20 high-density closed-cell polyurethane or a similar material of the same thickness to protect injury. Written permission must be obtained from both a licensed medical physician and the player's parent or guardian and submitted to the league president during local league play and the tournament director during tournament play for approval. 2.00-DEFINITION OF TERMS (All definitions in Rule 2.00 are listed alphabetically) ADJUDGED is a judgment decision by an umpire. An APPEAL is an act of a fielder in claiming violation of the rules by the offensive team. An appeal must be made verbally. See rule 7.10 for runner appeal. BALK: "O"ZONE BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher or the catcher with a runner or runners on base, entitling all runners to advance one base. MAJORS/AAA BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher which shall be declared a no pitch, the ball is dead, and no runners advance. A BALL is a pitch which does not enter the strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the batter. If the pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone, it is a "ball." If such pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base. If the batter hits such a pitch, the ensuing action shall be the same as if the batter hit the ball in flight. A BASE ON BALLS is an award of first base granted to a batter, who during his or her time at bat receives four pitches outside the strike zone. BATTER-RUNNER is a term that identifies the offensive player who has just finished a time at bat until that player is put out or until the play on which that player becomes a runner ends. The BATTER'S BOX is the area within which the batter must stand during a time at bat. BENCH OR DUGOUT is the seating facilities reserved for players, substitutes, and the manager and coaches when they are not actively on the playing field. A BUNT is a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield. A CALLED GAME is one in which the umpire-in-chief terminates play. A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in the hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it before it touches the ground providing such fielder does not use cap, protector, pocket, or any other part of the uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following contact with the ball, the fielder collides with a player, or with a wall, or if that fielder falls, and because of such collision or falling, drops the ball. It is not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive team or an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player. If the fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught. In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove complete control of the ball and that release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. COMMENT: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope, or other line of demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. Nointerference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, and
