COLORADO 2020 NFHS BASEBALL RULE CHANGES Points of

COLORADO 2020 NFHS BASEBALL RULE CHANGES

Points of Emphasis AGENDA §Designated Hitter (DH) §Baseballs §Chest Protector www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis DESIGNATED HITTER • There are three lineup options to include two designated hitter options: the standard DH and the player/DH. • Teams may also still choose to start the game without using a designated hitter (straight 9). • All options must be declared prior to the start of the game. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis DESIGNATED HITTER During the pre-game conference with the coaches, the plate umpire will ascertain the desired lineup option for each team and annotate his (the official) copy of the lineup in the upper right-hand corner as follows: A - Straight Nine B - Standard DH C - Player/DH www. nfhs. org

Rule Change DESIGNATED HITTER - STANDARD RULE 3 -1 -4 The DH may still be a 10 th starter hitting for any one of the nine starting defensive players. www. nfhs. org

Rule Change DESIGNATED HITTER - STANDARD RULE 3 -1 -4 a 1 • There is no change from the previous DH rule. • When using a standard DH, the role of the DH is still terminated for the remainder of the game when the defensive player for whom the DH batted, subsequently enters the game offensively (bats or runs). www. nfhs. org

Rule Change DESIGNATED HITTER - STANDARD RULE 3 -1 -4 a 2 • There is no change from the previous DH rule. • The role of a standard DH is still terminated for the remainder of the game when the DH or any previous DH assumes a defensive position. www. nfhs. org

Rule Change DESIGNATED HITTER – PLAYER/DH RULE 3 -1 -4 b • The starting DH may now be any one of the starting defensive players, including the pitcher. • A Player/DH then holds two positions: defensive player and DH. • It is a 10 -player lineup with nine players. www. nfhs. org

Rule Change DESIGNATED HITTER – PLAYER/DH RULE 3 -1 -4 b • In the case where one player is listed as a starting DH and a starting defensive player in the lineup, the role of the defensive player may be substituted for by any legal substitute. • The original player/DH may reenter defensively one time. www. nfhs. org

Rule Change DESIGNATED HITTER – PLAYER/DH RULE 3 -1 -4 b-1 When using the P/DH, the role of the DH is terminated for the remainder of the game when any player substitutes offensively for the DH either as a hitter or a runner. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis DESIGNATED HITTER – STANDARD OR PLAYER/DH A courtesy runner (CR) cannot run for a designated hitter (DH) unless the DH is also the pitcher or catcher. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis COMPLIANT BASEBALL • The ball shall meet the current NOCSAE standard for baseball. The NFHS authentication mark and the NOCSAE mark shall both be visible on the ball. • Varsity games are not to be played with any non-NOCSAE ball; if necessary, the game will be suspended. • Any change in this policy will be communicated to AD’s from the CHSAA office. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis COMPLIANT BODY AND CHEST PROTECTOR The catcher’s body/chest protector must meet the NOCSAE standard. A NOCSAE vest worn under any chest protector is a legal combination. www. nfhs. org

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

Points of Emphasis COMPLIANT JAW PROTECTOR A face mask/guard specifically designed for a particular helmet model may be attached after manufacture, provided that procedure is approved by the manufacturer and meets the SEI/NOCSAE standard at the time of manufacture. www. nfhs. org

Catcher’s Mask National Federation of State High School Associations Legal Illegal Take Part. Get Set For Life. ® The catcher helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard. Either a one-piece combo or separate helmet and mask is acceptable. The helmet must have full ear protection (dual ear flaps). A throat protector, either as an extension of the catcher’s mask or attached separately, is mandatory.

Points of Emphasis GAME-ENDING PROCEDURES Colorado has adopted game-ending procedures that determine how games are ended, including suspended games. However, by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the umpire-in-chief, any remaining play may be shortened or the game terminated. Only the CO adopted game-ending procedures may be used (4 -2 -4). www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis GAME-ENDING PROCEDURES – REGULAR SEASON § In the following three situations, any game which is terminated by darkness, rain or other cause will be considered a suspended game and shall continue from that point of suspension at the earliest time possible: • Before it is a regulation game, or • After it is a regulation game, and – It is tied, or – An inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead. § However, in all cases any remaining play may be shortened or terminated by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis GAME-ENDING PROCEDURES – POST SEASON All games will be played to their conclusion in seven innings unless the mercy rule comes into effect or extra innings are needed. All suspended games at the district, regional and state level shall be completed from the point of suspension to the conclusion of the contest at the earliest time possible. NOTE: In all cases, the pitches thrown count toward the maximum number of pitches allowed. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis GAME-ENDING PROCEDURES – SUB VARSITY If a league elects to have a time limit on sub varsity games, that time limit shall be 2: 15 (two hours, fifteen minutes). No new inning can start after 2: 15 has elapsed. Leagues and umpires cannot alter the time length. This applies ONLY if a league has elected to have a sub varsity time limit; otherwise, the game is seven 7 innings unless shortened by the mercy rule. This adoption does not affect coaches and the umpire-in-chief mutually agreeing to end a game. A game may be shortened at any point. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis GAME-ENDING PROCEDURES – VARSITY TOURNAMENTS If time limits are part of the tournament structure, all schools, athletic directors and coaches who participate have given tacit approval for the stated time limit. Any subsequent change to the time limit must be approved by both coaches. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis FORCE-PLAY SLIDE RULE Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide at any base, it must be legal. A legal slide can either be feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis FORCE-PLAY SLIDE RULE Runners may not pop-up into the fielder. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis FORCE-PLAY SLIDE RULE Runners may not have a leg raised higher than the fielder’s knee. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis FORCE-PLAY SLIDE RULE Except at home plate, runners may not slide through or beyond the base. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis FORCE-PLAY SLIDE RULE Runners may not slide away from a base in the direction of the fielder. But a runner may slide in a direction away from a fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis FORCE-PLAY SLIDE RULE The runner is out when he illegally slides. On a force play, the runner is also guilty of interference. The batter-runner is also declared out and all other runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis PROPER PITCHING POSITIONS The windup is one of two legal pitching positions. For the windup, the pitcher’s non-pivot foot shall be in any position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis PROPER PITCHING POSITIONS The set is one of two legal pitching positions. For the set position, a pitcher shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate and with his pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher’s plate. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis PROPER PITCHING POSITIONS Pitchers are no longer required to have their entire pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. This recognizes that many mounds are such that it is problematic for the pitcher to have his entire pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. www. nfhs. org

Points of Emphasis PROPER PITCHING POSITIONS The so-called hybrid stance is illegal as it does not meet the requirements of either the windup or set positions. www. nfhs. org

National Federation of State High School Associations www. nfhs. org THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT BASEBALL SEASON!