2027 NFHS Rules

[Velho]

On 7/10/2026 at 5:48 PM, MadMax said:

On 7/10/2026 at 3:32 PM, Velho said:

It prescribes only first base can be 18":

I can see how/why you’re reading it this way; instead, I’m reading it from a different way, wherein the (permanent) presence of 18” bases – including 1B – does not disqualify a venue (field) and prohibit (or prevent) a game from commencing. 
You just know there are strict NFHS Apologists (as umpires) who will take the strict letter-of-the-law to its full degree, and will not let a game start – or worse, will forfeit it – if a double-base isn’t installed / installable at 1B. 

By including this optional provision, and codifying it, this allows High Schools to use neutral-site, professional or contractual venues without burdening… resources… to accommodate this new HS rule.

All that is how it should be. Hopefully they update 1-2-9 appropriately to allow 18" bases at 2B/3B.

[johnnyg08]

4 minutes ago, Velho said:

All that is how it should be. Hopefully they update 1-2-9 appropriately to allow 18" bases at 2B/3B.

I'm not great with geometry...but I feel like all of the bases would need to be bigger. Yes? 

[Velho]

23 minutes ago, johnnyg08 said:

I'm not great with geometry...but I feel like all of the bases would need to be bigger. Yes? 

Yeah, 2B would be difficult to place with 18” 1B and 15” 3B 😂

[Velho]

6 minutes ago, Velho said:

32 minutes ago, johnnyg08 said:

I'm not great with geometry...but I feel like all of the bases would need to be bigger. Yes? 

Yeah, 2B would be difficult to place with 18” 1B and 15” 3B 😂

To add: baseball is bad a geometry anyway. Exhibit #1 - home plate.

[jimurrayalterego]

19 minutes ago, Velho said:

Yeah, 2B would be difficult to place with 18” 1B and 15” 3B 😂

The base points would still be used. Corner bases with corner on point. 2B centered on point.

[Velho]

39 minutes ago, jimurrayalterego said:

59 minutes ago, Velho said:

Yeah, 2B would be difficult to place with 18” 1B and 15” 3B 😂

The base points would still be used. Corner bases with corner on point. 2B centered on point.

Yeah, I knew you'd get me on that  

[BLWizzRanger]

Yeah, I knew you'd get me on that  

Anyone have the research as to why the three 'outside' bases use the edges of the base where as the center of second base that is used?

[Velho]

33 minutes ago, BLWizzRanger said:

Anyone have the research as to why the three 'outside' bases use the edges of the base where as the center of second base that is used?

1b and 3B used to be centered on the 90' base path. They moved into the infield but 2B wasn't moved.

But don't get used to it in OBR. It's moved/moving to back edge alignment in the International League second half of this year as a test.

https://www.mlb.com/news/new-rule-changes-coming-to-minor-leagues-in-2026

 

Since I already put my foot in mouth once today I'll ask instead of stating fact...

Putting aside the arrows above start at the edge and not PoP of HP, am I wrong in seeing the above improperly shows 90' to front of the base when it's actually 90' from PoP to the back of the base?

 

[BLWizzRanger]

1b and 3B used to be centered on the 90' base path. They moved into the infield but 2B wasn't moved.
But don't get used to it in OBR. It's moved/moving to back edge alignment in the International League second half of this year as a test.
https://www.mlb.com/news/new-rule-changes-coming-to-minor-leagues-in-2026

 
Since I already put my foot in mouth once today I'll ask instead of stating fact...
Putting aside the arrows above start at the edge and not PoP of HP, am I wrong in seeing the above improperly shows 90' to front of the base when it's actually 90' from PoP to the back of the base?
 

I will say no. The label 90 feet is in a red/brown color and is on the outside of the diamond. Plus, it looks like same color as the baseline.

[BLWizzRanger]

But don't get used to it in OBR. It's moved/moving to back edge alignment in the International League second half of this year as a test.
 

So, second base will be 6 inches closer to the others and a little over 3 inches closer to home base.

Who will have the advantage, the BR trying to steal the base or the F2 with the shorter throws?

[jimurrayalterego]

1 hour ago, BLWizzRanger said:

 

So, second base will be 6 inches closer to the others and a little over 3 inches closer to home base.

Who will have the advantage, the BR trying to steal the base or the F2 with the shorter throws?
 

 

Show your math, I get approx 12" closer to HP. It's martini time so not going to do the delta for 2B - 1B distance. 😀

[BLWizzRanger]

On 7/12/2026 at 8:32 PM, jimurrayalterego said:

Show your math, I get approx 12" closer to HP. It's martini time so not going to do the delta for 2B - 1B distance. 😀

Really? Challenge accepted! Let me go pull out my kids ACT study notes from years past to help me.  BTW, I see where I still was thinking the base was centered instead of and moved to the edge. Plus, I was thinking of the 15" to 18" change. So I am probably wrong. Lets see how wrong.

Lets remember that the home plate size isn't changing.

So the bag would move from the middle of the bag to the corner of the bag, in other words, half an hypotenuse.

18" squared + 18" squared= 648
324+ 324= 648
square root of 648 is 25.5"
Half of 25.5 is  12.75"

So the 18" bag's nearest point to home plate would decrease 12.75" 

I think that is an advantage to the defense. what do you think?

 

[BigBlue4u]

I'm not very good at math.  So, whatever is out there, is what I'll umpire.

[jimurrayalterego]

1 hour ago, BLWizzRanger said:

Really? Challenge accepted! Let me go pull out my kids ACT study notes from years past to help me.  BTW, I see where I still was thinking the base was centered instead of and moved to the edge. Plus, I was thinking of the 15" to 18" change. So I am probably wrong. Lets see how wrong.

Lets remember that the home plate size isn't changing.

So the bag would move from the middle of the bag to the corner of the bag, in other words, half an hypotenuse.

18" squared + 18" squared= 648
324+ 324= 648
square root of 648 is 25.5"
Half of 25.5 is  12.75"

So the 18" bag's nearest point to home plate would decrease 12.75" 

I think that is an advantage to the defense. what do you think?

 

Shorter throw by approx 12" for F2. Article says 2B-1B delta is approx  9". shorter run for R1. Did they do the math and decided to show the athleticism of F2. "provide additional opportunities for players to showcase their athleticism. I'm not going to do the math at this hour but I suspect 12" for a throw gets it there faster than 9" for a runner.

[jimurrayalterego]

11 minutes ago, BigBlue4u said:

I'm not very good at math.  So, whatever is out there, is what I'll umpire.

We don't have to be. But did they understand what they wanted and will get with the change? Did they want to showcase the athleticism of F2s with a cannon?