OBR / NFHS Rules Differences
Working across multiple rule sets is always a challenge, but never moreso that managing the differences between American high school rules (National Federation of State High School Associations), or NFHS (also referred to as FED), and the Official Baseball Rules (OBR), To make it easier to review the rules differences, we've broken the rules down into seven categories:
Administrative rules
Proper Appeals: Live ball/Dead ball
Substitutions: Re-entering starters
Substitutions: Illegal substitute
Game ended by darkness or weather: Suspended vs. ended game
Shortened game: Mercy rule
Umpire touches or handles live ball
The umpire's jurisdiction begins when …
Guidelines on correcting umpire errors
Batting rules
Appeal on checked swing
Backswing interference / follow-through interference
Designated hitter (DH)
When does runner abandon effort to advance on 3rd strike not caught
Coaching rules
Defensive conferences (visits)
When is a defensive visit concluded
Offensive conferences
Base coaches
Disciplinary actions against coaches
Fielding rules
Obstruction
Ball lodged in clothing or equipment
Fake tag without the ball
Catch and carry
Player positions on the field
Pitching rules
Actions allowed from windup position
Balks
Illegal pitch (no runners on)
Pitch count limits and rest requirements
Feint to third base / 3-1 move
Time limit to deliver pitch
Base running rules
Legal/Illegal slide; force-play slide rule
Must slide or attempt to avoid
Collisions with defender / malicious contact
Courtesy runner
Diving over defender
Running lane interference
Walk-off scoring
Equipment rules
Legal bats / bat regulations
Catcher's mitt
First baseman's mitt
Fielding gloves
