The Official Forum  

Go Back   The Official Forum > Softball

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old Wed Nov 13, 2019, 12:16pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Indiana
Posts: 81
USA Softball Council Meetings

Anyone heard anything from the USA Softball Council Meetings? Rule changes?
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old Fri Nov 22, 2019, 10:36am
Stirrer of the Pot
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Lowcountry, SC
Posts: 2,380
Quote:
Originally Posted by Umpire@1 View Post
Anyone heard anything from the USA Softball Council Meetings? Rule changes?
Can't answer about the meetings, but rumor has it that USA is going to change the Illegal Pitch penalty to just a ball on the batter (which will align with NCAA and NFHS).

I've also heard that they are going to allow the pitcher to do something with their stride foot. Either they'll allow the pitcher to get onto the plate to receive the signal with the stride foot touching or behind the plate (like NCAA and PONY are doing next year) or allow the pitcher to step back and then step forward while delivering the pitch (like NFHS). I've heard two different people say it's the latter, but until I see the actual rule language, I'm hedging my bets that it's the former.
__________________
"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old Sat Nov 23, 2019, 09:18am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave (MD/DE)
Posts: 6,425
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manny A View Post
Can't answer about the meetings, but rumor has it that USA is going to change the Illegal Pitch penalty to just a ball on the batter (which will align with NCAA and NFHS).

I've also heard that they are going to allow the pitcher to do something with their stride foot. Either they'll allow the pitcher to get onto the plate to receive the signal with the stride foot touching or behind the plate (like NCAA and PONY are doing next year) or allow the pitcher to step back and then step forward while delivering the pitch (like NFHS). I've heard two different people say it's the latter, but until I see the actual rule language, I'm hedging my bets that it's the former.
Wouldn't it be nice if any change has exactly the same wording, so there is no interpretation/application confusion?
__________________
Officiating takes more than OJT.
It's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old Mon Nov 25, 2019, 09:35pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 537
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manny A View Post
Can't answer about the meetings, but rumor has it that USA is going to change the Illegal Pitch penalty to just a ball on the batter (which will align with NCAA and NFHS).

I've also heard that they are going to allow the pitcher to do something with their stride foot. Either they'll allow the pitcher to get onto the plate to receive the signal with the stride foot touching or behind the plate (like NCAA and PONY are doing next year) or allow the pitcher to step back and then step forward while delivering the pitch (like NFHS). I've heard two different people say it's the latter, but until I see the actual rule language, I'm hedging my bets that it's the former.
I guarantee that USA will not make any rule about the stride foot . . . now the NON-PIVOT FOOT.

Yes, I'm being that guy. NCAA is the only rule code that calls the non-pivot foot the "stride foot." USA/NFHS/WBSC use pivot foot and non-pivot foot.

Maybe, just maybe, there isn't two pitching preliminary rules now.

Last edited by Big Slick; Wed Nov 27, 2019 at 11:31am.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old Tue Nov 26, 2019, 12:19pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave (MD/DE)
Posts: 6,425
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Slick View Post
Maybe, just maybe, there isn't two pitching rules now (meaning: there is only one pitching rule - no new rule was added, just the female rule deleted).
Is that just your hope, a proposal, or an actual change?
__________________
Officiating takes more than OJT.
It's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old Tue Nov 26, 2019, 02:36pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 537
Quote:
Originally Posted by CecilOne View Post
Is that just your hope, a proposal, or an actual change?
I am not one to confirm or deny, but (insert wink here)
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old Tue Dec 03, 2019, 10:01am
Stirrer of the Pot
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Lowcountry, SC
Posts: 2,380
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Slick View Post
I guarantee that USA will not make any rule about the stride foot . . . now the NON-PIVOT FOOT.

Yes, I'm being that guy. NCAA is the only rule code that calls the non-pivot foot the "stride foot." USA/NFHS/WBSC use pivot foot and non-pivot foot.
I'm simply referring to the foot that the pitcher strides with. I'm not quoting what a particular rule book calls it. And, quite frankly, it's a misnomer to refer to that foot as the "non-pivot" foot because the pitcher can legally pivot with that foot during her delivery.
__________________
"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old Tue Dec 03, 2019, 12:01pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 537
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manny A View Post
I'm simply referring to the foot that the pitcher strides with. I'm not quoting what a particular rule book calls it. And, quite frankly, it's a misnomer to refer to that foot as the "non-pivot" foot because the pitcher can legally pivot with that foot during her delivery.
USA defines the pivot foot as "(fast pitch)The foot which must remain in contact with the pitcher's plate prior to pushing off." (Rule 1 - pivot foot). The other foot is the "non-pivot foot", which is referred to in rule 6(a) 1 c 1 (6a 1 c 2 is now removed) and in rule 6 2 H and I. So yes, words do have meaning.

NCAA introduced the term "stride foot" a few years ago. I'm not sure when, but I see this as really just wanting to be different. Probably around the time when a pitcher "goofy-footed" and everyone wondered if that was legal.

