Rule 1 – Section 2 – THE FIELD

1-2-1 A diamond (or infield) shall be a 90-foot square. When measuring the distance to first base and third base, measure from the apex of home plate to the back edge of the base. The outfield is the area between two foul lines formed by extending two sides of the diamond as in Diagram 2. The infield and outfield, including the boundary marks from home plate to first and third and their extended foul lines, are fair ground. All other area is foul ground.

1-2-2 All lines on the playing field shall be marked with a material which is not injurious to the eyes or skin. All non-permanent lines should be white. Lime or caustic material of any kind is prohibited.

1-2-3 The on-deck circle should be to the side and away from home plate, 37 feet if space allows. Neither team’s players shall warm up in the other team’s on-deck circle. The on-deck circle does not have to be occupied, but if a player wishes to warm up, he shall do so only in his team’s on-deck circle, provided the on-deck circle is located safely away from home plate. (2-23)

1-2-4 When the dugout area is temporarily extended, for any reason, it shall be extended toward the outfield on a line parallel to the foul line. The extension of the dugout area shall be equally applied for both teams.

1-2-5 When constructing a new field for high school play, the distance from home plate to the nearest obstruction on fair ground should be at least 300 feet down the foul lines and at least 350 feet to center field. It is recommended that the line from home plate through the pitcher’s plate to second base run east-northeast. This line, using a steel tape or a strong tape or a cord, must measure 127 feet, 3-3/8 inches from the rear tip of home plate to the middle of second base. The catcher’s box, home plate, bases, coaches’ boxes, batters’ boxes, and three-foot running lane shall be as in Diagram 2. The recommended width of a foul line is 2-1/2inches.

1-2-6 On a sodded field, an unsodded area, commonly referred to as the “pitcher’s mound,” should have a radius of about nine feet centered 1-1/2 feet in front of the midpoint of the front edge of the pitcher’s plate.

Figure 2

Figure 3
The top of the pitcher’s plate must be 10 inches above the top surface of home plate. Inside the circle, a pitcher’s mound should be constructed according to the specifications shown in the diagram.
The degree of slope from a point 6 inches in front of the pitcher’s plate to a point 6 feet toward home plate shall be one inch to one foot, and such degree of slope shall be uniform.
The pitching mound is an 18-foot diameter circle, the center of which is 59 feet from the back point of home plate.
Locate the front edge of the rubber 18 inches behind the center of the mound.
The front edge of the rubber to the back point of home plate is 60 feet, 6 inches.
The slope starts 6 inches from the front edge of the rubber.
The slope shall be 6 inches from the starting point, 6 inches in front of the rubber to a point 6 feet in front of the rubber.
The level area surrounding the rubber should be 6 inches in front of the rubber, 18 inches to each side and 22 inches to the rear of the rubber. The total level area is 5 feet x 34 inches.
1-2-7 The pitcher’s mound may consist in part of synthetic material that is commercially manufactured for that purpose. If a mound pad is composed of natural soil and synthetic material, the synthetic material must be securely attached to the ground and be installed at least flush or slightly below the surface of the ground. The mound area shall meet suggested height and slope specifications found in the Suggested Layout of the Pitcher’s Mound (Diagram 3).

1-2-8 Media shall be prohibited from being in live-ball area. If a designated media area is to be used, it shall be established before the game begins. The home team or game management shall designate a lined area for the media, which shall be considered dead-ball area.

1-2-9 First, second and third bases shall be white bags, 15 inches square and 2 to 5 inches in thickness, and made of canvas filled with a soft material, or molded rubber or synthetic material, and shall be securely attached to the ground or an anchor system as in Diagram 2. Bases may have tapered edges and/or be designed to disengage from their anchor systems. By state association adoption, a double first base is permitted. The double first base shall be a white base and a colored base. The colored base shall be located in foul territory. (See Suggested Double First Base Rules, page 63)

1-2-10 Home plate shall be a five-sided slab of whitened rubber or other suitable similar material. One edge is 17 inches long, two are 8-1/2 inches and two are 12 inches. It shall be set in the ground so that the two 12-inch edges coincide with the diamond lines extending from home plate to first base and to third base, with the 17-inch edge facing the pitcher’s plate.

1-2-11 The pitcher’s plate shall be a rectangular slab of whitened rubber or suitable material, 24 inches by 6 inches. It shall be set in the ground as shown in Diagram 2 so that the distance between the nearer edge of the pitcher’s plate and the rear tip of home plate shall be 60 feet, 6 inches.

1-2-12 Any game started on a no regulation facility by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches shall not be protested for this reason.