ASA vs NFHS Pitching Rules

[rwest]

In ASA the start of the pitch is when the hands separate. In FED they go one better and say the pitch starts when the hands separate or when the pitcher makes any motion that is part of the windup. What implications are there due to these rule differences? Are there things a pitcher can do in ASA while the pitcher is in her windup but the hands haven't separated yet that they can't do in FED?

[SC Ump]

A pitcher is on the pitching plate, takes the signal and then brings her hands together and pauses. She then does a 'false start' of moving only six to ten inches as if she were going into her wind up. Shen then stops and (a) steps off pithcing plate, or (b) restarts her windup and delivers the pitch.

What's the call in ASA vs Fed?

[rwest]

Originally Posted by SC Ump

A pitcher is on the pitching plate, takes the signal and then brings her hands together and pauses. She then does a 'false start' of moving only six to ten inches as if she were going into her wind up. Shen then stops and (a) steps off pithcing plate, or (b) restarts her windup and delivers the pitch.

What's the call in ASA vs Fed?

In ASA nothing. In FED Illegal pitch.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by SC Ump

A pitcher is on the pitching plate, takes the signal and then brings her hands together and pauses. She then does a 'false start' of moving only six to ten inches as if she were going into her wind up. Shen then stops and (a) steps off pithcing plate, or (b) restarts her windup and delivers the pitch.

What's the call in ASA vs Fed?

In both ASA and FED the rulebooks state that "The pitcher may use any windup desired provided no motion to pitch is made without immediately delivering the ball to the batter". However, as I stated before in ASA and FED the start of the pitch is defined differently. Therefore, the above rule should be interpreted to mean that once the pitch has started, no motion to pitch can be made without immediately delivering the ball to the batter. So in ASA the pitcher can stop her windup before she separates her hands because the pitch has not begun yet, but in FED she can not. Correct?

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by rwest

So in ASA the pitcher can stop her windup before she separates her hands because the pitch has not begun yet, but in FED she can not. Correct?

That's my understanding, too. In "real life", if a pitcher does a quick start of her motion and then stops, should the umpire just call time to allow everyone to reset... and realistically do you do differently for ASA vs FED?

[rwest]

Originally Posted by SC Ump

That's my understanding, too. In "real life", if a pitcher does a quick start of her motion and then stops, should the umpire just call time to allow everyone to reset... and realistically do you do differently for ASA vs FED?

Most pitchers aren't going to bring the ball to the side and stop. It is normally part of their windup and they will continue with the motion. However, it could happen and in an ASA game, it is legal and should be allowed. In FED, it's illegal.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by rwest

...So in ASA the pitcher can stop her windup before she separates her hands because the pitch has not begun yet, but in FED she can not. Correct?

Originally Posted by rwest

Most pitchers aren't going to bring the ball to the side and stop. It is normally part of their windup and they will continue with the motion. However, it could happen and in an ASA game, it is legal and should be allowed. In FED, it's illegal.

The motion being discussed here is the motion prior to the hands separating for the back swing. In Fed, the pitcher cannot NOT deliver the pitch once she starts her windup, but it does not say she cannot stop moving.