Softball Rule Changes for 2023

[Alum-Ni]

Rule changes from the NFHS for the upcoming 2023 softball season

1-4-1
Removes the number of color restrictions on a glove, including laces and seams, and does not allow any panels of the glove to match the color of the ball.

Rationale: Gloves and mitts are manufactured in variety of designs and multiple colors. As long as the color of the ball is not one of the colors used, does not have markings that give the appearance of the ball or are made in a manner that is judged distracting by the umpire it is permitted for use in NFHS Softball.

=================================

2-20-1g
A fair ball is a batted ball that while over fair territory, an offensive player interferes with a defensive player attempting to field a batted ball.

Rationale: The ball's status is determined at the point of interference. If an offensive player interferes with the defensive player while the ball is in fair territory, the ball is dead. Adding this language to the definition section mirrors the foul ball definition in Rule 2-25-1e.

=================================

3-2-12, 3-6-11
Removes language prohibiting the wearing of jewelry.

Rationale: Removing the language prohibiting jewelry places the softball rules in line with other NFHS sports that have removed the restriction. Umpires still have the authority to rule on anything that is considered a distraction or increases risk to any player.

=================================

4-2-1
Defines the protocol for when a fair batted ball clears the home run fence to end the game. All runs are allowed to score before the game is terminated.

Rationale: Allows for all runs to be counted when a fair batted ball clears the home run fence to end the game. All runs scored by virtue of the home run will be included in individual and team statistics.

=================================

8-2-7
New language clarifies batter-runner interference on a fly ball over foul territory.

Rationale: This has always been the enforcement but was not listed in the section covering batter-runner. The language is consistent with the rule covering interference on an initial play on a fair-batted ball and aligns with Rule 8-6-10.

 

[Alum-Ni]

2023 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

1. Sportsmanship
Good sporting behavior is one of the fundamental ingredients to the continued success and enjoyment of education-based high school sports and activities. In fact, in the 103-year history of organized high school sports in the United States, good sportsmanship has been one of the most important outcomes of high school activity programs. NFHS playing rules are written to encourage sportsmanship. Participation in these programs should promote respect, integrity, and sportsmanship. However, for these ideals to occur, everyone involved in these programs must be doing their part. The NFHS is concerned that unsporting behavior in education-based athletics has increased across all sports. As a result, the NFHS has made sportsmanship the No. 1 Point of Emphasis for the 2022-23 school year.


Sportsmanship, or good sporting behavior, is about treating one another with respect and exhibiting appropriate behavior. It is about being fair, honest, and caring. When these types of appropriate behavior occur, competitive play is more enjoyable for everyone. Coaches set the tone at athletic contests with their display of sportsmanship. If these individuals act in a sportsmanlike manner, their behavior sets the tone for players, spectators and others. If coaches, however, are complaining constantly about the decision of contest officials, spectators are more likely to do the same. There must be a collaborative, working relationship between contest officials and game administration to promote good sportsmanship and safely conduct the contest. Everyone has their role to play in creating a positive, sportsmanlike atmosphere at contests. Officials should focus on the actions of players, coaches and other bench/sideline personnel. A positive, open line of communication between officials and coaches ultimately results in a better contest for everyone involved. Contest officials, however, should never engage with spectators who are exhibiting unsporting behavior. Once the contest begins, school administration is responsible for dealing with unruly spectators. A proactive approach by school administration includes monitoring the behavior of spectators and intervening as needed. If spectators are using demeaning or profane language at officials – or at others in the stands – those individuals should be removed from the contest by school administration. In recent years, a heightened level of unsportsmanlike behavior has been occurring by spectators at high school sporting events, and it must be stopped. The use of demeaning language, or hate speech, by students, parents, and other fans must cease. High school sports and other activities exist to lift people up, not demean or tear people down. The goal is to treat everyone fairly and treat each other with respect. Any speech or harassment that is insulting, demeaning, or hurtful will not be tolerated. High schools must establish a culture that values the worth of every single person – both players on the school’s team and players on the opposing team. There must be a no-tolerance policy regarding behavior that shows disrespect for another individual. Good sports win with humility, lose with grace and do both with dignity. It takes the efforts of everyone every day to ensure that sportsmanship remains one of the top priorities in education-based activity programs.

2. Time Between Innings
As a point of emphasis, umpires and coaches should pay strict attention to the 60-second time limit between half-innings. In accordance with Rule 6-2-5, at the beginning of each half-inning, no more than one minute may be used to deliver no more than five pitches to the catcher or other teammate. The one-minute time limit begins from the third out of the previous half-inning. A pitcher returning to the pitching position in the same half-inning will not be granted any warm-up pitches. Umpires may authorize more pitches during inclement weather or if a pitcher was removed due to injury or by rule.

