Illegal pitch?

Ah, finally some good weather! You can tell from the recent posts that things are picking and heating up!

Anyway, I do have a question... What is the rule for the pitchers rubber foot? Doesn't it have to stay in contact with the ground until the ball is gone?

I was at a game today (not going to say where, whom played, or whom the pitcher was - no need to), a pitcher was obviously completely coming off the ground. When she threw a fast ball, her back foot would literally be 6 - 10 inches off the ground. The field umpire was asked about this and he said two things.

1) She is allowed to leave the ground with both feet (I said awesome! I didn't know jump shots were allowed in softball - I couldn't help myself)

2) It is fine as long as she does not replant (which she clearly would do when throwing a fast ball - other pitches not so much but dirt was flying from her back foot before the ball left her hand)

One other question. Is the field umpire the only one that call an illegal pitch? I knew the ump behind the plate and he/she usually knows the rules but would not say anything. Just wondering if he/she could not. Then again, maybe I am wrong and they were right...

 

Last Friday when South Rowan played @ Lake Norman
the home plate ump. called 2 illegal pitches

 

I do believe the rule is:the back foot has to be in contact with the ground at all times.

 

Yesterday...

In a game yesterday, the field ump called both pitchers for an illegal pitch on their very first pitch. I didn't see anything wrong with either of them. I guess she just wanted everyone to know she was there and this was after the umps were 15 minutes late for the game...

The field ump today also blew another call. A girl was intentionally walked. There was another girl on 3rd. The catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher who didn't do anything. The girl that walked to first, rounded first took three steps, stopped, and went back to first. Everyone started screaming that she was out. The ump looked over to the fans and actually said they didn't know what they were talking about. The plate ump saw this but didn't say anything either. Can't the plate ump also make that call or does the coach have to appeal to her? To his credit, the first base coach went up to the fans after the game and said they had a right to be angry, she should have been out.

 

JavelinCatcher, here is the paragraph from the NFHS Rulebook:

By the NFHS rules, the plate umpire can call illegal pitches, however it will be difficult for the plate umpire to see a leap or crow hop because he is concentrating on the pitch.

 

Thanks!

Thanks Stingray. That is what I thought but is nice to see the actual text from the rule book.

I would think between the two umps one of them would know the rule. Maybe the plate ump can't actually call the illegal pitch (I agree with you that they should be focussing on the pitch not the pitcher) but I would think that if the head coach talked the plate ump, they would be able to inform the field ump that it is in fact an illegal pitch and should be called the next time.

 

Question

With some of the canyons dug in front of the pitching rubber, is it possible to maintain contact with the ground as they drive off the rubber?

 

She would not have been out. Unless when she stopped she stood there for more than one second. You can round the bag stop and come back but you can't stand off the bag you have basically 1 second to make up your mind which way to go after you make the turn and stop. Can't jump back and forth or go out there and stand

 

In the case that there is a pit in front of the pitcher's plate, the umpire is supposed to determine if the foot would have stayed in contact with the ground if it were level.

 

HMMM !!

Was the player the umps kid ?? Guru