PRESEASON SOFTBALL MEMO

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

I hope everyone is ready to roll for another year of Iowa high school softball. I promise that this will be the longest memo I will compose this season. A lot of this memo consists is of basic preseason stuff that is talked about before each season starts, but there are some new things that I wanted to touch on before the season begins in earnest.

Important Season Dates: 
First Practice Date: Monday, May 5
First Competition Date: Monday, May 26
First Tournament: Friday, May 30

Regional Tournament Dates
Class 1A & 2A: July 7, 9, 11, 14
Class 3A, 4A, 5A: July 10, 12, 15

State Tournament
July 21-25 at Rogers Park, Fort Dodge

Scholarship Dates: May 26 – eligibility resumes at 12:01 a.m. on June 15.

Individual and Team Limitations
A team is permitted to play no more than three games in any single day. Tournaments may include no more than 16 teams. No more than four games per team may be played in any tournament. A school may play in only one tournament at a time and play no more than three games on a calendar day. No junior varsity teams are allowed in varsity tournaments except in emergencies (must be approved by the IGHSAU).

Individuals may play a maximum of 65 games and play in only three games per day (including all levels of play). EXCEPTION: A varsity player who enters the game only as a courtesy runner and serves only in that capacity for the entire game shall not be charged a game played toward the three-game daily limitation. If she enters the game in any other capacity (i.e. pinch hitter, pinch runner, or defensive player), the game counts and she is subject to the three-game daily limit. This exception applies only to the varsity-level player and is intentionally narrow in scope. The intent is to allow younger players to fully participate at lower levels and still be available for this limited varsity role without reaching the three-game limit.

Eighth-grade students are eligible to practice (including scrimmages) with the high school team on the first practice date and compete on the first competition date. Eighth graders may compete on the junior high team, high school team, or both. If they compete in junior high and high school, they may play only three games on a calendar day.

Sixth graders may participate (practice or play) on the junior high team on the first day of practice, as set by the school district. 

Rules Meeting: All coaches are encouraged to view the rules meeting, but head coaches are required to view the softball rules meeting before the start of the first contest. This rules meeting is available in your Bound account.

NFHS Rules Book: 2025 is the off year for the softball rule books. Hopefully, you still have the 2024 rule book and case book. There are a limited number of 2025 rule books in our office. If you are interested in purchasing an updated rule book, the cost is $10 for each book. Contact Elise Boulton at elise@ighsau.org if you are interested in purchasing books. If you are a new coach and do not have a rule & case book, please email Elise, and she will make sure that you receive a set.  

Lineup Cards: The IGHSAU has lineup cards available upon request. The lineup cards are free, but there are shipping charges: $5.00 for a package of 50 cards, $10 for 100, and $15.00 for 200. You may click here to order your lineup cards. We also have scoresheets available if you are interested in obtaining some. Please email Pam Wymore at pam@ihssa.org  If you are in the Des Moines area and would like to pick up a set of lineup cards at the IGHSAU office, feel free to drop by to pick them up. The IGHSAU offices are located at 5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 150, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

2025 Rule Changes: The NFHS rules changes were discussed in the 2025 Online Rules Meeting, but they also can be reviewed by clicking here. 

New Iowa Adaptations: Iowa rule adaptations can viewed by clicking here.

NEW RUN RULES IN 2025:  The run rules will change this season. Games will now end if a team owns a 10-run lead after four innings (or if the home team owns a 10-run lead after 3.5 innings) or owns an eight-run lead after five innings (or 4.5 innings if the home team is ahead). 

Pitching Chute Required: Pitching chutes will be chalked in the pitching circle. It is difficult for umpires to call illegal pitches. The chalk-drawn chute will aid in the enforcement of legal pitching and help umpires call illegal pitches more accurately. Click here to view how the chute should be chalked.

Electronic Communication Allowed: A coach may use a one-way communication device to call pitches to the catcher (not the pitcher). Coaches may NOT use an electronic communication device(s) to communicate with any other team member while on defense or any team member on offense. The coach cannot use the electronic communication device outside the dugout/bench area.

