I wanted to get some of your opinions on this one.

Fed allows a pitcher to step back with her non-pivot foot if she does so before her hands are together, or while her hands are comming together. If she steps back after she brings her hands together, it is an illegal pitch.

Fed allows a pitcher to "slide" her pivot foot sideways on the pitcher's plate after she has broght her hands together and states that this is not to be considered a step.

Simi final in conference tournment. Pitcher would take the pitcher's plate leagally and bring her hands together after taking her signal. Then, as she started her pitching motion, on the backswing of her pitching arm, her non-pivot foot would slide backwards approximately 4 to 6 inches without any lifting from the ground.(Her toe and heel stayed in contact with the ground.) Then as her arm started forward she stepped forward in the normal manner.

It took me a couple of pitches to figure out what looked funny. There were no squaks from the opposing team, and even if there had been I'm not sure if this "slide" should be classified as a step back.

I'd like to hear your oppions on this. Is it a step back and an illegal pitch or not?

Thanks,
Roger Greene,
Member UT

Roger,
From the way you described this, I'd be inclined to let it go. Technically, it's probably not legal, but I think it obeys "spirit & intent" of the pitching rules.

Roger......

I think I would have an illegal pitch here......

Look at 6-1-Art. 2-b.....Once the hands are brought together and are in motion, the pitcher shall not take more than one step <b>which must be forward</b>.......

I know you are asking if this slide is a step.......technically a drag is not a step......but it accomplishes the same thing as a step......

By imagining both moves.......I see no difference in the delivery between sliding the NP foot and stepping backwards with it.

JMHO

Joel

BTW.......I don't have my casebook here......but I want to say that there is a very similar play in the casebook that calls this illegal.....I will look it up when I get to my office tomorrow.

From your description of the moves by the
pitcher, it probably not legal, but does
not sound as if an advantage is being gained
by her movement. Dont think that I would have
called illegal pitch. But as Joel says that
JMHO.

BTW Joel, visited your site, sent your drills
posted to a couple of coach friends. Hope
they checked your WEB out also.