High school baseball players across the nation will encounter an unfamiliar sight as they head to first base starting in the 2027 season.
A double first base will be required in high school games to minimize the risk of collisions by runners and fielders. This rule revision was proposed and voted into existence by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee during its annual meeting held June 8-10 at The Alexander hotel in Indianapolis.
The double first base must be white and a contrasting solid color. The white portion of the base is located in fair territory, while the colored half is 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.
The double first base was used for the first time in the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament. Used once as an experiment, the NCAA universally implemented a rule change to college baseball ahead of the 2025 season to improve player safety and reduce collisions: a safety bag at first base.
