League Rules
League Rules
LOU TOMPKINS
ALL STAR BASEBALL LEAGUE, INC.
www.ltasbaseball.com
2023 SPECIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Lou Tompkins All Star Baseball League has been organized for the purpose of promoting the game of baseball through organized competition. In order to balance the competition, the Board of Directors of the League has established three basic divisions with different levels of play within each division.
1.0 FORMAT, COMPLETION OF SEASON
1.1 The league will consist of three (3) divisions:
Division A is designed for 16-18 year olds. (A player cannot turn 19 before May 1st in the current year.) Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the President.
Division B is designed for 14-15 year olds. (A player cannot turn 16 before May 1st in the current year.) In addition, B Division 14-15 year old players may play for the City/Town’s A Division Team but only provided the B Division 14-15 year old players are listed on the A Division Team’s Roster. Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the President.
Division C is designed for 12-13 year olds. (A player cannot turn 14 before May 1st in the current year.) In addition C Division players may play for the City/Town’s B Division team provided the player is on the B Division roster.
1.2 At the conclusion of the regular season games the Tournament of Champions playoff will be held and will be comprised of the top eight (8) teams in each division.
2.0 PLAYING CONDITIONS
2.1 The home team is responsible for the condition of the field. The field should be manicured and properly marked.
2.2 The home team shall have the choice of dugouts. The only exception to this is when the home team plays the game at the visitor’s field. Although the home team remains as the home team, the home team will use the visitor’s dugout at the visitor’s field.
2.3 All on-field base coaches (adults and/or players) will be required to wear a protective helmet. The adult protective helmet can be a hard liner shell that fits inside the baseball cap (skull cap), a one flap, two flap or no flap batting helmet.
Batting helmets of the full-protection type must be worn by all players while at bat or on the bases. These helmets of the full-protection type shall have extended ear flaps which cover both ears and the temples. Batting helmets of this type shall be required of each batter, base runner, on-deck batter and base coach.
3.0 UMPIRES
3.1 The League is responsible for assigning two (2) umpires per game.
3.2 The cost of the umpires during the regular season will be split by the two teams playing. During the TOC both teams will also split the cost. In the final four and the finals a third ump is added. The League will pay the fee of that 3rd umpire.
3.3 The League only provides baseballs for the semi-final and finals of the TOC.
3.4 Both teams should provide three game balls to start the game. After that the responsibility to supply balls falls with the home team.
4.0 ROSTERS AND UNIFORMS
4.1 Each team must submit a separate team roster via the league website at www.ltasbaseball.com by each division’s first game. The roster needs to be filled out in the roster template provided by the league and then uploaded to the site.
4.2 The complete rosters will only be available to the President to protect the privacy of the players. Each player’s name, address, age, phone and date of birth must be listed on the official roster.
4.3 Failure to submit a timely roster could result in forfeits for games in which a roster is not submitted.
4.4 No player will be allowed to participate who is not on a roster. Use of a player not on the roster will result in a two game suspension of the team’s manager and forfeit of the game.
4.5 Rosters are limited to a maximum of twenty (20) players. It is highly recommended and stressed that all 20 roster slots should be completed to ensure that a team has enough players to draw upon to avoid forfeits. Open or unlimited rosters are not permitted.
4.6 A teams roster shall remain open until the Monday after July 4th. On that day the rosters will be locked for the remainder of the season including playoffs.
4.7 A player cannot be listed on more than one (1) roster in the same division. See Rule 1.1 for rostering a player in multiple divisions.
4.8 For A, B or C Division players from other towns are allowed on the roster provided the town they are from does not have an LTA team in that division.
4.9 If the town does have an LTA team a player can still play on a different town’s team as long as approval is granted from the head coach of the team that the player lives in.
The President has the ability to grant exceptions to this rule if he believes it is in the best interest of the league.
4.10 IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, players must have played in not less than fifty percent (50%) of the games played by his team.
The determination of the number of games played will include games not played by team (e.g., rain out, forfeit) that the player would have been able to play according to the judgment of the manager.
