Can someone please tell me why this term is ever used to describe a pitch?

There is no place in any rule book that says the ball must land within X of the plate (unless you play matball). So the pitch is either over the shoulder "High" or under the knee "Low" or "Inside" or "Outside".

Just curious where this started.

Please see one of the 20 other threads on this.

I would love too. However, the search function has been turned off. If you could kindly direct me to one of them I would love to read it.

Apparently this is a commonly asked question.

Try "slow pitch strike zone" about 4 down from this one.

That is not what I am looking for. I am trying to find out where the term started. When I was playing 3 nights a week many many many years ago it was being used then. I am trying to find out where it started and then after that, why we have not gotten rid of it.

I have no idea when it started and who the SOB was to first use the term.

I suspect it has been perpetuated throughout the softball world as a matter of talking down to a player's level. Personally, I refuse to use the word as it relates to a pitch or strike zone. And I definitely discourage other umpires from dropping to that level.

That term always baffled me. I know what they were refering to, but also thought it was a misstatment.

Like you said, it's either over the shoulder, "High", or under the knee "Low".

My guess would be someone said "It's High" and the pitcher said "But it wasn't illegal"....maybe that's where the confusion came from.

I've been trying to abide by Pollard's advice and when they ask "Why was that a ball?!?", I just say "Because it wasn't a strike".

=)

(I will give the old head tilt on close pitches)

That or "It was high". "Then why didn't you say illegal?"

High vs Deep differentiates in the mind of the uneducated player between the illegal arc pitches (high) and the ones that come in OVER the strike zone (deep).

I, however, use neither - and only say high if asked.

I am using "it crossed over the shoulder". It is an accurate statement of what I saw and is not confusing either.

Out of curiousity if the pitcher asks why would you not tell him what the problem was.

Because someone I trust told me to do it that way.

I would suspect it's because you don't want to get in the habit of having to always explain yourself and your calls.

Like I said, I try to 'stay in the habit' of....

In all reality, now and then I will explain "It was over the shoulder"...

The word should be banned from use on the softball field

Darrell,

Speaking of being banned from the softball field ;) , I just found out I'll be working with Wally in OKC.

He'll swear I won't remember his name, but I've got it down pat.

Wally is a nice guy...

The term, "DEEP", is used in the the slo-pitch leagues that use the "mat", or "plate extender". In those leagues the ball must land on home plate or the mat/extender to be a called strike. If the pitch lands beyond, it's "DEEP". Conversely, if it lands in front of the plate, it's usually called "SHORT".

Bob

Since I got stuck doing all the pitching for my team this year (no one else would do it- I wanted to play SS!) the calls of "deep" and "short", combined with the hands- and foot!- antics indicating the pitch location just about drove me bonkers.

Another frequent signal I see is the one indicating that a pitch has hit the plate. It's the one where the umpire hits two fists together, end-to-end, so that when the fists touch they are roughly in the position they would be in if you were gripping a bat. It is often accomanied by the verbal call of "plate".

Is this signal used in other parts of the country?

Is this a standard signal described in any rule book or umpire manual for any association?