Defensive Visits

IBUA philosophy on the defensive visits are as follows:
1. Discuss the new rule at the plate meeting for every game at every level for the 1st 2 weeks of the season.

2. Defense is allowed one (1) players timeout per inning. Coaches’ visits (trips) DO NOT COUNT towards the one (1) defensive player timeout.

3. Upon granting the defensive timeout, the home plate umpire will signal with one finger towards the dugout, to indicate the use of the defensive timeout.

4. For safety purposes only, if the Defense has already used their 1 timeout and the catcher & pitcher get crossed up or aren’t on the same page, we will call time out and escort the catcher to the mound and allow the pitcher and catcher to get on the same page. We will remain present during the conversation and only allow the conversation to be about pitches and signals. Once completed, we will hustle back into position and put the ball back into play.

5. We will NOT grant time outs, to allow the SS or any other fielder, the time to walk the ball back to the pitcher.

6. Throwing the ball around the infield after a strike out or fielding out, does not constitute a defensive timeout. The 3rd baseman is allowed to hand the ball to the pitcher after the “throw around the diamond”.

Pine Tar & Illegal Player Equipment

IBUA philosophy on the use of Pine Tar :

1. At the plate meeting, the Coaches accept responsibility for their team being properly and legally equipped. There is no reason to check Pine Tar and/or other potential equipment violations, without the offending team requesting the equipment check.

Next Batter Up:

IBUA philosophy on the play when there is a dropped 3rd strike and the 3rd out is recorded at a base other than 1st base, PRIOR to the batter-runner reaching 1st base…. The next batter in the line-up (batter directly after the batter who struck out) will lead off the new inning.

EXAMPLE:
2 outs. Runner on 2nd base. Batter swings and misses for strike 3. Catcher drops the 3rd strike and the ball ricochets toward 3rd base. The runner on 2nd is attempting to advance to 3rd base. The catcher throws the ball to 3rd base, and the runner is tagged out. This out occurs PRIOR to the batter-runner getting to 1st base.

in this situation, there is no current high school rule that indicates who the batter is that will lead off the new inning. that is why IBUA’s philosophy is that the Next Batter up, will lead off the new inning.