One Step Back, One Forward....

[Rbn3]

This is another "technicality" that baffles me. I just spent the weekend watching 14 year olds pitch - kids on travel teams who have each played probably 50 games a year or more for five years.

Most, but not all, of the pitchers, from the wind up, pick up the free foot from the rubber and then plant it a few inches in front of the rubber to the side, then pick it up again and deliver. Most never take a step back. Clearly this is two steps foward (and one to the side of the rubber). They do this apparently to balance their pivot. Mechanically this destroys any theoretical advantage of the wind up, since they basically end up throwing from a modified stretch, rather than rocking back and pivoting in one continuous movement.

But I have never seen an umpire try to correct what obviously is a violation of the rule: "With his "free" foot the pitcher may take one step backward and one step forward, but under no circumstances, to either side, that is to either the first base or third base side of the pitcher's rubber."

Why is this "two step" delivery permitted?