Rule books shed light on Odessa baseball player suspension

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Social media posts recently went viral surrounding an incident at the baseball game between Odessa High and Permian High on Friday, March 20.

The posts, and subsequent video clip, say that an Odessa senior hit a home run and was then ejected because of a bat flip.

The posts continue saying the player is now suspended for the rest of the season.

The Odessa community rallied around the player and wanted answers as to how the bat flip would result in a season suspension for the OHS senior.

NFHS and ECISD rule books result in suspension

First Alert 7 spoke with the University Interscholastic League and Ector County ISD about the incident and suspension.

The UIL follows NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) rules for baseball.

UIL told First Alert 7 that the rule on a bat flip resulting in an ejection is in the NFHS rule book and is not a new one. The suspension following it is a school district rule.

Ector County ISD’s rule on suspension from ejections is as follows: If a player is ejected from a game twice in one sport season, the player is suspended for the rest of that sport season.

Based on the rules from NFHS and ECISD, the Odessa High senior was ejected for the second time in the season. The player would follow the NFHS/UIL rules on ejection each time.

Then, in accordance with the ECISD rule on suspension, he would be suspended for the season as this was his second ejection of the season.

Ector County ISD shared the relevant rules from the NFHS book and ECISD book.

The NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) rule book states the following:

SECTION 3 BENCH AND FIELD CONDUCT

Art. 1...A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not:

1. leave the dugout during a live ball for an unauthorized purpose:
2. fake a tag without the ball
3. carelessly throw a bat        
4. wear bandannas
5. hit the ball to players on defense after the game has started.

PENALTY: At the end of the playing action, the umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the team involved, and the next offender on that team shall be ejected. In (b), it is also an obstruction. (8-3-2)

f. commit any unsportsmanlike act, to include, but not limited to,

1. use of words or actions to incite or attempt to incite spectators’ demonstrations.
2. use of profanity, intimidation tactics, remarks reflecting unfavorably upon any other person, or taunting or baiting.  The NFHS disproves of any form of taunting.
3. use of any language intended to intimidate.
4. behavior in any manner not in accordance with the spirit of fair play:

PENALTY: The umpire shall warn the offender unless the offense is judged to be major, in which case an ejection shall occur.

Any offense judged to be major in nature shall result in an immediate ejection.

*The officials’ association has stated that a “bat flip” is deliberately throwing a bat.

ECISD Student-Parent Athletic Handbook

This statement is in the ECISD Student-Parent Athletic Handbook 2025-2026 that the parent signs in Rank One at the beginning of the year.

It falls under the ECISD Athletic Standards.

9. Any student-athlete ejected from an athletic contest for unsportsmanlike behavior; we will adhere to the UIL and ECISD suspension policy.

ECISD Athletic Coaches Handbook

This following statement is from the ECISD Athletic Coaches Handbook. The ejection policy is discussed in the UIL coaches meeting and is discussed in every sport pre-season meeting to make sure the coaches address the rule in their parent meeting and talk about it with the student athletes.

1. ATHLETE EJECTION FROM CONTEST

If an athlete is ejected or suspended from a contest by an official, it is the head coach’s responsibility to notify the Executive Director of Athletics as soon as possible as per UIL rules.

• Ejected athlete’s coach is required to provide in writing to the Executive Director of Athletics a description of the incident and the preventive measures designed to avert future athlete ejections.
• Players ejected from a game will be required to miss a minimum of his or her team’s next game as well. In football, a player ejected will be required to miss the rest of this game and miss a minimum of the following game’s first half. Players cannot be on the field.   
• If a student does not get ejected from a contest but has committed an intentional, aggressive approach, the athletic department will make the decision on the disciplinary consequence.
• If a student-athlete is ejected, the coach will enter information into the ejection form on the nest and will have the student complete their student accountability assignment.  No student will be allowed to compete again until the assignment is completed and entered into the survey form.
• If an athlete receives two ejections in one sport season, they will be suspended for the remainder of that sport season.