Overall contents

• Major Rule Changes – 17 listed (2020-21 had 9)
• Significant Editorial Changes -8 listed (2020-21 had none)
• Inserted new Appendix G for Video Review
• No changes in rules 1, 4, 7, or 14.

Major Rule Changes

BCT before every game

• Umpires reconcile total number of stickered bats with number of bats indicated on list
• Ensure the number of bats do not exceed the number indicated on the team’s list.

Video review (5.9.9)

• Allows video review of designated plays, where available.
• New Appendix G with complete details on designated plays and criteria

Positions of teams (6.5.3 and 6.6.5)

• Players cannot come out of the dugout during stoppages of play including conferences, pitching changes, substitutions, and injuries
• Some personnel are permitted to be out of the dugout/bullpen/team area (e.g. coaches, medical personnel, substitutes, etc.).

Time between innings 90 seconds (6.7)

• Previously no time limit if not media game.
• For all games (media or non-media), teams are allowed a maximum of 90 seconds between innings and at the start of the game for warmups.
• Exceptions -Conference, teams, tournaments (shorter) or TV agreements (longer)

Defensive and offensive conferences (6.12.1-6.12.5)

• Each team is allowed seven charged conferences involving team representatives (defensive and offensive combined) per regulation game.
• Defensive conferences – one for each half-inning; still one additional allowed in half-inning for new pitcher in regulation game; it counts toward the overall seven.
• Offensive conferences – one per half-inning
• Extra innings – one charged conference involving team representatives. Remaining conferences from regulation do not carry over into extra innings. No additional defensive conferences allowed for new pitcher(s).

Player-to-player conferences (NEW, 6.12.2)

• Each team is allowed seven charged player-to-player conferences not involving team representatives per regulation game. Game management!!
• There may be only two charged player-to-player conferences per team per half inning in regulation innings (6.12.9.1).
• If defense huddles it will be a charged player-to-player conference (9.1 Effect).
• Extra innings – one charged conference per half inning for each extra inning. Remaining conferences from regulation do not carry over into extra innings.
The key to administering this rule is that the player-to-player meetings must involve a delay of the game for it to be considered a charged conference. See LR article for examples: Rules Interpretations – Conferences Dec 14, 2021.

Note 1: Effect for all charged conferences – still an immediate ejection for team representative or player who initiates an unallowed conference.
Note 2: See DOCS and POCS section at the end of this document.

Pitcher warmup pitches (10.19 and 8.5.2)

• Pitcher of record – throw any number and one throw to first base during the time allowed.
• Substitute pitcher – five, or four and one throw to first base.
• If media goes to break during pitching change, relief pitcher allowed any number of warmup pitches but must be ready when the plate umpire calls “play ball.” (10.19.3.1)

Illegally batted ball (11.2.5, 11.15.1)

The Effect for an illegally batted ball has been changed from a dead-ball out to a delayed dead-ball; the defense may take the result of the play or a strike on the batter.

Collisions (12.13.3 and 12.10.6)

If a runner slides directly at the fielder and cannot reach the base, she is considered to be out of the baseline; this is different than being out of the base path (12.10.5).
• See Effect for 12.13.2 and 12.13.3
• Note: 12.13.2 (malicious slide) was included in this new Effect
• May also rule interference if contact prevents the defensive player from making another play (12.17.2.1.5.2)

Other Changes/Clarifications

• Positions of defensive team (6.6.5) – added ejection of head coach on second occurrence for violations of personnel not in team area during live ball.
• No Huddle Defense (9.1) – changed from team warning to charged player-to-player conference; must be long enough to delay the game.
• If an obstructed runner collides flagrantly with a fielder the ball is dead, the runner is called out and ejected. Previously she was declared safe and ejected (Effect (9.5.3.1 to 9.5.3.6, last paragraph)
• Pitching Position for stride foot (10.1.1.d) – may not be entirely outside the 24-inch length (was completely within
• Batter hit by pitch before pitch reaches front line of batter’s box; was a “no pitch” but changed to a dead ball strike if pitch judged to be able to enter strike zone (10.10.5, 11.3.3.8, 11.13.3.2
• If the umpire judges the pitcher, after a warning, intentionally throws a pitch at a batter or umpire, the catcher and head coach are no longer automatically ejected, but may possibly be ejected if the umpire judges it is appropriate (10.14).
• Clarification to include the catcher’s glove/mitt and the discarded bat when there is unintentional contact on a dropped third strike (11.11.2).
• If batter is hit by pitch that has not yet reached the front line of the batter’s box but it would have been in the strike zone, it is now a dead-ball strike instead of a “no pitch”. (11.3.3.2, 11.13.3.8, 10.10.5)
• Retired batter interference when batter still in box changed from dead ball to delayed dead ball; not listed as a Major Rule Change or Significant Editorial Change (11.20.3)
• If the batter accidently hits the ball or catcher (added) on the follow-through, it has been changed to delayed dead ball (was dead ball), giving the defensive team a choice of the result of the play or dead-ball strike (11.20.4 Note)
• Call flagrant/malicious collision rule regardless of fielder having possession of the ball. Previously defensive player had to be holding the ball and waiting to apply a tag (12.13.1.5)
• Pre-game ejection can be given when appropriate at any time from the umpires’ arrival until they leave the site. Previously only a post-game ejection could be given and only after the last out of the game and before the umpires leave the confines of the field (13.2.3)
• New Appendix D – Umpire Signals (replaces previous Appendix E)
• New Appendix E – Lightning Policy (replaces previous Appendix F)
• New Appendix F – Video, Audio or Matrix Boards (replaces previous Appendix G)

Minor Changes

• Foul pole – recommended 40’
• Inserted new rule for optional uniform markings (3.10.4)
• Bat check – team must arrange bats in same order as appear on bat list
• Appendices
o New Appendix C – Barrel Compression Testing (replaces previous C and D)
o Other Appendices changed to different letters but no changes in content

DOCs and POCs – a summary of charged conferences

Team Representative-Defense/Offense Conferences (DOCs)
• Maximum 7 per game – any combination
• Regulation inning defense – 1 + 1 per each SN (sub pitcher new in this inning)
• Regulation inning offense – 1
• Extra innings – 1 only (no +1 for each SN)

Players Only Conferences (POCs)
• Maximum 7 per game
• Regulation half-innings – 2
• Extra inning – 1

Quick reference table

Conference	DOCs	POCs
Max per game	7	7
Regulation innings Defense	1 + SN*	2 per half-inning
Regulation innings Offense	1	2 per half-inning
Extra half-innings	1	1

*Substitute pitcher, new to inning