• The Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) oversees softball in the state of Texas. The umpires who call games on the high school level are members of this organization and are required to work under its specifications. The state of Texas adheres to the National Federation of State High School Associations as the basis for its softball rules.
  
  

Pitching distance

• This is a significant change in the state of Texas. The distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate is 43 feet, as of the start of the 2010-11 softball season. Prior to that it was 40 feet. The reason for the change is pitchers were dominating and hitters really didn't have the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and abilities with the pitcher so close. The extra 3 feet gives each hitter a fraction of a second longer to see the ball and swing at it.
  
  

Number of Players

• Teams may use as many as 12 players in an official softball game officiated by members of TASO. In addition to the 10 positions on the field--pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, left center field, right center field and right field--teams are permitted to use a designated hitter and a flex player. The designated hitter gets a spot in the lineup without having to play the field, while the flex player may bat for any fielder. Unlike men's baseball, the flex player does not have to bat for the pitcher.
  
  

Strike Zone

• The strike zone in softball games administered by TASO officials is from the top of the arm pit to the top of the knees. This is quite a bit different than the strike zone in boys' baseball, which goes from the midway point between the waist and shoulders down to the top of the knees. The bigger strike zone in softball gives the pitchers a significant edge over the batters.