NFHS

RULES CHANGES AFFECTING RISK

(1982-2005)

Baseball
1982	Batting helmets meeting NOCSAE Standard to be required in 1985.
	Slippery tape on bat handles is illegal.
1983	Any player warming up a pitcher at any location shall wear a protective cup and a mask with a throat protector
	Casts, splints or braces must be padded and there shall be no exposed metal or any other hard material. Prothesies that are not dangerous will be permitted.
1984	Any on-deck batter is required to wear a batting helmet. Protective devices attached to a batting helmet must be approved by the state association.
	Nontraditional playing equipment must be reviewed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee before it will be permitted.
	A player who maliciously runs into a fielder is to be ejected and shall also be called out.
	Metal cleats were prohibited.
1985	Devices or attachments that cause bat handles to become flush with the knob are illegal.
	Only bats may be used in loosening up.
1986	Exterior warning label is mandatory on batting helmets.
	Players in coaches’ boxes required to wear a head protector.
	Jewelry is prohibited. Medical-alert bracelets or medical-alert necklaces are legal if taped to the body.
1987	Bases with tapered edges are permitted.
	On-deck circles should be placed 37’ away from home plate if space permits. Otherwise, they should be placed a safe distance to the side and away from home plate.
1988	Bases designed to disengage their anchor systems for safety purposes are legal.
1989	Metal cleats are permitted.
	By state association adoption, a double first base is permitted.
1990	State association required to establish pitching limitations, i.e., how much and when a pitcher can pitch.
1991	Umpires prohibited from umpiring when mobility is restricted by equipment such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
1992	Any runner who scores or who is put out shall wear a batting helmet while the ball is alive and in live ball area.
	Bats are restricted by weight to length.
1993	Non-adult bat/ball shaggers to wear batting helmets while in live ball territory.
	Media prohibited from being in live ball area.
	Players loosening up to bat shall remain in the area of the on-deck circle while pitcher is warming up.
1994	Blood rule adopted.
	Diving over a fielder is prohibited.
1995	Bandannas are prohibited.
	Tobacco or tobacco-like products are prohibited from being used by players, coaches and umpires.
1996	Any player warming up to the pitcher shall wear a head protector.
1997	Neither team shall leave its dugout or bench area while the pre game conference is being conducted.
1998	On a force play, the runner shall slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases, or away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.
	Team personnel who leave their positions or bench area for the purpose of fighting or physical confrontation shall be ejected.
1999	Beginning 2003, the catcher’s helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard. The coefficient of restitution (COR) for baseballs was established not to exceed .555.
2000	Bat standard was modified. The diameter shall be 2 5/8 inches or less and shall not weigh more than three ounces less than the length of the bat.

2001	Bat standard was modified effective January 1, 2003, that all non-wood bats must meet BESR standards, which includes the diameter shall be 2 5/8 inches or less and shall not weigh more than three ounces less than the length of the bat, the maximum ball exit speed shall not exceed 97 miles per hour and the bat must meet the moment-of-inertia requirement.
2002	Umpires and coaches are permitted to use crutches, canes, wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Beginning January 1, 2003, catcher’s helmets must have dual ear flaps in order to qualify for NOCSAE approval. All casts, splits and braces must be padded with at least one-half inch of closed cell, slow recovery rubber or other material of the same thickness and having similar physical properties.
2003	No changes for this school year.
2004	Catcher’s helmet and mask combination must meet the NOCSAE standard. Any helmet or helmet and mask combination shall have dual ear flaps. A pitcher can wear a head or face protector as long as its entire cover shall have a non-glare surface.
2005	Beginning with the 2006 season, defensive players are allowed to wear face and eye protection
Softball
1982	Throat protector is required on catcher’s masks.
1983	Coach shall be responsible for having male catcher wear cup.
	Casts, splints and braces must be padded. Any equipment judged by umpire to be hazardous is illegal.
	Slippery tape on bats is illegal.
	Weighted attachments on the bat, including batting donuts, are illegal and shall not be used in loosening up.
1984	On-deck batters must also wear batting helmets.
	Any player warming up a pitcher at any location shall wear a mask with a
	throat protector.
	When available, it is recommended that on-deck batters, batters and runners wear only those batting helmets carrying the NOCSAE stamp indicating it meets the NOCSAE standard.
	If a protective device attached to a batting helmet is necessary, it must be approved by the state association.

