HOUSELEAGUE STUFF

House League Coach’s Rules Manual

There are a number of rules in the “Official Rules of Baseball” that cause a certain amount of confusion at all levels of baseball. At best, the “Official Rules of Baseball” rule book can be difficult to understand. Violations of rules occur in every contest at every level, and umpires must make a number of judgements and interpretations in every game they officiate. Depending on the level being played, certain rule violations seem to occur more frequently than others. At House League and some of the lower All Star levels, some of these violations generally occur due to a misunderstanding of the rule mechanics by players and coaches alike.

Following are some of the more frequent rule violations that seem to occur at the House League level. Some of these rules may be violated in a variety of ways, but only the more common situations will be illustrated. Please remember that there are many exceptions to the rules, depending upon the circumstances at the time, and you will have to rely upon the umpire’s judgement and rule knowledge.

The following rules and situations will be illustrated:

1) Appeals

2) Awarding of Bases

3) Balks

4) Contact Rule

5) Foul Tip

6) Illegally Touched Ball

7) Infield Fly

8) Interference

9) Missed Third Strike

10) Obstruction

11) Tie Does Not Go to The Runner

12) Arguing Calls

APPEALS

Appeals are generally made when the defensive team believes that a runner has missed one base while advancing to another base, or has left a base too early after a fly ball has been caught. It is important that, when making an appeal, the defensive team clearly indicates to the umpire which runner missed which base. The appeal can be made by either tagging the runner with the ball, or by standing on the missed base while in possession of the ball and appealing to the umpire.

I want to address the mechanics of making an appeal. Most coaches and players at ALL levels of baseball seem to think that, when making an appeal under these circumstances, the ball has to go back to the pitcher who must then come set, properly disengage the rubber and throw to the infielder making the appeal. This does not necessarily have to happen.

If the ball is still alive and in play (ie: “Time” has not been called or the ball has not gone out of play) an appeal can be made by any defensive player in possession of the ball by simply properly announcing the appeal to the umpire and tagging the player or the missed base. The ball does not have to go back to the pitcher first. Too many things can go wrong when the pitcher is on the rubber with the ball. Remember there are at least thirteen ways that a pitcher can commit a “Balk.” If some other rules violation such as a balk occurs while an appeal is being made, then the appeal will be nullified. Games have been won and lost because of this.

Only if the ball has become “Dead” for one reason or another does it have to go to the pitcher who then must engage the rubber. The umpire must call “Play Ball” and then the pitcher must perform the proper mechanics to make an appeal after a “Dead Ball.”

AWARDING OF BASES

There are a variety of situations where a batter or runner(s) are awarded a base or bases by the umpire for some rules violation by the defensive team. A runner can advance beyond the awarded base but is liable to be put out if tagged by a fielder in possession of the ball if he overruns the base. Also, the runner advancing to an awarded base must touch all other bases in proper order.

BALKS

A balk is defined in the “Official Rules of Baseball” as “an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base, entitling all runners to advance one base.” There are no fewer than thirteen (13) ways that a balk can be committed, some of which are very technical. Something that an umpire looks for in calling a balk is whether a runner has been deceived by the actions of the pitcher. Some pitchers just seem to have a naturally deceiving motion, especially left-handed pitchers. However, if the umpire gets fooled, then chances are that some illegal act has happened.

Some of the more common balks found at House League level are....

1) the pitcher, while touching the rubber

(a) fakes a throw to first base while it is occupied,

(b) gives a knee or shoulder fake to a runner on base, or

2) the pitcher doesn’t have possession of the ball while he is touching or straddling the rubber (hidden ball trick).

3) the pitcher “quick pitches” to the batter with a runner(s) on base. This is generally associated to either quickly stepping on the rubber and pitching to the batter when the batter isn’t yet ready, or when pitching from the Set (Stretch) Position she doesn’t come to a stop before delivering the pitch.

CONTACT RULE

Most players and coaches are now accustomed to the implementation of the Contact Rule. Its intent is to prevent injury to players caused by deliberate body contact, much similar to the Checking From Behind rule in hockey. The most common examples of the Contact Rule are found when a runner is coming into second base or home plate, was likely to be called out, and “crashes” the defensive player to either break up a double play or to cause the ball to be dislodged. In almost all cases the runner will be called “out” AND will be ejected from the game.

However, this does not give license to catchers to arbitrarily block home plate, or infielders to be standing on a base when they aren’t in the act of catching the ball or don’t have possession of the ball. It is also important to remember that even in a non-contact sport some unintentional contact may occur without penalty.

