Transcript Slide 1

WELCOME !
The 40
Most Misunderstood
Rules in
Little League
Baseball
1. The hands are considered part of the
bat, and NO base shall be awarded if the
Batter is hit in the hands by the Pitch?
True or False
False
The hands are part of a person's body.
If a pitch hits the batter's hands the
ball is dead; if the batter swings at
the pitch, a strike is called (NOT a
foul).
If the batter was avoiding the pitch,
he/she is awarded first base.
Rule 2.00 Touch, Strike, Person, 5.09 (a)
2. The batter-runner must turn to his
right after over-sliding or over-running
first base?
True or False
False
The batter-runner may turn left or right,
provided that no matter which way he/she
turns, there is NO attempt to advance.
An attempt to advance is a judgment made
by the umpire.
The requirement is that the runner must
immediately return to first after over running
or over sliding the base
Rule 7.08 (j)
3. If the batter breaks his wrists when
swinging, or while attempting to
“Check” the swing… it's a strike.
True or False
False
A strike is a judgment by the Umpire
as to whether the batter attempted to
strike the ball.
Breaking the wrists, or the barrel of
the bat crossing the plate, are simply
guides to making the judgment of an
attempt, these are not rules.
Rule 2.00 Strike
4. If a batted ball hits the plate first, then
settles in foul territory… it's a foul ball.
True or False
True
Even tough the plate is in fair
territory, there is nothing special
about it. If a batted ball hits it, it
is treated like any other batted
ball that touches Fair territory
then rolls Foul.
Rule 2.00 Strike
5. The batter cannot be called out for
interference if in the batter's box. It’s
called the “Batter’s Box” for a reason,
because it belongs to the Batter
True or False
False
The batter's box is not a safety zone. A
batter can be called out for interference
if the umpire judges that interference
could or should have been avoided.
The batter is protected while in the box
for a short period of time. After he has
had time to react to the play he could be
called for interference if he does not
move out of the box and interferes with a
play.
Rule 2.00 Interference 6.06 (c)
6. The ball is “Live and in play”, on a
foul-tip
True or False
True
There is nothing foul about a foul-tip. If
the ball hits the bat and goes sharp and
direct to the catcher's hand or glove and is
legally caught, it is a foul-tip by definition.
A foul-tip is a strike and the ball is live. It
is the same as a swing-and-miss.
If the ball is not caught, it is a Foul Ball.
If the foul-tip first hits the catcher
somewhere other than the hand or glove, it
is not a foul-tip, it is a Foul Ball.
Rule 2.00 Foul Tip
7. The batter may switch batter's boxes
anytime, even after two strikes.
True or False
True
The batter can switch boxes at
any time, provided he/she does
not do it after the pitcher is set,
ready to pitch or in motion.
Rule 6.06 (b)
8. The Player who batted out of order is
the person declared “OUT” after a
proper Appeal is made
True or False
False
The PROPER batter is the one called out.
Any hit or advance made by the Improper
Batter or the runners due to the hit, walk,
error or other reason is nullified.
The next batter is the one who follows the
proper batter… meaning, the player who
was called out.
Rule 6.07 (b)
9. The batter may not overrun first base
when he/she is awarded a Base-On-Balls.
True or False
False
Rule 7.08 simply states that a batter-runner
must immediately return after overrunning
first base. It doesn't state any exceptions as
to how the player became a runner. It could
be a hit, walk, error or dropped third strike.
Rule 7.08 (c) (j)
10. The batter can NOT be called OUT for
abandoning the base path if he doesn’t
go directly to 1st base after Ball 4 or
Uncaught 3rd Strike (Majors and above)
True or False
True
The batter may attempt to advance to first
base anytime prior to entering the dugout or
dead ball area.
The batter becomes a runner when awarded
1st base on Ball 4. He may advance under
certain circumstances when the third strike
is not caught (Majors and above).
A runner makes his own base path to the
base
Rule 6.08 (a) 6.09 (b)
11. In baseball, if the batter does not pull
the bat out of the strike zone while in
the BUNT position, it's an automatic
strike.
True or False
False
A strike is an attempt to HIT the ball.
