The National Federation of State High School Associations has made changes to the 2010 Softball Rules. We have an updated Softball Field Dimensions guide to reflect the changes to field layout.
You can download a PDF of the 2010 NFHS Softball Rule Changes from the NFHS web site. CIF has released a CIF 2010 Rule Change Press Release explaining the motivation behind the rule changes.
| 1-1-2b | Changed the female fast-pitch pitching distance to 43 feet effective with the 2010-11 academic year. NOTE: Individual state associations are permitted to adopt the 43-feet distance in 2009-10, if desired. Note: There is nothing on the CIF site which would indicate this will happen in 2010. The exception is for states that have already adopted the rule change for the trials. |
| 1-5 | Identified and specified guidelines for each part of the bat, including: knob, handle/grip, taper, barrel and end cap. In addition, the rule clarifies that the taper must be a solid surface. |
| 3-2-12 | Added an exception to permit hard, unadorned devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips, no longer than 2 inches, to be worn to control a player’s hair. |
| 9-6-6 | Changed the required number of innings pitched to half of the total number of innings played in the game for a starting pitcher to be credited with a win. |
2010 MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES
| 1-3-3 | An eighth of an inch was added to the maximum circumference of both 11- and 12-inch softballs, to 11-1/4 and 12-1/4, respectively. |
| 2-20-1f | Clarified that a batted ball is fair if it first falls or is first touched on or over fair territory beyond first, second, or third base. |
| 3-1-3 | Clarified that a team’s lineup card shall include the first initial and last name of each player. |
| 8-2-9 Note | Added a note to clarify that the batter-runner is called out when she hits an infield fly even when the infield fly is not initially called, if brought to the umpire’s attention before the next pitch. |
2010 POINTS OF EMPHASIS
- ILLEGAL PITCH ENFORCEMENT
- THREE-FOOT RUNNING LANE
- NON-TRADITIONAL GAME EQUIPMENT
- DP/FLEX RULE
Source: National Federation of State High School Associations – http://www.nfhs.org
