Where the safety base is not used, only 4" of the base (or 2" inches if the lines are 2" wide) is in alignment with the lane. Common sense dictates that the batter-runner must be allowed take their last step in fair territory (out of the lane) in order to reduce the ankle injury risk associated with being restricted to a tiny sliver of the base. A provision for this is made in NCAA rules, but not NFHS rules. A simple solution for this safety base dilemma would be to apply the same logic that is behind the "last step" provision in the NCAA running lane rule. This is a great example of shortcomings often found in NFHS rules.