Howard County Officials Training

1. Howard County Officials Training Rule 8 – Batter-Runner And Runner

2. RULES SUPPLEMENT 1 – Appeals 12 – Courtesy Runner 14 – Delayed Dead Ball 17 – Equipment On The Playing Field 20 – Falling Over The Fence On A Catch 26 – Home Runs / Four Base Awards / Ground Rule Doubles 28 – Intentionally Dropped Ball 34 – Look-Back Rule (Fast Pitch) 37 – Over-Running First Base 39 – Passing A Runner 45 – Runners Switching Positions On The Base Path 8 – Catcher’s Box 13 – Crashing Into A Fielder With The Ball (Interference) 16 – Dugout Conduct 19 – Fake Tag 25 – Home Runs (Slow Pitch) And Running Bases 27 – Imaginary Line Or Dead Ball Area 33 – Interference 36 – Obstruction 38 – Overthrows 44 – Runner Hit By A Fair Batted Ball 50 – Stealing

3. 2008 ChangesRule 8 2007 Rule Section 4. RUNNERS ARE ENTITLED TO ADVANCE WITH LIABILITY TO BE PUT OUT. (Men’s Slow Pitch & Women’s Slow Pitch. This does not apply to Master’s and Senior’s Play, Co-ed Slow Pitch or Junior Olympic.) Runners may advance when the ball reaches home plate, or 3. Slow Pitch with stealing. Runners may advance when a pitched ball, legal or illegal reaches the front edge of home plate. Section 4. RUNNERS ARE ENTITLED TO ADVANCE WITH LIABILITY TO BE PUT OUT. (Men’s Slow Pitch & Women’s Open Slow Pitch. This does not apply to Master’s and Senior’s Play, Co-ed Slow Pitch or Junior Olympic.) Runners may advance when the ball reaches home plate, or 3. Slow Pitch with stealing. Runners may advance when a pitched ball, legal or illegal reaches the front edge of home plate. Section 3. TOUCHING BASES IN LEGAL ORDER EXCEPTION: All Adult Slow Pitch (This does not apply to Master’s and Senior’s Play). On any fair batted ball hit over the fence for a home run or on a four base award, the batter and all runners are credited with a run. The batter and any runners on base are not required to run the bases. This eliminates any appeal play on runners. Section 3. TOUCHING BASES IN LEGAL ORDER EXCEPTION: Women’s Open, Co-ed Major, and all Men’s Class “A” Slow Pitch. (This does not apply to Master’s and Senior’s Play). On any fair batted ball hit over the fence for a home run or on a four base award, the batter and all runners are credited with a run. The batter and any runners on base are not required to run the bases. This eliminates any appeal play on runners. • Section 4. RUNNERS ARE ENTITLED TO ADVANCE WITH LIABILITY TO BE PUT OUT. • (10-Under Class B Fast Pitch) • Section 4. RUNNERS ARE ENTITLED TO ADVANCE WITH LIABILITY TO BE PUT OUT. • (10-Under Class B Fast Pitch) ENTIRE SECTION REMOVED

4. DEFINITIONS BATTER-RUNNER A player who has completed a turn at bat but has not yet been put out or reached first base. RUNNER An offensive player who has reached first base and has not yet been put out.

5. BATTER BECOMES BATTER-RUNNER Batter Hits Ball Batter Walked Batter Obstructed By Catcher • Intentional • Fast • Slow Catcher Does Not Catch 3rd Strike (Fast Pitch) Batter Hit By Pitch (Fast Pitch) COED

6. OBSTRUCTIONDefinition • The act of a defensive member: • Who hinders or impedes a batter from striking at or hitting a pitched ball.

7. OBSTRUCTIONCatcher Delayed Dead Ball Ignored • Batter Hits Ball • Reaches 1st Base • All Runners Advance • Offensive Option: • Result of Play • Award Batter 1st • Other Runners Return • Unless Forced Enforcement

8. OBSTRUCTIONCatcher Catcher Steps On or In Front of Plate Steal of Home Squeeze Play (Fast Pitch) Dead Ball Batter Awarded 1st Dead Ball Runner Awarded Home Batter Awarded 1st

9. OBSTRUCTIONDefinition • The act of a defensive member: • Who hinders or impedes a batter from striking at or hitting a pitched ball. • A fielder who impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases unless the fielder is: • In possession of the ball • In the act of fielding a batted ball • NOTE: Contact is not necessary to impede the progress of the batter-runner or a runner.

10. OBSTRUCTIONFielder Batted Ball Act Of Fielding Thrown Ball Possession • Offense Must Allow to Make Play

13. OBSTRUCTIONFielder Batted Ball Act Of Fielding Thrown Ball Possession • Offense Cannot Run Over Defense • No Must Slide • Flagrant – Ejection • “Train Wreck” Fake Tag

14. OBSTRUCTIONEnforcement • Delayed Dead Ball • Runner Protected Cannot Be Put Out Between Bases • Exceptions • Interference • Passes Runner • Subsequent Play

15. OBSTRUCTIONEnforcement • Delayed Dead Ball • Runner Protected • Runner Put Out • Base Award • Before Reaching Protected Base • After Reaching Protected Base

16. INTERFERENCEDefinition • The act of an • That impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary. • The act of an • Spectator • That impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary.

