No new rules this year- just a point of emphasis issued about how this rule is supposed to be enforced.
Back a few years ago, NFHS (high school) softball copied the new-ish NCAA rule that batters did NOT have to try avoiding the pitch if the pitch was entirely inside the batter's box.
People seemed to forget that last part, about the pitch being ENTIRELY inside the box. Batters started to let any pitch purposely hit them, even those that weren't entirely inside the box.
Then they took it a step further and started to purposely stick body parts in front of the ball in an effort to get hit.
This year, NFHS issued a point of emphasis about how the rule should properly be enforced. It's the same rule they've had for a few years.
Highlights of the rule:
- If the pitch is entirely inside the batter's box, then the batter does not need to make any effort to avoid it. If the pitch hits the batter it is an awarded base.
- If the pitch is not inside the box, then the batter needs to make an effort to avoid it, same as the rule had always been.
- The batter is not allowed to purposely allow themselves to get hit, such as by moving into the ball.