2002 NCAA
Baseball Rules Test
Please
answer True or False for questions 1-30.
Please also indicate the rule reference(s) for your answer.
1. Only metal bats must have an
18 inch identification mark from the end of the handle.
2. There is no limit to the
dimensions of a catcher’s glove.
3. It is recommended that a
catcher wear a helmet while in the game defensively.
4. If a pitched or thrown ball
touches detached equipment that is in live ball territory, the ball is live and
in play.
5. On a 1-1 pitch the batter
hits a high fly ball over foul territory.
The first baseman, with one foot on the out of play line and the other
foot in live ball area, catches the ball.
The ball is dead, no catch, and the batter returns to the plate with a
1-2 count.
6. With runners on first and
second and one out, the batter hits a high fly ball to the second baseman. The second baseman intentionally drops the
ball and throws the ball into the third base dugout in his attempt to force the
runner from second. Since the ball is
dead immediately on an intentionally dropped fly ball, the batter is out and
the runners return to the bases occupied at the time of the pitch.
7. If a play is being made on
an obstructed runner, the ball becomes dead immediately.
8. In a ten player lineup, the
pitcher may only pinch hit for the designated hitter.
9. A base coach may physically
assist a runner returning to a base, but he may not physically assist a runner
leaving a base.
10. Umpires are required to
arrive at the game site a minimum of twenty minutes prior to game time and they
are required to inform the home coach of their arrival.
11. Any umpire’s decision
involving judgment is final, with the exception of a checked swing on a pitch
called a ball.
12. With one out and a runner on
second base, the defense makes a pitching change. Prior to the first pitch to the batter, the
new pitcher picks the runner off second.
The defense may now make another pitching change if they so desire.
13. Any play made by an eligible
unannounced substitute is subject to appeal by the opposing team.
14. With one out the batter hits
a high fly ball near the first base dugout.
The first baseman, in an effort to catch the ball collides with the ball
boy, who was trying to get out of the way.
The first baseman drops the ball.
Interference should be called on the ball boy and the batter is declared
out.
15. The visiting team arrives
late for a scheduled nine inning game.
Because of the potential for darkness the coaches request that the game
be changed to a seven inning game. This
is permissible.
16. After a hard tag by the
first baseman on a pickoff play, the runner spits in the direction of the first
baseman. By that act alone, the runner
should be ejected from the game.
17. In the first game of a
double header, a player is first warned, then ejected for verbal abuse. This player is ineligible to participate in
the second game.
18. Each team is allowed three
offensive conferences per game and one offensive conference for every three
extra innings. If the game goes into
extra innings, unused offensive conferences also carry over.
19. If the defensive team calls
a time out first, the offensive team may have a time out of equal duration
without being charged.
20. If the batter’s box penalty
is being applied and then the batter refuses to enter the batter’s box, the
umpire shall declare the ball dead and award a strike.
21. It is mandatory for a team
to list a designated hitter in their original lineup if they wish to use a
designated hitter any time during that game.
22. A runner or batter may be
substituted for the designated hitter and then become the designated
hitter. The replaced designated hitter
may remain in the game in any defensive position as long as it is announced at
the time of the substitution.
23. Batting order is A, B, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I. A strikes out to start
the inning. C singles. After one strike on D, the defense appeals
the batting out of order. B should not
be called out. C remains at first and D
is the correct batter with an 0-1 count.
24. The batter tops a ball down
the first base line. The pitcher is
fielding the ball directly in front of the batter-runner. To avoid interfering with the pitcher, the
runner runs to the right of the three foot running lane. When the pitcher makes his throw to first,
the throw hits the batter-runner who is outside the three-foot lane. The batter runner is out for interference.
25. The batter, well within the
batter’s box, is hit by a change up. He
makes no effort to avoid the pitch. The
batter is awarded first base.
26. A pitcher in contact with
the pitcher’s rubber may go to his mouth with his fingers as long as he wipes
them off.
27. A change of direction with
the hands by a pitcher constitutes a complete stop, is considered legal, and
should not be called a balk.
28. With a runner or runners on
base, the pitcher, in contact with the rubber, drops the ball. This is only a balk if the act was
intentional.
