BBASEBALLBASEBASEBALLALL 20092009 R A supplement to the NCAA Baseball Rules • Prepared by the editors of Referee magazine Helmets Required for Base Coaches The safety of base coaches was the NOCSAE approved, but NOCSAE biggest change for the 2009-10 does not approve helmets that do NCAA baseball rulebook as the not have the double ear flaps. requirement for helmets was added Helmets without double ear flaps are along with a requirement that legal for those who are coaching coaches remain in the coaching box bases, but are not legal for the batter, during specified times. on-deck batter or any runners. Following the rule change for “I think it’s a comfort level,” 2008 in professional baseball, the Brontsema said when it comes to committee passed the rule that adjusting to the change. “You just go requires all base coaches to wear out and wear it. The day somebody helmets. It is recommended that the gets hit is the day they’ll appreciate helmet meet NOCSAE approval it.” standards (1-14g). Play 1: With his team on offense, “Since Major League Baseball set the head coach wants to coach third the precedent, it was almost like we base without the proper helmet. had to follow,” said Bob Brontsema, Ruling 1: There is no penalty; the baseball coach at UC Santa however, play cannot continue until Barbara and the incoming chair of compliance with the rule is met. the NCAA Baseball Rules Play 2: Because he does not want Committee. “Certainly we want to to wear a helmet, the third-base do everything we can to protect our coaches and athletes who are in the (see Base Coaches p.4) boxes.” When the rule was originally Contents passed, it required that the helmet be Letter from New NCAA Umpiring Starting in 2009, all personnel (coaches Coordinator Gene McArtor . 2 and players) in NCAA play will have to wear helmets while coaching the bases. K Background Check Program FAQs . 3 E I That rule change was one of several T H J passed with the intent of improving safety O H N S Flashback: 2008 Rules Changes for the participants in a game. T O N Revisited . 5 Pace of Play Is a Major Concern Test Your Rules Knowledge . 10 One of the many joys of a baseball “The feedback is that fans don’t Don’t Let Batting Out of Order game is that it is timeless — no clock, want to sit through a four-hour Confuse You . 13 no whistles, no time limits. That game,” said Bob Brontsema, the head being said, the NCAA baseball rules coach at UC Santa Barbara and the Case Study: When Is a Catch committee has made pace of play a incoming chair of the NCAA Baseball Completed? . 15 point of emphasis for the 2009 season Rules Committee. “We have a great — even though the game is timeless, product and we want people to be it should not drag on forever. there from start to finish. We don’t (see Pace of Play p. 6) PUBLISHED BY REFEREE ENTERPRISES, INC. communicate rule changes and online testing program will purchase any needed NCAA information about the Umpire continue to ensure that our rule books or CCA Baseball Improvement Program to umpires are educated on the Umpire Manuals, both of which umpires, coaches, baseball rules. The standard are essential for knowledge administrators, and baseball will continue to be 80% correct and consistency. fans across the country. I answers. The NCAA Finally, I want to thank all thank the staff at Referee background check program who participate in NCAA magazine for their work on this and sports wagering baseball umpiring. I have the publication and for assistance questionnaire will continue in greatest respect for all that in distribution to coaches and 2009. These, in addition to goes into being a high quality umpires everywhere. clinic attendance, will continue umpire. Working a full schedule S N Our umpires had an to be basic criteria for post at a conference and O I T A outstanding championship season selection. Deadline championship level requires L E R A season in 2008 and 2009 dates will be February 13, significant time and travel, I D E M promises more of that 2009 for all of these both of which sacrifice jobs U O Z excitement, competition, and requirements. and family time. Your Z I M high level officiating. The Communication with our dedication and commitment passion and desire to improve umpires throughout the year could not be appreciated more individually and collectively will should continue to increase by myself, the Umpire Gene McArtor allow our umpires to continue with our website Improvement program, the to raise the bar. This year is www.eofficials.com. NCAA Baseball Committee, and especially exciting for me as Registration is required, but by the coaches and student- NCAA National your new national coordinator. there is no charge for NCAA athletes you serve in our sport. Coordinator of We have been able to add Tom