What's a Soft Turn?

[cbfoulds]

Originally posted by tarheelcoach
So once a pitcher does put his hands together, can't they still throw to first?

Playing with OBR, I know that the pitcher can actually lift his front leg up and then step to first as long as he doesn't cross his back foot. But someone told me that in NFHS, they have to step off if their hands come together and they want to throw over.

Is this interpretation correct?

Wow, I'm not sure I'm understanding you correctly- but if I am: No, both interpretations are wrong.

"pitcher can actually lift his front leg up and then step to first as long as he doesn't cross his back foot"
Nope: as long as his ENTIRE stride ["front"] foot does not cross behind the rubber, he can step toward 1st. "Crossing his back [pivot] foot" has nothing to do with it.

"in NFHS, they have to step off if their hands come together and they want to throw over."
Also Nope: as long as F1 steps to 1st before he separates his hands to throw, he's good; no rule requires him to step off. Now, from the windup, F1 must legally step off under NFHS rules to feint or throw.