Thanksgiving Leftovers: Reviewing NCAA Softball Rule Changes for the 2024 Season

The 2024 softball season will begin for most institutions in early February and several rule changes have been enacted that will impact the game.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a new rule allowing both feet of pitchers to disengage from the playing surface during their delivery when pushing off the pitcher’s plate.

Under the rule, which takes effect with the 2023-24 academic year, the pitcher’s pivot foot can become airborne with one push from the pitcher’s plate. However, pitchers will not be allowed to replant their pivot foot, resulting in pushing off from a second point and the pitcher being farther away from the pitcher’s plate.

NCAA Softball Rules Committee members think whether the pivot foot stays in contact with the ground or is airborne, there is no advantage gained by the pitcher.

This change is just one of the new rules in place for the 2024 softball season.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved 12 rule changes, including allowing both feet of pitchers to disengage from the playing surface, for the upcoming season.

The panel also amended the obstruction rule involving baserunning scenarios.

The change is intended to simplify the rule covering when a defensive player impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball.

Under the revised rule, it is obstruction if the defensive player, while not in possession of the ball blocks any part of the leading edge of first, second or third base or home plate or otherwise blocks the runner from advancing or returning to a base.

However, defensive players will not be called for obstruction if they are in possession of the ball or if they are making a legitimate reaction to the trajectory of the ball after it is thrown. Additionally, if in the umpire’s judgment the runner would have clearly been out, then obstruction is ignored.

The panel approved expanding the scenarios where video review could be used to include runners leaving a base too soon on tag-up plays, or if a runner missed a base, runners leaving a base too early before a pitch, all home runs, catch/no catch in any situation and whether a batter was hit by a pitch.

The panel also addressed pace of play ahead of the 2024 season for both the pitcher and the batter.

For the pitcher, the time between when the next pitch must be thrown will be reduced from 25 seconds to 20 seconds, while the batter must be ready to hit within 10 seconds, or a strike will be assessed to the batter.

Previously, the batter and the catcher had 10 seconds to be in position to play after the pitcher receives the ball. Pitchers then had 10 seconds to bring their hands together while receiving a signal as to what pitch to throw. The pitcher then had five seconds to deliver the pitch.

Other rule changes include allowing the use of a double first base and allowing one-way communication devices to be used during play.

The complete list of NCAA approved rule changes can be found HERE.

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