material. New relationships Have a great season in 2009. Hiler as our director of umpires with the NCAA should allow Suggestions or questions may Baseball Umpires and Tony Gisondi as a fourth this website to be even more be directed to Gene McArtor, regional advisor. Both, in beneficial in the future through national coordinator, addition to our current regional in season education, in season [email protected]; Tom Dear NCAA Umpire: advisors, and many others video, in season quizzes, and Hiler, Director of Umpires, across the country have been additional products all [email protected]; or Welcome to the beginning so helpful in assisting my designed to keep our umpires Secretary Rules Editor, Jim of a new season of NCAA transition to the role. current, not only at the Paronto, [email protected]. baseball and to the NCAA Our qualification standards beginning of the year but See you at a game this umpire clinics. This newsletter for championship assignment throughout the year. Please season. I is one additional method to will continue this year. The use the order forms to 2008 NCAA Championship Umpires NCAA Umpiring Coordinators Division I Division II Division III Division I Division II Gene McArtor Asa Howard Mike Conlin Quinton Barnes Chuck Adya 3708 Joan Ct. P.O. Box 588 Lansing, Mich. Preston, N.C. Youngstown, Ohio Columbia, MO 65201 Amarillo, TX 79105 Jack Cox Thomas Goetz Don Goller Knoxville, Tenn. Bloomington, Minn. Spring Brook, N.Y. [email protected] [email protected] Jim Garman Jeffrey Cox Dan Ignosci (573) 443-5516 (H) (806) 681-5077 Fort Worth, Texas Miami San Clemente, Calif. (573) 999-9162 (C) (806) 463-5773 fax Mitch Mele Kurt Reichenbach Robin Johnson Rochelle Park, N.J. Northumberland, Forest Lake, Minn. Director of Umpiring Division III Bill Speck Penn. Steve Koneski Tom Hiler George Drouches Modesto, Calif. Mike McCray Dighton, Mass. PO Box 777 P.O. Box 27641 Frank Sylvester Tuscaloosa, Ala. Todd Olinger Mountain Home, ID 83647 Golden Valley, Minn. 55427 Philadelphia Scott Taylor Galesburg, Ill. Indianapolis [email protected] [email protected] Tony Walsh Gary Shingleton 208-598-5558 Cell (952) 541-1400 Memphis, Tenn. Butler, Penn. 208-587-5416 Fax (612) 432-5351 (C) David Wiley Greg Woodle (952) 593-8369 fax Buda, Texas Mechanicsville, Va. 2 2009 NCAA Baseball Guide Background Check Program FAQs 1. Will my background check most high-profile events, so the character of the officials information be accepted if Deadline to Submit Background Check: completed online after the is important. The NCAA deadline date? takes very seriously it’s No. The online system will February 13, 2009 obligation to do everything be active only during the necessary to prevent dates noted on the log-in the entity that will provide women’s basketball officials gambling scandals from page for each sport. No information to the NCAA. have undergone background occurring. information can be The release absolves the checks since 1999. As part of submitted electronically after entity (i.e., person or the recommendations from 8. Are there background check the deadline date. organization) from liability the NCAA Sports Wagering programs in which coaches by the official (except for Task Force, baseball and and student-athletes 2. Can I still submit my gross negligence). The men’s ice hockey officials participate? background check forms in language assures the entity have been required to Coaches and student-athletes paper format? that it is free to provide the undergo background checks must abide by NCAA Bylaw No. No paper forms will be requested information since the 2005-06 season. The 10.3, which states, in part, accepted. All information without fear of legal action. NCAA Division I Football that an individual may not must be submitted using the Some officials have Issues Committee wager on a college or online background check speculated that this waiver recommended that professional sports contest. system. language applies to the background checks be Each institution is NCAA, but that is not true required for officials responsible for ensuring that its representatives comply 3. Will officials who are except in the unlikely event working postseason football selected for a full background that the NCAA itself is asked bowl games beginning in with this important check be notified? to provide background 2006. These championships provision. I Yes. Officials will be notified information. and postseason football bowl in advance of the full games are the Association’s background check 6. Do repeated credit checks procedure. You will be damage an individual’s credit required to sign an rating? additional release to Repeated credit checks do reconfirm your consent for not damage an individual’s Changing Calls the background check to credit rating.