2008 NFHS Baseball Rule Changes
The following are the 2008 NFHS Baseball new or revised rule changes.
Pregame Conference
Rule 1-1-2: Each team's head coach and captains (if any) shall attend the pregame plate meeting with the umpires. Penalty: A coach who does not attend will be restricted to the dugout/bench for the game. OSAA Point of Emphasis: Use preventative umpiring by reminding a coach he must attend.
Line Up Card
Rule 1-1-2: The name and shirt number of each eligible substitute should be listed on the lineup card. There is no penalty if substitutes are not listed.
Pitcher's Glove
Rule 1-3-6: A pitcher may not wear a glove that contains white or gray. If the glove is discovered while pitching or fielding, the penalty is that he must replace the illegal glove with a legal glove.
Obstruction
Rule 2-22-3: A fielder who does not have the ball may not deny a runner access to the base he is trying to reach. The runner has the right to reach a base without being obstructed if a fielder does not have the ball.
Rule 2-22-3: Being in the act of catching the ball is not possession. The fielder is not allowed to deny the runner access to the base. OSAA Point of Emphasis: Use your best judgment if the runner is arriving at approximately the same time as the ball. If the fielder is about to field the ball as the runner is arriving at the base, the fielder should allow some access to the base, i.e. being in front of the base and not blocking the entire base is acceptable in this situation.
Rule 2-22-3: If the fielder has the ball he is allowed to block the base and deny the runner access. OSAA Point of Emphasis: Sometimes a collision occurs when the base is blocked. Keep in mind that many times a violent collision can occur WITHOUT malicious contact. Malicious Contact is an intentional act. If there is no malice involved in a collision, then there is no malicious contact.
Coach's Box
Rule 3-2-1: A coach may, but is not required, to occupy either coaching box. He is not required by rule to occupy the box. This rescinds the 2007 rule that requires coaches to be in the coach's box at the time the pitcher delivers a pitch.
Pregame Meeting
Rule 3-2-4: Restates the requirement in 1-1-2 for the head coach to attend the pregame meeting.
Pitcher Going To The Mouth
Rule 6-2-1 (Penalty): A balk (with runners on) or an illegal pitch (with no runners on) is called anytime a pitcher goes to his mouth while on the pitching plate.
6-2-1 (Penalty): As long as a pitcher is not on the pitching plate, he may go to his mouth as long as he wipes off before engaging the pitching plate.
Umpire Uniform
Rule 10-1-9: The uniform for umpires is a navy blue shirt and heather gray pants. By state association adoption, umpires may wear other color shirts, as long as all umpires are wearing the same color.
OSAA Clarification: The OSAA recognizes that some associations have adopted a different color jersey than the Navy Pullover shirt. The OSAA emphasized that this practice is perfectly fine, so long as the following guidelines are followed:
- All crew members MUST wear the same color jersey in a given game.
- Match the "Hat" to the color of the jersey selected for use. For clarificiation, the Black Hat should be worn with all jerseys EXCEPT the Navy Pullover (hat should also be Navy with Navy Pullover).
- If a windbreaker is worn by more than one umpire in a crew, it must be the same color and style
- Uniform shall be clean and neat for each game (shoes are part of the uniform)
- If an umpire is selected to participate at the state level, he/she must be prepared to wear the Navy Pullover jersey.