Pitching

[stlbrd]

Devon Schmidt did it. I would call her "upper" tier. It is legal in TN high school softball.

 

Not trying to split hairs, but it is NOT legal, umpires choose not to call it. Show me where it states in a rule book where it is legal to "rock". Rest assured Devon is not doing it at Belmont, I was talking about girls still in HS.

[Antwan]

Not trying to split hairs, but it is NOT legal, umpires choose not to call it. Show me where it states in a rule book where it is legal to "rock". Rest assured Devon is not doing it at Belmont, I was talking about girls still in HS.

 

 

 

Didn't say she was doing it at Belmont or travel ball. She did it at Goodpasture...saw it with my own eyes. Yes...it is legal in TN high

school softball. It IS legal in tssaa.

[intheshadow]

This issue was address by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association this past December at their convention. It was recommended that the HS adopt the ASA rule about contact with the rubber and that recommendation passed. It may take a year before it is put into the rules. FYI I think it also recommended that HS also go to 43 ft for a pitching distance. For more go www.NFCA.org. and check out convention minutes.

[Antwan]

This issue was address by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association this past December at their convention. It was recommended that the HS adopt the ASA rule about contact with the rubber and that recommendation passed. It may take a year before it is put into the rules. FYI I think it also recommended that HS also go to 43 ft for a pitching distance. For more go www.NFCA.org. and check out convention minutes.

 

 

I agree with 43 for high school. We will see if it comes to fruition.

[sportzfan93]

I have a very strong opinion about this; I think it should be the same for HS & College. HS shouldn't be allowed to do it but they are.

 

I watched a JV game the other day and the RH pitcher would take a complete big step with her right foot off the mound and plant then take her big stride with her left. It was like a slow motion crow hop. There were two TSSAA umpires on the field neither of them called it for 3 innings. I know it was a JV game but you have to call the game right. If you don't let players know what they are doing wrong how can they correct it?

 

The rule book has pictures of this. There has to be both feet on or one behind but not one to the side off the rubber. The jcs pitcher did that at Sarah Beth Whitehead game and Northside. When called not by an ump but a spectator, she could not correct it. If there is a RULE it should be followed otherwise take it our of the book.

[66in74]

No post to date have "quoted" a rule book yet. /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

Give chapter and verse. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

[dore83]

No post to date have "quoted" a rule book yet. /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

Give chapter and verse. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

 

NFHS - Rule 6-1-2-a-b

Pivot foot must be on or partially on the pitcher's plate. The non-pivot foot in contact with or behind the pitcher's plate. Both feet between or partially between the 24 inch length of the pitcher's plate. Once the hands are brought together and are in motion, the pitcher shall not take more than one step and it must be forward, towards the batter and simultaneous with the delivery. Any step backwards shall begin before the hands come together.

 

USSSA (and USGF if I remember correctly) also allow one foot on the pitcher's plate (and a step back with the non-pivot foot before the hands come together) just like NFHS.

 

TSSAA, as do most (perhaps all) state high school associations, use NFHS rules.

 

ASA - Rule 6-1-C2

 

Both pitcher's feet must be in contact with the pitcher's plate and within the 24 inch length of the pitcher's plate.

 

NCAA, AFA, NSA, and all the others are identical to ASA - both feet must be in contact with the pitcher's plate.

 

Yes, Devon, as many other high school pitchers in Tennessee, stepped back with her non-pivot foot while she was at Goodpasture. It was perfectly legal... NOT because umpires didn't call it, but because it is LEGAL and ALLOWED by NFHS rules. She kept/keeps both feet on the pitcher's plate in summer ball and at Belmont because anything else is ILLEGAL and NOT ALLOWED by ASA and NCAA rules.

 

Stupid to have different pitching rules for high school and summer/college ball, but that is the way it is. Also if I remember correctly, NFHS used to require both feet on the pitching plate, but ASA changed it about 25 years ago to one foot and NFHS followed suit. ASA then changed it back to both feet for girls and women, but didn't change it for men's fastpitch (men are still only required to have the pivot foot in contact and can still step back). NFHS decided not to follow ASA that time.

 

From time to time, different proposals are made to the NFHS rules committee to change the one foot requirement to two feet to match the ASA and NCAA rules, but it keeps getting voted down. I know the Minnesota version of TSSAA proposed a change as late as 2007, but they haven't been the only ones.

[Turnadouble]

The rule book has pictures of this. There has to be both feet on or one behind but not one to the side off the rubber. The jcs pitcher did that at Sarah Beth Whitehead game and Northside. When called not by an ump but a spectator, she could not correct it. If there is a RULE it should be followed otherwise take it our of the book.

 

I agree completely.

 

I have another example for you, High School game & the pitcher is having trouble sticking her pitches, she really has to work at moving the ball around because she has a natural inside pitch. She lines up on the very edge of the pitching plate(left side), on her delivery her left foot is a good two foot outside of 24 inch plate dimension. Correct me if I??™m wrong but doesn??™t your first step off the mound have to be a forward step within the 24 inch pitching plate? I talked to umpire about it and he looked at me like he had no clue.

[Antwan]

I agree completely.

 

I have another example for you, High School game & the pitcher is having trouble sticking her pitches, she really has to work at moving the ball around because she has a natural inside pitch. She lines up on the very edge of the pitching plate(left side), on her delivery her left foot is a good two foot outside of 24 inch plate dimension. Correct me if I??™m wrong but doesn??™t your first step off the mound have to be a forward step within the 24 inch pitching plate? I talked to umpire about it and he looked at me like he had no clue.

 

 

You cannot step outside the rubber in any league I know of. Some umpires call it...some do not. Many college pitchers step way outside the rubber...especially when throwing a screw ball. Mowatt of Arizona comes to mind. She was waaaaaayyy out.

[Turnadouble]

You cannot step outside the rubber in any league I know of. Some umpires call it...some do not. Many college pitchers step way outside the rubber...especially when throwing a screw ball. Mowatt of Arizona comes to mind. She was waaaaaayyy out.

 

I have yet to see it called. Can't blame the pitcher for trying to get away with it, just like most the other rules, umps over look it.

[PurpleGrad]

First of all... 99.9% of what Joe Fan refers to as "crow hopping", isn't at all.... What you see is "leaping".... still illegal, but learn the difference....

 

The rules for Illegal pitches were put in to protect the batter and prevent pitchers from gaining an advantage. If the pitcher is not GAINING AN ADVANTAGE... it shouldn't be called... The earlier poster was correct... NO ONE says anything about illegal pitches unless they are not hitting the ball... then they have to find an excuse....

[Antwan]

First of all... 99.9% of what Joe Fan refers to as "crow hopping", isn't at all.... What you see is "leaping".... still illegal, but learn the difference....

 

The rules for Illegal pitches were put in to protect the batter and prevent pitchers from gaining an advantage. If the pitcher is not GAINING AN ADVANTAGE... it shouldn't be called... The earlier poster was correct... NO ONE says anything about illegal pitches unless they are not hitting the ball... then they have to find an excuse....

 

 

Stepping outside the rubber with a good screw ball pitcher is an advantage. Crow hopping is an advantage. I have seen both called. I have seen both overlooked. Just pitch by the rules. It's just that simple.