Home Run Dead Ball

[benbret]

NFHS softball and NCAA rules. I have always heard that when a person hits a homeroom that her teammates can not high five them etc. (touch them) until they touch home plate. I watch the games on TV and all of the teammates stand back at home plate and do not touch them until they have touched home plate. I read a memo this past weekend that said the ball is dead and there is no plenty if the teammates touch them. Is this correct?

[BretMan]

There’s a rule like that for NCAA, but they’re the only one. That rule doesn’t apply to other sanctions.

[Manny A]

There is a specific rule in NCAA play that prohibits players from touching any runners, including the batter-runner, as they run the bases following a home run. There is a separate rule that prohibits players from setting up in fair territory as they wait for the runners to touch home plate on a home run. The first violation is a warning to the team, and a subsequent violation is an out on the player being touched or on the BR if a player is in fair territory.

NFHS has no such rules.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Manny A

NFHS has no such rules.

Thankfully!

Not USA, USSSA, etc. either

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Thankfully!

Not USA, USSSA, etc. either

True. I only mentioned NFHS since the original post specifically asked for this. Don't really know why the rules exist in college play. I can only guess that there was an issue in a televised game where the umpire at home couldn't see a runner touch home plate because one or more of her teammates blocked his/her view. The rule on touching a runner is even more of a mystery to me; I just don't see how that could have caused a problem.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Manny A

True. I only mentioned NFHS since the original post specifically asked for this. .

I know, not trying to correct you, just emphasizing only NCAA is that paranoid.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Can the player that hit the home run high-5 the base coaches?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Can the player that hit the home run high-5 the base coaches?

In college play, yes. The prohibition applies to offensive team personnel except base coaches or other base runners.