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New NCAA Baseball & Softball Rules Require Additional Stadium Padding

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This year, a new rule was added to the NCAA rulebook requiring padding on all surfaces within a softball or baseball field that a player is likely to collide with. This will be effective in 2027, so read on to learn how to prepare!

September 20, 2024

A major softball rule change was recently announced by the NCAA. It will be showing up in the 2024/2025 hardcopy rule book, but the text of the rule has already been published (see below). In short, padding will be required on all hard surfaces that a player might collide with. Though this official rule change only applies to softball, the NCAA has already gone on the record to say that this change will be coming for baseball as well. It is expected to go into force in 2027, so read on to learn what your stadium needs to be in compliance!

What Does the New Rule Say?

The full text of the rule is as follows:

Rule 2.15: Sideline and Home Run Fences

By January 1, 2027, to require sideline and home run fences constructed of a hard material (e.g., wood, concrete or brick) to be padded. Padding must begin not higher than 1 foot off the ground and extend to the top of the wood, concrete or brick or 6 feet from the ground, whichever is shorter. This is required for any field hosting NCAA softball competition.

The NCAA also offered some rationale for this rule change:

"Currently, padding is strongly recommended for fences constructed of a hard material (e.g., wood, concrete and brick). This is a requirement for backstops constructed of these materials. This change would align sideline and home run fences with backstops. Although this is a non-rules change year for softball, this rules change is being made for financial and student-athlete safety reasons. The estimated budget impact varies depending on the amount of areas that require padding."

You can read the NCAA's announcement about this rule change here.

In other words, the padding requirement that already exists for backstops now also applies to sidelines and outfield fences; those requirements are extended all the way around the field. Notably, the sideline includes any rails or fencing in front of dugouts, so those spaces will need to be considered as well.

How To Prepare

CoverSports offers a wide variety of baseball and softball padding products that are in compliance with this rule, including:

Stadium padding helps protect athletes by softening the impact when they hit outfield or sideline fences. It can easily be attached to any hard surface, as well as chain link fences, preventing injuries from collision. Our padding is custom made to fit your stadium, comes in a variety of different colors, and can be printed with team branding and sponsors' logos, as you can see on the Georgia Softball stadium padding (left).

You can learn more about stadium padding here.

Premium rail and post padding is designed with player safety as the top priority, offering crucial protection by softening dangerous areas on the rails in front of dugouts and in chain link fences. The padding fits snugly, and will stay securely in place even during intense play. It can also be color coordinated and printed to mat your team's brand. To the right you can see a great example from the same Georgia Softball stadium.

Learn more about rail and post padding here.

If you have any questions about this rule change or what you need to do to be in compliance by 2027, please reach out to the CoverSports sales team.