2021 NMAA Baseball Rules Clinic Dusty Young NMAA Associate Director Message from the Director Sally Marquez NMAA Executive Director Important Dates Monday, April 5 First official day of practice Saturday, April 10 Competition may begin Saturday, June 19 Last day of competition Playoff Brackets Released Tuesday, June 22 State Playoffs Begin Thursday, June 24 Class 1A Finals June 25-26 Class 2A-5A Finals 2021 Season Format Regular Season Varsity Game Limitation – 20 Sub-Varsity Game Limitations – 17 No Scrimmages State Playoffs Class A: 4-Team Bracket Class 2A-5A: 8-Team Bracket COVID-19 Guidelines PED School Reentry Guidelines https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NMPED_ReentryGuide_V3_FINAL.pdf NMAA Return to Participation Guidelines https://www.nmact.org/file/NMAA_COVID-19_PARTICIPATION_GUIDELINES.pdf School/School District Guidelines COVID-19 General Guidelines Physicals for Athletes 2019-2020 can be used if cleared via waiver COVID-19 positive since physical Need to fill out and follow steps on clearance form Recommended return to activity information Locker Rooms Sanitize before and after use No use of showers Limit students within locker room & stagger entry and exit; no congregating Social distancing and face coverings required COVID-19 General Guidelines Schools will be limited to a maximum of 25 people in the dugout; if a dugout is not large enough to accommodate social distancing of 6-feet for 25 individuals, it can either be extended towards the outfield (per NFHS Rules) or the maximum number of team personnel shall be reduced The 25 people in the dugout is limited to team personnel only (coaches, players, managers, athletic trainers, etc.) Dugout and field access should be limited to team personnel, officials, and essential event staff. Spectators shall be permitted to the extent allowed by the current Public Health Order (county color as per NM DOH) COVID-19 General Guidelines All players, coaches, other team personnel, event personnel, officials, spectators, media, or any other individuals in attendance must wear a face covering at all times. (includes athletes actively participating) Before, during, and after the contest, players, coaches, game officials, team personnel and game administration should wash or sanitize their hands as often as possible. Maintain social distancing of 6 feet at all times while in the dugout or on the playing field when not actively involved in gameplay Sunflower seeds, gum, and spitting prohibited COVID-19 Rule Modifications Pregame Meeting & Line-up Exchange Limit attendees of the pregame meeting to one coach from each team plus the umpires; maintain proper social distancing when not handing over the line-up card to the home plate umpire Umpires should ask for verification from the head coach that all participants are legally equipped and will only use legal equipment throughout the contest. This includes baseballs. Line-ups should be handed to the home plate umpire who will verbally approve or ask questions about the line-up Hard copies of the line-up should not be shared with anyone other than the home plate umpire; opposing teams, scorekeepers, and/or media can obtain the line-up via a photo or text COVID-19 Rule Modifications Baseballs Each team will be required to provide their own NFHS approved baseballs while on defense; it is recommended that each team have a minimum of 12 baseballs available for use during a contest Umpires shall not handle baseballs at any time The team that is on offense shall not handle the defensive team’s baseballs at any time Baseballs should be sanitized after each game COVID-19 Rule Modifications Equipment Batting Helmets – it is recommended that batting helmets should not be shared; if a team’s inventory does not allow for each athlete to have their own, then the helmet must be sanitized between each player’s use Baseball Bats – it is recommended that bats should not be shared; if a team’s inventory does not allow for each athlete to have their own, then the bat must be sanitized between each player’s use Catcher’s Equipment – it is strongly recommended that catcher’s equipment should not be shared; if a team’s inventory does not allow for each athlete to have their own, then the catcher’s equipment must be sanitized between each player’s use Other – team personnel shall not share uniforms, towels, water bottles, and other apparel COVID-19 Rule Modifications Face Coverings Face coverings that attach to the back of the head or loop around the ears are required Pitcher’s cannot wear white, gray, or other face coverings that may be considered as distracting by the umpires COVID-19 Rule Modifications Coach & Player Conduct Prohibit licking of fingers and wiping them off