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Major High School Rule Differences (Expect RI & MA)
1. If a batting helmet is deliberately removed in live-ball territory and the ball alive, issue a team warning to the coach. The next violation is an ejection. A player warming up a pitcher must wear a head protector and a mask with a throat protector while in the crouch position, even outside the confines of the field. Players coaching the bases must wear helmets. (Rule 1-1-5)
2. Casts, splints and braces must be padded. Jewelry, even if taped, is prohibited. Medical alert necklaces and bracelets are not considered jewelry and must be taped. (Rule 1-1-6)
3. A bat is illegal if its diameter is more than 2 5/8 inches or if it exceeds the minus 3 differential rule (i.e., a 33 inch long bat must weigh at least 30 ounces). (Rule 1-3-5) A batter is declared out if he enters the batters box with an illegal bat. If the illegal bat is discovered after his time at bat, but before the next pitch, the defense can take the penalty or the result of the play. (Rule 7-4-1a) Note that a cracked or dented bat is merely removed; there is no further penalty.
4. Umpires should check all bats and helmets of both teams before the game to remove bats that are cracked, dented, smooth or with a loose knob. Similarly helmets cannot be cracked or have padding missing. (Point of Emphasis on page 70)
5. An intentional base on balls can be given to a batter without pitching to him at the request of the opposing coach or catcher. This can be done at any time in the count. Declare the ball dead before making the award. (Rule 2-4-3)
6. Obstruction is always a delayed-dead ball. Under pro rules obstruction is an immediate-dead ball if the defense is playing on the obstructed runner or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he reaches first base. Note that obstruction can be either physical or verbal and that a fake tag is considered obstruction. (Rule 2-22)
7. An illegal player on offense is out and ejected. This supersedes the penalty for batting out of order. Thus there is only 1 out if an illegal substitute comes to bat. An illegal player on defense is ejected. An illegal player is generally a substitute who has already been in the game and been removed or a starter who was removed, re-entered, and then removed again. (Rule 3-1-1)
8. Re-entry of any starting player, including the designated hitter, is allowed into the same batting position. Thus a maximum of 10 players may be substituted for and later re-enter. Substitutes who are withdrawn may not re-enter. (Rule 3-1-3)
9. A designated hitter (DH) is allowed for any defensive player (and his substitutes on defense) as long as the DH is selected prior to the game. The DH and the player he hits for share one spot in the batting order - one plays defense and one plays offense. They cannot both be on defense at the same time and they cannot occupy two batting order spots. A team loses its DH if the DH plays defense or the player being hit for either pinch hits or pinch runs for the DH. (Rule 3-1-4)
10. Unsportsmanlike acts such as taunting, baiting, profanity, intimidation tactics and remarks reflecting unfavorably upon another person are prohibited. Either eject immediately, or if of a minor nature, issue a team warning to the coach and eject the next offender. (Rule 3-3-1g)
11. Coaches must be inside the dugout or bench area, unless they are base coaches or participating in a conference. Note that this rule is subject to some interpretation and may be changed slightly, but coaches cannot sit on chairs or buckets in live ball territory. (Rule 3-3-1j)
12. Coaches can be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game. Conferences with players must occur near the dugout door. They can leave the dugout to attend to an injured player or to break up a fight. (Rule 3-3-1j and Point of Emphasis on page 70)
13. Eject players who leave their positions or the bench for the purpose of fighting or physical confrontation. (Rule 3-3-1q)
14. A runner is out and the ball is dead if the runner does not legally slide and causes illegal contact or illegally alters the play. (Rule 8-4-2b) Read Rule 2-32 for the definition of an illegal slide. Note that if a runner goes into a base standing up and makes contact with the fielder or alters the play of the fielder, it is an illegal slide. On a force play the runner must slide in a direct line between the two bases (or away from the fielder). If he does not, the runner and the batter are declared out and any remaining runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. If there is malicious contact, the runner is out and is also ejected. (Rule 3-3-1n).
15. Users of tobacco and tobacco-like products within the confines of the field are immediately ejected. (Rule 3-3-1p) Similarly, umpires are not to use tobacco or tobacco-like products on or in the vicinity of the playing field. (Rule 10-1-8)
16. During the pre-game conference, both teams must remain in the dugout or bullpen area until the meeting is completed. (Rule 2-10-2). Players loosening up to bat must remain in the on-deck circle while the pitcher is warming up. (Rule 3-3-3).
17. The defense is allowed 3 charged conferences in a 7 inning game (plus 1 per inning in extra-inning games, non-cumulative) without penalty. For any additional charged conferences, the pitcher must be removed (as the pitcher) for the duration of the game. A conference is not charged to check on an injury or if the pitcher is removed during the conference. (Rule 3-4-1) The offense is allowed 1 charged conference per inning. (Rule 3-4-2) The umpire-in chief is required to keep a written record of defensive and offensive conferences. (Rule 10-2-3j)
18. A 10 run rule after the losing team has batted 5 innings is mandatory (if adopted). (Rule 4-2-2)
19. A team must start with 9 players, but can continue playing with 8 players regardless of the reason for losing a player. When the vacant spot in the batting order occurs, declare an out. If an offensive player has to leave after reaching base, the most recent batter not on base runs for him. Once a team drops to 8 players, it cannot return to 9 players. (Rule 4-4-1f)
20. On a do not pitch signal, the ball is dead. (Rule 5-1-1h)
21. The ball is dead immediately on a balk. It makes no difference if the pitcher continues with the pitch or not or if the batter hits it or not. There is no option to the offense. It is a no pitch. (Rules 5-1-1k & 2-28-2)
22. A pitcher balks if he turns his shoulders to look at a base while in contact with the rubber. This is true both before or after the pitcher takes his stretch in the set position. (Rule 6-1-1). A pitcher in the windup position may not step directly toward a base on a pick-off. It is a balk if he does not step back off the rubber first.
23. The batter must keep at least one foot in the batters box after a called strike or ball unless (1) he is forced out by the pitch or (2) the catcher misses the ball, makes a play or leaves the catchers box. The penalty is a called strike (ball remains alive). A strike is also called if the batter leaves the batters box before the pitch (both feet) unless the umpire calls time, the pitcher makes or feints a play, or the pitcher leaves the dirt area of the mound. The pitcher need not pitch and the ball remains alive. (Rule 7-3-1). Note that if the batter steps out of the batters box with both feet and the pitcher delivers the ball, the pitch is called a strike regardless of whether it was in the strike zone or not, and there is an additional strike for stepping out of the batters box. (Rule 6-2-4d)
24. A runner who misses a base or leaves too early on a caught fly ball is out on appeal by a defensive player or coach, even if the ball is dead. There is no need to tag the runner or the base, unless the ball is live and a play is in progress. The appeal must be made before the next pitch (not play).(Rule 8-2-5)
25. If a fielder leaves the field of play (with both feet) after catching a fly ball, the ball is dead and each runner is awarded one base. (Rule 8-3-3d)
[Edited by Mike M on Feb 15th, 2002 at 12:04 PM]