1985	Batting helmets must be worn by any player occupying a coaches’ box.
	All jewelry, not just exposed, is prohibited.
	On-deck batter, batter and runners shall wear batting helmet that carries the NOCSAE stamp.
1986	Exterior warning label required on batting helmets.
	Medical-alert bracelets or medical-alert necklaces not considered jewelry.
1987	Bases may have tapered edges.
1988	On-deck circles shall be a safe distance to the side and away from home plate.
	Bases designed to disengage their anchor systems for safety purposes are permitted.
1989	Plastic visors are prohibited.
1991	No catch is allowed if a player touches dead-ball territory before making a catch.
	Umpires are prohibited from umpiring when mobility is restricted by equipment such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
1992	Any runner who is put out shall wear a batting helmet while the ball is alive and in live ball area.
1993	Nonadult bat/ball shaggers to wear batting helmets in live ball territory.
	Metal pitching toe plates are prohibited.
1994	(F.P) Nonadult warming up pitcher within confines of field required to wear a mask and throat protector.
	Player may warm up with no more than two bats.
	Blood rule adopted.
1995	Tobacco products are prohibited from being used by coaches, players and umpires.
1996	Bandannas are prohibited.
1998	Balls shall not be hit or thrown in the infield area (fair or foul territory) during the pre-game meeting.
	Team personnel who leave their positions or bench area when a fight has broken out shall be ejected.
1999	The catcher’s helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard.
	By state association adoption, the pitching distance in slow pitch softball when using a 12-inch ball shall be 50 feet.
	Beginning January1, 2001, the coefficient of restitution for slow and fast pitch softball shall not exceed .47.
	Beginning January 1, 2001, the load force required to compress the ball .025 inches shall not exceed 525 pounds when such ball is manufactured in accordance with the ASTM test method of measuring compression-displacement of softballs.
2000	The required date for the catcher’s helmet and mask combination to meet the NOCSAE standard has been extended to January 1, 2003.
	Balls prohibited from being hit or thrown in live ball territory (fair or foul territory) during the pregame conference meeting.
	Electronic communication devices added to the list of equipment prohibited for coaching purposes during the course of the game.
	A fielder is prohibited from leaving the field of play with one or both feet after a catch is made.
2001	Requires a catcher to wear a head protection with double earflaps. Beginning January 1, 2003, the catcher’s helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard and have full ear protection (dual earflaps).
2002	New sub-article added indicating that players shall wear their uniforms properly and as designed.
2003	Effective January 1, 2004, the COR and compression for slow pitch softballs shall not exceed .44 and 375 lbs., respectively; the compression for fast pitch softballs shall not exceed 375 lbs. All softballs shall be marked with COR and compression.
2004	Effective January 1, 2004, the bat shall meet the ASA 2004 Bat Performance Standard.
2005	Effective January 1, 2006, all fast pitch batting helmets shall be equipped with a NOCSAE approved face mask/guard.
2006	The head coach is now required to attend the pregame conference and verify the team is legally and properly equipped. Penalty has been established for non-compliance. First offense results in a team warning, subsequent offense results in the offender and the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench. If a participant intentionally removes a boundary line, a strike or ball shall be called on the batter for an infraction by the offense or defense, respectively. A team warning shall also be issued to the head coach. Any subsequent infraction will result in the head coach being restricted to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game. Language added to clarify that softballs and bats may not be altered from their originally manufactured legal state by using any treatment or device. A new article was added to clarify that players may wear face/head protection in the field. (F.P.) Any non-adult warming up a pitcher at any location within the confines of the field shall wear an approved catcher's helmet and mask combination a mask and throat protector.
Basketball
1982	Modified movable-ring specifications.
1983	Extended player control foul to include airborne shooter.
1984	Added loss of ball to the penalty for flagrant personal foul.
	A player may grasp the ring to prevent injury if fouled in the act of shooting or dunking.
