2024 NFHS BASEBALL RULE CHANGES POWERPOINT

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF

STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS

• NFHS (located in Indianapolis, IN – Est. 1920):
• National leader and advocate for high school athletics and performing arts programs.
• Serves 51 state associations, 19,500 high schools and 12 million student participants.
• Writes playing rules for 17 high school sports for boys and girls.
• Offers online education courses for high school coaches,

officials, parents, students and others.

• Ensures that students have opportunity to enjoy healthy participation, achievement and good sportsmanship in education-based athletics.

www.nfhs.org

COACHES UNIFORM

Rule 3-2-1

A coach who is not in the uniform of the team shall be restricted to the bench/dugout.

NFHS: Umpires should know their state association’s requirements and procedures for coaches’ uniform violations.

NCHSAA: Schools shall set the dress code for their coaches. Uniform apparel shall not contain reference to alcohol, drug use or nudity.

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NFHS RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE

• The NFHS Rules Review Committee is chaired by the chief operating officer and composed of all rules editors. After each committee concludes its deliberations and has adopted its recommended changes for the subsequent year, such revisions will be evaluated by the Rules Review Committee.

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NFHS BASEBALL COMMITTEE PHILOSOPHY

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“We are the keepers of Amateur Baseball”

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• NFHS Baseball Committee considers these factors when requests are submitted for rules changes.
• Risk Management
• Balance between Offense and Defense
• Keeping with Tradition in an era where the sport is changing on the professional level and student-athletes are bigger, stronger and faster.

NEW NFHS AllAccess – WEBSITE

• AllAccess is the New NFHS Digital Publications Platform that includes:
• Rules Publications
• High School Today Magazine
• Policy Debate Quarterlies
• Other NFHS Digital Publications
• Website organized for associations and individuals to assign books and manage purchases
• Visit www.allaccess.nfhs.org

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NEW NFHS AllAccess – MOBILE APP

Access Via Website or Mobile App:

• View available publications for sale
• View publications assigned to you
• Download books for offline viewing
• Read publications as an e-book
• Book features include:
• Table of contents
• Highlighting text
• Creating ‘sticky notes’ on pages
• Searching for terms
• Mark-up pen feature
• Viewing highlights and notes on data page
• Available on App Store and Google Play

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2024 NFHS BASEBALL

Rules Changes

1-6-1

PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

Rule Change

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• Any wristband with defensive shifts/offensive plays/pitching choices or game directions attached shall be considered non-electronic equipment and is permitted as long as it a single, solid color.

1-6-1

PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

Rule Change

• For pitchers, it may not contain the colors white, gray or be distracting.
• It does not have to match the color of the uniform or the sleeves worn underneath the uniform.

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1-6-1

PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

Rule Change

• It shall only be worn on player(s) wrist or forearm and pitchers shall wear it on their non-pitching arm.

Clarification was needed as many states reported that wrist bands were being worn on the belt. This is now prohibited by rule.

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1-6-1

PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

Rule Change

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• The penalty for wearing this equipment improperly is a team warning to the coach on a first offense.
• The next offender of that team will be ejected along with the

team’s head coach.

PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT RULE 1-6-1 (NEW SECTION)

Rule Change

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ART. 1 . . . Any wristband with defensive shifts/offensive plays/pitching choices or game directions attached shall be considered non-electronic equipment and is permitted as long as it is a single, solid color. For pitchers, it may not contain the colors white, gray or be distracting. It does not have to match the color of the uniform or the sleeves worn underneath the uniform.

It shall only be worn on a player(s) wrist or forearm and pitchers shall wear it on their non- pitching arm.

PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach.

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Rationale:

Clarification. With the increase in popularity of these style of communication systems, confusion has been realized when the players wear them other than on their arm. This change will prohibit these types of products from being worn other places.

PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT RULE 3-2-5

Rule Change

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• One-way electronic communication devices are permissible from the dugout to the catcher while the team is on defense for the purpose of calling pitches.

PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT RULE 1-6-2

Rule Change

• When using the electronic communication device, the coach cannot be outside the dugout/bench area.

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PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT RULE 1-6-2 (NEW SECTION)

Rule Change

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ART. 2 . . . One-way electronic communication devices are permissible from the dugout to the catcher while the team is on defense for the purpose of calling pitches. When using the electronic communication device, the coach cannot be outside the dugout/bench area.

PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach.

Rationale:

This rule allows for a team to utilize an electronic device for the purpose of calling pitches from the dugout. The device would only be able to be one-way, meaning the player cannot use an electronic device to respond or communicate back to the coach. Various technologies, earpiece, electronic band or a smart watch could be used giving teams several options at varying costs. No other player would be able to wear or use this device nor would the coach be able to communicate with any other player using electronic communication.

NFHS DOES NOT RECOMMEND EQUIPMENT

Rule Change

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• At a recent coaches convention, vendors displayed communication devices claiming that they are NFHS approved.

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• Only vendors that have a license with NFHS are permitted to place the NFHS logo on equipment.

COACHING (PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT) RULE 3-2-5

Rule Change

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• Coaches may not use electronic communication device(s) to communicate with any other team member than the catcher while on defense, or any team member while on offense.