Simply holding the bat over the plate
is not an attempt to hit the ball.
This is umpire judgment.
Rule 2.00 Strike, Bunt
12. The batter is NOT out if a bunted ball
hits the ground and immediately
bounces back up and hits the bat while
the batter is holding it.
True or False
True
The rule says the BAT cannot hit the
ball a second time. When the BALL
hits the bat, it is not an out.
Also, when the batter is still in the
box when this happens, it's treated as
simply a foul ball. If the batter is out
of the box and the bat is over fair
territory when the second hit occurs,
the batter would be out. Rule 6.05 (g)
13. The batter is out if his foot touches,
or is on the plate, while making contact
with the ball.
True or False
False
To be out, the batter's foot must be
ENTIRELY outside the box and on the
ground when making contact with the ball
whether the ball goes fair or foul.
He is NOT OUT if he does not contact with
the ball.
There is no statement about touching the
plate. The toe could be on the plate and
the heel could be touching the line of the
box, which means the foot is not entirely
Rule 6.06 (a)
outside the box.
14. There is NO RULE that requires the
Batter Runner to be in the “Runners
Lane”
… EVER …
True or False
True
The runner must be out of the lane AND
must interfere with the fielder taking the
throw. He is not out simply for being outside
the lane. He could be called for interference
even while in the lane depending on his
actions. This is a judgment call.
The runner may need to step out of the lane
a few steps before the base. If he is out of
the lane the whole distance running to the
base and is hit with a throw, he may, or may
not be out.
Rule 2.00 Interference 6.05 (j) 6.09 (j)
15. A runner may slap hands and/or give
high- fives to other players, after a
homerun is hit over the fence. He may
even deviate from the base path and
give hand slaps along the dugout?
True or False
True
The ball is dead on a homerun over
the fence. You can't be put out while
the ball is dead except when you pass
another runner or Abandon the base
path.
The runner also creates his own base
path as he proceeds around the track.
Rule 5.02, 7.05 (a), 7.08 (a)
16. Tie goes to the runner.
True or False
False
There is no such thing in baseball or
umpiring as a Tie.
The runner is either Out or Safe. The
Umpire MUST judge the status of the
runner to be either out or safe.
It is impossible to judge a Tie.
Rule 6.05 (j)
17. The runner gets two bases on a
ball thrown out-of-play. The base
he's advancing to, plus one
additional base. Also known as,
“One + One.”
True or False
False
When a fielder other than the pitcher throws
the ball into dead ball area, the award is 2
bases.
If the throw is the first play by an infielder,
the award is from the base the runner(s) last
legally acquired at the Time of the Pitch. All
other awards are from the throw, where the
runners were at the time the ball left the
fielder’s hand (Time of Throw) before going
“Out of Play”.
Rule 7.05 (g)
18. A coach may touch a runner at anytime,
as long as it is not considered assisting
the runner while advancing or returning
to a base.
True or False
True
The Rule says the runner is out if the
coach PHYSICALLY ASSISTS the
runner
Hand slaps, pats on the back or
simple touches are not considered
physically assisting.
Rule 7.09 (h)
19. It’s perfectly acceptable for a
runner to run the bases in reverse
order.
True or False
True
In order to correct a base running
mistake, when doing so, the runner
MUST retouch the bases in reverse
order
The only time a runner is OUT for
running in reverse, is making a
“Travesty” of the game or trying to
“Confuse” the defense.
Rule 7.08 (i)
20. The runner must always slide
when the play is close.
True or False
False
There is no “MUST SLIDE" rule in Little
League. When the fielder has possession of
the ball and waiting to make the tag, the
runner has two choices; slide OR “attempt to
get around” the fielder. The runner can NOT
deliberately or maliciously contact the
fielder, but is NOT required to slide.
If the fielder does not have possession of
the ball, and is in the act of fielding a
Thrown Ball, Obstruction may very well be
called on the defensive fielder.
Rule 7.08 (a) 3
21. The runner is always safe when
hit by a batted ball while touching
a base.
