In games using video review, each head coach has two challenges to initiate a review of the plays designated below for the entirety of the game. The challenge must be indicated before the next pitch, before the pitcher and all infielders have clearly vacated their normal fielding position and left fair territory, or before the umpires have left the field of play. Additionally, the crew chief may initiate a review of these plays at his/her discretion beginning with the 6th inning in any game. Exception: The crew chief may not initiate a review of runners leaving early on a pitch.

The following are the plays that shall be subject to review:

1. Batted balls:
a. IF called FAIR, is it fair or foul.
b. IF called FOUL, should it be a ground-rule double, home run, or hit-by-pitch.
Other plays that can be reviewed once called foul: catch/no catch, obstruction, interference, leaving early. Any reviewable plays in this list.
c. Is it a home run or not. (Any ball higher than top of foul pole when it leaves field cannot be reviewed).

2. Pitched balls at the plate:
a. IF pitch ruled a dropped-third strike was caught before the ball touched the ground.
b. IF live or dead ball should be changed to a foul ball.
c. IF foul ball should be changed to a foul tip only with no base runners, or if it would result in a third out.
d. Hit by pitch reviewable aspects (is batter awarded first base?):
(1) Did ball hit batter?
(2) Was ball entirely in the batter’s box (as it relates to a player needing to make an attempt to get out of the way when required by rule)?
(3) Did batter make an attempt to get out of the way of the pitch when required?
(4) Did batter intentionally try to get hit by the pitch (see Rule 11.13)?
CANNOT review to see if pitch is strike OR any attempt of the bat at the ball (for example, check swing).

3. If spectator interference occurred. Will likely require placement of runners per spectator interference rule.

4. If obstruction and/or interference occurred (including collisions). Collision takes precedence over obstruction. If runner collides maliciously or flagrantly with defensive player in obstructing position, collision enforced rather than obstruction.

5. If malicious/flagrant contact: Did malicious/flagrant contact occur? Umpires may initiate this review without requiring a coach’s challenge at any point in the game to ensure student-athlete safety.

6. Timing plays: Did the third out occur before the lead runner touches home plate.

7. Force/tag plays: Is the runner safe or out.
(Reminder: challenging safe or out on both end of a traditional base-to-base double play only requires ONE challenge).

8. Blocked or dead ball/placement of runners: Deciding whether a ball not ruled blocked should be ruled blocked, and the proper placement of runners (per the rules/case book) after any blocked or dead ball call.
NOTE: The guidance on placement of runners is to conservatively place runners

9. Catch or no catch in any situation: If placing runners when changing a catch to a no-catch, the guidance is to conservatively place the runners.

10. Runners:
a. Leaving the base prior to the touch on a fly ball (tagging up),
b. Runner missing a base,
c. Runners leaving early on a pitch. Requires a coach’s challenge; not crew initiated.
d. Reminder: a proper live or dead ball appeal by coach or player needs to happen first before this challenge is initiated.
On leaving early, coaches are allowed to have the option of the result of the play or the out anytime leaving early called on the field or in review per rule. if called correctly on the field, the coach would always have both options. It needs to be the same for video review.

11. Any plays in this document that are reviewable that result in a dead ball can be reviewed.
Example: Coach challenges that interference occurred, but ball was called foul. This may be challenged interference is reviewable, and the play resulted in a dead ball. Same if fly ball to third base player in foul territory is ruled foul, but a coach wants to challenge catch/no catch.

PLACEMENT OF RUNNERS:

As a general rule, video review should not be placing runners after a ruled dead ball except in a few exceptions including:
1. Obstruction. If obstruction is not ruled on the field, but is after video review, runners will be placed based on best judgment and the obstruction rule.
2. Interference. Batter-runner interference pertaining to the runner’s lane in the vicinity of first base, interference called on the field may be reversed in video review. In this case, batter-runner is placed at first base and all other runners where they are forced to or at last base attained at time of dead ball call.
If interference is called on the field but result of a reversal in video review will result in a foul ball, interference may be reversed. If the ruling on the field is interference, but video review shows the ruling should be a foul ball, the interference may be reversed.
An interference call on a runner where there is clear missing information about a ball being first touched by a fielder and thus requiring an intentional act by the runner to be guilty of interference may be corrected.
Interference calls where there is a question as to runner interference or obstruction by the fielder (e.g., a fielder potentially initiating contact to draw an interference call, a ball being past a fielder, etc.) may be reviewed and potentially changed to obstruction. This will require video review to place the runners.
3. Spectator interference and blocked balls. Rulings on spectator interference and blocked balls in video review may require the placement of runners.
4. Catch/no catch. Reversals may require conservative placement of runners.

Criteria for using video review:

1. All equipment should be tested by appropriate personnel before each game.
2. A ruling on the field will only be changed if there is indisputable video evidence to reverse the call. Absent that evidence, the original ruling on the field will stand.
3. A review must be verbally or visually indicated before the next pitch, before the pitcher and all infielders have clearly vacated their normal fielding position and left fair territory, or the umpires leave the field of play.
4. Coaches have 30 seconds to verbally or visually lodge a challenge.
5. The video review may be conducted on-site by the crew chief or by an off-field official at a centralized
video review location.
6. If video review is conducted on-site by the crew chief, the video review area shall not require an umpire to walk through spectators or dugouts to view the coverage. At least one umpire must remain on the field.
7. During the video review, the defensive team shall maintain their position on the field and may warm-up if desired. Offensive base runners and the on-deck hitter shall maintain their position. Other personnel shall remain in the dugout. Any defensive or offensive conferences will be charged as during any other part of the game.

After the review is completed

The crew chief will communicate the ruling to both head coaches and the official scorer using the following criteria. This should also be communicated to the broadcasting booth, if applicable, via the umpire who has a microphone.
a. Ruling on the field is confirmed;
b. Ruling on the field is reversed; or
c. Ruling stands due to no indisputable evidence to reverse it.

If the reversing of a call results in the need for decisions on the placement of base runners, the crew chief shall use his/her best judgment and/or the appropriate rule to determine where to place the runners as if the call had been made correctly. The final decision may not be argued by either coach. A coach who argues the final decision shall be immediately ejected.