2013 NFHS Interpretations

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

SITUATION 1: The pitcher, while standing on the pitcher's plate taking her signal from the catcher, tosses the ball back and forth between her glove and pitching hand several times. Once she receives the signal, she then brings her hands together and pitches the ball. RULING: The ball must remain in one hand or the other while the pitcher takes or simulates taking the signal. If she is tossing the ball back and forth from one hand to the other while taking the signal, it would be considered an illegal pitch (for not taking the signal with the ball being held in one or the other). The illegal pitch would be called the first time the pitcher’s hands come together and then separate while tossing the ball back and forth. COMMENT: If the pitcher flipped the ball back and forth between the hand and glove without actually bringing the hands together, then held the ball in the hand or glove while taking the signal and started the pitch, her actions would be legal. (6-1-1a,b)

So, explain to me what they're really saying in Situation 1.

Are they saying a pitcher in contact with the rubber but not receiving the signal (or pretending to receive the signal) can toss the ball back and forth, but then she must stop tossing it back and forth when she looks in to receive the signal?

I always thought that once the pitcher contacted the rubber, she could not switch the ball from her hand to her glove at all. Situation 1 seemed to agree with my belief until I read the Comment.

[DaveASA/FED]

I think what they are doing is clarifying that the act of not holding the ball in either the bare hand or the glove while taking the sign, or simulating (take it of fake it) is what makes these actions illegal. The comment goes on to say that tossing the ball back and forth is NOT what makes it illegal, she can do that as long as she does not bring the hands together and holds it in one or the other while taking the sign, or simulating taking it.

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I always thought that once the pitcher contacted the rubber, she could not switch the ball from her hand to her glove at all. Situation 1 seemed to agree with my belief until I read the Comment.

I think the difference is the pitcher can not go get the ball out of the glove(bringing the hands together) once they have stepped onto the pitching plate. But she can throw the ball into the glove, and drop the ball from the glove and catch it in the bare hand. WHY they would want to do this is beyond me but it's legal as long as they don't bring the hands together doing it, and hold the ball in glove or hand while taking or simulating taking the sign.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

I think the difference is the pitcher can not go get the ball out of the glove(bringing the hands together) once they have stepped onto the pitching plate. But she can throw the ball into the glove, and drop the ball from the glove and catch it in the bare hand. WHY they would want to do this is beyond me but it's legal as long as they don't bring the hands together doing it, and hold the ball in glove or hand while taking or simulating taking the sign.

I have seen on many occasions where a pitcher who normally engages the plate with the ball already in her bare hand will step on the plate with the ball in her glove, and then roll it out onto her hand without bringing the two together, before settling and looking up at her catcher for the sign. Just wanted to make sure that was acceptable.

I've also seen it where the pitcher will reach into her glove and pull the ball out while getting settled, and then look up for the sign. That, I assume, is a technical violation of the rule.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I've also seen it where the pitcher will reach into her glove and pull the ball out while getting settled, and then look up for the sign. That, I assume, is a technical violation of the rule.

I would agree.

I was wondering about these and how they are ruled in ASA:

SITUATION 3: A pitcher uses a drying agent but fails to wipe it off before touching the ball. RULING: The pitcher does not need to wipe the drying agent off her hands. The only restriction is not to apply it directly to the ball. (6-2-2)


SITUATION 5: A pitcher places her hands in the dirt; however, she does not wipe the dirt from her hands before touching the ball. RULING: The pitcher does not need to wipe the dirt from her hands before going to the ball. Dirt is NOT a foreign substance; it is part of the field. The pitcher cannot, however, rub the ball into the dirt and deface it. (6-2-2)

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

I would agree.

I was wondering about these and how they are ruled in ASA:

SITUATION 3: A pitcher uses a drying agent but fails to wipe it off before touching the ball. RULING: The pitcher does not need to wipe the drying agent off her hands. The only restriction is not to apply it directly to the ball. (6-2-2)


SITUATION 5: A pitcher places her hands in the dirt; however, she does not wipe the dirt from her hands before touching the ball. RULING: The pitcher does not need to wipe the dirt from her hands before going to the ball. Dirt is NOT a foreign substance; it is part of the field. The pitcher cannot, however, rub the ball into the dirt and deface it. (6-2-2)

ASA has the same ruling, as the ASA was first to come out with the statement on dirt.

As I instructed this weekend, think of the dirt as one big brown rosin bag. The same rules that apply to the rosin bag apply to the dirt.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

ASA has the same ruling, as the ASA was first to come out with the statement on dirt.

As I instructed this weekend, think of the dirt as one big brown rosin bag. The same rules that apply to the rosin bag apply to the dirt.

So NCAA is the only outlier?

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

So NCAA is the only outlier?

Maybe not an "outlier" (I say this as I do teach a statistic class), but NCAA does have a different interpretation and requirements as to how drying agents are used.

And not to hijack the thread, I wonder why Gorilla Gold has not caught on as a drying agent in NCAA or NFHS play. It is wildly popular in men's fast pitch.

[DRJ1960]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

ASA has the same ruling, as the ASA was first to come out with the statement on dirt.

As I instructed this weekend, think of the dirt as one big brown rosin bag. The same rules that apply to the rosin bag apply to the dirt.

What about the "chalk" lines? Can the pitcher now "rub" her hand into the "chalk" that same way she can the "big brown rosin bag"?

[Insane Blue]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

What about the "chalk" lines? Can the pitcher now "rub" her hand into the "chalk" that same way she can the "big brown rosin bag"?

Yes for the same reason it is part of the field.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

What about the "chalk" lines? Can the pitcher now "rub" her hand into the "chalk" that same way she can the "big brown rosin bag"?

"Now"???

Of course she can.

Kind of wondering why anyone would want it to be any different.

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