4.11 All teams must be properly uniformed and all uniform jerseys must be numbered.
5.0 RULES
5.1 The Babe Ruth League Rule Book, as supplemented by these rules, shall be the sole method of play.
6.0 INSURANCE
6.1 All teams must be insured with the League prior to the first game.
7.0 BASEBALLS
7.1 Official Babe Ruth baseballs or better must be used.
7.2 Both teams are responsible for providing three (3) new baseballs each at the start of a regular season game. After that the home team is responsible to provide additional balls if needed. The same holds for the Tournament of Champions, except the League will provide baseballs for each of the semi-final and finals games of the TOC.
8.0 BASEBALL BATS
8.1 NON-WOOD BASEBALL BAT STANDARD
All non-wood bats must have the USA Bat Marking or marked BBCOR .50. Bat Barrell – 2 5/8 “. Drop 3. Drop 5 may be used in the C Division. No bats other than BBCOR and USA marked bats are allowed.
8.2 If an illegal bat is determined to have been used after at batted ball was put into play the batter will be deemed out for using an illegal bat.
8.3 If an illegal bat is determined before the batter puts a ball in play the batter will need to exchange bats for a legal one and may continue his at bat.
9.0 POSTPONEMENTS, RESCHEDULING, OFFICIAL GAME, CALLED GAME
9.1 The home team manager is responsible for notifying the visiting team, umpires and Division Commissioner in the event inclement weather does not permit a game to be started. The home team should make every effort to notify the visiting team and umpires in sufficient time to keep them from traveling unnecessarily. (recommended 2 hrs before scheduled game start).
It shall be the responsibility of the home team manager to request the Division Commissioner to reschedule any such postponements and update the schedule on the LTA Baseball web site and notify the assignor(s).
9.2 Once the game has started, the umpires have control of the game and shall decide when a game should be stopped and/or terminated based on darkness or weather conditions.
9.2.1 All games should be played until there is a winner. Extra innings need to be played in the event that the game is tied after 7 innings. Ties should be a last resort and only come about because of darkness or field conditions.
9.3 All games MUST be played as scheduled with the following exceptions:
Scheduled LTA Baseball games may only be rescheduled to accommodate any national-affiliated tournament games for Babe Ruth or Senior Little League or a town’s post-season playoff games. LTA Baseball will not honor requests to alter the game schedule to accommodate ANY other tournaments or league games. A request may be made to the Division Commissioner if a team wishes to reschedule a LTA Baseball game due to a conflict with their national-affiliated tournament games for Babe Ruth or Senior Little League or a town’s post-season playoff game on the same day. The request must be made as far in advance as possible of the LTA Baseball scheduled game.
9.3.1 Teams must disclose their involvement with Babe Ruth or Senior Little League district/state/national tournament play before the start of the LTA Baseball season to the scheduler and their Division Commissioner and include format, dates, times and sites, whenever possible.
9.3.2 Should a conflict arise due to a district/state/national tournament game, the teams must make every effort to play the game within a week following the original scheduled date.
The LTA Baseball philosophy in these instances is to try and play the game within the required timeframe, with communication between the managers and Division Commissioner crucial. Any undue attempts to obstruct this tenet will be looked upon unfavorably by the Board and may have a determining effect on a ruling. Division Commissioners MUST approve of any schedule change before the game can be moved.
Upon approval of any rescheduling or game changes by the Division Commissioner, the Division Commissioner will update the schedule on the LTA Baseball web site and notify the assignor(s).
9.4 Certain field changes will be allowed at the discretion of the Division Commissioner provided the home team manager and the opposing manager agree and make the request at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game. A field change request may be approved if the proposed field is a better field or the home team has been bumped from the scheduled field by the town/community field allocation organization. Field changes shall only be approved if the proposed field/venue is listed as an LTA primary or secondary field or is an approved field/venue/site by LTA Baseball and is located in an LTA Baseball member town or an adjacent town/community.
All time of game changes must be approved by the Division Commissioner. Time changes must be requested to the commissioner at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game and will only be approved if both home and visiting team coaches agree. Weekday game times may be changed from 5:45pm starts to an “under the lights” time as long as teams request the change to their commissioner at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game time.
Upon approval of any field or time of game changes for a scheduled game by the Division Commissioner, the Division Commissioner will update the schedule on the LTAS Baseball web site and notify the umpire assignor(s).
