The Alabama High School Athletic Association Central Board of Control met Wednesday for its annual October meeting and approved several sports committee recommendations, including changes to game-ending procedures in baseball and softball.

The board also expanded scheduling options for tennis section tournaments beginning with the upcoming season. The board discussed classification options for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years and voted to adopt state-specific revisions to NFHS baseball Rule 4, Section 2-3.

Under the change, any AHSAA baseball game interrupted by weather or darkness during championship play must now be suspended if a new inning has started. The game will resume from the point of interruption once play can continue.

In softball, the board amended the NFHS mercy rule to allow a game to end if the leading team is ahead by 12 runs after three innings, 10 runs after four innings, or eight runs after five innings.

The board also approved a recommendation from the Tennis Coaches Committee to allow section tournaments to be scheduled across a wider timeframe to ensure completion before the state tournament deadline. In volleyball, the board approved clarifying language on tiebreakers and definitions for "games," "sets" and "matches."

The board tabled a request from the Basketball Coaches Committee to implement a shot clock for varsity boys and girls games, requesting additional data before revisiting the issue in December.

"I thank the Central Board for their actions," said AHSAA Associate Executive Director Heath Harmon. "The items addressed and confirmed show how important our sports committees are in the legislative process of the AHSAA. I also appreciate the Central Board for requesting more data when necessary."

Additionally, new Central Board member Roderick Sheppard, an administrator with Florence City Schools, was sworn in by AHSAA Associate Executive Director Brian McRae. Sheppard represents Districts 7 and 8 as the board's bi-district member.