ASA 16U pitching distance

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

The main issue as I see it with this age breakdown is that the JV programs will be playing on the same fields as the Varsity, and many JV players are playing 14U ball. The grounds crew are not going to be troubled to move the pitching plate 3' between the JV and Varsity double-headers (or between their separate practices on the same day), so 90%+ of JV will be at 43' this spring, and back at 40' come the summer.

Jeffer, if your schools are using NFHS rules, then this won't be an issue at all. For NFHS, the rule merely moves the pitching distance back to 43 feet. Period. That is for anybody and everybody.

Now, for those few states and/or districts that are still using ASA rules, that will be up to them to work out how they want to administer the rule. They may want to ignore the pitching distance change altogether, though I don't feel that would be the best move. They may want to schedule double header JV games one day, and double header Varsity games another. They may want to have the grounds crew, coaches, or players, simply move the pitching plate the required three feet. It wouldn't take but a couple of minutes between games.

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Jeffer, if your schools are using NFHS rules, then this won't be an issue at all. For NFHS, the rule merely moves the pitching distance back to 43 feet. Period. That is for anybody and everybody.

Now, for those few states and/or districts that are still using ASA rules, that will be up to them to work out how they want to administer the rule. They may want to ignore the pitching distance change altogether, though I don't feel that would be the best move. They may want to schedule double header JV games one day, and double header Varsity games another. They may want to have the grounds crew, coaches, or players, simply move the pitching plate the required three feet. It wouldn't take but a couple of minutes between games.

I think you missed my point. The girls will be playing NFHS rules from Feburary through May. Then they will be playing ASA rules the rest of the year. Just this fall, the local ASA TD's "jumped the gun" and put the pitchers plate at 43' for 16U in an effort to help the pitchers who would be facing that pitching distance in the school season. In fact, they announced, then retracted, the same move for 14U. The ASA organizers were actually the last group to announce a move to 43' for the fall. For a while it looked like we would have one 43' ISA tournament sandwitched in between 4 ASA tournaments at 40'.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

The main issue as I see it with this age breakdown is that the JV programs will be playing on the same fields as the Varsity, and many JV players are playing 14U ball. The grounds crew are not going to be troubled to move the pitching plate 3' between the JV and Varsity double-headers (or between their separate practices on the same day), so 90%+ of JV will be at 43' this spring, and back at 40' come the summer.

Somehow, I thought that the highlighted info WAS your point.

Originally Posted by JefferMC

I think you missed my point. The girls will be playing NFHS rules from Feburary through May. Then they will be playing ASA rules the rest of the year. Just this fall, the local ASA TD's "jumped the gun" and put the pitchers plate at 43' for 16U in an effort to help the pitchers who would be facing that pitching distance in the school season. In fact, they announced, then retracted, the same move for 14U. The ASA organizers were actually the last group to announce a move to 43' for the fall. For a while it looked like we would have one 43' ISA tournament sandwitched in between 4 ASA tournaments at 40'.

This IS a different issue. However, as has already been mentioned, a solution would be for the girls to play up, if that is their preference, or for TD's to allow a 43' pitching distance for the tournaments for the age groups in question, if there is enough interest shown on the part of the participants. Remember, ASA rules only apply to championship play. So, I guess the real issue for the 14U and 16U playing ASA is this; which is greater, the interest to play softball throughout the season as merely an adjunct to HS softball, or to play the season with the aim of playing in ASA state and national tournaments?!

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Somehow, I thought that the highlighted info WAS your point.

Actually the main point was "90%+ of JV will be at 43' this spring [NFHS] and back at 40' come the summer." [ASA] To better state it:

NFHS serves girls ages 12 through 18 with basically a single set of rules, while ASA can and does make distinctions by age group and other divisions (e.g. Gold). This can lead to additional issues for the players (mostly pitchers) over and above the usual differences in rules between the organizations.

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

This IS a different issue. However, as has already been mentioned, a solution would be for the girls to play up, if that is their preference, or for TD's to allow a 43' pitching distance for the tournaments for the age groups in question, if there is enough interest shown on the part of the participants. [...] So, I guess the real issue for the 14U and 16U playing ASA is this; which is greater, the interest to play softball throughout the season as merely an adjunct to HS softball, or to play the season with the aim of playing in ASA state and national tournaments?!

Yes, those are certainly posibilities.

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Remember, ASA rules only apply to championship play.

A favorite quote of Irish, however not EXACTLY true in practice. They are a starting point before modification of the TDs, andthe TD's are, and should be, loathe to modify them. It also isn't an option on qualifiers, where the rules may not be modified.

NFHS rules can likewise be modified by the local authorities (like our state's insistance on not having appeals) and could mandate handling of middle school or JV in certain ways.

However, it all boils down to there are tradeoffs no matter what. I think the old situation restricting the 43' pitching plate to 18U Gold meant fewer girls would be "stradling the fence" and those in that situation were better able to handle it than a 13 year old.

43' for high school ball will undoubtedly increase offense and that's what was desired. ASA is following suit for 16U, which I think is a good thing given the NFHS move. I also believe that ASA is right in keeping 40' for 14U. But... there will be consequences.

[CecilOne]

"our state's insistance on not having appeals"

How does that work?

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

"our state's insistance on not having appeals"

How does that work?

As in: if the runner did not tag up or missed a base, call her out at the end of playing action. No appeal necessary.

I know this used to be in NFHS baseball, and maybe softball. I've heard HS baseball in SC continues to use the old NFHS rule.

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

As in: if the runner did not tag up or missed a base, call her out at the end of playing action. No appeal necessary.

I know this used to be in NFHS baseball, and maybe softball. I've heard HS baseball in SC continues to use the old NFHS rule.

Exactly. If the umpire sees the (normally-appealable) miss of a base, then he is to wait until the action stops and rule the base runner out as if the infraction had been properly appealed.