RULE
NEW DEFINITION FOR DAMAGED BATS HIGHLIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL RULES CHANGES
A new definition for a damaged bat is one of three high school softball rules changes for the 2020 season.
The three rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its June 10‑12 meeting in Indianapolis were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
A damaged bat will now be defined as a bat that was once legal, but is broken, cracked, dented, rattles or has sharp edges that might deface the ball (Rules 1‑5‑1, 7‑4‑2, 2‑4‑3).
Previously, a damaged bat was considered an illegal bat, with the penalty being an out when the batter entered the batter’s box. Now, damaged bats are simply removed from the game without penalty.