29. If a coach is making his
second trip to the mound to visit the same pitcher in the same inning, he must
indicate his relief pitcher upon arrival in the dirt area of the mound.
30. If the first baseman is
taking a pick off throw, he must possess the ball before blocking the base.
Please
indicate the correct answer or answers for questions 31-50. Please also indicate the rule reference(s)
for your answer.
31. With runners on first base
and second base the pitcher attempts a pickoff to first from the rubber while
in the set position. R2 immediately breaks for third. The throw rolls under the fence out of
play. R2 had reached third base prior to
the ball going under the fence.
A) R1 is awarded second.
B) R1 is awarded third.
C) R2 is awarded third.
D) R2 is awarded home.
32. With a runner on first base,
the batter hits a ground ball to the short stop. The short stop bobbles the ball several times
and belatedly throws wildly to first base after the batter-runner had crossed
first base and R1 had reached second base.
The throw goes into the dugout.
A) R1 is awarded third.
B) R1 is awarded home.
C) The batter-runner is awarded
second.
D) The batter-runner is awarded
third.
33. With the bases loaded and
one out, the batter hits an infield fly.
The second baseman lets the ball fall to the ground untouched.
A) The ball remains live.
B) The ball is immediately
dead.
C) Runners are forced to
advance.
D) The batter is out.
E) The runner closest to home
is out.
F) The second baseman is ejected.
34. With bases load and no outs,
the batter grounds into a 6-4-3 double play as R3 scores. Before the next pitch, the defensive coach
appeals the batter’s bat claiming it had been flattened to increase the hitting
surface. The plate umpire examines the
bat and confirms the claim.
A) The play stands.
B) The batter is out.
C) The batter is ejected.
D) Runners return to the base
occupied at the time of the pitch.
E) The defense may choose the
penalty (batter out, runners return) or the result of the play.
F) The offensive head coach is
ejected.
G) The offensive equipment
manager is ejected.
H) The bat should be removed
from the game.
35. The batter draws a walk and
runs to first base. After touching the
base, he overruns it, but does not attempt or feint to second base. After overrunning first base and while off
the bag he is tagged by the first baseman who has the ball.
A) He is out.
B) He is not out.
36. Runners on first base and
third base with one out. The batter hits
a line drive toward right/center field gap.
R1 takes off for second base. R3
tags up and scores after the right fielder makes a great catch. R1 is called out when the right fielder
throws him out at first trying to return.
A) R3’s run always counts.
B) R3’s run never counts.
C) R3’s run only counts if he
touches home plate prior to R1 being out.
37. Runners on first and third
with two outs. The batter hits a ground
ball to the second baseman near second base.
Instead of touching second base he steps up to tag the runner coming
from first base. The runner stops in the
baseline long enough to allow R3 to score.
After R3 crosses the plate, R1 is tagged by the second baseman for the
third out.
A) R3’s run always scores when
the third out is a tag play.
B) R3’s run only scores because
he touched the plate before R1 was tagged.
C) R3’s run does not count.
38. With a runner on second base
the batter hits a one-hop single to the center fielder. R2 rounds third base and is heading
home. The catcher is standing in front
of home plate in the baseline without the ball and contacts R2. At the time of the contact the relay throw to
the catcher is about ten feet from him.
A) The catcher has a right to
his position since the relay throw is on the way.
B) The catcher is guilty of
interference.
C) The catcher is guilty of
obstruction.
D) The runner must avoid the contact
and is guilty of interference.
E) The runner has the right to
maliciously collide with the catcher because the catcher does not have the
ball.
F) The contact causes the ball
to become dead.
G) The play stays live.
39. With a runner on first base
and one out the batter bunts down the first base line. The first baseman charges and fields the
ball. He is standing on the foul line
waiting to tag the batter-runner out.
Seeing he will be out, the batter-runner retreats slowly toward home
trying to give R1 an opportunity to make it to third base.
A) Legal.
B) The batter-runner is
declared out for running the bases in reverse order.
C) The ball is dead as soon as
the batter-runner starts retreating toward home.
