ASA 14U Fast Pitch

[AtlUmpSteve]

Age is somewhat less important than the level of play. 14U rec ball will have a more liberal zone than quality 10A travel teams.

In any game with reasonable quality, I default to the NCAA definition, the entire ball below the top of the sternum. In a practical sense (albeit NOT politically correct), it seems pretty easy to visualize and set the top of the zone at the bottom of the bra, or where the bottom would be if she were wearing one.

With college coaches and showcases catering to that age already, I see no reason to call a different zone than what the higher level game demands. Pitchers need to understand that zone, batters need to establish that discipline.

[RKBUmp]

I love all the posts on the softball boards about wanting the defined strike zone called. Would love to hear them after pitches up around the chin start getting called strikes.

[teebob21]

14U: Middle of the bicep, for reference on a standing person. Calling at the armpit at this level results in the occasional gross miss for me, so moving down a little ensures I don't call one at the jaw by mistake.

This is the same zone I try to call for high school. I call the biggest zone I can, at every level. To Steve's point, at a level with competitive play, that tends to be a zone resembling the NCAA zone, topping out at the bottom of the sternum.