ILLEGAL PITCHES

You can go to either NCAA.org or cactusumpires.com and find videos on these violations. As to what advantage they give, if a pitches is allowed to move her starting position, ie. the plant foot closer to home plate, than the 43' set down in the rules, her pitches look faster and her drops and breaking pitches snap in different locations, thus unfaily disrupting the batters timing. Imagine allowing a baseball pitcher that throws in the high 90's, start from a distance closer than 60'-6"; he would be unhittable. the same is true in softball.

 

wow

ok that makes sense

my freshman year at LR i kept the books for the softball team and at the end of the year we scrimmaged the AT&T team (mens) that is based in hickory (or was at least) their pitcher conformed to the college rules for the scrimage but after showed us his style and he ended up at the very front of the circle or beyond it.

 

I personally hate to see a game where the pitcher is at a disadvantage, and balls go flying all over the place. Fast Pitch is supposed to be a low scoring game with defense and strategy, not 14-13 type stuff. Not to mention the pitchers are in danger enough without umps placing them at a disadvantage.

 

The only disadvantage I see is when pitchers are crow hopping and leaping and umpires aren't calling it. That is a disadvantage to the hitters.

 

If they don't replant before releasing, there is no advantage. If you slow the ball down 2-3 miles per hour, it is a huge advantage.

 

It is physically impossible for you to release a pitch without at least one of your feet in contact with the ground. In both cases, the front foot of the pitcher will be on the ground at the release of the pitch. So, if you're not dragging the pivot, and you're front foot is the first to contact the ground (Leaping), then the only advantage gained is that of the pitcher. If you do not drag the toe and the first foot to contact the ground is the pivot foot, away from the pitching rubber, (Crow hop), then the only advantage gained is that of the pitcher. I agree that the pitching position is one of 3 of the most dangerous positions and probably THE most dangerous position on the field, but that needs to be addressed by other means and not by allowing a violation of the pitching rule. i had a daughter that pitched through her days in school and travel ball, so I am very aware of all of the aspects related to the position, and as an official, I do believe that most of the technical illegal pitches should be remove from the book, but the three that we have mentioned throughout this thread need to be enforced.

 

Physically impossible to release the pitch while in the air?

 

Can you name a pitcher that you have seen release a pitch with niether one of her feet in contact with ground? i've been around this sport for over 14 years both as a coach and at the college level as an umpire, and can't think of one.

 

My daughter has been pitching since she was 12, now 15, and this was the 1st time I have seen a behind the plate umpire call an illegal pitch coming out of the 24" pitching lane. It is not his call, it is the field umps call to call an illegal pitch, the homeplate umpire cannot see the pitcher pitch and efficently call balls and strikes. I coach TB and everytime I have complained about an illegal pitch the homeplate umpire has always told me it was not his call!! But my point is, if this is going to be an ongoing call, to effectly call an illegal pitch coming out of the 24" lane, there needs to be the lines drawn, like in college, so the umps can make a good call. He called it twice, but she pitched the same the complete game, and I watched her foot and it landed in the same spot each and every time, but it was only called twice.

 

I've seen pictures where they appear to be entirely off the ground when they release. I'm taking your word of expertise on what you've said except I don't see why it's physically impossible to release while off the ground. Maybe not at all effective but not impossible.