NFHS Rules Changes
 

“Hit By Pitch” Procedure Revised in High School Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Theresia Wynns

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 24, 2012) — Batters in high school softball no longer will have to make an attempt to avoid being hit by a pitch in order to be awarded first base.

This revision to Rule 8-1-2 was one of four rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its June 11-13 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

A batter will be awarded first base if “a pitched ball is entirely within the batter’s box and it strikes the batter or her clothing. No attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch is required; however, the batter may not obviously try to get hit by the pitch.”

Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials education and staff liaison for softball, said this rules change clears up the gray area of whether the batter made an attempt to get out of the way of the pitch.

“Since a batter is penalized for prohibiting a pitch from entering the strike zone, the committee thought there should be a penalty when the pitcher hits a batter when the pitch is completely inside the batter’s box,” Wynns said.

In Rule 6-1, the committee approved the following exceptions to the penalty for an illegal pitch:

1) If the batter reaches first base safely and each other runner advances at least one base, the illegal pitch is nullified. All action stands and the illegal pitch is canceled.

2) If the batter does not reach first base safely or if any base runner fails to advance at least one base, the coach of the team at bat shall have the option of the result of the play or the penalty of the illegal pitch.

3) If the batter is hit by an illegal pitch out of the strike zone, the batter is awarded first base and each base runner is awarded one base.

4) If ball four is an illegal pitch, the batter is awarded first base and each base runner is awarded one base.

A change was approved by the Softball Rules Committee regarding the color of gloves/mitts. As a follow-up to the change last year that required the color of all softballs to be optic yellow, the committee revised language in Rule 1-4-1 to state that gloves/mitts must not be entirely optic yellow or have that color of marking on the inside or outside of gloves/mitts that would give the appearance of the ball.

The final rules change was Rule 3-6-10, which will allow stopwatches to be used in the coach’s box.

A complete listing of all rules changes approved by the committee is available on the NFHS Web site at NFHS | National Federation of State High School Associations. Click on “Athletics & Fine Arts Activities” on the home page, and select “Softball.”
Fast-pitch softball is the fourth-most popular sport for girls at the high school level, according to the 2011-12 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey, with 373,535 participants nationwide. The sport ranks fourth in school sponsorship with 15,338 schools sponsoring the sport.

Where did you get this?
 

I don't see it posted on the web site. We have already had our rules clinic and this was not mentioned.

Never Mind
 

I found it

But aren't these changes for the 2013 book?

And which set of Rules (2012 or 2013) do states that play their high school softball in the fall use?

No problem with the change, just think the reasoning is off.

Wouldn't 4 be covered by 2? Or should I say, logically covered by 2? :D

I have always thought this rule ridiculous for any org., but wonder if the interpretation will be a tight as ASA's

Good, they can time the one minute between innings and now understand why their pitcher who insists on being the last out of the dugout doesn't get all five pitches ;)

Well, since the NFHS has no authority whatsoever, I would assume that would be up to the local HS athletic organization.

Here in Nebraska, which plays SB in the fall, we are using 2012 rules.
Dave

GA getting ready for HS and will play 2012 rules.

The rules that match the current calendar year.

Not necessarily. There may be some convoluted reason why the coach would want to take the option of the play on Ball Four.

Let's say R1 on third represents the game-winning run, but the coach wants the batter on deck to hit one more time before the game ends. So on a 3-1 count, the pitcher delivers an illegal pitch. The coach wants to take the option of the play--R1 stays at third and the batter goes to first--to give that on-deck batter her plate appearance. Exception #4 takes that option away from him.

I know, I know...it's early, and I'm only on my first cup of coffee...:p

Then that batter better be swinging if the coach is going to unnecessarily delay the game for batting practice.

This is the stupidist logic I have ever read.

MTD, Sr.

What did expect the press release to say? That the NCAA does it that way (mostly because the NCAA coaches are systematically attempting to remove umpire judgment from any rule, because they can't argue about judgment), so we are just following like the lemmings you all know us to be?

Makes sense to me. I don't see the issue.

Old way - we have to determine whether the player could have gotten out of the way.
New way - we only have to determine whether the player moved INTO the ball.

Lots easier.