IGHSAU Softball Guidelines
The IGHSAU Board of Directors approved the following changes to the softball season. The changes impact when coaches may have contact with pitchers/catchers outside of the season and allow 10 days of skill instruction for hitting development. The changes are effective January 1, 2021
PITCHERS & CATCHERS
Pitchers and catchers may voluntarily practice at a facility under a coach’s supervision from January 1 through the end of the summer period using equipment required for these two positions only. No batting practice, no hitting of ground balls, no position coverage and no drills may be performed by pitchers or catchers. Pitchers and catchers may stretch, run and play catch (short and long distance). Catchers are there for the sole purpose of catching your pitcher(s).
HITTING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
A high school program (9-12) is allowed 10 total days of hitting skill development from January 1 until the first day of practice. This is a program limitation and not a team or individual limitation. Regardless of the number of students who utilize the hitting skills development at any one time, a day is utilized in the 10 days.
The 10 days must be on file with school administration and may include only skill instruction related to hitting. No base running or fielding drills are to be done during these sessions. Students can field batted balls and throw balls back to the pitching area; however, throws across the infield are not to occur. Hitting instruction can take place either indoors or outdoors. Students and coaches may throw to batters from a flat surface behind an L-screen, in a cage or in a soft-toss hitting drill. Pitchers and catchers may also use this time as their contact period.
Outside of the designated 10 days of hitting instruction, no other coaching contact and/or instruction may be provided until the first legal practice date. Coaching contact with pitchers must be in a separate facility if other players are present for any voluntary hitting and fielding activity.