True or False
False
The bases are in fair territory. A runner is
OUT when hit by a “Fair Batted Ball” while
touching a base, except when hit by an
Infield-Fly, or;
after the ball has “Passed a Fielder” and no
other fielder had a play on the ball.
If the runner is touching first or third, he is
not out unless the ball touches him over fair
territory. If one foot is on the base and the
other is in foul ground and he is hit on the
foul ground foot, he is NOT out. It is a Foul
Ball
Rule 5.09, 7.08 (f)
22. A runner may not Advance on a
Foul-Tip.
True or False
False
There is nothing foul about a Foul-Tip. If
the ball hits the bat and goes sharp and
direct to the catcher's hand or glove
and is legally caught, it is a Foul-Tip by
definition.
A Foul-Tip is a strike and the ball is live.
It is the same as a swing-and-miss. If
the ball is not caught, it is a Foul Ball.
Rule 2.00 Foul Tip
23. It is a “Force Out” when a
runner is called out for not
tagging up on a fly ball.
True or False
False
A force play is when a runner is forced to
advance because the batter becomes a
runner. When the batter is out on a
caught fly, all forces are removed and the
runner must be tagged.
Failure to tag-up, is NOT a force out. Any
runs that cross the plate before a legal
appeal is made will count.
This is an Appeal Play
Rule 2.00 Force Play, 7.08 (d)
24. An appeal on a runner who
missed a base can be a force out.
True or False
True
A runner must touch all the bases. If the
runner misses a base to which he was
forced because the batter became a
runner and is put out before touching
that base, the out is still a Force Play /
Force Out.
If this is the third out, no runs may
score. The base can be touched or the
runner can be touched, either way it's a
“Force Out”.
Rule 2.00 Force Play
25. A runner is out if he runs MORE
than 3 feet out of the Baseline to
avoid a fielder who is fielding a
batted ball.
True or False
False
The runner MUST avoid a fielder
attempting to field a BATTED ball.
A runner is out for running out of the
baseline, only when attempting to
AVOID A TAG.
Rule 7.08 (a), 7.09 (j)
26. Runners may advance when an
infield fly is called.
True or False
True
An Infield-fly is no different than
any other fly ball with regards to
runners.
The only difference is that the
runner is never forced to advance
because
the
batter
is
out
whether the ball is caught or not.
Rule 2.00 Infield Fly 6.05 (d), 7.10 (a)
27. If the 3rd OUT is called on a
runner failing to “Retouch” on a
“Caught Fly Ball”, NO runs may
score
True or False
False
This is NOT a force play. A force play is
when a runner is forced to advance because
the batter became a runner. When the batter
is out on a caught fly, all forces are removed
An out on an a failure to tag-up, is NOT a
force out. It is an “Appeal Play”
In this situation, it becomes a “Timing Play”
and therefore, any runs that cross the plate
before the APPEAL is made will count.
Rule 2.00 Force Play, 4.09 (a), 7.10 (a)
28. A pitch that bounces on the
ground during the delivery, may be
hit the same as any pitch delivered
“In-Flight”.
True or False
True
A pitch is a ball delivered to the
batter by the pitcher. It doesn't
matter how it gets to the batter,
either “In Flight” or by “Hitting
the ground”.
Rule 2.00 Pitch, 6.09 (a)
29. A batter that is HIT by a Pitch
that Bounces during delivery is
entitled to be awarded 1st base
True or False
True
If the batter is hit by a pitch,
regardless of if it ‘Bounces” or is
“In Flight”, and IF the batter is
attempting to avoid the pitch, he
is awarded first base.
Rule 2.00 Pitch, 6.08 (b)
30. If a fielder holds a fly ball securely
in the hand or glove, and
demonstrates control… It is
considered a CATCH
True or False
False
A catch is legal when the umpire
judges that the fielder has SECURE
POSSESION and COMPLETE CONTROL
of the ball.
In addition… The release of the ball
must be…
VOLUNTARY AND INTENTIONAL
Rule 2.00 Catch
31.On a Force Out or Appeal, you
may tag the base with your foot,
instead of tagging the runner
True or False
True
When making a “Force” or Appeal”
play, you may tag the base instead of
the runner. When doing so, you may
use ANY part of the body, including
the empty hand or piece of uniform in
it’s normal location on the body.
