Rita C NFHS rules. HS varsity. Pitcher would start with both feet on the plate, then as she started her pitching motion with her hands together would take a step back. Your call? Rita
BretMan Sounds like an illegal pitch, if her hands were together before the step back. The step back must be prior to, or simultaneous with, the hands coming together.
Manny A Rita C wroteNFHS rules. HS varsity. Pitcher would start with both feet on the plate, then as she started her pitching motion with her hands together would take a step back. Your call? Rita Rita, Fed rule 6-1-2b is pretty clear on this: "Any step backward shall begin before the hands come together. The step backward may end before or after the hands come together." Am I missing something?
Tex As BU, I had a good coach comment that happened this week, for calling an illegal pitch for starting her step back after her hands came together. The coach said, "How can you call an illegal pitch for starting her step back after her hands came together, when her hands didn't come together?" Oh, the fun of umpiring.
Rita C Manny A wroteRita, Fed rule 6-1-2b is pretty clear on this: "Any step backward shall begin before the hands come together. The step backward may end before or after the hands come together." Am I missing something? Nope. But you and I started umpiring about the same time and we both know that some things are called more stringently than others. The former (retired) varsity coach was yelling from the bleachers that there was nothing illegal. The next question is: What qualifies as a step? This same young lady's foot would slide back as she put her weight back as she started her motion. Rita
CecilOne Rita C wroteThe next question is: What qualifies as a step? Rita When her foot VISIBLY loses contact with the plate.
Rita C CecilOne wroteWhen her foot VISIBLY loses contact with the plate. Nothing says her foot has to start on the plate. Rita
HugoTafurst Rita, I don't judge dropping the heel as a step back. I judge peceivable movement backward (away) from the pitcher's plate as a step. PS:By "away from the pitcher's plate" plate, I am referring to direction, not contact with. ;-)
MD Longhorn Rita C wroteNothing says her foot has to start on the plate. RitaHuh? THIS does: Rita C wrotePitcher would start with both feet on the plate
CecilOne MD Longhorn wroteHuh? THIS does: NFHS in the OP. Yes, Rita, bad assumption on my part; so instead, a "step back" is moving the foot farther from home plate.
CecilOne Rita C wroteNothing says her foot has to start on the plate. Rita Yes, bad assumption on my part; so instead, a "step back" is moving the foot farther from home plate.
Rita C MD Longhorn wroteHuh? THIS does: Cecil and I were on a different plane and understood each other. Rita