rules 2

Objective of the Game
Definition of Terms
Game Preliminaries
Starting and Ending Games
Putting the Ball in Play
The Batter
The Runner
The Pitcher
The Umpire
The Official Scorer

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2.00 - Definition of Terms
(All definitions in Rule 2.00 are listed alphabetically)

ADJUDGED is a judgment decision by an umpire.
An APPEAL is an act of a fielder in claiming violation of the rules by the offensive team. An appeal must be made verbally.
A BACKSTOP is the barrier erected behind the catcher in order to allow the catcher to retrieve passed balls easily.
A BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher which shall be declared a no pitch, the ball is dead and no runners advance.
A BALL is a pitch which does not enter the strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the batter. [If the pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone, it is a "ball". If such pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base. If the batter hits such a pitch, the ensuing action shall be the same as if the batter hit the ball in flight.]
A BASE is one of four points which must be touched by a runner in order to score a run; more usually applied to the canvas bags and the rubber plate which mark the base points.
A BASE COACH is a team member or an adult manager or coach, who is stationed in the coachs box at first or third base to direct the batter and the runners.
A BASE ON BALLS is an award of first base granted to a batter, who during his or her time at bat receives four pitches outside the strike zone.
A BATTER is an offensive player who takes a position in the batter's box.
BATTER-RUNNER is a term that identifies the offensive player who has just finished a time at bat until that player is put out or until the play on which that player becomes a runner ends.
The BATTER'S BOX is the area within which the batter must stand during a time at bat.
The BATTERY is the pitcher and catcher.
BENCH OR DUGOUT is the seating facilities reserved for players, substitutes, and the manager and coaches when they are not actively engaged on the playing field.
A BUNT is a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield.
A CALLED GAME is one in which, for any reason, the umpire-in-chief terminates play.
A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in the hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it before it touches the ground providing such fielder does not use cap, protector, pocket or any other part of the uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following contact with the ball, the fielder collides with a player, or with a wall, or if that fielder falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball. It is not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive team or an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player. If the fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught. In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove complete control of the ball and that release of the ball is voluntary and intentional.
The CATCHER is the fielder who takes the position behind the home base.
The CATCHER'S BOX is that area within which the catcher shall stand until the pitcher delivers the ball.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES are those played by first or second half winners to determine league winner or those between tied teams to determine first or second half winner. They are not regular season scheduled games but extra games to determine the above. They are not to be considered as tournament games and are to be played according to regular season rules with the exceptions provided in Regulation VII, Paragraph (F).
A COACH is one who assists the manager and whose name also appears on the Player Registration Form.
A COMPLETE TIME AT BAT begins when a player takes a position in the batter's box as a batter with a count of no balls and no strikes and ends when that player reaches base safely or is declared out.
A DEAD BALL is a ball out of play because of a legally created temporary suspension of play.
The DEFENSE (or DEFENSIVE) is the team, or any player of the team, in the field.
DOUBLE ELIMINATION is the loss of two games by the same team in a single tournament at any level, i.e. area, sub-district, district, state, World Series.
A DOUBLE PLAY is a play by the defense in which two offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action, providing there is no error between putouts.
· (a) A force double play is one in which both putouts are force plays.
· (b) A reverse force double play is one in which the first out is made at any base and the second out is made on a runner for whom the force is removed by reason of the first out.
DUGOUT (see definition of "BENCH").
A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight.
· NOTE: A fair fly shall be adjudged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time such fielder touches the ball.
FAIR TERRITORY is that part of the playing field within, and including the first base and third base lines, from home base to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards. Home plate, first base and third base and all foul lines are in fair territory.
A FIELDER is any defensive player.
FIELDER'S CHOICE is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing it to first base to put out the batter-runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner. The term is also used by scorers (a) to account for the advance of the batter-runner who takes one or more extra bases when the fielder who handles the safe hit attempts to put out a preceding runner; (b) to account for the advance of a runner (other than by stolen base or error) while a fielder is attempting to put out another runner; and (c) to account for the advance of a runner made solely because of the defensive teams indifference (undefended steal).
A FLY BALL is a batted ball that goes high in the air in flight.
A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner legally loses the right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner.
A FORFEITED GAME is a game declared ended by the umpire-in-chief in favor of the offended team by the score of 6 to 0, for violation of the DYB official playing rules/regulations.
A FOUL BALL is a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural ground.
· NOTE: A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on foul or fair territory at the time that fielder touches the ball.
FOUL TERRITORY is that part of the playing field outside the first and third base lines extended to the fence and perpendicularly upwards.
A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher's glove or hand.
A GROUND BALL is a batted ball that rolls or bounces close to the ground.
The HOME TEAM is the team which takes the field first at the start of the game.
ILLEGAL (or ILLEGALLY) is contrary to these rules.
An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher does not have the pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate; (2) a quick return pitch; (3) when the pitcher delivers the pitch with a foreign substance applied to the ball. Rosin can be applied to the hand. Penalty for (1) is a no pitch. For (2) and (3) refer to Rule 8.02 (a).
An ILLEGALLY BATTED BALL is one hit by the batter with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter's box. [Rule 6.06(a).]
An INFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a position in the infield.
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "Infield Fly" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baseline, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly, if Fair."
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
· NOTE: If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul and remains foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground, outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
IN FLIGHT describes a batted, thrown, or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object other than a fielder.
IN JEOPARDY is a term indicating that the ball is in play and an offensive player may be put out.
An INNING is that portion of a game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three putouts for each team. Each team's time at bat is a half-inning. An inning starts the moment the third out is made completing the preceding inning.
INTERFERENCE
(a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules.
(b) Defensive interference is an act by a fielder which hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch.
(c) Umpire's interference occurs (1) when an umpire hinders, impedes or prevents a catcher's throw attempting to prevent a stolen base, or (2) when a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory before passing a fielder.
(d) Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball.
(e) On any interference the ball is dead.
A LEAGUE is a group of four, five or six teams, franchised within a common boundary, who play each other in a pre-arranged schedule under these rules for the local league championship.
LEGAL (or LEGALLY) is in accordance with these rules.
A LINE DRIVE is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to a fielder without touching the ground.
A LIVE BALL is a ball which is in play.
A LOCAL LEAGUE OPTION gives a league the right to adopt any rule listed for "Local League Option". If the league's governing body fails to adopt the rule it does not apply. This option does not give a league the right to redesign the rule to its satisfaction but only the right to accept the option of using it or not.
LOCAL LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS are tournaments played at the local level between regular season teams. They shall be played using regular season rules.
The MANAGER is the one who supervises a team and whose name appears on the Team Player Registration Form.
(a) The manager shall always be responsible for the team's conduct, observance of the official rules, and deference to the umpires.
(b) If a manager leaves the field, that manager shall designate the coach as a substitute and such substitute manager shall have the duties, rights, and responsibilities of the manager.
OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder, who, while not in possession of the ball, or not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner.
OFFENSE is the team, or any player of the team, at bat.
OFFICIAL RULES. The playing rules contained in this book.
OFFICIAL SCORER. See Rule 10.00.
An OUT is one of the three required retirements of an offensive team during its time at bat.
An OUTFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a position in the outfield, which is the area of the playing field most distant from home base.
OVERSLIDE (or OVERSLIDING) is the act of an offensive player when the slide to a base, other than when advancing from home to first base, is with such momentum that the player loses contact with the base.
A PENALTY is the application of these rules following an illegal act.
The PERSON of a player or an umpire is any part of the body, clothing or equipment.
A PITCH is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher.
A PITCHER is the fielder designated to deliver the pitch to the batter.
The pitcher's PIVOT FOOT is that foot which is in contact with the pitchers plate as the pitch is delivered.
"PLAY" is the umpires order to start the game or to resume action following any dead ball.
A PLAY SITUATION is anything covered under the Dixie Youth Baseball playing rules, regulations, and, where applicable, tournament rules.
A QUICK RETURN is a pitch made with obvious intent to catch a batter off balance. Refer to Rule 8.02 (a) (7). It is an illegal pitch.
REGULATION GAME. See Rules 4.10 and 4.11.
A RETOUCH is the act of a runner returning to a base as legally required.
A RUN (or SCORE) is the score made by an offensive player who advances from batter to runner and touches first, second, third, and home bases in that order.
A RUN-DOWN is the act of the defense in an attempt to put out a runner between bases.
A RUNNER is an offensive player who is advancing toward, or touching, or returning to any base.
"SAFE" is a declaration by the umpire that a runner is entitled to the base for which that runner was trying.
A"SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT" is any level of tournament play approved by Dixie Youth Baseball, Inc. (including a two-out-of-three series) which allowed each franchised league to enter ONE team in the Majors, AAA, AA and A divisions at the first level of tournament play to compete for the right to advance to subsequent levels of sanctioned play.
· NOTE: Any non-sanctioned tournaments supervised by DYB officials must be approved by the respective DYB state organization.
A SERIES is more than one game played between teams.
SET POSITION is one of the two legal pitching positions.
A STRIKE is a legal pitch which meets any of these conditions (a) Is struck at by the batter and is missed; (b) Is not struck at, if any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone; (c) Is fouled by the batter when there is less than two strikes; (d) Is bunted foul (batter is out and ball is dead, if batter bunts foul on third strike); (e) Touches the batters person as the batter strikes at it (dead ball); (f) Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone; or (g) Becomes a foul tip.
The STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate which is between the batter's armpits and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The umpire shall determine the strike zone according to the batters natural stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.
A SUSPENDED GAME is a called game which is to be completed at a later date.
A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with the body while holding the ball securely and firmly in the hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball or with the hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in the hand or glove.
A THROW is the act of propelling the ball with the hand and arm to a given objective and is to be distinguished, always, from the pitch.
A TIE GAME is a regulation game which is called when each team has the same number of runs.
"TIME" is the announcement by the umpire of a legal interruption of play, during which the ball is dead.
TOUCH. To touch a player or umpire is to touch any part of the player or umpire's body, clothing or equipment.
A TRIPLE PLAY is a play by the defense in which three offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action, providing there is no error between putouts.
A WILD PITCH is one so high, or low, or wide of the plate that it cannot be handled with ordinary effort by the catcher.
WIND-UP POSITION is one of the two legal pitching positions.