9.5 However, notwithstanding the above, if a team cannot play a game due to a scheduling conflict (town’s post-season playoff games or to accommodate any national-affiliated tournament games for Babe Ruth or Senior Little League), the team with the conflict shall forfeit if agreement cannot be reached with the opposing manager through their Division Commissioner. Teams must resolve these matters through their Division Commissioner and not negotiate around their Division Commissioner. Any team or manager who attempts to circumvent the ruling of their Division Commissioner will be subject to possible game forfeiture and suspension.
9.6 Regular season games which are shortened by either rain or darkness shall have the score revert back to the last complete inning and declared official if at least 4 1/2 innings have been played with the home team ahead or 5 innings if the visiting team is ahead. The only exception to the rule will be in the event the home team either ties or takes the lead in the bottom half of an inning which is not completed. In this case (where each team has had an equal number of times at bat) the score shall not revert to the last complete inning, but instead shall stand as played. All Tournament of Champion games (including tie games and weather shortened games) shall be played to their conclusion unless the mercy rule applies.
9.7 If a game begins and thereafter is called before becoming an official game, it shall be resumed and completed from the point of discontinuance.
10.0 TIME OF GAMES
10.1 Weekdays – 5:45 P.M. Towns with lights may play their home games at a later time.
10.2 The starting time for Saturday and Sunday games will be as set forth on the Schedule.
11.0 PROTESTS
11.1 The umpire’s decision is final on the field. After lodging notice of protest on the field, follow Babe Ruth procedures by marking play in the scorebook and then contacting the Division Commissioner stating the reason for the protest action.
11.2 A protest committee shall decide said protest. The protest committee shall consist of the President and that Divisions Commissioner(s). The protest committee shall take all relevant matters into consideration.
11.3 For each playoff game a representative of the President shall be on hand and shall adjudicate any protests in real-time.
12.0 WINNING COACH RESPONSIBILITIES, TIE GAME, AND NOTIFICATIONS FOR FINAL GAMES ROUND 1 AND 2
12.1 The coach of the winning team must notify the Division Commissioner via the league website at www.ltasbaseball.com within 24 hours in order to get credit for the win. The winning coach must have the score, all pitchers names for both teams, and the number of pitches thrown for all pitchers. The pitching information is NOT required for the A Division. Losses will be recorded by the Division Commissioner unless he is properly notified, within 24 hours, and has all the required information.
12.2 In the event of a tie game, the home team coach must notify the Division Commissioner via the league website at www.ltasbaseball.com within 24 hours in order to get credit for the tie. The home team coach must have the score, all pitchers’ names for both teams, and the number of pitches thrown for all pitchers. The pitching information is NOT required for the A Division. No ties shall be recorded by the Division Commissioner unless he is properly notified within 24 hours and has all the required information.
12.3 Commissioners must be notified directly (within 24 hours) of any ejected player, manager, coach or spectator. This notification, consisting of the name and number (if player), should be made by both managers – home and visiting teams.
13.0 TENTH PLAYER
13.1 A tenth player may be added by a team as an extra hitter. This player may substitute for any player in the field, but he must remain in the same position in the batting order.
13.2 The use of a tenth player is optional for each team on a game by game basis. If a team starts with ten players in its order, it must finish with ten. The only exception to this is if a player is injured or must depart early (either by choice or by ejection) and the team does not have ten eligible players available, it may play with nine.
13.3 If a team selects to use only nine (9) players in a given game, then a tenth player spot cannot be added during that game.
13.4 If a team wishes to use a tenth player for a given game, the manager so employing the tenth player must include the tenth player in his lineup as exchanged with the opposing manager prior to the start of the game.
13.5 In addition a DH (designated hitter) may be used in all divisions. Such a player will hit for any one person playing the field. If the DH enters the game he will remain in his same spot in the batting order and the team will lose the DH for the rest of the game. Example: DH is batting for pitcher is the 5 slot. Pitcher gets removed and DH enters the game. DH remains in 5 slot. DH is hitting for right fielder and hitting in the 5 slot. DH enters the game for 3rd baseman. DH stays in 5 slot and right fielder now bats in vacated slot left by 3rd baseman.
