SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015 5 B Rule changes approved for prep baseball, softball Rule changes for the 2016 baseball and softball seasons were made at rules committee meetings last month in Indianapolis, Ind. Those changes were subse- quently approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Board of Directors. For baseball, beginning with the 2016 season, umpires will be required to issue a warning to coaches before restriction to the bench/dugout or ejecting them as part of a new penalty progression to promote preventive officiat- ing. The revision to Rule 3-3-1 Penalty was one of two changes recommended by the NFHS Baseball Rules Comm- ittee at its June 7 meeting. Previously, issuing a warn- ing to an offending coach was optional for umpires, who will now restrict to the dugout or eject coaches who commit a violation after previously being warned for a minor offense. However, coaches can still be ejected on a first offense if it is deemed to be major. Also part of the modifica- tion to Rule 3-3-1 Penalty, coaches who receive a written warning (Rule 10-2-3) will be restricted to the bench or dugout for the remainder of the game. “The new rule change has initiated a penalty progression, starting with a written warn- ing, restriction to the bench/dugout and subsequent ejection from the contest,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee. The changes to Rule 3-3-1 Penalty will help to de-esca- late contentious situations and allow coaches to dictate their status in the game by their Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! behavior, Hopkins said. “A successful game official practices preventive officiat- ing, and this new penalty pro- gression will allow the official to issue penalties that give the coach the opportunity to remain in the game and teach his players.” The other change approved by the Baseball Rules Committee is an addition to Rule 3-3-1. Article “q” will state that a coach, player, sub- stitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not “have any physical contact, spitting, kicking of dirt or any other physical action directed toward an umpire.” The addition of article “q” serves to clarify other behav- iors that would result in an ejection from the game, Hopkins said. “Bad behavior that is being imitated from other levels has no place in education-based athletics and will not be toler- ated,” Hopkins said. “If we are to continue to use sport to teach life lessons, then we have to ensure that appro- priate behavior and conduct are modeled from those adults in the role of coach or teacher.” In addition to the two rules changes, the Baseball Rules Committee approved three Points of Emphasis for the 2016 season. Points of empha- sis are developed by NFHS rules committees and should receive special focus and attention by officials, coaches, players, fans and other leaders within the high school setting. For softball, one rule change was recommended by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee at its June 15 meeting. In the new Article 4 of Rule 2-57, the committee provided a standard definition of a “projected” substitute. Rule 3-3-3 prohibits the use of a projected substitute, which is now defined in the new article as “a player who does not immediately partici- pate in the game.” “There has been some con- fusion among both officials and coaches about substitution procedure,” said Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials education and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. “Therefore, the committee felt it was nec- essary to clear up that process and provide coaches and offi- cials with a standard definition of a projected substitute.” According to the NFHS Athletics Participation Survey, baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level with 482,629 participants in 15,789 schools. Fast-pitch softball is the fifth-most popular sport for girls with 364,297 participants in 15,225 schools during the 2013-14 season. — Submitted by Brandon Jones, intern for NFHS Publications. Swim lessons make splash at Coastal Fitness Volunteer•Get involved•Donate Volunteers needed for new home construction, home repairs, general offi ce work, public relations and program administration. Join an operating committee and help Habitat help others! Call 541-902-9227 or e-mail to fl orencehabitat@gmail.com Offi ce located at 2004 HWY 101, Florence Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri 11 AM - 2 PM Kids can splash, kick or glide their way through sum- mer with swim lesson ses- sions offered at Coastal Fitness. Swimmers of all ages and abilities will find friendly, knowledgeable instructors that make learning fun, with plenty of flexibility for par- ents’ schedules. More than four session dates offered. Sessions are two weeks long, Monday through Thursday, and run either in mornings or evenings. For the intermediate or advanced swimmer, the Coastal Fitness “Fins Club” takes a swimmer to the next levels. Instructors offer train- ing on different strokes and swimming technique. This class is offered every Tuesday at 11 a.m. “Our swim program has received great reviews from parents,” said Deena Mitchell, Children’s Program Director. Coastal Fitness has been offering swim lessons to both children and adults since the opening of its pools four years ago. “We have great instructors and our student-to-teacher ratio is very low,” said Mitchell. “Because of it, kids really excell. Not only that, they are having a lot of fun learning.” Children are taught in two different pools. The warmer, more shallow pool is conducive to young swimmers and the lap pool is perfect for the more advanced student. Swim sessions continue through July. Parents can register by stopping in at Coastal Fitness on Highway 101, or by call- ing 541-997-8086. Payment must be received at time of registration. Personal and adult lessons are also offered. V OICE YOUR O P INION! Write a Letter to the Editor today. Email Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com. HELPING HANDS COALITION PO Box 1296 • 1339 Rhododendron Dr. Florence, OR 97439 Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers. You will find an area of interest in a caring organization. Peace Harbor Volunteers 400 9th Street, Florence, OR 97439 541-997-8412 ext. 209 Greentrees Annual Flea Market, BBQ, Bake sale, raffle new bike, fabric, plants, sewing, home & shop items. 7/18 8:00am-2pm 1600 Rhododendron Dr. Sat 7/18 9am-3pm 2031 Willow Lp. Antique pattern glass, Blue calico dishes, many collectables, 2 folding bikes, linens, quilts, fabric and free items. Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly, regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new friends in a dining room setting. Sat. 7/18, 9am-4pm, 83435 Osprey Way, Moving Sale: quality furniture, appliances, kitchen, tools, welders, 14ʼ boat, yard art, antiques & much misc. Sat. 7/18-Sun. 7/19 10am-4pm 1055 Laurel St. Clean out yrs. of storage. Fundrasier for our Grandmothers fight against cancer. Sat. 7/18 10am-3pm Sun. 7/19 10am-2pm Keyboard, mens leather jacket, dresser, collectibles, misc. 72 Park Village Dr. Sat.7/18 9am.-2pm. 83649 Clear Lake Rd. 1570 Kingwood • PO Box 2313, Florence 541-997-5673 laneseniormeals.org Operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday Saving men one PSA test at a time. 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net Someone to talk to... who understands! To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441 Siuslaw News Photo Gallery Coming Soon Wings & Wheels Fourth of July Celebration Power of Florence View at www.thesiuslawnews.com Photos available for purchase* 5x7 – $5 00 • 8x11 – $7 00 Now Showing Bark for Life LRPʼs “Spelling Bee” Coast Guard Ceremony Purchase at 148 Maple St. 541-997-3441 *Photos online are reduced quality – Actual photos purchased are high resolution, high quality.