# Law 8: Ball in Play (Official Baseball Rules)

Baseball · Law 8: Ball in Play · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/laws/law-8-ball-in-play/)

When the ball stays alive and when it becomes dead, with runners returning or advancing, calling 'Time' and restarting play, and the acts of unsportsmanlike conduct the rules forbid.

## 8.81 Live Ball

Balls that hit coaches, umpires, runners, helmets or birds, and catches carried into dead-ball areas.

### Test 1: When the ball stays live

- A thrown ball that accidentally strikes a coach in foul territory, or a pitched or thrown ball that hits an umpire, remains in play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.1)
- Umpires are part of the field: a pitch or throw off one does not stop play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.1)
- Once a fair ball has passed all the infielders, touching a runner does not make him out and the ball stays in play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.2)
- A fly that touches a runner or umpire in flight is treated as a ground ball and cannot be caught for a fly-ball out. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.2)
- If the live ball comes apart, it is in play until the action is completed. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.7)
- If a pitched ball hits a bird or other animal on the field, the pitch is nullified and play resumes with the previous count. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.8)
- If a detached batting helmet is accidentally hit by a live ball, the ball remains in play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.6)
- After a legal catch the fielder goes over the fence: the ball is dead, the batter is out and, unless it was the third out, runners advance one base. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.5)
- Passing the infield is what matters: after that, contact with a runner makes no out. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.2)
- After a legal catch, a fielder who steps or falls into a dead-ball area makes the ball dead; the batter is out and each runner advances one base. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.1.3)

## 8.82 Dead Balls

Fouls, backswings, balls that hit runners or umpires, hit batters and interference.

### Test 1: When the ball is dead

- On an uncaught foul the ball is dead, runners return, and play is not resumed until all of them have retouched their bases. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.2.1)
- An unintentional backswing that hits the catcher is just a strike; the ball is dead and no runner may advance. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.2.4)
- A runner touched by a fair ball before it touches or passes an infielder is out, and no other runner advances unless forced. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.2.5)
- A pitch that touches the batter or his clothing in the legal batting position is a dead ball; runners advance if forced. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.4.2)
- A pitch that lodges in the umpire's or catcher's equipment (other than the catcher's glove) is a dead ball, and runners advance one base. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.4.4)
- When an opponent interferes with a fielder reaching into a dugout or dead-ball area for a foul fly, the batter is out and no runner advances. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.2.9)
- Intentional interference with a ball using a helmet or other equipment: the ball is dead, the runner is out and runners ahead return. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.2.8)
- Runners return on an uncaught foul, and the umpire waits for them all to retouch before putting the ball in play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.2.1)
- Plate umpire interference with the catcher's throw is a delayed dead ball and runners may not advance, unless the throw retires the runner. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.3.1)
- A fair ball that touches an umpire before touching a fielder, and before passing one other than the pitcher, is dead; the batter gets a single. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.2.6)

## 8.83 Time and Conduct

Calling 'Time', injuries, resuming play, and unsportsmanlike conduct.

### Test 1: Calling time and unsportsmanlike conduct

- When an umpire calls 'Time' play is suspended; between 'Time' and 'Play' the ball is dead. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5.1)
- Apart from light failure and an accident that incapacitates a player or umpire, no umpire calls 'Time' during a play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5.2.9)
- If an injury happens during a live ball, 'Time' is not called until no further advance or putout is possible. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5.2.10)
- If an accident stops a runner reaching a base he is entitled to, as on a home run out of the park, a substitute runner completes the play. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5.2.4)
- Play resumes when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate with the ball and the plate umpire calls 'Play'. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5)
- Taking a position in the batter's line of vision and deliberately acting to distract him is unsportsmanlike conduct. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.6.5)
- The umpire-in-chief calls 'Time' when a manager requests it for a substitution or a conference with a player. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5.2.5)
- The ball is dead from 'Time' until the plate umpire calls 'Play' with the pitcher on the rubber holding the ball. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5)
- The injured player waits: the umpire lets the play finish first. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.5.2.10)
- Calling 'Time' to make the pitcher balk is unsportsmanlike: the offender is removed from the game and any balk is disregarded. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 8.6.2)

Sources: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026, Rule 8 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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