Preseason Prospectus Available: The preseason prospectus has been posted on the website. You can also download it by clicking here. Completing the prospectus is not required, but it provides valuable information as I prepare rankings.

Site Availabilities: A list of schools that have applied to host regional softball contests can be viewed by clicking here. If you are listed, please double-check your dates. If you are not listed but wish to have your softball facilities considered as a host site for regional softball contests, please fill out the Site Availability Form in your Bound account.

Classifications - A new tentative softball classification was posted on April 24 and can be viewed by clicking here. Please take some time to view your BEDs number, especially if you are in a cooperative sharing agreement. Please contact me if you see any errors. Classification numbers become final after the first week of practice. 

Softballs: The Dudley SB 12L RF Y FP — Red stitch (.47 COR) is the official tournament ball required for the postseason. The Dudley ball is only required for the postseason. Any softball that has the NFHS Stamp is legal during the regular season. 

Scrimmages: Scrimmages between member schools shall be permitted between the first legal practice and the final day of State Tournament play. Teams may travel up to and including 100 miles from the home high school base for scrimmages, providing such is affected without losing school time. With local school administration approval, a team may exceed this 100-mile limit on a non-school day. Iowa teams may scrimmage a high school team from another contiguous state (plus Kansas), provided that the school is a member institution of that state's activity association and falls within the 100-mile scrimmage radius.

If a school is scrimmaging at an out-of-state school, the scrimmage rules of that state shall apply. Iowa scrimmage rules will apply for scrimmages held in Iowa. A scrimmage shall be defined as that which takes place between member schools at one site on one calendar day, as well as an established definition relating to the mandatory absence of scorekeeping, stats compilation, and spectator charge. For a player to be charged with a scrimmage, she must have participated in the scrimmage.

Licensure and Concussion Training - All coaches working for your junior high and high school softball staff (paid and volunteer) must be appropriately licensed and have completed the annual concussion training. Individuals cannot “coach” in any capacity, either during practice or competition. If you have any questions regarding coaching authorization, contact Kelly Faga at the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (515-418-1403 or kelly.faga@iowa.gov.) 

Concussion Course - All coaches must also view “Concussion in Sports – What you need to know.” You may access the meeting by clicking here if you have not viewed it yet. 

Bat Certification - Softball bats must bear the 2004 ASA certification mark AND NOT be listed on the USA Softball non-approved bat list with the ASA certification marks. To be clear, for a bat to be approved for use in IGHSAU competition, it must bear the ASA Certified 2004 mark or the 2020 USA Softball Certified mark (These marks can be found on the 2024 IGHSAU adaptations page) AND NOT be listed on the USA softball non-approved bat list. If there is no mark, it is ILLEGAL. If a bat has one of the two permissible marks, please make sure it is also NOT on the illegal list.

The current list of non-approved bats can be found by clicking here.

On-site Administrator - On-site administrators and site managers are required for all home contests. Please designate an adult for each location if hosting a baseball/softball doubleheader. If the AD is responsible for baseball and softball at one site, they should designate another qualified adult (not the head coach) as a designee in case they are unavailable. Umpires have been advised not to begin games unless the designated site supervisor/administrator is present and identified to them.

Lightning and Weather Delays - Take a few minutes to visit with school site administrators regarding lightning and weather delays. Before the start of any game, the host school administration is responsible for monitoring the weather. Once the game is in progress, the umpires are responsible for delays due to thunder and/or lightning. If thunder is heard or sky-to-ground lightning is observed, CLEAR THE FIELD and follow your school's inclement weather plan for teams, fans, and workers. A 30-minute delay is mandatory after each lightning strike. During this delay, more information will be gathered via websites and the National Weather Service. Software is available that helps indicate the distance of the lightning strike and the storm's movement.

Field Markings - Please be advised of the proper field markings. Media boxes no longer need to be marked.

Official Games - Games may not be shortened even if by mutual agreement of coaches. By rule, the home team must be ahead after 4 ½ innings or the visitor after five complete innings. IGHSAU margin-of-runs rules are as follows: Games will end if a team owns a 10-run lead after four innings (or if the home team owns a 10-run lead after 3.5 innings) or owns an eight-run lead after five innings (or 4.5 innings if the home team is ahead). If a time limit is placed on games during tournaments and the game is not official, tournament procedures should include completing the game. If bad weather is forecasted, consider playing the varsity game first so that it will not be shortened. 

