Coaches for the Prescott, Bradshaw Mountain, and Chino Valley softball teams will have another way of communicating with their catchers during games. The National Federation of State High School Associations – or NFHS – announced a rule change for the 2025 season. Coaches will be able to use electronic devices in the dugout for one-way communication to the catcher while their team is on defense.
Catchers will be able to wear earpieces, electronic bands, and smart watches to receive messages from their coaches, but they cannot use a device to send return messages to the coach.
NFHS officials say the rule change came about in order to make use of emerging technology in softball. The new rule also states coaches cannot use electronic devices to communicate with any other position player on the field, or with a batter at the plate.