NFHS Baseball: Becoming a Runner (Rules Review and Quiz)

This video reviews when and how the batter becomes a runner in NFHS Baseball. It also reviews this week's quiz.
Take the Quiz Yourself Here: forms.gle/GbjphXooER3M6489A
Sign Up for our Weekly Rules Quiz: eepurl.com/hUISYX
You can review our introduction to NFHS Plate Meetings here: • Umpire 101: The Plate ...
Got any new video ideas? Contact me: [e-mail]

[@jessekriebel1346]

Thanks for the info. The test is a great tool. Well done.

[@unclejer65]

Thank you for making these videos, Houston County Association appreciates them.

[@ngbabb1]

Good stuff Patrick, even an "old dog" like myself learns something new by watching these videos and taking the associated quizes.

[@UmpireClassroom]

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

[@XerxesLlewellins]

Thanks for the review videos - Houston County Baseball Umpires

[@paulstgeorge780]

This video was great! Well done and thank you.

[@adambaker5750]

Great video! Really helped with catchers obstruction

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad it helped!

[@Suzyrn601]

Wow, this is awesome information. I knew most of the answers but would have missed a couple. Thanks for the information.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Thanks for participating and supporting!

[@rayray4192]

Batter/ runner is never forced or compelled to advance so it’s legal fit him to run backwards toward home base. This happened last year In Pittsburgh and worked out well for the Cubs who were on offense.

[@brettwallace1554]

Great review! Thank you! Houston County Baseball

[@UmpireClassroom]

Thanks for watching!

[@maalee21]

Great video. Houston County Umpires

[@KelvinTaylor-cd2hs]

Very Informative

[@actuarialguy]

During a catcher's obstruction that is hit fair and with a runner on base, could the batter-runner refuse to fully advance to 1st base as a hedge that the other runner is thrown out? E.g. ball is hit to the outfield and the runner on 2nd is going to attempt home so the batter runner stops just prior to 1st base to await the result of the throw home. If the play at home was an out then the batter runner allows himself to be put out prior to reaching 1st so his team still has the option of electing the obstruction penalty?

[@pwd1679]

57??😮 That would put you on a J.V. field only when I was on the field.

[@jordanbaughman4342]

In Case Play #4, where does it say in the rule book that the batter has to attempt to move out of the way of a pitch? I have always thought that if a pitch is thrown directly at the batter, he does not have to move out of the way. He is just not allowed to permit the ball to touch him. (Also, I just discovered your videos recently. They’re extremely helpful!)

[@UmpireClassroom]

I think these phrases are more or less the same. I wouldn't get caught up in it. Case book play 8.1.1 Situation D

[@standyer7482]

It is worth noting that Case Play #3 is different when applying Pro Rules, which many umpires do when they work lower levels of youth ball. By Pro Rules, the batter who does not realize his situation on a dropped third strike, and leaves the dirt circle, (or an approximation on fields that have none), he is out as soon as he leaves said dirt circle. In NFHS, he is still allowed to attempt first base until he actually enters his team's dugout.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Correct! I would like to see more rec leagues and youth ball moved to modified NFHS rules. More kids will play NFHS ball than Pro. And more umps will work youth and high school than youth and pro!

[@standyer7482]

@@UmpireClassroom - Oh, the differences cause a lot of problems, mostly because coaches and players both don't know which rules set they are playing under, and they don't really know the rules to begin with. It cause problems with umpires, too. I was working a game under "pro" rules with an umpire who was used to"NFHS" rules. There was a balk, but the batter hit the ball. The field umpire killed the play, which would be fine by NFHS, but not by Pro rules.

[@jeffscully1347]

Your average umpire is only scoring 57% on the NFHS exam? THAT is astounding.

[@UmpireClassroom]

On the questions in this video. Not necessarily the entire exam.

[@theburntginger]

I'm learning to umpire and I'm having a hard time understanding case play 4, answer c. So with no one on base, the batter isn't awarded first because it's an illegal pitch? But the batter would be awarded first if it was ball 4? What if there were runners on? Can you help point to the rule book where I can break all of that down? Thanks! Love the videos.

[@UmpireClassroom]

What you need to remember is that an illegal pitch is a dead ball. The action that makes something an illegal pitch is going to happen before the ball crosses the plate (or hits the batter). The penalty for an illegal pitch is a ball. With a runner on base, an illegal pitch is a balk.

