Some changes for the 2026 season per the new NSAA Softball Manual:
Class A Tournaments/Events with Out-of-State Opponents
For Class A schools, if an opponent from outside of Nebraska is unable to participate in a tournament/event because of weather, travel, lack of fundraising, etc., the tournament/event director can attempt to find a replacement opponent if all means of playing the scheduled contest were attempted.
Junior High Students
Beginning with the 2026 season, a school may permit 7th and 8th grade students to practice with high school teams, allowing for the sharing of practice times, locations and coaches. 7th and 8th grade girls attending school in the same building as the NSAA member high school may practice with the high school team in softball (all classes)
One-Way Electronic Communication Devices
The NFHS Rules Committee has approved for the NSAA to coordinate an experiment with one-way electronic communication devices for the 2026 season. Full NFHS Rules and Experiment Information is posted on the NSAA website.
Rule 1-9-6 Exception: A coach may use an electronic device for one-way communication from the dugout to the pitcher and catcher while the team is on defense.
Rule 3-5-11: A coach may use an electronic device for one-way communication to the pitcher and catcher while the team is on defense. Coaches may not use electronic communication device(s) to communicate with any other team member while on defense or any team member while on offense. When using the electronic communication device, the coach cannot be outside of the dugout/bench area.
Penalty: The umpire shall eject the offender from the game, unless the offense is judged to be of a minor nature. If minor, the umpire may warn the offender and eject if the offense is repeated.
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SUB-DISTRICTS / DISTRICTS
CLASS A
All Class A schools will be placed into seven districts using a serpentine method (not modified) based upon the NSAA wildcard point system within one week prior to the first District Tournament. The highest-seeded team will host the tournament. All games played through Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 will be used to calculate the wildcard points for district seeding. District seeding and brackets will be announced on Monday, October 5, 2026.
The Class A District Tournaments will be of a double-elimination format spread over two days with the winner qualifying for the State Tournament.
The seven district champions and one wildcard qualifier (highest point total among non-district champions, calculated including district tournament games) shall complete the state tournament field.
CLASS B
All Class B schools will be placed into seven districts using a serpentine method (not modified) based upon the NSAA wildcard point system within one week prior to the first District Tournament. The highest-seeded team will host the single-elimination tournament for the first round and semifinal. If a matchup of two schools is greater than 300 miles apart prior to the District Final, one of four predetermined neutral sites (Hastings, Lexington, McCook, Grand Island Northwest) will be used. The District Finals will be hosted by the highest-remaining seed, regardless of distance. All games played through Thursday, October 1st, 2026 will be used to calculate the wildcard points for district seeding. District seeding and brackets will be announced on Friday, October 2nd, 2026.
The Class B District Tournaments will be a single-elimination format in the first round and semifinals on Day 1. The District Finals will be a best 2-out-of-3 format on Day 2.
The seven district champions and one wildcard qualifier (highest point total among non-district champions, calculated including district tournament games) shall complete the state tournament field.
CLASS C
All Class C schools will be placed into ten Sub-Districts using a serpentine method (not modified) based upon the NSAA wildcard point system within one week prior to the first District Tournament. The highest seeded team in each Sub-District will be offered a contract to host. If the higher seed is unable to host, the subsequent seed shall be offered a contract to host until a host is secured. All games played through Monday, September 28th, 2026 will be used to calculate the wildcard points for sub-district seeding. District seeding and brackets will be announced on Thursday, October 1st, 2026.
Class C Sub-District Tournaments will one one-day, single-elimination format with the highest seed hosting unless they choose not to host.
The ten Sub-District Champions and six additional teams that did not win a Sub-District with the highest wildcard point averages following Sub-District Tournaments will compete in a District Final. The District Finals will be a one-day, best 2-out-of-3 series with the higher seeded team hosting unless they decline the contract. Matchups will be made based on wildcard point averages calculated after the Sub-District Tournaments with #1 vs. #16, #2 vs. #15, #3 vs. 14, #4 vs. #13, #5 vs. #12, #6 vs. #11, #7 vs. #10 and #8 vs. #9.
The eight District Finals winners will qualify for the State Tournament.
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Sub-District / District / State Tournament Home Teams
In all Sub-District, District and State Tournament games, the higher-seeded team in the matchup will be designated as the home team. For "if necessary" games, home/away team status will be alternated for the next game. In any best 2-out-of-3 series, the home team will alternate each game (example: Game #1 higher Seed, Game #2 Lower Seed, Game #3 Higher Seed)
