[Steve M]

Copied from the NFHS site:
2006 NFHS SOFTBALL RULES CHANGES

3-5-1 & New Penalty: The head coach is now required to attend the pregame conference and verify the team is legally and properly equipped. Penalty has been established for non-compliance. First offense results in a team warning, subsequent offense results in the offender and the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench.

3-6-19 New: If a participant intentionally removes a boundary line, a strike or ball shall be called on the batter for an infraction by the offense or defense, respectively. A team warning shall also be issued to the head coach. Any subsequent infraction will result in the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game.

7-2-1h New: A strike will be called on the batter when, in the umpireÂ’s judgment, she prevents a pitched ball from entering the strike zone.

7-4-1k: The batter will be called out when the bat hits the ball a second time outside the batterÂ’s box.

2006 MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES

1-3-6 New; 1-5-5: Language added to clarify that softballs and bats may not be altered from their originally manufactured legal state by using any treatment or device.

1-6-6: Reminder that beginning January 1, 2006 batting helmets shall have a NOCSAE-approved face mask/guard protector.

1-8-4 New: A new article was added to clarify that players may wear face/head protection in the field.

1-7-3 (F.P.): Any non-adult warming up a pitcher at any location within the confines of the field shall wear an approved catcher's helmet and mask combination a mask and throat protector.

2-10: Section was reorganized for clarity. Reference to the fielder holding the ball “long enough” for a catch was removed.

2-15-2; 4-1-2; 10-2-3: Articles relating to the pregame conference and the umpireÂ’s duties during the pregame conference were reorganized to reduce redundancies.

3-5-4 Penalty: The penalty for a coach physically assisting a runner was changed to be consistent with other rules.

8-6-4; 8-8-17 New: Clarified that a base runner passing an obstructed runner is not out.

8-6-14: Clarified that a base runner is out whenever malicious contact occurs and that malicious contact always supersedes obstruction.

2006 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

1. Obstruction
2. Huddles
3. Uniforms
4. Bunts – Slap Hits

1st change - this is the "experimental" ruling that we used in Pa this past season. It seemed to work pretty well.

I am told that in Pennsylvania, we'll be using the ITB for 2006.