BR Fails to Advance

[Dakota]

The following are quotes from the NFHS and ASA (2007) rule books for similar rules having to do with a BR failing to advance to 1B and entering the team area. I have emphasized the parts of those rules that I believe are wrong in the way they combine. By "wrong" I mean they are not consistent with the remainder of the playing rules for similar actions and that they can, in fact, result in placing the defense at a disadvantage due to the actions of the offense, similar in effect to the defense unfairly stopping play by intentionally throwing a ball out of play. The book recognizes this action by the defense as unfair and deals with it. Here, however, it codifies the action by the offense.

NFHS Rule 8
SECTION 2 BATTER-RUNNER IS OUT
ART. 4 . . . The batter-runner fails to advance to first base and enters the team area after a batted fair ball, a base on balls, a hit batter (F.P.), a dropped third strike (F.P.), or catcher obstruction.
EXCEPTION: (S.P.) The ball is dead on a base on balls, or on a hit batter (F.P.) the ball is dead, the batter-runner is not out and runners cannot advance unless forced.
PENALTY: (Art. 4) The ball is dead and the runner(s) must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the infraction.

ASA Rule 8
Section 2. BATTER-RUNNER IS OUT.
D. When the batter-runner fails to advance to first base and enters the team area after a batted fair ball, a base on balls, a hit batter (Fast Pitch), a dropped third strike, or catcher obstruction.
EXCEPTION: (Slow Pitch) The ball is dead when runners are not required to run bases on a home run or four base award, or on a base on balls, or (Fast Pitch) on a hit batter. The batter-runner is not out. Other than on a home run or four base award, runners cannot advance unless forced.
EFFECT - Section 2 D-H: The ball is dead and runner(s) must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the interference.

Further disturbing is an indication from WMB on the Fed board that he has received communication from people of influence that this issue will be addressed (by both ASA and NFHS?) by making it clear that it is intentional and expected that the dead ball be the result of the BR failing to advance, etc.

This means that the BR can choose to stop all play, including play on a batted ball, by merely entering the dugout. This takes away the opportunity of the defense to retire runners on base, including fielder's choice, double play, triple play, live ball appeal for leaving early on a caught fly, etc.

I had considered the "dead ball" aspect of this rule to be an editorial error that crept in when Rule 8 was revised some time back. I cannot see ANY reasonable rationale for the result of the BR failing to advance being a dead ball and runners return.

Someone with influence in the NFHS and ASA rules process please try to get this addressed PROPERLY! (Obviously, "properly" is my opinion...)