Author: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Fox Chapel coach Chris Olbrich said it will take some time for his team to get used to the idea of new electronic equipment used to send signals to the catcher.
Fox Chapel softball coach Chris Olbrich doesn’t expect his team will be one of the first to use one-way communication devices, even if they are allowed nationally.
The National Association of State High School Associations approved a rules change in early July that will allow high school softball coaches to use one-way communication devices with catchers starting in the 2025 season.
“Instead of showing a finger, we just switched to calling out a number,” Olbrich said.
A similar rule was approved for high school baseball teams last season. One of the main reasons the teams wanted to implement the technology was to speed up the game, as relaying signals took too long.
The NCAA and NFHS approved device costs approximately $145.
The NFHS approves rules that states can adopt. In this case, the PIAA allowed local high schools to use the equipment in baseball last year.
Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of athletics and liaison to the softball committee, said the numbers reflect the need for change.
“This change is the result of analysis of current data, state association experimentation and positive response from our membership,” Searcy said in a news release. “The committee has made these changes to support the use of emerging technology in the game of softball. The use of this one-way electronic communication is a permissive rule, so players who choose to employ this technology will have an additional option to communicate with their catcher while fielding. It also allows players who prefer a more traditional approach of communicating using signals and playbooks/play cards to continue with that approach.”
Olbrich said not many WPIAL baseball teams utilized the technology last season, and because the rules only allow for communication between coaches and catchers, Olbrich might be more interested in using the device if multiple defenders could use it.
“(Local coaches) are learning from each other,” Olbrich said. “We want to see how other people use it before we get used to it. This is a move to get us in line with the college game.”
The Fox Chapel softball team finished 4-6 and 7-10 in district play last season. Fox advanced to the first round of the Class 5A playoffs but lost to West Allegheny.
Olbrich expects it will be several years before schools adopt the technology.
“School size matters, and I think it will change as people become more comfortable,” Olbrich said.
Tag: Fox Chapel
