2013 NFHS Interpretations

[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.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

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.

Because girls don't want to touch it.

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

Because girls don't want to touch it.

Because it's all sticky!!!!!!!!!

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

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.

Because it's men's fast pitch. Need I say more?

[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.

This message brought to you by the Society for the Prevention of Unnecessary Quotation Marks.

[DRJ1960]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

"Now"???

Of course she can.

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

This message brought to you by the Society for the Prevention of Unnecessary Quotation Marks.

"My" "association" "was" 'Split" "on" "this" "issue" .... some still arguing that no player could ever touch the ball with impure hands.....

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

"My" "association" "was" 'Split" "on" "this" "issue" .... some still arguing that no player could ever touch the ball with impure hands.....

We have had this discussion on this board before. While the NCAA codifies a requirement for the pitcher to wipe after touching literally anything before handling the ball (yep, wipe that now dry hand on the wet uniform because you touched the rosin bag to dry your hand), neither NFHS nor ASA have ever had a rule in place, nor an approved ruling, nor a case play ruling that required wiping after anything but after going to the mouth.

Apply no foreign substance (directly) to the ball doesn't mean wipe your hand if you touch the field. If the ball has a substance foreign to the field, and you saw the pitcher (or any other defensive player) put it on, you have a violation. If the ball has dirt or chalk on it, they are substances part of the field, not a foreign substance. If the pitcher applies something directly to the ball, that is defacing the ball, and that violation applies.

These approved rulings finally state more specifically what has been said before, although the nonbelievers continue to want it how they did it before. The fact that NFHS had to make these approved rulings without changing anything in the rule only points out that so many people ignored the correct application before.

It is clear what the NCAA rule is; it should be equally clear that the NFHS and ASA rules are NOT the same, and should not have ever been treated the same.