I'm in a modified pitch league and most of us have been of the understanding that modified pitch meant that you can pitch it as fast as you can, as long as your arm does not go more than parallel to the ground. However - last night the other team had a fireballer who was bringing his arm all the way back so he was nearly pointing at the sky. Can someone please give me some clarification as to the ASA ruling on this? Thanks!

Modified means like fast pitch but with more restrictions (modifications). The pitcher can't windmill (no complete revolution), slingshot, have the ball outside the wrist, crossover step, etc. I don't see a problem in your description with the high back swing if the other restictions are followed.

CAUTION: I've never called a mod-pitch game, so the following is only what I can glean from the rule book. The rule book (ASA) says nothing about the arm being parallel to the ground. It must be below the hip at release, but that says nothing about a back swing. ASA Rule 6M-3D, It sounds like the pitcher was legal.

The book does say that a pitcher may not use a slingshot-type pitch. Bringing the hand to the top on the backswing is typical of a slingshot delivery.

I think that you need to focus on the release point. With a slingshot delivery I think that the hips would still be open and the elbow and wrist would break on the release. That is what would make this an illegal pitch in MP rather than the height of the back swing.

But like Dakata, I've never called MP so I am going on my pitching knowledge and the rule book.

Curious - FP rules allow for the drag of the pivot foot as long as it remains in contact with the ground. MP does not have that statement. Does that infer that the pivot foot must remain in contact with the plate until the ball has been released?

WMB

In MP, the pitcher must also deliver with the shoulders square to the plate, which prevents him from gaining too much speed with the backswing of the arm.

I have done two MP leagues, both long-established with pitchers who have obviously been at it a long time. In my opinion, most of them violate the book rules constantly, but the opponents never complain, so I just let it go.

In one league, the accepted motion seems to keep the ball from coming in too fast. In the other, the pitchers release with their bodies sideways and really get some steam on the ball.

At this point, I would not agree to do a MP tournament, because if legal/illegal pitching motion became an issue, I wouldn't know how to handle it.

And yes, you have to deliver from the plate. You can't drag and then release.

I worked some "modified" softball years ago, and my oldest son also played "modified" (different leagues). If I remember correctly, the pitcher may pitch as fast as he can, but he must not bring his arm around twice. He may bring his arm backwards to 90 degrees, then release on the first forward motion.

Bob

Cecil,

Why did you merely quote yourself? http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...smiley-010.gif

Somebody had to ;).

It seemed like some posts only reflected the original question or had non-rule comments. :rolleyes:

That's one way to increase that post count! :eek:

Hey, you're right!!! http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...smiley-005.gif

Who would want to do that? :confused:

As I said "It seemed like some posts only reflected the original question or had non-rule comments. "

Just a little joking around, Cecil. No biggie. ;)

Of course, ... I understand Tom and Andy. :D

Seem to recall
 

It has been a long time (probably ten years) since I looked at modified pitch rules... and I never officiated any...

But, doesn't MP mean that the release point does not need to be below the elbow... that the release can be outside the elbow... up to a point where the forearm is parallel to the ground pointing away from the body (sidearm delivery)???

Re: Seem to recall
 

When you kid around, you're expected to include smilies, either ;) or :) or :D or something. :rolleyes:

Lady Blue to the rescue!

I called a lot of MP. Metro Atlanta ASA has/had several ISF Modified Umpires and they were my mentors. For several years, only myself and 2 other females called Modified and we traveled around Ga., Tenn., and Ala., calling tournaments. However, our ASA Commissioner would never allow me or any of the other females that called MP to call a Men's National. He said females didn't belong there. Oh well, he probably had his reasons, but if I could handle them in other tournaments, I could have handled them in a National. Some of them are worst beasts than Bubba Redneck Mullethead in SP!

Most of the better MP umpires not in Atlanta are from New York, New Jersey, Mass., S. Fla.,etc. You ought to see the gear they bring to a National, footlockers full of shoes, shining junk, rags, implements--Pledge furniture polish they put on their shoes, about 12 uniforms---Sorry, I'm digressing----- :>)

Illegal pitch is a bigger deal in MP than in FP. No windmill is allowed, non-pivot foot to remain in contact with rubber until pitch released, no pitch outside of elbow/wrist, (slingshot) and shoulders must be square with 1st and 3rd at release. More MP pitchers try to get away with slingshots than you can imagine! NO Illegal pitches are tolerated at Nationals! I've seen many pitchers thrown out of games for arguing with the umpires at Men's Major Modified & Men's A Modified Nationals.

So, try to read your rules for MP if you play or umpire--remember my story about my friend Ralph and the MP with the pistol? Wear Kevlar! hehehehehe

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Tony http://mindscraps.com/s/contrib/icw/028.gif

Re: Smilies
 

F:DA:DN:DT:DA:DS:DT:DI:DC:D ! !