Another slow pitch question

[walkerbard]

A few years ago I had an illegal pitch called
againsed me in a slow pitch softball playoff
game that, if I interpret the rules correctly,
shouldn't have been called. Upon reading the
rules on pitching (ASA slow pitch) I discovered
(or so I thought) that the pitcher DOESN'T
have to step TOWARDS home plate while releasing
the ball. I decided to incorporate a pitch
that I released while stepping BACKWARDS
(keeping contact with the rubber) into my
repertoire. I used it about 3 times a game
for a few games with good results and no
warnings. Then, in a playoff game, the plate
Ump calls it an illegal pitch. He said that
it "would be legal if I threw ALL my pitches
like that but since I started the game stepping
forward it would be considered deception and
therefore was illegal." Was that a correct call?
(I haven't played slow pitch since so I haven't
needed to resolve this issue until now)

[greymule]

Some of the guys in our association take that same view--that anything not in the usual delivery of the pitcher and meant to deceive should be called illegal. For example, one well-known area pitcher (also an ump, but a bad one) throws three or four pitches a game by starting with the ball out in front of his body and then taking a full revolution and delivering on the first pass of the hip. They maintain that such a delivery is illegal; I maintain that a pitcher can throw 17 different ways as long as they're all legal.

In SP, the pitcher can take a step in any direction, and, as far as I know, vary that direction from pitch to pitch.

Don't have the book with me, but I'm not sure he even has to take a step. I'm sure that some guys present the ball and then rock and deliver without an actual step. I've never seen that called illegal.

[SamNVa]

In ASA, rule 6.3.E (Slow Pitch) clearly says: ... If a step is taken, it can be forward, backward, or to the side, provided the pivot foot is in contact with the pitcher's plate and the step is simultaneous with the release of the ball