PARKERSBURG - The landscape of prep high school softball is changing, at least for the pitchers - at some point.

A recent decision by the National Federation of State High School Associations softball rules committee, which was approved by the board of directors at the NFHS, has made the prep pitching rubber move from the old standard of 40 feet to the collegiate mark of 43 feet.

The NFHS has made the new rule change optional for the 2010 campaign, or the 2009-10 academic year, for member state high school associations. However, in 2011, or the 2010-11 academic year, all pitching rubbers will be moved back to 43 feet.

Although the added distance will allow pitchers more reaction time on hard line drives, giving them a better chance to make a play or defend themselves from harm's way, the main reason the rule was changed according to a press release from the NFHS was, "creating a better balance between the offense and the defense was the major rationale for the rule change." "As coaches we are always looking to see them throw from 43 feet," said Ohio Valley University head softball coach Brian Howard of prospective pitchers. "It's an advantage because their stuff breaks more. If it's a type of pitcher like that it's always to their advantage."

Howard also noted it was good for safety reasons.

"The NCAA has banned composite bats in baseball and with the technology in bats I think it's good for the game as well," he added. "It's just sort of everything catching up. I definitely think it should've been that way before so they don't have to take that next step when they get to college."

Area umpire Bill Mossor said it's not going to make any difference to the man calling balls and strikes behind the plate. He did note that it could hamper a lot of pitching staffs who don't have a true ace on the hill.

"It's not going to affect the good pitchers, it's going to really affect the pitchers who are borderline and the fair to weaker pitchers," Mossor said of the added distance giving batters a little more time to see the pitch. "Just because you move the pitching mound back 3 feet, the good teams are still going to be good for a reason."

Parkersburg High School head coach Larry Kave, whose daughter Shannon was an ex-Big Red as well as a player at Ohio Valley, also was happy to see the move.

"Shannon was strong and the 43 feet didn't affect her too much, but the biggest problem we had was with the junk balls and the curve balls and trying to make them break," Kave stated. "They were breaking too soon from throwing at the 40 feet distance and it took a while to adjust to that. I'm all for the 43 feet."

Kelly Geddis, an assistant executive director at the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, said it was likely the WVSSAC would wait until after the NFHS spring meeting in January to decide which way the state of West Virginia would go for the spring 2010 season.

"We haven't had time to look at everything," Geddis said. "To be honest, we just got that information a short time ago and with softball being a ways away we are getting ready for volleyball and cheerleading.

"We've not sat down with our rules interpreter and discussed it. We haven't made any decisions yet."