2008 BASEBALL RULE CHANGES

PRE-GAME CONFERENCE & COMMUNICATING WITH UMPIRES

Rule 1-1-2

The captain and head coach represent the team in communications.

Rule 2-10-2

A pregame conference is a meeting involving the umpires, both head coaches, and team captains (if available) (optional) near home plate.

                   Provides rule book backing for the head coach to be responsible for communication and to require his presence at the pregame conference.

RULE 1-1-2  DUTIES

The captains and head coachs duties include: 1) providing the umpire-in-chief with his teams lineup which shall include the name, position, and batting order of each starting player.  The name and shirt number of each eligible substitute should also be listed; and 2)

                   While it is encouraged that all eligible substitutes be listed on the lineup card, it is not mandatory and has never carried a penalty for failure to do so.

                   If a substitute is to be entered and is not listed, by rule he is to be entered into the lineup and the opposing coach and official scorer is to be notified.

                   Review of the Division II Regional Final Forfeit.

RULE 1-3-6  PITCHERS GLOVE

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

                   Glove worn by the pitcher with white and/or gray is no longer considered to be an illegal glove for award purposes.

                   Glove can have multi-colors (other than white or gray) and would be replaced only if judged by umpire-in-chief to be distracting.

RULE 2-22-3 (NEW)   OBSTRUCTION

It is obstruction when the fielder, without possession of the ball denies access to the base the runner is attempting to achieve.

                   There are 3 situations to consider:

        (A)          Fielder in the base path with the ball in possession,

        (B)          Fielder in the base path without the ball, but the play is imminent,

        (C)          Fielder in the base path without the ball, and the play is not imminent.

                   In the past, situations A & B allowed the fielder to block the base legally; situation C was obstruction if the fielder hindered the runner or changed the pattern of play.

                   With this rule change:

        (A)          Fielder can legally block the base

        (B)          Fielder can be in the base path, but must provide the runner some access to the base

        (C)          Obstruction if the fielder hinders the runner or changes the pattern of play.

                   The only change is that now a fielder without the ball, but with the play imminent, cannot completely block the base; he must allow the runner some access to the base.

                   Access is umpire judgment.  Must have some portion of the base/plate that the runner could reach.

RULE 3-2-1   COACHES BOX

                   The rule requiring coaches to within the confines of the coaching box from the time the batter enters the batters box to the time the pitcher delivers a pitch is rescinded.

                   If a coach is out of the box and the umpire feels he is gaining an advantage, request that he stay in the box or position himself such that no advantage is gained.

                   Failure to comply would result in a coach being restricted to the bench or an ejection.

RULE 3-2-4 (NEW)     HEAD COACH MUST ATTEND PREGAME CONFERENCE

The head coach must attend the pregame conference, if available.

Penalty: The head coach will be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game, except to attend to a sick or injured player, if he refuses to attend the pregame conference.

                   Change leaves no doubt that the head coach is required at the pregame conference.

                   Captains still encouraged to attend if possible.

                   If coach is not yet at the field or is attending to a sick/injured player, asst. coach may attend in his place with no penalty.

                   If the head coach simply chooses not to attend, is in the bull pen or otherwise occupied, the asst. coach may represent the team and provide the certifications, but the head coach is restricted to the dugout for the balance of the game.

                   If the asst. coach comes to the pregame, first ask about the head coach before invoking the penalty.

                   Pregame cannot occur until a coach has complied with all requirements: line-up, ground rules, and certifying that team is in compliance and review of sporting behavior. 

                   If the pregame has not occurred, the game cannot start. 

RULE 6-2-4 PENALTY     PITCHING

To clarify the confusion from last years change:

                  Pitcher who is on the rubber and goes to his mouth has committed a balk.

                  It is legal for a pitcher to go to his mouth (anywhere off the pitchers plate) and distinctly wipe it off prior to legally getting on the pitchers plate.

                  Pitcher who goes to his mouth and then touches the ball without distinctly wiping it off may request a new ball to be legal, provided he has not yet got on the pitchers plate.

                  Pitcher who goes to his mouth, touches the ball without wiping it off and then goes to the pitchers plate will have a ball added to the count (with runners on base or bases empty).

Balk, if there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitchers plate is a balk:

                  C. making an illegal pitch from any position (6-1, 6-2-1, 6-2-1 a-d)

                  Eliminate e from definition of a balk per 6-2-4. bringing the pitching hand in contact with the mouth without distinctly wiping off the pitching hand before it touches the ball;

                   If the pitcher, while on the pitchers plate, goes to his mouth, it is a balk for violation of rule 6-1.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

                   Pitching

                   Starting position of the non-pivot foot determines whether the pitcher is in the windup or set position.

                   Windup  Non-pivot foot shall be in any position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitchers plate.

                   Set  Before starting his delivery, shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitchers plate.

                   If his non-pivot foot meets the requirement of the set position, but he attempts to pitch from the wind-up, he has balked.

                   Going to the mouth on the pitchers plate is a balk.

                   The pitcher may come to a complete and discernible stop with the glove in front of his head (some part of the glove at the chin level; could be the bottom part of the glove).  Basically the pro rule, must stop with the glove in front of his body, the head counts as body.

Obstruction

                   Fielders are not allowed to deny access to the base without possession of the ball.

                   Game personnel to be in dead-ball territory.

                   Illegally extending dugouts

                   Players leaving dugout during live ball.

Coaching Professionalism

                                       Good sporting behavior.

                                       Proper interaction with officials

                                       Attending pregame conference

                                       Ethical behavior

                                       Controlling their dugout

Umpire Professionalism

Good sporting Behavior

Batters hit by a pitch

Prohibition on moving into the pitch

Sticking out an elbow or knee so that batter is hit