03/17/21 – Baseball Playing Rules COVID Guidance Clarifications

March 17, 2021 Baseball Blog Updates

We have received inquiries about the COVID-related modifications to NFHS rules published within the Baseball Healthy at Sports Return to Competition Guidance as well as what was published in the online rules clinic that was finalized in mid-February.  To assist administrators, coaches, and umpires in preparing for the first segment of the season we will address these below.

• Since the pitcher may not put their hands to the mouth off of the mound and touch the ball, are there any options?  Yes, a cloth dampened with water may be used and stored in the back pocket of the uniform.
• What is the penalty if a pitcher forgets and puts their hands to the mouth while off the mound?  You would provide a new ball that has been sanitized and simply discard the used ball to be sanitized. 
• Since the pitcher may not blow into their hands on a cold day, are there options?  Yes, a “hot hands” may be used and stored in the back pocket.

Please continue to refer to the guidance as we advance through the various segments of the season and we will continue to monitor and communicate any further information.

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 285 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and 6 sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 106,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and sports safety programs for more than 12,000 coaches, and licenses and facilitates the distribution of training material for over 4,000 contest officials.

The KHSAA staff routinely publishes blog posts to better communicate with its various constituencies and the public. For a list of those blogs, go to http://khsaa.org/news-stats-pubs/sports-blogs/.