NFHS Rules Reminders

[CecilOne]

Here are some NFHS rules items that have come up at my games or I that have heard about already this season.

1) A coach said "another umpire" told them the DP is defense and the FLEX is offense.

2) No one seems to know their State and Conference decisions on ITB and mercy rules.

3) The DP/FLEX have to be declared before the game, but the Courtesy Runner does not.

4) For purposes of a batter hit by a batted ball being fair or foul, the batter is out of the box when one foot touches the ground outside the box even if the other foot is still in the box.

5) A pulled foot call on an apparent third out can be made even if the defense has left the field; unlike defense appeals of missed bases, etc. It is not an appeal, just a call.

6) Something that needed clarification last year, in the book this year:
In a batting out of order situation, when the proper batter is declared out, the improper batter is not out, even if "put out" on the play.

7) A foul tip is a live ball, treated like any other swinging strike.

8) A thrown ball accidentally hitting a coach who is outside the coaching box is "blocked" and dead, subject to the two-base award. By NFHS rule 5-1-1-g, this applies as long as you consider the coach "nonparticipating team personnel" and not "offensive equipment". Rule 3-6-5 does exclude a coach in the coaching box, also as long as it is accidental.
OR, does 8-7-17 apply to an overthrow.

Let's discuss and clarify any of these you don’t understand or disagree with.


[Edited by CecilOne on Apr 3rd, 2004 at 02:09 PM]