November/December 2021

Page 28

LOCKER ROOM NOW NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rule Changes for 2022 Player equipment was included in the 19 rules changes in high school girls lacrosse for the 2022 season. The rules changes came after a one-year hiatus from the rules-making process because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rule 2 underwent several alterations regarding equipment, including the new Rule 2-7-7, which permits participants to wear secured, nonabrasive head coverings for religious or cosmetic reasons without first obtaining state association approval. Beyond a pair of changes permitting hair ties and other soft, non-rigid materials worn on the arm and securely fastened hair adornments (Rule 2-7-5), the other major equipment-related modifications are found in Rule 2-7-3, which allows face masks that are soft and non-abrasive. Under Rule 2-6-1a, goalkeepers are no longer required to wear shin protectors, as there is no standard for those pieces of equipment. Goalkeepers still have the option to wear shin protection with padding up to one inch in thickness, which also creates consistency with boys lacrosse. Additional changes to Rule 2-6-1 detail the additional equipment options for goalkeepers, including a clear, molded and non-rigid

Regarding the video review rule, there is no requirement to use it and it is optional for all schools, conferences and tournaments to implement. Over the past few years, conferences have experimented with video review in conference tournament games, including the Atlantic Coast (ACC), Southeastern (SEC) and Sun Belt conferences during the 2021 season. Softball Rules Committee members received positive feedback about the experimental rule and recommended that video review become a permanent aspect of the game. Under the new rule, each head coach will have two challenges to initiate a review for the entirety of the game. A coach must verbally or visually indicate a challenge request before the next pitch, before the pitcher and all infielders have clearly vacated their normal fielding position and left fair territory, or before the umpires have left the field of play. Several conferences, including the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Pac-12, Southeastern and Sun Belt in 2021, have experimented with inear communication and other one-way electronic communication devices to call pitches from the dugout the past four seasons.

Shot Clock for Iowa High School Basketball in 2022–23 The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) will use the National Federation of State High School

helmet eye shield, as well as tinted or clear eyeglasses.

Associations (NFHS) allowance

A new equipment option for officials was added as new Rule 2-8-5

for state adoption to introduce

offering the ability to use audible wireless communication devices

a 35-second shot clock for

as a means of adjusting to the increased speed of the game.

varsity basketball, required of

New Specifications for NCAA Softballs in 2024

starting in the 2022–23 season. Use of the shot clock in sub-varsity

New specifications for NCAA softballs go into effect in the 2024 season. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel also approved implementing video review and allowing coaches to have two video review challenges beginning with the 2021–22 academic year.

participating member schools competition will be allowed but not required. With a date set for statewide implementation, experimental exceptions will not be granted during the 2021–22 regular season. To encourage standardization among states, 35 seconds was the timing provided by NFHS approval. Further shot clock information and rule implementation will be provided by IHSAA and IGHSAU as it becomes available ahead of the 2022–23 season.

Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and USA

NCAA Baseball Allows One-Way Electronic Communication in 2022

Softball at a maximum compression of 275–375 pounds. The

The use of one-way electronic communication devices for the

specifications take effect January 1, 2024 with a goal of improving

purpose of calling pitches and plays was approved for NCAA baseball

inventory availability and assisting in cost containment.

for the 2022 season. Examples of what could be implemented

The softball specifications will be standardized with the National

28 | NSGA NOW ®

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