NSGA Annual Report on Sports Organization Rule Changes

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (November 22, 2019) – In mid-November, NSGA conducted its annual check on rule changes by contacting more than 40 sports governing bodies in the United States and Canada. The information provided is for rule changes related to equipment and/or uniforms.

This page will be updated as NSGA receives additional information.

US LACROSSE

Effective January 1, 2020, all girls lacrosse eyewear must be SEI certified to the current ASTM F3077 standard and listed on the SEI website to be legal for play for the 2020 season, for youth and high school level play. Click here for the SEI information.

All manufacturers must mark product produced on or after January 1, 2020 with the appropriate ASTM standard requirement and SEI mark (see below).

At the high school level, eyewear worn on the field must be SEI certified and listed on the SEI site, however it does not need the SEI mark on it for the 2020 season.

At the youth level, the eyewear worn on the field must be SEI certified and listed on the SEI site and must have the SEI mark of certification for the 2020 season.

USA SWIMMING

USA Swimming has a significant change on swimwear design taking effect September 1, 2020. A USA Swimming spokesperson said the organization has been in communication with what it believes are all of the competitive suit companies.

No Technical Suit may be worn by any 12 & Under USA Swimming athlete member in competition at any Sanctioned, Approved or Observed meet. Exceptions to the foregoing restriction are only for Junior Nationals, US Open, National Championships, and Olympic Trials.

A Technical Suit is one that has the following components:

• Any suit with any bonded or taped seams regardless of its fabric or silhouette.
• Any suit with woven fabric extending past the hips.
• (Note: WOVEN FABRIC – A suit with woven fabric and sewn seams that does not extend below the hips is permitted.)
• (Note: KNIT FABRIC – A suit with knit fabric and sewn seams not extending below the knees is permitted.)
  

DIXIE SOFTBALL

All infielders, including pitchers, will have to wear face guards in the SweeTees (age 6 and younger), Darlings (age 8 and younger) and Angels (age 10 and younger) divisions.

Pitchers will have to wear face guards in the Ponytails (age 12 and younger), Belles (age 15 and younger) and Debs (age 19 and younger) divisions.

Dixie Softball is played in 10 states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

DIXIE YOUTH BASEBALL

The player assuming the defensive pitcher position is required to wear a face guard with or without a batting helmet. This will be used in AA coach pitch (8U) district and tournament play and the Division I and II Coach Pitch World Series. Pitchers were previously required to wear a helmet with a face guard.

Personal cell phones or other personal electronic equipment, excluding those carried by on-duty medical or security personnel or required to be “on call” by their profession, are not allowed on the playing field or in the dugouts during all local league and tournament games. The exception is when electronic devices are used to keep pitch counts and lineups if they are not used to communicate outside the dugout via text, email or voice.

The exception is electronic devices may be used to keep pitch counts and lineups if they are not used to communicate outside the dugout via text, email or voice. The penalty is removal of the device from the dugout.

Dixie Youth Baseball is played in 11 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

PONY BASEBALL

Safety Balls will be approved for Foal (3 and 4 years old) and Shetland (5 and 6 years old) tournament play. Players who are 3 and 4 years old are still eligible for Shetland play but a league can split them off into their own age division. Players who are 3 and 4 years old will not be able to participate in Pinto as they are legally allowed to currently.

CONTINENTAL AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (CABA)

CABA is requiring players to wear NOCSAE-approved equipment. CABA plans to make the rule more specific at its annual meeting Dec. 4-8, 2019.