RULE 2: PLAYING TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

            Section 1: Ball, Passed Ball, Dead Ball, Ball in Flight, Bases

Article 1...The Ball is one of the playing implements.  It emits an intermittent  “beep” when activated.

Article 2...The term “Passed Ball”, or “Pass”, is used to designate a pitch which is not swung at by the batter.  A batter is allowed one passed ball without penalty.  Additional passed balls will be called strikes.

Article 3...A Dead Ball is a ball which has ceased to function properly; or has been touched by a non-playing team member or spectator; or has been picked up by the umpire to be inspected; or is touched by or touches the pitcher after being hit by the batter and before it has crossed the forty-foot line.

Article 4...A batted ball is in Flight until it has touched the ground or some object or person in fair or foul territory.

Article 5...The Bases are playing implements of the game.  There shall be three bases: Home base (plate), 1^st base, and 3^rd base.  First and third bases will emit a steady ‘buzz’ when activated, home plate does not emit a sound.

            Section 2: Batter, Batter’s Box, B¹, B²,...

Article 1...The Batter is the player of the team at bat who is entitled to occupy either of the two batter’s boxes located at home plate.  The Batter’s Box is the 4' x 8' area near and on either side of home plate where the batter will stand with both his entire feet when batting, the lines are part of the box.  When the head umpire calls “Play”, the batter has thirty seconds to occupy one of these boxes.  An “On-Deck Circle” for each team is a circle five feet in diameter located a safe distance to the side of and behind home plate where each batter will stand while awaiting his turn at bat.  When the head umpire calls “Play”, the on-deck batter will have thirty seconds to occupy the on-deck circle.  The batter-on-deck must have blindfold in place prior to entering the on-deck circle.  The penalty for batter not being at the plate and/or on-deck batter not being ready in the circle within thirty seconds shall be a strike on the current batter; the penalty for the on-deck batter not having blindfold in place prior to entering the circle shall be a strike on the current batter.  Once the batter-on-deck has the blindfold in place, it shall not be lowered or removed without permission from the umpire until that person has completed his turn at bat by scoring, striking out, or being put out: PENALTY- The batter or the batter-on-deck who removed the mask illegally shall be declared out.  The Umpire may, at his discretion, issue one, but no more than two, team warnings for batter or batter-on-deck violations of the mask rule before charging the penalty strike or declaring the batter or batter-on-deck out.

Article 2...The player who bates first in his half of an inning is designated B¹, the second player to bat is B²,and so on through the inning.

            Section 3: Catch, Catcher, Catcher’s Box

Article 1...A Catch is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession of the ball, in hand(s) or glove, above the ground, and away from the body.  In the rare event that  a defensive layer catches a live, batted fly ball in flight prior to the ball touching the ground, a spotter or umpire, or any object on fair or foul ground other than another defensive player this will automatically retire the side and the offensive team will immediately take the field.

Article 2...The Catcher is the person to whom the pitcher throws when delivering the ball to the batter.  When ready to receive a pitch, the catcher must be in the area immediately behind home plate.  This area shall be called the catcher’s box, and is entirely in foul territory.

            Section 4: Charged Conferences

Article 1...Charged Conference is one which involves the coach or his non-playing representative, and a player or players of the team.

            Section 5: Error, Interference, Obstruction

Article 1...An error is a misplay by a fielder or a team which is recorded in the error column of the player or team record.

Article 2...Interference and Obstruction

                               [a] Offensive Interference is any act by a member of the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, hinders, impedes, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play or a runner comes in contact with any fielder, with or without the ball, on or inside the baseline when the fielder is attempting to field the ball;

                               [b] It is Umpire Interference when he inadvertently moves so as to hinder a player’s attempt to field a batted ball or a runner’s attempt to reach the activated base, or is hit by a fair ball (page 22: No Pitch);

[c] Spectator Interference is any action by a spectator which impedes the progress of the game;

                               [d] Obstruction is any act by a member of the defensive team which interferes with, obstructs, hinders, impedes, or confuses a batter attempting to hit or a runner in his attempt to reach the activated base or fielder comes in contact with a runner outside the baseline, regardless of which base is activated (even if the runner is advancing to the wrong base);

            Section 6: Fielder, Battery, F¹, F²,..., Spotter

Article 1...A Fielder is any one of six players of a team when it is not at bat (defensive team).  There is no specific distinction between outfield and infield positions in beep baseball.  The terms “infield” and “outfield” are used in these rules to distinguish between positions 1, 3, and 5; and 2, 4, and 6 respectively, although a team may place the players occupying these positions anywhere on the playing field.  The pitcher and catcher are the Battery.

