Fed pitching question

[Roger Greene]

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