Live Ball

The ball is considered live and in play when the plate official declares the start of play. The ball remains live and in play until a game official suspends play by calling “Time” or the ball becomes dead.

Dead Ball

The ball is considered dead when it is out of play, becomes blocked, or ruled dead.

Once a ball is declared dead it will not be considered live until a game officials declares a resumption of play.

During dead ball periods no player may be put out, base runners may not advance, and no runs may score. Runners may only advance one or more bases as the result of:

1. Action that occurred while the ball was live.
2. Any result of a dead-ball appeal.

In between pitches and any time after the ball is dead all base runners must return and touch their base.

Actions that result in the ball becoming dead are:

1. A pitch contacts a batter or the batter's clothing. (Note:The ball is dead even if the batter swings at it)
2. A ball contacts the bat a second time or is illegally batted.
3. A batter enters the batter's box with an illegal bat.
4. Any time a batted ball is touched by any object other than the ground or personnel other than a fielder while on or over foul territory.
5. Any time a batted ball goes immediately from the bat to any part of the catcher or catcher's equipment without first contacting the catcher's hand or glove.
6. Any time a batted ball is an uncaught foul ball.
7. A batter, batter-runner, runner, retired runner, on deck batter, coach, or offensive team personnel commit an act of interference.
8. When a fair fly ball which is on or over fair territory
   1. Contacts a runner or game official before being contacted by a fielder and prior to passing any fielder excluding the pitcher or contacts a runner after passing by a fielder and another fielder could have made an out.
   2. Contacts a spectator or non-game personnel.
   3. Passes through, bounds over, or in any way becomes blocked in a fence or field barrier.
9. Any time a pitched or thrown ball
   1. Contacts a spectator or non-game personnel.
   2. Enters into dead ball territory
   3. Passes through, bounds over, or in any way becomes blocked in a fence or field barrier.
10. Game officials handle a live ball and calls “Time”.
11. A defensive player after catching a batted ball, fair or foul, and subsequently leaves the field of play by contacting with one entire foot or by falling into designated dead-ball area.
    1. A fielder is considered in play and may legally field, throw, or catch a ball without penalty provided they do not have an entire foot in or any other body part contacting dead ball territory
12. Any personnel connected to the offensive team verbalizes, incites, or commits any action or command in an effort to cause the opposing pitcher to commit a pitching violation. Note: Personnel shall not attempt to use “Time” or “Illegal” verbally to attempt to cause the pitcher to pitch illegally.
13. An intentional walk/base on balls is awarded.
14. An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball with at least first base occupied and less than two outs.

    NOTE: The Infield Fly Rule is an exception to this rule.

15. A runner interferes with a fielder attempting to catch a foul fly ball.
16. The batter-runner moves backward toward home plate to delay or avoid being tagged out.
17. An illegal pitch takes place but is not released to the batter.

After the ball becomes dead the ball is considered live once a game official indicates for play to resume.

When the ball becomes dead:

1. No action by the defensive team during a dead ball period can result in a player being put out except through a legal dead-ball appeal.
2. Runners may not advance, return to touch a missed base, or return to a base that was left early on a caught fly ball while the ball was still live if the runner had advanced to or beyond a succeeding base.
3. Runners may advance when awarded bases for an action which occurred before the ball became dead. All awarded bases must be legally contacted.

Delayed Dead Ball

A delayed dead ball is a scenario in which a violation of a playing rule takes place and is subsequently recognized by a game official by giving the delayed dead ball signal. The rule violation shall not be ruled on until the ball becomes dead.

Actions that result in a delayed dead ball:

1. A live ball contacts an illegal glove/mitt
2. A game official interferes with a catcher making an attempt to throw a non-batted ball.
3. An illegal pitch is released to a batter.
4. A base runner leaves a base prior to the release of the pitch.
5. A catcher or any fielder obstructs a batter or obstructs the ball through the use of detached equipment.
6. Anyone who is required to wear a batting helmet intentionally removes the helmet while the ball remains live.
7. An illegally batted ball.

At the conclusion of the delayed dead ball situation the game official shall declare the ball dead and make any necessary awards or carry out any ruling.

“Time” shall be declared by the game officials:

When the Site Director determines inclement weather or field conditions are unfit for play.

At any point a player or non-participant is directed to leave the field of play or for a player to secure protective equipment.

When a coach or player is granted time for a conference with game officials, a charged offensive or defensive conference, or warranted situation.

When game play is suspended for a rules violation, award bases, or inspection of the game ball.

Action when the ball is dead

No action by the defensive team during a dead ball period can result in a player being put out. EXCEPTION: A legal dead ball appeal.

No runner may advance or return to touch a base missed or left too soon on a caught fly ball if the runner has advanced to or past the succeeding base.

Runners may only advance to awarded base(s) only for action that took place prior to the ball being declared dead. All bases awarded must be legally contacted