Article 2...In play rulings and discussion, the fielders are referred to as F¹, F², etc. F¹ is infielder at first base, F³ is infielder at shortstop, F⁵ is infielder at third base, F² is outfielder in right field, F⁴ is outfielder in center, F⁶ is outfielder in left field, P is pitcher (non-fielding position), C is catcher (non-fielding position), and Sp is spotter (also a non-fielding position).

Article 3...A Spotter is a non-playing member of the defensive team who will assist the defensive team in the field.  Each team must have one, but not more than two, spotters.   The spotter(s) will take a position on the field in fair territory prior to the Umpire calling “play”.  The spotters may assist the defense in position themselves on the field prior to each pitch.  Spotter may advise if a batter is right- or left-handed, male or female, or any additional information which the spotter feels is necessary for the players to know, prior to the umpire calling “play” or prior to the Time of the Pitch for the first pitch, and subsequent pitches, to that batter.  The spotter may use only the numbers one through six when designating which player is in the best position to field a batter ball.  If the spotter attempts to convey any other information (such as left or right, in or out, a second call by the same or different spotter [double call], or any other verbal or physical assistance to aid a player or players in locating the ball) the umpire shall award the offensive team a run and caution both the captain and the spotter of that team; if repeated offenses are called for the same or similar infraction in that ball game, the spotter may be ejected from the game.  Two ejections in a tournament will result in that spotter being barred from further participation in that tournament in any capacity.  Defensive players are allowed to speak freely to aid one another in locating and fielding the ball.

            EXCEPTIONS: Exceptions to the spotter ejection are:

                               [a] In the event a ball in flight presents a chance of injury to a defensive player, the spotter may call out a warning without penalty;

                               [b] If a collision between fielders is imminent, the spotter may , and should, call out a warning without penalty;

                               [c] If a collision between a fielder and the runner is imminent, the spotter may, and should, call out a warning.  In this case the umpire shall decide if the play should be awarded to the defense, if the collision was/would have been in fair territory; or the offense, if the collision was/would have been in foul territory; or if the play will be redone with ball and strike count starting over;

                               [d] A spotter may knock down an unusually hard hit ball traveling toward a defensive player to protect the player.  In this case, a run will be awarded to the offensive team.

NOTE: It must be stated here that a simultaneous or near-simultaneous call by two spotters is possible.  The head umpire will be the sole judge of whether or not a simultaneous or near-simultaneous call has occurred.  The head umpire may confer with the other officials on the field before announcing a decision.  This occurrence is not a double-call and shall not be penalized as such.  If the head umpire decides the call was simultaneous, the play will stand; otherwise he may call a replay and the batter shall resume with ball and strike count starting over.

            Section 7: Game, Called Game, Tie Game, Inning, Half Inning, Forfeit

Article 1...A Regulation Beep Baseball Game is six innings (turns at bat) for each team unless shortened as allowed for elsewhere in these rules, or unless extra innings are necessary to break a tie score.  A Called Game is one which is ended by order of the umpire and/or tournament officials according to regulations printed elsewhere in these rules.  A Suspended Game is a called game that will be completed at a later time. 

Article 2...An Inning is that portion of the game which includes a turn at bat for each team.  A Half Inning is the interval during which one team is on offense (batting) and the other is on defense (fielding).  A half inning ends when there is a third out of when a fly ball is caught as in R2-s3-a1 or when, in the last inning, the winning run is scored.  An Extra Inning is one which extends the game in an attempt to break a tie score.  If it is necessary to end the game when the score is tied, it is a Tie Game.

Article 3...A Forfeited Game is one awarded to the opponent of the offending team.

Section 8: Hit, Fair Hit, Foul, Foul Tip, Bunt, Ground Ball, Fly Ball, No Pitch

Article 1...A Hit is the act of the batter initiating contact between the bat and the pitched ball.  A Fair Hit (commonly called a fair ball) is a batted ball which settles on fair territory between home and first base spot or between home and third base spot, on or inside the base lines and on or beyond the forty-foot line; or contacts fair ground on or beyond the forty-foot line on or between first base line and third base line; or which is on or over fair ground when bounding to the outfield area beyond first or third base spot; or first falls on fair ground beyond first or third base spot; or which touches the person of a spotter, or fielder (other than the pitcher); or which, while on or over fair ground, passes out of the playing area. [Note: a fly or line drive hit which passes over or inside first or third base spot in flight and curves to foul ground beyond such spot before touching or being touched is not a fair hit, it is a foul ball.]