However, if you tag the runner you
MUST tag Him / Her with the Ball
while holding the Ball in the Hand or
Glove Rule 2.00 Force Play, Person, Tag, Touch
32. In Intermediate 50-70/
Junior/Senior/Big League Division,
when a Pitcher commits a BALK, the
ball is always DEAD immediately.
True or False
False
If a pitch is made after the balk call, the ball
is “Delayed Dead”. At the end of the play the
balk may be enforced, or not, depending on
what happened. If ALL runners including the
batter runner advance at least one base
safely, the balk is ignored. If not, time would
be called and all runners would be awarded
one base.
On a throw; ALL runners would be advanced
one base, ball is dead.
Rule 2.00 Balk, Pitch, Throw, 7.05 (g)
33. If the player's feet are in fair
territory when the ball is touched,
it is a fair ball.
True or False
False
The position of the player's feet or
any other part of the body does not
matter
A ball is judged fair or foul based on
the relationship between the ball and
the Fair/Foul Line, at the time the ball
is touches the fielder.
Rule 2.00 Fair Ball
34. The ball does not need to be
returned to the pitcher before an
appeal can be made.
True or False
True
An appeal may be made anytime the ball is live.
The only time the ball must go to the pitcher, is
when time is out. The ball cannot be made live
until the pitcher has the ball while on the rubber
and the umpire says "Play”
If time is not out, the appeal can be made
immediately, by any player.
Rule 2.00 Appeal, 5.11, 7.10
35. In MAJOR baseball. with runners
on base, it is an Illegal Pitch and a
Ball to the batter, if the pitcher
does not come to a complete stop
True or False
False
With NO runners on base, and the ball is not
delivered, it is not a pitch. Therefore it cannot be
a called an Illegal Pitch.
With runners on base it is an Illegal Pitch if the
Pitcher stops completely and does not re-start.
A Ball is awarded to the batter. It also counts as
a pitch towards the pitchers pitch count
In Majors, some leeway is given for
“Momentary” stop in the delivery motion.
a
Rule 2.00 Pitch, Illegal Pitch, 8.05 A)
36. The pitcher must come to a set
position before a pick-off throw to
any base
True or False
False
The pitcher is required to come
to a complete stop in the Set
position before delivering the
pitch, not before making a throw.
Rule 2.00, Throw, Pitch, Set Position, 8.05 (m)
37. The pitcher, in the SET position,
must step off the rubber before a
pick-off throw to 1st base
True or False
False
If the pitcher steps off the rubber
he is no longer the pitcher, he is
a fielder.
In the SET (or the Windup)
position, the pitcher can throw to
a base from the rubber, provided
he does not violate any of the
rules under Rule 8.05
Rule 8.01 (b)
38. It is NOT a homerun if a fielder
catches a fly ball and then falls
over the fence.
True or False
True
As long as the fielder is not touching the
ground in dead ball territory, if he holds
onto the ball and meets the definition of
a catch when he catches the ball, it is a
legal catch.
If the catch is not the third out and the
fielder falls down in dead ball territory
after catching the ball, the Batter would
be OUT, but all other runners are
awarded one base.
Rule 2.00 Catch, 5.10 (f), 6.05 (a), 7.04 (b)
39. The pitcher, in the WIND-UP
position, must Step off the rubber
before a pick-off throw to 1st base
True or False
False
If the pitcher steps off the rubber
he is no longer the pitcher, he is
a fielder.
In the WIND-UP position, he can
throw to a base from the rubber,
provided he does not violate any
part of Rule 8.05
Rule 8.01 (a)
40. The home plate Umpire is
normally the “Chief Umpire” for
the game, however he/she CAN
NOT overrule the other umps at
anytime.
True or False
True
No umpire may overrule another umpire's
call.
The umpire who made a call or ruling may
ask for help from the other Umpires if
he/she wishes.
However, if help is requested, the Umpire
making the original call must either make
the change or stay with the original
decision
Rule 9.02 (b), 9.02 (c) 9.04 (c) exception
That’s it…
Thanks