ALABAMA (WHNT) — The National Federation of State High School Associations announced Tuesday that a new rule will be required in high school baseball games starting in 2027.
New language was added to Rule 1-2-9 to specify the base construction: The double first base must be white and a contrasting solid color & the white portion of the base is located in fair territory, while the colored half is located in foul territory, split by the first base foul line.
There is to be no space between the two portions of the double base.
NFHS said this rule revision was one of 10 proposed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee during its annual meeting held June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The rules changes were accepted by the NFHS Board of Directors.
“Adding the double first base is symbolic to the evolution of the sport. It will immediately address running lane violations, and it will further protect the players from the violent collisions that have occurred at first base,” Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee, said. “By reducing collisions and enhancing safety, it preserves both the integrity of competition and the well-being of those who play.”
Other rule changes per the NFHS include:
- Rule 8-2-2a: Outline how batter-runners and fielders should use the double first base
- The batter-runner should use the colored base on an initial play at first base unless a fielder is drawn into foul territory to receive a dropped third strike, in which case, the batter-runner would use the white portion of the base. Once the batter-runner reaches first base, the batter-runner must always return to the white base, including when leading off, returning on a pick-off attempt or tagging up on a fly ball.
- A batter-runner may use either side of first base on a base-on-balls or on an extra-base hit to the outfield when there is no chance of a play to be made at first base.
- Interference is to be called on batter-runners if they only touch the white portion on a force play at first and collide with the fielder. Similarly, it is obstruction if a defensive player only touches the colored portion of the base and collides with the batter-runner.
- Rule 2-5-1h: This rule was added to note that it is a fair ball if a batted ball hits or bounds over any part of the white portion of the double first base.
- Alternately, it is a foul ball if a batted ball hits or bounds over any part of the colored portion of the base.
- Rule 3-4-6: This was added to address defensive player meetings as charged conferences. Each team, when on defense, may be granted not more than one player-to-player meeting during an inning. Umpires shall deny any subsequent defensive team requests for that half-inning.
- Rule 2-10-3: Added to define a player-to-player defensive meeting as having two or more defensive players.
- Rule 1-4-4: Language added to allow a school’s name, nickname, logo, mascot and/or player’s name to be permitted on a uniform top and/or pants beginning in 2027.
- Rule 1-6-3: This rule says that “no player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during the game.”
The double first base was used for the first time in the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament.
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