IHSA Baseball Rules

Long dominating America's past-time, baseball has been in the public eye since the latter half of the 19th century. Rapidly growing in popularity throughout the 20th century, today baseball players get to experience the game on many competitive levels, including within high schools. The IHSA---or Illinois High School Association---holds the responsibility of ensuring the game is played with rules that dictate fair and efficient governing laws for baseball within the state.

  1. Season Length

    • Baseball seasons within state high school play are closely monitored, encouraging competition and fair play. Each season when baseball is played there are specific start and end dates for official school practices and participation by players. The fall baseball season is not allowed to start prior to week 7 of the school's calendar year, according to the IHSA calendar. The latest at which participation can take place is week 16.

    Dugouts

    • The IHSA governs baseball based on the rules set forth by the NFHS---or National Federation of High School Sports---which dictates the rules by which teams can play. Many rules are altered each year based on the committee's decisions. Rule 1-2-4 states that dugouts are allowed to be extended; however, certain requirements exist as to how they can be extended. Dugouts are only allowed to be extended parallel to the foul line and toward the outfield. The change must also be applied equally to both dugouts.

    Molded Grips

    • Always looking to gain an edge on pitchers, batters sometimes utilize added gripping, which can help them control the bat better; however, according to rule 1-3-2, most molded grips are banned from play. Any devices, wraps or attachments that thicken the handle, making it flush with the knob at the bottom of the bat, are forbidden and banned from play.

    Foul Interference

    • During play, when a foul ball is caught by the fielder, the runner is considered out; however, rule 7-4-1f discusses when the batting side interferes with the fielder attempting to catch a foul ball. This rule is an extension to the runner's interference rule, where if a runner interferes, he is automatically out. The addition states that any interference by any offensive player---other than the runner---results in an automatic out for the runner.