Rule Changes

Equipment

• 1-2-1: Clarifies bases may be designed to disengage from their anchor system.

  • Rationale: This change places rule language with other regulations covering the field and its equipment.

• 1-3-3: Aligns ball tolerance specifications with other rule codes.

  • Rationale: Balls manufactured with the former specifications will be permitted through 2024, to allow for manufacturers and schools to reduce current inventory. The new ball specifications are permitted for use during the 2021-22 season and will be required by January 1, 2025.

• 3-2-5b: Removes the language prohibiting hard items to control the hair in the sport of softball.

  • Rationale: Clarifies adornments such as beads can be worn in the hair and aligns language with other NFHS rules codes.

• 3-2-5c: Permits players to wear soft and secure headwear for religious purposes without prior state association approval.

  • Rationale: Eliminates the need for authorization from the state associations for religious headwear.

• 3-5-3: When in live ball areas, a coach shall be attired in a school uniform or jersey/coaching shirt with slacks, shorts, or other leg coverings in school colors or colors of khaki, black, white or gray.

  • Rationale: Updated language clarifies items which can be worn by coaches in a live-ball area.

• 3-6-21 & PENALTY: Establishes the penalty when a damaged bat that was previously removed is re-introduced into the game.

  • Rationale: The penalty outlines protocol for dealing with situations in which a damaged bat is removed, then re-introduced to the game.

• 6-2-2 & NOTE: Removes language from Rule 6-2-2 and places it as a NOTE under the PENALTY.

  • Rationale: The language and rule reference is a reminder to players, coaches and officials about distracting items worn by the pitcher, but is not a part of Rule 6-2-2.

Runner/Batter-Runner

• 8-2-6: Clarifies a runner is considered outside the running lane when either foot last contacting the ground completely outside the lane.

  • Rationale: New language more adequately describes the intent of the rule and will provide more consistent enforcement.

Editorial Changes

Editorial changes are written as the new rule reads. Changes to the language from a previous year are in bold.

Damaged Bat

• 2-4-3: A bat that was once legal but is broken, cracked, dented, rattles or has shared edges that night deface the ball. Damaged bats when initially detected shall be removed from the game without penalty as in Rule 7-4-2.
  • Penalty: If the damaged bat that was removed from play by an umpire is detected a second time in the game, the batter shall be called out. The batter and head coach are also restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game (7-4-15).

Jewelry

• 3-2-12: Players in the game are prohibited from wearing jewelry such as rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces (including cloth or string types). Religious and medical-alert medals are not considered jewelry. A religious medal must be taped and worn under the uniform. A medical alert medal must be taped and may be visible (3-6-1)

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Charged Conferences

• 3-7-1 NOTE: If the incoming pitcher has already pitched in the game, the pitcher will receive five warm-up pitches, unless returning to pitch in the same half-inning.

Ending a Game

• 4-2-3 NOTE 2: By state association adoption, the number of innings for one of both games in a doubleheader may be scheduled for less than seven innings. Current state association game-ending procedures still apply.

Dead Ball

• 5-1 Dead Ball Table
  • #12: Fair ball touches a spectator – Award all runners appropriate number of bases in the umpire’s judgment.
  • #13: Fair ball bounces over, through or lodges in fence – Award all runner two bases.

Batting Infractions

• 7-3-1: A batter shall not delay the game by failing to promptly take position with both feet complete inside the batter’s box within 10 seconds after the ball is returned to the pitcher to prepare for the next pitch, or by stepping out of the box when the pitcher is in contact with the pitcher’s plate.

Batter is Out

• 7-4-2 NOTE: Damaged bats are not illegal and, when initially detected, are removed from the game without penalty (7-4-15).
• 7-4-7: A third strike is not caught in flight, a runner occupies first base at the time of the pitch and there are less than two outs (8-2-1).
• 7-4-15: The batter enters the batter’s box with a damaged bat that was previously removed from the game or is discovered having used a damaged bat that was previously removed from the game and the infraction is detected before the next legal or illegal pitch (only the umpire or defense may detect a damaged bat that was previously removed from the game.
  • Penalty: The ball is dead immediately. All runners not put out on the play must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. The batter and head coach are also restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game
  • Note: Damaged bats are not illegal and, when initially detected, are removed from the game without penalty. This article assesses a penalty for a player who attempts to or uses a damaged bat that was previously removed from the game by an umpire.

On-Deck Batter

•  7-5-4 PENALTY 1: When the interference is with a thrown or pitched ball, the ball is dead and the runner closest to home is declared out. If no play is obvious, no player is out, but runners shall return to the last base touched at the time the ball is declared dead.

• • On-Deck Batter Location

    • The on-deck batter may use either on-deck circle.
    • The on-deck batter may only move to the on-deck circle during a dead ball. The on-deck batter must remain in the on-deck circle unless the batter switches hitting positions at which time the umpire would have the discretion to allow the on-deck batter to change circles.

