Softball/baseball: Individual game limit restrictions eliminated...

Individual game restrictions eliminated this season for softball and baseball
Teams still allowed to only play 22 regular season games
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com 

High school softball and baseball coaches can rejoice. The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Board of Directors heard the reasoning for why the game limit rule needed to be addressed, and it was.

The Board unanimously approved a motion to eliminate individual game restrictions for this school year only for fall baseball, fastpitch softball, spring baseball and slowpitch softball at Wednesday’s meeting. The action went into effect immediately.

The rule had been players were allowed to play 22 regular season games. Not included in that were the three tournaments and postseason play. However, if a player participated in a varsity and junior varsity game in the same day, that was two of the 22 games.

“In my 19 years here I’ve never had so many phone calls and e-mails from administrators and coaches regarding this rule as I have this year,” OSSAA executive secretary Ed Sheakley said.

Teams are still restricted to 22 regular season games. But varsity and JV squads can each have 22 games. Therefore, schools without enough kids to field separate teams can have players participate in both games.