NCAA softball teams are once-again allowed to congregate at home plate to celebrate home runs, Extra Inning Softball‘s Justin McLeod learned on Sunday morning.
A rules interpretation issued by the NCAA dated March 31, 2022 rescinded the COVID-19-era waiver that had banned the traditional home run celebration. Under the waiver-rule, teams were no longer permitted to gather at home plate to celebrate a home run, with the lone exception of a walk-off home run.
“The COVID-19 home run waiver has been rescinded. Therefore, teams may congregate in foul territory around home plate to congratulate the runner(s) on an out of the park home run,” reads the new interpretation.
The rule interpretation was issued by NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor Vickie Van Kleeck.
Initially enacted for the 2021 season, which was played with significant limitations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the waiver-rule was maintained in place for the 2022 campaign. While teams were confined to celebrations inside their dugout in 2021, that aspect of the rule was adapted entering this season; teams have been allowed to congregate outside the dugout to celebrate, but were required to be within the physical confines of the length of the dugout to celebrate.
Particularly since the 2022 season began, a number of coaches have taken to social media to discuss the waiver-rule and advocate for its dismissal. Now, it has been summarily dismissed.
