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Includes the Blind and
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"We're Akron Ohio's
'Favorite' Beep Baseball Team!"

...also Akron's ONLY Beep Baseball Team!  

 

Beep Baseball Rules

 

"NBBA Rules of the Game"
Taken from: www.nbba.org/rules.htm

 

 

 

1. Contests are six innings in duration. The visiting team bats first. The home team does not bat in their half of the sixth inning if they are ahead at the time.

2. If the score is tied at the end of regulation play, play shall continue to extra innings until a clear winner is determined at the end of an extra inning.

3. In case of rain or other adverse conditions, in the opinion of the umpire, four full innings must be completed to be an official game or three and one half innings if the home team is in the lead at the time.

4. (The Twelve Run Rule) If a team establishes a minimum lead of 12 runs or more, at the completion of a full inning, the umpire will inform both teams that the 12 run rule is in effect. At this point, the trailing team will become the batting team until they either tie the score or take the lead, but they must finish batting for that particular inning or until they use up their remaining outs and the game then comes to an end. The leading team at the time the 12 run rule is invoked, takes the defensive field and remains there until the opponents tie the score or resume the lead. But none of their unused at bats are lost. The umpire or scorekeeper will keep track of their remaining outs in the event they are needed. Note: The 12 run rule may not be invoked at the halfway point of an inning. A 12 run lead is determined only after the completion of a full inning.

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1. Each team will select its own official team name.

2. Each team must have at least one person to serve as captain.

3. A team must field six players to be positioned within the designated foul lines and a minimum of forty feet from home plate. It is up to individual teams as to how they position their defensive players. If during a game or tournament, a team becomes unable to field six players, they may continue play with only five players. The "missing" player shall occupy a space in the batting order and automatically count as an out when he is up.

4. All players will be required to wear a blindfold when playing the game. The blindfolds must be acceptable as the minimum standard blindfold.

5. Each team is entitled to have two normally sighted persons on their official player roster and when these persons are blindfolded they are eligible to play, however, only if no other visually impaired player is available to play at the time.

6. Each team must furnish its own pitchers and catchers on offense and its own spotters on defense.

7. It shall be a forfeit if a team cannot provide the sighted help as stated above.

8. Unlimited substitution is permitted; however, once a player is inserted for another, he must remain in the game one full inning or six outs. The player being replaced may not re-enter the game for one full inning or six outs.

9. When the 12 run rule is in effect, a substitute player need only remain in the game while three outs are being recorded.

10. A player shall have the blindfold in place when approaching the "on deck" circle and must leave it in place until his "at bats" have been terminated either by him scoring a run or making an out.

11. It is mandatory that all players must wear their blindfolds firmly in place, to the edges and bridge of their nose, to insure no one uses vision to assist in the playing of the game. However, in the opinion of a game official, if a player has adjusted or tampered with his or her blindfold, for the purpose of cheating, the official will give a single verbal warning to the offender to immediately discontinue manipulation of the blindfold. The coach and captain of both teams will also be informed of a suspected violation. In the opinion of a game official, if any player is again guilty of manipulating the blindfold, that person will automatically be ejected from the contest. The game official will submit a written report of the ejection to the tournament committee for possible further action.

12. Charged conferences: Each team is allowed no more than 4 on defense and 2 on offense.

13. To allow the use of a designated hitter in beep baseball. This is not a required position, but an option for teams that wish to use it. This would allow more visually impaired players to participate and may increase the level of competitiveness. The use of a Designated Hitter (DH) is not required but, if a team intends to use a DH, it must be announced to the Head Umpire (HU) prior to the start of the game. The DH and the Defensive Player (DP) for whom the DH is batting must be indicated by name and uniform number on the lineup sheet presented to the HU or Official Scorekeeper. Only one DH role may be used per game. If one team opts to use the DH, the opposing team is not required to do the same.

14. The DH and the DP are "locked" in the lineup. The DP may be substituted for provided the active DH is not the replacement; the DH may be substituted for provided the active DP is not the replacement. If the active DH takes the field, the DP for whom the DH was batting must leave the game and the role of DH is terminated for the remainder of the game. If the active DP bats, the DH who was batting must leave the game and the role of DH is terminated for the remainder of the game.

15. The active DH may be substituted out and, after 6 outs (3 outs under 12-run rule) may re-enter the game as an eligible substitute for any player, including the DP or DH. The active DP may be substituted out and, after 6 outs (3 outs under 12-run rule) may re-enter the game as an eligible substitute for any player, including the DP or DH.

16. If a team uses the DH but fails to notify the Head Umpire and/or Official Scorekeeper prior to the start of the game, the penalty for an ineligible player will be imposed and the role of DH will be terminated for the remainder of the game for that team. (New as of 1999).

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1. A minimum of one, but not more than two will assist the defensive team. They may assist the defense in positioning themselves on the field of play before a ball is struck. They may advise if a batter is right or left-handed, male or female or any other data they feel necessary for their players to know. The spotters must use only the numbers one through six when designating the person in the best position to field the ball. If any other information such as: in or out, left or right, second number called, or any physical assistance between spotter and defensive player is noticed by the umpire, a run will be awarded to the offensive team. However, defensive players are allowed to verbally assist one another.

2. In the event a struck ball presents a chance of injury to a defensive player, the spotter may yell out a warning without penalty to his team.

3. In the event a collision between fielders is eminent, a spotter may say the words "WATCH OUT" without penalty to his team.

