STUDY GUIDE:
COLLEGE BASEBALL RULES 2015-16 BY GEORGE DEMETRIOU
AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF NCAA BASEBALL RULES FROM REFEREE AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS OFFICIALS
contents Introduction................................................................................ 14 Chapter 1: The Game ..................................................................... 16 Basic Principles.............................................................................................................16 Starting the Game .......................................................................................................16 Playing the Game ........................................................................................................17 Ending the Game .........................................................................................................17
Chapter 2: Batting ....................................................................... 18 The Batter at Bat...........................................................................................................18 I. The Batter’s Box .................................................................................................18 II. Pitch Delivered .................................................................................................18 III. Half Swing .......................................................................................................18 IV. Strike .................................................................................................................19 V. Awarded Strike ..................................................................................................19 VI. Strike Zone .......................................................................................................20 VII. Ball ...................................................................................................................20 VIII. Fair/Foul Ball ...............................................................................................20 1. General ..........................................................................................................20 2. Fair Ball .........................................................................................................21 3. Foul Ball ........................................................................................................21 4. Foul Tip .........................................................................................................22 IX. At Bat Completed ............................................................................................22 Batter Becomes Runner ..............................................................................................22 Batter Awarded Bases .................................................................................................23 I. General ................................................................................................................23 II. Batter Awarded First Base ...............................................................................23 1. Base on Balls ................................................................................................23 2. Hit by Pitch ..................................................................................................24 3. Interference ..................................................................................................24 4. Miscellaneous ..............................................................................................26 III. Batter Awarded Second Base ������������������������������������������������������������������������26 IV. Batter Awarded Third Base ............................................................................27 V. Batter Awarded Home .....................................................................................28 VI. Batter Awarded Bases at Umpire’s Discretion �������������������������������������������28 Batter is Out .................................................................................................................28 Batter is Out for Illegal Acts ......................................................................................29 I. General ................................................................................................................29
II. Interference ........................................................................................................32 III. Delay .................................................................................................................37 The Batting Order .......................................................................................................38 I. Presentation ........................................................................................................38 II. Designated Hitter .............................................................................................39 1. General ..........................................................................................................39 2. 10-Man Lineup ............................................................................................40 3. Nine-Man Lineup ........................................................................................40 4. Nine- or 10-Man Lineup .............................................................................41 Substitution ..................................................................................................................43 Batting Out of Order ...................................................................................................44 On-Deck Batter ............................................................................................................47 Equipment ....................................................................................................................47 1. Bats ......................................................................................................................47 2. Helmets ...............................................................................................................49 3. Batting Aids .......................................................................................................49 Additional Examples ..................................................................................................49
Chapter 3: Baserunning ............................................................... 53 The Runner....................................................................................................................53 I. General ................................................................................................................53 II. Retouching Bases ..............................................................................................53 1. General ..........................................................................................................53 2. While the Ball is Dead ................................................................................54 3. While the Ball is Live ..................................................................................55 Runner Awarded Bases ..............................................................................................56 I. General ................................................................................................................56 II. One-Base Award ...............................................................................................56 III. Two-Base Award ..............................................................................................58 1. Thrown Balls ................................................................................................58 2. Pitch ...............................................................................................................60 3. Intentional Act by Fielder �������������������������������������������������������������������������60 IV. Three-Base Award ...........................................................................................61 V. Four-Base Award ..............................................................................................61 VI. Umpire’s Discretion ........................................................................................61 Runner Scores ..............................................................................................................61 I. General ................................................................................................................61 II. Preceding Runners ...........................................................................................63
Runner is Out ...............................................................................................................64 I. General ................................................................................................................64 II. Missing Base ......................................................................................................65 III. Tag-up Plays .....................................................................................................66 IV. Out of Baseline/Abandonment ��������������������������������������������������������������������66 Runner is Out for Illegal Acts ....................................................................................67 I. Interference .........................................................................................................67 1. General ..........................................................................................................67 2. Interference with Throws ...........................................................................68 3. Interference with Fielder ............................................................................68 4. Interference with Fielder Preventing Double Play 69 5. Interference with a Batted Ball �����������������������������������������������������������������70 6. Interference by Batter .................................................................................72 7. Interference by Batter-Runner ������������������������������������������������������������������73 8. Retired Runner Interferes ..........................................................................74 9. Interference on Force Plays (Slide Rule) ������������������������������������������������75 10. Legal Acts on Force Plays �����������������������������������������������������������������������76 11. Interference by Coaches or Others ���������������������������������������������������������76 12. Intervening Play ........................................................................................78 II. Other Illegal Acts ..............................................................................................78 1. Passing a Runner .........................................................................................78 2. Running Bases in Reverse �������������������������������������������������������������������������79 Runner is Out on Appeal ...........................................................................................79 I. General ................................................................................................................79 II. When a Runner is Out .....................................................................................80 Substitution ..................................................................................................................80 Equipment ....................................................................................................................81 Additional Examples ..................................................................................................82
Chapter 4: Fielding ......................................................................86 Basic Principles ............................................................................................................86 I. Defensive Positions ...........................................................................................86 II. The Fielder .........................................................................................................86 III. Play/Attempted Play .....................................................................................88 IV. Tag .....................................................................................................................88 Catch .............................................................................................................................89 I. General ................................................................................................................89 II. Dead-Ball Territory ...........................................................................................90 1. Catches ..........................................................................................................90 2. Throws ..........................................................................................................90 III. Additional Guidelines ....................................................................................91 1. Voluntary and Intentional Release ����������������������������������������������������������91