D) The ball remains live.
40. Bottom of the ninth with the
visiting team leading, 2-1. With a
runner on third base, the pitcher balks and immediately pitches. The batter hits a home run over the
fence. The umpire calls the balk and . .
.
A) The ball is dead, R3 scores,
no pitch, game is tied.
B) The ball is dead, R3 scores,
a ball is called, game is tied.
C) The ball remains live, game
over, home team wins 3-2.
41. With runners on first base
and third base, the pitcher balks but delivers the pitch immediately. The pitch is wild and it hits the batter in
the batter’s box.
A) The batter stays up to bat.
B) The batter is awarded first
base.
C) R1 stays at first base.
D) R1 is awarded second base.
E) R3 remains at third base.
F) R3 scores.
42. With the bases loaded and a
3-2 count on the batter, the pitcher balks but delivers immediately. The pitch is ball four.
A) The batter stays up to bat
and the three runners advance one base.
B) The batter is awarded first
base and the three runners advance one base.
C) It’s a do-over—no pitch, no
runners advance.
43. With a runner on third base,
the pitcher is on the rubber in the windup position. Before making any other movement, he steps
toward third base with his non-pivot foot and throws there.
A) Legal.
B) Legal, but a feint would
have been illegal.
C) Illegal, call a balk.
D) Illegal, call a ball.
E) Warn the pitcher.
44. There is a runner on first
base when the batter singles. R1 rounds
second and is halfway to third base when he realizes the throw from the
outfield will beat him there. R1
retreats toward second base and a rundown develops. During the rundown the shortstop throws toward
third and then R1 bumps into the shortstop.
The throw from the shortstop gets past the third baseman and goes into
the dugout.
A) R1 is guilty of
interference.
B) R1 is declared out for
bumping into the shortstop.
C) The shortstop is guilty of
obstruction.
D) R1 is returned to second
base, the last base he legally touched prior to the contact.
E) R1 is awarded third base
because of the contact.
F) R1 is awarded home because
the throw went into dead ball territory.
45. Runners on first base and
third base with no outs when the batter hits a fly ball to medium left
field. The left fielder makes the catch
and both runners legally tag up. The
catcher receives the ball just prior to R3’s arrival and has the plate
blocked. As the catcher tags R3 there is
contact. R3 does manage to touch the
plate after being tagged and contacting the catcher. R1 is between first and second at the time of
the contact.
A) The ball remains live.
B) The ball is dead at the time
of the contact.
C) If the umpire feels R3 could
have avoided the contact or was attempting to dislodge the ball, R3 would be
out even if the catcher drops the ball.
D) R3 is automatically ejected
for not sliding.
E) R3 could be ejected if the
contact was flagrant.
F) R1 is returned to first
base.
G) R1 is awarded second base.
H) R1 can advance or be put out
because the play stays live.
46. Exact same play as above
only this time the catcher is blocking the plate without the ball. The throw from the left fielder is about ten
feet from the catcher when the contact occurs.
A) The ball remains live.
B) The ball is dead at the time
of contact.
C) The runner is guilty of
interference and is out.
D) The catcher is guilty of
obstruction so the run scores.
E) In this play since the
catcher did not have the ball, the runner can maliciously contact the catcher
without penalty.
F) It is possible that R3 could
score and still be ejected for malicious contact.
47. Non-uniformed team personnel
may videotape their team’s games from:
A) Behind home plate.
B) Behind/above the center
field wall.
C) Their own dugout.
48. Electronic communication
devices may be used for contact between:
A) Pitching coach and catcher.
B) Head coach and pitcher.
C) Head coach and team
personnel charting pitches behind home plate.
D) Opposing head coaches.
E) A team’s dugout and bullpen.
F) Plate and base umpire(s).
49. The ten-run mercy rule
applies:
A) The fifth inning or beyond
of a scheduled nine-inning game.
B) The fifth inning or beyond
of a scheduled seven-inning game.
C) The seventh inning or beyond
of a scheduled nine-inning game.
D) Only if the home team wants
to enforce it.
50. A foreign soccer coach is in
A) A bad version of an old
joke.
B) The end of this test.