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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017
Safety concerns prompts changes to baseball, softball rules
Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, all
balls used in high school base-
ball competition will be
required to meet the NOCSAE
(National
Operating
Committee on Standards for
Athletic Equipment) standard
at the time of manufacture.
This revision in Rule 1-3-1
was one of the four changes
recommended by the National
Federation of State High
School Associations (NFHS)
Baseball Rules Committee at
its June 4-6 meeting in
Indianapolis, Ind. All changes
were subsequently approved by
the NFHS Board of Directors.
“We are excited that our
membership will now have
equipment that meets a stan-
dard that is consistent across
the country,” said Elliot
Hopkins, NFHS director of
sports and student services and
staff liaison for baseball. “We
are comfortable knowing that
all baseballs for high school
play will be the same size, same
weight and have similar playa-
bility.”
The committee also revised
Rule 1-5-3, which will require
catchers to wear a chest protec-
tor that meets the NOCSAE
standard at the time of manu-
facture, effective Jan. 1, 2020.
The NOCSAE standard has
been developed to protect the
heart and the cardiac silhouette
from commotio cordis, which
continues the committee’s
focus on minimizing risk of
injury for players.
“Being aware that a standard
exists to protect players, this
decision was easy to make,”
Hopkins said. “When our
catchers wear this chest protec-
tor, we are confident that the
best protection for their heart is
constructed into this equip-
ment.”
The
Baseball
Rules
Committee also modified Rule
1-3-2a2 regarding the compo-
nents of a bat. The modified
language states that bats “not
have exposed rivets, pins,
rough or sharp edges or any
form of exterior fastener or
attachment(s) that would pres-
ent a potential hazard.”
A modification was also
made to Rule 8-2-7, which
strikes the language preventing
a player who is awarded first
base on a base on balls the abil-
ity to over-run the base and
return safely.
The following week, June
12-4, the NFHS Softball Rules
Committee approved an addi-
tion to Rule 2 about intentional
walks, along with three addi-
tions to Rule 3 regarding uni-
forms and equipment.
All recommended changes
were subsequently approved by
the NFHS Board of Directors.
In Rule 2-65-2, the commit-
tee added language to include
intentional walks into the fast-
pitch game. The rule states that
a request for an intentional
walk can now be made prior to
or during the at-bat by the
defensive coach or catcher.
This change aligns fast-pitch
and slow-pitch rules to keep up
with current trends of the sports
and maximize the flow of the
game.
“The Kentucky High School
Athletic Association experi-
mented with intentional walks
for the 2017 season, and the
response from coaches and
umpires was overwhelmingly
positive,” said Sandy Searcy,
NFHS director of sports and
staff liaison for softball. “The
NFHS questionnaire response
from constituents was also very
favorable.”
In another change, equip-
ment no longer has to be
inspected by the umpire or
placed
outside
the
dugout/bench prior to the start
of the game. The rules commit-
tee agreed that the responsibili-
ty for ensuring that players are
legally and properly equipped
rests with the head coach and
school administration.
“Umpires must remain vigi-
lant in identifying illegal or
altered equipment throughout
the course of the game, and
equipment violation penalties
will continue to be assessed
when discovered,” Searcy said.
“However, it is the head
coach’s responsibility to verify
that his or her players' equip-
ment is legal.”
The
committee
also
approved an exception to Rule
3-2-7c which defines wrist-
bands with a playbook/play-
card attached as equipment.
The wristband shall be a sin-
gle solid color other than optic
yellow.
In Rule 3-7-1, a new note
was added to clarify the num-
ber of pitches permitted for an
incoming pitcher when the out-
going pitcher is removed by
rule or injury. This change was
made in order to minimize risk
for the incoming pitcher.
The committee also revised
Rule 6-1-2b by permitting the
pitcher to step backward with
the non-pivot foot at any time
prior to start of the pitch.
This change is less restrictive
than the previous rule, and
allows for a more fluid
sequence of motion and will aid
the development of pitchers.
A complete listing of the
baseball rules changes will be
available on the NFHS website
at www.nfhs.org. Click on
“Activities & Sports” at the top
of the home page, and select the
appropriate sport.
ODOT offers travel tips as eclipse approaches Coastal Gem Walkers
announce August junts
Timeout
from 1B
A year later, we were playing
a football game against our
rivals, the Seaside Seagulls.
Our team was driving for the
potential winning touchdown
when I took a blow to my hel-
met.
During the huddle, a team-
mate noticed a confused look
on my face and called timeout
so I could be walked to the
sidelines.
Salmon
from 1B
keep motorists mobile and safe,
and will be providing travel
updates via Tripcheck.com and
511 so travelers can be pre-
pared with the most current
travel information available.
When properly supplied and
informed, everyone can avoid
becoming “highway luna(r)-
tics” during the eclipse.
Travellers should:
• Expect traffic changes.
ODOT does not plan to close
any state highways. But as traf-
fic volumes increase, ODOT
may restrict some left turns to
and from highways in order to
keep traffic moving.
Cities and counties may
choose to do the same thing on
their streets and roads.
• Help keep roads clear.
Staying off the roads helps
make sure emergency service
vehicles can get through. Take
care of errands well before
Aug. 21. Limit trips to help
keep the roads clear.
• Travel
with
friends.
Joining friends and family for
the trip to totality will reduce
the number of cars on the road.
Find carpool information at
www.drivelessconnect.com.
In those days, an ammonia
capsule was broken and waved
under my nose to “clear out the
cobwebs.” I missed one play
and returned to the game,
where we secured just our sec-
ond win of the season with a
score on the drive.
If this happened today, I
would be subjected to a concus-
sion protocol and probably be
out of that game and the next.
Injuries happen at any time
to any athlete. If they are moti-
vated to return to action — pro-
viding the injury is painful but
not serious — it’s a personal
choice.
When Chip Kelley intro-
duced an up tempo offense at
Oregon, he inadvertently
caused multiple defensive
injuries as well. Real or
“faked,” the injuries disrupted
the offense.
When the “injured” player
returned, sometimes during the
same drive, the slow-down tac-
tic was copied against other up
tempo teams in college foot-
ball.
When I coached football, I
explained to players my philos-
ophy on game day injuries by
telling them football is a colli-
sion sport.
Some hits will hurt.
If you think you have been
injured and I come on the field
to attend to you, you are done
playing for that game.
While coaching in Spray,
Oreg., one of my toughest play-
ers got hit low. He stayed down
and, even as I approached him,
sus last year’s actual return of
196,000. Hatchery coho reten-
tion is expected to remain
open throughout the fall sea-
son.
The Buoy 10 fishery is
scheduled to be open for reten-
tion of any adult Chinook
salmon through Sept. 4 with a
two fish/one Chinook daily
adult bag limit. Chinook reten-
tion is expected to be closed
during Sept. 5-30.
From
Tongue
Point
upstream to Warrior Rock,
retention of any Chinook will
be allowed through Sept. 7,
with a two fish/one Chinook
daily adult bag limit.
Chinook retention will con-
tinue from Sept. 8-14, but only
for hatchery Chinook.
OREGON HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
FREE Youth Day
at Siuslaw Rod & Gun Club
Lunch will be served.
August 5th • 9am-3pm
Register by August 1st /Accompanied by Parent
m
M
The
Coastal
Gems
Volkswalkers invites the pub-
lic to come walking with
Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the
Lincoln City Beach YRE in
Lincoln City.
The group will meet at the
Cozy Cove Resort, 515 NW
Inlet Ave., at 10 a.m. to regis-
ter. Those who would like to
carpool can meet at the
Commons in Yachats for a 9
a.m. departure.
This 10K walk is all on the
he was struggling to get up
because he did not want to
come out of this tightly contest-
ed game.
When I arrived, players were
pointing to his ankle and it was
obvious Gary was done for the
day. Gary was loaded into the
back of a pick-up truck and
taken to the John Day Hospital.
His ankle was dislocated and
broken. When I asked how he
was, he said,” I would have
scored, coach.”
Today, many decisions on
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whether a player may return to
the game are no longer left in
the hands of players, coaches or
parents. During my years of
coaching, I witnessed several
players play with minor injuries
effectively — and with no last-
ing effects.
Vince Lombardi, long time
successful Green Bay Packer
coach, once said “There is no
gain without pain.”
Injuries will happen.
How you respond is a per-
sonal choice.
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beach from D River to Road’s
End and back; it is not appro-
priate for wheelchairs or
strollers.
As always, leashed pets are
welcome on walks, but be sure
to bring water and clean up
materials for pets. A sturdy 6-
foot leash — not the
retractable type — is required.
For more information or
directions, call Maryann
Brown in Waldport at 541-
961-4279.
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A total of 614,000 Chinook
are expected to enter the
Columbia this fall, which is
slightly less than last year’s
actual return of 642,000
returning Chinook.
The Buoy 10 fishery is the
first Columbia River area that
will encounter returning fall
salmon. Effort and catch in
other sections of the mainstem
will build as the season pro-
gresses. Chinook retention
seasons will vary by area to
remain within harvest quotas.
Coho returns are predicted
to be improved this year, with
319,000 adult coho expected
to enter the river mouth, ver-
cially crowded in the days
around the eclipse. When trav-
eling, drivers should keep their
hands on the wheel, their mind
on the task, and their eyes on
the road — not on the sky.
ODOT is encouraging driv-
ers to avoid unnecessary dis-
tractions during their travels.
That means making travel
plans well in advance; knowing
where you’re going; and for
long trips, knowing where
you’re going to go when the
need arises.
ODOT will have crews post-
ed along critical travel routes to
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Oregon will experience quite
a show next month when the
moon’s shadow cast by a
solar eclipse begins its 2,500-
mile-per-hour journey across
the United States.
But if the predicted one mil-
lion visitors in Oregon’s path
of totality for the Aug. 21
eclipse don’t properly prepare
or aren’t paying attention, that
show won’t be the celestial
dance they came for. It’ll be a
cosmic traffic jam on the roads
below.
ODOT is expecting many
Oregon highways will be espe-
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