[{"command":"settings","settings":{"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"ajaxPageState":{"theme":"responsive","theme_token":"YGBo--Ray-13PR-az3vHcKWCA2_eWfFEALXRbD4IE4E"}},"merge":true},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":"#node-144","data":"\u003Carticle id=\u0022node-144\u0022 class=\u0022node node-article node-promoted clearfix\u0022 about=\u0022\/electronic-communication-by-players-clarified-in-high-school-softball\u0022 typeof=\u0022sioc:Item foaf:Document\u0022\u003E\n          \u003Cheader\u003E\n\t                  \u003Ch2 class=\u0022title\u0022 \u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/electronic-communication-by-players-clarified-in-high-school-softball\u0022\u003EElectronic Communication by Players Clarified in High School Softball\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\n            \u003Cspan property=\u0022dc:title\u0022 content=\u0022Electronic Communication by Players Clarified in High School Softball\u0022 class=\u0022rdf-meta element-hidden\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan property=\u0022sioc:num_replies\u0022 content=\u00220\u0022 datatype=\u0022xsd:integer\u0022 class=\u0022rdf-meta element-hidden\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E  \n              \u003Cspan class=\u0022submitted\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan property=\u0022dc:date dc:created\u0022 content=\u00222025-07-09T17:17:23-04:00\u0022 datatype=\u0022xsd:dateTime\u0022 rel=\u0022sioc:has_creator\u0022\u003ESubmitted by \u003Cspan class=\u0022username\u0022 xml:lang=\u0022\u0022 about=\u0022\/user\/1\u0022 typeof=\u0022sioc:UserAccount\u0022 property=\u0022foaf:name\u0022 datatype=\u0022\u0022\u003Ebcua\u003C\/span\u003E on Wed, 07\/09\/2025 - 5:17pm\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n      \n          \u003C\/header\u003E\n  \n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022content node-article\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-items\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-item even\u0022 property=\u0022content:encoded\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo player shall be allowed to transmit or record audio or video from the playing surface in high school softball. This new language in Rule 1-8-6 of the NFHS Softball Rules Book further clarifies the use of electronic devices and what is permitted in the sport after language was added last year to allow for electronic communication for coaching purposes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis change was the highlight of the NFHS Softball Rules Committee\u2019s rules recommendations as a result of the committee\u2019s annual rules meeting held June 15-17 at The Alexander hotel in Indianapolis. The NFHS Board of Directors subsequently approved the rules changes to take effect next year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022While increased media exposure has positively influenced the growth and visibility of softball, the committee determined that the potential risks associated with players transmitting or recording audio or video through devices during live play outweighed the benefits,\u201d said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. \u201cAs wearable technology continues to evolve, the committee believed it was essential to establish clear guidelines regarding the permissible use of such devices to ensure the safety and integrity of the game.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe proper uniform for an umpire was adjusted in Rule 10-4-2, noting that \u2018charcoal gray\u2019 slacks were allowed, instead of \u2018heather gray.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cManufacturers have ceased production of heather gray umpire pants, and this update will help guide umpires toward selecting pant options that are actively being produced and readily available,\u201d Searcy said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, the 2026 Softball Rules Book will include a reformatted Rule 8 for improved clarity and comprehension. Longer sections were separated, and additional article references were added to penalties and effects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA complete listing of the softball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nfhs.org\u0022\u003Ewww.nfhs.org\u003C\/a\u003E. Click on \u201cSports\u201d at the top of the home page and select \u201cSoftball.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 345,451 girls in 15,635 high schools played fast-pitch softball in 2023-24 making it the fifth-most popular girls sport, while an additional 6,107 girls participated in slow-pitch softball.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C!--break--\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-label\u0022\u003ETags:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-items\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-item even\u0022 rel=\u0022dc:subject\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/taxonomy\/term\/30\u0022 typeof=\u0022skos:Concept\u0022 property=\u0022rdfs:label skos:prefLabel\u0022 datatype=\u0022\u0022\u003Erule changes\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-item odd\u0022 rel=\u0022dc:subject\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/taxonomy\/term\/5\u0022 typeof=\u0022skos:Concept\u0022 property=\u0022rdfs:label skos:prefLabel\u0022 datatype=\u0022\u0022\u003EBaseball\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-item even\u0022 rel=\u0022dc:subject\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/taxonomy\/term\/63\u0022 typeof=\u0022skos:Concept\u0022 property=\u0022rdfs:label skos:prefLabel\u0022 datatype=\u0022\u0022\u003E2026\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n      \u003Cfooter\u003E\n      \u003Cul class=\u0022links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022node-readless first last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/more\/node\/144\/teaser\u0022 class=\u0022use-ajax\u0022\u003ERead less\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E    \u003C\/footer\u003E\n  \n    \u003C\/article\u003E \u003C!-- \/.node --\u003E","settings":null},{"command":"invoke","selector":"#node-144","method":"addClass","arguments":["more-load node-teaser"]},{"command":"readmore_ajax","speed":"350"}]