PRESEASON GUIDE
BASEBALL 2015
Video Permitted for Coaching Purposes T
dale garvey
eams will be permitted to record and watch video in the dugouts for the 2015 NFHS baseball season. That was the major change to the rules when the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee met in June in Indianapolis. By revising rule 3-3-1, the rules committee now allows the use of video monitoring or replay equipment for coaching purposes during the game. That means it is now legal for a team to record the game from anywhere in dead-ball territory and to view that video during the game for coaching purposes only. “With advancements in technology, it was extremely difficult for officials to determine if teams were using video replay during games,” said Hopkins. “The committee determined it was the right time to permit teams to use these technological aids if they so choose.” It remains against the rules for umpires to view video for the purpose of making calls or rendering decisions (10-1-5). It is also against the rules for a coach to have any recording or viewing device, such as a cell phone or tablet, in the coaching box. A coach is only permitted to have a rulebook, stopwatch and scorebook with him in the coaching box. Play 1: A team uses (a) a video camera on a tripod manned by a player in uniform, (b) a tablet computer
Video captured anywhere in dead-ball territory may be used to assist coaches during a game.
manned by an athletic trainer, or (c) a cell phone camera operated by an assistant coach. All three recording devices are in the dugout. Ruling 1: All are legal. Play 2: A coach (a) in the dugout or (b) in the on-deck circle reviews video of B1’s previous at-bat. Ruling 2: In (a),
that’s legal. In (b), the only authorized personnel allowed on the field when the ball is live are the batter, runner(s), base coaches and on-deck batter. A coach is not permitted in the on-deck circle if the ball is live. That would be permitted during a dead ball, such as a charged conference. *
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS PUBLISHED BY REFEREE ENTERPRISES, INC. IN COOPERATION WITH THE NFHS
BS Guide 2015.indd 1
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