noumpere

(A) is NOT true. If the pitcher does not break contact with the rubber, then any move to another base or the plate is not direct / immediate (whatever the specific wording is).

Illegal.

Yes Yes Yes (aren't questions 2 and 3 the same?) (all assuming F1 hasn't made--or doesn't make-- some move that's part of the pitch, such as stepping back or raising the hands over the head)

Sometimes, you just need to umpire.

Yes, but it's specifically allowed by a note -- and the note is there just for that reason. Only in FED, and I thought we were discussing OBR (because any pick from a windup is NOT legal in FED) OBR might "flow down" to FED, but FED does NOT "flow up" to OBR

5 (and the response to my comment). Because it's not an immediate / direct move to a base (or whatever the specific wording is). Back when the 3-1 move was legal, it was specifically stated that to be legal F1 had to break contact on the move to third. The same is true on any move to second (I did not follow the link in 6)

1) Once you feint to second and break contact with the rubber, you are an infielder. You can feint or throw to any base in any manner.

All the cases have been answered.

The problem is that the questions are unnecessarily complicated, and eve when answered you come back with the same question or variations that don't matter. Go to an umpire clinic and pay attention, silently, when they talk about balks. For the latest two questions: 1) Once you feint to second and break contact with the rubber, you are an infielder. You can feint or throw to any base in any manner. 2) Once the free foot is raised, F1 must throw (or feint, where allowed) to the base being faced, second, or pitch. Once the free foot crosses the rubber, F1 must throw (or feint) to second or pitch.

IIRC, the "beyond" is relative to a line perpendicular to the baseline. And, the entire portion of the trailing runner must be beyond the entire portion of the lead runner. I may not have seen all the videos / stills on this, but the couple that I saw don't really come close to passing.

FIFY

Report it to the league and let them take additional disciplinary action.

I hate to get involved, but I've been away for about 10 days so, 1) The rules say nothing about counter-clockwise or clockwise. If one is legal, the other is legal. 2) If a move is legal for a LH pitcher to first, it's legal for a RH pitcher to third. That should answer most of the questions above. Follow-up not desired.

It's like the lefty step-back-and-snap-throw to first. But, it's usually done much more slowly and the hands are apart well in advance of the foot hitting the ground. If you balk it, they'll stop doing it. ;)

In most markets, girls are in the fall, boys are in the spring. So, the same number of officials can cover both sports. (It will draw from officials who currently work another spring sport, but it won't be a doubling.)

Just like the LL play: R3. Batter approaches the box, pats his pockets and then yells to R3 -- "Hey, let me borrow your batting gloves." R3 walks down to BR and then touches the plate. Yes, it's bush, but yes, the other team needs to learn.

You can also work with the catcher to not give the signals until the batter is ready.

Right, but it still needs to be INT -- not *just* leaning or stepping. As a practical matter, I think this aspect of the rule is the same -- recognizing that it can take less for a HS catcher to be affected than for a MLB catcher.

It is? (Serious question; it's been a long time since I worked FED and my books are in another location right now.)

If the pitcher made the same motion but threw to third would we allow it (assuming an R3, of course)?

I'm pretty sure it hit the hand first.

Give the "I have information for you" signal (whatever you decide to use) and / or look, or walk toward U2 with a purpose.. Edit: I should add that it depends on how much of this is entirely rule based and how much is judgment. OBS can be both, so I'd like to know more about what happened.

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.