ARTICLE 150
BASEBALL
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1500 – PITCHING LIMITATION RULE
CIF Sections shall adopt the following baseball pitching limitation rule:
Thirty outs and/or three (3) appearances in a/any calendar week through the season.
- The calendar week begins on Monday. (Monday – Saturday)
- Innings pitched in a no game; rain out, power failure, etc., shall count towards the total.
- If the 30th out involves a double or triple play, the team will not be penalized.
- An appearance is defined as a pitcher pitching at least one pitch. If a pitcher is removed from the mound to another position and later returns to pitch in the same game, the pitcher will be charged with a second appearance.
- Any violation constitutes a forfeit of the contest.
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In addition to 1500 above, the CIF Sections shall adopt the following baseball pitching limitation rule with respect ti pitch count and required days of rest:
1501. PITCHING LIMITATION RULE – PITCH COUNT
| Level | Maximum Game Pitch Limit |
0 Days Rest Required |
1 Day Rest Required |
2 Days Rest Required |
3 Days Rest Required |
| Varsity | 110 Pitches | 1-30 Pitches | 31-50 Pitches | 51-75 Pitches | 76 + Pitches |
| ALL Lower Levels | 90 Pitches | 1-30 Pitches | 31-50 Pitches | 51-75 Pitches | 76 + Pitches |
- A pitcher may finish the current batter if the Maximum Contest Pitch Limit is reached during that at-bat
- Pitches thrown and appearances made in a no game (i.e., rainout, power failure, etc.) shall count toward the totals
- At the end of each half inning, the head coach will confirm and both team books will record the pitch count for all pitchers who threw a pitch in that half inning. In the case of a discrepancy, the home book is considered the official book
- Each school must keep a record of all pitches thrown by each of their players in each game and make this available to their respective Section Office upon request
- Any violation constitutes a forfeit of the contest.
Questions and Answers: (with regards to pitch count):
Q: If a pitch count mechanism is used that is visible to both teams, do the coaches still need to confirm the pitch count every half inning?
A: No. If the mechanism (i.e. scoreboard add-on, flip chart behind home plate, etc.) can be seen by both teams, the coaches may use that as verification of the pitch count.
Q: How is a day of rest defined?
A: A day of rest is defined as a calendar day. For example, if a pitcher throws 76 or more pitches in a Monday game thus requiring three-days rest before being allowed to pitch again, those days of rest would be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday allowing that pitcher to pitch again on Friday.
Q: If a pitcher exceeds the maximum number of allowable pitches with respect to the required days of rest while finishing a batter, how are the required number of days calculated?
A: The required days of rest is determined by the actual number of pitches thrown. For example, if a pitcher starts a batter with 48 pitches, finishes the batter with 53 pitches and is then removed from the game, that pitcher would be required to rest for 2 days before making another appearance.
Q: What, if any role, do the umpires play in the confirmation and recording of the pitch count after each half inning or inning?
A: The umpires are asked to insure that he teams are exchanging the required information, but the actual recording of the pitch count is up to the head coach of each team.
Q: If an intentional walk is issued to a batter and no pitches are delivered to home plate, are those pitches counted towards the pitchers total number?
A: No, those pitches would not count toward the pitchers total number.
Q: In the case of a balk, when does a pitch count toward the pitchers total number?
A: A pitch would only count if the ball is delivered to the batter.
Q: If a batter is granted timeout by the umpire but the pitcher still delivers the ball to the batter, does that pitch count toward the pitchers total count?
A: No. That pitch would not count toward the pitchers total number
Q: Does the Pitch Count reset each Monday like the 30 Out Rule?
A: No. While the 30-Out Rule will reset each Monday, the Pitch Count Rule will not. For example, if a pitcher throws 76+ pitches, in a game on Saturday, they would have to rest on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before being eligible to pitch again on Wednesday
Q: May the same pitcher appear in two different games on the same day?
A: Yes. However, they may only do so if they threw 30 pitches or less in the first game and are not required to rest. Also, they may not throw more than 110 pitches total for the day.
Q: What is the protest protocol for possible violation of the pitch count Bylaw?
A: A school wishing to protest should follow the normal protocol of immediately informing the umpire that it is playing the game under protest. The contest will continue and the protest will be forwarded to the local league and/or CIF Section Office for review depending on the protocols in place for handling protocols in that Section
Q: Does the above protocol preclude the Section from assessing a forfeiture for a violation of the pitch count Bylaw that is brought to them after the completion of the contest?
A: No. The above protocol simply outlines how a dispute is to be handled during a contest.
Q: Do pitches thrown and appearance made in an incomplete inning during a suspended game count toward the totals?
A: Yes
(Approved January 2017 Federated Council)
Possible Questions:
Q: What if the coaches are confirming with each other but their count is off, whose count do we go with?
A: The home team book would be the official count
Q: In the CIF-SS Finals games at Dodger Stadium or UC Riverside (or wherever), the CIF-SS is in charge of / provides the official book / scorekeeper. Are they (the CIF) also in charge of keeping the pitch count?
A:
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1502 – OFFICIAL NATIONAL FEDERATION AUTHENTICATION MARK
Only Baseballs with the National Federation authentication mark shall be used in the sport of Baseball – (February, 1999)
1502.1 All baseball games in the CIF Southern Section will be played under National Federation Rules unless otherwise provided here
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1503 – PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
It is required that adult base coaches wear a protective helmet. Play will not continue until compliance with this rule is met. It is recommended that the helmet meet NOCSAE standards
NOTE: NFHS rules govern use of protective equipment by a player/student. (Approved January, 2015 Federated Council)
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1516 – GAME TIME LIMIT / NIGHT GAME TIME LIMIT
In all non-varsity contests, no new inning will start after two and one half hours have elapsed from the start of a regulation game (five innings or four and one half innings with the host team ahead in the score).
