Section V Baseball to Require Safety Base at First by 2027

New rule aims to improve player safety on the diamond

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:43am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game broken down into overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conceptually representing the new safety measures being implemented.A new safety rule for first base aims to reduce collisions and improve player protection in Section V high school baseball.Rochester Today

High school baseball teams in the greater Rochester region of New York's Section V will be required to use a safety base or double first base starting in the 2027 season. The new rule, which has been debated but not mandated until now, is intended to improve player safety during plays at first base.

Why it matters

The safety base, already used in softball and college baseball, provides a larger target for players running to first and helps prevent collisions between the runner and the fielder. This change aligns Section V baseball with other levels of play and aims to reduce injuries from plays at the bag.

The details

Section V officials stated they "didn't want to tell anyone they had to do this" during the current season, including for sectional playoff games, but felt it was important to establish the new requirement for the 2027 campaign. The double first base has been used voluntarily by some teams, but will now be mandatory across the region.

  • The new safety base rule will take effect for the 2027 high school baseball season in Section V.

The players

Section V

The governing body for high school sports in the greater Rochester, New York region.

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The takeaway

This new safety rule for first base in Section V baseball aims to protect players and align the region's high school game with standards already in place at other levels of play. While not mandated immediately, the 2027 implementation date gives teams time to prepare for and adopt the double first base requirement.