1. Ball becomes dead immediately when: 

A) A pitch touches a batter or the batter’s clothing. 

NOTE: the ball becomes dead even though the batter strikes at it. 

B.) The ball is illegally batted or comes in contact with the bat a second time. Except if the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory as in rule 7 Sec 14-G, note 

C.) The batter is discovered with an illegal bat. 

D.) Any batted ball, while on or over foul ground. 

    1. Touches any object other than the ground or any person other than a fielder. 
    2. Goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s protector, mask, or person without first touching the catcher’s glove or hand. 
    3. Becomes an uncaught foul. 

E.) There is interference by a batter, a runner, or a retired runner. 

F.) A fair ball, which is on or over fairground. 

    1. Touches a runner or an Umpire before touching any fielder and before passing any fielder other than the pitcher. 
    2. Touches a runner after passing through or by an infielder, and another infielder could have made a play on the ball. 
    3. Touches a spectator. 
    4. Goes over, through, or wedges in the field fence. 

G.) A pitch or any other thrown ball 

    1. Is touched by a spectator. 
    2. Is touched by nonparticipating team personnel. 
    3. Goes into a stand or player’s bench (even if it rebounds to the field). 
    4. Goes over or through or wedges in the field fence. 
    5. Lodges in an Umpire’s or catcher’s equipment or touches loose equipment. 

H.) The Umpire handles a live ball, calls “Time” for inspecting the ball, or for any other reason. 

I.) A fielder, after catching a fair or foul ball (fly or line drive), leaves the field of play by stepping with both feet or by falling into a designated dead-ball area  (i.e., bench, dugout, stand/bleacher, etc.). 

NOTE: if a chalk line is used to designate an “out-of-play” area, the line is considered in play. If a fielder is touching the line, they are in the field of play and may make a catch. When the fielder completely unintentionally leaves the live-ball area and then re-establishes himself within live-ball territory (one foot touching out of play line), a catch would be allowed. If the fielder unintentionally leaves a live-ball area with both feet after making a catch, the ball becomes dead, and all base runners are awarded one base from the time of the pitch. Two bases shall be awarded to each runner if a fielder intentionally leaves the live-ball area with both feet. 

J.) Any personnel connected with the offensive team requests “Time” or uses any other command or commits an act for the purpose of trying to cause the opposing pitcher to commit an illegal pitch. 

K). An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly. 

EXCEPTION: Infield Fly Rule. 

L.) A runner interferes with a fielder attempting to catch a foul fly. 

M.) The batter-runner moves backward toward home plate to avoid or delay being tagged out. 

    1. A batted, thrown, or pitched ball touches in an occupied designated media area (a ball that passes through a dead-ball area in flight is not considered dead). 

O.) An illegal pitch occurs, but no pitch is delivered to the batter. 

P.) The Umpire calls Time Out for an Injured Player see Rule 5. 

2. It is a delayed dead ball when: 

A.) An illegal pitch is delivered. 

See Effect in Rule 6.3 Pitching Illegal Pitch. 

B.) A catcher or any fielder obstructs a batter or obstructs the ball through the use of detached play equipment. 

C.) The Umpire interferes with the catcher who is attempting to throw. 

EFFECT: If the runner is not out, they are returned to the last base attained before the interference occurred. 

D.) A coach physically assists a runner. 

E.) A ball touches an illegal glove/mitt. 

F.) Anyone who is required to wear a batting helmet deliberately removes the helmet while the ball is live. 

3. OBSTRUCTION/DEAD BALL 

The ball becomes dead when time is taken to make an award when a catcher or any fielder illegally obstructs a runner. 

4. BALL BECOMES LIVE 

After a dead-ball situation, the ball becomes live when it is held by the pitcher within the 16-foot circle, and the Umpire calls and/or signals “Play Ball” and gives the beckoning hand signal. 

5. TIME 

“Time” shall be called by the Umpire and play suspended: 

A.) When the Umpire and/ or Tournament Director considers the weather or ground conditions unfit for play. 

NOTE: After 30 minutes, the Umpire and/ or Tournament Director may declare the game ended or suspended. 

B.) When a player, bench personnel, or spectator is ordered from the field of play, or player is ordered to secure protective equipment. 

C.) When an Umpire or player is incapacitated, unless an injury occurs during a live ball, then time shall not be called until any further advancement or putout is possible.

NOTE: If necessary, the Umpire may suspend play immediately if, in the Umpire’s judgment, further play may cause injury or jeopardize a participant’s safety. 

D.) When a player or coach is granted time for a substitution, conference with the pitcher, or for a similar cause. 

E.) When play is suspended for any other cause, including an award of a base after an infraction, inspection of the ball, or the ending of a half-inning. 

6. When the ball becomes dead: 

A.) No action by the defense during that time can cause a player to be put out. 

B.) A runner may not advance nor return to a base that was not touched or that the runner was not in contact with on a caught fly ball during a live ball if the runner had advanced to or beyond a succeeding base. 

C.) Any runner may advance when awarded a base or bases for an act,  which occurred before the ball became dead. All awarded bases must be touched.