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The white portion of the base will be located in fair territory while the colored half will be located in foul territory, split by the first base foul line. There is to be no space between the two portions of the double base.

Runner safety is one of the reasons behind the change.

“Adding the double first base is symbolic to the evolution of the sport,� Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee, said in the release. “It will immediately address running lane violations, and it will further protect the players from the violent collisions that have occurred at first base. By reducing collisions and enhancing safety, it preserves both the integrity of competition and the well-being of those who play."

The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Interscholastic Association, which oversees most high school sports in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, including baseball, is among NFHS member organizations that adhere to its national rules.

The rule was one of 10 proposed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee during its annual meeting from June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The rules changes were accepted by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The rules state that the runner should use the colored base on an initial play at first base unless a fielder is drawn into foul territory to receive a dropped third strike, in which case, the runner would use the white portion of the base. Once the runner reaches first base, they must always return to the white base, including when leading off, returning on a pick-off attempt or tagging up on a fly ball.

A runner may use either side of first base on a walk or on an extra-base hit to the outfield when there is no chance of a play to be made at first.

Interference will be called on runners if they only touch the white portion on a force play at first and collide with the fielder. It is an obstruction if a defensive player only touches the colored portion of the base and collides with the batter-runner.

A rule was added to clarify that it is a fair ball if a batted ball hits or bounds over any part of the white portion of the double first base. Alternately, it is a foul ball if a batted ball hits or bounds over any part of the colored portion of the base.

A few more rules were added outside of the double first base.

Rule 3-4-6 was also added regarding defensive player meetings. Each team, when on defense, may be granted not more than one player-to-player meeting during an inning. Umpires shall deny any subsequent defensive team requests for that half-inning. A player-to-player defensive meeting is defined as having two or more defensive players.

“A player-to-player defensive meeting is a natural and essential part of the game — whether it’s strategy, encouragement or clarification, but having multiple meetings in a half-inning adds additional time that lengthens a contest and is not in the best interest of the game,� Hopkins said. “A charged conference, however, involves direct coaching intervention with either a coach or a non-playing representative and is intended to provide instruction. The distinction ensures we honor both the flow of the game and the role of coaching.�

Language was added to Rule 1-4-4 to allow a school’s name, nickname, logo, mascot and/or player’s name to be permitted on a uniform top and/or pants beginning in 2027.

Additionally, Rule 1-6-3 states that “no player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during the game.�

A complete listing of the baseball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at .