Article 2...A Foul is a batted ball which settles on foul territory between home and first base spot or between home and third base spot before or after crossing the forty-foot line and before it has passed either base spot in fair territory and before it hs been touched by a defensive fielder; or that bounds past first or third base spot on or over foul territory; or that first falls on foul ground beyond first or third base spot prior to touching or being touched in fair territory; or that stays between first and third baselines but stops moving before it has reached the forty-foot foul line; or that, after touching the ground beyond the forty-foot foul line, rebounds, bounces, or rolls, back across the forty-foot foul line into foul territory before touching or being touched by a fielder; or that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or other official or a player or other person, or any object foreign to the natural ground, including a base or its wind-resistant device.  A Foul Tip is a batted ball that goes directly to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught and held by any fielder, a Foul Tip is a foul ball and the batter will remain at bat.  The fourth strike must be a clean miss or a called strike.

Article 3...The Bunt is not allowed.  For attempting to bunt the batter will be called out, even if the ball travels over the forty-foot line.  The umpire should note and be aware of the difference between an obvious, conscious attempt to bunt and failure to “get a good piece of the ball”.  Bunting seldom happens in Beep Baseball, this ruling is included for the “one time in a hundred” when it does happen.

Article 4...A Fly Ball is a batted ball which rises an appreciable height above the ground.  A Line Drive is a batted fly ball which travels parallel or nearly so with the ground through most of its flight.  A Ground Ball is one which is neither a fly nor a line drive.

Article 5...A No-Pitch is a batted ball which touches the pitcher or his clothing.  The count to the batter shall remain the same as it was before that pitch.  A no-pitch may also be called for spectator interference or late “ready” or other call by the spotter after or at the same time the pitcher has made the first of two required verbal signals to the batter.  It may also be a no-pitch when an official is hit by a fair ball (pg. 42).  For a no-pitch, the batter will resume with ball and strike count as it was before the no-pitch call.

            Section 9: Pitcher, Pitch, Pivot Foot

Article 1...The Pitcher is the person designated in the score book as being responsible for delivering the ball to the batter.  A live ball delivered to the batter is a Pitch.  The term implies a legally delivered ball unless otherwise stated.  Time of The Pitch is when the pitcher has committed himself to deliver the pitch to the batter.  Commitment shall be defined as any motion by the pitcher customarily associated with his/her pitching style.

Article 2...The pitcher’s Pivot Foot is that foot which the pitcher contacts the pitching mark when he delivers the ball.  Normally, for a left-handed pitcher it is the left foot; for a right-handed pitcher it is the right foot.

Article 3...An Illegal Pitch is a pitch which is delivered to the batter when the pitcher’s pivot foot is not in contact with the pitching mark or which is delivered to the batter in violation of the pitching rule. [see Rule 6, Sect. 2, Art. 3 for penalties.]

            Section 10: Penalty

Article 1...A Penalty is the loss assessed by the umpire against a player, spotter, team or other person for a rule infraction.  Penalties include, but are not limited to, ejecting or disqualifying the offending person; declaring batter or runner out; awarding run to batter/runner; charging batter with strike (for delay by batter, pitcher, or on-deck batter); forfeiting game (Umpire must suspend game and confer with tournament officials unless offense is of highly serious nature: i.e. physical threat or abuse toward umpire or players of opposing team, or repeated unsportsmanlike conduct or acts in Rule 4, Sect. 4, Art. 1 occur); or removing non-players from the bench, field or spectator area.

Section 11: Play, Play Ruling, Appeal

Article 1...”Play” is the order given by the umpire when it is time for the game to begin or to be resumed after having been suspended when he called “Time”.  The term is also used to denote a unit of action which begins when the pitcher has the ball in his possession in pitching position and ends when the ball is no longer in play, or the pitcher again holds the ball while in pitching position.

Article 2...A Play Ruling is a statement of a play situation and the correct ruling.  It is considered an integral part of the rules and applies to analogous situations.

Article 3...An Appeal is a situation where the umpire ignores a batting out of order infraction or illegal substitution unless his attention is called to it.  Batting out of order must be appealed before the first pitch, legal or illegal, to the next batter. [Penalty: The out of order batter is declared out.] EXAMPLE: Batter two is due up but batter three bats instead.  After B³ has completed his turn at bat, B² comes to the plate; but before the first pitch, legal or illegal, to B², the defense notifies the head umpire that a batter was out of order.  Since batter two did not appear at the proper time, B² is out and batter four is up.  If B² receives a legal or illegal pitch prior to the appeal, batting out of order is ignored and batter three will be the next batter up after batter two completes his turn at bat.

