Japanese high school baseball could see a shift in game length as the Japan High School Baseball Federation met to discuss changing nine-inning games to seven innings. Multiple coaches and doctors met with the Federation to find ways to combat heat stroke.
The decision is guided by the Japan High School Baseball Federation’s mission to abide by Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and recommended heat stroke prevention methods. According to Japan’s Meteorological Agency, temperatures in the nation can reach 35° C in the summer, which, according to the WBGT in Japan, is dangerous for physical activities like baseball.
Suppose the Japan High School Baseball Federation chooses to proceed with this plan. In that case, official high school baseball games, including the spring and summer Koshien tournaments, will move to seven innings.
Koshien is considered a “sacred ground” for high school baseball in Japan, but its location in southern Japan places a big temperature and heat stroke risk in the summer. The seven-inning format could allow the tournament to remain in Koshien and abide by the WBGT, heat stroke prevention methods, and other changes, including changes implemented last year that set up “cooling times” for extra hydration after the fifth inning.
Models are already in place for a seven-inning system, as the shorter games have been utilized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). They were first seen at the 2022 tournament for the U18 (under-18) World Cup, and high school games in the United States are generally played using the seven-inning system.
If the Japan High School Baseball Federation chooses to move forward with a seven-inning system for this summer, its success at combating heat stroke will determine whether it becomes uniform for all high school baseball across the country.