13.6 If a team wishes to bat their entire team thereby having a batting order of more than 10 players it may do so.
14.0 FORFEITS
14.1 If a team cannot field nine (9) official roster players within fifteen (15) minutes of the designated starting time for the game, a forfeit shall be declared
14.2 An automatic forfeit will be declared if a team goes below 9 players. The only exception to this is when an injury occurs and all substitutes have been used. An already used player will be allowed to re-enter. Selection of this substitute must be made by the opposing manager. This type of re-entry can only take place when an injury prevents a player from continuing in the game. The injured player, once removed from the game, cannot re-enter.
14.3 The score of forfeited games will be recorded as 7 – 0.
14.4 If a game is forfeited the team that forfeits must pay both umpires. If a team forfeits more than once they can be removed from the league at the discretion of the President. If a team forfeits more than twice they will be automatically removed from the league.
15.0 PITCHING
15.1 For the B & C Divisions: If a pitcher throws 30 pitches or less he requires no additional rest before his next outing. If a pitcher throws 31-50 pitches he must have one day off before he is allowed to pitch again. If a player throws 51-75 pitches he must have two days off before he is allowed to pitch again. If a pitcher throws 76-95 pitches he must have three days off before he is allowed to pitch again. No pitcher shall be allowed to throw more than 95 pitches in a single day. The exception is that a pitcher is allowed to finish the batter he has started pitching to when his pitch count exceeded 95 pitches. These rules do NOT apply to the A Division. There are no pitching constraints in the A Division.
15.2 A pitcher removed from pitching may pitch again in the game as long as he has not been removed from the game or can legally be substituted back into the game. If he is no longer eligible to be in the game or if the manager and/or coach makes two trips to the mound in the same inning as to the same pitcher, then the pitcher cannot pitch again in that game.
If a player re-enters illegally as a pitcher, there is no penalty except he must be removed from the mound as a pitcher immediately when discovered.
15.3 All pitches thrown, in any and all divisions, count in the application of these pitching rules regardless of whether the game results in an official game.
15.4 No warnings given on balks, however Umpires may use discretion at the C Division level.
15.5 Winning managers, or the home team managers in the event of a tie, must log in all pitches thrown for all pitchers for both teams. This does not apply for the A Division.
15.6 Any violation of the pitching rules 15.1 results in an automatic forfeit of the game in which the rule(s) violation occurred.
15.7 The score of forfeited games will be recorded as 7 – 0.
16.0 TRIPS TO THE MOUND
16.1 The second trip to the mound to the same pitcher in the same inning shall automatically result in the removal of that pitcher from the game as a pitcher.
16.2 The manager and/or coach is prohibited from making a second visit to the mound while the same batter is at bat, but if a pinch hitter is substituted for this batter the manager and/or coach may make a second visit to the mound, but must remove the pitcher.
16.3 In the case where a manager and/or coach has made his first trip to the mound and then returns a second time to the mound in the same inning with the same pitcher in the game and the same batter at bat, after being warned by the umpire that he cannot return to the mound, the manager and/or coach shall be removed from the game and the pitcher shall be required to pitch to the batter until the batter is retired or gets on base. After the batter is retired, or becomes a base runner, then this pitcher must be removed from the game as a pitcher only.
16.4 A “trip” is defined as: any time an umpire calls time out so that any of the manager or coaches may confer with the pitcher either at the mound or along the foul line, and any time an umpire calls time out so that any of the manager or coaches may confer with any player who subsequently confers with the pitcher before the pitcher delivers another pitch.
16.5 A manager or coach is considered to have concluded the visit to the mound when he leaves the eighteen (18) foot circle surrounding the pitcher’s rubber.
16.6 If a manager or coach goes to the mound and removes a pitcher and then the manager or a coach goes to the mound to talk to the new pitcher, that will constitute one trip to the mound to that new pitcher in that inning.
16.7 There is no limitation on the number of trips a manager and/or coach may make in a game to any one pitcher except for the limitations set forth above.
17.0 RE-ENTRY
17.1 Any of the original starting players (including the tenth player if utilized as provided in Rule 13) may withdraw and re-enter once provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever they are in the lineup. A substitute who is withdrawn may not re-enter.
