ACTBA adopts MLB's official "Collisions at home plate" rule.
http://www.act.baseball.com.au/News/ArtMID/7119/ArticleID/11259/ACTBA-Adopts-MLBs-Official-Collisions-at-Home-Plate-Rule-
OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULE 7.13
COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE
1. A
runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to
the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player
covering home plate). If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner
attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player
covering home plate) in such a manner, the Umpire shall declare the
runner out (even if the player covering home plate loses possession of
the ball). In such circumstances, the Umpire shall call the ball dead,
and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the
time of the collision.
Rule 7.13 Comment: The
failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the
runner's lowering of the shoulder, or the runner's pushing through with
his hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner
deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher
in violation of Rule 7.13. If the runner slides into the plate in an
appropriate manner, he shall not be adjudged to have violated Rule 7.13.
A slide shall be deemed appropriate, in the case of a feet first slide,
if the runner's buttocks and legs should hit the ground before contact
with the catcher. In the case of a head first slide, a runner shall be
deemed to have slid appropriately if his body should hit the ground
before contact with the catcher.
2. Unless
the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the
pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score. If, in the judgment
of the Umpire, the catcher without possession of the ball blocks the
pathway of the runner, the Umpire shall call or signal the runner safe.
Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be considered a violation of
this Rule 7.13 if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in order
to field a throw, and the Umpire determines that the catcher could not
have fielded the ball without blocking the pathway of the runner and that contact with the runner was unavoidable.
