Interpretations

April 09, 2013

1. National Anthem Standoff: Any shall eject any player, coach, manager or trainer for violations of the Coaches & Players Code of Ethics, p. 10. Conferences may choose to implement additional penalties (see Appendix D) The UIC is to warn the head coach of the offending team that should any player not return to his area immediately after the playing of the National Anthem, the head coach and player(s) will be ejected immediately.

2. Rule 1-12, Penalty—The use of any artificial means to heat non-wood bats is considered an attempt to alter the performance and is not to be allowed. When discovered, the umpire is to see that the practice is stopped. Warn the offending team that should the practice continue the head coach will be subject to an ejection. After the game, the UIC shall notify his coordinator of this practice.

3. Rule 1-14a—All uniforms must include numbers on the back. Not only are numbers required by our rules for coaching purposes they are there for identification purposes for media and fans. By interpretation, the players shall not be allowed to all wear the same number during any particular game.

4. Rule 1-14c—This rule speaks to a helmet being worn by the pitcher must have a non glossy finish. Question, can position players wear helmets that have reflection qualities in them, like Titanium colored helmets. Safety of the student athlete is paramount and manufacturers must make every effort to insure that any glare from the helmet is not distracting to a defensive player.

5. 1-15e—Elbow pads, a batter is permitted to wear (1) elbow protection that does not exceed 10-inches in length. Player must have an existing elbow injury and the team carries with it the following documentation: a. A letter identifying the player and describing the nature of the injury and describing the proposed protection pad. b. A physician’s report diagnosing the injury c. A physician’s determination of the length of time the protective pad will be necessary.

7-1e—A batter’s legal position in the box shall be defined as having both feet completely within the batter’s box (lines are a part of the box).

Umpires are to enforce this rule as written. If the line of the batter’s box has been erased, the umpire shall require that the batter’s initial stance, both feet are no closer than 6-inches from the inside edge of home plate. PENALTY: Require the batter to move to a proper position.

8-2d—If the batter gets intentionally gets touched by moving or rolling any part of the body into the , the umpire shall call a strike or ball in accordance with the definition of the .

A coach’s concern in a letter to Rich Fetchiet: “8-2d, p. 71, makes it difficult to consistently make the right call on the ball that hits the batter who has both feet on the chalk of the batter’s box and an elbow pad on and doesn’t make any attempt to move and part of the ball is in the strike zone because his elbows are on the inside edge of the strike zone. The rule says he can “freeze” and not make any attempt to move and it is in most cases, a by pitch call. It makes it very difficult to pitch inside because there is no room for even a small in location. Because the new bat standards have made it Interpretations, April 9, 2013, p. 2

more difficult to score runs, coaches are now buying their players these elbow pads and making them stand on the chalk line of the box and erase the inside batter’s box line during each so they can even get closer as it wears away. They get their elbows on the inside edge of the strike zone, the front elbow is protected from injury and they can get on base by HBP or take away the inside part of the strike zone making it easier for the batter to cover the plate.”

6. 2-25, A.R. 6—Reminder: An ejection of a player or assistant coach carries an additional one game suspension if their ejection is because of unsportsmanlike actions, disputing an umpire’s decision or for inappropriate language directed at an umpire and his decision.

Unsportsmanlike action directed at an opponent, by rule 2-25, does not carry an automatic one game suspension. See also, Gene McArtor’s posting on the Arbiter for March and Jim Paronto’s Feb. 6 Coordinator’s Conference call notes.

“Conferences and institutions may choose to implement additional penalties.” (Rule 3-6d, p. 37)

7. 4-7, Authorized To Be On The Field—News media on the field is at the discretion of the home team. They should be properly credentialed.

8. Rule 6-2d (2)—Base runner is stealing, batter makes contact with the catcher on his thru-swing as the catcher attempts to throw the runner. The hitter is not out of the batter’s box. The catcher’s throw is wild. a. The ball is immediately dead when it is apparent the catcher’s throw will not retire the base runner. All runners are returned to their TOP bases. There is no .

9. Rule 6-3b; 7-11f; Batter’s Interference with a catcher’s attempt to throw out a stealing base runner: the batter’s being out of the box, in front of the plate, during a catcher’s attempt to throw out a stealing runner is to be considered batter interference unless the catcher’s throw retires the base runner. There does not have to be contact between the catcher and the batter for interference to be called. Any alteration of the throw or throwing motion of the catcher, by the hitter being out of the box, is to be considered batter interference.

10. Rule 6-3d—In the case of a player(s) who commit unsportsmanlike actions against an opponent, the umpire may eject the individual. However, by rule, this unsportsmanlike action does not carry a suspension. In this situation, conferences and institutions may choose to implement additional penalties beyond the playing rules.

11. Rule 7-4d—about defensive conferences: Can two defensive coaches go on the field at the same time during a defensive conference or pitching change? a. Only one coach is allowed to meet with the defense during any one charged conference. Do not permit a second coach to confer with a defensive player or players inside or outside the foul lines during this same conference.

Interpretations, April 9, 2013, p. 3

12. Rule 8-1a, Penalty; Bases loaded, base hit, runner at second misses third, stops and attempts to return but is tagged out before he can get back. Does R3’s ? a. For all missed bases, other than first base, if the ball and the runner are in the vicinity of the missed base when the runner tries to return, he must be tagged to be out. Do not allow an appeal of a missed base during that “unrelaxed” action. But, in the case of a situation, the defense may appeal to gain the advantageous “fourth out” and the run would not score. (Official Interpretation, PBUC staff, 12/15/2000)

13. Rule 9-2g—Throwing at a hitter warnings have been issued during the game. Bases loaded, score tied, bottom of the ninth, pitcher intentionally pitches at the batter. Ball eludes the catcher, runner at third scores. If the penalty for throwing at a batter is to be enforced, is it enforced as a part of the game that was in progress or a Post Participation Ejection?

a. It should be enforced as a part of the game that was in progress as the actual throwing at the hitter happened during “unrelaxed action” The game is not over until R3 touches home plate. Since warnings had been issued; the head coach is also ejected but is not suspended for the next game. The pitcher has a four-game suspension.

14. 9-4f—Once the continuing pitcher has begun pitching to the first batter of an , even when the first batter may be a pinch hitter, the continuing pitcher shall continue pitching until the first batter of the inning completes his turn at bat. a. The defensive coach may substitute for the continuing pitcher when a pinch hitter is announced but must do so before the continuing pitcher’s first pitch to the pinch hitter.