TRENDING NOW: NCAA TRANSFER TRACKER / COLLEGE COACHING TRACKER
The softball rules committee has recommended the widespread use of video replay review in softball.
Included in the proposal is a recommendation that coaches have two replay challenges at their disposal in each game, beginning with the 2022 season. A coach would have to challenge a call (or no-call) before the next pitch and within a 30-second time period; the umpire crew chief would have the discretion to initiate a review beginning in the sixth inning of a game.
Under the proposed rule, the use of replay would be optional and not required; however, that option would be available for every school and conference to implement.
The ACC, Sun Belt, and SEC all used instant replay in their conference tournaments this season, operating in very similar fashion to this proposed permanent rule change. According to an NCAA release, “committee members have received positive feedback about the experimental rule”.
Final approval for the proposed rule change must come from the NCAA’s Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which will discuss softball recommendations in a meeting on August 12th.