17. INTERFERENCESpectator • With Play • Dead Ball • Runners • Prevents Catch • Dead Ball • Batter Out • Runners Field Belongs to Players Stands Belong to Spectators

18. INTERFERENCEDefinition • The act of an • Umpire, or • Spectator • That impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary. • The act of an • Spectator • That impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary.

19. INTERFERENCEUmpire Catcher’s Throw Steal Attempt or Pick-Off (Fast Pitch or Slow Pitch w/Stealing) Hit By Batted Ball • NO INTERFERENCE • Passed Ball or Wild Pitch • Hit By Thrown Ball • With Fielder • Hit By Runner Runner Out Runner Safe

20. INTERFERENCEDefinition • The act of an • Offensive player or team member, • Umpire, or • Spectator • That impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary. • The act of an • Umpire, or • Spectator • That impedes, hinders, or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Contact is not necessary.

21. INTERFERENCEGeneral Ball Is Dead OUT Runners Return

22. INTERFERENCERunner On A Base After Being Put Out Offensive Player Not Involved In Play Foul Fly Ball Could Have Been Caught Attempt to Break Up Double Play Already Scored Runner Closest To Home Also Out No Interference Unless Intentional Succeeding Runner Also Out Runner Out Batter Out

23. DOUBLE 1ST BASE Avoid Collisions Fair / Foul Runner Returns Throw From Foul Territory Play Made on Batter-Runner Errant Throw Fielder Hits Orange No Play • Live Ball Appeal • Contact With Fielder Runner Hits White

24. THREE FOOT LANE • INTERFERENCE • Batter-Runner Outside Lane • Interferes With Throw To 1st X X Starts ½ way to 1st YES YES X X NO NO

25. THREE FOOT LANE • INTERFERENCE • Batter-Runner Outside Lane • Interferes With Throw To 1st • NOT INTERFERENCE • First Half Of Base Line • Throw From Foul • Throw To Plate • No Throw X X X X NO YES NO NO

26. BASE RUNNING ISSUES OVERRUNNING FIRST BASE PASSING ANOTHER RUNNER OUT SAFE SAFE OUT RUNNING OUT OF BASE PATH TWO ON THE SAME BASE (Force) TWO ON THE SAME BASE DISLODGED BASE BATTER-RUNNER REVERSING TO HOME

27. BASE RUNNING VIOLATIONS Runner Leaves Field Of Play Runner Physically Assisted (Not Another Runner) Dead Live Live Runner Leaves Base Early Pitch Fly Ball Running Start On Tag Up

28. RUNNER HITBY BATTED BALL Fair / Foul Past Fielder Fair Foul • Dead Ball • Foul Ball

29. 2 SS 1 3 P

30. RUNNER HITBY BATTED BALL Dead Ball Fair / Foul Past Fielder On / Off Base No Fair Off On Foul Yes Another Infielder Chance For Out • Live Ball • Dead Ball • Foul Ball • No Out • Batter-Runner • Other Runners • Runner Out • Batter-Runner • Other Runners

31. SS 2 P 3 1

32. RUNNER HITBY BATTED BALL Dead Ball Fair / Foul Past Fielder On / Off Base No Fair Off On Foul Yes Another Infielder Chance For Out • Dead Ball • Foul Ball • No Out • Batter-Runner • Other Runners Yes No • Runner Out • Batter-Runner • Other Runners • Live Ball

33. RUNNER HITBY BATTED BALL Fair Ball / Hits Runner in Foul No Fielder Can Make Play Live Ball

34. 2 SS 1 3 P R

35. RUNNER HITBY BATTED BALL Fair Ball / Hits Runner in Foul No Fielder Can Make Play Live Ball Ball Deflected Live Ball

36. BALL OUT OF PLAY Batted Ball 2 Bases Time Of Pitch Pitch (Fast Pitch & Slow Pitch w/Stealing) 1 Base Time Of Pitch Thrown Ball 2 Bases Time Of Throw Player Loses Control 1 Base Ball Goes Out Of Play Catch & Carry Intentional 2 Bases Last Base Touched Unintentional 1 Base Last Base Touched

37. BALL HITSLOOSE EQUIPMENT • OFFENSIVE TEAM • If Play - Runner Being Played on Out • Runners Return • No Play - Runners Return • NO VIOLATION • Part Of Play • Batter’s Bat • Catcher’s Mask • Umpire Equipment • Helmet / Cap • (Unintentionally Off) DEFENSIVE TEAM Overthrow Rule

38. BALL HITS EQUIPMENT Thrown Improperly Worn • PITCH • No Award • Runners Not Advancing • No Play Possible • No Advantage Gained • BATTED BALL • 3 Bases from Time of Pitch • Over Fence – 4 Base Award Must Contact Ball Delayed Dead Ball THROWN BALL 2 Bases from Time of Throw PITCH 1 Base From Time of Pitch