Sports

Beginning with the 2008 high school baseball season, fielders without possession of the ball will not be allowed to deny access to the base that a runner is attempting to achieve.

The NFHS rule allowing metal cleats and metal toe plates in high school softball has sparked controversy and has been rejected by the states of Maryland, New Jersey and Massachusetts and in ASA play for safety reasons.

A major change in uniforms was one of 18 rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee at its January 20-21 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Effective with the 2008-09 high school soccer season, players will be penalized (yellow card) for subsequent violations of illegal equipment rules.

In an effort to reduce rough play in free-throw situations in high school basketball, the two marked lane spaces closest to the end line will be vacant effective with the 2008-09 season.

Three revisions related to officials are among changes in high school volleyball rules for 2008-2008 approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Volleyball Rules Committee at its January 6-8, 2008 meeting in Indianapolis. The changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee emphasized risk minimization and standardized procedures to assist both coaches and referees through 16 wrestling rules changes for the 2008-09 school year. Rules changes were made by the committee at its April 5-7 meeting in Indianapolis and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

This revision in Rule 3-3-1 was one of six changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Ice Hockey Rules Committee at its April 20-21 meeting in Indianapolis. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

A revision was made to Rule 6-2-3 regarding infractions by a pitcher. The rule states it is illegal for a pitcher to intentionally pitch close to a batter, replacing the prior phrasing of to "throw" close to a batter. The change was necessary for clarification and in order to be consistent with other pitching rules.

Rule 7-5-29 was one of seven rules revised by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.