NFHS makes significant rule change for next season

A major rule change is coming to high school softball. It’s a rule that’s been in need of a change for some time.

Coaches will now be able to communicate with their catchers (while on defense) via electronic device. All communication must be one-way under a change this week by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The new rule allows the use of devices “such as earphones, electronic wristbands, and ‘smart’ watches as an EXCEPTION to this rule, provided the athlete does not use such device to return correspondence to coaching staff.”

“This change is the result of analysis of current data, experimentation by state associations and positive member response,” NFHS Athletic Director and Softball Rules Committee Liaison Sandy Searcy said in a news release.

“The committee has made these changes to support the use of new technology in the sport of softball. As a permissible rule, the use of this one-way electronic communication will allow those who choose to adopt the technology an additional option for communicating with their catcher during a defensive performance. It will also maintain the ability for those who prefer the more traditional approach of communicating via signals or the playbook/game card to continue to do so.”

According to the rules, you should only communicate with the catcher.

Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times raises an interesting point in his article about the change, noting that “a similar rule allowed the use of communication devices last season during high school baseball games.”