Grounds crews at area school districts and recreation departments have been on alert for several weeks.

They now have a year -- perhaps less -- to begin the process of moving the pitching rubber on their softball diamonds that host high school games from 40 to 43 feet.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced today that the distance will change, making it mandatory effective with the 2011 season. It said state associations may adopt the 43 feet distance next season, if desired, and it's expected the WIAA will discuss that move at its coaches advisory committee meeting in September.

The new pitching distance was one of several rules revisions made by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The rules changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

After at least 10 years of debate by committee members, the NFHS has extended the fast-pitch pitching distance.

The change to Rule 1-1-2b was made after two member state associations experimented with 43 feet -- Florida for four years and Oregon for one year. Coaches surveyed in those states overwhelmingly supported the change.

Creating a better balance between the offense and the defense was the major rationale for the rule change. Experimentation results from both states indicated more batted balls were hit into play.

"Our main thrust is getting the defense more involved," said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Softball  Rules Committee. "When more balls are hit into play, the defense is more involved in the game, thus enhancing skill development."
 
Another rule revision for next season gives players more options with their "hair devices." An exception was added to Rule 3-2-12, permitting "hard, unadorned devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips, no longer than 2 inches, to be worn to control a player's hair."

A third rule change concerns how a winning pitcher is determined. The committee altered Rule 9-6-6, changing the required number of innings pitched for a starting pitcher to be credited with a  win to "half of the total number of innings played in the game."

The new language gives the starting pitcher the ability to earn a win even if she leaves the pitching position for another defensive position and returns as pitcher later in the game. It also allows greater clarity in determining the winning pitcher when a game is terminated due to the  run-rule.

"Softball and baseball are different games and the requirements for a pitcher to be credited with a win should reflect those differences," Struckhoff said. "In softball, it's possible for the  pitcher to pitch an inning, leave the position and then come back to pitch later in the same game. The change was made to reflect the culture of the sport."