FOUL TIPS

A “Foul Tip” occurs when the batter swings at a pitch, fouls it straight back into the catcher’s mitt, and the catcher retains possession of the ball. This is not a foul ball unless the catcher drops it. During a foul tip the ball remains alive and in play and base runners can steal on it.

ILLEGALLY TOUCHED BALL

If a fielder or the catcher deliberately

1) takes her hat or mask off and touches a fair batted, thrown or pitched ball with it, or

2) throws his glove at and it touches, a fair batted or thrown ball.

An award of one, two or three bases to the batter and runners will be made depending upon the circumstances. (Generally two bases if thrown ball; three bases if batted ball)

INFIELD FLY

An Infield Fly can only occur under the following conditions:

1) there are less than two out,

2) runners on first and second, or first, second and third, and

3) the batter hits a fair fly ball (not a bunt or line drive) that can be caught with normal effort by an infielder.

An Infield Fly is not necessarily limited by the outer extremities of the infield dirt. The intent of the rule is the ease with which an infielder should be able to catch a fly ball. For example if the infielders are standing in the shallow outfield because of a “heavy hitter” up to bat, an Infield Fly could be caught by an infielder standing in the outfield. Conversely, if the infielders were playing in really shallow, a fly ball hit to the outer extremities of the infield may not be caught by an infielder with normal effort sometimes. Even though the ball landed in the infield, this may not be an Infield Fly.

It is also important to note that the ball does not necessarily have to be caught by an infielder. In the “heavy hitter” example, even though the infielder could have caught the ball, she may have been called off by an outfielder who makes the catch. This is still an “Infield Fly.”

It is also important to note that the ball does not have to be caught. An infielder could let the ball drop to the ground. However, the “out” still stands. However, if the ball rolls into foul territory before reaching 1^st or 3^rd base, then it becomes a foul ball negating the “Infield Fly” rule.

In some cases of the Infield Fly, the umpire has to use his or her judgement in making the decision and call.

INTERFERENCE

As with balks, there are many forms of Interference defined in baseball rules. The most common are:

1) Offensive Interference – occurs when the batter or a base runner interferes with a defensive player trying to make a play. For example, it is Interference when

i) a runner, or the batter-runner, gets hit by a fair batted ball before an infielder can make a play on it,

ii) a runner going into a base at which he has been put out on the first half of a double play starts waving his arms to distract the defensive player making the second throw, or intentionally slides into or grabs that defensive player with the intention of breaking up the double play,

iii) a runner jumps around in front of a fielder trying to catch a batted ball, thus distracting the fielder, or

iv) a runner makes physical contact with the fielder before the fielder can catch the ball (a runner must avoid a fielder making a play on a ball)

In cases of Offensive Interference, the offending player is called out. Other base runners are liable to be called out as well, or returned to their previously touched bases depending upon the circumstances.

2) Defensive Interference – the most common form is referred to as “Catcher’s Interference.” A catcher inadvertently sticks his glove out a bit too far and it gets hit by the bat as the batter is attempting to hit a pitched ball. The batter is awarded first base, and any runners forced to advance, also advance one base. There is an exception if the batter gets a safe hit and all runners advance at least one base. In that case the Catcher’s Interference may be nullified.

3) Umpire Interference – there are two situations that apply.

(i) The Base Umpire standing in fair territory with runner(s) on base gets hit by a batted ball before an infielder can catch it. The ball is “dead” and the batter is awarded first base. Runners advance one base if forced.

(ii) The Plate Umpire interferes with the catcher trying to throw out a runner stealing a base. If the throw is successful, the “out” stands. If not, the runner returns to the previous base she had occupied.

MISSED THIRD STRIKE

If the catcher misses a third strike, the batter can run only if,

1) first base is unoccupied, or

2) first base is occupied and there are two (2) out.

If first base is occupied with less than two out, the batter is automatically out. However, the runners can still try to steal.

OBSTRUCTION

A fielder, who, neither being in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding the ball, intentionally or unintentionally impedes the progress of any runner, commits “Obstruction.” For example

1) a runner rounds second base and comes into contact with the shortstop who is not making a play, and is thrown out on a close play at third base. The runner will be “awarded” third base.

2) a runner caught in a run-down between two bases is blocked by an infielder who is neither in possession of the ball nor is about to receive the ball (there does not have to be contact between the runner and the defensive player). The runner will be awarded the base he was originally running to.

