By Staff
Coaching Management, 9.1, February 2001, http://www.momentummedia.com/articles/cm/cm0901/bbhspitch
For the 2001 season, the Baseball Rules Committee of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) focused on clarifying those rules that govern pitching motions. According to Elliot Hopkins, Director of Educational Services for the NFHS and staff liaison to the committee, these changes were implemented because of confusion over how the rules had been previously applied.
Meeting in July 2000, the committee defined “time of the pitch” as follows:
• In the windup position it occurs when the pitcher: 1) first starts any movement of his arm(s) or leg(s) after stepping onto the pitcher’s plate with his hands already together in front of his body; 2) with both arms at his side, first starts any movement with both arms or leg(s) prior to the pitch; and 3) with either hand in front of the body and other hand at his side, after bringing his hands together, first starts any movement of his arm(s) or leg(s) prior to the pitch.
• In the set position, the time of pitch occurs the instant the pitcher, after coming to a complete and discernible stop, starts any movement with arm(s) and/or leg(s) that commits him to pitch.
In addition, the committee clarified Rule 6-1-4 regarding the position of the pitcher’s glove in the set position: “He shall come to a complete and discernible stop (a change of direction is not considered an acceptable stop) with the ball in both hands in front of the body and his glove at or below his chin.”
The Committee also officially approved the new bat rule, which was approved a year ago by the NFHS Board of Directors: “The diameter at the thickest part of the bat should be no great than 2-5/8 inches, and the bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat.” For example, a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces. Previously, the maximum diameter was 2-3/4 inches and the unit differential was five.
The committee also noted that bats that are altered, deface the ball, or do not meet the rule specifications are illegal. Bats that are broken, cracked, or dented shall be removed upon discovery without penalty.
In Rule 1-1-5, the committee agreed to delay the implementation of the NOCSAE standard for the catcher’s helmet and mask combination from January 1, 2001, to January 1, 2003. Also, in Rule 1-1-5 the committee voted to give state high school associations the flexibility to allow commemorative or memorial patches (not to exceed 2-1/4 square inches) on jerseys as long as it is done in an appropriate and dignified manner that doesn’t compromise the integrity of the uniform.
The Baseball Rules Committee adopted language in Rule 4-2-3a to address sportsmanship. The umpire-in-chief is to receive verification from both coaches that all participants are properly equipped. The official must also emphasize to the coaches and captains that all participants are expected to exhibit good sporting behavior throughout the game(s). The rules change is similar to those in other high school sports.
For more information on bat rule changes, visit our online archive at www.AthleticSearch.com and type “bats” into the search field for articles.