After pro, minor league and collegiate baseball approved the use of communications devices last year, high school teams across the country now have the opportunity to do the same.
The National Federation of State High School Associations last week passed a rule allowing communication devices to be used between a coach in the dugout and the catcher on defense for the purpose of calling pitches.
The coach may only use the communication device from the dugout and the catcher in defense is the only player on the field with whom a coach can communicate via the device.
“This change is consistent with the growth of the game and is a sign of a measured and responsible approach to integrating technology into our level of competition,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of athletic and educational services and baseball rules committee liaison in an opinion. “The committee made these changes to maintain the balance between offense and defense; increase the game speed; and will use technology responsibly so that schools that have more available resources than some of their contemporaries do not take advantage of it. Creating a level playing field is paramount for education-based athletics.”
In Major League Baseball, pitchers and catchers are allowed to use two on-field transmitters, with up to five on-field defensive players allowed to wear receivers.
A communication device between coaches in the dugout and catchers defending on the field is also used in college and minor league baseball.