[@jamieburkhart6221]

Great stuff...have you thought about adding any video (plays from actual games) into your stuff? Just a thought...great stuff though

[@UmpireClassroom]

Definitely on the to-do list! Stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@davej3781]

regarding caseplay 13... do you have any supporting interpretation or caseplay from NFHS for this answer? generally in awarding bases, no runner may advance beyond his legally occupied base while the ball is dead unless forced by an award to the batter-runner which places him on 1st base; awards to other runners generally can't force a preceding runner, so if an award to R2 can't be given without forcing R3, then R2 may not advance for example, consider 8-3-3c(3) which specifies that two runners between 1st and 2nd when the ball is thrown out of play cannot both be given two bases, because both would be on 3B and the trailing runner can't force the preceding runner to score... therefore the trailing runner gets only one base and advances only to 2B

[@UmpireClassroom]

I felt the same way on this play when I first reviewed it. The weird thing about case plays is they sometimes tell you how to rule a play, when the rules book doesn't give a defined answer. This play and ruling are directly from the case book. 8.1.1 Situation N Weird right???

[@davej3781]

@@UmpireClassroom ah, cool, thanks for the casebook reference. I have all the rulebooks in pdf form, PBUC manual, MLBUM, and all the annual NFHS interps from stevetheump... but the casebooks I have only in paper form so it's harder to find things in them, plus I only have them at hand if I'm at home

[@rayray4192]

@@UmpireClassroom sooohhhh, R-2 is stealing third base when R-3 is not? I suppose a sign could be missed. This ruling violates the principle that a preceding runner can’t be awarded base(s) he isn’t entitled to because a following runner has been awarded bases. The rule is only runners attempting to steal advance, and if R-3 isn’t attempting to steal he doesn’t deserve home plate by rule. The Indianapolis bureaucrats must be saying R-2’s award supersedes the the written rule that only runners stealing advance along with any runner forced to advance by the batter/ runner being awarded first base. I subscribed and rung the bell, or is it rang the bell?

[@RobInNJ03]

I thought all catchers interference in NFHS were auto-dead balls? When did it change?

[@UmpireClassroom]

Hmmm.. Has been that way since at least 2020 but that's as far as my awareness of changes goes...

[@danieljorissen2439]

The answer to Case Play #15 (at 21:15 in the video) seems wrong to me. F2 has the right of way to field a batted ball in front of the plate in the same way that F4 has the right of way to field a grounder without being knocked over by R1 advancing to 2B. I don't see anything in the rule book about "incidental contact" in this context. [NFHS rule 2-21 Article 1: Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat: a) which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.] Sorry Patrick, but I think you blew this call. If I'm wrong please show me where in the NFHS rule book is says a batter-runner is allowed 'incidental contact' with the catcher while the catcher attempting to make a play on a fair batted ball.

[@UmpireClassroom]

To get this play right, you have to utilize the case book under NFHS rules. 8.1.1 Situation R (this play is copied from the case book). Incidental contact around home in these scenarios is generally ignored. The same is in OBR, where they provide the "APPROVED RULING" in the rules book. It's important to understand the NFHS Case Books carry the same value in properly carrying out the rules. The case book isn't easy to navigate, but the NFHS publishes a "Rules by Topic" that does a great job integrating the rules and case plays.

[@danieljorissen2439]

@@UmpireClassroom Thanks for the clarification -- I assumed the NFHS Rule Book was the single source of truth. I bought the official NFHS Rule Book app and didn't realize the Case Book was a separate download, which probably means NFHS also issues separate Rule Book and Case Book print editions. Seems odd that umpires are expected to carry two books with them instead of just combining them into one.

[@rayray4192]

Catcher obstruction is a balk because stepping in front of home plate to receive a pitch is an illegal pitch. Doesn’t every runner advance on the balk?

[@socialumpire]

Are you sure? What does the rule say?

[@rayray4192]

@@socialumpire I’m in the gym. I’ll look when I get home.

[@socialumpire]

@@rayray4192 PUMP DEE I URN(in my Arnold voice)

[@rayray4192]

@@socialumpire thanks for the laugh. Hans and Frans on S.N.L. We’re hilarious. Triceps,biceps, abs, and chest workout tonight. I’m just getting into the rulebook

[@rayray4192]

@@socialumpire Found the rule; 7.07. “ If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or steal, the catcher steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.” So it’s an isolated scenario. R-3 must be stealing. In all other cases runners who are not forced and were not stealing must return to their time of pitch base. This info is under the heading,” Penalizing Catcher Interference “ I the Chris Jaska/ Rick Roder book entitled,” The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation. My apologies if I caused confusion. Hope you are well and happy

[@davej3781]

it would be helpful if you visually indicate/highlight the correct answer for each caseplay before moving on to the next; I often watch without sound, and the auto-subtitles haven't generated yet.

[@rayray4192]

8 -1-1-d)2- if a loose improperly worn shirt hit by a pitch is not an award of one base how about the sliding gloves in the back pocket? 8-1-1 d) a batter becomes a runner when a pitched ball hits his person or clothing. Sliding gloves are smart but my question is are they clothing? The proper way to wear sliding gloves is on your hands; not sticking out your back pocket.