4. A base operator has the responsibility to warn of an impending collision between a fielder and a runner.

5. A spotter may knock down an unusually hard hit ball headed in the direction of a defensive player. If this occurs, a run will be awarded to the offensive team.

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1. Following is the standard base requirements:

- Bases shall be placed 100 feet from home plate and 10 feet in foul territory down the first and third base lines respectively.
- HEIGHT: 48 inches minimum - 54 inches maximum.
- DIAMETER: 8 inches + or - 1 inch variation.
- SHAPE: Same top to bottom.
- WEIGHT: 5 pounds maximum.
- COVERING MATERIAL: Vinyl (1st choice) Canvas (2nd choice).
- SOUND DEVICE LOCATION: Centered 36" above ground + or - 2"
- SOUND FREQUENCY: Variable pitch.
- SOUND LEVEL (LOUDNESS): Medium (adjustable).
- WIND RESISTANCE DEVICES: Magnets, velcro, any other means designated and accepted by NBBA.

2. Any standard softball bat may be used, not to exceed 36" and 38 ounces.

3. Metal or removable spikes or cleats may not be worn on the shoes of players. All other safety equipment is optional.

4. The USABA and Sioux Falls blindfolds will be recognized as the minimum standard blindfold.

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1. When a fair ball is struck, one that travels at least 40 feet and remains within the normal foul lines for the first 100 feet from home plate, the batter must reach the buzzing base before the hit ball is fielded to score a run.

2. The 40 foot line and foul lines must be clearly marked on the field for the benefit of the umpire, coaches and spectators.

3. Any part of the runner's body in contact with the base shall constitute possession of the base.

4. No verbal assistance may be given to the runner as to which buzzing base has been activated. The runner is automatically out if the offensive team player or volunteer offers such coaching. A runner may correct an incorrect course to the buzzing base provided he does this independently.

5. Malfunctioning Equipment:

A. Ball - A ball which ceases to beep in the proper fashion after it is hit and before it is fielded is considered to have malfunctioned.
B. Bases - A base which is noticeably late coming on or which is not properly placed so that it is upright with the speaker facing home plate, or which ceases to sound prior to the end of the play shall be considered to have malfunctioned.

In the case of malfunctioning equipment, the umpire shall call a replay unless the team at the disadvantage shall successfully complete the play (i.e. fielding a "dead" ball before the runner reaches the base or tagging a "dead" base before the ball is fielded).

6. In case of a collision between an offensive and a defensive player, the umpire shall have the option to call "safe" or "out." Under normal circumstances, if the collision occurred in foul territory, the offensive player would be awarded a run. An out would be recorded against the runner if the collision occurred in fair territory.

7. A replay is when a batter starts his turn at bat over with a no strike and no ball count.

8. When a pitched ball is struck and subsequently rebounds off the pitcher, it shall be considered a "no pitch" and the count to the batter shall remain the same as it was prior to that pitch. If, in the umpire's judgment, the pitcher intentionally interferes with the batted ball, the batter shall be called out.

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1. A batter is allowed four (4) strikes before being called out. Foul balls are considered strikes, but the fourth strike must be a clean miss.

2. A batter may allow one (1) ball to go by without penalty. Any additional balls that are not offered at shall be called strikes by the umpire.

3. A batter must have at least one (1) foot behind the front edge of home plate at the start of the swing.

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1. Each team is allowed three (3) outs per time at bat.

2. An out is recorded either by a strike out or when a fair ball is struck and is cleanly fielded by a defensive player prior to the runner reaching the buzzing base. The defensive player must have definite IN HAND and OFF THE GROUND possession of the ball, in the opinion of the umpire, for the runner to be called out.

3. In the event of a TIE between the runner and the fielder, when the ball is caught at the same moment the runner touches the base, an "OUT" call will be declared.

4.. The fair ball need not be fielded by the numbered player the spotter has called. All defensive players are free to attempt to field balls they feel are within their capabilities.

5. In the rare event a defensive player catches a fly ball, the offensive team automatically has three (3) outs and must take the field.

6. A fair hit ball traveling over 180 feet in the air, with the runner successfully making it to the correct base, shall be counted as 2 runs.

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1. A pitching mark, acceptable to the umpire, must be established on the field of play a distance of 20 feet in front of home plate. The pitcher must have one (1) foot in contact with this pitching mark when he delivers the ball.

2. The pitcher is obligated to give two (2) verbal alerts to the batter. The first, "READY", shall be clearly audible to the defensive team. The second, "PITCH" or "BALL", shall again be audible to the defensive players and must be said approximately as the ball is being released.

3. After two (2) warnings, failure to comply with the above stated procedures shall result in the umpire calling strike even if the ball is hit.

4. The pitcher must make his delivery within 30 seconds after receiving the ready signal from the umpire.

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1. The umpire will make all the final decisions regarding outs and runs. He shall keep track of the strikes and balls, and be responsible for the official score.

2. The umpire's position on the field is his option. He is free to move about the playing field as the situation demands.

3. All decisions of the umpire regarding playing of the game or conduct of the players are final.

4. The umpire does have the power of ejection for unruly players and spectators.

5. Where there are three (3) umpires, the judgment sequence is:

a) the designated base umpire will call "THERE" when the runner reaches the base.
b) the other base umpire will call "CAUGHT" when the fielder has possession of the ball.
c) the home plate umpire shall signal the decision as to whether the runner was safe or out - PERIOD!

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