[turk]

If you read the definition of leaping carefully, there is no prohibition against the pivot foot catching air, hole or no hole. The entire body, and both pivot and non-pivot foot have to be airborne at the same time, as the delivery is completed, with release occuring simultaneous to a return to the ground. People tend to ignore the release timing component of the rule, and focus too much on whether the back foot catches air. The problem is the "back foot maintaining contact language" that contradicts the definition. I have seen rule drafts clarifying this issue.

The reality is that the rules were added to prevent pitchers (mostly adult males) from crow-hopping, re-planting closer to the plate, and then leaping from the newly established point. If a pitcher pushes off from the pitchers plate, and catches air with her back foot before she drags it through because she is an aggressive figure-four style pitcher, she is not violating the letter or spirit of the rule. In fact, in the July 2000 issue of "Referee" magazine there is an article that criticizes the leaping rule for that very reason.

Officials are always supposed to call violations within the intended spirit of the rule, which is why so few call leaps. Finding a true leap, under the rule's definition, is very difficult (picture both feet in the air for the same period of time, returning at the same time, and a simultaneous release). Moreover, crow-hopping is much more pervasive, and much more dangerous, because the pitcher starts her push and drag closer to the plate. The key is the re-plant, which is usually pretty obvious, and should be illegal.

Check out the article I mentioned. It is a good, thorough review of these rules.