PGF uses the National Federation of High School’s rules. For rules updates please visit the IHSA section of this page.

• Legal Bats

  • (2.10.D.1, pg 12) – Adds the 2020 USSSA Certification Mark (in addition to the 2014 mark). A bat having either the 2014 OR 2020 Certification Mark is legal in USSSA sanctioned softball games.

  • View the USSSA 2014 and 2020 Certification Marks

• Pitching – Leaping

  • (6.1.E.3, pg. 24) – The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate or push off and drag away from the pitcher’s plate or be airborne to the non-pivot foot touching the ground. The pitcher may leap from the pitcher’s plate, land with the non-pivot foot and with a continuous motion deliver the ball to the batter.

• Base Running – Courtesy Runner

  • (8.3.B-Penalty, pg. 42) – the ineligible or incorrect courtesy runner is liable for discovery once they physically replace the pitcher/catcher on the occupied base.

• Sporting Behavior

  • (11.2.C, pg. 58) – A coach, player, substitute, attendant, or other bench personnel shall not fail to wear or deliberately remove equipment when it is required to be worn.
  • The rule was changed to be inclusive of all equipment.

Review detailed 2022-2023 rules changes

Rule Changes

• Video Review (Rule 5.9)

  • Introduces video review as decided per game, by the conference, or tournaments.
  • Each head coach has two challenges per game.
  • Must be requested before the next pitch, before players or umpire shave left the field. Coaches have 30 seconds to verbally or visually lodge a challenge.
  • Crew chief may initiate a review starting in the 6th inning.
  • Limited scope of plays may be reviewed. For full details, view the NCAA Major Rules Changes.

• Conferences (Rule 6.7.2 and 6.12)

  • 7 coach-to-player conferences per game. 1 per half inning, plus 1 per pitching change if the pitcher has not pitched in that half-inning.
  • 7 player-to-player conferences per game. Limited to 2 per half inning.
  • 1 coach-to-player and 1 player-to-player conference per half-inning for each extra inning.
  • A team representative or player who initiatives an unallowed conference is ejected immediately.

• Pitcher Substitution (Rule 8.5.2.2.1)

  • If media goes to a break during a pitching change, the pitcher may throw any number of warmup pitches.

• Legal Position in the Batter’s BoX (Rule 11.2.5 EFFECT)

  • If any part of the batter is touching the ground outside of the batter’s box at the time of bat-ball contact,  A DELAYED DEAD BALL IS CALLED. The defensive coach may select a strike on the batter (and all base runners return) or the result of the play.

• Hit by Pitch (Rule 11.13.3.2)

  • The batter is not awarded first base if hit by a pitch in the strike zone, or by a pitch that does not reach the plate but would have been in the strike zone.

• Interference by Batter (Rule 11.20.4)

  • If the batter swings and misses the pitch, but accidentally hits the ball or the catcher on the follow-through, it is a delayed dead ball and the defensive team may choose either the result of the play or it is a dead-ball strike and all base runners return.

• Collisions (Rule 12.13 and 9.5.3 EFFECT)

  • A runner will be called out and ejected on a deliberate collision with a fielder regardless if the fielder has possession of the ball.

• Interference (Rule 12.17.2.1.5.2)

  • A runner may not intentionally distract or run at any fielder in an effort to distract her while not making an attempt to run directly to the base.
    • EFFECT: A warning to the player.
  • This applies to any defensive player regardless if she is making a play on the ball. If she is making a play on the ball, interference would also be called.

• Pregame and Postgame Ejections (Rule 13.2.3)

  • Umpires have the authority to issue a pregame ejection for unsporting behavior from the time the umpires arrive at the competition site until the umpires leave the competition site.
    • The clarifies that the umpire’s authority begins when they arrive at the venue, not only when they arrive on the field.

Editorial Changes

• Pitching Position (Rule 10.1.1)

  • The pitcher’s stride foot may be on the pitching lane (rather than within the 24″)

• Intentionally Pitching at a Batter (Rule 10.14.1 EFFECT)

  • The umpire may eject the pitcher without warning. The head coach and/or catcher may be ejected.

• Collisions (Rule 12.13.5)

  • Clarifies “out of the baseline” as “can’t reach the base” and to treat the violation as interference. Also allows the option to issue a team warning.

Future Impacting Changes

• Recommended Fence Distance (Rule 2.15.2.1)

  • For all new construction, fences must be at least 6′ high and a minimum of 190′ in left and right fields, and 220 feet in center field.

• Recommended Foul Pole Height (Rule 216.2)

  • The pole shall extend a minimum of 10′, or the recommended height of 40′.

• Ball Specifications (Rule 3.2.1)

  • Game balls must meet NFHS and USA specifications (max compression of 275-375 pounds) by January 1, 2024.