At our meeting today, the director of officials said that the only time a pitcher could execute a 'soft turn' to first is before he brought his hands together. He moved on quickly before I could ask what in the world that meant!

Any help is appreciated.

BTW, this is middle school ball using NFHS rules.

not sure but...
 

If a pitcher slowly turns his lead shoulder towards first before coming to the set position, this could be defined as a "soft turn."

I have heard of a quick turn to look at the bag as a "hard turn."

Just a guess though...

I would guess that a soft turn is a slow turn and a hard is a quick. Either is legal in Fed this year as long as he hasn't put his hands together.

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.

If the pitcher put his hands together he cannot turn the shoulders, but he can throw to first.

Similar to hard turn only softer. LOL

Once he brings his hands together he can't turn but can certainly throw over.
In Fed he does not have to step off.

The only restriction that requires him to step off in Fed is in the wind-up.

WOW!
 

"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."

Better watch what you "think" you know!

The move you have described has been ruled to be two separate moves and therefore is a balk if the pitcher is a right-hander. And if it is a lefty it has nothing to do with his "back foot."

Strike One and Strike Two.

Squeak,Squeak, Squeak, Squeak, Squeak.

Tee

[Edited by Tim C on Feb 5th, 2005 at 05:19 PM]

Last year, in FED, ANY turn of the shoulders was (by rule) a balk.

FED decided to ease the restrictions. So, now, from the "pre-set" position, ANY turn of the shoulders is allowed. Once the hands are joined, ANY turn is a balk.

(Also, ANY turn from the wind-up is a balk.