"Old High School" slide / force play rule

[ump-n-ref]

At plate meetings, in "Summer" or league ball, the "old High School" rule is often referenced as the safety and force play parameters under which we will be playing. Problem is, no one really knows what it says. Coaches usually say "old High School slide rule". That doesn't cover it, so most of us say "the safety rule is slide or avoid, no malicious contact and add within arm's length to that for a force play". That's essentially it. In 1990's or so, HS added no contact beyond the bag (and, of course, now it's even more restrictive), but leagues play that there can be contact -- if slide or avoid is adhered to -- and fielder is protected by arm's length. It was essentially OBR with "no malicious" added. Do any of you old timers happen to have a 60's or so copy of the HS rule book -- or the real verbiage of the old rule? We're trying to eliminate the reference at plate meetings but it's like trying to convince a coach that his guy shouldn't be on 2nd base because the ball that plonked him was also ball four. Thanks!

[maven]

Don't bother. If nobody knows what it should be, you won't find any agreement about which book to look at.

 

A better idea would be to look at your league rules for an explicit rule. If they don't offer one, you might encourage the powers that be to write one up and stop referring to an old rule nobody knows.

[blue23ll]

The problem is, the coaches in these summer leagues don't know the OLD rule OR the new rule. They interpret it in their best interest. I had a coach tell me the other day that his fielder is protected from ANY contact at 2nd base, because the runner must slide an "arms length away" from the fielder to avoid contact. I simply told him he was wrong.

[ump-n-ref]

Thanks, Maven. It's more that several of us are wondering exactly how the rule did read -- kinda for historical/hysterical purposes. Found the mid 90's rule. What's interesting is that most leagues refer to the "old HS rule" and we've mentioned it to them but they seem reluctant to go through the process of changing the verbiage. Here's two quotes from local Koufax and Mantle rules.

"We play pro-book rules, old high school slide and/or avoid safety rules"

"4. The league will play "slide and avoid" safety rules for all league and post season play.  The Old HS rule, arms length."

So, the reference is there. Don't have much problem -- we still officiate.

Just would like to know if anyone has the exact rule.

[maven]

Ah, well if its just historical curiosity, carry on!

maven

[mstaylor]

I will look in my archives. Essentially it was the pro rule with the exception of what constituted a legal slide. Foot above the knee, book rolling blocks, and a few others.

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[sdix00]

The "Old Rule" has evolved every couple years since its origins as a POE in 1980.

 

Carl Childress covers the FPSR in GREAT detail in his outstanding titles: The Usual Suspects and The Baseball Umpires Encyclopedia (BUE)

 

Childress covers this evolution and clearly shows how the FED rule was closely tied to the NCAA rule every other year.  Six dedicated pages in the BUE, otherwise I would include a small snippet here. 

 

So next time they mention the "Old Rule", ask them which one of the dozen versions. 

 

 

 

HS Summer ball around here uses Legion, which is mostly OBR PLUS the NCAA FPSR.