OBR-NFHS Rule Differences

   OBR / NFHS Rules Differences


Working across multiple rule sets is always a challenge, but never moreso that managing the differences between American high school rules (National Federation of State High School Associations), or NFHS (also referred to as FED), and the Official Baseball Rules (OBR), To make it easier to review the rules differences, we've broken the rules down into seven categories:

 

Administrative rules

  • Proper Appeals: Live ball/Dead ball
  • Substitutions: Re-entering starters
  • Substitutions: Illegal substitute
  • Game ended by darkness or weather: Suspended vs. ended game
  • Shortened game: Mercy rule
  • Umpire touches or handles live ball
  • The umpire's jurisdiction begins when …
  • Guidelines on correcting umpire errors

 

Batting rules

  • Appeal on checked swing
  • Backswing interference / follow-through interference
  • Designated hitter (DH)
  • When does runner abandon effort to advance on 3rd strike not caught

 

Coaching rules

  • Defensive conferences (visits)
  • When is a defensive visit concluded
  • Offensive conferences
  • Base coaches
  • Disciplinary actions against coaches

 

Fielding rules

  • Obstruction
  • Ball lodged in clothing or equipment
  • Fake tag without the ball
  • Catch and carry
  • Player positions on the field

 

Pitching rules

  • Actions allowed from windup position
  • Balks
  • Illegal pitch (no runners on)
  • Pitch count limits and rest requirements
  • Feint to third base / 3-1 move
  • Time limit to deliver pitch

 

Base running rules

  • Legal/Illegal slide; force-play slide rule
  • Must slide or attempt to avoid
  • Collisions with defender / malicious contact
  • Courtesy runner
  • Diving over defender
  • Running lane interference
  • Walk-off scoring

 

Equipment rules

  • Legal bats / bat regulations
  • Catcher's mitt
  • First baseman's mitt
  • Fielding gloves