NEVBBL Rules

Stealing (A) RUNNERS: It is absolutely imperative that all runners hold their base until the pitcher has actually released the ball from his hand. Gentlemen, PLEASE, just stay on the bag until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand! Stealing a base otherwise is really nothing to be proud of with underhand pitching. On balance, we feel that the responsibility for following this rule falls most squarely on the runners, who must police themselves accordingly.(B) DEFENSE: Defensive players, if in your judgment a runner leaves early please do not make such a show out of it, especially if it is a minor infraction. If the runner leaves just a bit early, but would have been safe anyway, just let it go. If you feel it was slightly more egregious, then discuss it with your captain between innings, who can take the issue up with the Umpire as he sees fit.. If it is an outright egregious violation that runs counter to the purpose of the rule, then please advise your team captain promptly in a low key manner (DO NOT address the Umpire on your own). Your captain can then deal with the Umpire as he sees fit.(C) UMPIRES: Reliance on the Umpire should be a last resort. For the rule to work best, we must be able to regulate ourselves. However, the captains should talk this rule out with the Umpire prior to the game and make sure any serious infractions are dealt with accordingly. Last season, remedying this rule was left to the discretion of the umpire, and that will be the policy for the 2003 season. That being said, we strongly recommend the following courses of action for all league umpires: (1) Prior to remedying a violation of the rule, the Umpire must witness the runner leaving early. Last year’s informal policy of the defensive players (typically the first baseman) policing this point of the game on behalf of the Umpire is strongly discouraged. The defensive players must follow the directives above in (A) and (B) regarding addressing the Umpire. (2) Umpires should remedy the situation of a runner leaving early by asking runners to return to their base. If in the Umpire’s judgment a runner leaving early has a positive offensive effect that otherwise would not of occurred (eg.. the runner leaves early on a hit and run thereby making third base), the Umpire may require the runners to return to any base as fairness demands. (iii) If in the Umpire’s discretion a team is repeatedly violating the rule throughout the course of a game, the Umpire should warn the offending team and after such warning may thereafter call a base runner who leave early a hand out.

Pitching The pitcher’s position shall be designated by a line four yards in length, drawn at right angles to a line from home to the second base, having its center upon that line, at a fixed iron plate, placed at a point fifteen yards distant from the home base. The pitcher must deliver the ball as near as possible over the center of the home base, and for the striker. It will be seen that the rule requires the ball to be pitched as near as possible over the home base, and for the striker; the pitcher, therefore, has no right to pitch the ball to the catcher especially, as is often done when a player is on the first base, and umpires should see that the rule is enforced.The ball must be pitched, not jerked nor thrown to the bat; and whenever the pitcher draws back his hand, or moves with the apparent purpose or pretension to deliver the ball, he shall so deliver, and he must have neither foot in advance of the line at the time of delivering the ball; and if he fails in either of these particulars, then it shall be declared a baulk.Nothing in the above rules precludes the pitcher from delivering the ball with pace or spin. Chadwick notes in the section “The Pitcher” in “Positions on the Field” that “[t]he Pitcher, who can combine a high degree of speed with an even delivery, and at the same time can, at pleasure, impart a bias or twist to the ball, is the most effective player in that position”.

Foul Balls Any foul ball (whether caught or not) is considered dead and runners may not advance until (a) the runner returns safely to their base and (b) the ball is settled in the hands of the pitcher. Once both (a) and (b) occur after a foul ball, then runners may attempt to advance at their own risk.

Force Plays The force play remains on regardless of the order in which the runners are put out. The force play remains on only until the runners advance to their next base – thereafter, runners must be tagged out.

No Arguing with the Umpire No person shall be permitted to approach or to speak with the umpire, scorers, or players, or in any manner to interrupt or interfere during the progress of the game, unless by special request of the umpire.The captain and one assistant from each club shall identify themselves to the umpire prior to any match. Thereafter, only the captain or assistant may approach the umpire at the end of a play and request a review of the play if (and only if) the play in question involves the interpretation of a rule (as opposed to a question of the umpires’ judgment, which may not be questioned). In such case, the umpire must consult the captain or assistant of the other club prior to making a final resolution of the point. All such requests and reviews shall be done in a gentlemanly manner.

Umpires Duty Should a striker stand at the bat without striking at good balls repeatedly pitched to him, for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or of giving advantage to a player, the umpire, after warning him, shall call one strike, and if he persists in such action, two and three strikes. When three strikes are called, he shall be subject to the same rules as if he had struck at three fair balls.