2. Third Strike ..................................................................................................91 3. Not a Catch ..................................................................................................91 Infield Fly .....................................................................................................................92 Intentionally Dropped Ball ........................................................................................93 Types of Plays ..............................................................................................................94 I. Force Play ............................................................................................................94 II. Time Play ...........................................................................................................95 III. Double Play ......................................................................................................95 Illegal Acts ....................................................................................................................96 I. Obstruction .........................................................................................................96 1. General ..........................................................................................................96 2. Act of Fielding .............................................................................................96 3. Multiple Fielders .........................................................................................97 4. Pickoffs .........................................................................................................98 5. Obstruction Procedure ...............................................................................98 6. Obstruction Award .....................................................................................99 7. Obstruction Before Batter-Runner Reaches First Base 101 8. Other Considerations ...............................................................................102 II. Other Illegal Acts ............................................................................................104 1. General ........................................................................................................104 2. Throwing a Glove .....................................................................................105 3. Coaches .......................................................................................................105 4. Umpires ......................................................................................................105 5. Spectators and Others ..............................................................................106 6. Offensive Interference ..............................................................................108 7. Not Interference .........................................................................................108 Appeals .......................................................................................................................109 Substitutions ..............................................................................................................113 Equipment ..................................................................................................................114 I. Gloves ................................................................................................................114 II. Catcher’s Gear ................................................................................................115 III. Miscellaneous ................................................................................................115 Additional Examples ................................................................................................116
Chapter 5: Pitching .....................................................................120 Basic Principles ..........................................................................................................120 Pitching Positions ......................................................................................................120 I. General ..............................................................................................................120 II. The Windup Position .....................................................................................120 III. The Set Position .............................................................................................122 IV. Changing Positions .......................................................................................123
Legal Actions .............................................................................................................123 Taking Signs ...............................................................................................................123 Pickoff Moves ............................................................................................................124 Prohibited Acts ..........................................................................................................125 I. Illegal Pitches ....................................................................................................125 II. Balks - General ................................................................................................125 III. Summary of Balks - Pitcher off Rubber ����������������������������������������������������127 IV. Summary of Balks - Pitcher on Rubber ����������������������������������������������������� 128 V. Summary of Balks - Wind-up Position �������������������������������������������������������128 VI. Summary of Balks - Set Position ����������������������������������������������������������������128 Delay I. Delay with No One on Base ...........................................................................128 II. Delay with Runners on Base .........................................................................129 Prohibited Acts ..........................................................................................................129 I. Intentionally Pitching at Batter ���������������������������������������������������������������������129 II. Other Prohibited Acts ....................................................................................129 Warm ups ...................................................................................................................131 Substitution ................................................................................................................132 Visits/Conferences ....................................................................................................135 Uniforms and Equipment ........................................................................................137 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................138 I. “Ball” Awarded ...............................................................................................138 II. End of Pitch .....................................................................................................138 III. Ambidextrous Pitcher ...................................................................................138 Additional Examples ................................................................................................139
Chapter 6: Umpiring ������������������������������������������������������������������� 141 Authority and Duties ................................................................................................141 I. General ..............................................................................................................141 II. Umpire in Chief ..............................................................................................142 III. Base Umpire(s) ..............................................................................................143 Responsibilities ..........................................................................................................143 I. Before the Game ...............................................................................................143 II. During the Game ............................................................................................144 1. General ........................................................................................................144 2. Calling Time ...............................................................................................144 3. Resuming Play ...........................................................................................145 III. Other Responsibilities ..................................................................................146 Decisions ....................................................................................................................146 I. General ..............................................................................................................146 1. Half Swings ................................................................................................147 2. Changing Calls and Getting Help ���������������������������������������������������������148
II. Disqualification/Ejection ..............................................................................150 Clock Protocol ............................................................................................................152 I. General ..............................................................................................................152 II. Bases Unoccupied ...........................................................................................153 III. Between Innings ............................................................................................157 Umpire Interference ..................................................................................................159 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................159
Chapter 7: Miscellany ���������������������������������������������������������������� 161 Game Length .............................................................................................................161 I. Regulation Game .............................................................................................161 II. Shortened Game .............................................................................................161 III. Doubleheaders ...............................................................................................162 IV. Tie Game .........................................................................................................162 V. Halted Game ...................................................................................................163 VI. No Game ........................................................................................................163 VII. Forfeits ...........................................................................................................163 Protesting Games ......................................................................................................165 Ground Rules .............................................................................................................166 Conduct ......................................................................................................................167 I. Coaches .............................................................................................................167 II. Players ..............................................................................................................168 III. Use of Tobacco ...............................................................................................169 IV. Confrontations, Fighting and Physical Abuse �����������������������������������������169 1. General Policies .........................................................................................169 2. Suspension .................................................................................................170 3. Preventive Actions ....................................................................................171 4. Fighting .......................................................................................................172 5. Intentionally Throwing at Batters �����������������������������������������������������������173 V. Dugouts ............................................................................................................173 VI. Use of Electronics ..........................................................................................174 VII. Thrown Bats .................................................................................................174 Uniforms and Equipment ........................................................................................174 I. Uniforms ...........................................................................................................174 II. Equipment .......................................................................................................176 Other Considerations ...............................................................................................176 I. Offensive Conferences ....................................................................................176 II. Speed-up Rules ...............................................................................................176 III. Pregame Practice ...........................................................................................176 IV. Medical Personnel .........................................................................................177 V. Crowd Control ................................................................................................177 VI. Scorebook .......................................................................................................178
Appendix A ...............................................................................................................179 Quiz Questions and Answers Appendix B ................................................................................................................192 Base Awards Appendix C ...............................................................................................................193 Dead Ball Table Appendix D ...............................................................................................................196 Appeal Plays Appendix E ................................................................................................................197 Warnings Appendix F.................................................................................................................200 Rule Citation Index Appendix G ...............................................................................................................208 NCAA Misconduct Penalty Chart