In 2006, high school softball teams in Florida saw the pitching rubber moved three feet further away from home plate. Last season, Oregon joined the experiment. Now, after debating the issue for more than 10 years, the NFHS has made it official: Starting in 2010-11, high schoolers will pitch from 43 feet instead of 40.

"We think it's going to be very good for the game as it will result in fewer strikeouts and more action," says Mary Struckhoff, NFHS Assistant Director and Liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. "More players will have the opportunity to be involved in each at bat--not just the pitcher and catcher. And putting more balls in play is going to enhance the skill development of the defenders and make the game more exciting."

Data from both Florida and Oregon showed slight gains in almost every offensive category with the increased pitching distance. Pitchers averaged four fewer strikeouts per game than those in other states, there was a slightly higher percentage of walks and errors, and there was no significant difference in game time or injuries. Overall, coaches felt the experimental rule helped provide a better balance between offense and defense.

"When you have a pitcher who dominates by virtue of the speed of her pitch, moving her back lessens that dominance, because batters have more time to react," says Struckhoff. "In general, we've seen the rule give offenses a fighting chance."

The decision of when to implement the new rule is up to individual state associations, but Struckhoff expects most will make the switch in 2010, with the remaining states converting their fields in 2011. Softball programs that currently use a staked-down pitching plate will be able to alter their fields in five minutes with little expense. For teams using a cemented pitching plate, the relocation process is more complex, but it can still be done in a few hours at minor cost.

For step-by-step instructions on how to relocate a cemented pitching plate, go to: www.nfhs.org and type "softball pitching plate relocation" in the search window.