CHILLICOTHE − A handful of significant rule changes are coming to high school baseball and softball next season. The National Federation of State High School Associations have, over the past month, approved several measures and rule changes to state high school rules for both spring sports that will go into effect for the 2025 season.
Among the key changes, one-way communication devices between the dugout and the catcher have been permitted in softball, as well as a pair of rule changes in baseball relating to "risk minimization and sportsmanship," according to a press release on the Ohio High School Athletic Association's website.
Before the changes are fully implemented next season, there's time to see what exactly will change between seasons and how it will affect games in the coming years. here's a breakdown of the biggest rule changes implemented by the NFHS:
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Softball: One-way communication now allowed
Perhaps the biggest change to either sport next season is also as of now one of two rule change implemented by the NFHS' Softball Rules Committee during its annual meeting in early June.
The rule change allows devices such as earpieces, electronic bands and smart watches are allowed as an exception to the rule. This grants the dugout the ability to transmit one-way communications to the catcher, granted the player does not use said device to correspond back to the coaching staff.
“This change is the result of analysis of current data, state association experimentation and a positive response from the membership,” Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee, said in a press release. “Being a permissive rule, the use of this one-way electronic communication will allow those who choose to embrace the technology an additional option to communicate with the catcher while on defense.”
Aside from this change, the updated rules still prohibit coaches from using said devices to communicate with any player aside from the catcher while on defense and any player while on offense, and its use must be relegated to the dugout and bench area. Penalties from breaking this rule may result in an ejection, or a warning should it be deemed a minor offense.
Baseball: Change in grips and sportsmanship
One of the latest changes addressed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee in their annual meeting clarified the use of grips for non-wood bats. Resins, pine tars and other drying agents will now be allowed, and can be applied up to 18 inches from the base of the knob. The NFHS argues that this change equalizes the standards between wood and non-wood bats and provides better grip control to reduce risk on the field.
"For years, players using wood bats had the luxury of being allowed to use substances that ensure better grip,” Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee, said in a press release. “This rule change permits users of non-wood bats the same opportunity to protect others while maintaining a firm and solid grip of the baseball bat.”
A second rule change was also implemented for next season, stating that failure to remove ejected coaches or team personnel from the reason may incur further penalties upon said team. One of those penalties may include an umpire to force a team to forfeit the game. Previous rules stated mentioned only ejected players and not team personnel.
“Rule 4-4 is more about coaches maintaining proper decorum for their players and coaching staff,” Hopkins said. “If the emotional rigors of the game become overwhelming for students and coaches, this rule intends to bring the offending parties back to the center of the reason for education-based athletics.”
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