NFHS Girls softball

[benbret]

How many pitches does the starting pitcher get to start the first inning. I have been told 8 but I can not find it in the rule book. 6-2 art 5 states they only get 5.

[RKBUmp]

You have found your answer. One caveat, its not simply 5 pitches. Its not more than 1 minute to deliver not more than 5 pitches.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

You have found your answer. One caveat, its not simply 5 pitches. Its not more than 1 minute to deliver not more than 5 pitches.

The rule is primarily one minute (rarely enforced) with a 5 pitch secondary limit. Both are allowed to be exceeded in inclement weather or when the umpire is busy with other matters.

[BretMan]

It's 8 in NFHS baseball. Maybe that's where whoever told you this was confused.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Be sure that you enforce it too - if the defensive team is slow coming out, or if the catcher had up/on base, and no one comes out to warm up the pitcher, don't enable it, and when the catcher finally does come out, tell her, "second one goes down/third one goes down", etc. This happens more with the lower levels, where you get more inexperienced players/coaches. You also have to make sure you are nor going off to talk to your partner or something, showing YOU are ready.

If you are lucky, you will have a team or teams where the kids play travel ball, and after the 1st, the catcher and pitcher will only take three, and keep the game moving.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Be sure that you enforce it too - if the defensive team is slow coming out, or if the catcher had up/on base, and no one comes out to warm up the pitcher, don't enable it, and when the catcher finally does come out, tell her, "second one goes down/third one goes down", etc. This happens more with the lower levels, where you get more inexperienced players/coaches. You also have to make sure you are nor going off to talk to your partner or something, showing YOU are ready.

If you are lucky, you will have a team or teams where the kids play travel ball, and after the 1st, the catcher and pitcher will only take three, and keep the game moving.

[Mountaincoach]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

Be sure that you enforce it too - if the defensive team is slow coming out, or if the catcher had up/on base, and no one comes out to warm up the pitcher, don't enable it, and when the catcher finally does come out, tell her, "second one goes down/third one goes down", etc. This happens more with the lower levels, where you get more inexperienced players/coaches. You also have to make sure you are nor going off to talk to your partner or something, showing YOU are ready.

If you are lucky, you will have a team or teams where the kids play travel ball, and after the 1st, the catcher and pitcher will only take three, and keep the game moving.

I agree with both points. Travel ball kids are used to working in time constraints, and they won't dilly dally. If the coaching staff is too lazy to warm up the pitcher in that situation, don't reward them by dragging it out.

[CecilOne]

OK, Steve had a pet peeve in another thread, so this is one of mine. We do not tell players what to do.
Catchers and pitchers can be told "last pitch" or ""one more", but not "throw it down".
Players may be told not to play with jewelry, not "take it off".

We don't coach, we don't instruct and we especially don't tell players to do anything that might be wrong or hurtful.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

OK, Steve had a pet peeve in another thread, so this is one of mine. We do not tell players what to do.
Catchers and pitchers can be told "last pitch" or ""one more", but not "throw it down".
Players may be told not to play with jewelry, not "take it off".

We don't coach, we don't instruct and we especially don't tell players to do anything that might be wrong or hurtful.

Hmmm, interesting. You have a problem with "throw it down"? That's not coaching, that's moving the game along. And, in reality, it's no different than "last pitch" or "one more", because you're telling a player she can't throw an additional pitch.

Coaching is telling a fielder where she shouldn't position herself unless she wants to be guilty of obstruction. Coaching is telling a batter she's too close to the top of the box. Coaching is telling a pitcher as she warms up that she cannot step back anymore like she did in high school.

And there are scenarios where we are required to tell players what to do. If the batter sets up with her foot outside the box, we tell her she has to get both feet in. I just don't see a difference between saying, "You cannot set up with one foot out," and "You need to put both feet in the box."

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Manny A

And there are scenarios where we are required to tell players what to do. If the batter sets up with her foot outside the box, we tell her she has to get both feet in. I just don't see a difference between saying, "You cannot set up with one foot out," and "You need to put both feet in the box."

That's a rule, have to enforce.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Hmmm, interesting. You have a problem with "throw it down"? That's not coaching, that's moving the game along. And, in reality, it's no different than "last pitch" or "one more", because you're telling a player she can't throw an additional pitch.

Actually, a throw to 2nd, possibly backed up by the CF, eventually to the pitcher seems longer than a short throw by the catcher to the pitcher.
Besides, maybe the coach did not want the throw or she hurts her arm.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

The rule is primarily one minute (rarely enforced) with a 5 pitch secondary limit. Both are allowed to be exceeded in inclement weather or when the umpire is busy with other matters.

I had a HS partner try to charge the pitcher for an instant base on balls for the upcoming batter, because the pitcher threw 9 pitches between innings while I sorted out the paperwork with substitutions for both teams.

And for what it's worth, I personally enforce the one-minute rule every game (edit: when the ruleset includes it). It keeps things moving...and when you're working bad ball, you gotta keep things moving somehow or you end up with a three-hour game with less than an hour of actual playing action.

[Mountaincoach]

The one-minute rule works, and it does indeed keep things moving. If it's a big team with possibly a JV or other backup catcher, suggest to the coaches they use them to warm up the pitcher when the regular catcher is delayed.

Also, I agree with the above statements about throwing it down. Not necessary every time. It's not the end of the world if the PU says "play ball". I sometimes do not like to reveal the arm strength of my catcher until the chips are on the table.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Hmmm, interesting. You have a problem with "throw it down"? That's not coaching, that's moving the game along. And, in reality, it's no different than "last pitch" or "one more", because you're telling a player she can't throw an additional pitch.

I simply stand next to the catcher, brush in hand and tell them to get rid of the ball or that's enough. Once the catcher releases the ball, I step in and brush the plate (and for those who are thinking, "but what if the plate isn't dirty") EVERY time.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I simply stand next to the catcher, brush in hand and tell them to get rid of the ball or that's enough. Once the catcher releases the ball, I step in and brush the plate (and for those who are thinking, "but what if the plate isn't dirty") EVERY time.

I find I can control catchers without brushing anything.

A National Tourney UIC told us not to use up time brushing anything not dirty.