Diamonds are now allowed on the diamond.

The National Federation of State High School Associations said Tuesday that high school softball and baseball players can now wear jewelry during games, one of a handful of rule changes approved by the NFHS. The change goes into effect for the 2023 season.

Previously, players could wear jewelry, but only if it was for medical or religious reasons. The rule, like some rules, wasn’t enforced 100% of the time.

Umpires do have the authority to ban certain items of jewelry if they’re deemed dangerous or distracting, according to the NFHS.

“The game of baseball has evolved and players have demonstrated that wearing a bracelet or a necklace does not impede their ability to play or increase any risk to themselves or their opponents,” Elliot Hopkins said in an NFHS press release. Hopkins is the NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee.

Along with the jewelry rule, another rule change in softball will allow players to be more expressive with their gear on the field.

Previously, according to the NFHS, gloves and mitts had color restrictions where they couldn’t have more than two colors (excluding lacing and manufacturer’s logos).

Starting in 2023, a player’s glove or mitt can have as many colors as the player wants as long as none of the colors are the same color as the ball, and as long as the glove or mitt doesn’t have markings that give the look of a ball.

Another notable softball rule change is small and will have limited effect, but will give teams and players a statistical boost: now, all baserunners involved in a walk-off home run will be scored.

The previous rule only officially counted the number of runs needed to win a game (e.g. a walk-off grand slam to break an 8-8 tie will now be officially recognized as a 12-8 win instead of 9-8).

Connect with reporter Patrick Carr via email at pcarr@standard.net, Twitter @patrickcarr_ and Instagram @standardexaminersports.

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