New Rules!

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced rules changes for 2008-09 in the sports of track and field, softball and baseball. BASEBALL A revision was made to Rule 6-2-3 regarding infractions by a pitcher. The rule states it is illegal for a pitcher to intentionally pitch close to a batter, replacing the prior phrasing of to "throw" close to a batter. The change was necessary for clarification and in order to be consistent with other pitching rules. "This rule is violated while the pitcher is pitching, and not just throwing the ball," said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of educational services and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee. Infractions by a batter were also addressed. The committee is concerned that batters are still attempting to be hit by pitches and earn an undeserved awarded base by "taking one for the team." Rule 7-3-4 clearly prohibits a batter allowing himself to be hit by a pitch. In such a situation, the pitched ball is deemed either a strike or a ball and the player who permitted the ball to touch him remains at bat unless the pitch results in a third strike or ball four. The phrase "or ball four" was added to the rule to clarify the pitch needed to be called a strike or ball. Revisions were also made to Rule 1-2-2 regarding painted field lines. All nonpermanent lines on the playing field shall be marked white with a material not injurious to the eyes or skin. Non-permanent refers to all lines that must be painted on the field. Only permanent lines, such as on artificial turf, may be a color other than white. Lastly, umpires will be given more flexibility with their uniforms beginning in 2009. An adjustment to Rule 10-1-9 eliminated the need for umpires to specifically wear heather gray pants. "Equipment dealers are transitioning to charcoal gray slacks," Hopkins said. "This rule change will provide umpires the opportunity to purchase any shade of dark gray and be in compliance." In addition to the four rules changes, the committee identified four points of emphasis: 1) simplifying illegal pitch penalty administration, 2) re-emphasizing that team personnel remain in dugouts, 3) keeping the pace of play steady and 4) having all coaching staff members display professional behavior. Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport among boys at the high school level with 477,430 participants during the 2006-07 season, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. It also ranks third in school sponsorship across the nation with 15,458 participating schools. SOFTBALL Beginning in 2009, new rules will be in place to create more balance between pitching and batting in high school softball. Three rules revisions were made by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee regarding the pitcher-batter relationship at its annual meeting June 9-11 in Indianapolis. The rules changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The penalty for Rule 6-2-3 - a pitcher exceeding the 20-second time limit - is now a ball awarded to the batter, rescinding the previous penalty of an illegal pitch. "The change makes a violation of the time to pitch by the pitcher consistent with a batter failing to be ready within 10 seconds after the ball has been returned to the pitcher," said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. "An illegal pitch penalty is excessive as it also awards runners one additional base." A revision to Rule 6-1-4d changes the pitching windup requirement to a maximum of 1½ clockwise revolutions. The change will benefit batters and umpires alike. "More and more, pitchers are pushing the rule to the limit in an attempt to gain an advantage by deceiving the batter," Struckhoff said. "The change will make an illegal pitch, as it relates to the windup, easier to identify and enforcement more consistent." The final adjustment to help create balance between offense and defense clarifies the definition of an attempted bunt. Rule 2-8-2 will be changed to state that holding the bat in the strike zone is considered an attempted bunt. In order to take a pitch, the batter must withdraw the bat backward away from the ball. The committee also addressed the issue of ball specifications. Beginning in 2010, all softballs must have a dynamic stiffness that does not exceed 7,500 lbs/inch when tested under current proposed ASTM test methods. Rule 1-3-3 adds the dynamic stiffness requirement to complement the existing size, weight, COR, and compression standards. Editorial changes approved by the committee: - Rule 1-4-2 includes the allowance of one American flag (2 inches x 3 inches maximum) permitted on the glove. - Rule 1-7-1 states that any eye shield worn by a catcher must be clear. - A note addition to Rule 3-2-1 establishes that individual state associations may permit a player to participate while wearing a different style of uniform for religious reasons. - Rule 3-2-7 was clarified to affirm that exposed undergarments must be a solid color. - Rule 6-2-3 clarifies that once the ball is returned to the pitcher to prepare for the next pitch, she has 20 seconds to release the pitch. - Rule 7-3-1 clarifies that the batter has 10 seconds to take her position in the batter's box after the ball is returned to the pitcher. The wording of the penalty for this rule was also changed to state that the pitcher bringing her hands together indicates a commitment to deliver the pitch. The committee also established three points of emphasis for next season: 1) pitching, 2) obstruction/interference and 3) the DP/FLEX Rule. Softball is the fourth-most popular sport among girls at the high school level with 373,448 participants during the 2006-07 season, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. It also ranks third in school sponsorship for girls across the nation with 14,968 participating schools. TRACK & FIELD Beginning next track and field season, pole vaulters once again will be charged with a foul if their feet leave the ground in an attempt to clear the crossbar but are unsuccessful. However, an exception was adopted to permit the vaulter to leave the ground and return when stopping an approach. Rule 7-5-29 was one of seven rules revised by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. In a revision last year, vaulters were allowed to leave the ground and not have a foul charged to them provided they did not break the plane of the crossbar. This rule was revised to clarify the original intent of the committee. The exception added to the rule provides it is not considered a foul if the competitor aborts the approach and, in stopping, plants the pole and momentum causes his/her feet to leave the ground. "The change in 7-5-29 last year by the committee was not intended to allow a vaulter to abort a vault but rather to have the opportunity to stop and abort the approach," said Becky Oakes, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee. "This change clearly reflects the original intent of the committee to abort only the approach and have the opportunity to restart the approach." Specifications for starter's pistols were addressed as Rule 3-9-2 was revised to only allow closed-barreled pistols. "It is not appropriate to use a live weapon in an educational event," Oakes said, "and in most cases, state law prohibits firearms on school grounds and at school events." Revisions to Rules 6-4-9c and 6-5-9c will allow competitors in throwing events to enter and exit the throwing circle without a foul providing it occurs within the time allowed for the trial and before the competitor starts his/her attempt beginning with the pause. The change will allow competitors, for example, to leave the circle to wipe off their hands and re-enter the circle without a penalty. A note was added to Rule 7-5-3 clarifying that visible etchings appearing on poles shall not meet the requirement of the manufacturer's pole rating appearing on the pole in a contrasting color. Rules 7-4-11 and 7-5-18 were revised to delete the option for the event judge to place a cloth marker on the crossbar for sighting purposes during the pole vault and high jump. "The current crossbars are of a bright, contrasting color and no longer present a sighting problem for competitors," Oakes said, "and, therefore, the use of the cloth is no longer needed for competition." The final two changes concern the use of fully automatic timing (FAT). Rule 3-9-6 now allows all ties for place finishes and/or determining qualifiers for a subsequent round to be broken using timing to one one-thousandths of a second. The addition of Rule 3-9-9 allows .32 or .22 caliber starter's pistols (closed barrel) to be used at indoor and outdoor meets using FAT. The committee also identified six points of emphasis for next season: 1) electronic devices, 2) observed violation reporting procedures, 3) starter's pistols, 4) equipment failure, 5) pole vault and 6) visible undergarments. Track and field is the third-most popular sport among boys and the second-most popular sport among girls at the high school level with 544,180 boys and 444,181 girls participating during the 2006-07 season, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. It also ranks second in school sponsorship for both boys and girls. ABOUT THE NFHS The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 18,500 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org.