[KJUmp]

Interesting article.

Posted under Latest News at NCAA.org

Softball rules panel considers changing illegal-pitch penalty
By Greg Johnson
NCAA.org

The NCAA Softball Rules Committee used its annual meeting last month to discuss the possibly changing the penalties for illegal pitches.

The issue was in the limelight for most of the season but attracted even greater attention at the 2010 Women's College World Series when numerous illegal-pitch violations were called. Pitchers are not allowed to leap (have both feet off the ground) while delivering [a] pitch-and greater enforcement of the longstanding rule was apparent at all three softball national championships.

Currently, when an illegal pitch is called, a ball is called on the batter and any base runners advance one base. That is consistent among softball rules for international, collegiate, and recreational play.

The committee discussed lessening the penalty, though, by allowing base runners to advance only after the team's fifth illegal pitch of the game. The change could have unattended consequences, however, since the "leap" is only one of several ways a pitch can be ruled illegal.

"There was some concern that awarding a ball on the count and allowing a base to the runners was too much of a game changing effect," said Ken Eriksen, committee chair and softball coach at South Florida.

Since the WCWS is the pinnacle of the collegiate game-and the most widely publicized games because of ESPN's extensive coverage-the issue spawned varied opinions, from changing the penalty to ramping up enforcement and making that enforcement more consistent throughout the regular season.

"In certain parts of the country, the rule was called consistently," said Eriksen, who is an assistant coach for Team USA, which one its seventh straight world championship last week. 'We've given everyone an opportunity to change and we've told the coaches that it is time to change. But as it turned out, it appeared to come down heavier because people saw it called in the Women's College World Series.

"The bottom line is at all levels, we need to do a better job of teaching pitchers the correct mechanics."