Pitching Question- NFHS Rules

[Manny A]

The problem is, double-touch violations almost always happen when the pitcher hasn't started a motion to pitch. They are simply a separation of the hands to do something other than begin the delivery motion, such as adjust the hair, swat at a fly, rub dust out the eyes, adjust the ball in the glove, etc. And after the hands separate and are joined again, the pitcher is still standing there and has made no windup motion.

What you're describing is a second joining of the hands while the pitcher is making her motion to deliver. The closest rule to saying that's illegal is 6-1-4b; certainly 6-1-2a doesn't prohibit the pitcher from rejoining the hands as she's making her pitching motion with the rest of her body.

6-1-4 lists what the pitcher cannot do as she's using any desired windup motion. Nothing there that says she can't bring her hands back together except under "b". One could argue that the premise for this being illegal is the second joining of the hands during the windup, not the swinging of the arms while they're seperated.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Manny A

The problem is, double-touch violations almost always happen when the pitcher hasn't started a motion to pitch. They are simply a separation of the hands to do something other than begin the delivery motion, such as adjust the hair, swat at a fly, rub dust out the eyes, adjust the ball in the glove, etc. And after the hands separate and are joined again, the pitcher is still standing there and has made no windup motion.

Well, whether the pitcher is intentional or not,, by rule the pitch starts when the hands separate the first time. Everything you mentioned can be done PRIOR to stepping on the PP and this is what the coaches need to coach, but I will bet that is rarely stated to the pitcher until it becomes a problem.