[AtlUmpSteve]

ASA 6.1-E "The pitcher shall bring the hands together for not less than one second and not more than ten seconds before releasing it."

ASA 6.3-O "The pitcher has 20 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball or after the umpire indicates "play ball".

NFHS 2007 Points of Emphasis "Once in the batters box, the batter may request "time", but it should only be granted by the plate umpire for a valid reason. A batter merely putting her hand in the air toward the umpire does not guarantee that time shall be granted. Batters should not be allowed to step in the batters box and meet the 20 second requirement, only to delay the game by putting a hand up requesting time to perform rituals in the batters box. This is not a valid reason for an umpire to grant time. Once a batter is in the batters box, the pitcher is entitled to deliver her pitch.

Granted, the NFHS POE is not binding on ASA, but it is a real reflection on the state of fastpitch softball. Batter takes forever to get in the box after multiple unnecessary "signals", wants time to regroom after each pitch, take three practice swings, and, after finally getting set, requests time if the pitcher doesn't then pitch on the batter's schedule. And, her team tells her "good job" and "way to take control" for delaying your game.

I am 100% with your UIC. The two ASA rules point out the pitcher has 20 seconds, and may pause with hands together up to 10 seconds (of the 20 seconds). No where does it say we should grant "time" to allow the batter to control if the pitcher may do that!!

Nothing personal, Chess Ref; one of my pet peeves is failure of umpires to manage the pace of their game. It is the players game to play; it is your game to manage. In my game, the batter needs to be in the box and ready in 10 seconds; the pitcher has the rest of the 20 seconds to pitch. The batter only gets "time" if the wind blows something in her face, or something else happens to break that sequence; not just because she thinks she is waiting too long.