Game Ending Procedures - All regular-season games must be legal, per NFHS rules, i.e., home leading after 4 1/2 innings. This includes any games played in tournaments. For schools hosting tournaments and are now preparing tournament information for the participating teams, please provide written communication on the game-ending procedures for the tournament, mainly when there is a time limit or weather delays. Those procedures should also be shared with umpires and discussed at the pre-game conference with coaches during the tournament.

Ejection Policy: If a coach/player is ejected from a game, they do not coach/play for the remainder of that game/match. They may coach/play in other competitions later that same day. Any sanction issued by the school or State Office will be served on a subsequent date after a review of the filed reports.

When a coach is serving a suspension, they may not coach and must be out of sight and sound at the contest venue. They are not permitted to watch the contest(s) as a spectator unless they have a daughter playing in the game (s). If a player is serving a suspension, she may not be in uniform or participate in the contest(s) or pre-game warm-up but may be in street clothes on the bench, dugout, etc.

If you have an ejection, an ejection report must be filed with the IGHSAU by the umpire and the player/coach ejected. The report may be downloaded by clicking here.

Junior High Softball - It is up to the local school when junior high softball can start. Junior high softball cannot begin before the varsity season starts on May 5. Sixth graders may participate (practice or play) on the junior high team on the first day of practice.

NEW FOR 2025: Cheering in the Dugout: Dugout cheers are encouraged if they are positive. Cheers that are negative and directed at the opposing team will not be tolerated this season. NFHS Rule 3-6-13-b (Page 41) states: “… Unsporting acts shall not be committed including, but not limited to … b. use of profanity, intimidation and/or deceitful tactics, baiting or taunting …”  If officials working the game are notified about negative cheers during the game, they will be instructed to issue a warning to the offending dugout. Any subsequent offenses will result in the head coach being restricted to the dugout, followed by ejection. Let’s get this nipped in the bud before the season begins so it does not become an issue during the season.

Rosters and Statistics in Bound - If you have not done so already, please get your schedules and rosters posted in Bound. It is mandatory to post softball stats. ALL stat categories must be filled in. If we are asking for a stat, the expectation is that the info is kept. If you are having issues with Bound, please get in touch with me, and I'll be happy to help. A great tool I recommend having your parents and fans download is the Bound Mobile App, which includes driving directions to away games, matchups, rosters for each game, and statistics.

Keeping Score: Every year, I get asked various questions about keeping the score book, the rules on scoring, how ERA is kept, the difference between a hit and a fielder's choice, etc. I enjoy answering those questions, and I refer to the NCAA Baseball and Softball Scorebook. The book offers great interpretations of scoring decisions. You can download it by clicking here. I strongly encourage coaches to utilize individuals who know the basics of keeping a scorebook.

Posting Your Scores: The IGHSAU will have a daily score page on the website and a daily score page on the Bound website. The score page is only as good as the information that is posted to it. The basic rule of thumb is this: the home team should post scores on Bound after each contest(s) as soon as possible. When a score is posted, it automatically is posted to the Bound site and the IGHSAU daily score page. Coaches should plan on adding their scores when playing games at a neutral site.

It’s On the Website! If you haven’t done so already, please view the Softball Coaches and Administrators page on the IGHSAU website. There are many important items, and I have also posted helpful information from the NFHS. I will also post memos and correspondence from Officials Coordinator Cathy Creighton. Check the page for updates frequently.

Tell Us About Your Milestones—The IGHSAU wants to hear about anything unique that happens during the season. Please let us know if a coach reaches a milestone victory or a player achieves a specific milestone (100th career wins, school records, no-hitters, etc.). We will be sure to mention it through our Twitter account. You can email me with any milestone achievements.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and best wishes to all of you as you begin your season. Please feel free to call or email with any questions you may have. Best wishes to you and your squad this summer!

Jason Eslinger
Senior Associate Director/Softball Administrator