shall be:

a) 2 3/4 inches or less in diameter at the thickest part

b) 36 inches or less in length

Only bats may be used in warming up (including weighted bats used for this purpose) at any location.  Only bats and items designed to remain part of the bat, such as weighted bats, batting donuts, and wind-resistant devices are legal at any location.

- Bats that are altered from the manufacturer's original design and production, or that do not meet the rule specifications, are illegal (See 7-4-1a). 

- Bats that are broken, cracked, or dented or that 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 without penalty at the discretion of the umpire.

- Gloves/mitts made of leather shall be worn by all fielders and not be altered to create an adhesive, sticky, and/or tacky surface.

-The glove/mitt worn by the catcher may be any size.

-The glove/mitt worn by pitchers that includes the colors white and/or gray shall be removed from the game upon discovery by either team and/or umpire. 

-The glove/mitt worn by all fielders except the catcher shall conform to the following specifications (found in Diagram 4):

a) Height (measured from the bottom edge or heel straight up across the center of the palm to a line even with the highest point of the glove/mitt): 14 inches

b) Width of palm (measured from the bottom edge of the webbing farthest from the thumb in a horizontal line to the outside of the little finger edge of the glove/mitt): 8 inches

c) Webbing (measured across the top end or along any line parallel to the top): 5 3/4 inches

Loose equipment, such as gloves, bats, helmets, or catcher's gear, of either team may not be on or near the field.

Penalty - If loose equipment interferes with the play, the umpire may call an out(s), award bases or return runners, based on his judgment and the circumstances concerning the play.

- Uniforms of all team members should be of the same color and style.

- Caps and shoes are required equipment (no track spikes allowed).

- When a player is required to wear a head protector, it replaces the cap as mandatory equipment.

- For individual players, uniform sleeve lengths may vary.  However, sleeves of each individual player shall be approximately the same length and shall not be ragged, frayed, or slit.

- If the pitcher's undershirt sleeves are exposed, they shall not be white or gray.

- A pitcher shall not wear any item on his hands, wrists or arms which may be distracting to the batter.

-A pitcher shall not wear white or gray exposed undershirt sleeves that extends below the elbow.

-A vest and coordinating shirt that is worn underneath is viewed as a type of uniform top.

- A uniform shall not have any dangerous or reflective buttons or ornaments.

- Each player shall be numbered on the back of his shirt with a plain number of solid color contrasting with the color of the shirt. 

- This number shall be a plain Arabic style and shall be at least 8 inches high, and no players on the same team shall wear identical numbers.

- A number may have a border of not more than one-quarter inch in width.

- No more than one manufacturer's logo/trademark or reference.)

- One American flag 2 x 3 inches may be worn on each item of uniform apparel. 

- The school's official uniform (including uniform pants, jersey, visible undergarments, socks, stockings, caps, and headwear) may bear only a visible single manufacturer's logo (partial or whole) or trademark. 

- A manufacturere's logo/trademark shall not exceed 2 1/4 square inches with no dimention exceeding 2 1/4 inches.

- No more than one manufacturer's logo/trademark or reference shall be permitted on the outside of each item.  (The same restriction shall apply to either thee manufacturer's logo/trademark reference. 

- One American flag 2 x 3 inches may be worn on each item of uniform apparel.

- It is mandatory for on-deck batters, batters, runners, retired runners, players/students in the coaches boxes as well as non-adult bat/ball shaggers to wear a batting helmet that meets the NOCSAE standard. 

- The batting helmet shall have extended ear flaps that cover both ears and temples and also display the NOCSAE stamp and the exterior warning statement. 

- The warning statement may be affixed to the helmet in sticker form, or it may be embossed at the time of manufacture.

- A violation by a non-adult bat/ball shagger shall result in warning to the coach of the team and the individual.

- A subsequent violation may result in the individual not being allowed on the field.

PENALTY:  When an umpire observes anyone who is required to wear a batting helmet deliberately remove his batting helmet while in live-ball territory and the ball is live (non-adult ball/bat shaggers required to wear helmet in live-ball area even if ball is dead), the umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the involved team, unless the ball becomes dead without being touched by a fielder or, after being touched goes directly to a dead-ball area.  A subsequent violation of the rule shall result in ejection.

- A face mask/guard may be attached to batting helmets at the time of manufacture.

- All face mask/guards shall meet the NOCSAE standard.  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.

- The catcher shall wear, in addition to a head protector, a mask with a throat protector, body protector, protective cup, and baseball protective shin guards.

- The catcher's helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard. 

- Any helmet or helmet and mask combination shall have full ear protection (dual ear flaps).

- A throat protector, which is either a part of or attached to the catcher's mask, is mandatory.  It shall adequately cover the throat.

- The commercially manufactured catcher's head, face and throat protection may be a one-piece or multi-piece design.

- While in a crouch position, any non-adult warming up a pitcher at any location shall wear a head protector, a mask with a throat protector and a protective cup.

PENALTY: Failure by a player to wear proper equipment after being so ordered by the umpire, shall result in rejection.

- Defensive players are permitted to wear face/head protection in the field. 

- If a pitcher or any defensive player wears face/head protection, its outer covering shall have a non-glare surface.

Defective equipment must be repaired or replaced immediately. 

- If a ball is touched with an illegal glove or mitt, that 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) for use of an illegal glove or mitt.

- The illegal glove or mitt must 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.

- Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, splints, etc.) must be padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than 1/2 inch thick. 

- Knee and ankle braces which are unaltered from the manufacturer's original design/production do not require any additional padding.

Any player equipment judged by the umpire to be unreasonably dangerous is illegal.

Any questions regarding legality of a player's equipment shall be resolved by the UIC.

Non-traditional playing equipment must be reviewed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee before it will be permitted to be used.

