NFHS Rule 7-3

[CoachJD]

Here is the case book scenario:

7.3.1 SITUATION B

As F1 starts a pitch, B1 requests time by either stepping out of the box or by putting a hand up. The pitcher (a) hesitates or stops the pitch, (b) legally delivers the pitch, or (c) legally delivers the pitch and B1 steps back in the batter's box and hits the ball.

In (a), the umpire shall declare a "no pitch." In (b), the umpire shall call a strike and the ball remains live. In (c), the umpire calls “time” and a dead-ball strike on the batter. (2-56-1; 5-1-1j; 7-2-1h; 7-3-1 Effect 2)
2023 NFHS Softball Case Book - NFHS © 2023

I do not find this as ambiguous now. There are two possible actions by the batter, stepping out or holding up a hand.

Scenario (a) covers both actions. If the batter does either and the pitcher stops pitching, it's no pitch. This is logical. The batter's act caused the pitcher to stop, but she wasn't intentionally causing an illegal pitch, so just do it over.

Scenario (b) covers both, too. The reasoning is because, I guess, there is no strike zone if a batter is not in the box or in a normal stance if she's standing there with a hand up. So because the batter "abandoned" her strike zone, everything is a strike.

Scenario (c) specifically covers stepping out and back in before hitting the ball. Holding up the hand only is not mentioned here, so it's not part of the rule.

The rule itself should be written a little more clearly, or the rationale behind the rules could be a little more obvious, but I think the case book does clarify it sufficiently. Tell your hitters to not step out of the box until time has actually been granted.

 

[Agcy]

I do not find this as ambiguous now. There are two possible actions by the batter, stepping out or holding up a hand.

Scenario (a) covers both actions. If the batter does either and the pitcher stops pitching, it's no pitch. This is logical. The batter's act caused the pitcher to stop, but she wasn't intentionally causing an illegal pitch, so just do it over.

Scenario (b) covers both, too. The reasoning is because, I guess, there is no strike zone if a batter is not in the box or in a normal stance if she's standing there with a hand up. So because the batter "abandoned" her strike zone, everything is a strike.

Scenario (c) specifically covers stepping out and back in before hitting the ball. Holding up the hand only is not mentioned here, so it's not part of the rule.

The rule itself should be written a little more clearly, or the rationale behind the rules could be a little more obvious, but I think the case book does clarify it sufficiently. Tell your hitters to not step out of the box until time has actually been granted.

Do we need a case study on the examples given in the case book?

 

[The Man In Blue]

No, we need to quit using the case book to supersede the written rules.

I am fine with a case book IF it it provides an explanation and citations which follow the rules.

The rules do NOT support that case book play, but because it is gray an interpreter was able to slip that in. It is not uncommon for "rule changes" to occur through interpretations because the actual rule change process is too cumbersome.

 

[CoachJD]

No, we need to quit using the case book to supersede the written rules.

I am fine with a case book IF it it provides an explanation and citations which follow the rules.

The rules do NOT support that case book play, but because it is gray an interpreter was able to slip that in. It is not uncommon for "rule changes" to occur through interpretations because the actual rule change process is too cumbersome.

And half the time when they do change the rule they get someone who's halfway illiterate to write the thing so we're no better off anyway.

 

[The Man In Blue]

I'm catching hell on the other forum I read for arguing that you cannot violate the Force Play Slide Rule (baseball) by not sliding.

The rule starts off by saying SIMPLY STATED, THE RUNNER NEVER HAS TO SLIDE.

I'm sorry for actually reading a rule book rather than umpiring from case plays, e-mails, and parking lot conversations.


EDIT: Doing some digging, and I think I found the problem ... Again, this is baseball, so I apologize. In the 2023 book, the words Force Play Slide Rule do not appear anywhere. NFHS actually does NOT have anything called a Force Play Slide Rule, despite the fact that they made it a Point of Emphasis a few years back (2020).

NCAA does have an FPSR that states the runner MUST slide. A point I have made around these parts -- KNOW YOUR CODE.

 

[Nasolis]

NCAA does have an FPSR that states the runner MUST slide. A point I have made around these parts -- KNOW YOUR CODE.