17.2 A substitute may replace a substitute and the starting player may still re-enter for the substitute.
17.3 A starting player withdrawn from the game more than once cannot re-enter.
17.4 Withdrawal and re-entry takes place only when a player has been removed from the game.
17.5 If a player re-enters illegally as a pitcher, fielder, or runner, there is no penalty except that he must be removed from the game immediately when discovered. If he re-enters illegally as a batter, such illegal re-entry is penalized according to official Baseball Rule 6.07, Batting Out of Order.
17.6 Already used players will be allowed to re-enter if all substitutes have been used and an injury occurs. The selection of this substitute must be made by the opposing manager. This type of re-entry can only take place when an injury prevents a player from continuing in the game. The injured player once removed from the game, cannot re-enter.
18.0 CODE OF CONDUCT
18.1 Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, parents and themselves.
18.2 Any player, manager and/or coach ejected from the game shall face disciplinary action by the Board of Directors with the minimum penalty for the first ejection being suspension from the next game in addition to the ejection from the subject game.
In addition, (i) if a player, manager or coach is ejected twice in a season, the minimum penalty is a one (1) week suspension in addition to the ejection from the subject game and (ii) if a player, manager or coach is ejected three (3) times in a season, the minimum penalty is suspension for the remainder of the season including all post season games.
In the event there is physical contact the Board may apply additional penalties.
18.3 When a manager, coach or player is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in the game. They may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled. The intent of this rule is that the ejection causes the ejected person to be out of sight and hearing of all participants.
In the event a player is ejected it is required of the manager to provide responsible supervision off premises for ejected player.
18.4 Any manager and/or coach excluded by an official from a game is ineligible to coach at any league game at any level until the next contest at the same level has/have been completed.
During the suspension the disqualified coach may not be present at the competition site.
18.5 Commissioners must be notified directly (within 24 hours) of any ejected player, manager, coach or spectator. This notification, consisting of the name and number (if player) of the person ejected, should be made by both managers – home and visiting teams.
18.6 Any manager or coach who repeatedly harasses umpires shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors.
18.7 Any team whose parents are abusive to either the umpires or the opposing team shall face disciplinary action by the Board of Directors.
18.8 No player shall be allowed to harass opposing players, managers or coaches. Such action shall be cause for ejection in which case Rule 18.2 will be operative.
19.0 COLLISION RULE
19.1 A runner shall be called out when he does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder, at any base, when either the fielder has the ball and is waiting to make a tag, or the throw is on its way and the fielder is about to catch the ball for the purpose of making the tag. In any case, contact must be made for this rule to apply and umpire’s judgment controls.
19.2 Please see MIAA Force Play Slide Rule (printed at the end of this rule book) for detailed description of the application for rule 19.1.
19.3 The MLB Collision Rule (7.13 in MLB rule book) will apply to plays at Home Plate.
20.0 MERCY RULE
20.1 An automatic mercy rule will be in effect. The umpire will stop the game once it becomes official (4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead or 5 innings if the home team is behind) if one (1) team is ahead by twelve (12) runs (or more) and has had equal time at bat (by innings) or if the home team is leading.
21.0 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
21.1 At the conclusion of the regular season there will be an eight (8) team Tournament of Champions (T of C) in the A Division, B Division and C Divisions.
21.2 Seeding – The seeding of the eight (8) teams will come from the most points overall record if the Division is not split into conferences. If the Division is split into two (2) conferences then the top four teams in each conference make the TOC. After the teams are decided for the TOC then total points will determine the seeding. The exception is the C division where the number of games played varies by conference. We will seed the C Div TOC by winning percentage.
21.3 The following season point system shall be used, when necessary, to seed teams in the championship round.
1. Win = 2 points
2. Tie = 1 point
21.4 For each division, the championship round shall follow a double elimination format to determine the semifinalists, if weather allows. Every effort must be made to have the final games, for each division, on the Sunday of the championship round week. This may mean that the Board of Directors will change the format to a single elimination at the start of the round or even during the round. Poor weather shall be the reason to change from a double to a single elimination format.
