1-8-6 EXCEPTION & PENALTY: A high school softball coach is now able to use electronic devices in the dugout for one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense. The penalty from Rule 3-6-11 was added to Rule 1-8-6 as well, with violators subject to ejection unless the offense is ruled to be of a minor nature.
Rationale: The committee has made these changes to support the use of emerging technology within the sport of softball. Being a permissive rule, the use of this one-way electronic communication will allow those who choose to embrace the technology an additional option to communicate with the catcher while on defense.
3-6-11: This rule change specifies that coaches are prohibited from using the device to communicate with any other team member while on defense or any team member while on offense and the coach cannot use the device outside the dugout/bench area.
Rationale: Clarifies that a coach may us an electronic device for one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense.
9-3-2b: When a baserunner who is declared out for being hit by a fair batted ball, the batter-runner is credited with a fielder’s choice in the scorebook.
Rationale: This change corrects an error in the rules book that awarded a base hit in this instance.
2025 SOFTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES
Figure 1-1, Figure 1-3, 1-3-4, 1-3-5, 1-6-6, 1-7-1, 2-47, 3-2-3, 3-2-12 NOTE, 3-6-12, 5-1 Table, 5-1-1o, 6-1-2c, 8-1-2a EFFECTS 3, 8-6-4, 10-1-6
2025 SOFTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS
- Team’s Role in Pace of Play
- Situational Awareness
