The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee has recommended a change to its force-play-slide rule to provide more protection for the runner.

The change to the force-play-slide rule, which typically occurs at second base during a double-play attempt, would allow the runner to slide beyond the base as long as he slides legally and directly to the base. The committee, which met July 11-13 in Indianapolis, also recommended removal of the pop-up slide from prohibited slides in that rule.

All of the committee’s rules proposals must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before implementation.

"The rule was written with the assumption that the runner is creating unnecessary contact with the fielder," said Gary Vaught, head coach at the University of Indianapolis and chair of the committee. "Now, the runner is given some latitude to slide legally and either go past the base or use a pop-up slide to stop momentum."

Umpires will be instructed to continue to call clear violations of the rule, Vaught said. The change would encourage fielders to move off the sides of the base when attempting to turn a double play.

In other action, the committee voted to limit the number of players in the on-deck area to one. The group discussed many reasons for this change, chief among them the difficulty for umpires to judge an overthrown ball that ends up in that area.

"Going to one on-deck batter will help clean up the dugout area and make the umpire’s job a little bit easier," Vaught said.

Several conferences proposed the rule after noting difficulties with the current rule. The committee further clarified the rule by establishing a boundary limit for the on-deck batter. The on-deck batter may not be within a triangle created by an extension of the first-base and third-base foul lines. Additionally, the on-deck batter must be in the vicinity of the dugout.

Another rule change the committee approved deals with a dropped third strike. If the batter-runner is not attempting to reach first base and leaves the home plate dirt area in the direction of his dugout, he would be declared out.

In other actions, the committee: