NCAA 6-1 Live-Ball

Live-Ball

SECTION 1.     a. After the umpire calls “Play,” the ball is alive and in play and remains alive and in play until, for legal cause, or at the umpires’ call of “Time” suspending play, the ball becomes dead. While the ball is dead, no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored, except that runners may advance one or more bases as the result of acts that occurred while the ball was alive (such as, but not limited to, a balk, an overthrow, interference, a home run or other fair hit out of the playing field).

Note 1: Umpires must not permit the promiscuous calling of “Time” by players and coaches when it is an obvious tactic to delay the game.

Note 2: The umpire shall not call time until a play has been completed. After a base on balls, the umpire shall not call time until the runner has stopped at first base.

b. If a thrown ball accidentally strikes a coach in foul territory, or a pitched or thrown ball strikes an umpire, the ball remains in play (see 8-3-i and j).

c. If a fair-hit ball passes by all infielders or it is touched by a fielder and then touches a runner or an umpire, the ball is in play and the runner is not out. If said ball should touch the runner or umpire while still in flight, thereafter it shall be considered a ground ball. It cannot be caught as a fly ball.

d. If a fielder, after making a legal catch, steps into a bench or dugout or steps into dead-ball area the ball is dead. Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when a fielder, after catching a fly ball, steps or falls into any out-of-play area.

Note: If a fielder reaches into a dugout, bullpen or dead-ball area to catch a foul fly ball and an opponent interferes with the attempted catch, the batter shall be declared out and no runners shall advance.

1) For a legal catch, a fielder must catch and have secure possession of the ball before touching dead-ball territory with either foot or falling into a dead-ball area. A fielder may enter the dead-ball area as long as the player re-enters live ball territory at the time of the catch.

2) A fielder is considered not to have fallen and the ball is live if the individual is assisted (held) from falling down or stepping into a dugout or dead-ball area by game personnel or spectators.

3) If the fielder makes a legal catch and goes through or over any fence, the ball is dead even if the fielder lands feet first. The batter is out and, if not the third out of an inning, runner(s) may advance one base.

4) All lines used as out-of-play boundaries are considered in live-ball territory.

e. If a detached batting helmet accidentally is hit with a live ball, the ball remains in play (see 6-2-h).

f. If the live ball should come apart in a game, it is in play until the action is completed.

g. If a thrown, batted or pitched ball that remains in live-ball territory accidentally hits a spectator, any other individual or animal, the ball is live.

h. If a fair-hit ball touches an umpire after it passes a fielder other than the pitcher, or is touched by a fielder, including the pitcher, the ball is in play.

i. Subject to local ground rules, a batted ball that strikes a power line, tree limb or other overhead object in the field of play remains live.