THOMASVILLE — Often times there is a trickle down effect from the highest level of sports. This is certainly true in baseball as there is a good chance that when the MLB does something, high schools will be doing it soon.

The MLB’s most recent project has been speeding up the game. This is something they have done effectively with the addition of catcher to pitcher electronic communication and the controversial pitch clock.

During a meeting from July 4-6 in Indiana, the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFHS, followed the MLB in this pursuit of speed. They approved a rule change that will allow coaches to communicate pitch signs to their catchers using electronic communication devices. That rule was then approved by the GHSA within days.

The rules are strict, stating that communication is only allowed between the coach and catchers and not with any other player on the field or a player at bat. The rule also requires the coach to remain in the dugout. While the change will help avoid miscommunication in relaying signs between coaches and catchers, the main reason for the rule change is to speed up the pace of the game.

This is something that excited the high school coaches of Thomasville.

“It’s exciting that its another avenue to go that you’re going to be able to communicate with the catcher and maybe eliminate miscommunications on signs,” said Thomas County Central head baseball coach Ryan Strickland. “Hopefully, the big thing of it is that it speeds up the pace of the game a bit.”

Both Strickland and Thomasville High School head baseball coach Erik McDougald are looking to add this technology to their game plan quickly. Strickland stated that he and his staff will “look at implementing it as soon as possible.” McDougald was more emphatic, saying that he wishes they could have implemented the communication devices “yesterday”.

“We’ll jump on it right away,” McDougald said. “That’s not something we will hesitate with.”

While it does not appear that the GIAA, the organization that Brookwood falls under, have adopted the rule, it is certainly possible that they will in the near future. Warriors head baseball coach Daniel Funt did express interest in using the technology, should the GIAA allow it.

“That sounds like something to look into,” said Funt.