- Jewelry shall not be worn (See 3-3-1d) except for religious or medical medals.

- A religious medal must be taped and worn under the uniform.

- A medical alert must be taped and may be visible.

For brevity in the play rulings, the home team is H and the visiting team V.

- Players of the team at bat are B1, B2, etc. 

- The player who bats first in his half of an inning is designated B1.

- The second player to bat is B2, etc.

- Substitutes are S1, S2, etc.

- Runners are R1, R2, or R3, and R1 is the runner who has advanced farthest.

Fielding players are F1, F2, etc., in accordance with Diagram 1.

Rule 2 - Section 2

Awarded Bases

- When bases are awarded, it is the responsibility of the runner to legally touch those bases.

- In actuality, it is the right to advance without a play being made that is awarded.

Rule 2 - Section 3

Balk

- A balk is an illegal act committed by the pitcher with a runner(s) on base which entitles each runner to advance one base.

Rule 2 - Section 4 - Article 1

Ball, Base on Balls, Intentional Base on Balls

- The ball is one of the playing implements (See 1-3-1). 

- The term is also used to designate a pitch which is not touched by the bat and is not a strike as in 7-2-1 and 7-2-2.

Rule 2 - Section 4 - Article 2

Ball, Base on Balls, Intentional Base on Balls

- A base on balls is an award of first base (often referred to as a "walk") if a batter receives four such balls.

- The batter must go immediately to first base before time-out is called.

Rule 2 - Section 4 - Article 3

Ball, Base on Balls, Intentional Base on Balls

- An intentional base on balls may be given by the defensive team by having its catcher or coach request the umpire to award the batter fisrt base.

- This may be done before pitching to the batter or on any ball and strike count.

- The ball shall be declared dead before making the award.

Rule 2 - Section 5 - Article 1

Fair Ball/Base Hit

- A fair ball is a batted ball which:

a) Settles on fair territory between home and third base or between home and first base; or

b) contacts fair ground on or beyond an imaginary line between first and third base; or

c) is on or over fair ground when bounding to the outfield past first or third base; or

d) first falls on fair ground on or beyond first or third base; or

e) touches first, second, or third base; or

f) while on or over fair territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, their clothing or equipment; or

g) while over fair ground passes out of the playing field in flight

Rule 2 - Section 5 - Article 2

Fair Ball/Base Hit

- A base hit (also called a safe hit or single) is one which enables the batter to advance to first base without being put out (9-3-2).

Rule 2 - Section 5 - Article 3

Fair Ball/Base Hit

- An extra base hit is one which enables the batter to advance to first base and then to one or more succeeding bases (9-3-3).

-A two-base hit (double), three-base hit (triple) or home run enables him to reach second, third or home base, respectively.

Rule 2 - Section 6 - Article 1

Batted Ball

A batted ball or thrown ball is in flight until it has touched the ground or some object other than a fielder.

Rule 2 - Section 6 - Article 2

Batted Ball

A fly ball is a batted ball which rises an appreciable height above the ground.

Rule 2 - Section 6 - Article 3

Batted Ball

A line drive is a batted ball which travels parallel, or nearly so, with the ground through most of its flight.

Rule 2 - Section 6 - Article 4

Batted Ball

A ground ball is one which is neither a fly nor a line drive.

Rule 2 - Section 7 - Article 1

Batter, Batter's Box, Batter-Runner

The batter is the player of the team at bat who is entitled to occupy either of the two batters' boxes as shown in Diagram 2

Rule 2 - Section 7 - Article 2

Batter, Batter's Box, Batter-Runner

- The batter's box is the 4 x 6 foot area in which the batter shall stand when batting. 

- The lines are part of the box.

Rule 2 - Section 7 - Article 3

Batter, Batter's Box, Batter-Runner

- A batter-runner is a player who has finished a time at bat until he is put out or until playing action ends.

Rule 2 - Section 8

Bunt

- A bunt is a fair ball in which the batter does not swing to hit the ball, but holds the bat in the path of the ball to tap it slowly to the infield.

- If an attempt to bunt is a foul ball, it is treated as any other foul ball, except that if the attempt is by a batter who has two strikes, such batter is out as in 7-4-1e.

Rule 2 - Section 9 - Article 1

Catch,  Catcher, Catcher's Box

- A catch is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a live ball in flight and firmly holding it, provided he does not use his cap, protector, mask, pocket or other part of his uniform to trap the ball.

- The catch of a fly ball by a fielder is not completed until tthe continuing action of the catch is completed.

- A fielder who catches a ball then runs into a wall or another player and drops the ball has not made a catch.

- A fielder, at full speed, who catches a ball and whose initial momentum carries him several more yards after which the ball drops from his glove has not made a catch.

- When the fielder, by his action of stopping, removing the ball from his glove, etc., signifies the initial action is completed and then drops the ball, will be judged to have made the catch.

- The same definition of a catch would apply when making a double play. 

- It is considered a catch if a fielder catches a fair or foul ball and then steps or falls into a bench, dugout, stand, bleacher, or over any boundary or barrier, such as a fence, rope, chalk line, or a pregame determined imaginary boundary line from the field of play.

- Falling into does include merely running against such object.

- (See 2-24-4 for fielder juggling ball and 8-4-1c for intentionally dropped ball; 2-16-2 and 5-1-1d for ball striking catcher before touching his glove.)

- It is not a catch when a fielder touches a batted ball in flight which then contacts a member of the offensive team or an umpire and is then caught by a defensive player.

NOTE: When a batter ball or a pitch is involved, the above definition of a catch applies.  For any other thrown ball, the term is used loosely to also apply to a pick-up or to the trapping of a low throw which has touched the ground.  A fielder may have the ball in his grasp even though it is touch the ground while in his glove.