As to your semantic word play, yes, a pitcher can "pivot" on the non-pivot foot, but not in any motion or definition of the pitch. The same way Ross pivots the couch going up the stairs.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old Fri Dec 06, 2019, 09:43am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 537
The playing rule changes for USA Softball are now available:

https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball...-SB/Governance

Of note to this thread:
Quote:
Rule 6A, Section 1C: Both feet must be on the ground within the 24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate. The shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases. The pitcher shall take a position with their pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and their non-pivot foot in contact with or behind the pitcher’s plate.

Comment: Allows female pitchers to start with one or two feet on the pitcher’s plate. This aligns the male and female pitching rule as it relates to foot placement.


Quote:
Rule 6A, Section 1E: The pitcher shall bring their hands together for not less than one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball. A backward step may be taken before, simultaneous with or after the hands are brought together. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate at all times prior to the forward step.

Comment: Allows female pitchers to take a backward step from the pitcher’s plate, before, during or after the hands are brought together. This aligns the male and female pitching rule as it relates to stepping back from the pitcher’s plate.
This is the same as the NFHS rule. However, this is different than 2020-2021 NCAA, which does not allow any movement backwards after the pitcher position has been set.

And while we are at it:

Quote:
Rule 6A, Section 11B&C, Rule 7, Section 5D: (Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Only) Eliminates the penalty of advancing a runner one base without liability to be put out from the effect of committing an illegal pitch.

Comment: In Junior Olympic Fast Pitch ONLY, when an illegal pitch is declared, the penalty is only a ball on the batter. We no longer advance runners in Junior Olympic Fast Pitch as part of the penalty.
This aligns with NCAA and NFHS.

Last edited by Big Slick; Fri Dec 06, 2019 at 10:52am.
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old Fri Dec 06, 2019, 10:19am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave (MD/DE)
Posts: 6,425
Good job, Slick !!
__________________
Officiating takes more than OJT.
It's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be.
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old Sat Dec 07, 2019, 08:23am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,340
Every rule set except NFHS moved away from the step back years and years ago, why in the world would USA move back to it??????
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old Sat Dec 07, 2019, 10:23am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave (MD/DE)
Posts: 6,425
For NFHS, "in Rule 1-5-1, the USA Softball All Games certification mark is now acceptable on bats"

Rule 3, Section 1A [1]: The official bat must bear either the ASA 2000, ASA 2004, ASA 2013 or the new approved USA Softball Certification Marks.
Comment: Adds two additional USA Softball Certification Marks to the list of Certification Marks allowed on approved bats.

The mark for "All Games" would apply.
__________________
Officiating takes more than OJT.
It's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be.
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old Sat Dec 07, 2019, 10:45am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The Land Of The Free and The Home Of The Brave (MD/DE)
Posts: 6,425
The bat certification marks mentioned above are identified as "All Games" or "Adult FP & Slow Pitch"

Rule 3, Section 3A: The official softball must bear either the ASA Certification Marks, or the new USA Softball Certification Marks allowed on approved softballs. Comment: Adds USA Softball Certification Marks to the list of approved Certification Marks allowed on softballs.

There is a circular mark and a diamond shaped mark.
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball...684E38AB3&_z=z

Which ball Certification Marks are for which games?

NOTE: These are for USA games, not NFHS or NCAA.
__________________
Officiating takes more than OJT.
It's not our jobs to invent rulings to fit our personal idea of what should and should not be.
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old Sun Dec 08, 2019, 08:12am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 14,565
Quote:
Originally Posted by RKBUmp View Post
Every rule set except NFHS moved away from the step back years and years ago, why in the world would USA move back to it??????
Playing that game we all played as children, Follow the Leader
__________________
The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old Sun Dec 08, 2019, 04:10pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 537
Quote:
Originally Posted by RKBUmp View Post
Every rule set except NFHS moved away from the step back years and years ago, why in the world would USA move back to it??????
USA technically never 'moved away' from the step back. That has been the men's rule for as long as I've been around (circa 1997). I think this is just a matter of not writing two separate preliminaries for genders. And to my knowledge, NFHS has not required two feet on (well, since 2000).

NCAA made the change this year for only one foot on, but they adopted the WBSC rule for preliminaries on the feet. That includes no step back once the feet are set.

But since the USA Male rule is the same as NFHS (in totality since 2016, once NFHS allowed the step back once the hand came together), USA just opened the preliminaries to all fast pitch.

It really isn't that big of a deal.

Now the big deal is when NCAA (and NFHS, and USA Jo/females) allows leaping, which is legal in WBSC.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
USA Softball Council Meeting Umpire@1 Softball 0 Wed Nov 14, 2018 09:13pm
ASA/USA General Council Meeting IRISHMAFIA Softball 14 Sat Dec 03, 2016 09:31am
ASA Council Meeting DaveASA/FED Softball 13 Wed Nov 21, 2012 09:39am
Pre-Game meetings, captain meetings NFHS swkansasref33 Basketball 27 Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:32pm
ASA Council meeting... azbigdawg Softball 16 Mon Nov 05, 2007 06:41pm


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41am.



Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0 RC1