For what its worth, NFHS umpires...
 

...the Missouri State High School Activities Association is petitioning NFHS to change the pitching rules so that the pitcher must start with both feet on the pitcher's plate and that stepping back be illegal.

My guess is no change, possibly Missouri making it their own rule, for what purpose I don't know.

Personally, I would love to see it changed. Conform with all the other associations. Last year when I asked W. Sparks about it, he said it would
probably never change as with the 40' pitching difference. However, things
do change.

I don't understand why this is even an issue that people would want to change. It is essentially harmless to those pitchers who pitch in other associations that do not allow the back step - that is, they are not required to step back, so they can ignore the rule. What's the problem?

I agree wholeheartedly. Actually, I for one, wouldn't mind seeing ASA and NCAA allow it.

For me it is more about using international rules. I do not see what is the point of having different rules then changing once international play comes.

Doesn't ASA allow a step back in men's fastpitch? I could have swore that I saw guys stepping back last year at nationals.

They allow the pitcher to start with one foot behind the pitching plate in Men's FP, which is why I think they should allow the same in Women's and JO.

If there is one thing that is certain - it's that NFHS tends to follow the trends established by ASA. That being the case - it would make perfect sense to require the pitcher to start with both feet in contact with the rubber ... just as ASA requires. If nothing else, it would be consistent with NFHS tendencies (i.e. copy ASA)

Personally, I don't think it's a big deal one way or the other.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

It would make more sense to me for ASA, NCAA, NFHS, and ISF to all adopt the same rule as men's fastpitch - legalize the step back and legalize the leap - than for the NFHS to make the step back illegal.

I truly wish all codes were the same. I've wished that for 18 years -- as a pitcher's dad, as a coach, and now as an umpire. Frankly, I don't care which way it goes -- just make them the same.

Not really! Originally ASA required both feet on the plate for all pitchers. When NFHS wrote their first book they copied ASA.

Then ASA changed and allowed the step-back. NFHS followed and changed its rules.

Then ASA changed again and declared that only women and JO girls could not step back; still OK for men and JO boys.

This time NFHS decided not to change again. Seems to me that it is ASA that is "out of step!"

WMB