A couple of items I wanted to bring to your attention that stemmed from the Softball Advisory Committee meeting earlier this fall. The committee made three recommendations that were passed at the October Board of Directors meeting. I would like to pass those along to you.
1. The Iowa adaptation that chinstraps be required on batting helmets will be removed. I can hear many of you cheering from my office as you read this. There have been enough advances in helmet design and safety that this requirement is no longer needed. The purpose of the chin strap was to keep the helmet on the player. Most players have their own helmet that provides a better fit. It has also been tough for officials to enforce.
2. The Iowa adaptation that states all softball fields must have a media box marked on the field will be removed. In addition to this, no media be allowed inside the softball diamond. Media boxes are not required by the NFHS. Improvements in camera and equipment allow photographers to get their photos without needing to be inside the field of play. There have been too many instances where parents were in the media box and individuals were leaving unattended equipment in the media boxes. From an umpire standpoint, there continues to be confusion about when the ball is live or dead when a hit ball goes into the media box. Our recommendation to schools would be provide media stands in the outfield.
3. Pitching chutes will be chalked in the pitchers’ circle. Beginning this season, it will be mandated that a pitching chute be chalked in the pitcher’s circle before every game. It is difficult for umpires to call illegal pitches. A chalk-drawn chute will aid in the enforcement of legal pitching and help umpires to accurately call illegal pitches better. I have attached a diagram at the end of this memo to demonstrate how the chute would be chalked.
2024 Rule Changes: The new rules changes for the 2024 season have been posted. Click here to view the new changes.
Reminder: A reminder that coaches can work with pitchers and catchers beginning on January 1, 2024. Coaches can also begin scheduling their 10 days of hitting skills development on January 1 until the first day of practice. Remember, the 10 days must be on file with school administration and may only include skill instruction specific to hitting. No baserunning or fielding drills are to be done during these sessions. Students can field batted balls and throw balls back to the pitching area, but throws across the infield are not occur. Hitting instruction can take place either indoors or outdoors. Students and coaches may throw to batters from a flat surface behind an L-screen, in a cage or in a soft-toss hitting drill. Pitchers and catchers may also use this time as their contact period.
Outside of the designated 10 days of hitting instruction, no other coaching contact and/or instruction may be provided until the first legal practice date. Coaching contact with pitchers must be in a separate facility if other players are present for any voluntary hitting and fielding activity.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Many of the rule changed will be discussed in detail at the IGCA Coaches Clinic on Saturday, January 27th. Best wishes to all of you for a great holiday season and a happy 2024!
Jason Eslinger
