Rules of AHSAA Softball

Pitching Distance

• Rules regarding pitching distance changed in 2010. Previously, pitchers had to be able to deliver the ball effectively from a distance of 40 feet. However, in the 2010 season, softball players will be required to further that distance by an additional 3 feet. This new rule was approved on July 22, 2009, to be implemented beginning in the 2010 season. In 2011, the National Federation of State High School Associations will also be adopting this rule.

The 20 Second Rule

• In 2009, another rule for the pitcher was implemented and the penalty for not following the rule was changed as well. Traditionally, the pitcher had 20 seconds to pitch the ball or the penalty was getting charged with an illegal pitch. The 20 second rule still stands and the pitcher has just 20 seconds between each pitch to a batter to pitch the ball again. However, should the 20 second time limit be exceeded, the penalty has been changed. No longer will the penalty consist of the pitcher being charged with an illegal pitch. Instead, the batter will be awarded a ball in the count at home plate.

Attempted Blunt Rule

• The attempted bunt rule is rule 2-8-2, and it has been changed as well due to the controversy of what is considered a bunt and what is constituted as a bunt to charge the batter with a strike. Any attempt where the bat is held in the strike zone by the batter, even on an attempted bunt, is now considered a strike even when the batter misses the bunt attempt. In order for the thrown pitch to not count as a strike against the batter, the bat must be held completely out of the strike zone to the back of the plate. This rule was changed so that the offense and defense would be more fairly distributed.