Pitchers are not allowed to put their hands to their mouths or blow into their hands prior to pitching the ball. This will be a “no pitch." Any umpire is permitted to make this call. The ball should be called dead immediately and it will be a "no pitch." Ball goes to the dugout for sanitizing & pitcher sanitizes hands before play continues Players are not permitted to leave the dugout area to congratulate players when scoring or after home runs COVID-19 Rule Modifications Coach & Player Conduct Coaches shall maintain social distancing of 6-feet during the verbal exchange of substitutions to the umpire, opposing team, and/or scorekeeper Coaches shall maintain social distancing of 6-feet when discussing a ruling on the field with umpires Base coaches shall maintain social distancing of 6-feet from baserunners and opposing players at all times after the suspension of play COVID-19 Rule Modifications Coach & Player Conduct Charged Conferences Defensive conferences should be limited to the coach, pitcher, catcher, and no more than two other players; social distancing must be maintained by all individuals taking part in the conference While a coach is visiting with the pitcher and/or catcher only, all other players should avoid the pitcher’s mound area Pre and Post Game Considerations No shaking of hands during pregame meeting Teams should not shake hands after the conclusion of the game NMAA Baseball Bylaws Official State Championship Ball Wilson A1010 Official Bat Wilson DeMarini Pro Maple Composite Wood NMAA Baseball Bylaws State Playoff Information Class A 4-Team Bracket 3 District Champs, 1 At-Large Class 2A-5A 8-Team Bracket District Champs plus At-Large Teams 5A: 3 At-Large 4A: 2 At-Large 3A: 4 At-Large 2A: 2 At-Large NMAA Baseball Bylaws State Playoff Information Seeding/Selection Criteria (same as in previous years) Finish in District Head to Head Wins Against District Champions Overall Records MaxPreps Rankings Member School Input (coach ranking) Single elimination brackets All rounds are single games (quarters, semis, & finals) Quarterfinals & Semifinals played at either higher seed or neutral site Finals played in Albuquerque (University of New Mexico) NMAA Baseball Bylaws Bat Regulations Only wood or composite wood bats may be used (all levels of high school play) Bats must comply with NFHS Rules i.e. size specifications for wood, BBCOR certification for composite wood Baseballs & Catcher’s Equipment Baseballs – NOCSAE/SEI and NFHS Marks Catcher’s Chest Protector – NOCSAE/SEI Mark NMAA Baseball Bylaws Pitching Regulations Varsity – 120 pitches in any 3-day period Sub-Varsity – 105 pitches in any 3-day period May finish a batter if the maximum limit is hit during an at-bat Pitch counts MUST be reported for all players from each game to MaxPreps within 24 hours 1st Offense – Warning 2nd Offense – Suspension for one game NMAA Baseball Bylaws Pitching Regulations Rest Period Requirements Pitches Required Rest 91+ 4 Calendar Days 61-90 3 Calendar Days 41-60 1 Calendar Day 0-40 0 Calendar Days Calendar Day = if a pitcher throws 85 pitches on Tuesday, the player cannot pitch again until Saturday (3 required calendar days of rest) NMAA Baseball Bylaws Pitching Regulations Consecutive Day Note If a player pitches on consecutive days and accumulates more than 60 pitches total during those two days, the cumulative pitch count must be used to calculate the required rest period. If a player pitches on two consecutive days and is eligible to pitch a third consecutive day, the maximum number of pitches allowed on day three will be 60. The pitcher will be allowed to finish a batter if they hit this maximum limit during an at bat, but must exit the game after the batter. *If a player pitches on three consecutive days, the cumulative pitch count from those three days must be used to calculate the required rest period after day 3. (Example = Pitcher A throws 25 pitches on Thursday, 27 pitches on Friday, and 35 pitches on Saturday, which is 87 pitches cumulatively – required rest after day three would be 3 calendar days.) NMAA Baseball Bylaws Pitching Regulations Full High School Pitching Regulations https://www.nmact.org/files/NMAA_Baseball_HS_Pitching_Restrictions.pdf Full Middle School Pitching Regulations https://www.nmact.org/files/NMAA_Baseball_MSJrH_Pitching_Restrictions.pdf NMAA Baseball Bylaws Game Limitations Each varsity team or individual is limited to twenty (20) total games. Each sub-varsity team or individual is limited to seventeen (17) total games. Innings of Play - If a school plays two games at different levels (i.e. JV & Varsity) back to back on the same day, at the same site, and against the same school, a student-athlete may participate in 10 innings between the