NFHS Rules Differences

This summer, the PVYBL will observe the Rules of the National Federation of High Schools.  NFHS rules will be enforced for two reasons. First, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association adotped those rules for the 2020 season.  Secondly, the principal objective of the PVYBL has been and will continue to be the development of players for the next scholastic baseball season.

There are 23 principal rules differences between the Rules of Major League Baseball and those of the National Federation.  Specifically, NFHS Rules include the following provisions:

1.) A pitcher must assume a distinctive wind up or set position.  In the wind up position, the pivot foot must be across the pitcher's plate. In the set position, the pitcher's pivot foot must be parallel to the front edge of his plate.

2.) A pitcher must set with some part of his hands in front of his torso.

3.) The "hidden" ball trick is permitted.  While a pitcher may not straddle or engage his plate, he can be close (5 feet or farther) to his plate without the ball.

4.) A pitcher may fake a throw to third base and, then, pivot and throw to first base with runners on first and third.

5.) The ball is "dead" immediately when a Balk is called.

6.) A batter may be guilty of "follow through" interference, if his follow through impairs the ability of the catcher to retire an advancing baserunner.  The batter is out for interference.  Any advancing runner must return to his time of pitch base and may be deemed to be out, too, if an umpire believes he may have been retired in the absence of interference by the batter.

7.) A batter will be assessed a strike, if he steps out of his box without the permission of the plate umpire, and will be charged with two strikes, if he steps out without permission and a pitch is thrown.

8.) There are two types of Designated Hitter.  A DH may be the tenth hitter in the lineup and bat for any fielder.  Alternatively, any one of the nine players in the starting lineup may be a DH/Fielder who can be replaced as a Fielder and remain in the lineup as the DH.

9.) The On Deck hitter must be in the On Deck circle before his at bat, even when he is the first hitter of an inning.

10.) All bench players and coaches, except the On Deck hitter and base coaches, must be behind the bench screen.

11.) Bench players may not leave the bench area to congratulate teammates who have scored. If a player does so, the Head Coach shall be warned by the Umpire in Chief and the next offender of this rule on that team shall be diqualified.

12.) A team may have three Charged Defensive Conferences during the first seven innings of a game and one Charged Offensive Conference during an inning.  A defensive conference that includes a pitching change is not a Charged Conference.  An offensive conference during a defensive conference shall not be a Charged Conference.

13.) A sliding runner may not pop up into a fielder or, except at home plate, slide past a base and, thereby, interfere with a fielder.  On a force play, a runner must slide directly to the base.  On a tag play, the runner must slide within arm's reach of the base.

14.) A fake tag is Obstruction and shall prompt an award of at least one base.

15.) The lineup card shall include the name, number, and fielding position of all starting players and eligible substitutes.

16.) A team must have nine players to begin a game, but may play and finish the game with eight players.  An Out shall be recorded for the At Bat of the player whose absence prompted the participation of only eight players.  A team may revert to a nine player lineup, if an ijured player recovers of an additional player arrives.

17.) A catcher must wear a hockey style helmet.

18.) A game may not be protested.  Disagreements concerning rules shall be resolved on the field before the continutation of play.

19.) A defensive player may not catch a fly ball, leave the defined field of play, and, then, return to the field to attempt a play on an advancing runner.  When a defensive player who  has caught a fly ball steps out of the field of play, the ball is "dead" and all runners shall advance one base.

20.) Usually, the ball is "dead" immediately when Interference is called.

21.) A fielder or the Head Coach of the defensive team may appeal verbally the failure of a runner to touch a base or the early departure of a runner, if the ball is "dead."

22.) A game shall conclude when the visiting team is behind by ten or more runs after 4 1/2 innings of play or if either team trails by that margin after five innings and both teams have batted an equal number of times.

23.) A player who has been disqualifed for unsporting conduct shall remain in the bench area of his team until the conclusion of the game.