Common Terms You Must Understand: Not All Simple Baseball Words Have Simple Meanings

Some of the terms used in baseball rulebooks have an everyday meaning that is different from their baseball meaning. It’s important for umpires to understand those differences and to be able to make the necessary distinctions on the field. Here is a review of some of the key definitions and their impact. Unless otherwise noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules.

Catch. The term catch is used in three different contexts. In some cases, catch simply means the act of establishing player possession of the ball. For example, for the batter-runner to be out at first on a ground ball, a fielder must catch the ball and touch first base before the runner arrives. Whether the fielder catches the ball in flight or whether it bounces is immaterial.

In other cases, catch connotes securing possession of a ball in flight. In flight means a ball that has not yet touched the ground or some object or person other than a fielder (teammate). Additionally, in third-strike situations, there are further restrictions on what constitutes a legal catch.

Unless otherwise noted the term catch refers to the following definition: A catch is the act of a fielder getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it. He may not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession (NFHS 2-9-1; NCAA 2-15, 8-3g; pro 2.00 Catch).

If the fielder has secured possession of the ball and drops it while in the act of making a throw following the catch, it is still a catch. The fielder must hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. If the fielder then falls, it is still a catch. If a fielder falls over or through a fence after making a catch in the field of play, it is a catch, but the ball is dead.

A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing or canvas that may be in foul ground. A player may touch or lean against the fence with the body or hands and make a legal catch even though the fence is pushed back, but may not push it back or down with either foot. That also pertains to an out-of-bounds fence.

Fair ball. One of the most important decisions an umpire has to make is whether a batted ball is fair or foul. With a significant exception (see following section), when the bat makes contact with the ball, the umpire must rule fair or foul.

If a ball settles on fair territory between home and first base or home and third base (ground ball), it is fair (NFHS 2-5-1; NCAA 7-6a; pro 2.00 Fair Ball), even though it may come to rest without touching the foul line, but is partially breaking the plane of the foul line. A ground ball is also fair if it is on or over fair territory when it bounds past first or third base.

A ball that touches first or third base either on the fly or after having bounced is also fair as is a fly that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first or third base.

If the ball touches an umpire or player, while on or over fair territory, or passes out of the playing field in flight in fair territory, it is a fair ball.

Play 1: B1 hits a pop up toward F3. F3 loses the ball in the sun and it lands in fair territory about 10 feet beyond first base. The untouched ball spins back toward the plate and goes into foul territory in front of first base. Ruling 1: Fair ball.

Foul tip. A foul tip is the exception mentioned above. It is the only batted ball which need not be declared fair or foul. A foul tip (NFHS 2-16-2; NCAA 2-37, 7-8; pro 2.00 Foul Tip) is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hand or glove and is legally caught. It does not matter if the pitch hits the ground before the ball touches the bat. The ball remains live and is treated the same as a pitch that is missed, a strike.

The following tipped balls are simply foul balls: a ball that hits the umpire and is caught on the rebound; a ball that does not go directly (in a virtual straight line) from the bat to the catcher’s hand(s) before it is caught; a ball smothered against the catcher’s body or protector unless the ball first struck the catcher’s hand or glove before it is caught; and a ball that subsequently touches the ground.

Conference. A conference is a legal meeting between a player and his coach or a non-playing representative (NFHS 2-10-1; NCAA 6-5e AR; pro 8.06). A conference may be held while a team is either on offense or defense and those conferences are tracked separately.

While on defense in NFHS and NCAA, a coach is allowed three free conferences and these are usually used as a trip or visit to the mound to confer with the pitcher (NFHS 3-4-1; NCAA 9-4a).

In the event of an extra-inning game, one free trip is allowed per inning in NFHS, but in NCAA, it’s only one additional trip regardless of how many extra innings are played. In both codes, unused free trips to the mound during regulation play may be used during any extra inning (NFHS 3-4-1; NCAA 9-4a AR 2). In pro, a visit is allowed once per inning regardless of whether it is in the first nine innings or an extra inning (8.06a).

Only NFHS and NCAA regulate offensive conferences. There are no restrictions under pro rules. An offensive meeting is charged anytime a coach or player delays the game or calls timeout to talk to an offensive player, whether a hitter, baserunner, an on-deck batter going to the plate or to another coach.

In NFHS, one offensive meeting is allowed per inning (3-4-2) and in NCAA, three offensive meetings are allowed per team per game (6-5f). If the game goes into extra innings, one additional offensive meeting is permitted (regardless of the number of extra innings played). Offensive meetings not previously used may be used in extra innings (6-5f 3).

In either code, after the maximum offensive meetings have been used, any request for such a meeting should be denied.

Tag. A tag is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove, or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove. It does not include touching the runner with hand or glove when the ball is in the opposite hand (NFHS 2-24-4; NCAA 2-74; pro 2.00 Tag).

Umpire interference. Webster defines interference as a hampering action. However, not all such acts by an umpire constitute interference. If a pitched or thrown ball touches an umpire, the contact is ignored and the ball remains live (NFHS 2-21-2; NCAA 6-1b, 8-3i; pro 2.00 Interference c). Although rare, if an umpire got in a runner’s path, that would also be ignored (but not by the player’s coach).

A batted ball that touches an umpire may or may not constitute interference. If a fair ball touches an umpire in fair territory before touching or passing an infielder, it is umpire interference and the batter is awarded first base; all other runners advance only if forced.

If a fair ball touches an umpire after having passed an infielder other than the pitcher, or after having touched an infielder, including the pitcher, the ball remains live and in play — no interference (NFHS 5-1-1f; NCAA 6-1i, 6-2f AR, 8-2f, 8-2g; pro 5.09f).

It is also umpire interference if an umpire hinders a catcher’s throw. The hindrance may occur while the catcher is fielding a batted ball or dropped third strike, or on an attempt to prevent a stolen base or pick off a runner (delayed dead ball).

If the throw is prevented or does not retire the runner, the ball becomes dead and runners return to their base. If the throw retires the runner, the interference is ignored.

Written by George Demetriou, a resident of Colorado Springs. He is a former president and is the current rule interpreter for the Colorado High School Baseball Umpires Association.