Twelve softball programs in the Sun Belt Conference will have live pitch data in their dugouts in 2027, and fourteen baseball programs will be equipped with automated strike challenges. Trackman, the tracking company behind both rollouts, already works with all 30 MLB teams.

The online discussion became more extensive than the actual rollout of the technology. Softball Portal, a softball news account, shared this news on X.

"College softball is moving closer to an automated ball-strike system. The Sun Belt is the first to opt into an NCAA experimental rule that puts Trackman in every Sun Belt stadium and on all coaches' tablets for conference games in 2027," Softball Portal said.

The enthusiasm is justified because the Sun Belt has been using Trackman pitch data in umpire evaluations since 2023.

But while the Sun Belt press release talks about the softball improvements as dugout analytics, the challenge system is applicable to baseball only. And while the Sun Belt claims to be part of a select few, it is not the first one.

In an official statement on Friday, Keith Gill, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, explained how far the partnership had progressed.

"TrackMan has been a valued Sun Belt partner in these endeavors since 2023, and we look forward to expanding our relationship once again as we join a select group of conferences opting into the NCAA experimental rules for baseball and softball for the 2027 season," Gill said.

The collaboration started with umpire training for baseball in 2023, encompassed all 14 baseball programs in 2025, introduced dugout tablets in 2026, and extended its reach to all 12 softball programs in July. The softball program is following in the footsteps of baseball.

The next season's tablets will tell just how far that road can go. In reality, the difference for coaches is already obvious.

What Sun Belt Softball Coaches Get From Trackman in 2027

What about the dugouts in softball? All coaches from the 12 teams in the Sun Belt softball conference will use tablets, which get updated during their games.

Information on velocity, spin, movement, and hit metrics comes instantaneously, without having to wait for video footage of the game.

Trackman director James Snikeris explained the softball side in the same release.

"Trackman is also excited to expand live in-dugout data delivery to the conference's softball programs, providing coaches and players with real-time insights during the game," Snikeris said.

On the baseball side, Snikeris spoke about the challenge system in that release.

"The same accuracy and reliability their baseball programs already rely on will now power ABS, giving coaches, student-athletes and fans confidence in every call that is challenged," Snikeris added.

In baseball, the challenge system permits only the pitcher, catcher, or batter to appeal by tapping a hat or helmet, and results are shown on video boards.

Softball gets no challenges. Softball Portal reports that the Trackman feed prioritizes coaches, while umpire reviews take place following the games.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta