NFHS Rules Questionnaire

[Tim_C]

I am sure many of you are asked to give imput to the National Federation of State High Schools Baseball Rules Committee.

This year I am one of three Oregon participants.

Below are the questions that are asked and my answer included.

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2008 NFHS Rules Questionnaire

PART 1: Are these rules satisfactory?

1. Clarifying the role of the head coach in terms of his communication with the game umpires. Yes
2. Clarifying the head coach’s duties in terms of supplying the umpire-in-chief with his team’s lineup card. Yes
3. Modifying when a pitcher’s glove is removed from the game. Yes
4. Modifying the definition of obstruction. No
5. Modifying the coaches’ box rule. Yes
6. Modifying the head coach’s attendance at the Pregame conference. Yes
7. Modifying the penalty for an illegal pitch. Yes
8. Modifying umpire uniform options. Yes
9. Modifying when a runner is obstructed and adding appropriate rule reference. No
10. Clarifying illegal pitch rule reference. Yes

Part 2: Area these items a problem in your area?

1. Umpires being inconsistent or unsure of the amount of white/grey allowed on a pitching glove. Yes
2. Tobacco use by players and/or coaches. No
3. Players wearing excessive “eye-black”. No
4. Players leaving the dugout during live-ball situations. Yes
5. Batters not avoiding pitched balls to touch them. No
6. Coaches wanting to sit on buckets or stools in live-ball area. Yes
7. Adult base coaches being hit by batted ball while occupying the coach’ box. No
8. Not having an adequate number of baseballs to start a game. No

Part 3: Would you be in favor of the following?

1. Clarifying rules or interpretations of what a pitcher can do while in contact with the pitching plate to request a new set of signs. Yes
2. Allowing free substitution for the defense in baseball. The lineup card would only apply to the batting order and pitching changes. No
3. Establishing pitch count parameters in the interest of protecting pitchers’ arms. No
4. Coaches wearing dual flap batting helmets while occupying the coach’s box. No
5. Allowing any non-adult warming up a pitcher while in the crouch position at any location to wear a mask-and-helmet combination as opposed to the dual-flap helmet and mask. Yes
6. Allowing a pitcher who moves from a defensive position to pitcher during an inning to have 12 warm-up throws. Pitchers entering the game from the bench would still be limited to the throws allowed by the current rule.No
7. Allowing the pitcher to be listed pitcher/DH. No

[SocalBlue1]

Tim,

for the most part I agree with what you have. We have a couple of slightly different issues down here in so Cal:

Part 1:

No changes

Part 2:

#3 - Yes, is selected areas.
#5 - Yes

Part 3:

#4 - Yes (Note - KISS W/Player requirements)

#7 - PLEASE NO NO NO !!!!! Allowing all or part the NCAA DH rule in NFS would REALLY screw things up.

js

[BrianC14]

5. Batters not avoiding pitched balls to touch them. No

Heh.

I had a 4A Varsity game this year where I kept a batter in the box for this.

2 innings later, same batter, same result.... 'stay right here'...

Coach goes beserk with all the "what else can he do?" until I ask him what he thought his batter might do to get out of the way of a Randy Johnson fastball... (the pitcher of record that day wouldn't have broken an egg with what he had).

So, I'd have answered 'Yes' on that Q.

[Ozzy]

Tim, it all looks good to me!

[robbyrudd45]

Are they high for suggesting Part 3 numbers 2, 6, and 7?

#2 I can see as an attempt to get more players in the game, but no way.

#6, if allowed, would just delay the game more. Nobody really needs more than 8 anyway.

#7 would confuse the heck outta people as the NCAA DH rule is, as we know, one of the most fugged up rules in all levels of baseball.

[bigblu2u2]

I am one of the people in Florida who gets the questionaire also. I pretty much answered everything much the way you did, except I like the NCAA DH rule. I don't know how many umpires are sent the ?aire here. Eric

[lawump]

I pretty much despise the HS illegal pitch rule...I much prefer OBR's (not-in-contact or quick pitch). Other than that, I'm with you.