In any night baseball game, no inning will be permitted to start after 11:30 p.m., with the exception of the CIF Southern Section Championship game.
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1517 – COACHES IN UNIFORM
No adult coach or player may coach from the first or third base coaching box that is not in uniform. Students must be eligible to be in coaching boxes.
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1518 – SPORTSMANSHIP
Contrary to certain aspects of professional baseball, the players and coaches on a CIF Southern Section baseball team are expected to accept the umpires’ decisions and to refrain from unsportsmanlike gestures and remarks to opposing players and the umpires. It is the direct responsibility of the coach to control such unsportsmanlike actions and remarks on the part of his players or bench. In the event the coach does not accept this responsibility, the umpire shall have the right to remove the offender from the scene of the contest.
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1519 – COUNTING A TIE GAME
A regulation called game with a tie score shall be counted as a ½ game won and a ½ game lost for each team. This rule will apply to all contests and leagues may not waive this rule
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1521 – PLAYER CONDUCT
Any player who is ejected for any reason shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the game and will be ineligible for the team’s next contest and may not attend.
A player who was ejected from the previous contest, who, knowingly, or unknowingly, participates in or is in attendance at the next contest, will result in the forfeiture of that contest and every contest until the suspension is completely served.
Any player whose conduct merits ejection from a game by an umpire for fighting or assaultive behavior shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the game and will be ineligible for the teams’ next contest
Any player who leaves the confines of the bench or team area during a fight that has broken out or may break out will be ineligible for the team’s next contest and may not attend.
In the case of suspension from play, the next contest may not be a forfeited, postponed or canceled game.
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1522 – COACH EJECTION
Upon ejection, the head or assistant coach shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the game and will be ineligible for the team’s next contest and may not attend. The next contest may not be a forfeited, postponed or canceled game. A second ejection will constitute a two contest suspension and a third ejection will cause suspension for the remainder of the season. A coach who was ejected from the previous contest, who, knowingly or unknowingly, participates in or is in attendance at the next contest, will result in the forfeiture of every contest until the suspension is completely served.
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Attendance at a contest by an ejected player or coach:
Q: What is meant by attendance at a contest ?
A: Attendance is defined as being present at the location/site of the contest, which includes at the team bench/area, in the stands/spectator area, any location where the contest can be observed at any time inside a stadium or playing area.
The intent of this rule is that the ejected person is not present at the location/site of the next contest.
Q: What happens if a student is ejected from the first contest at a tournament when there are two contests on that day ?
A: When a game ejection of any kind occurs, the student should not be present at the next contest except in situations where supervision is necessary (i.e: in a tournament). In tournament situations, it is understandable that the student remains in an area where they can be monitored (i.e. bleachers, stands, etc) however, they are still ineligible to compete or participate in any way, It is not the expectation that the student leave the facility unsupervised.
Q: How does the Accountability Rule affect a coach who coaches more than one level of a particular sport ?
A: A coach who has been ejected from a contest may not be in attendance at ANY contest prior to serving his/her mandatory suspension at the level in which the coach was ejected. (i.e.: An ejected JV coach who is also a varsity assistant may NOT be in attendance at any contest until his/her mandatory JV suspension has been completed).
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1524 – PLAYOFFS
1524.1 – Prior to each playoff contest, the coach of the host team will type out the ground rules on a card and will present a copy to each umpire and the opposing coach.
1524.2 – Teams entered in the baseball playoffs will not be permitted to take batting practice on the day of the playoff game prior to the commencement of the contest or during the contest. (See playoff bulletin for definition of batting practice).
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THE ABOVE CAN BE FOUND ON PAGES 148 THRU PAGE 154 OF THE CIF-SS 2019-2020 BLUE BOOK
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ARTICLE 120
APPROVED SPORTS
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1215 – CONTEST CANNOT START
When an official arrives at a site and the regularly scheduled athletic contest cannot start (canceled due to inclement weather, light failure or other circumstances beyond the control of the host management), each official shall receive one half of the game fee.
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1216 – CONTEST CANCELED AFTER START
Once a game starts, (play ball), and is stopped/called/canceled because of inclement weather, light failure, or other circumstances beyond the control of the host management, each umpire is entitled to his/her full game fee
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1217 – CONTEST CHANGE
If the date, time or location of any athletic contest is changed after assignments have been completed, it shall be the responsibility of the host management to notify the umpires involved.
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1218 – REMOVAL OF OFFICIAL – (Umpire)
After an umpire has accepted an assignment, the umpire can be removed from the contest only at the direction of the school principal, and by payment of the full game fee by the objecting school. This rule does not apply to CIF-SS playoff games.
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1220 – FAILURE TO NOTIFY OFFICIAL OF CHANGE
When a regularly scheduled game date or site is changed and the host management fails to notify the umpire and he/she arrives at the site of the contest and there is no game, the umpire shall receive ½ the game fee.
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1221 – INCLEMENT WEATHER
1220.1 – In case of inclement weather, it is the responsibility of the umpire assigned to contact the host management to learn whether or not the game will be played. If the official should arrive at the site of the contest without previously checking and the contest has been canceled, neither the host management nor the CIF Southern Section is required to reimburse the umpire for any part of his / her fee. If the official has been notified by the host management by 1:00 p.m. that the contest will be played, and he / she arrives at the site of the contest, and in the meantime the contest has been canceled, the umpire(s) shall receive half the game fee.
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THE ABOVE CAN FOUND ON PAGE 136 OF THE CIF-SS 2019-2020 BLUE BOOK
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