LOCKER ROOM NOW NSGA Annual Report on Sports Organization Rule Changes
Dixie Softball
In mid-November, NSGA conducted its annual check on rule
the SweeTees (age 6 and younger), Darlings (age 8 and younger)
changes by contacting more than 40 sports governing bodies in
and Angels (age 10 and younger) divisions.
the United States and Canada. The information provided is for rule
Pitchers will have to wear face guards in the Ponytails (age 12
changes related to equipment and/or uniforms.
US Lacrosse Effective January 1, 2020, all girls lacrosse eyewear must be SEI certified to the current ASTM F3077 standard and listed on the SEI website to be legal for play for the 2020 season, for youth and
All infielders, including pitchers, will have to wear face guards in
and younger), Belles (age 15 and younger) and Debs (age 19 and younger) divisions. Dixie Softball is played in 10 states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
high school level play.
Dixie Youth Baseball
All manufacturers must mark
The player assuming the defensive pitcher position is required to
product produced on or after January 1, 2020 with the appropriate ASTM standard requirement and SEI mark. At the high school level, eyewear worn on the field must be SEI certified and listed on the SEI site, however it does not need the SEI mark on it for the 2020 season.
wear a face guard with or without a batting helmet. This will be used in AA coach pitch (8U) district and tournament play and the Division I and II Coach Pitch World Series. Pitchers were previously required to wear a helmet with a face guard. Personal cell phones or other personal electronic equipment, excluding those carried by on-duty medical or security personnel or required to be “on call” by their profession, are not allowed
At the youth level, the eyewear worn on the field must be SEI
on the playing field or in the dugouts during all local league and
certified and listed on the SEI site and must have the SEI mark of
tournament games.
certification for the 2020 season.
The exception is electronic devices may be used to keep pitch
USA Swimming
counts and lineups if they are not used to communicate outside the dugout via text, email or voice. The penalty is removal of the
USA Swimming has a significant change on swimwear design taking
device from the dugout.
effect September 1, 2020. A USA Swimming spokesperson said the
Dixie Youth Baseball is played in 11 states - Alabama, Arkansas,
organization has been in communication with what it believes are all of the competitive suit companies. No Technical Suit may be worn by any 12 & Under USA Swimming
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
athlete member in competition at any Sanctioned, Approved or
PONY Baseball
Observed meet. Exceptions to the foregoing restriction are only
Safety Balls will be approved for Foal (3 and 4 years old) and
for Junior Nationals, US Open, National Championships, and Olympic Trials.
and 4 years old are still eligible for Shetland play but a league can
A Technical Suit is one that has the following components:
• Any suit with any bonded or taped seams regardless of its fabric or silhouette.
• Any suit with woven fabric extending past the hips.
• (Note: WOVEN FABRIC - A suit with woven fabric and sewn seams that does not extend below the hips is permitted.)
• (Note: KNIT FABRIC - A suit with knit fabric and sewn seams not extending below the knees is permitted.)
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Shetland (5 and 6 years old) tournament play. Players who are 3
>> January / February 2020
split them off into their own age division. Players who are 3 and 4 years old will not be able to participate in Pinto.
Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) CABA is requiring players to wear NOCSAE-approved equipment for the 2020 season.
