American Family Field Ground Rules

American Family Field's unique dimensions are designed to maximize every aspect of watching - and playing - America's Pastime. Please observe the following ground rules.

The Commissioner's Office has issued the following Universal Ground Rules for use in all Major League ballparks this season. Ground Rules pertaining to individual parks are posted separately in those parks.

• Ball on the top step (lip) of the dugout is in play.
• No equipment is permitted to be left on the top step (lip) of the dugout. If a ball hits equipment left on the top step it is dead.
• A player is not permitted to step or go into a dugout to make a catch.
• A player is permitted to reach into a dugout to make a catch. If a player makes a catch outside the dugout and the player's momentum carries him into the dugout, then the catch is allowed and the ball is dead. See Rule 5.09(a)(1) Comment.
• A batted ball in flight can be caught between or under railings and around screens.
• A catch may be made on the field tarp.
• Batted or thrown ball lodging in the rotating signage behind home plate or along first base or third base stands is out of play.
• Batted or thrown ball resting on the rotating signage behind home plate or along first base or third base stands is in play.
• The facings of railings surrounding the dugout and photographers areas are in play.
• Any cameras or microphones permanently attached on railings or along outfield walls are treated as part of the railings or outfield walls and are in play.
• Any recessed railings or poles that are in the dugout and photographers areas are out of play and should be marked with red to mark them out of play.
• Robotic cameras or audio equipment attached to the facing of the backstop screen are considered part of the screen.
• A batted ball striking the backstop camera or audio equipment is considered a dead ball.
• A thrown ball striking the backstop camera or audio equipment is considered in play.
• A ball striking the guy wires that support the backstop is a dead ball.
• A ball lodging behind or under canvas on field tarp is out of play.
• A ball striking the field tarp and rebounding onto the playing field is in play.
• No chairs can be brought out of the dugout or bullpen and onto the playing field.
• All yellow lines are in play.

• Ball entering dugout or photographers' areas: Out of Play (Award by Book Rule)
• Ball striking facing over dugout: Out of Play (Award by Book Rule)
• Ball striking railings or netting around dugout and photographers' areas: In Play
• Ball on top step (lip) of dugout: In Play
• A player cannot go into dugout to make a catch.

• Pitched or thrown ball lodging in signage: Out of Play (Award by Book Rule)
• Pitched or thrown ball resting on ledge of signage: In Play

• Thrown or fair ball lodging behind or under canvas on field tarp: Out of Play (Award by Book Rule)
• Ball striking canvas on field tarp and rebounding onto playing field: In Play
• A catch may be made on canvas.

• Batted ball in flight striking portion of pad above the horizontal yellow line in fair territory of left-field corner: Home Run
• Batted ball in flight striking scoreboard in center field: Home Run
• Batted ball in flight striking blue portion of wall in left-field corner: Foul
• Fair bounding ball striking yellow portion of pad in left-field corner: Two Bases
• Fair bounding ball striking blue portion of wall in left-field corner: In Play
• Fair batted bounding or thrown ball striking the green safety railings on the walls down the left-field and right-field lines in foul territory and rebounding onto the playing field: In Play

• Batted ball striking roof, roof truss or roof cable over fair territory: In Play
• If caught by fielder, batter is out and runners advance at own risk.
• Batted ball striking roof, roof truss or roof cable over foul territory: Dead Ball

• Please refer to Commissioner's Bulletins regarding opening and closing retractable roofs.

• Left-Field Foul Line: 342 feet/8 feet
• Left-Field Power Alley: 370 feet/8 feet
• Center Field: 400 feet/8 feet
• Right-Field Power Alley: 374 feet/8 feet
• Right-Field Foul Line: 345 feet/8 feet