3. Jewelry and Electronic Communication
The rule prohibiting jewelry has been removed, allowing team personnel to now wear jewelry; however, the rule regarding the use of electronics is still in place. The use of electronic devices by team personnel to transmit or record information pertaining to their players or team’s performance is only permitted within the dugout. Items such as smartwatches are permitted to be utilized as a watch but cannot be used to transmit or receive data outside of the dugout.

4. Comparable Drying Agents
Pitchers are not permitted to use any substance on the ball or on contact points of the pitching hand or fingers; also, no foreign substances may be applied to the ball. If a pitcher licks the fingers, the player must wipe the fingers prior to touching the ball. Comparable drying agents listed on the USA website (USAsoftball.org) are permitted, and powdered rosin is also permitted. It is not necessary to wipe off the drying agent before making contact with the ball.

 

[Alum-Ni]

2023 RULES INTERPRETATIONS

SITUATION 1: In the bottom of the first inning, a spectator becomes unruly and begins shouting obscene language at the players and umpires. The plate umpire confronts and ejects the spectator while instructing the spectator to leave the facility. RULING: Incorrect procedure. Umpire jurisdiction is limited to the confines of the field and covers issues with players, coaches and bench personnel. Site administration has the responsibility for dealing with unruly spectators. In this situation, the umpire should have contacted the site administrator to deal with the unruly spectator. If the designated site administrator or another person of authority from the host school is not immediately available, these duties fall upon the home team’s head coach if the coach is the only representative of the host school present.

SITUATION 2: As Team A takes the field, the umpire notices several players are wearing small stud earrings. The umpire rules these earrings are not allowed to be worn during the game. RULING: Incorrect ruling. The rule prohibiting jewelry has been eliminated, allowing players to now wear jewelry while playing. Jewelry is now permitted, and umpires should no longer scrutinize players to determine if they are wearing jewelry. In the extremely rare case that a player is wearing an item of jewelry that is so distracting that it draws an umpire’s attention, a judgment must be made if the item can safely be worn during the game. If the umpire determines the item cannot safely be worn, the umpire should inform Team A’s coach that the item must be removed in order for the player to participate in the game.

SITUATION 3: Team B’s pitcher is wearing a smartwatch. In the third inning, the umpire notices F1 receiving signals via text from the coach in the dugout. The umpire stops the game before a pitch is thrown and informs Team B’s coach that the player is violating the rule prohibiting use of electronic devices for coaching purposes outside of the dugout. Team B’s coach disagrees, telling the umpire that F1 is not transmitting data, only receiving the data so it is not a violation. The umpire informs the coach that the player has violated the rule, and this is F1’s warning. The pitcher must discontinue use of the smartwatch or F1 will be ejected. RULING: Correct ruling. Rule 1-8-6 allows team personnel to transmit information only within the team’s dugout/bench area. Transmission of data requires an individual to send the signal to a player who receives that transmission. F1 is receiving the data outside of the dugout/bench area and is in violation of Rule 1-8-6. Rule 3-6-11 also covers this topic and is even more clear in its wording. This rule states that electronic devices used for coaching purposes may be used only within the dugout/bench area. Obtaining a signal for what pitch to throw is clearly a coaching purpose and F1 is also clearly outside of the dugout/bench area when receiving that signal. For violating Rule 3-6-11, it is umpire discretion as to the severity of the offense. If it is judged to be a minor infraction, the umpire may warn the offender or the umpire may eject the offender for the first offense. In this case, the umpire judged the offense to be minor and gave a warning since play was stopped prior to F1 throwing the pitch that had been illegally received. (1-8-6, 3-6-11)

SITUATION 4: R1 of Team B is called out while attempting to steal home on a close play at the plate. After Team B’s head coach consults with an assistant coach near the dugout, footage from a tablet on the close play at the plate is shared with the umpire. As the coach is showing the video to the umpire, it is evident to the umpire that the camera angle of the video is from behind home plate. The umpire ejects the coach for violating the rule prohibiting the use of electronic equipment outside of the dugout. RULING: Correct ruling. Currently, the rules state that recording and using the footage for coaching purposes during the game is only permitted within the team’s dugout/ bench area. Although an umpire should not examine dugouts to determine how a team is utilizing electronic equipment, in this situation, the coach brought the video to the umpire’s attention and, therefore, the umpire must enforce the rule. In addition to the improper use of electronic equipment, use of video to review a play with an umpire is not permissible in NFHS Softball. (1-8-6, 3-6-11, 10-1-4)