COACHING (PLAYER COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT) RULE 3-2-5

Rule Change

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• The penalty for improper use is a team warning on the first offense.
• The next offender of that team will be ejected, along with the team’s head coach.

COACHING RULE 3-2-5

Rule Change

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ART. 5 . . . A coach may use a one-way electronic communication device to communicate to the catcher for the purpose of calling pitches. Coaches may not use electronic communication device(s) to communicate with any other team member while on defense or any team member while on offense. When using the electronic communication device, the coach cannot be outside the dugout/bench area.

PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to coach of the team involved and the next

offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach.

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Rationale:

Allows for the coach to communicate with the catcher using an electronic communication

device for the purpose of calling pitches.

PILOT PROGRAMS

Rule Change

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• Louisiana and North Dakota applied for and was granted permission to experiment with equipment that will test the use of electronic communication devices with multiple defensive players.
• Yearly reports with data must be reported to NFHS.
• After 3 years, those states would be eligible to submit a rules change proposal to permit their use.

UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF RULE 10-2-3h

Rule Change

• The umpire-in-chief may forfeit the game for prescribed infractions by coaches, players or team/bench personnel.

Rule change eliminated Spectators from the statement.

- Dealing with unruly fans are not the role of the umpire-in-chief.

- Utilize Site Management.

- Read and Understand the Termination of Game procedure.

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UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF RULE 10-2-3h

Rule Change

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• Umpires have jurisdiction over the confines of the players, coaches and team/bench personnel.
• If there are issues with spectators, it is the responsibility of game management to deal with spectators and to ensure the facility is safe for all involved.

UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF RULE 10-2-3h

Rule Change

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h. Forfeit the game for prescribed infractions by spectators, coaches, players or team/bench personnel.

Rationale:

Umpires have jurisdiction over the confines of the field, players, coaches and team/bench personnel. If there are issues with spectators, it is the responsibility of game management to deal with spectators and to ensure that

the facility is safe for all involved.

2024 NFHS BASEBALL

Points of Emphasis

MALICIOUS CONTACT

Points of Emphasis

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• Malicious contact can be initiated by either an offensive or defensive player(s).
• It should not be confused with incidental contact or “train

wreck” plays that sometimes occur in baseball.

MALICIOUS CONTACT

Points of Emphasis

• Contact or a collision is considered to be malicious if it is the result of excessive force and/or there is an intent to injure.
• The absence of these two conditions does not preclude the presence of malicious contact but would provide a reasonable starting point for proper interpretation.

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PROFANITY (DIRECT OR INDIRECT)

Points of Emphasis

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• Education-based athletics is a direct extension of the classroom.
• There is no excuse for foul language in school or on the baseball field.
• If a teacher would not allow profane language in the classroom, why would a coach permit it on the field?

PROFANITY (DIRECT OR INDIRECT)

Points of Emphasis

• The penalties are a verbal warning to the offender on the first offense; a written warning to the offender that warrants restriction to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game for a second offense; or ejection for a major offense.

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PACE OF PLAY

Points of Emphasis

• A 20-second time limit rule has been in the NFHS rules book since the 1970s.
• The rule is meant to only be utilized when other preventive umpiring measures fail to achieve a reasonable pace or rhythm.

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PACE OF PLAY

Points of Emphasis

• By rule, the time between the last out of one half-inning and the first pitch of the next half- inning is 1 minute, 20 seconds.
• Umpires should facilitate this and refrain from visiting with fans or having prolonged discussions with other crew members.

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PACE OF PLAY GUIDELINES

Points of Emphasis

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• These rules were put in effect in 1978.
• NFHS has not received concerns and is not aware of any issue.
• NCAA took action to speed up the pace of play in 2023.
• Some umpires who work collegiate and high school baseball began to utilize those rules in high school games incorrectly.

PACE OF PLAY

Points of Emphasis

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• Umpires should not look for trouble.
• Rules should be used if pace of play violations are excessive or intentional.
• Umpires need to be proactive in getting teams on and off the field between innings.
• Data collected nationwide found that the average high school game lasts 2 hours and 9 minutes.

PACE OF PLAY

Points of Emphasis

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• Umpires should use preventive officiating if necessary to speed up play.
• Talk to catcher
• Talk to pitcher
• Talk to coach

PACE OF PLAY

Points of Emphasis

• Rule 7-3-1 spells out the situations when a batter is allowed to leave the batter’s box.
• Repeatedly stepping out to alter the rhythm of the pitcher or delay the game is not acceptable, and umpire needs to apply the proper penalty.

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PACE OF PLAY

Points of Emphasis

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• Umpires need to be consistent in monitoring how teams get on/off the field, conferences, enforcing the batter’s box rule and in other areas to create a sense of urgency during the contest.

PACE OF PLAY

Points of Emphasis

• Umpires need to recognize when excessive player conferences begin to delay the game, step in and expedite the conclusion of the meeting.

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NFHS OFFICIALS EDUCATION

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CONTENT REMAINS FREE OF CHARGE

TEACHING AIDS

RULES CHANGES

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VIDEO LIBRARY

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THANK YOU

National Federation of State High School Associations

PO Box 690 | Indianapolis, IN 46206 Phone: 317-972-6900 | Fax: 317.822.5700

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