noumpere

I always try to remember (in all the sports I follow) that this is just a press release. We always need to see the actual change and interps before we can have meaningful discussions on the anticipated affects of the change and how it might be gamed.

https://nfhs.org/stories/double-first-base-introduced-into-high-school-baseball Double First Base Introduced into High School Baseball BY NFHS ON July 8, 2025 | BASEBALL STORY, NFHS NEWS, PRESS RELEASE, BASEBALL Beginning with the 2027 season, a double first base will be required in high school baseball games to minimize the risk of collisions by runners and fielders. This rule revision was one of 10 proposed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee during its annual meeting held June 8-10 at The Alexander hotel in Indianapolis. The rules changes were accepted by the NFHS Board of Directors. New language was added to Rule 1-2-9 noting that the double first base must be white and a contrasting solid color. The white portion of the base is located in fair territory while the colored half is located in foul territory, split by the first base foul line. There is to be no space between the two portions of the double base. "Adding the double first base is symbolic to the evolution of the sport. It will immediately address running lane violations, and it will further protect the players from the violent collisions that have occurred at first base,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee. “By reducing collisions and enhancing safety, it preserves both the integrity of competition and the well-being of those who play." Several subsequent rules changes, including Rule 8-2-2a, outline how batter-runners and fielders shall use the double first base. The batter-runner should use the colored base on an initial play at first base unless a fielder is drawn into foul territory to receive a dropped third strike, in which case, the batter-runner would use the white portion of the base. Once the batter-runner reaches first base, the batter-runner must always return to the white base, including when leading off, returning on a pick-off attempt or tagging up on a fly ball. A batter-runner may use either side of first base on a base-on-balls or on an extra-base hit to the outfield when there is no chance of a play to be made at first base. Interference is to be called on batter-runners if they only touch the white portion on a force play at first and collide with the fielder. Similarly, it is obstruction if a defensive player only touches the colored portion of the base and collides with the batter-runner. Rule 2-5-1h was added to note that it is a fair ball if a batted ball hits or bounds over any part of the white portion of the double first base. Alternately, it is a foul ball if a batted ball hits or bounds over any part of the colored portion of the base (Rule 2-16-1h). Rule 3-4-6 was added to address defensive player meetings as charged conferences. Each team, when on defense, may be granted not more than one player-to-player meeting during an inning. Umpires shall deny any subsequent defensive team requests for that half-inning. Additionally, Rule 2-10-3 was added to define a player-to-player defensive meeting as having two or more defensive players. “A player-to-player defensive meeting is a natural and essential part of the game—whether it’s strategy, encouragement or clarification, but having multiple meetings in a half-inning adds additional time that lengthens a contest and is not in the best interest of the game,” Hopkins said. “A charged conference, however, involves direct coaching intervention with either a coach or a non-playing representative and is intended to provide instruction. The distinction ensures we honor both the flow of the game and the role of coaching.” Two rules changes were approved to bring the Baseball Rules Book in line with all NFHS rules. Language added to Rule 1-4-4 allows a school’s name, nickname, logo, mascot and/or player’s name to be permitted on a uniform top and/or pants beginning in 2027. In addition, Rule 1-6-3 states that “no player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during the game.” A complete listing of the baseball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Baseball.” According to the 2023-24 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, baseball is the fourth-most popular boys sport with 471,701 boys participating in 16,146 high schools across the country.

Maybe they can print it on the back of the timer you all need to carry. Or, change the color of the pitcher's rubber to be the lightest allowed color.

FIFY

Agreed. And, someone needs to teach the kid how to bunt. Or, maybe he's just preparing for the Savannah Bananas (bunting is no tllowed).

If the "every 45 days" is measured using a cookie, then this would deter me. I clear all my cookies every time, so I'd need to authenticate every time. And, I hate the idea of having to d/l Duo or Authenticator.

If you called that every time, you wouldn't be on the plate in that game. The batter didn't move in front until F2 had committed to his throw, so F2 didn't have to change how or from where he threw. The throwing motion wasn't affected. The ball wasn't affected.

Here's a play from another forum. Don't know if it helps, hurts, or deserves it's own thread: Runners on second & third. Batter gets a base hit up the middle. Runner on third scores. Runner on second is waved home. Pitcher cuts off throw from center fielder, as he starts to throw home he sees first batter who scored, out in front of plate picking up loose bat. Pitcher does not throw home, runner scores. Interference or nothing?

Just tell the runner something like "you need to touch first before the game is over" or "the run doesn't count until you touch first." You are just explaining the rule, not coaching the runner or telling him what to do.

From J/R (with old references): A batter who does not become a runner may interfere with a player other than the 7,08g catcher: (a) after a pitch goes past the catcher, such batter interferes with a subsequent 7.09d play on a runner at the plate (batter is treated as an "other teammate"- see p. 66) Section VI: Interference by Another Teammate This section involves interference by offensive team personnel other than the batter during a pitch, batter-runner, runner, or base coach. Examples of "other teammates" include: 7.09e (a) a batter after a pitch has gone past the catcher (such batter is no longer trying to bat the pitch and is treated as an "other teammate" in a determination of whether interference has occurred). It is interference if "another teammate" (1) blatantly and avoidably hinders a fielder's try to field a fair or catchable batted ball or thrown ball. Other teammates must try to avoid a fielder trying to field. If they try to avoid, but contact a fielder, it is not interference. In most cases another teammate who does not try to contact with a fielder will have interfered. A dugout is dead ball territory but, in most cases, a catch in the dugout is allowed, so offensive team personnel must avoid a fielder trying to catch in their dugout. (2) intentionally hinders or impedes a fielder's try to field a fair or catchable batted or thrown ball. Penalty: If another teammate interferes on a (a) play, the runner being played against is declared out. Exception: If there are two outs and a pitch goes wild past the catcher, and a batter who has not become a runner interferes with a subsequent play at the plate, the batter (and not the runner being played against) is out for the interference. No run can score on this play.

The problem is that in MLB time is routinely granted in similar situations. But, that's done so they can change out the baseball. Since we don't change out the baseball in our games, there's not nearly as much reason to grant time.

When the umpire grants it (and not when the runner requests it). In your case, the umpire needs to be sure the runner has and can maintain secure possession of the base and that there's no other play going on.

Don't see any more. Thanks for your work on this. (there is a suspicious-looking jeniferadam986 on-line right now)

I'm trying to get through to customer service and various companies. Does anyone have any hints, or maybe a "top 25 list" of how to do so?

I should add -- train your eyes on tracking. Lie on your back and toss a tennis ball or a rolled up pair if sock up in the air and track it all the way down to your hands.