Baseball Officials Training
Day 2
North Texas Independent Sports
Officials
Rule 3.00
Game Preliminaries
• 3.01 – Umpires need to check condition of
field and players equipment,especially bats
• 3.01(b) – all playing lines are marked and
correct. This includes fair/foul lines and 45
foot runner’s lane and batters box
Umpires must address any problems at
time of plate meeting
Rule 3.00
Game Preliminaries
• 3.01(c,d) – Umpire shall get game balls from
the appropriate source and verify that they
are regulation
• 3.01(e) – governs replacement of balls
Remember, no balls to be put into play unless
ball is dead. See rule 5.11
• 3.02 – Rules governing intentional ball
damage. Foreign substance.
Rule 3.00
Game Preliminaries
• 3.03 – Player substitution
• 3.04 – Courtesy runners not allowed.
This is a professional rule; leagues may
wave parts of this rule
• 3.05 – Pitcher substitution
• 3.06 to 3.08 – Notification of substitution
to Umpire-in-Chief
Rule 3.00
Game Preliminaries
• 3.10 c - Umpire sole judge as to playing
field conditions due to weather. Need
30 minutes after play suspension to call
game. Leagues may vary this rule
• 3.11 – Umpire in charge of ground
crews and can order the playing field
made fit for play
Rule 3.00
Game Preliminaries
• 3.12 – From rule 2.00, requires “Time”
to suspend play, “Play” to resume play,
between ball is dead
• 3.13 – Umpire to request Home
manager for any special rules, e.g.
overthrows, etc.
• 3.14 – Umpire to require no equipment
on the field
Rule 3.00
Game Preliminaries
• 3.15 – Umpires to allow only players or
league authorized personnel on field
• 3.16 – Spectators interference causes
ball to be dead immediately; umpires to
impose penalties to nullify interference.
There is no mandatory award here.
Rule 3.00
Game Preliminaries
• 3.17 – Umpires shall not allow any
others in dugout except team members
Rule 4.00
Starting and Ending Game
• 4.02 – Umpire to call “Play” to begin
game
• 4.03(a) – All players must be in fair
territory, except catcher to make ball
“live”. Intentional base on balls requires
catcher to be in his box at time of pitch
• Can catcher leave his box prior to pitch?
Rule 4.00
Starting and Ending Game
• 1st baseman has one foot in and one
foot out of fair territory. Is this legal
• 4.03(b) – Pitcher must be on his plate
prior to ball being put into play. Hidden
ball trick
• 4.03(c) – Location of fielders on field.
Can centerfielder play a 2nd shortstop?
Rule 4.00
Starting and Ending Game
• 4.05 – Requirements of base coaches.
Must be in uniform, and remain in the
coaches box at all times. Exception,
during urging to continue running, etc.
as long as he does not interfere. Box is
10’ by 20’ and 15’ from foul line
• 4.06 – Inciting, language, touching
Umpire, calling “Time” to trick opposing
Rule 4.00
Starting and Ending Game
• 4.07 – Team member ejection, must
leave field immediately, “well removed”
from play
• 4.08 – Umpires to give warning if
players show violent disapproval of an
umpires decision
• 4.09(a) – How a run is scored
Rule 4.00
Starting and Ending Game
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4.10 – What is a regulation game
4.12 – Suspended games
4.13 – Double headers
4.14 – Umpire to require lights on
whenever in his opinion, darkness
makes further play hazardous
• 4.15 – Forfeited game rules