College and stepping back.
 

I had a coach tell me the other day that he sees college pitchers stepping back before the pitch.

But they are required to remain in contact with the plate, are they not? I am thinking what he's seeing is a toe pointing original contact that goes to flat foot before the pitch.

Rita

If Im not mistaken, FED is the lone rules set that still allows the step back.

I agree with your assessment. See it a lot and most umpires, including myself are not going to go crazy over the pitcher just dropping the heal unless the toe is literally pulled away from the PP.

Little League softball allows it as well.

NCAA rules allow for loss of contact with the plate if it is a result of ^this^ motion and not a slide/step back.

There was a rumor that they were going to change it this year, but it was just that... a rumor.

The two feet on pitchers plate and step back before hands together are listed in varying terms (so, assumably multiple proposals) on this year's annual NFHS poll preliminary to their annual spring Rules Committee meeting.

If nothing else, it isn't a dead topic. No way of knowing before June'ish if there is sufficient support for either or both as changes.

Remember, their philosophy is (in my words, as expressed to me):

1) We are here representing and enabling ONLY high school participation, not as the minor leagues for college softball.
2) NFHS rules allow these alternative methods of pitching; if players and coaches think it it is counterproductive to their personal goals, they don't have to pitch that way.
3) When enough of our members indicate they don't have widespread and overall credible pitchers even WITH these rules advantages, and that participation may go down even more if we remove them, then removing them is not advantageous to goal #1.
4) We do listen to our members, that is why we have a (limited participation) poll to solicit that feedback.

Legal under 10.4.3. Both feet must be (fully) within the 24" width only while taking the signal (10.2.1.1); it is legal to slide across just as it is forward, so long as contact is maintained, or the exceptions to contact are met.

The windup portion has no additional foot restrictions.

Once in the step/stride portion of the pitch, the foot restriction is only that some portion of the stride foot must land on or within the 24" lines.

From NCAA 10.4.2
"A portion of the nonpivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher's plate at all times before beginning the forward step.

Note: If the pitcher has toed the pitcher's plate, and, without stepping or sliding backward, simply drops her heel that forces her to lose contact with the pitcher's plate, there is no violation.

Thank you. That's exactly what I need.

Rita

Nevermind, I listened to someone who said the stride foot could be next to the plate, as long as it touched, even if that was outside the 24" width.

ASA Men's allow the pitcher to step back. (And just about anything else he want to do.:rolleyes:)

Original post was about college ball which doesnt have mens fast pitch softball. Didnt think there was any need to specify mens vs womens rule differences.

Not completely true. Had this come up just this weekend and had to show it to other umpires in the book. They can move the foot backward but it must remain in contact with the pitching plate. This differs from NFHS where you can take a full blown step backward.

So does Calvinball.

How do you get that?

8.01(b) Both feet must be on the ground within or partially within the 24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate. INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:
Whether the pitcher chooses to have only the pivot foot or both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate, the non-pivot foot
may not extend beyond the limit of the pitcher’s plate (toward first base or toward third base).

8.01(g) A backward step may be taken before or simultaneous with the hands being brought together. The pivot foot must remain
in contact with the pitching plate at all times prior to the forward step.

There is nothing that says both feet must be in contact with the plate.

Rita

Was he writing about Little League, like the post he quoted?

I thought he was.

Now you have me doubting myself. My book is not here - and about 1% of the games I do are LL. Can you post the rules between b and g?

c addresses the requirement for shoulders aligned with first and third. e is about keeping the hands separated while taking or appearing to take a signal. And f discusses the one to ten second requirement before delivering.

Like b and g, d relieves the pitcher from requiring both feet to be in contact. It states, "The pitcher shall take a position with his/her pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate. This contact must be on or partially on the top surface of the pitcher's plate. The non-pivot foot must be on or behind the pitcher's plate."

Thank you. I missed d which makes it quite clear.

Rita