If the League can secure a sufficient number of lighted fields for the TOC games scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, then games 1 – 10 for each division will be played under the lights at those fields as assigned by each of the Division Commissioners.
The highest seed will be the home team throughout the T of C.
Monday Game 1: Team 1 vs Team 8
Game 2: Team 2 vs Team 7
Game 3: Team 3 vs Team 6
Game 4: Team 4 vs Team 5
Tuesday Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 4
Winner of game 5: Semifinalist
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs Winner Game 3
Winner of game 6: Semifinalist
Game 7: Loser Game 2 vs Loser Game 3
Game 8: Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 4
Wednesday Game 9: Loser Game 5 vs Winner Game 8
Winner of game 9: Semifinalist
Game 10: Loser Game 6 vs Winner Game 7
Winner of game 10: Semifinalist
21.5 For each division, the semifinal games shall follow a single elimination format.
Saturday Game 11: Highest remaining seed vs. Lowest remaining seed.
Game 12: Next Highest remaining seed vs. Next Lowest remaining seed.
21.6 For each division, the final game shall follow a single elimination format.
Sunday Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12
22.0 TIE BREAKERS
Seeding/standings for the Tournament of Champions will be determined as follows:
22.1 NUMBER OF POINTS EARNED DURING THE REGULAR SEASON
The tie breakers are used in order to advance or seed one team at a time. Each time a tie is broken to advance one team, leaving a tie between two or more teams, the situation reverts to criteria of 22.2, (Winning Percentage).
22.2 WINNING PERCENTAGE
If still tied:
22.3 RESULTS OF HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETION
Example: Three teams are tied with the same number of points earned during the season. Teams A, B and C played against each other once during the season. Team A won all its games against Team B and Team C. Team A advances, which then creates a two-way tie between Team B and Team C. That tie then is broken by reverting to criteria of 22.2. (Winning Percentage).
If still tied:
22.4 LEAST RUNS ALLOWED PER GAME DURING THE SEASON
If the results of the head-to-head matchup(s) of the teams that are involved in the tiebreaker cannot break the tie (because no team defeated each of the other teams in the tiebreaker each time they played, or because no team has defeated all of the other teams involved in the tie, or because the teams involved in the tie did not play one another during the season), then the tie is broken using criteria of 22.4.
If still tied:
22.5 COIN FLIP BY THE HEAD COMMISSIONER OR THE APPLICABLE DIVISION COMMISSIONER
23.0 POOR WEATHER vs REGULAR SEASON CONCLUSION
23.1 If poor weather interferes with the successful conclusion of the regular season within the time period scheduled, the established tie breaking systems may be used to select teams for the T of C or to even create a champion, if necessary.
Force-Play-Slide Rule
NCAA Baseball Rule 8 Section 4 – adopted by MIAA
SECTION 4. The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of all players. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.
a. On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground before the base and in a direct line between the two bases. It is permissible for the slider’s momentum to carry him through the base in the baseline extended.
Exception—A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. Interference shall not be called.
(1) “On the ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground before the base.
(2) “Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.
b. Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner makes a legal slide directly to the base and in the baseline extended.
A.R.—If contact occurs on top of the base as a result of a “pop-up” slide, this contact is legal.
c. Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:
(1) The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the fielder and alters the play of a fielder (with or without contact);
(2) The runner uses a rolling or cross-body slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder;
(3) The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position;
(4) The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg; or
(5) The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.
PENALTY for 1-5
(1) With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
(2) With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
(3) If the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest.
A.R.—If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.
Note: On a force play, with a two-man umpiring system, if the plate umpire does not have a potential play at the plate, he should move toward the base to observe the runner going into second or third base. In this situation, the base umpire must follow the throw and may not see the true effect of the lead runner’s action.
Balk Rule Clarification
(1) A pitcher, when in contact with the pitcher’s plate makes a move (i.e. a step or an intent to throw) towards third, must now complete the throw in the same continuous motion similar to making the move to first. Failure to do so will result in a BALK.
(2) As always, if a pitcher legally disengages the pitchers plate (stepping backwards with his pivot foot), he may make any movement he desires as he is no longer considered a pitcher.