[WestMichBlue]

I love it every time this argument is raised and all the NFHS bashers have a field day. Ie.,

"NFHS and some lesser (in softball) associations are willing to weaken the standard pitching rule out of fear that certain areas can't compete,” or –

"the purpose of allowing the non-pivot foot to be behind the PITCHER'S PLATE was for participation purposes. Apparently, it is easier to pitch without the two-foot restriction and as we all know, not every school has a good pitcher from the start."

What bull crap! Lesser associations? Weaken the standard? No good pitchers available? Then please tell me why ASA men have been allowed to “weaken your standard?” Why do the most powerful and fastest FP pitchers in this country need that “additional help?

BTW – what happens to the ASA men when they get into international competition? Are they just like a H.S. or L.L. female pitcher that has to change for the tournament, and then goes back to the old way?


So how did we get to this point?

Originally, and for over fifty years, ASA required both feet in contact with the plate, and the pivot foot could not leave the plate until the stride foot landed (drag was not legal then). Because NFHS followed ASA, the NFHS pitching rules were the same.

In about 1985 ASA changed and allowed pitchers (male and female) to step back. NFHS followed and changed its rules.

About 1990 ASA changed back to its old rules for females only; men were still allowed to step back. NFHS did NOT follow that change. Why – I don’t know. Maybe they disagreed with ASA. Maybe they decided not to restrict their pitchers.

Prior to writing their own rulebook a few years ago, the NCAA used ASA rules. So they simply copied over the ASA Female/JO rule set to their new book. However, L.L. never changed; and USSSA and PONY basically follow NFHS rules so they haven’t changed.


“If we see a pitcher in HS stepping back, it's most likely she doesn't play much other than HS ball."

I’ve watch several Senior L.L. girls capture the World Series pitching with step-back. At least one of those teams would have whipped any comparable age-group national class ASA team.

So who has been inconsistent? Who keeps changing their pitching rules? Who allowed men (only) to legally leap (in 1992)? Who stopped men from stepping back in 1999, and then reversed direction again one year later? Who took away the leap in 2000? And allowed it back (“toe down rule) in 2005?

You may find it positive, or negative – but both NFHS and L.L. normally take years to change their rule sets. I suggest that careful and lengthy deliberation beats bowing to pressure groups frequently.

OK, I am off my soapbox. Fire away!


WMB