Beginning in the spring of 2027, the National Federation of State High School Associations will require every high school baseball program to enforce the Double First Base rule — a measure intended to reduce the number of collisions between the first baseman and the batter-runner.

When double means single …

The “double base” will technically still be one base. It will be rectangular in shape, measuring 15 inches across the top and bottom, and 29 to 30 inches along the sides. One half of the rectangle — the fair side — will be white. The other half — positioned completely in foul territory — will be either green or orange.

Under the new rule, a batter who hits a ground ball and is running to first base must touch the colored portion of the base. The first baseman must have their foot on the white portion of the base while receiving the throw.

Safety first

Area coaches generally agreed the intent behind the rule is good.

“We had a collision at first base and our runner sustained a concussion,” said Tamaqua head coach Jeff Reading. “The safety of the players matters more than anything — including whatever gray areas we’ll have to consider with how the rule affects the outcomes of plays and games.”

Reading noted one of those gray areas is a tag play, where a first baseman has to come off the bag to catch an errant throw and try to tag the runner.

“He might have to reach farther back toward foul territory,” said Reading. “But again, it’s safety first. This might prevent the fielder and the runner from colliding with full contact.”

The deal with the appeal

Lehighton head coach JC Dietz also liked the safety aspect of the rule, but said it could have unintended consequences.

He pointed to the part of the rule stating that if a batter-runner touches the white portion of the base instead of the colored portion, the defense can appeal before the runner returns to first. If the appeal is upheld, the runner is called out.

“That could become a problem,” Dietz said. “The appeal has to be made almost immediately, before the runner gets back to first. So coaches might start telling their players to hurry back to first after a safe call to beat the appeal.

“If the appeal is granted, then what reason does the base umpire have to change his call — unless the plate umpire overturns it, which very rarely happens.”

Panther Valley head coach Rich Evanko echoed those concerns.

“On a tag play at first, the runner might have an advantage because the fielder has a longer reach to make the tag,” Evanko said. “I don’t like my players sliding into first base, but with this rule, it might be to their advantage to slide under what will be a longer reach for the first baseman.”

A game of inches

Another part of the rule addresses extra-base hits.

It states: “On extra-base hits where there is no chance for a play to be made at the double first base, the runner can touch either color of the base. But if he decides not to go beyond first base, he must return to the white section.”

Reading didn’t see this as a big issue, but Dietz and Evanko believe it could give the defense an advantage.

“If a batter gets a hit into the outfield, the first base coach will have to determine if he should try for a double or stop at first,” Dietz said. “Let’s say the runner steps on the green side, but then the outfielder bobbles the ball and the coach sends him to second. Since he stepped on the foul-side portion of the base, he’ll actually have a longer distance to get to second base — and that might be the difference on a close play.”

No video review

for the blue

Along with Dietz, Evanko thought the new rule might put more pressure on umpires.

“He’ll have to watch very carefully what side of the base the runner touches,” Evanko said. “And if there’s already a runner on first, the umpire is stationed farther away. If an appeal is made on a safe call, he might not know he’s wrong because he had to make the call from a tough angle.”

The final major provision of the rule involves a dropped third strike. In that case, the batter-runner is permitted to touch either side of the base.

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Reading said. “Coaches teach catchers to call inside or outside to align their throws to the first baseman.”

Looking ahead

While there are mixed feelings about the new rule, most agree that any rule designed to reduce injuries is worth considering.

“It might be harder for the base umpire to determine what color the runner stepped on,” Dietz said. “In college baseball, two bags — a white one and a colored one — are used instead of one, which could make it easier for umpires to get the call right.”

“It’s good for the safety factor, even though I haven’t seen many collisions at first base through all my years as a player and a coach,” Evanko said.

“Some new rules are good — especially ones that protect players from being injured,” Reading added. “But I’m old school. The game is the game, and let’s leave it to be what it is.”