Pitching Hand In The Set Position

[Dave Sirbu]

In FED pitching rules (6.1.3), when the pitcher is in the set position his pitching hand must be at his side or behind the back. In OBR (8.01b commment) it states one hand must be at his side but it doesn't say whether it should be the pitching hand or the glove hand. A Jim Evans video I recently viewed said the pitching hand must be at his side or behind his back. Is that stated in OBR or is it a Jim Evans interpretation?

Other related questions:
1) Is the rule the same in FED and OBR.? What about NCAA?

2) Also, when a pitcher is dangling his pitching arm in front of his body while in the set position, is this a violation? I see this all the time in the pros and there seems to be no call. Am I overlooking something or is this just one of those rules we ignore until the opposition complains?

Furthermore, I see many H.S. umps ignoring this violation (myself included).

Thoughts anyone? What is the interpretation in OBR and FED and is it generally enforced?

Regards,

Dave Sirbu

[Carl Childress]

Dave:

I separated your two questions into a pair of posts.

Some umpires might want to answer one but not the other.

There's no rule, of course. It's just more convenient for those who reply if you have just one question per post.

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Papa C
Editor, eUmpire