TIE DOES NOT GO TO THE RUNNER

Play: the batter hits a grounder to the shortstop who throws to first base. The batter-runner and the ball arrive at exactly the same time. The umpire rules the batter-runner Out! “Hey, Blue! The tie goes to the runner!” “Sorry coach.” The Official Rules of Baseball clearly state that a runner forced to advance is out if he fails to reach that base BEFORE a fielder tags him or the base. Clearly the runner must beat the throw to be ruled safe.

ARGUING CALLS

As hard as umpires try to make the right call 100% of the time, we are all human and can make mistakes. Any coach or player can appeal a call that they feel was made in contravention to the rules. The rules of minor baseball in Ontario prohibit a coach from charging across the foul line into fair territory to challenge an umpire’s call. Doing so requires the automatic ejection of the coach. Ask the umpire for “Time”; ask to speak with the umpire and then calmly state your case. Chances are the two of you will have a more enjoyable conversation, even if you lose your argument. Also, the arguing of balls and strikes by any player or coach is prohibited in the Official Rules of Baseball and will result in the automatic ejection of that player or coach whether in House League or the Pros.

IN CONCLUSION

Your umpires are a well trained group of individuals. However, just as the best players can make mistakes, so too can the best umpires make mistakes. Most of the umpires officiating in the House League level are young boys and girls who are just beginning a career in umpiring, and sometimes may not appear to make the correct call. The Rules of Baseball are very complex and many of them, even most of the ones covered in this manual, do have exceptions. Please remember that the umpire’s decision is final. If ever you are uncertain about an umpire’s decision, please do not hesitate to ask him or her for an interpretation. Most umpires would be more than happy to sit down with you after a game and discuss a situation that occurred.

Gary Rabjohn

Kawartha Baseball Umpires Association

May 2007

Ground Rules for House League Parks

In the past there has been some confusion, not only amongst coaches, but also amongst umpires about the interpretation of ground rules for some parks used by House League teams. In the spring of 2004 an umpire representative examined those parks and a list of ground rules has been established to maintain consistency in rule interpretation.

Gary Rabjohn

Secretary Treasurer

Kawartha Baseball Umpires Association

April 2004

Kenner Park

Right Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the outermost screen to the northwest corner of the storage shed located on the south side of the football field.

Left Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the outermost screen to the 5^th fence post east of the northwest corner of the schoolyard fence.

Other: because there are two distinct fences at the infield portion of the diamond, one to protect the dugouts, there will be an imaginary out-of-play line perpendicular from the corner of the backstop to the outermost fence. Regular baseball rules will apply to any balls thrown beyond that line.

Outfield: because the outfield is not fenced in, batted balls hit to the outfield shall be played out.

Morrow Park #1

Right Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the backstop, using a tree to the left of a clump of three larger trees as a sight line.

Left Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the backstop to the left pole of the backstop of the far baseball diamond.

Outfield: because the outfield is not fenced in, batted balls hit to the outfield shall be played out.

Bonnerworth Park (North)

Right Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the backstop to the first tree to the left of the hydro pole.

Left Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the backstop to the hydro pole in front of the lawn bowling club.

Right Centre Field: (i) a batted ball that lands, in the opinion of the umpire, beyond the tree line running parallel to Monaghan Road shall be declared a “Home Run.”

(ii) a batted ball that rolls, untouched, beyond the tree above line shall be declared a “Ground Rule Double.”

(iii) the batter and all runners shall be awarded two bases if a batted ball rolls, having been touched or deflected by a defensive player, beyond the tree line above. Such award shall be made in conjunction with baseball rules.

Left Centre Field: because this portion of the outfield is not fenced in, batted balls hit to left and centre field shall be played out.

Bonnerworth Park (South)

Right Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the backstop to the southwest corner of the storage building.

Left Field: out of bounds will extend as a visual extension of the backstop to the hydro pole at eh corner of Monaghan Rd and Bonacord St.

Right-Centre to Right Field:(i) a batted ball that lands beyond the tree line shall be declared a “Home Run.”

(ii) a batted ball that rolls, untouched, beyond the tree above line shall be declared a “Ground Rule Double.”

(iii) the batter and all runners shall be awarded two bases if a batted ball rolls, having been touched or deflected by a defensive player, beyond the tree line. Such award shall be made in conjunction with baseball rules.

Left-Centre to Left Field: because this portion of the outfield is not fenced in, batted balls hit to left and centre field shall be played out.