Electronic communication devices bring new dynamic to high school baseball

Technology continues to change sports at all levels. At the professional level, the use of electronic devices has impacted the game for several years. Now, the trickle down effect has continued to the high school level. The National Federation of State High School Associations recently approved the use of an electronic device from the dugout to catchers in high school baseball. The use of a one-way communication device between a coach in the dugout and a team's catcher for the purposes of calling pitches will be permitted beginning next spring for the 2024 season. "It is a trickle down from what you are seeing at the pro and college level," St. Paul baseball head coach Aaron Fries said. "It has been well received at those levels, especially when it comes to speeding up play and eliminating sign stealing." The new rules prohibit coaches from communicating with any other player besides the catcher on defense and with any player while batting. The coach must also be in the dugout when using the communication device. "I am 100 percent supportive of a one-way communication device with the catcher," Norwalk head coach Jason Higgins said. "It will help speed up the game with communication between the coaching staff and the catcher, but typically that communication has to be sent out to the rest of the team as well." Though the ability to use an electronic device was approved, both head coaches in the Maple City had questions about the financial side. "I am not sure high school teams can justify the cost, but we'll see," Higgins said. "Many college teams use digital boards that are in the dugout and produce a number that can be decoded with a wrist band. "Then every player is on the same page as to what is going on," he added. "This would be more productive in our program if we were to make an investment." Higgins said some of the technology appears costly, but noted perhaps if more high school teams across Ohio and the U.S. start using it more frequently, the cost may drop. Fries plans on taking a deep dive on the financial side of things before determining if and when the Flyers may use a communication device. "I will have to educate myself on the different systems so I can do a true cost-benefit analysis," he said. "If we find a system that is cost efficient and allows us to quickly and reliably communicate with players, then I could see us using one of these devices within the next few years." The change to rules for using a device was one of five rules revisions approved by the NFHS baseball rules committee at its June 4-6 meeting in Indianapolis. The recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. "This change is consistent with the growth of the game and is indicative of a measured and responsible approach to enable technology into our level of competition," said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Director of Sports and Educational Services and liaison to the rules committee. "The committee has made these changes to maintain the balance between offense and defense; increase the pace of play; and will responsibly manage technology so there is no advantaged gained by schools that have more available resources than some of their contemporaries," he added. "Creating a level playing field is paramount to education-based athletics." Game management by umpires was also addressed with a change to Rule 10-2-3h. The edit removes spectators' behavior from the umpire-in-chief's jurisdiction when deciding to forfeit a contest. Only infractions by players, coaches or team/bench personnel are under the umpire's jurisdiction. The committee agreed that poor behavior by spectators should be handled by game administration. "This change is a complementary rule to support schools' game management role in addressing unacceptable behavior and will allow the umpire to focus on the action and players on the field," Hopkins said. Rule 1-6-1 was added and designates a wristband with defensive shifts, pitching choices or game directions as non-electronic equipment and must be a single, solid color and worn on the forearm. Pitchers' cards must not be white, gray or a distracting color and worn on their non-pitching arm. A complete listing of the baseball rules changes will be available at nfhs.org. "I anticipate the new rules having a similar impact at the high school level," Fries said. "Every year it's important to evaluate rule changes and how they might impact your program. This should make communicating with players easier." According to the most recent NFHS participation survey, baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys with 481,004 student-athletes in 15,925 high schools nationwide.