            Section 12: Putout, Strike Out

Article 1...A Putout is the act of a fielder in retiring a batter/runner by legally fielding the ball before the runner has legally touched the activated base.  An “out” is one of the three required retirements of the players of the team at bat.

Article 2...A Strike Out is the result of the batter having four strikes charged against him.

            Section 13: Run, Batter/Runner

Article 1...A Run is the score made by a runner who legally advances to and touches the activated base before being put out by the defense.

Article 2...A Home Run is a ball that travels at least 180 feet in the air over fair territory.  The Head Umpire or Field Umpire will declare a Home Run and the defense will cease attempts to field the ball.  The runner will have thirty seconds to advance to and touch the activated base in order to record a score.  The Malfunctioning Equipment rule does not apply to a Home Run; except, if neither base will function, the Head Umpire may award the run.  If the runner fails to advance to and touch the activated base in thirty seconds or less, the runner will be declared out.

Article 3...The Batter/Runner is a player who has hit a pitched ball into fair or foul territory and is proceeding to the activated base and has not yet been put out or scored.  Also referred to as runner.

            Section 14: Designated Hitter

Article 1...The use of a Designated Hitter (DH) is not required but, if a team intends to use a DH.  It must be announced to the Head Umpire (HU) prior to the start of the game.  The DH and the Defensive Player (DP) for whom the DH is batting must be indicated by name and uniform number on the lineup sheet presented to the HU or Official Scorekeeper.  Only one DH role may be used per game.  If one team opts to use the DH, the opposing team is not required to do the  same.

Article 2...The DH and the DP are “locked” in the lineup.  The DP may be substituted for provided the active DH is not the replacement; the DH may be substituted for provided the active DP is not the replacement.  If the active DH takes the field, the DP for whom the DH was batting must leave the game and the role of DH is terminated for the remainder of the game.  If the active DP bats, the DH who was batting must leave the game and the role of DH is terminated for the remainder of the game.

Article 3...the active DH may be substituted out and, after 6 outs (3 outs under 12-run rule) may re-enter the game as an eligible substitute for any player, including the DP or DH.  The active DP may be substituted out and, after 6 outs (3 outs under 12-run rule) may re-enter the game as an eligible substitute for any player, including the DH or DP.

Article 4...If a team uses the DH but fails to notify the Head Umpire and/or Official Scorekeeper prior to the start of the game, the penalty for an ineligible player will be imposed and the role of DH will be terminated for the remainder of the game for that team.

            Section 15: Speed-Up Rules

Article 1...Speed-up Rules may be adopted for any single game by mutual agreement of the coaches and captains of the opposing teams prior to the start of the game.  Speed-up rules for any game or series of games in tournament play must be instituted by the tournament committee or tournament chairperson(s) prior to the start of the game(s) to be affected.  All coaches and umpires for the affected games must be notified prior to the start of the first affected game.

Section 16: Team and Player Abbreviations

Article 1...For brevity in play rulings., the home team is “H” and the visiting team is “V”.  Players of the team at bat are B¹, B², etc.  Fielding players are F¹, F², etc.  Substitutes are S¹, S², etc.  Spotters are Sp¹ and/or Sp².  Pitcher and catcher are P and C respectively.

            Section 17: Time, Time At Bat

Article 1...”Time” is the command given by the umpire to suspend play.  The ball becomes dead when it is given and no game action can occur, except for penalties or awards.  The term is also used in recording the length of the game.

Article 2...Time At Bat is the period beginning when a batter first enters the batter’s box and continuing until he is put out, strikes out, or scores a run.

                               [a] A batter is not charged with a time at bat when he is replaced before being charged with three strikes or he is replaced after being charged with three strikes and his substitute does not strike out;

                               [b] When Illegal Substitution occurs as in Rule 3, Sect. 1, Art. 1, a time-at-bat will be charged for the replaced player for each time his illegal substitute batted.

            Section 18: Touching Ball, Base, or Runner

Article 1...Touching is contact with, and there is no distinction between the act of touching and being touched by.  For the runner touching the base, the term applies to contact with any part of the runner or his clothing (if the clothing is reasonably well-fitted) with any part of the base or its wind-resistant device.  For battered ball touching batter, pitcher, or any other player or non-player; or bat touching ball a second time, the term applies to contact with any part of the person, object or clothing (if the clothing is reasonably well-fitted).