1985	Allows any fouled player to grasp the ring to prevent injury.
1986	Allows use of 3 ½” x 6’ rectangular backboard; adopted new padding specifications for rectangular backboards.
1987	Technical foul for pregame dunking also is charged to the head coach.
1988	Allows each state association to approve artificial limbs.
1989	Basket interference to reach through the basket from below and touch the ball outside the cylinder.
1990	A player may not lift a teammate to secure a greater height.
1991	Basket ring must be secured by a ring-restraining device.
	Any player may grasp the basket to prevent injury.
	Unconscious player may not return in game without physician’s written authorization.
	Compression shorts may be worn.
1992	Injured player must be removed until next opportunity for such player to return.
	State associations may approve headwear for medical reasons.
1993	A player who is bleeding, has an open wound, or has excessive blood on uniform must leave game to receive appropriate treatment.
1994	Referee is authorized to deal with safety concerns relative to fingernails and hair styles.
1995	Tobacco use prohibited.
	Disqualification to leave bench area during a fight.
1996	No changes in “safety” rules.
1997	No changes in “safety” rules
1998	Players may not lock arms or grasp a teammate to restrict movement of an opponent
1999	No change in “safety” rules
2000	Coach must verify that all players are properly equipped.
2000-01	Officials will address coaches and captains concerning good sportsmanship at the pre-game conference.
	Twenty-second (20) time-outs increased to thirty (30) seconds.
	Illegal contact on the backboard clarified by stating that a player shall not: place a hand on the backboard or ring to gain an advantage while a try or tap is in flight or is touching the backboard or is in the basket or in the cylinder above the basket, intentionally slap or strike the backboard or cause the ring to vibrate.
2001-02	The referee shall not permit any “team member” to wear equipment or apparel which, in his/her judgment, is dangerous or confusing to other players or is not appropriate. This includes the pre-game warm-up period.
	The playing of music/sound effects shall only be permitted during pre-game, time-outs, intermission and post game. The use of artificial noisemakers shall be prohibited.
2002-03	A player who is required to leave the game for blood or injury is permitted to remain in the game if the team calls a time-out and the situation can be corrected by the resumption of play.
2003-04	Further defined basket interference to include when a player pulls down a movable ring so that it contacts the ball before the ring returns to its original position.
	A state association by adoption may institute a running clock when a specified point differential is reached at a specified time in the game.
	Reduced the number of players permitted on marked lane spaces during free throws (not including the free-thrower) to four defensive and two offensive players, with the lane spaces closest to the free-throw line (and the shooter) remaining vacant.
04-2005	None
05-2006	Prohibits a team member from removing his/her jersey and/or pants/skirt within the visual confines of the playing area. The penalty is a technical foul. Changed the penalty for leaving the court for an unauthorized reason to a violation from a technical foul. Clarified the definition of an intentional foul.
Field Hockey
1982	A goalkeeper may wear a mask or mask-helmet if it is fiberglass, plastic or fiberglass/plastic coated.
	Clarifies dangerous play, including hazardous stick usage and aerial balls.
1983	Allows goalkeeper to wear a throat protector if it is either a part of or attached to a mask.
	States that after a player becomes injured, if that player is unable to play momentarily, she shall leave the field and the team may substitute for her.
	Reinstated “sticks” as a foul.
	Specifies that a free hit into the striking circle could not be above knee level.
1984	Clarify definition of “sticks.”
1985	Requires field players to wear mouth protectors with no protruding parts.
	Requires goalkeeper to wear a full face mask, cage mask or mask-helmet.
	Permits one team time-out per half.

1986	If mouth protectors are attached to material which is worn around the neck, it must be tear-away material.
	Specify protective devices worn on parts of the body other than the head/face must be padded with at least ¼” (closed cell, slow recovery) foam-rubber padding.
1987	Mouth protectors may not be attached to material worn around the neck.
1989	Stick shall be one piece and made of wood and/or fiberglass.
1990	Shinguards required for all players.