MIB, I may be getting confused as to if you are still talking about baseball as your first statement. But NCAA Softball does not have must slide rule. The following is from their 2022-2023 rulebook, and it falls under the Collisions rule (12.13)

"12.13.1 When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder:
12.13.1.1 If the defensive player blocks the base (plate) or baseline, the runner may slide into the base and make contact with the fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base (plate). A legitimate attempt is making contact with the ground before reaching base or fielder.
12.13.1.2 The runner must make an actual attempt to reach the base (plate).
12.13.1.3 The runner may not attempt to dislodge the ball from the fielder. Contact about the waist shall be judged by the umpire as an attempt by the runner to dislodge the ball.
12.13.1.4 The runner must attempt to avoid a collision if they can reach the base without colliding.

12.13.2 The runner, although not required to slide to avoid contact with the defensive player, slides in a manner that, in the umpire's judgement, was malicious (for example, spikes up).

12.13.4 To prevent a deliberate collision ruling, the runner can slide, jump over the top of the defender holding the ball, go around the defender or return to the previous base touched.

12.13.5 Simply because there is contact between the defensive and offensive player does not mean that obstruction or interference has occurred."

To be transparent, I left out the penalties for each violation of the rule.

You may be referring to rule 12.17.2.5 " A runner may not remain on their feet and deliberately, with great force, collide into a defense player (see Rule 12.13) EFFECT - See Rule 12.13.1.5". 12.17.2 is Interference by Runners and Base Runners, so if the section where it talks about interference, it refers you back to the Collision rule in its entirety.

The rules are quoted word-for-word from the rule book.

 

[Northball]

Many years ago umpiring a cry-baby adult slow-pitch league a runner came home, halfway crouched and bounced off the catcher, falling back on her behind. I called her out for not sliding. "BUT I DID SLIDE!!!!!"
My one and only year of umpiring that league.

 

[The Man In Blue]

MIB, I may be getting confused as to if you are still talking about baseball as your first statement. But NCAA Softball does not have must slide rule. The following is from their 2022-2023 rulebook, and it falls under the Collisions rule (12.13)

Yes, sorry -- it was all baseball.

 

[EdLovrich]

I'm catching hell on the other forum I read for arguing that you cannot violate the Force Play Slide Rule (baseball) by not sliding.

The rule starts off by saying SIMPLY STATED, THE RUNNER NEVER HAS TO SLIDE.

I'm sorry for actually reading a rule book rather than umpiring from case plays, e-mails, and parking lot conversations.


EDIT: Doing some digging, and I think I found the problem ... Again, this is baseball, so I apologize. In the 2023 book, the words Force Play Slide Rule do not appear anywhere. NFHS actually does NOT have anything called a Force Play Slide Rule, despite the fact that they made it a Point of Emphasis a few years back (2020).

NCAA does have an FPSR that states the runner MUST slide. A point I have made around these parts -- KNOW YOUR CODE.

MIB,

Know your code, YES. But also know the exceptions. Even in NCAA baseball a runner is not required to slide IF:

8.4 a Exception—A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs (emphasis added) in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. Interference shall not be called.


As usual, your first instinct was correct, NO CODE REQUIRES A RUNNER SLIDE, they can always move away from the defensive player.

 

[The Man In Blue]

Said the same, so I'm not disagreeing, but I'll let you fight them on that one.

NCAA does place that exception under a rule actually called Force Play Slide Rule, so that's why I haven't hung my hat on that. My sticking point was that NFHS does NOT have a rule actually named that (even though the used the term in POE a few years back). NFHS's rules on sliding don't include that exception because they explicitly state a runner NEVER has to slide. Instead, NFHS still says a runner should be called out if they interfere with the play. The problem is that guys want to call a FPSR when a runner doesn't slide. It isn't exactly a tomayto-tomahto because there is a slight difference in the penalty for a "FPSR" and "routine" interference.

The larger soapbox issue that I have here is umpiring from case plays and interpretations instead of the actual rule. It happens in softball, but it is far worse in baseball.

Sorry for going down a baseball rabbit-hole here, but I think it provides some insight into umpiring in general.