illegal?
 

Is Kelly Barnhill (Florida) crow hopping? If so, why no call?

She is leaping and it has been called......once

Yes she is replanting .

Yes she was leaping, more leaping than replant

Years back, the coaches wanted it called. So back during the 2010 WCWS, they called it. The coaches then decided what they meant is that they actually only wanted it called on the other team’s pitchers. They then decided that they really didn't want it called after all. Life would be simpler if they A) Called it every time throughout the season or B) Changed to international rules. Since A will cost an umpire assignments and they won’t implement B, we are stuck with ignoring it and listening to fans scream about cheating.

Sure.

WBSC, formally ISF (International Softball Federation), varies slightly from NCAA, USA and NFHS. Keep in mind that WBSC pitching applies to both genders; USA softball has different rules for men and women/JO.

Preliminaries:
NCAA and USA women/JO: both feet must be in contact with the pitching plate.

WBSC, USA men and NFHS: only pivot foot must be in contact.

NOTE: USA men and NFHS allow a "step back" at any time, WBSC does not allow a step back - non pivot foot must remain motionless through the simulation of the signal and only move forward.

All: require a simulation of a signal, but all have different interpretation.

I should also add that WBSC requires the hands to come together, in front of the body, and motionless for 2 seconds. This has been in place for about 17 years, mostly due to other countries complaining about the "touch and go" from Team USA players. You can notice a few national team pitchers who do a variation of this in NCAA, especially the one aforementioned in this post.

Pitch:
NCAA, USA women/JO and NFHS: push and drag. At no time can the pivot-foot become airborn. All three have provision for a non level ground. It is not a leap if pivot foot would have touched the ground if it is level (i.e. no "elevation" of the pivot foot).

WBSC and USA men:
The pitcher may leap. The release of the pitch must be part of the landing, in that the pitcher can leap, land and follow through.

WBSC, NCAA, NFHS, USA women/JO: the pitcher's non-pivot foot must stay with in the 24" or pitching lane.

USA men: there is no 24" rule.

All:
A crow-hop/replant is not allowed. This is the area that causes a lot of confusion. The uninformed think that a leap in a crow-hop. Some have even gone as far as to say that: "with all leaps there is a replant." And that is not the case, as with the WBSC interpretation.

A crop-hop is defined as a second impetus prior to the release of the pitch. Merely landing from a leap and releasing the pitch does not provide a second impetus. Most crow-hop violations are when the pitcher steps forward with the pivot foot prior to breaking their hands, thus "starting" the pitch from closer than 43' (or 46' for the men).

It is nearly impossible to crow-hop if you break your hands and begin your motion while the pivot foot is in contact with the pitcher's plate. I say "nearly" because it is uncommon and difficult bio-mechanically. Not to say it doesn't happen, just rare.